Wars can be traced back to prehistoric times. They consisted of aggression, high death rates, and property destruction. It was not until World War I and World War II did the world experience a new level of warfare called Total War. It was no longer just about the soldiers fighting on the battlefield, but also women, children, and entire civilian populations. Total War changed the nature of war itself along with the weapons used, battle tactics employed, life on the home front, people’s roles in society, and the measures taken in order to secure victory.
Source one is an excerpt from Carl von Clausewitz (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Carl von Clausewitz, On War, 378-379). He discusses the nature of war, how it affects individuals, and how it will change …show more content…
He states that the war was a series of indecisive battles and the creation of trenches made it difficult for either side to have a quick victory. He continues, “Each commander seeks to wear down the power of resistance of his opponent and to pin him to his position, while preserving or accumulating in his own hands a powerful reserve force with which he can maneuver…” (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Features of the War, 382-384). With trench warfare each side hoped the other would surrender from exhaustion while still having enough soldiers and energy to finish them off with a final assault. However, this was quite a difficult task as the war dragged on four and half years with neither side wanting to surrender. The longer duration of the war, the higher number of military casualties. “The total British casualties of those killed, wounded, missing in action, and prisoners of war hit approximately three million,” (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Features of the War, 382-384). Casualties increased because of advances in weapon technology and design. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig adds, “The great strength of modern field defenses and the power and precision of modern weapons, the multiplication of machine guns, trench mortars, and artillery of all natures, the employment of gas, and the rapid development of the aeroplane as a formidable agent of destruction against both men and material, all combined to increase the price to be paid for victory” (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Features of the War, 382-384). It is apparent that both Allied and Central Powers were willing to employ any method to secure total victory even if that meant using inhuman weapons. The
Source one is an excerpt from Carl von Clausewitz (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Carl von Clausewitz, On War, 378-379). He discusses the nature of war, how it affects individuals, and how it will change …show more content…
He states that the war was a series of indecisive battles and the creation of trenches made it difficult for either side to have a quick victory. He continues, “Each commander seeks to wear down the power of resistance of his opponent and to pin him to his position, while preserving or accumulating in his own hands a powerful reserve force with which he can maneuver…” (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Features of the War, 382-384). With trench warfare each side hoped the other would surrender from exhaustion while still having enough soldiers and energy to finish them off with a final assault. However, this was quite a difficult task as the war dragged on four and half years with neither side wanting to surrender. The longer duration of the war, the higher number of military casualties. “The total British casualties of those killed, wounded, missing in action, and prisoners of war hit approximately three million,” (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Features of the War, 382-384). Casualties increased because of advances in weapon technology and design. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig adds, “The great strength of modern field defenses and the power and precision of modern weapons, the multiplication of machine guns, trench mortars, and artillery of all natures, the employment of gas, and the rapid development of the aeroplane as a formidable agent of destruction against both men and material, all combined to increase the price to be paid for victory” (Wiesner, Chapter 12, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Features of the War, 382-384). It is apparent that both Allied and Central Powers were willing to employ any method to secure total victory even if that meant using inhuman weapons. The