The First Modern War

The technological advances were not something that the men fighting the war were prepared to understand as far as the death and destruction which came with them, including top level officials.

For example, in the battle of Somme when around 23,000 men would lose their lives on the first day of battle alone. World War I would bring the terrible and deadly trench warfare. Newly constructed railroads would also play a critical role in the war and in the movement of troops, equipment, and supplies. New technologies presented in the war would include the first machine guns, high velocity weaponry, weapons of mass destruction, land mines, biological and chemical weapons, flame throwers, long range artillery, armored tanks, and an increased navy with submarines.

Another large contribution to the great loss of life was the newly formed air war from the invention of the airplane. Bombs could now be dropped on targets on the ground. Dog fights were born giving rise to air to air combat. This new air power also gave rise to the recon mission in militarism which would promote new technologies in the future.

Another overlooked angle in the rapid changes in warfare during this time was propaganda, which was used by every nation and empire. Empires were forced to adjust to the changing social fabric with regard to how propaganda was carried out and disseminated. Strategies became more complex in nature as governments customized the propaganda locally, while creating a more standardized formula for the region and country as a whole.

While it has been said that the Civil War was the first modern war, there are many more reasons to place that label on World War I instead. The early Twentieth Century witnessed a culmination of events enhanced by the Industrial Revolution. These new technologies made for a level of carnage that had never been seen before. This caused a situation where mankind would have to adjust to an entirely new line of thought about war and its repercussions.

For these reasons and others, World War I is considered the first modern war. The carnage that came with the First Great War would also lead to the coining of the phrase, “the war to end all wars.” Unfortunately, this would not be the case. In fact, after WWI the stage was now set for another world war which would be vast and soon approaching.