Total War

How far was the First World War an example of Total War?How far was the First World

War an example of Total War?

What is Total War?What is Total War?

Your ideas… Your ideas…

Total war is a military conflict in which nations mobilize all available resources in order to destroy another nation's ability to engage in war.

Term popularised by Arthur Marwick (historian)

Total war is a military conflict in which nations mobilize all available resources in order to destroy another nation's ability to engage in war.

Term popularised by Arthur Marwick (historian)

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Contrast with ‘limited wars’ of 18th Century

Total war: All encompassing Severe Total mobilisation of nation’s resources for

victory Undermining of existing social and political

structures and institutions Colossal psychological trauma

Contrast with ‘limited wars’ of 18th Century

Total war: All encompassing Severe Total mobilisation of nation’s resources for

victory Undermining of existing social and political

structures and institutions Colossal psychological trauma

All encompassing?All encompassing? Thoughts? Fought across the world (e.g. Africa and Middle East) Land, sea and air Conscription in all countries by

1914 (except Britain 1916) Between nations not rulers (so

civilians were targets) (E.g. shelling of Paris, sinking of Lusitania)

Thoughts? Fought across the world (e.g. Africa and Middle East) Land, sea and air Conscription in all countries by

1914 (except Britain 1916) Between nations not rulers (so

civilians were targets) (E.g. shelling of Paris, sinking of Lusitania)

SeveritySeverity Appalling casualties:

10 million killed, 20 million wounded, 5 million widows left, 9 million orphans

Many wounded = permanently blind / disabled

New forms of killing e.g. poison gas New bitterness between nations

e.g. racial hatred: anti British or German

Appalling casualties: 10 million killed, 20 million wounded,

5 million widows left, 9 million orphans

Many wounded = permanently blind / disabled

New forms of killing e.g. poison gas New bitterness between nations

e.g. racial hatred: anti British or German

Churchill: ‘This is no ordinary war, but a struggle between nations for life and death. It raises passions between nations of the most terrible kind’.

Daily Mail advice: refuse to be served by an Austrian or German waiter. If he says he is Swiss ask to see his passport’.

Use of propaganda

Churchill: ‘This is no ordinary war, but a struggle between nations for life and death. It raises passions between nations of the most terrible kind’.

Daily Mail advice: refuse to be served by an Austrian or German waiter. If he says he is Swiss ask to see his passport’.

Use of propaganda

Severity continuedSeverity continued Accusations of atrocities on both

sides Many accusations false Turks against Armenians - worst

atrocities - half million killed in deliberate genocide

Areas of fighting on Western front devastated

Accusations of atrocities on both sides

Many accusations false Turks against Armenians - worst

atrocities - half million killed in deliberate genocide

Areas of fighting on Western front devastated

Government intrusion into everyday life

Government intrusion into everyday life

Through 19th C more regulation Increased dramatically E.g. of Britain: government…

Took over running of railways Materials requisitioned Rationing Conscription into necessary industries e.g.

mining and farms (also women) ‘Daylight saving time’ - extend time Strikes illegal ‘Official secrets act’

Similar in European countries

Through 19th C more regulation Increased dramatically E.g. of Britain: government…

Took over running of railways Materials requisitioned Rationing Conscription into necessary industries e.g.

mining and farms (also women) ‘Daylight saving time’ - extend time Strikes illegal ‘Official secrets act’

Similar in European countries

Undermining of Institutions

Undermining of Institutions

Massive power to military leaders (expecting short war)

E.g. France - ‘war zone’ Joffre in command (govt dissolved)

E.g. Britain - no one dared criticise Kitchener E.g. German high command dominated govt -

Hindenburg & Ludendorff E.g. Austria Reichrat dissolved in 1916 By end of war end of 3 empires Social revolutions. Increase in Trades unions,

Women’s rights - votes Decline in organised religion

Massive power to military leaders (expecting short war)

E.g. France - ‘war zone’ Joffre in command (govt dissolved)

E.g. Britain - no one dared criticise Kitchener E.g. German high command dominated govt -

Hindenburg & Ludendorff E.g. Austria Reichrat dissolved in 1916 By end of war end of 3 empires Social revolutions. Increase in Trades unions,

Women’s rights - votes Decline in organised religion

Psychological TraumaPsychological Trauma Shock - literature of time e.g. ‘war

poets’ Owen, Sassoon, Remarque Pacifism gained adherents -

became respectable after WW1 Cynicism and Fatalism - decline in

church attendance

Shock - literature of time e.g. ‘war poets’

Owen, Sassoon, Remarque Pacifism gained adherents -

became respectable after WW1 Cynicism and Fatalism - decline in

church attendance

Your thoughts…Your thoughts…

In what ways was WW1 a ‘Total War’?

Can you argue that it wasn’t?

In what ways was WW1 a ‘Total War’?

Can you argue that it wasn’t?

Task:Task:

Groups of 3 You need to read further and

together plan an essay plan: ‘To what extent was World War

One an example of Total War?’ Find evidence that it was but also

any evidence it wasn’t Bring textbooks on Tuesday

Groups of 3 You need to read further and

together plan an essay plan: ‘To what extent was World War

One an example of Total War?’ Find evidence that it was but also

any evidence it wasn’t Bring textbooks on Tuesday