The First World War was deadly mainly because of two reasons that include the application of military tactics and the use of 20 th -century technology. The First World War saw the introduction of modern artillery, machine guns, and airplanes which were used on the battlefield. Means of transportation such as railroads and taxi cabs were used to transport army men to the battle zones. The technology replaced the use of trivial means such as horses which their roles were reduced to beasts of burden. The focus of the discussion will be on analyzing the influence of new technologies on the First World War.
How It Influenced the War
The technology used during the war changed the face of the battle and played a significant role in the factions that won. The war became much more difficult for the infantry soldiers who were involved in most of the fighting. The new technology also led to massive slaughter and death especially with the invention of the machine guns and the tank. The machine guns were responsible for lengthening the war and turning it into a trench war. The use of bullets in the machine gun made it difficult for the rivalry camps to fight back. Another vital use of technology was the dogs which carried messages in capsules that were attached to their bodies. The use of artillery and cannons also changed the course of the war as explosives were used in destroying structures such as bridges. Also, technological advancements in the field of metallurgy, engineering, chemistry, and optics among others resulted in weapons that were deadlier than the ones used before. The airplanes that were made from wood, wire, and canvas were used to observe enemy troops. Caterpillar tracks were used in moving armored vehicles that were used to move machine guns. The technology also increased the fury of the war especially through the invention of chemical warfare by the Germans.
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Which Sides Benefited The Most From Which Technologies?
The machines guns were responsible for shortening the war because many people were being killed. The technological inventions during this time led to the murder of many soldiers. Some technologies were designed to kill opposing factions but in some instances backfired such as the poisonous gas that was invented by the Germans. The Entente benefited from tanks and machine guns which led to the concept of trench warfare. Also, the British used armored vehicles that were used to transport machine guns in light canons. The Germans were beneficiaries of airplane technology that had machine guns attached to them hence enabling shooting from the fighters’ propeller.
Which Technologies Were The Most Important?
The most important technologies during the First World War include the tanks which were mostly utilized by the British and the French. Flamethrowers were used in hurling flames against the opponents and were mostly used by the Chinese. The Germans invented the poisonous gas that had devastating effects on both the opponents and the German soldiers. The tracer bullets were also invented that enabled shooting even in the night when visibility was low. Machine guns were also a vital invention during this time as it enabled mass killings of opponents as opposed to the previous guns.
Conclusion
Technological development was critical in ensuring the countries involved in the First World War were successful. Machine guns, cannons, artilleries, the airplane, and poisonous guns among others were all invented to replace trivial weapons which had minimal impact on the opponents. It is also vital to note that the technologies invented influenced the length of the war as the net effect was a shortened period of the war due to massive killings of the soldiers.
