How Did World War 1 Change Trench Warfare

World War 1 was vastly different from the colonial world that existed before it. A new world with integral changes came out of this great war. The new advancements in military weapons and tactics changed the landscape of warfare. With the addition of tanks, poison gas and trench warfare, war completely set itself apart from the way it was conducted before. In addition, the roles of women in society shifted from that of a common housewife to a proud member of the workforce, helping their country when all the men were out in service. World War 1 was certainly a cataclysmic shock to the world as we know it through the innovations and advances made in military technology, which changed warfare, and the opportunities that arose for women to become

These new advancements in military weapons and tactics changed the landscape of war and combat. “The enormous progress in communications ... and technical progress in weapon technologies (modern artillery, Maxim-guns or machine guns) had enabled Europeans and North Americans to occupy and control territories and states…”(Boris Barth 3/04/15). This war was an all-out brawl to see who would break first, which led many countries to show no remorse. One of the most powerful and deadly weapons that made its debut was the tanks. First introduced by the allied powers, History.co.uk states that “their potential was undeniable, and by July 1918 The Tank Corps was established, garnering almost 30,000 members by the end of the war.” Another devastating tactic used was poison gas, first used by Germany. Although the effects weren’t as large as other strategies in terms of numbers, it became “possibly the most important psychological weapon of the war” (History.co.uk). As seen in the photograph, the horrifying effects of the gas blinded the soldiers (“Soldiers blinded by tear gas”, 10/3/17). Witnessing these results, soldiers were terrified from

With most of the men fighting in the war, it created opportunities for women to cease filling in the stereotypical role of a housewife, and join the workforce and help the war effort. Although this was a controversial step to many in the world back then, especially during the time of conscription, it was seen as a need in order to win the war. At the end of the day, they united toward a common cause, and put aside their ideologies. “This led to women working in areas of work that were formerly reserved for men, for example as railway guards and ticket collectors, buses and tram conductors, postal workers, police, firefighters and as bank ‘tellers’ and clerks.” (striking-women.org). It wasn’t just the war effort that women were needed in. We needed labor in all aspects of the community. During the war however, the majority of women would work in munition factories to help their country in the war effort. The famous poster showing what a working woman was portrayed as, created a movement, with the quote, “For every fighter, a woman worker”(“YWCA Poster”, 10/3/17). Even after the war, when women were afraid the men would come back to take over, some women still worked alongside them. This led to protests and fights for equal wage payment as well as equal workplace rights, bringing rise to the feminist movement. This gave way for newly created feminists to push for equality in all aspects of society.