Total War: Definition and Debate

World War I is often referred to as the first “total war.” This term described the size and devastation of the war. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau explained what it meant. “My foreign policy and my home policy are the same,” he said. “At home I wage war. Abroad I wage war.”

The idea of total war involves four things. The first is mobilization. This refers to the gathering of troops and supplies. The second is that both soldiers and civilians are involved. The third is that countries refuse to compromise to reach peace. The fourth is that governments take total control of society.

Mobilization and the blurring of roles between soldier and citizen

The mobilization for World War I was much larger than anything before. Millions of men volunteered to become soldiers. Women volunteered to become nurses or aides. Working-class women made weapons. Civilians helped out in other ways. Many planted “war gardens” to grow their own food.

Governments and private industries worked together. Factories focused on producing weapons and supplies. New technology came out of the war. These included two-way radios, tanks, and gas masks.

All the major warring countries used drafts to build armies. A draft is when the government calls on you to fight. Historian Kimberly A. Redding says:

Around 65 million men went to fight between 1914 and 1918 8.5 million soldiers died and at least double that were wounded. Of these, at least 9.5 million were permanently disabled.
17 million were wounded. Of these, at least 9.5 million were permanently disabled.

War also made illness more devastating. A flu outbreak occurred in 1917-1918, and movement of workers and troops contributed to the spread of the disease. As a result, 3-5% of the world’s population died.

Complete destruction of the enemy

The Hague Conventions set rules for war. They were created in 1899 and 1907. Many rules were broken during World War I. For example, the Hague Conventions outlawed poison gas. But both sides used gas. Another rule stated that a country has to give a warning before starting a war. Germany broke this rule when it invaded Belgium.

The fighting countries used a “total war” approach. They wanted to leave their enemies devastated. Reaching an agreement to end the war did not come easy.

World War I raised moral questions about technology. The Germans sank the British ship RMS Lusitania. The ship carried civilian passengers. It also was bringing weapons to the Allies. This sinking symbolized the new terrible nature of war.

As historians J.R. and William McNeill explain:

Medicine had improved for military doctors. Armies were kept healthy long enough to fight in trench warfare. Heavy weaponry and poison gas made life in the trenches terrible. The machine gun also made climbing out deadly.

Total control of society

War affected all areas of society. The environment suffered great damage. Parts of Europe were torn up from trenches. Bombs left craters in the landscape. But environments outside of Europe were hurt too. European countries mined in countries around the world. Trees were cut down in Lebanon, India, and the U.S.

Governments took greater control of civilians’ lives. They censored the press. They passed laws against minority groups. The government controlled how food was made and the amount people received.

Tensions built as the war dragged on. This created revolutions in Russia and the Ottoman Empire. In other places, the war created unrest. New social movements formed across national borders.

World War I showed how the world had changed. Four areas saw major growth from the 1800s. The first was industrialization and new technologies. The second was imperialism. Imperialism is when one country takes over another country. Lastly, it showed changes to international relationships and conflicts.