Why was World War One a Total War?
Total war is described as war that affects everyone, and it’s true: world war one did affect everyone. It obviously affected the men who went out to battle like all wars did, but the First World War was different. It incurred social, political and employment changes. Most of all for women, as the conscription act had enlisted most of England’s men the women had gaps to fill. The factory workers filling shells and supplying goods to the citizens were considered as important as the soldiers. By the end of the war one million women had enlisted to help in shell factories. It was the women’s land army that provided the natural produce when our ships from America were sunk. Even the working class housewives felt the need to do their bit for the fighters. They collected cigarettes and knitted scarves. They would present white feathers to men when they wouldn’t join up as a sign of cowardice. Some of these things make be considered as small compared to a large German gun, but they somewhat pulled everyone together. The women at home however unimportant as they seem did really support the war and help us to victory. And indeed, it spurred on the suffragettes to gain full time employment and eventually the votes and a more powerful movement to women’s equality. A good example of everyone being included in this war was the zeppelins. Over all 40 people had been killed, and hundreds of houses were damaged and even destroyed. They were first seen as entertainment for some, but soon fear turned to panic and the government started to plan.
