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What is Total War?

WWI APEH – supplementary material not found in Kagan. What is Total War?. Total War Effort. Increased centralization of government Mass conscription Economic regimentation Gov’t. control on prices, wages, rent Food & supply rationing Regulation of imports & exports

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What is Total War?

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  1. WWI APEH – supplementary material not found in Kagan What is Total War?

  2. Total War Effort • Increased centralization of government • Mass conscription • Economic regimentation • Gov’t. control on prices, wages, rent • Food & supply rationing • Regulation of imports & exports • Nationalization of transportation & industry • Manipulation of public opinion • Plight of soldier and role of citizen begin to overlap • “Citizen army” full of national pride & patriotism “fighting” for country’s ultimate victory • Increased use of propaganda in all countries • HOWEVER dissent does exist esp. after 1916 – liberals and socialists • Worker strikes; military mutinies; independence movements • 1916 Easter Rebellion: IRA rises up against British gov’t. by occupying gov’t. buildings in Dublin

  3. Total War Effort – Germany & GB • War Raw Materials Board • Run by Walter Rathenau – allocation of imp. raw materials necessary for building effective war machine • Food Rationing • 1916 = 1350 calories per day; 1917 = 1000 calories per day • 750,000 civilians die of starvation • 1916 Military Dictatorship • Generals Paul von Hindenburg, chief of General Staff & Erich Ludendorff, deputy chief of staff • Dec. 2, 1916 Auxiliary Service Law = all male non-combatants aged 17-60 allowed to work only in jobs supporting the war effort • GB: July 1915 - PM David Lloyd George forms Ministry of Munitions • Private industry would produce war materiel @ a limited profit • Defense of the Realm Act – police can arrest dissenters as traitors; public officials can censor the press

  4. Total War Effort – France & Russia • France: up to 1917 no strong leadership • Lose 75% of coal & 80% of steel production to German occupation • 1917 = Georges Clemenceau • Cracks down on dissention and suppress civil liberties in the name of war • Russia – no success at Total War • Too autocratic; weak economy; lack of industrial resources; wide-spread ethnic problems; not enough public support

  5. Social Impact of Total War • WWI = great social leveler • Inflation hits the middle class harder than other classes • Labor movements benefit greatly • More widespread collective bargaining practices • Unions gain prestige • Women become more dominant in workplace • Banking institutions • Commerce • Armament plants & heavy industry • Truck driving & farming • Women push for equal pay, political equality & financial security • BUT by 1919 many women are unemployed and their situation in the workplace is reduced to what it was prior to WWI

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