Dissertation

Made by: Sebastian Suarez – 11B

World War I led to enormous technological advances in the military industry field, it included the
widespread use of airplanes, tanks, and submarines, and there were improvements in military
tactics. Nevertheless, most of this technology had a high cost for each country, which led to
widespread economic devastation and not only that but millions of death which also affected the
country's economy.

World War I led to enormous technological advances in the military industry field, it included the
widespread use of airplanes, tanks, and submarines, and there were improvements in military
tactics.

 It was the first modern mechanized industrial war in which material resources and
manufacturing were as important as the skill of the troops on the battlefield because of the
way society used to fight change.
 
 During WWI the most used gun was the machine gun since it could shoot down groups of
soldiers from large distances on the battlefield, meaning that it was one of the most useful
guns. 
 
 Barbed wire and mines were new devices and new military tactics so moving around the
battlefield had a major level of complexity, making it harder and more dangerous, which
also helped increase the number of casualties in the field.
 
 After WWI the use of trench warfare augmented since transport around the battlefield was
way more difficult because soldiers were way more exposed to danger when they were in
the trench, however, a bomb could kill them all. 
 
 The use of chemical weapons was implemented, because both sides of the war began to
use poisonous gases to cause great suffering and increase casualties on the battlefield.
 
 Experiments began with the use of toxic gases, such as mustard gas, which managed to
incapacitate soldiers in combat to prevent them from defending themselves, however, it
was not lethal.
 
 In 1916, the British brought tanks into the battlefields, but they were used with airplanes
and artillery to advance upfront, make more progress, and gain territory, preventing other
countries to take possession of said land.
 
 Both seaborne and airborne weapons made killing more effective from long distances.
  Through submarines, the countries managed to gain control over a certain piece of sea,
mainly Germany. Since seaborn weapons were more effective than land weapons.
 
 The fighting in the airplane began to be evident since combat planes were sent to bomb
the main cities of the countries of the opposing side.
 
 Airships also began to be used to bomb the countries of the opposing side, Germany being
the first country to do so and was considered a strategic weapon.

Nevertheless, most of this technology had a high cost for each country, which led to widespread
economic devastation and not only that but millions of deaths which also affected the country's
economy. 

 Economic growth after the great war was too slow, which generated greater instability in
it and prevented the fluidity of relations between countries.
 
 There was evidence of a loss of confidence in the economic systems used by each country
by their habitants because the situation in multiple aspects was serious.
 
 Prices skyrocketed at the end of the war, so inflation rose sharply at the end of World War
I, being over 20% per year in most belligerent countries between 1916 and 1918.
 
 Hunger increased in multiple countries involved in the as agriculture and food distribution
suffered from war and naval blockades, reducing imports.
 
 Work in the fields was reduced, so agricultural production decreased, and prices raised,
which led to food cuts in the countries, leaving the most basic products.
 
 The destruction of cities and homes throughout Europe was massive, so the reconstruction
of a large part of the continent was demanding and expensive, since factories, crops, and
entire cities were destroyed.
 
 At the end of the war, the industry had to start again, which is why the export of products
increased, however, this generated large debts due to the loans of the countries, mainly
from the United States.
 
 Until today exact figures are not known, however, it is estimated that around 9 million
soldiers and 7 million civilians died in the middle of the war; in addition, there were
approximately 20 million wounded.
 
  There were more deaths due to hunger and a lack of basic kitchen products, so people
died of malnutrition.

Conclusion

During World War I a huge technological advance could be seen, more specifically in the
military industry, because it was the first modern mechanized industrial war, where guns, tanks,
submarines, and every kind of arm were present, and after the Great War all of this tactics and
strategies were used in multiple conflicts around the world. However, this affected the economic
impacts, since after a war the consequences that a country has to live with are monumental
because the countries were completely destroyed and devastated. Not only that but the thousands
and millions of deaths were also a lot.

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