7.3: Industrialized Warfare
Military leaders at the time tragically failed to realize the technological changes during the Industrial Revolution. The mechanization of warfare and mass production of new weaponry created a military stalemate where millions of soldiers and civilians were killed and maimed. The industrialization of warfare had rendered traditional military strategies and tactics obsolete and useless. The generals refused to understand this and led what was supposed to be a quick and relatively bloodless conflict into one of the bloodiest events in human history.
Read this overview of World War I. One of the important areas it covers is the "social trauma" brought on by the war and the difficulty of recovery from the conflict.
Read this article about the technology of warfare during World War I. Although some of this technology had already been invented, it was the first truly mechanized war.
Watch this video about the mechanization of warfare. Note that this video includes disturbing images and may not be appropriate for all viewers.