Advancement of War Technology (WWI & WWII)

S – Social Impacts

→ Civilians faced greater danger due to long-range bombing and poison gas attacks (WWI) and air raids (WWII).

• The psychological effects of modern weapons (e.g., gas, bombings, nuclear attacks) led to trauma (e.g., shell shock, PTSD).

• Everyday life was shaped by the war: blackout drills, air raid shelters, evacuations, and fear of attack.

• The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki shocked the world and raised moral questions about science and war.

E – Economic Impacts

→ Nations had to spend heavily to research, produce, and maintain advanced weapons (e.g., tanks, planes, ships).

• New industries developed (e.g., aircraft manufacturing, radar, nuclear technology).

• Total war required economies to fully mobilize—factories shifted from consumer goods to weapons.

• The Manhattan Project (atomic bomb development) cost over $2 billion USD (a huge amount at the time).

• Technological demands led to job creation but also massive wartime debt.

M – Military Impacts

WWI: Machine guns, poison gas, and artillery made defense stronger—leading to trench warfare.

WWII: Tanks, aircraft, and fast communication allowed for blitzkrieg (lightning war) and large-scale invasions.

• Radar and sonar helped in detecting enemies; codebreaking gave intelligence advantages.

• The atomic bomb completely changed the scale of destruction and how wars could end.

• Technology made wars more mobile, destructive, and global.

P – Political Impacts

→ Countries with advanced technology (like the USA) gained global power and influence.

• The use of nuclear weapons ended WWII but started the Cold War and a global arms race.

• Governments invested in research and military innovation, often in secret (e.g., Manhattan Project).

• Technological superiority became a political strategy—nations raced to out-arm their enemies.

• The devastation caused by modern weapons led to international discussions on arms control and peace.