Introduction
Technology and technological advances played a huge role during the First World War. Both sides brought in new weapons, machinery and some very deadly chemical advances. These technological advances became both great offensive and defensive weapons; they also went on to claim the majority of deaths in the Great War.
Before WWI technological advancements were very rare in the area of weaponry, and warfare equipment. The infantry carried heavy bayonet rifles, and war would practically be a shoot off due to the lack of long range guns or artillery to cut the advances. Prior to the First World War aircraft was never used in warfare, medical equipment could be considered medieval for the soldiers and communication among soldiers more than 50 metres from each other was a difficult task.
Before WWI technological advancements were very rare in the area of weaponry, and warfare equipment. The infantry carried heavy bayonet rifles, and war would practically be a shoot off due to the lack of long range guns or artillery to cut the advances. Prior to the First World War aircraft was never used in warfare, medical equipment could be considered medieval for the soldiers and communication among soldiers more than 50 metres from each other was a difficult task.
Weapons
As new technology and equipment was brought into the war, the entire strategies and way they fought was changed. An artillery gun (as seen below) was basically an extremely long ranged gun, with an exploding shell that scattered shrapnel upon an unsuspecting enemny The introduction of artillery to the First World War created a whole new range of tactics and options to aid in the conquest of the enemy. These tactics included; shelling the opposition constantly, forcing them deep into their dugout, or providing cover for advancing/retreating troops. Some new forms of artillery were brought in such as the ‘Big Bertha’, ‘Long Tom’ and ‘Paris Guns’, although one form of gun was kept that had been in use before the 1st World War. This was the British 18 pounder Field Gun, it was used mainly for cover of the infantry with its huge 6 kilometre range.
The machine gun was without a doubt the most effective killer of the soldiers in the war, rapidly firing ammunition in an arc motion over anything that moved. Machine guns were housed in makeshift structures made from concrete and sandbags and staged at different intervals along the trenches. They were able to fire in rapidly because they didn't need to reload which created a crucial advantage over the opposition forces. The only disadvantages of these ruthless machines was their vunerability to overheating or jamming.Both sides had their own unique guns with the British using their Hiram Maxim, which was designed in 1884 and soon replaced by the Lewis Light Machine Gun, which became the British and the French's primary counter of invading troops. The Germans on the other hand had their infamous and feared Machineegewehr 08 which was produced in huge quantities and used throughout the Germans trenches.
The next advancement was possibly the inhumane and horrific way to die during the Great War, the poison gas. Gas attacks were introduced as an attempt to break the deadlock of trench warfare, and were launched from artillery guns from long range. They were deadly to anyone exposed first they’d invoke choking followed by vomiting and suffered until they finally suffocated or coughed up their lungs (literally). The gas was renowned around the trenches and eventually gas masks were developed and both sides than had an effective immunity. The German army first employed the chlorine gas cylinders at French positions near Boezinge, 22nd of April 1915. There were four types of gas used in the Great War, these being: Sternutators: (nasal irritants, "sneeze gases," "vomiting gases"), Lung irritants: (suffocants, respiratory irritants), Lacrimators: (eye irritants and "tear gases"), Vesicants (skin irritants, escharotics).
It was not only the technological advancements in weapons that affected the war on the Western Front, but also the advancements in communication, machinery, armour and aircraft. All of these played crucial roles in the war; particularly communication as it needs was ever growing. A miscommunication could mean mass losses, and potentially a shift in momentum toward the opposition. New methods of transport aided the reinforcements and the movement of weaponry. WWI also introduced aircraft onto the warfare scene used as both a fighting tactic and reconnaissance.
The beginning of World War 1 saw large advancements in communication as it became ever more important for armies to be able to communicate fast and effectively. To give an order to someone at the front or even send a message or letter, it would involve a man on a motorcycle to drive up unarmed and unprotected to deliver the message. This was very ineffective, as it wasn’t even guaranteed that the message would reach the intended person or regiment and be shot down midway. It was only WWI that new methods of communication were brought in. These included flashing lights as signals, dogs, and aircraft signals etc. Unfortunately radios of that age were far too big and heavy to have in the trenches and so that is why they improvised with these rather ancient methods of communication.
One of the most important machine advancement in the Great War was one that sent shivers down in the most experienced soldier’s back, and that was the infamous tank. Before WWI tanks were a myth, they didn’t exist and were as much a reality of apartments on the moon. Either side had their own unique tanks including the Germans main tank the Schwerer Kampfwagen A7V, which was brought into play around the time of November 1916. British tanks included the renowned Mark 1’s which were brought in to match the German tank.
Aircraft was definitely one of the more noticeable technological improvements as they were used as transports, scouts, attacking weapons and communication. Planes of WWI were often seen ‘dog fighting’ in the air over the battle fields or high up in the sky as scouts. Even though planes were only brought in, in 1914 they were still quite capable of air manoeuvres, fighting, scouting etc.
Another aspect of new technology that is generally not thought about is the medical front and new medicines that were utilised in the battle at the Western Front. The trenches were not a place of hygiene. Diseases such as typhoid, typhus, malaria, and tetanus spread through the troops due to the wet, cold environment of the trenches, insect vectors, and poor sanitation. In fact nearly everyone fighting in them would deal with a dose of at least one of these diseases. But it was not only these there were many more that had devastating effects.
Dead- 22%
Returned to Duty- 32%
Wounded or Sick- 46%
This table shows the final percentage of reported missing people. As it shows nearly 50% were left of sick or injured. If it were not for certain advancements such as new medicine, artificial limbs, facial reconstructions, blood transfusions and Psychiatry, many of these men would have died or later committed suicide.
Dead- 22%
Returned to Duty- 32%
Wounded or Sick- 46%
This table shows the final percentage of reported missing people. As it shows nearly 50% were left of sick or injured. If it were not for certain advancements such as new medicine, artificial limbs, facial reconstructions, blood transfusions and Psychiatry, many of these men would have died or later committed suicide.