The Technology of World War I

Book excerpt: The Technology of World War I explores the dramatic developments in military technology during World War I. It shows how the Industrial Revolution changed the tools of war, from the production of high-grade iron and steel for warships to the lethal products created by the chemical industry. This book also examines how the superiority of defensive weapons led to the lack of movement and resulting stalemate on the front lines during World War I. It looks at the horrors of trench warfare and considers how the combination of larger armies and improved weaponry was to lead to unprecedented numbers of casualties. Finally, it discusses the far-reaching effects of the war's technological advances in medicine, transportation, and communications and looks at the cost of the war-- in financial and human terms-- to the countries involved.