The Events That Changed Military Technology Essay Example

revolutionized warfare both on and off the battlefield. He believed in the power of offense, leading his troops directly towards a capital city and crushing any opposition encountered along the way. By doing so, he minimized resistance and casualties while forcing governments to surrender.

The industrial revolution was a significant contributor to the advancement of warfare. Skilled workers were no longer the sole producers of weapons, ammunition, uniforms, and other military supplies as large factories made mass production possible.

The industrial revolution led to the standardization and enhancement of weapons, as well as the feasibility of large-scale food production. This paved the way for the potential of "Total War," because machinery replaced manual labor and men were no longer needed to stay home for crop harvesting in order to feed their families. World War I occurred during this time of advancement.

Unprecedented destruction occurred during World War I due to the utilization of technology, particularly trench warfare. This method of combat was challenging and harsh because military leaders were not equipped to plan for it. The strategies taught by Napoleon's campaigns became obsolete with the introduction of machine guns and bombs, which revolutionized warfare. As a result, defenders in trench warfare had an upper hand as they could sit back and use machine guns against any attackers.

World War I battles often ended in stalemates due to the ineffectiveness of charging across "no man's land." The Battle of Marne saw one of the most devastating massacres as British troops attempted to overpower German frontlines with their numbers, resulting in 65,000 soldier deaths within five minutes. This brutal warfare caused a real impasse (Buzard, 2006). Nevertheless,

technological advancements made during World War I saw significant growth and progress in World War II.

The role of industrial creativity in warfare was evident in both World War I and II. While airplanes were not highly advanced and tanks were unreliable during WWI, these machines underwent significant improvements by the time of WWII. This resulted in the widespread use of fighter planes to bomb cities from the air, without putting troops in harm's way. A new strategy known as "carpet bombing" emerged, involving dropping vast amounts of bombs on an area to cause total destruction.

Despite their gravity guidance, the bombs were dropped sporadically and their impact was devastating. The target cities were sure to be obliterated either by the bombs themselves or the fires they caused. Tanks also underwent significant improvements before and during World War II.

Using tanks proved to be an efficient method in attacking adversaries while ensuring the safety of stationed military personnel. This approach was employed as part of a new military strategy that involved a sequential combination of planes, tanks, and ground troops. Specifically, the process entailed aerial bombing of crucial cities or capitals by planes, followed by tank deployment to finish unfinished business, and finally invasion by ground troops. The Germans aptly named this method "Blitzkrieg." a.

The approach dubbed "Blitzkrieg" or "lightning war" follows the same principle as Napoleon's tactic of dispatching troops to the capital in order to topple the government, with the aim of causing a domino effect throughout the rest of the country. These bombing techniques highlight how contemporary warfare extends beyond traditional battles involving soldiers on front lines.

The devastating use of the atomic bomb

by the United States in World War II caused significant harm to Nagasaki and Hiroshima, including innocent civilians. This serves as a potent indication of the catastrophic outcomes that may arise from total warfare.

In 2006, Buzard claimed that the atomic bomb's destructive power prevented major powers from participating in total war. The possession of nuclear technology after World War II resulted in the United States and Soviet Union becoming prominent global superpowers. However, both nations refrained from using nuclear weapons due to their devastating potential impact on humanity.

After WWII, the idea of "limited war" became more common during the Cold War, which was characterized by a rivalry between communism and capitalism. Even though they were not officially classified as wars, this conflict caused ideological disputes and led to confrontations like the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Guerrilla warfare led to a significant transformation in warfare during the Korean and Vietnam wars, as it involved a different approach. This technique proved to be successful since the armies of these countries lacked advanced technology compared to the United States. They managed to bypass the technological disadvantages by utilizing terrain, traps, and other forbidden boundaries. Due to the limited war nature of the US's assistance to these foreign countries, soldiers faced several restrictions.

The containment strategy limited soldiers to invading and retreating within specified boundaries in North Korea and North Vietnam, without authorization for entry into either country.

Due to the hit-and-run tactics of North Korea and North Vietnam, S. was hesitant to provoke a conflict with their communist allies. This was because U.S. troops were accustomed to responding with forceful retaliation, as they had in World War II.

The

tactics of warfare had a significant effect on the psychological and emotional health of American soldiers. These methods are still utilized in developing countries due to their effectiveness against powerful nations such as America (Buzard, 2006). The Vietnam War resulted in numerous Americans protesting from the late 1960s through early 1970s.

Despite the Vietnam War being labeled as a "limited war," many Americans were dissatisfied with being compelled to participate in a foreign conflict that held no affiliation to the United States. While the selective draft was not as extensive as Napoleonic "Levee en Masse," resentment lingered. In hindsight, America's participation in Vietnam seems irrational. Following an official eight-year altercation, the war appeared to be pointless.

Despite its high number of American casualties and perceived futility, the Vietnam War provided valuable insights into guerrilla warfare tactics. Like previous historical events including the Industrial Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and World Wars, it spurred technological innovations and strategic developments that required adaptable combat approaches. The emergence of "total war" during the Industrial Revolution and Napoleonic Wars was ultimately halted by the Atomic Bomb's invention at the end of World War II.

According to Buzard (2006), recent conflicts and events, both inside and outside of combat, have required an adaptation in the nature of warfare.