Warfare – 19th, 20th and 21st centuries
Women have always played a role in war, sometimes by fighting but usually in support of the troops. Famous Welsh nurse Betsi Cadwaladr demonstrated this in the Crimean War between 1853 and 1855.
From the 19th century, When a country's economy moves from being based on farming to being based on industry. led to major changes in warfare. It was easier to produce small arms weapons, like rifles, that could be used by relatively unskilled solders, which in turn increased the use of conscription. Soldiers who fought on horseback. were replaced by mounted Foot soldiers., and after the First World War (1914-1918) the use of field Large, heavy guns used in war. to support troops became standard.
World War One and World War Two
Trench warfare presented a major challenge to military tactics in this period, as machine guns, gas attacks and the use of airplanes led to Something which has never happened before, has no precedent. and sickening casualty rates. However, the use of tanks during the Battle of the Somme (1 July–18 November 1916) pointed the way to a more technological, mobile style of war.
The First World War showed the effectiveness of propaganda and conscription in raising armies and sustaining How confident, enthusiastic and positive a person, or group of people, feels.. By the Second World War (1939-1945), the vast production effort involved the whole nation in what was called total war. Direct civilian involvement and suffering increased as aerial bombing became a feature of warfare, especially during the Battle of Britain (1940) and the Blitz (1940-1941).
During both world wars, women proved to be a major asset to the war effort, by replacing male workers in munitions factories and on farms, and continuing to support troops as messengers, administrators and medical staff.
Developments after World War Two
In 1945, the USA ushered in the era of modern warfare with its atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. After 1947, tensions between the USA and the USSR, called the Cold War, led to the frightening prospect of nuclear war. Hi-tech warfare continued to develop with warplanes, missiles and computerised tracking and launch systems becoming standard in the late 20th and 21st century.
Almost all countries now have well-trained and well-equipped professional standing armies, although the American defeat in Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s showed:
- that When an army uses 'hit and run' tactics, normally used by a smaller army to attack a larger force. could be effective against big, powerful armies
- unpopular wars are harder to maintain
- the media plays a role in bringing detailed information to the public, making it harder to use propaganda to keep the public on side
Today, warfare is developing rapidly through new technology such as drones and guided missiles, which can launch extremely focused attacks and minimise casualties. At sea, sophisticated submarines and aircraft carriers have replaced the more traditional warships, as the need for naval battles has reduced. On land, it is unlikely we will ever return to earlier forms of warfare, with huge armies facing each other. Instead, satellite technology means that modern war can be fought remotely.
