How did the weapons of World War I play a significant role in the massive amount of casualties during the war?

Answer 1

WWI was the first time that gas was used in warfare.

"In World War I terms, chemical warfare included not only gas, but liquid flammable material, thermite, and smoke (all of which are relevant to the modern battlefield). This study will deal only with what participants referred to as "chemicals ... gases," or "war gases." These included real gases such as phosgene and chlorine, and also weapons that, while referred to as gases, were in fact vaporized liquids (mustard gas, for example) or finely ground solids."

WWI is the first time that planes and bombs were first dropped from airplanes.

"The first bombing occurred in November 1911.
Although the first bomb was dropped by the Italians, soon
all countries were involved in bombing raids."

Tanks were first used in warfare in WWI:

"Tanks were first used in World War I to break the deadlock of the trenches, and they evolved gradually to assume the former role of cavalry on the battlefield: to either flank opposing positions with fast movement, or to penetrate defenses by massive concentration. they remain among the most formidable and versatile weapons of the modern battlefield, both for their ability to engage other ground targets (including fortifications) and their shock value against infantry. "

Also the machine gun had been perfected I believe--these weapons all amplified the ability to kill and to kill from a distance. That increased casualties multifold.

"Estimates of their equivalent, accurate, rifle firepower varied, with some estimating a single machine gun to be worth as many as 60-100 rifles: a more consensual figure is around 80, still an impressively high figure."

Also, we had not yet developed antibiotics, so many solidiers also died from their wounds that became infected.

World War I was also just that--a world war--meaning that rather than an engagement between a few nations in a limited theater of war, it involved many nations in multiple theaters of war. So it naturally had more casualties because war was spread over a greater area. Naturally the use of new weapons for mass killing spread over a greater area, results in a greater number of casualities and wounded.

Answer 2

WWI, this is an very interesting time period and war. It's a huge change coming from others like the Civil War or the Indian War. Now that you got all these different weapons, it's a whole complete war.

1. Machine guns were invented at going off more then 300 bpm (bullets per minute)
2. Chemical warfare have been introduced causing more casualties.
3. Planes with bombs were dropped over enemy territory.

I hope that kind of help you out a bit.

Answer 3

The weapons of that war were modern while the tactics and for the most part attack plans of the Generals were better suited to the Napoleonic weaponry. Men walked across mud and shell hole through tangles of barbwire from trenches within rifle shot of the enemy. Only the enemy hand grenades and mortars and machine guns. Artillery killed more soldiers than any other weapon and the mass attacks killed so many. The bayonet was use full and used mainly opening cans of bully beef. The soldiers soon learned to sharpen the sides of their shovels, short three foot implements which were used in trench raids and defending their own trench.

Answer 4

There were no real conventions against 'cruel weapons' like Mustard Gas. The perfecting of reliable automatic weapons (machine guns), Greatly improved accuracy in field artillery, air planes became combat units (bombers and fighters) rather than just observation platforms, tanks, and the personal arms of the individual weapons carried were horrendous, combat knives fitted with brass knuckles, highly accurate rifles with great range and all manner of 'experimental weapons' were tried.

Basically you had a war with modern weapons being fought with 19th century tactics. No military leaders knew how to take advantage of 'combined arms tactics' or fire and maneuver. Everyone sat in trenches, charged out the enemies trenches, got mowed down by machine gun fire, retreated back into their own filthy trenches where minor wounds got infected. They sat there waiting for the other side to do the same charge and retreat under fire stuff.

Minor wounds killed most of the combatants from disease, true in most wars prior to now. Stupidity is the real culprit in WW l.

Answer 5

Technology during World War I reflected a trend toward industrialism and the application of mass production methods to weapons and to the technology of warfare in general. This trend began fifty years earlier during the U.S. Civil War, and continued through many smaller conflicts in which new weapons were tested. Introduction of tanks and other military hardwares, poisn gas, naval weapons aircrafts, played significant role in heavy casulties during the war.

Answer 6

With WWI we are looking at an industrialized war fought with what amounts to near Nepolianic tactics. Having a larg group of men slowly walk towards the enemy in a tight formartion stops being effective when the enemy has machine guns.

This war saw the introduction of some turely revolutionary weaponry. The machine gun, more accurate mortar and artillary, aircraft, tanks, and not to be forgotton was the first wide-spread use of chemical warfare.

Both sides used new and more devistating weaponry but did not adjust their tactics accordingly.

Answer 7

well, the weapons used were so devastating because nobody had any protection against it. The poisonous gas killed many because gas masks weren't introduced later in the war. And the machine guns destroyed cavalry and footsoldiers becasue of the rapid rate of fire. As for the tanks, there had never really been a mobile artillery unit, so that cause massive damage.

Answer 8

The war was waged as a trench war. The weapon that reaped massive death was the machine gun. Men were trained to stand up, jump out of the trench and run into machine gun fire.

Helped keep the population down.

War is very useful.

Answer 9

The masses of casualties were, i think by reason that the armies on each front were neutered by trench warfare. They could not go forward so each side dug in and waited for reinforcements.. a nineteenth century tactic with 20th century weapons.

Battles lasted months in relatively polarized positions and re-enforcements took the place of those killed or injured.. for months on end.

The sad fact is that many men (they were mostly just 18 years old... but they died as men) were killed by gas poisoning in the war but didn't know it until they got home and physically died a few years later... leaving behind their new spouses and children to fend for themselves.

Answer 10

In world war 1 the basic military actions were based on large numbers of people fighting at close quarters.
The weapons used were large and primitive working on the basis that larger was better.