how did world war 1 become a total war?

Answer 1

It has been said that every war is a total war for the weaker side. Unfortunately, the Great War was so evenly balanced militarily, and advances in weaponry had so aided the defence that any offensive would necessarily be costly and indecisive.

More importantly, perhaps, improved industrial and transport capacity necessarily involved entire nations, not just their professional armies, in the war, while improved communications (national newspapers allowing more effective distribution of propaganda) involved them emotionally.

Answer 2

Because most of the countries were locked into agreements to take arms if anyone else in the agreement was attacked or said they had been threatened. So the small incident with the killing of the archduke rapidly escalated as countries made demands. It didn't help that a lot of tension had been building and people were looking for an excuse to invade new territory.

Answer 3

2 causes. The generals began out combating a twentieth century conflict utilizing 18th century strategies. you are able to't in simple terms team at the same time your adult males and march them, or actually have them charge, for the era of open floor adverse to gadget guns and entrenched positions. that would want to artwork adverse to a muzzle loading riflemen, if you're keen to pay the butcher's bill for that first volley, notwithstanding it grow to be suicide adverse to repeating rifles. once the conflict slowed down into trench conflict, all of it yet certain that the conflict grow to be going to be depressing and bloody. the 2d reason, technologies. there is no longer something like conflict to inspire technological techniques. interior the case of WW1 this may include using airplanes, tanks, and chemical conflict. a majority of those further to the stress of combating as well as to the body count number. the only sturdy element is that the chemical conflict grow to be so negative, no longer even Hitler grow to be keen to apply it interior the subsequent conflict.

Answer 4

because of the alliance system going on beforehand.When that austrian prince got killed,Austria considered serbia a rebel province and want an excuse for punishing serbia.But the Czar Nicolas 2 saw himself as protector of all slavs everywhere,So he was going to war to 'protect and save' serbia.But all of a sudden. germany fely threatened by the russians going through.Then France started worrying about Germany as well because she was obligated by treaty to defend russia too.Then england went into the fray because her empire connections were threatened by german naval activity and the Kaiser's ambition to find Germany 'a place in the sun' as she was obligated by treaty too to defend France as well.And so how it can go sometimes in human events.One thing leads to another,like"i'll beat U up because U beat my friend kind of deal".Yes?!

Answer 5

It didn't.
In WW1 civilians were not deliberately targetted to any large extent as in WW2.
WW1 was mainly fought between armies