What makes a war a World War?

Question

Did people call it WWII or WWI when they were happening or after they ended? Is there a line that needs to be crossed or an amount of coutries or battlegrounds that need to be involved?

Answer 1

After the winner is determined and the history books are written by the victors. During the conflict, its usually called the 'great war', the 'european war', the 'patriotic war', etc. At least that's what happened after WWI and WWII.

A critical mass will include the major powers of the world in two camps and conflict on most of the continents and oceans. There are currently 40+/- wars and conflicts going on at any given time, but they are relegated to the heap of regional conflicts and proxy wars. the world war status is very discriminating....

Answer 2

What Makes A World War

Answer 3

World War One was called The Great War when it was going on, and then after American President Wilson made his 13 points, it became The War to End All Wars.
The Second World War received that name after all the major superpowers became involved, before it was a separate Sino-Japanese War and the war in Europe was not named at the time.
The requirement for a world war is that all major powers become involved in the war on one side or another. So the chances of Iran becoming the source of a 3rd World War are slim to none.

Answer 4

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RE:
What makes a war a World War?
Did people call it WWII or WWI when they were happening or after they ended? Is there a line that needs to be crossed or an amount of coutries or battlegrounds that need to be involved?

Answer 5

Well the world is sort of divided between the East and the West. If there are several nations within a region, say Arab region, fighting then it could be called a regional war or conflict. But if it spills outside of the region and other nations from other regions get involve where two alliances are formed against each other then that could be called a world war.

Answer 6

People called the first world war "the great war", the "European war" and "the war to end all wars". But at the time they also referred to "the world at war" and such.

There were many that said in 1919 that the Versailles Treaty that ended The Great War had guaranteed that we would fight another one -- they predicted it would become World War One. But most didn't start using the term 'world war' until the second one started. Then the world realized that it had been the first.

The second world war was pretty much always recognized as a sequel and was called a world war as it was happening.

But there is no line, just general consensus.

Answer 7

Sadly if all of the news agencies in America (which are owned by four corporations total) call it a world war, you will too whether anybody else in the world does or not. Britain would probably folow suit with us.

WWI was called "The war to end all wars," while they fought it. WWII was called WWII.

Answer 8

A war becomes a world war when warring factions are super powers which has lots of territories worlwide thus also controlling the economy and global politics. Note world wars involves economy, territories and politics.

Answer 9

WW1 was "The Great War" ....

If you'd like to know what makes a "World War"....sit back, have yourself a beer, and stayed tuned...

I say it'll happen in just a few years.

Answer 10

the un has more or less ended these.if a country declared war on another country,soon enough allies jumped in and that was a starting point or ignitor.today, the only ihnitor is the use of nuclear weapons