What does it mean to describe both the First World War and the Second World War as total wars - Essay Example

It is characterized by the calculated, methodical conflation of the civilian and military scopes of industrial warfare. From these definitions, describing the First and Second World Wars as total wars mean that the two wars entailed military conflict where the participants mobilized military and civilian resources to accomplish victory; they were wars of extremes. In both the wars, States had to mobilize all the intellectual, moral, and material resources of the civilians; everyone was legitimate to the wars.

There were widespread deaths like no other. For instance, one can relate Act II of the Total War to explain the dramatic increase in civilian casualties. In the First World War, it was estimated that more than 6 million civilians and over 9 million soldiers lost their lives. Second World War on the other hand led to a loss of 45 million civilians and 15 million soldiers. These were extreme cases of life loss in the wars. In the first WWI, the Trench warfare, which was expected to be fought peacefully and quickly, came to be a prolonged war, which caused too much harm.

In the WWII, the war fought at sea resulted in extreme losses of arms and lives. Until the entry of Russia in 1942, British fought a naval war, with the support of several technologies such as aircrafts. The U.S navy was so big in size, with Britain’s seconding it. From 1940 to 1943, Germany fought with Britain over the Atlantic. Germany submarines strangled British trade and reinforcement of the Far East and the Mediterranean. With few vessels, but capable of breaking the British naval codes, German submarines attacked areas where groups would not be shielded by aircrafts.

Consequently, submarines sank 2,000 British ships in 1941, with a total of 8 million tons. British trade was limited as compared to pre-war times. In the WWII, civilians were forced to do anything for the sake of the War. The Home front involved majorly of industrialization, where women were totally succumbed to hardships and suffering. In Germany, more than seven million forced workers were forced to provide labor at the point of a gun, while slaves were literally overworked to the extents of death.

War posters were placed in open places, contradicting the portrayal of women. For example, women portraits showed Germany and Japan in America as destructive and bestial enemies who were to destroy the unique culture that maintained the well-liked sense of superiority. The two wars could also be described as “Total Wars,” when looked at in the perspective of the oppressive and powerful Nazi states. For instance, Hitler’s ideas of the Second World War utilized short campaigns where targeted nations would be conquered individually or in portions before they were well prepared.

Hitler wished to sustain the living standards of the civilians. Even after the conflict before Moscow, he resisted huge changes in economic policies. The situation was not the same after the tragedies in North Africa and Stalingrad, where Germany was defeated. Hitler feared being seen publicly. This led Goebbels, the propaganda minister to announce that Germany would fight a “total war.” This was in his long speech in 1943, and he demanded that German people make real sacrifices immediately the Allied Strategic Bombing campaign effected.

Germans faced big armies and war efforts that Soviets, British, and Americans could muster. Just like Germany,