The Industrialization of War

World War 1 revolutionized the way that wars were fought. From tactics on the battlefield to technological advancements, WW1 changed the way that the world viewed wars. Because of the massive scale of the flighting and the heavy reliance on industry, WW1 marked the first time that the workforces of entire nations were mobilized for a war effort. In 1916, the federal government began to increase spending to raise an army for the war in europe. Massive amounts of young men were drafted in to the military. This came with the necessity to clothe, feed, and arm tens of thousands of men. Logistical challenges began to arise. The government began to create contracts for manufacturers for things like guns, ships, uniforms, and rations, awarding the contracts to the highest bidders. The economy ultimately shifted to accommodate this competition. Factories began to receive large orders for goods for the soldiers. The high demand and the high paying military contracts made companies build more factories and opened thousands of new jobs. Unskilled workers were hired at record rates to meet the demand for munitions and goods. Weapons which had previously been made by the hands of skilled gunsmiths were now being produced with mechanical efficiency by factory workers, pumping out firearms at a rate of thousands a day in some cases. In addition, the demand for automobiles, armor, and aircraft for military use created manufacturing opportunities for companies. For the first time in history, civilian companies began to innovate in military technology. Notable example of this include the ford motor company, who began to design aircraft engines in the later part of the war, and springer, a sewing machine manufacturer who modified, perfected, and in limited quantities produced the model 1911 pistol. The united states emerged as a economic superpower by the end of the war due to its efficiency with manufacturing and the motivation to serve the needs of the war effort. To conclude, the industrialization of WW1 changed the way that we approach wars at home.