Warfare of the World Wars

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Since the dawn of mankind, we have used tools to assist our daily needs. In no time, simple tools became weapons, and throughout our history we have witnessed the evolution of these tools of destruction. From swords to the bow and arrow, and revolvers to atomic bombs, warfare has been an ever-changing industry. Warfare of the Second World War greatly differs from that of World War One. Within the short twenty-five year time period between wars, we see the greatest developments in organized military history; aircrafts create a whole new role in war, land weapons are perfected, and war strategies are heavily altered as a whole new set of battle ideals are set into play, based around the discovery of a devastating new power. The role of aircrafts has greatly changed over the course of the two wars. Prior to and during WWI, airplanes were underdeveloped, made of hardwood and canvas and incapable of flying long distances or carrying any weight. During the early years of the first war, they were used as methods of reconnaissance photographs and to spy on enemy lines. By 1915, the Germans had planes with mounted Fokker machine guns at the front which could effectively fire through the prop, turning the airplane into an offensive weapon. This new innovation gave birth to air combat and “dogfights”. Aviation aces during this time included, Billy Bishop, The Red Baron and Rene Fonck, each with over 70 victories. By 1917, airplanes were proving to play a significant role in warfare as many people realized that control of the skies could change the outcome of the war.“The sky is about to become another battlefield no less important than the battlefields on land and sea.... We had better get accustomed to this idea, and prepare ourselves” ... ... middle of paper ... ...greatly from that of WWI. In less than twenty five years between two of the world`s greatest organised conflicts, human kind has progressed warfare from rifles and trench fights to super powers capable of eradicating us from the planet. From seizing underground dugouts to conquering the skies, seas and cities, World War II forever changed the face of warfare for future generations. Over the course of two wars, we have witnessed the newfound importance of aerial combat, the modernization of army weaponry, and the discovery of new effective ways to carry out war. As Albert Einstein once said upon the detonation of the atomic bomb, “I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought with, but I do know that World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” This shows that while our technology advances rapidly, our morals remain the same, primitive.

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