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Warfare and British society in the modern era, c1900 to present
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Total war in the 20th century involved every citizen. Since 1945, technology and surveillance have changed how Britain fights.
Weapons, transport and recruitment
New weapons: machine guns, tanks, chemical weapons, aircraft, radar and nuclear weapons. Later came computerised high-tech weapons and surveillance.
Conscription began in 1916 and again in 1939. National Service continued after 1945; the last call-ups were in 1960. Women were recruited, and later Britain relied on a professional army.
Conscription began in 1916 and again in 1939. National Service continued after 1945; the last call-ups were in 1960. Women were recruited, and later Britain relied on a professional army.
Civilians
On the Home Front civilians faced bombing, rationing, propaganda and censorship in both world wars.
After 1945, fear of nuclear war grew.
Conscientious Objectors were treated harshly in the First World War and more fairly in the Second.
Reporting of wars made the public more concerned about casualties.
After 1945, fear of nuclear war grew.
Conscientious Objectors were treated harshly in the First World War and more fairly in the Second.
Reporting of wars made the public more concerned about casualties.
Case studies
The Somme (1916): began on 1 July 1916. The British suffered about 57,000 casualties on the first day. General Haig aimed to relieve the French at Verdun and wear down Germany (attrition). Tanks were used for the first time.
Iraq (2003): a US-led coalition including Britain removed Saddam Hussein within weeks using precision weapons, drones and satellite surveillance. A long guerrilla insurgency followed.
Iraq (2003): a US-led coalition including Britain removed Saddam Hussein within weeks using precision weapons, drones and satellite surveillance. A long guerrilla insurgency followed.
Explain why the Battle of the Somme is seen as a turning point.
- It showed the huge cost of attrition warfare.
- Britain's mass volunteer army suffered terrible casualties, about 57,000 on the first day.
- Tanks were used for the first time, pointing to future warfare.
Answer: It showed the human cost of attrition and introduced tanks.
Machine guns, tanks, gas, aircraft, radar, nuclear weapons. Conscription 1916 and 1939; National Service (last call-ups 1960). Home Front, censorship, propaganda. Somme 1916 (Haig, attrition); Iraq 2003 (high-tech, then guerrilla war).
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