WWI Trilogy

Navigating the Heartache WWI Brings

militarism

The Causes of World War I: Part 3 – Militarism

March 16, 2016 By Melina Druga Off

Militarism is defined as maintaining a large military and being prepared to use it to defend a nation’s interests.

In the early 20th century, this arms race led to disaster.

Industrial Output

The years prior to the war saw a surge in industrialization. Manufacturing output grew, buildings were electrified, municipal water works were constructed, and railroad networks crossed Europe.

New inventions and scientific discoveries increased the human lifespan and led to a population explosion starting in the last quarter of the 19th century. In 1900, a quarter of the world’s 1.6 billion people lived in Europe. This population contributed to both the workforce and the military.

Along with discoveries that improved lives came inventions that took them.

 

Killing machines that were invented or perfected from 1875 to 1920 include:

  • Machine guns
  • Artillery guns
  • Airplanes
  • Dreadnoughts, the first modern warship
  • Submarines
  • High explosives
  • Smokeless propellants replace gunpowder
  • Rapid fire rifles
  • Tanks

Building an Arsenal

By August 1914, the major European powers had been preparing for war for years. Nations competed to see which could build the largest navy. New military technologies also meant armies had to be reequipped.

Conscription went into effect in many nations, requiring men to spend a compulsory amount of time in military service.

When the war began, nations were convinced it would end quickly. Kaiser Wilhelm, for example, promised his troops they would be home before the autumn leaves changed color.

Where to Purchase the WWI Trilogy

This post is a companion piece to Melina Druga’s WWI Trilogy: Angel of Mercy, Those Left Behind and Adjustment Year.  The trilogy focuses on Hettie and her family as they navigate the challenges and heartbreak World War I brings.

Angel of Mercy:  A nurse reluctantly sacrifices her career for marriage. An impending war will change her, and her husband’s, life forever.  Available in eBook, paperback and hardcover.  Click here for a full list of retailers.

Those Left Behind:  The brewing winds of war will soon rip the family apart. Available in eBook, paperback and hardcover.  Click here for a full list of retailers.

Adjustment Year:  A war nurse returns home. Society expects her to carry on as if the Great War never happened. But how can she?  Available in eBook, paperback and hardcover.  Click here for a full list of retailers.

CategoryDaily Life - Great War
Tagscauses of WWI

About The Author

Melina Druga writes about the past because although school history classes may have been boring, the past was not.  Her era of expertise, and obsession, is 1890-1920 with a particular focus on the Great War and how it affected the lives of ordinary people.  Druga is the author of the WWI Trilogy.