The Changing Nature of Warfare: aspects and impacts of each factor

Aspects of each factor
Criteria that defines each factor – what is it? What does it mean? What does it involve?

e.g total war involves a war economy, civilian targets, increased state controls;

industrialisation can mean mass production, precision engineering, development of new technology

1.1 Generalship 1.2 Quality of soldiers
 Inspiration of troops
 Size of armies
 Strategy
 Training of soldiers
 Tactics
 Experience of soldiers
 Planning operations
 Morale of soldiers
 Developing and applying new technology
 Equipment of troops
 Management and application of resources
 Belief in reason for fighting (ideology, nationalism)
 Organising and reforming the structure of armies


1.3 Strategy 1.4 Tactics

 Economic warfare  Frontal assaults  Surprise/deception
 Seeking a decisive battlefield victory  Manoeuvre tactics
 Strategic targeting of civilians  Tech-based tactics
 Attempt to achieve a quick war  Scorched earth tactics
 Invasions and opening fronts  Defensive tactics
 Attritional strategy  Guerrilla tactics
 Technology-based strategy  Specialist tactics



1.6 Total War 2.1 Industrialisation

 Total war economy  Mass production
 Direct attacks on civilians  Precision engineering
 Increased state controls  New + more advanced weapons
 Conscription  New technology (steam power, internal
 Air raids + bombing combustion engine)
 Blockades  Industrial might – ability to sustain war
 Economic/attrition warfare
 Mobilisation of public opinion (e.g. propaganda)


2.1 Technology 2.2 Developments in weaponry
 Transport technology  Longer range + more rapid-firing small arms
 Communications technology (machine gun, breech-loading weapons)
 Weapons technology  More accurate small arms (rifle musket)
 Artillery
 Ammunition (Minie bullet)
 Tanks
 The atomic bomb

, 2.3 Developments in communications 2.3 Developments in transport

 Runners  Marching
 Semaphore  Steam power
 Electric telegraph  Railways
 Radio  Steam ships
 Field telephone  Internal combustion engine
 Tanks
 Aircraft
 Motor vehicles (lorries etc)




4.1 Organisation of the state 4.2 Conscription

 Mobilisation of economy, industry and labour  Reserve system
 Mobilisation of manpower (conscription &  Civilians in the military
recruitment)  Larger armies
 Repression/control of civilians
 Economic management (taxes, new currencies)
 Supplying/equipping of armies
 Winning public support for war (propaganda)



4.3 Public opinion 4.4 Economic factors

 Desire to enter, sustain or end wars  Productive capacity
 Desired objectives from war  Mobilisation of total war economy
 Support for/involvement in the war effort  Economic + industrial development
 Economic + industrial strength
 Allocation of resources – providing for army and
civilians
 Mobilisation of manpower