Impact of technological change notes - OCR Warfare History
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Course
Changing Nature of Warfare 1792-1945
Institution
OCR
Revision notes on the impact of technological change (OCR Changing Nature of Warfare A Level History). The document provides key facts for factors that include industrialisation, transportation, communication and weaponry. Additionally, the notes are sectioned into the impact on nature and outcome.
Warfare : key facts for each theme
Impact of technological change
FRW - French Revolutionary Wars
NW - Napoleonic Wars
CW - Crimean War
GWoU - German Wars of Unification
ACW - American Civil War
WW1 - First World War
WW2 - Second World War
Industrialisation - nature - the greater industrialization allowed and caused warfare to
become bigger and increased the duration.
- FRW and NW - the French were able to make more effective use of their industry for
example, by 1809 workshops in St. Etienne were producing 97,000 handguns per
year compared with just 20,000 in previous years. Their constant supply of
weaponry meant they were able to fight a series of continuous battles - in the early
1790s they were fighting an average of 3 battles per week.
- ACW - similarly, the North could rely on its industry which had a determining effect in
a protracted war. However, it was also the south’s disadvantages which played an
impact in allowing the North to carry on out-producing the south. The south’s
economy was largely rural and based on production of agricultural products like
tobacco. Whereas, the north had become increasingly urban and industrial which
meant they had six times more factories and over ten times more productive
capacity than the South. Although this would have played an impact in making the
war last longer, no battle saw over 100,000 men and horses were still being used for
transport - has characteristics of FRW and NW. Therefore, it could be other factors
that made the war last longer.
- WW1 - the industrial might of the Allies increased the duration of the war, and
allowed for warfare to become larger and more extreme. There was a dramatic
increase in the speed of industrialization throughout Europe, which led to the
production of large artillery weapons such as the massive artillery bombardment
on the Somme where 1.7 million shells were fired. It also allowed for the production
of ammunition to supply machine guns which could fire more than 10 rounds per
second.
Overall, all these wars lasted longer out of the period due to the industrial might which
allowed for continuous battles and more weaponry. The opposing side’s weaknesses in
industrial might also can play a significant role e.g. south’s in the ACW. By WW1, industry
had increased rapidly which saw the development of more weaponry and technology and
saw an increase in the extremeness of them, going from bayonets in the FRW to over a
million shells fired at one battle and the tanks.
Industrialisation - outcome
- FRW - The French were able to make more use of their industry and technology than
their enemies. By 1809, workshops in St. Etienne were producing 97,000 handguns
, per year compared with just 20,000 in previous years. They made use of new lighter
artillery which was a huge reason for victory at Valmy. However, although they
contributed to victory, it was ultimately the weight of numbers of generalship that
brought them to victory.
- ACW. - The Union had a huge advantage in terms of industry over the Confederates,
as the North had over ten times more productive capacity and six times the
factories than the South. Outproducing the enemy was just as important as
outfighting them. This allowed them to produce 97% firearms in 1860, to aid them in
the war against the South. The North’s steam driven ships also played an important
role, as one ship could carry enough supplies to support 40,000 men and 18,000
horses for two days. Despite the North’s advantages in industry, which clearly had an
impact, the war lasted a surprisingly long time which could suggest that industry
wasn’t enough to bring them to victory, and other factors played a key role as well.
- WW1 - allies were able to use their industrial dominance to outproduce Germany.
Can be seen in terms of tanks, as the Allies had accumulated over 5000, compared
to Germany's 20 by the end of the war. Without industrialisation, the tanks wouldn’t
have had enough impact on the outcome of war. Indicated through the Battle of the
Somme, as they lacked the numbers, but did become an important component in the
Allies combined arms, later in the war.
- WW2 - German Panzer tanks were highly competitive with the Allies as they were
able to move 42 kilometres per hour, which allowed them to defeat France in three
weeks. However, Germany struggled to produce enough tanks and keep them
fueled. This meant that by the end of the war Germany had manufactured less than
20,000 tanks, while the Allies had over 130,000.
Transport - nature/ led to greater mobilisation
- Franco-Prussian War - the French used railways to transport 120,000 troops to N.
Italy in 2 weeks, whereas the Austrians marched no more than 3-4 miles a day. This
allowed the French to be well rested and strategically choose where and how to fight
the Austrians next. This was a huge advantage at the Battle of Magenta, for
example, as the spirited and energetic French defeated the demoralised Austrians,
who were exhausted from a 150km march.
- Crimean War - similarly, the railways led to rapid mobilisation of resources which
meant supplies could be taken to the battlefield easily. For example, the British
engineers constructed a 25-mile long line, linking the port Balaclava to the front line.
This meant 240 tons of supplies reached the front line daily.
- WW2 - similar to railways, the internal combustion engine allowed mobility but
provided a new level and range from railways. The engine led to the development of
trucks and armoured vehicles harnessed by the German army, facilitated in
Blitzkrieg - Poland 1939 and France 1940.
- FRW and NW - contrastingly, transport was very primitive at the start of the period,
with soldiers marching to and from battles. This didn’t lead to speedy mobilisation
and often led to the troops having to abandon materials or reinforcements, to avoid
arriving too late.
Other factors that impacted the conduct:
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