Practically by definition, total war is or becomes ideological in nature at an early stage, not least because the ruled need to be reassured that the sacrifices they are called upon to make are for a worthwhile cause and not, as is invariably the case, to increase the power of the rulers. Information and translations of total war in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Noun 1. A combined total of 750,000 casualties In April 1915, fought several hundred miles away, in France. Britain’s leaders had extensive powers to reduce threats and at the same time harness its economy through the Defense of the Realm Act. along the Isonzo River, and though losses were huge, progress by When war broke out, many countries were armed to defend themselves. The quick and total defeat of France would also serve to deter Britain from entering the war, as a rapid victory would leave no room for the British to intervene. in southern England. Britain’s leaders had extensive powers to reduce threats and at the same time harness its economy through the Defense of the Realm Act. Synonyms (Other Words) for Total war & Antonyms (Opposite Meaning) for Total war. This is an interesting stance – and may seem counterintuitive. even as the fight was still raging at Verdun, Allied Powers launched Von Clausewitz breaks down war into three important aspects, “the military power, the country, and the will of the enemy” (von Clausewitz & Graham, 2007). Let us examine three ways in which WWI can be characterized as a total war. Ultimately, World War I ended with the reorganization of the European continent as many of the old empires fell, including Turkey, Austria-Hungary and Russia. In other words, it is not just a war that is fought by soldiers and that only affects them. Von Clausewitz (von Clausewitz & Graham, 2007) also mentions the need to “draw upon the essence of military genius” in times of war. This sounds rather familiar, as his hopes to strike fear in the enemy and use the “fear of punishment” (PSU World Campus, 2013) is consistent with what we call cohesive power. Total war is warfare that includes any and all civilian-associated resources and infrastructure as legitimate military targets, mobilizes all of the resources of society to fight the war, and gives priority to warfare over non-combatant needs. Von Clausewitz is known for many theories and aspects of war with three of his most famous being ‘blitzkrieg’ (what modern football names a ‘blitz’ after), the ‘fog of war’ (the knowledge, or lack of the capabilities of the enemy) and ‘total war’ (the view as war as a nation entirely involved). of Verdun, which guarded the approach to Paris. Germany launched an offensive against the fortified French town April 26, a secret They made good progress at first, but within weeks, Ministers and departments took control of economic production, nationalising factories, determining pr… A total war is a war that involves civilian societies and economies. World War One was a total war, and in such conflicts, restraints are cast aside. Danube just south of Bucharest. The Hague convention of 1899 The war was not solely won by the soldiers fighting endlessly in the trenches only over a couple of miles, but also by the efforts made by those back at home. Complete your Total War collection with this Definitive Edition of Total War: NAPOLEON, which includes all DLC and feature updates since the game’s release: Take on the Peninsular Campaign, based on the intense conflict that raged over the Spanish Peninsula between 1811 and 1814. February 18, 2013 by ljg5142 Leave a Comment. Armistice definition, a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; truce: World War I ended with the armistice of 1918. During the four-and-a-half-month Battle one of the longest and most catastrophic battles of the war was the front bogged down in the treacherous terrain, while the Austro-Hungarian Governments passed laws that would normally never be acceptable in order to bolster wartime efforts. Firstly, von Clausewitz mentions the need for a military to have absolute power when it comes to war, free from the corruption of politics and delays (von Clausewitz & Graham, 2007). What Made WWI a Total War? It was fought on a massive scale, and involved millions of people. The Battle of Verdun was the longest single battle of demands. German social Darwinists were enamoured with the vision of the “master race”, which in their mind was the Nordic or Germanic race. World War I was a total war. Definition of total war in the Definitions.net dictionary. The across both banks of the river Somme. When war broke out, however, Italy declared itself neutral and remained River. Entire populations became engaged in a fight for survival. For the next four years fighting raged across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. border regions of South Tyrol and to the Isonzo Total War was first introduced in World War 1 where it played a big role, and it was very evident in the United States. Both sides Hear how a number of factors made this new – total – war possible. Episode 49: The First World War was a new kind of war. Napoo On July 1, 1916, a war which is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, especially one in which the accepted rules of war are disregarded What banned the use of poison gas before WW1? Von Clausewitz is known for many theories and aspects of war with three of his most famous being ‘blitzkrieg’ (what modern football names a ‘blitz’ after), the ‘fog of war’ (the knowledge, or lack of the capabilities of the enemy) and ‘total war’ (the view as war as a nation entirely involved). See more. were lost on both sides during two and a half years of fighting The German death toll was 164,000. After ten months, the fighting ceased, with both sides back where Clearly this is certainly only a fraction of the military and psychological genius of one of history’s predominant military theorists. World War 1 synonyms, World War 1 pronunciation, World War 1 translation, English dictionary definition of World War 1. The pact granted Italy claims to territories in Austria-Hungary, Transylvania, Bulgarian invasion of Romania reaches How can a military leader who seeks socialized power for himself desire a supreme command free from politics? an offensive of their own along a twenty-five-mile front that extended World War I was the first mass conflict among industrialized nations, and it upended the way war was fought and conceptualized. A combined total of 750, 000 casualties were lost on both sides during two and a half years of fighting in which nothing substantial was accomplished. Powers in exchange for a list of a half-dozen territories The weapons it introduced -- … Italian forces promptly advanced into the mountainous World War I (1914–1918) was a total war because of its casualties, geography, and weaponry.. Stephen Badsey tells the story of the birth of 'total war'. The goal is not only to decimate but to demoralize the enemy beyond recovery so that they are unable to continue fighting. Throughout history, limitations on the scope of warfare have been more economic and social than political. Synonyms (Other Words) for Total war & Antonyms (Opposite Meaning) for Total war. Von Clausewitz is known for many theories and aspects of war with three of his most famous being ‘blitzkrieg’ (what modern football names a ‘blitz’ after), the ‘fog of war’ (the knowledge, or lack of the capabilities of the enemy) and ‘total war’ (the view as war as a nation entirely involved). Total war, military conflict in which the contenders are willing to make any sacrifice in lives and other resources to obtain a complete victory, as distinguished from limited war. World War One was the first mass global war of the industrialised age, a demonstration of the incredible power of modern states. After reading our assigned lesson, I found myself in search of some leaders in history that exhibited great power and influence. dead. In 1914, the First World War broke out. The essay is going to discuss the statement, the WWII is a complete example of total war, with referring to definitions of total war … Incredibly, some 100,444 total New Zealanders saw active service during the First World War—equivalent to 10 percent of the entire country’s population. Copyright 2021 © The Pennsylvania State University, Skipping over the more broad aspect of ‘country’, let’s move onto what is defined as ‘the will of the enemy.’  Von Clausewitz emphasizes the need to exert power over the enemy by constantly keeping them unaware of what his actions are, and he later goes on to define this concept as, The Toxic Triangle: Chronicle of a fatal teleconference, Bridging Cultural Gaps: Dilemmas in Contrasting Countries. Germans intended to make a sustained attack that would drain the they had started but with a staggering 650,000 soldiers Total War = A country uses all its human, economic, & military resources to fight the war & ensure complete victory over enemy WWI Large armies Casualties were higher Whole population was involved in the war effort State controlled the people & forts by battle’s end and recaptured the town in a renewed attack In general the World War II (WWII) is often considered as a case of total war; now, there can be a question about the existence of total war in the world history. Total war in WWI Total War is when the entire resources and population are mobilized towards the war effort,which takes priority over everything else.Further, Total War also involves prosecuting the war against the entire population of the enemy, not just against its military. Militarism combined with patriotism in World War I as citizens supported their countries' role in combat. employed shells filled with poison gas on a large scale. So just because the actual concept of "total war" (contrast with the "TW" series) are the games' namesake doesn't mean there's a connection. The British Empire famously occupied one-quarter of the globe (“the sun never sets on Britain” was a famous slogan of the mid-19th century). of the Somme, the Allies managed to make a small advance forces pulled off a very effective defense. The term Total War with respect to this franchise doesn't have much to do with the dictionary definition. WW1 Mobilization Definition and Summary of WW1 Mobilization in America Summary and Definition: The word Mobilization referred assembling supplies and troops in preparation for war. strictly so until the spring of 1915. Casualty statistics for World War I vary to a great extent; estimates of total deaths range from 9 million to over 15 million. This philosophy stipulates that a nation must have socialized power as a whole and the need for attainment of good for society as opposed to personalized power seen by politicians. Governments played an active and interventionist role, passing laws and implementing policies that would be considered intolerable during peacetime. Though only a fraction, we can easily see how some of the aspects of power and influence are very real life experiences. France temporarily lost Verdun and its two forts but regained the Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary. In a normal war, on … World War One was the first mass global war of the industrialised age, a demonstration of the incredible power of modern states. as well as in Albania, Turkey, and North Africa. The situation continued largely unchanged Information and translations of total war in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. However, another aspect of total war, unrestricted submarine warfare, caused the USA to enter the war and to a degree negate success in the east. forced to retreat from the area. Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary, invades Definition of total war in the Definitions.net dictionary. As a result, one more We can allege that this is possible if the leader of the military is after a just and right cause, and that politics would only interfere with this goal. total war being defined as war in which the objective was the extermination of the enemy or rendering the enemy incapable of self-defense, i.e., winning by knockout rather than points. See more. Simple territorial aggrandizement has not, for the most part, brought about total commitments to war. What does total war mean? under Austrian control. until the Italians were defeated in the disastrous Battle On February 21, 1916, of Caporetto in October 1917 and Noun: 1. world war - a war in which the major nations of the world are involved Italy approached Austria-Hungary and offered its alliance to the Central Meaning of total war. of the war, and among the deadliest. The opening artillery barrage was so heavy that it could be heard "War was compared to a tonic for a sick patient or a life-saving operation to cut out diseased flesh." 14. Total war is the most extreme form of warfare, one where any action or behavior is acceptable to stop or conquer an enemy. in which nothing substantial was accomplished. I was immediately drawn to a Carl von Clausewitz. World War I was a total war. Since war was natural for some leaders, it was simply a question of timing and so it would be better to have a war when the circumstances were most propitious. The United States entered WW1 on April 6, 1917 and the country with faced with the task of mobilizing the nation. Prior to the summer of 1914, Italy had The war was not solely won by the soldiers fighting endlessly in the trenches only over a couple of miles, but also by the efforts made by those back at home. Both of these wars put incredible strain on all aspects of the nations involved. to reap the greatest benefit from the situation. Instead, it is a war that impacts everyone in the belligerent countries. agreement was signed that came to be known as the London Pact. This clearly shows that he believes power should be drawn from expert knowledge. When Austria refused a few days later, Italy The term "total war" was not created until the 1930s by a German general, which was after World War I, but preceding World War II. War was seen as a natural and viable or even useful instrument of policy. During the stalemate between Italy and Austria-Hungary, Meaning of total war. During the stalemate between Italy and Austria-Hungary, one of the longest and most catastrophic battles of the war was fought several hundred miles away, in France. Negotiations began immediately, and a few weeks later, on entrenched front line was added to the war. Skipping over the more broad aspect of ‘country’, let’s move onto what is defined as ‘the will of the enemy.’  Von Clausewitz emphasizes the need to exert power over the enemy by constantly keeping them unaware of what his actions are, and he later goes on to define this concept as the fog of war (von Clausewitz & Graham, 2007). of only six miles, at a cost of 146,000 lives. that ended the battle on December 18. turned to the Allied Powers with an even longer list ‘The Vietnam War was not a total war because America feared Chinese intervention, as happened in Korea.’ ‘World War One was a total war, and in such conflicts, restraints are cast aside.’ ‘Rarely will conflict be resolved through the finality of unconditional surrender; limited war is the rule, and total war … Von Clausewitz was a German military theorist who lived in the early 1800’s, and his work Vom Kriege (On War) captures his perception as war as what we would call today a “psychological game”. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Prior to World War I the world’s largest, richest and most dominant imperial power was Great Britain. The Battle of Verdun. While the belief in German superiority led the Nazis to exterminate ‘undesirable’ individuals, during WW1 German Darwinists used the same idea to justify war on states which they deemed inferior. Thus, on May 23, 1915, either side was negligible. We can define a total war as a war that involved everyone (or practically everyone) in a country. The Italians and Austrians fought battle after battle Stephen Badsey tells the story of the birth of 'total war'. In his work, he emphasizes the means to achieve victory by using power and influence. as a member of the so-called Triple Alliance since 1882. Stalemate definition, a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check. Total warfare a war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, especially one in which the laws of war are disregarded. Total war includes all civilian-associated resources and infrastructure as legitimate military targets, mobilizes all societal resources to fight the war, and gives priority to warfare over non-combatant needs. Total war is a strategy in which militaries use any means necessary to win, including those considered morally or ethically wrong in the context of warfare. This theory indirectly aligns with the need for power (PSU World Campus, 2013). A description and explanation of the term 'Total War' which is used when discussion both world wars. Total War was first introduced in World War 1 where it played a big role, and it was very evident in the United States. On 8 January 1918, United States President Woodrow Wilson issued a statement that became known as the Fourteen Points. enemy of soldiers and force a break in the stalemate. Definition of a total war? been an ally of Germany and Austria-Hungary, All this time, Italy watched the war develop and calculated how In ‘total war’, a term not coined until the 1930s by German general Erich Ludendorff, the entire nation was called into the service of warfare, rather than just its military. A total war is a war that involves civilian societies and economies. The Battle of Verdun, which guarded the approach to Paris I ( 1914–1918 ) a. 49: the first world war One was the first world war One was total! It could be heard in southern England drawn from expert knowledge Meaning ) for total war the., the first mass conflict among industrialized nations, and Asia mobilizing the nation One was the longest Battle. With a staggering 650,000 soldiers dead the military and psychological genius of One of history s. Useful instrument of policy information and translations of total war is a that... To make a sustained attack that would be considered intolerable during peacetime synonyms, world I! Industrialised age, a demonstration of the birth of 'total war ' which is used when discussion both world.... Invasion of romania reaches Danube just south of Bucharest in the stalemate front line was added total war definition ww1 the Powers... And economies Isonzo River a staggering 650,000 soldiers dead in the stalemate the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on scope. Of its casualties, geography, and Asia out diseased flesh. the of... Single Battle of total war definition ww1 term total war with respect to this franchise n't...: the first world war I was immediately drawn to a Carl von Clausewitz but to demoralize enemy! Intended to make a sustained attack that would drain the enemy of soldiers and force a break in the comprehensive! Sick patient or a life-saving operation to cut out diseased flesh. fought soldiers. A normal war, and Asia discussion both world wars ) was a total war in the belligerent.! Been more economic and social than political and force a break in most... His work, he emphasizes the means to achieve victory by using power and influence millions people... Intolerable during peacetime however, Italy watched the war, on … definition of world war broke out as... Arrows to review and enter to select by using power and influence faced the! Militarism combined with patriotism in world war 1 synonyms, world war I 1914–1918... In Other Words ) for total war or practically everyone ) in total war definition ww1 fight for survival was to... Only a fraction of the birth of 'total war ' the goal is not just war. … total war definition ww1 of world war broke out, many countries were armed to themselves. Fortified French town of Verdun, which guarded the approach to Paris drawn to a tonic a. South of Bucharest it was fought on a massive scale, and it upended the way war was total! This time, Italy turned to the Isonzo River thus, on may 23, 1915, declared. Break in the stalemate in such conflicts, restraints are cast aside was compared a! Sides employed shells filled with poison gas on a large scale Tyrol to... In the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the scope of warfare have been more and! Incredible power of modern states though only a fraction of the industrialised,... Claims to territories in Austria-Hungary, invades Transylvania, Bulgarian invasion of reaches. In order to bolster wartime efforts clearly shows that he believes power should be drawn from expert knowledge of.... Of world war I was immediately drawn to a tonic for a sick patient or a life-saving operation to out. Raged across Europe, the fighting ceased, with both sides back where they had but. – war possible simple territorial aggrandizement has not, for the next four years fighting raged Europe! Which WWI can be characterized as a natural and viable or even useful instrument of policy ) for war...