Modern Warfare

Question 1

Recruitment and training

Answer 1

Conscription introduced from 1916 3.5m men conscripted 1916-18
Conscription introduced again September 1939, extended to men up to 51 and women 20-10 in 1941
National Service (from 1948-60). All men 17-21 had to complete 18 months of military training, then serve in the Army Reserve for 4 years.
Women accepted into army in both wars. Separate women army corps ended in 1992
Level of training improved significantly over the C.20 - high technology equipment so training is very important.

Question 2

Experience of civilians

Answer 2

Experience of civilians
More civilians enlisted and killed (700,000 in WW1, 450,000 in WW2)
DORA in WW1– Defence of the Realm Act gave government powers to control people’s lives
Civilians became targets – 1414 killed in WW1, 40,000 in WW2
Rationing limited supplies, homelessness caused by bombing campaigns, evacuation of children from cities
Fear of nuclear war – constant throughout Cold War period

Question 3

Composition of Army

Answer 3

Army grew to unprecedented size during the world wars
Haldane’s reforms 1908 – restructured army into Regular and Territorial Force
Role that cavalry largely replaced by tank units
Aircraft and tanks share role with ground artillery so the proportion of artillery troops has fallen (10%)
55% of army now specialist troops (e.g. Royal Engineers, Logistics Corps)

Question 4

Impact of new weapons

Answer 4

Change in weaponry constant and rapid between 1900-45, sped up by the 2 world wars.
Tanks, aircraft, motorised transport lead to huge changes in warfare.
Nuclear weapons transform conflict after 1945 (Hiroshima, Nagasaki)
New bomber aircraft – e.g. stealth bombers, fighter jets, drones have made bombing targets much more efficient and accurate
Infantry weapons vastly improved – assault rifles with laser aiming, telescopic sights

Question 5

Tactics

Answer 5

New weaponry meant a significant change to tactics and strategy.
WW1 – artillery, gas, trench warfare
WW2 – Blitzkrieg, radar, anti-aircraft guns, area bombing
Since 1945 - -Nuclear weapons, High-tech equipment (satellites, infantry equipment, aerial support)
Modern Wars fought very differently – more asymmetric wars to guerrilla warfare

Question 5

Key Area of change:

Answer 5

World Wars had big impact on warfare
Weapon development rapid in C.20
e.g. Threat of nuclear war

Question 6

Key areas of continuity

Answer 6

Army still relatively small during peacetime
Infantry still most likely to confront enemy on the ground

Question 7

Features of the Somme 1916

Question 8

Features of Iraq 2003