Question

Write a note to explain the effect of the following: The death of men of working age in Europe because of the World War

Answer 1

The death of men of working age in Europe because of the World War

World War-I was fought between Worlds industrial nations. World War-I was known as the World’s First Industrial War. The scale of death and destruction was unprecedented.

• As a result of the First World War, 9 million people were killed and 20 million people were injured. Most of these people killed and injured were men of working age
• Such a scale of deaths in the war had not taken place before the use of industrial arms.
• To fight this war, millions of soldiers were recruited from across the globe.
• These soldiers were moved to the battle frontlines using trains and ships.
• The First World War saw the use of Aircrafts, Tanks, Machine Guns, Chemical Weapons etc.
• Modern large scale industries helped in production of these weapons and war platforms.

Effect of First World War

• The deaths caused by these machines and war reduced the able-bodied workforce in Europe.
• After the war, the household incomes reduced sharply, due fewer members within the families.
• The jobs which were earlier done by men, were taken over by women as the men went into battle. There was restructuring in the entire society.
• To produce only war related goods, the entire industry was restructured.
• Between some of the world’s largest economic powers, the war led to the snapping of economic links.
• Britain was forced to borrow large sums of money from the US public and US banks.
• The first world war helped the US to transform itself as an international creditor.
• Foreign citizens and governments owned less assets in the US when compared to assets owned by the US and its citizens.
• Britain faced a lot of crises which was the leading economy in the world prior to the First World War.
• Britain could not compete with Japan internationally and they could not recapture their dominance in Indian market.