Technology of WW1/WW2
ミリオタ的な細かい知識よりも、significance to outcomeの理由をちゃんと書くことが大事
Air
WW1
Drastically developped during the war
Ex: Zeppelin airship, Aircrafts
Aircrafts
First military use
First for reconnaissance missions, then dog fight
However, most still in dev phase
First: propellers blocked bullets fired from machineguns
WW2
Strategic bombing
Aerial bombardments were usually done by America to Japan.
Significant Ex: Doolittle raid
bombing to the city of Tokyo
More than 600000 houses were burnt down, along with 220000 victims of the attack.
Those bombing to the Japan mainland affected the industrial production, so it affected the outcome to a large extent.
Atomic bombs
developped on Manhattan Project by America, to develop massive destruction weapons.
It was used in the final phase of the war on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and it is known as the direct factor of the surrender of Japan.
Debatable, but atleast clearly one of direct cause of surrendar
Summary: WW1 still in dev phase & cancelled out / WW2: Only US could attack mainland, so affected significantly
Land
WW1
Chemical Gas
Chroline yelloiwsh gas was used
Damages respiratory system
Attack wasn’t stable, damages themselves by wind
Gas masks were invented
Machine Gun
First version has many limitations
Needed 4+ people to fire because it was heavy, also produced heat
Improvements w ere made, less recoil and easier transportation
Both nations effectively used it, cancelles out, did not
WW2
Banzai charge
suicidal last attack
when Japan was losing the war
ex: 4000 Japanese died in Saipan
Not so effective to produce casualities, but feared
Bazookas
used by the US army
Short range, but could destry light tanks
Effective to some extent
Summary: WW1 cancelled out by technology, WW2 had some more effect, but not deciding factor
Sea
WW1
Sea technology was important for Britain and Germany.
Ex: U-boat, Blockade
Blockade
Developed navy technologies used for Blockade
Britain blocked trade with Germany 1914-19
Patroled northern sea, intercepted merchant ships
Germany heavily relied on import
Shortage of fuel, food
700000+ Germans died by starvation or disease
Heavy damage to civilians affected the German surrender
WW2
Ex: Aircraft carriers, Submarines
Submarines
Used by both forces to attack enemy fleets and merchant ships
The US successfully sunk 1.5M tons of Japanese merchant shipping
it was crucial to weaken the Japanese industry and economy.
Naval Codes & Code breaking
Both nations used naval codes on communication, to protect their information from others.
US cracked most of them until the end of the war.
The US knew the attack on the Battle of Midway, and was able to counter the attack.
Codebreaking helped the victory on Midway which was one of the most important battles.
Therefore codebreaking technology affected the outcome of the war
Summary: Inequality of technology significantly affected on both war