Technology in WWII

Skit

Air Warfare

Research/Development

• German blitzkrieg validated air warfare as a viable form of combat
• Airforces were used primarily for bombing cities and military centers, but air vs. air combat evolved from WW2
• led to development of new types of bombs and "danger close" tactics

Almost all types of technology were customized, although major developments were:

• Weaponry: ships, vehicles, aircraft, artillery, rocketry, small arms; and biological, chemical, and atomic weapons
• Logistical support: vehicles necessary for transporting soldiers and supplies, such as trains, trucks, ships, and aircraft
• Communications and intelligence: devices used for navigation, communication, remote sensing, and espionage
• Medicine: surgical innovations, chemical medicines, and techniques
• Industry: the technologies employed at factories and production/distribution centers

WW1 to WW2

Naval

WMD's

"Advancement in military weaponry occurred rapidly during the Second World War, including everything from aircraft to small arms. At the beginning of WWII, little advancement had been seen since the end of WWI. However, just six short years later the face of warfare morphed significantly with the military utilizing jet aircrafts and ballistic missiles." - Armed Forces History Museum

Axis Powers: More technologically advanced navy (Kreigsmarine) but focused mainly on Submarine tactics then contending with the numerical superiority of the Allies

• The Manhattan Project

Axis Ground

• German tanks, known as Panzerkampfwagen 1,2,3,(etc.) had the complete advantage over allied armor at the start of the war. Due to the fast movement of ground forces the modernized German army swept away the allies outdated forces in quick succession.
• One weapon that truely change the face of battle was the infamous Flak 36, or as known by the Allies as the 88 millimeter.
• German weaponry was almost 25 years ahead of the rest of the world, therefore allowing Germany to conquer country after country until only Britain remained as the Allied power in Europe.
• Chemical weapons such as mustard gas were not used except in very select cases, like in Ethiopia by the Italian troops.

Allied Ground

New Tech

• The French had advanced tanks in 1918, but had stagnated development after WW1.
• British developed Matilda Mk 1 and 2, eventually good against German tanks, but weak to German 88's.
• Unlike the Axis forces the Allies never developed assault rifles and kept using standard rifles and sub-machine guns.

Both the Axis and Allies developed a variety of different new technologies. Some examples are the first:

Cruise missle, Ballistic missle, intercontinental cannon, jet engines, radio guided bomb/plane etc.

All of which are technologies necessary for war and domestic life.

Enigma Machine

Pictures

Video

Introduction

• WW2 introduced many technologies that impacted warfare as a whole.
• Technologies definitely influenced strategies, and changed the practices of war.
• New mass weapons introduced globalized moral dilemmas.

Technology in WWII

Based on Jim Harvey's speech structures