Science, Medicine, Technology, and the Novel, 1860–1915 (original) (raw)

The 'Cult of the Offensive' Revisited: Confronting Technological Change Before the Great War

Journal of Strategic Studies, 2002

Conventional wisdom maintains that military thinkers before the Great War resorted to an irrational, and ultimately self-defeating, 'cult of the offensive' to overcome the rapidly increasing effectiveness of modern firepower. On the contrary, an underlying and, indeed, compelling military rationale did exist for placing renewed emphasis on the offensive spirit, particularly after the Russo-Japanese War (1904-5). Moreover, the cult's central argument was not that moral forces alone could overcome material factors, but that the human element must be made strong enough to complement the newfound power of military technology. The idea was not to pit man against machine, but to make man worthy of machine. Conventional wisdom maintains that military thinkers before the Great War resorted to an irrational, and ultimately self-defeating, 'cult of the offensive' to overcome the rapidly increasing effectiveness of modern firepower. Rather than admit that the strength of the defensive had made offensive maneuver at the tactical-and by extension the strategic-level of war impossible, this cult allegedly pitted man against machine in a futile contest that accomplished little save the annihilation of a generation of young men, the so-called lost generation of Robert Graves and Ernest Hemingway. Purportedly, the cult's fundamental premises were, first, that the psychological forces associated with the offensive, whether tactical or strategic, were superior to those of the defensive. Second, that moral or psychological factors were manifestly more important than material onessuch as machine-guns, barbed wire, and rifle and artillery fire-and that all that one needed to overcome the strength of the defensive was a resolute will to conquer. 1 Thus, a generation of superannuated generals appears to have ignored the significance of a quarter century of technological innovation and filled its head with so many vagaries concerning psychological forces. However, the conventional wisdom is misleading in at least four ways. First, the logic for condemning the spirit of the offensive tends to confuse faulty execution on the battlefield with apparent flaws in theory or

The Great War and the birth of modern medicine

Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies, 2022

Historians, journalists and writers often contrast the First World War with conflicts of previous centuries based on its highly industrialised nature and scale. They write how horse-drawn wagons and mounted infantry made way for highly mobile machines. They also note how industry, alongside government and society, cooperated more closely than before to build a growing number of new technologies. Such developments saw aircraft, tanks, submarines and chemical weapons make their military debut in this global conflict. Armies also carried out logistics and supply operations on a greater scale and over wider distances than before. In addition, belligerent nations mobilised more manpower and over greater geographical distances than ever before. The number of mutilated men and war dead due to the destructive power of weapons and munitions was also greater than ever experienced. Apart from the physically maimed, the psychological impact of the horrors of the war gained new proportions and intensity. For these reasons, it is hardly surprising that the conflict between 1914 and 1918 became known as the Great War since every aspect of the war occurred on a 'greater' scale. At the same time, the war can be described as 'great' due to its beneficial contribution to humankind-as unlikely as that might seem. Due to the war, a greater number of lives could be saved by medical personnel than claimed by hostilities if weighed on a balance sheet over the long term. The most recent experience of the viral pandemic was evidence of this when governments, physicians and scientists dusted off the lessons learned from a century past. But, unlike them, their predecessors often did not have such advantages at the turn of the twentieth century. The contributions of these men, and occasionally women, gave birth to modern medicine, as Thomas Helling's latest publication suggests.

AN EXAMINATION ON THE EVOLUTION OF MEDICINE THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

2021

Paper was written for class during academic studies. Abstract: The American Civil War was a conflict unlike any that had previously been waged throughout history and is characterized by extensive battle injuries and disease which occurred at record levels. It is the intent of this introductory research paper to briefly examine a few aspects related to the evolution of battlefield medicine, its practices, and those involved in the discipline throughout the duration of the engagement as they raced to keep pace with the evolving concerns, issues, and technologies emerging from the horrendous conditions on the battlefield. Attention will also be touched upon regarding the attitudes and experiences of the soldiers who participated in the various strategic campaigns and engagements of the war. To perform a proper introductory analysis, three areas of interest will be considered. The first area will focus on the history of battlefield medicine as it existed at the advent of the conflict. Ideologies and practices of this period will be reviewed as well as their inclusion (if any) into the overall military medical structure. The second area will examine both how these items changed throughout the duration of the conflict as well as technological innovations created to meet the on-going needs of patients. Special emphasis will be placed on the talking points regarding the evolution of amputations in battlefield surgery. The third section will move to consider the impact of these changes and innovations both on and off the field of battle. Pertinent information will be quickly presented regarding the inclusion of lessons learned concerning the medical discipline from the advent of the Civil War and continuing forward into the arena of modern medicine today. In addition, a preliminary bibliography will be provided for the benefit of the target audience. Please note that the titles provided are in no way intended to represent a complete listing of reference material pertinent to the topic and are only intended as a “starting-point” for further reading and research by those reviewing the paper if so desired.

Innovation and the Warlike Phenomenon

This article seeks to demonstrate the connections between the history of the war phenomenon, or simply war history, with the debate on innovation. In this sense, this article presents some technical and technological developments and which were their impacts in wars and human history itself. The discussion was divided into three moments. First, the most relevant theoretical elements of warfare in the light of the work of Clausewitz were presented. Second, we briefly addressed the evolution of the war phenomenon throughout human history, focusing on some technical and technological changes of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. World War I was the object of analysis in a greater depth. Third, it was discussed how the analyzed innovations relate to the categories proposed by Tidd, Bessant and Pavitt.

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Warfare

2007

The Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century had an incredible impact on the conduct of war. Historians often call the American Civil War the first truly modern war. It showed the effects of the technological advances in industry and agriculture, which were to revolutionize warfare. To fully understand the significance of the Industrial Revolution, one must look at it in the context of a century of rapid and drastic change, one in which new advances in industry, science, and technology would be readily applied to the conduct of war. New technology made it possible to mass-produce weapons with enhanced accuracy, power, and range. Many of the new weapons and corresponding tactics went against the fundamental conceptions of what constituted proper conduct of war, making change difficult and unsettling. Military conditions were in constant flux during the industrial age as new weapons were developed and transportation and communication improved. The American Civil War saw the dea...