Impacts of war, 1914 & 1918

by John Terraine

The impacts of war are limitless, and in many respects unfathomable. In the First World War, four broad levels of impact upon Britain may be discerned: impact upon the soldiers and sailors in the battle line - the most severe; impact upon the military leaders (the generals above all) who directed them - this also could be severe; impact upon politicians who directed the generals and admirals - and here the severities begin to change their substance; impact upon the people whom the politicians represented - this is where generalisation must always be taken with large pinches of salt.