what does it mean when World War 1 is referred to as a "total war"

Each side tried to starve the other into submission by sealing off foreign trade, often by sinking commercial vessels and passenger liners. Intentional destruction extended well beyond the battlefields. Occupied cities saw their cultural monuments—cathedrals, museums, historic buildings—systematically destroyed. Total war among industrialized nations meant that everyone was considered a combatant, including civilians. Each nation engaged in the war talked regularly about God, duty, sacrifice, patriotism, and honor, but the arbitrary horrors and wastefulness of World War I involved dishonorable actions and decisions that we have yet to understand but cannot forget.

signifyingambivalent signifyingambivalent · Answer 2 · 2019-11-05T05:06:33+01:00

Answer:

Explanation:

World War I was a total war since it involved the governments, economies and the populations of participating nations was more than the other wars before in history. Each person had his or her role during the war where the males who were fit for the military were sent to battle. Women were sent to factories where they started to ignite the production of the economic base, they became nurses, held the weapons and also constructed the warships. The children also worked in factories.