World War One started in 1914 and ended 1918. before the war had started, the countries in europe were named and shaped much different than before the War. After a long period of peace in Europe people had a positive mindset towards war. As the soldiers were leaving their families to go to war, they were excited for this new adventure and their families were proud of their sons. However the brutality of the War forced the soldiers into the reality. World War one introduced killing methods and War strategies that no other war before had used with the outcome of 17 000 000 death people as well as 20 000 000 wounded and mutilated people. It was called the War to end all wars, because it was evaluated as so terrible, that nobody would be willing to fight in a war after the experience of WWI. World War one also had a great impact on the situation for Women as they got more rights during and after WWI.
Before the first world war had started people did not know much about war other that what they have read in history books, in which war was described as an exciting adventure rather than a brutal battle demanding many casualties. Within the first battles of the War, it became clear that this war was nothing like the war the history books described. Weapons revolutionized and the battles were fought with machine guns as well as with airplanes and gas poisoning. In the second battle of Ypre Chlorine gas was used, which turns into acid when in contact with water. Any wet parts of the body would burn off and kill the soldier within minutes in a terrible painful death. In order to protect themselves, the soldiers urinated on handkerchiefs or socks and cover their face with such. The fighting conditions were unspeakable and the soldiers that survived brought back terrible memories of the war. Machine guns enabled a soldier to kill up to three soldiers per second. The battle of Verdun was fought simply with the purpose to exhaust the french army in men power and resources rather than winning land or quick movements. After the first world war the Idea of war is marked with brutality and no longer a positive thing.
Before the first world war women were caught up in the classical gender role classification which forced women to stay home and take care of the children. it was very unusual for women to work and if they did, it was because the family was very poor and needed the money. It was out of question for women to be allowed to vote or have any political impact to the world. As the war happened, women were required to work because the men were at war and could not work. many women were helping out at the front to be nurses for the wounded soldiers and many women were working in factories to build weapons for the soldiers. After the war had ended, many women realized their power and demonstrated in order to become equal to the male. From this time on women rights have progressively improved.
After the first world war ended, the world was a different place. But the most significant changes happened inside the peoples mind as they saw the world with different eyes. Women realized that they were wirth more than what they were before the war and started fighting for their rights. As the the soldiers brought back terrible memories from the war, the whole world had a different mind set towards it and putting much effort into avoiding another war. As the Tready of versailles was very disorganized the major powers of the World failed at avoiding another war.