Unlike previous wars, World War I was essentially fought by civilians “turned” soldiers, who were plunged into the harsh realities of modern warfare. Ten million soldiers were on the Eastern front alone. Ideals of heroism and patriotism were put to a harsh test in the trenches, where soldiers were trapped for weeks on end.

The progress of World War I depended on the ingenuity of engineers who kept inventing ever more deadly weapons. In addition to the machine-gun, there was the introduction of assault tanks, poisonous gas, and combat planes. The new technologies created strategic advantages, but also contributed to the high mortality rate and the staggering number of wounded.  Those who survived found it all but impossible to reintegrate into civilian life at war’s end.