Compléter 4.5. Main characteristics of the First World WarVersion en ligne What were the main characteristics of the First World War? par Plácido Romero Sanjuán 1 supplies difficult submarine invention Technological employed development bombard mustard masks machine weapons advancements led to the of new . These included grenades , flamethrowers and guns . Chemical warfare was such as the use of gas . The only form of defence against this was gas . The of tanks allowed armies to move through terrain and war planes were used for the first time ever to the enemy . Germany also introduced the effective strategy of warfare , particularly against the British Empire , by torpedoing and sinking ships carrying and weapons . 2 manufacturing millions people addition perished important actions mobilise thousands war It was a total where fighting countries had to all their human and economic resources . Countries recruited of men as thousands and of soldiers on the Western Front for their side to advance just a few meters . In , it also introduced the idea of the home front where the of those at home were as as those fighting on the front line . Food was rationed and all industry focused on products to support the war effor t 3 men working women war independent access passivity needed campaigns previously The role of during this war was also very important . Until then , women were mainly defined by and fragility . But as more and more were sent off to , women were to fill their jobs . Advertising started showing women as strong and and capable of tirelessly to help win the war . They were able to enter jobs they were unable to .