What+is+total+warfare?

=**Directions: Please read the short description and watch the film clip about total warfare. Once you have read the description complete the two activities on this page.**=

=What is total warfare?=

media type="custom" key="21729266" width="390" height="390" === “A military conflict in which the contenders mobilize all of their civilian and military resources in order to obtain a complete victory.” Simply put, a total means there are no limits. In a total war the combatants will do anything to win. This includes killing civilians without cause, attempting to starve a nation into surrender, forcing children to fight, using weapons such as mustard gas, biological and nuclear weapons. ===

Activity 1: Look at each of the following documents and explain how it shows the concepts of total war. Your answer must include detailed evidence.

 * Document 1:** During World War I the German general Eric Ludendorff ordered the German navy to attack all ships going to or from from England regardless of who or what was on the ship. This included the Lusitania a British cruise ship carrying civilian men, women and children. At this point in World War I the United States had not yet become involved, however several American citizens were killed when the Lusitania was sunk.


 * Document 2:** Towards the end of World War II British and American forces attacked the German city of Dresden. More bombs were dropped on the city of Dresden than any other city during the war. Dresden had no military or industrial centers and had very few defenses. During the two day's of bombing over 90% of the city was destroyed and between 21,000 and 25,000 people were killed. Most of the dead were civilians.


 * Document 3:**

Sherman's "scorched earth" campaign began on November 15th when he cut the last telegraph wire that linked him to his superiors in the North. He left Atlanta in flames and pointed his army south. No word would be heard from him for the next five weeks. Unbeknownst to his enemy, Sherman's objective was the port of Savannah. His army of 65,000 cut a broad swath as it lumbered towards its destination. Plantations were burned, crops destroyed and stores of food pillaged. Along the way, his army was joined by thousands of former slaves who brought up the rear of the march because they had no other place to go.
 * Document 4:** During the American Civil War, the Union General William T . Sherman used a tactic known as "scorched Earth" to defeat the South. A tlanta fell to Sherman's Army in early September 1864. Sherman intended to destroy the South by laying waste to its economic and transportation infrastructure.

=== **Activity 2:** Select two event that you learned about during this class and explain how it shows the concept of total warfare. You may be able to use these examples in your final project. Your answer must include detailed evidence. ===