World War Technologies

Technologies of World War I

  • machine gun
  • barbed wire (mass produced)
  • improved artillery and hand grenades
  • gas (mustard, nerve, tear)
  • tanks (and other gasoline powered vehicles)
  • airplanes (surveillance and anti-ship)
  • radio
  • submarines
  • instant potatoes
  • safety razors

Technologies of WWII

  • Jet engine aircraft
  • Aircraft carriers
  • RADAR
  • SONAR
  • Missiles: the German V-1 and V-2
  • Communications: smaller and more powerful radios
  • Computers: code and code-breaking machines; German railroad scheduling; draft notices
  • ersatz: nylon (polyesters), bakelite plastics, synthetic rubbers
  • atomic weapons