Social and economic consecuences

10 million soldiers died during the war. For the first time in History there were a large number of civilian causalties.

The widespread destruction left the warring nations completely impoverished. The huge debts made economic recovery very difficult and produced high levels of inflation.

However, the war benefitted a few neutral countries (Spain), which supplied raw materials and food to the warring nations. But above all, the confict consolidated the dominance of the USA.

 With the death or absence of the primary wage earner, women were forced into the workforce in unprecedented numbers. At the same time, industry needed to replace the lost labourers sent to war. This aided the struggle for voting rights for women