The document discusses how the era of total war in the early 20th century led to mass devastation and long-term consequences. It provides examples of propaganda cartoons from both sides during World War 1 and 2, showing how each side blamed the other for war atrocities. Statistics are given for the enormous casualties estimated between 10-31 million in World War 1 and 60-80 million in World War 2, demonstrating how technological advancements escalated the destruction during this period of total war.

1. Age of TOTAL WAR
An era of devastation that produced
long term consequences
Prof. Ernesto Correa – Colegio Seminario – History

2. American cartoonist viewpoints
Chicago Defender – 16 June 1945 Dr Seuss – NYC – PM magazine

3. European analysis
In this Italian
cartoon, German soldiers
are shown fixing up a
devastated Belgian city and
re-paving the shell-pocked
roads with skulls of their
Belgian victims.
Alleged German
atrocities against the civilian
population of Belgium were
fertile ground for Allied war
propaganda. On the other
hand, German war
propaganda blamed Belgium
and Britain for the war.
Which is the role of
propaganda?
Are cartoons part of it?

4. Technology
First World War Second World War
HMS – Dreadnought - 1906 Fat Man bomb – Nagasaki - 1945

5. The numbers
First World War
• Casualties: between 10 to
31 million people according
to estimations.
Second World War
• Casualties: between 60 to
80 million according to
estimations.