The loss of life was greater than in any previous war in history, in part because militaries were using new technologies, including tanks, airplanes, submarines, machine guns, modern artillery, flamethrowers, and poison gas. ... These trenches came to symbolize a new kind of warfare.

What made WW1 more devastating?

What made World War I more devastating than any previous wars? Because it involved countries all over the world, there was new technology such as chemical warfare, tanks, planes, etc. and it was unrestricted warfare. The countries were attacking civilians as well.

Why was WW1 a bad thing?

WW1 caused the downfall of four monarchies: Germany, Turkey, Austria-Hungary and Russia. The war made people more open to other ideologies, such as the Bolsheviks that came to power in Russia and fascism that triumphed in Italy and even later in Germany. ... People all wanted better living standards.