Total War
The idea of total war - which has come back into use during the worldwide battle against Covid - is usually associated with the Second World War. In fact, it had already come into being, out of necessity, during WW1, as the combatant nations began to understand that this was an existential conflict in which defeat could mean national destruction. WW1 historian William Philpott argues that attrition was a natural component of such a war. Listen to Episode 9 of Unknown Warriors.
www.unknownwarriorspod.co.uk.
An Understanding History podcast.