- Industrialization and Technological Advancements: The industrial revolution dramatically increased the production and availability of resources, and improved transportation systems enabled rapid mobilization. As a result, nations were able to sustain the prolonged, resource-intensive campaigns of total warfare.
- Nationalism: Rising nationalist sentiments created an increased sense of national identity and competition. Many countries perceived total war as necessary for defending their interests, territories, and national prestige.
- Evolving Military Strategies: The development of new military strategies and tactics, such as trench warfare, submarines, and air raids, blurred the distinction between civilian and military targets, making total warfare almost unavoidable.
- Total War Propaganda: Governments used propaganda campaigns to portray the enemy as a threat to national security and survival, justifying the extreme measures of total warfare.
- Legacy of World War I: The brutality and vast human cost of World War I demonstrated the destructive potential of modern warfare, leading many nations to believe that total war was the only way to achieve decisive victory.
- Geopolitical Tensions: Global political rivalries and the competition for resources also fueled the acceptance of total war as a means of achieving strategic dominance over adversaries.
- Ideological Conflicts: The spread of ideologies such as fascism and communism, advocating for the total mobilization of society for political ends, further contributed to the acceptance of total warfare.
These factors combined to shape a mindset where total warfare was viewed as a legitimate and necessary option for securing national interests, even at the expense of widespread destruction and civilian suffering.