Most people have a universal definition of what a man is. It is universally understood that men are masculine figures, characterized by being non-emotional, aggressive, authoritative, rational and strong. For centuries men have been considered the "bread winner" of the family by providing food, shelter and money for his wife and children. Men are supposed to exemplify signs of courage and bravery, even during times of war. They are encouraged to enlist in the army to protect their loved ones and their country from outside forces. These very few characteristics that embrace the nature of men are held both in today's society, but even more so eighty years ago during the First World War. Unfortunately, during World War I many men were forced to fight a different kind of war, a war that existed both on the battlefield and in their mind, which inadvertently affected the masculinity of soldiers and is well depicted in Pat Barker's novel, Regeneration. .
Before the war European men were rushing to join the army. They found war as a convenience that would give them something to do, but ironically they had no conception of what the war would become. The Industrial Revolution, which took place in Britain at the end of the 18th century, followed in France in the early 19th century, and then in Germany after 1870, caused an immense increase in the manufactures of each country and a consequent need for a larger and better army. Changes from the second industrial revolution created powerful, destructive weapons that were new to warfare. The Germans in an effort to engage in underwater combat created one of the first U-boats, which were submarine like battle ships that were highly effective in the beginning of the war. The industrial revolution also brought upon the production of the first machine guns, larger artillery guns, barbed wired, flame throwers, and even poison gas. With the production of these superior killing machines, soldier's casualties greatly increased in the First World War, making battlefields cemeteries.
