ABSTRACT
While soldiers were struggling and dying at the front the conflict also profoundly affected those at home. It would not be too extreme to say that the war touched either directly or indirectly every country of the world. It especially affected people living in the warring states and those on the war’s periphery, such as Scandinavia and Switzerland; but all were affected, even those geographically far removed from the fighting such as Latin America. Many nations, cut off from their colonial masters or trading partners, out of necessity developed their own industries and forged new market relationships. Japan and the United States especially benefited.
