War effort In politics and military planning , a war effort refers to a coordinated mobilization of society ' s resources — both industrial and human — towards the support of a military force . Depending on the militarization of the culture , the relative size of the armed forces and the society supporting them , the style of government , and the popular support for the military objectives , such war effort can range from a small industry to complete command of society . Although many societies were retroactively perceived to be engaged in a war effort , the concept was not generally used until the last decade of the 18th century , when the leaders of the French Revolution called for the " levée en masse " and a general mobilization of society to prevent monarchist forces from reclaiming control of the French government . The concept was subsequently adapted and used by Prussia , the United Kingdom , and the United States , especially during World War I and World War II . The term " war effort " was coined in conjunction with these efforts . Economy . Although certain societies , especially nomadic raid ers and mobile cavalry societies such as the Mongols , specialized in providing war effort - like support for their armies , the idea of a specialized " war effort " that diverted supplies , means of production , and people to military support came into general use only with the increased specialization of the industrial revolution . Previously , most military supplies were either common elements of the economy ( food , clothing , horses ) or specialized instruments produced only for war purposes by industries dedicated to the task ( mainly weapon s and military vehicle s ) . Moreover , in feudal societies , peasants — who were the great majority of the population — often perceived war as the business of the aristocrats , and did not feel especially obliged to make an extra effort to help their country ' s aristocracy win a war with that of another country . The modern concept of a state belonging to its " people " carried the concomitant assumption that war was everybody ' s business and everyone , soldier or not , was expected to contribute actively to winning it . Crossover use of peacetime elements of society and economy for wartime uses became important due to scarcity of manpower ( due to the large size of armies ) and specialized materials used for war production ( rubber , aluminum , steel , etc . ) . The complex decisions involved in conversion to wartime use also necessitated organization and a bureaucracy ; the term " war effort " was coined to describe these collective tasks . Implicit in the concept of " war effort " was that the entire society was expected to contribute in some way ; this served the double purpose of improving morale as well as resource conservation . Closely related is the concept of the Home Front — i . e . , that civilians engaged in civilian pursuits ( particularly , industrial production ) are in effect also fighting the enemy on a " front " of their own , and that the result of their " fighting " — i . e . , higher productivity , refraining from labor disputes , strikes , etc . — might determine the difference between victory and defeat . See also . World War 2 :