Here are the key points of the poem's meaning:
* Hypocrisy: The poem begins by directly addressing the warmongers, accusing them of using "phrases" like "sacrifice" and "glory" to justify war, while they themselves remain safe and comfortable. They are painted as detached from the actual horrors of battle, using lofty rhetoric to manipulate others.
* Personal gain: Sassoon suggests the warmongers are motivated by personal ambition and desire for power, rather than genuine patriotism or concern for the common good. They are "fat" and "prosperous" while others suffer.
* The reality of war: The poem starkly contrasts the romanticized image of war with the brutal reality. It speaks of "shattered men" and "the bitterest truth" - the suffering and devastation that war inflicts.
* The futility of war: The poem ends by questioning the purpose of war, suggesting that it achieves nothing but "making waste" and leaving behind a legacy of "hate." Sassoon suggests that there is no glory in war, only death and destruction.
Through its powerful imagery and scathing indictment, "To Warmongers" calls for an end to the glorification of war and a deeper understanding of its true cost. It serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of conflict and the importance of seeking peaceful solutions.