World War I
The War to End All Wars
World War I
World War I (WWI) was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. It was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until the start of World War II in 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter. It involved all the world's great powers which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Although Italy had also been a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the alliance. These alliances were both reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history
Death Toll
Over nine million soldiers were killed in this conflict. Advances in technology--the development of more deadly weapons and sickness contributed to the high rate of casualties.
Trench Warfare
A type of armed combat used extensively in WWI. Each side hunkered down in deep trenches dug along the fronts. Contributed to the length of the war--WWI got bogged down in trench warfare--a stalemate.
Allied Victory
The global war which began on July 28, 1911 ended on November 11, 1914--at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month an armistice was signed , brining an official end to the first world war.