World War I, the Great War

The First World War, known at the time as the Great War, was a global conflict fought from 1914 to 1918. It was triggered in the Balkans, where the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir set off a chain of alliances that drew the major European powers into war. The two main coalitions were the Allied Powers, including France, Britain, Russia and later the United States, and the Central Powers, led by Germany and Austria-Hungary alongside the Ottoman Empire.

The war was fought on several fronts. The Western Front, running through France and Belgium, became notorious for prolonged trench warfare, with battles such as Verdun and the fighting in Flanders producing enormous casualties for little territorial change. The Eastern Front, between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia, covered a much larger and more fluid area. Fighting also extended to the Middle East, Africa, Italy and the seas. New weapons, including machine guns, massed artillery and chemical warfare in the form of poison gas, made the conflict exceptionally deadly.

The war ended in 1918 with the defeat of the Central Powers, after Russia had withdrawn following its revolution and the United States had reinforced the Allies. Its consequences were profound: empires collapsed, the map of Europe and the Middle East was redrawn, and the peace settlements, particularly the Treaty of Versailles, left tensions that contributed to the Second World War two decades later.

Frequently asked questions

What caused World War I?

The immediate trigger was the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir in the Balkans, which set off a network of alliances and drew the major European powers into war.

Who fought in the war?

The Allied Powers, including France, Britain, Russia and later the United States, fought the Central Powers, led by Germany and Austria-Hungary with the Ottoman Empire.

What were the long-term consequences?

Empires collapsed, borders were redrawn, and the postwar settlements left unresolved tensions that contributed to the outbreak of the Second World War.