World War I, often referred to as "The Great War," was a global conflict that lasted from July 28,

1914, to November 11, 1918. It involved the vast majority of the world's great powers,
assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (initially the Triple Entente of France,
Russia, and Britain, later joined by Italy, the United States, and others) and the Central
Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria).
Here's a comprehensive overview:
Causes of the War:
While the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Bosnian
Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, is considered the immediate
trigger, a complex web of underlying factors contributed to the outbreak of the war:
●​ Militarism: An arms race among European powers, particularly between Germany and
Britain (naval), led to a build-up of military strength and a belief in the necessity of war to
achieve national goals.
●​ Alliances: A system of intricate mutual defense treaties created a chain reaction. An
attack on one nation would automatically draw its allies into the conflict, escalating local
disputes into a wider war.
●​ Imperialism: Competition among European powers for colonies and resources,
especially in Africa and Asia, led to heightened tensions and rivalries.
●​ Nationalism: Intense national pride, often accompanied by a desire for self-determination
or expansion, fueled ethnic tensions and rivalries (e.g., Pan-Slavism in Russia and
Serbia, German expansionism).
●​ Secret Diplomacy: Many alliances and agreements were made in secret, contributing to
a lack of transparency and increasing suspicion among nations.
Key Events and Major Battles:
●​ 1914: The Outbreak and Stalemate
○​ July 28: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
○​ August 1-4: Germany declares war on Russia and France; Germany invades
Belgium (leading to Britain's declaration of war on Germany).
○​ First Battle of the Marne (September 1914): halted the German advance towards
Paris, leading to the entrenchment of forces and the beginning of trench warfare
on the Western Front.
○​ Battle of Tannenberg (August 1914): A decisive German victory against Russia
on the Eastern Front.
●​ 1915-1916: Attrition and Brutality
○​ Battle of Gallipoli (1915-1916): An Allied campaign to open a supply route to
Russia through the Ottoman Empire, which ended in a costly defeat for the Allies.
○​ Battle of Verdun (February-December 1916): One of the longest and bloodiest
battles in history, fought between French and German forces, resulting in massive
casualties on both sides.
○​ Battle of the Somme (July-November 1916): A British and French offensive
against German lines, infamous for its immense casualties (over a million killed or
wounded) and limited territorial gains.
●​ 1917: Turning Points
○​ Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Germany's decision to resume unrestricted
submarine warfare led to the sinking of American ships.
○​ United States Enters the War (April 1917): The sinking of ships and the
Zimmermann Telegram (a secret German proposal to Mexico) prompted the US to
declare war on Germany, significantly bolstering Allied resources and morale.
 ○​ Russian Revolution (March & November 1917): The overthrow of the Tsarist
regime and the subsequent Bolshevik Revolution led to Russia's withdrawal from
the war in early 1918, freeing up German troops for the Western Front.
●​ 1918: The End of the War
○​ German Spring Offensive (March-July 1918): Germany's last major attempt to
break through on the Western Front before American forces could fully deploy.
Initially successful, it ultimately failed due to exhaustion and Allied
counter-offensives.
○​ Hundred Days Offensive (August-November 1918): A series of successful Allied
offensives that pushed back German forces and led to the collapse of the Central
Powers.
○​ Armistice (November 11, 1918): Germany signed an armistice agreement,
officially ending the fighting.
Key Figures:
●​ Allied Powers:
○​ Woodrow Wilson (USA): President of the United States.
○​ David Lloyd George (UK): Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
○​ Georges Clemenceau (France): Prime Minister of France.
○​ Nicholas II (Russia): Tsar of Russia (until 1917).
○​ John J. Pershing (USA): Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces.
○​ Ferdinand Foch (France): Supreme Commander of Allied Armies.
●​ Central Powers:
○​ Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany): Emperor of Germany.
○​ Franz Joseph I (Austria-Hungary): Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary (until
1916).
○​ Mehmed V (Ottoman Empire): Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Impact of World War I:
The impact of World War I was profound and far-reaching, fundamentally reshaping Europe and
the world:
●​ Massive Casualties: An estimated 9 to 15 million military deaths and millions more
civilian deaths from combat, disease, and famine.
●​ Political Reshaping of Europe:
○​ Fall of Empires: The collapse of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and
German Empires.
○​ New Nation-States: The creation of new countries in Central and Eastern Europe
(e.g., Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia).
○​ Rise of Communism: The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia led to the establishment
of the Soviet Union.
●​ Economic Devastation: Widespread destruction of infrastructure, industries, and
agricultural land in Europe, leading to massive debts and economic instability.
●​ Social Changes:
○​ Women's Roles: Increased roles for women in the workforce, contributing to
movements for women's suffrage.
○​ Psychological Impact: Widespread trauma and disillusionment, leading to a "lost
generation."
●​ Technological Advancements: Accelerated development of new military technologies
(tanks, airplanes, poison gas, submarines).
●​ Treaty of Versailles (1919): Imposed harsh terms on Germany, including territorial
 losses, military restrictions, and significant reparations. Many historians argue these terms
contributed to resentment and the rise of Nazism, laying groundwork for World War II.
●​ League of Nations: Created as an international organization to prevent future wars,
though it ultimately proved ineffective.
●​ Shift in Global Power: Weakened European powers and led to the rise of the United
States as a major global power.
World War I was a watershed moment in human history, marking the end of the old order and
ushering in a new era of global politics and conflict.