WORLD WAR I
Half a century of power struggles, in which Germany and Austria-Hungry were set against France and Russia, ended with four years of bloody conflict that involved nearly every country in the world.
The war that followed was fought mainly in Europe, but fighting also spread to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Nations took part in bombing raids and chemical warfare, as well as experiments with tanks, military aircraft, and submarines. However, most of the war was fought using ordinary artillery, machine guns, rifles, and horses. What was different about this war was the vast numbers of those involved: soldiers fought and died in their millions, and entire populations were expected to help make weapons and support the war.
Causes of the war
On 28 June 1914, the archduke of Austria-Hungary was shot by a nationalist from Serbia in the Balkans. Austria-Hungry blamed Serbia for the killing and declared war. Russia offered to support Serbia. Country after country rushed to defend their allies or declare war on their rivals until armies were on the move across the world. Most people believed the war would be over very quickly, but they were tragically mistaken.
Road to war
In the early 1990, powerful European nations competed for trade and land, and built up large armies
. Nations made agreement to support one another, but these were often fragile. Two groups of countries on opposite side emerged: the central powers and the triple Entente.
. Nations made agreement to support one another, but these were often fragile. Two groups of countries on opposite side emerged: the central powers and the triple Entente.
The war at home
World War I was the first " total " war, meaning not just soldiers but the civilian population were involved. The entire nation was expected to help keep the war effort going, by helping on the "Home Front". Civilians only received fixed ration of food to make sure enough could be sent out to the troops, and women took over many of the jobs of men sent to fight. Bombing raids on German, French and some British cities brought the war into ordinary homes.
COURSE OF THE WAR
For four long years bloody battles were fought. The Western Front, running through eastern France, saw some the heaviest fighting. Until 1917, Germany and the central powers seemed to be winning, but that changed when the USA came to fight for the Allies.
- Tannenberg(1914)
- The Marne
THE COST OF THE WAR
There had never before been a human conflict on this scale, and with it came huge cost to human life. More than half of the 65 million men who fought across the world were killed and wounded, and many died of disease. More than 6 million ordinary citizens died, from illness or starvation. Europe was left in ruins, and its systems of government, and the way people worked and lived, changed forever.
Military deaths
It is estimated that 15 million people died in World War I. Most of them were soldiers, especially in the armies of Russia and Germany.
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