World War I, or the Great War, began in 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. This one event triggered a chain of events among Europe’s powerful countries, many of whom were bound together by complex alliances. A regional dispute quickly escalated into a global conflict. Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria) faced off against the Allied Powers, which included Great Britain and France.
The war continued until 1918, and it introduced new brutal forms of warfare such as trench warfare, machine gunning, poison gas and tanks. The technologies used in the war led to massive destruction and staggering losses. The war continued for four years with no immediate victory in sight. Soldiers were forced to endure conditions that they could not imagine on the front line. The cost of victory for the Allied Powers was huge: 16 million civilian and military lives lost and a permanent change in the political landscape.
The Spread of War
World War I soon expanded beyond Europe, pulling in colonies and allied nations from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. In 1917, after years of neutrality, the United States entered the war, shifting momentum toward the Allies. The Western Front—stretching through Belgium and France—had become a scene of brutal trench warfare and stalemate, despite technological advances like poison gas and tanks.
Battles such as Verdun and the Somme brought staggering casualties, with little territorial gain. Life in the trenches was harsh and deadly, with soldiers exposed to constant shelling, disease, and psychological trauma. Despite the high death toll, progress was slow and hard-won.
With the launch of the Hundred Days Offensive in 1918, the Allies broke through German lines, leading to the armistice signed at 11:11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. As the war ended, the world faced new turmoil: a deadly influenza pandemic, revolutions in Europe, and widespread destruction. The aftershocks of gas exposure and “shell shock” would haunt many for years to come.
World War I Begins
The Serbian government, convinced that Austria-Hungary had prepared for war and was ready to support it with Russia’s help, ordered the mobilisation of its army. The tensions grew rapidly and, on 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war against Serbia. This declaration broke the fragile peace between Europe’s major powers.
In less than one week, alliances were activated. Russia and Belgium were aligned with France, Great Britain and Serbia against Austria and Germany. This turned a local conflict into a global conflict. World War I had begun.
First Battle of the Marne
The First Battle of the Marne took place between September 6, 1914 and September 9, 1914. The Germans had advanced into the northeastern part of France and were only 30 miles from Paris.
The Allies were able to stop the German advance and launch a powerful counteroffensive that forced the Germans back north of the Aisne River. The plan of Germany to quickly conquer France was shattered by this crucial victory.
The Stalemate and Trench Warfare
After the Marne, both sides encamped themselves, literally. The Western Front was ravaged by trenches, which marked the beginning of the brutal war of attrition. This would last for over three years.
In 1916, two of the most devastating battles were fought.
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The Battle of Verdun, where German and French troops suffered nearly a million casualties.
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The Battle of the Somme, which resulted in huge losses and introduced new weaponry like the tank.
These bloody and drawn-out battles typified the brutality and futility of World War I.
America Enters The War
At the start of World War I in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson kept the United States neutral, favouring non-involvement while maintaining trade with both Allied and Central Powers. However, this stance became increasingly difficult as Germany intensified its submarine warfare, targeting neutral ships. In 1915, Germany declared the waters around the British Isles a war zone, and German U-boats began sinking commercial and passenger vessels, including some with American citizens on board.
Public outrage escalated after the German U-boat attack on the British ocean liner Lusitania in May 1915, which killed hundreds of passengers, including Americans. The incident shifted American sentiment strongly against Germany. In response to continued submarine attacks, including the sinking of four U.S. merchant ships in March 1917, Congress approved a $250 million arms bill to prepare for war. On April 2, 1917, Wilson appeared before Congress to formally request a declaration of war against Germany.
Causes of World War I
Imperial Ambitions of Europe
In the early 1900s, several European nations, notably Britain and France, ruled over vast global empires such as India and Vietnam, as well as much of Africa. The expansion of empires created fierce rivalries between countries such as Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans, who were all competing for territory and power. As the race to colonise foreign lands and to dominate them increased tensions in Europe, many colonies were taken by force and governed for the imperial powers’ benefit, leading to exploitation. Imperial rivalries played a major role in the lead-up to World War I. They ultimately contributed to the formation of two opposing alliances, the Central Powers and the Allied Powers.
The Complicated Alliances Before the Great War
In the years preceding World War I, European countries formed an intricate network of alliances that promised mutual support in case of conflict. The key alliances were Russia with Serbia, France and Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary and Italy with Germany, Austria-Hungary and Britain. The Triple Entente, established in 1907 by France, Britain and Russia, was of particular importance to Germany, which saw it as a direct challenge to its power. These alliances grew stronger as international tensions increased, and they forced nations to join the war because of their obligations. Ultimately, this war divided Europe into two major blocks: the Central Powers and the Allied Powers.
The Franz Ferdinand Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, by Gavrilo Princip, a nationalist member of the Black Hand. Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, had travelled to Sarajevo to inspect imperial armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina–territories annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908. Princip fatally shot Ferdinand and Sophie while they were riding in a car. Austria-Hungary responded by issuing an ultimatum, which Serbia ultimately rejected. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia with the backing of Germany. Russia mobilised to defend Serbia, igniting a chain of alliances that led to the First World War.
Germany and Austria-Hungary
The “blank check assurance” refers to Germany’s unconditional support for Austria-Hungary following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in July 1914. During a meeting between Austrian and German officials, including the German Emperor and Chancellor, Germany pledged full military and political backing. This support gave Austria-Hungary the confidence to take aggressive action against Serbia, which played a critical role in triggering World War I.
Historians widely regard the blank check as one of the most controversial decisions in modern warfare. Germany’s refusal to withdraw its support, even as the situation escalated, is seen as a major reason for the outbreak and continuation of the war. The assurance not only emboldened Austria-Hungary but also positioned Germany as a key instigator in the broader European conflict.
The Rise of Serbian Nationalism
Serbian nationalism played a major role in the period leading up to World War I. This nationalism dates back to the late 1800s when Slavic Serbs from the Balkans were seeking independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. They attempted to take control of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1878 as part of their aim to create a united Serbian state. The Serbian nationalist movement grew in strength as the Ottoman Empire began to crumble. This culminated in a radical act of defiance in 1914: the murder of an Austro/Hungarian heir. This act would be the catalyst that sparked World War I.
Casualties of World War I
The human toll of World War I is unprecedented. Around 8.5 million soldiers died due to wounds on the battlefield and diseases, dwarfing all previous conflicts. Artillery was the most deadly weapon, causing the majority of deaths and injuries. Small arms fire was the second most lethal weapon, followed by poison gas. The bayonet, once hailed by the French Army in pre-war as a weapon of decisive force, proved to be largely ineffective. It also caused relatively few casualties. The death toll increased as warfare became more mechanised. This was true even when major battles were not taking place.
Even on “quiet days”, hundreds of soldiers, both from the Allies and Germans, lost their lives. Due to the industrial nature of war, large numbers of casualties were possible without significant territorial gains. On July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the British Army suffered a staggering 57.470 casualties. The British Army suffered 57,470 fatalities on that one day. It was the bloodiest in British military history. These losses highlighted the senseless and relentless destruction that characterised much of World War I.
