World war I

World War I

World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved the major powers of the world, divided into two opposing alliances: the Allies (primarily France, Russia, and Great Britain) and the Central Powers (primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire).

The immediate cause of the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914. However, underlying tensions, such as the complex web of alliances and territorial disputes, had been brewing for years.

The war was characterized by trench warfare, with soldiers on both sides digging in and facing each other across no-man's-land. The use of new technologies such as machine guns, poison gas, and tanks led to staggering casualties, with millions of soldiers and civilians losing their lives.

The United States entered the war in 1917 on the side of the Allies, and played a significant role in helping to bring about the eventual Allied victory. The war officially ended on November 11, 1918, with the signing of the Armistice of Compiegne.

The war had a profound impact on the world, leading to the collapse of empires, the redrawing of national borders, and the rise of new ideologies such as communism and fascism. It also set the stage for World War II, which would break out just two decades later.