Summary of World War I
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World War I, also known as the Great War, started in 1914
following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
The First World War saw the Entente Powers - led by France, Russia, the British Empire, and later Italy (from 1915) and the United States (from 1917) - defeat the Central Powers - led by the German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Ottoman Empires. Russia withdrew from the war after the revolution there in 1917.
On the battlefields of northern Europe, the British Empire fought against the enemy and the elements, along a system of trenches that stretched over 600km (370 miles) from the Channel to the Swiss frontier.
The attritional struggle here transformed the landscape of northern France and Belgium into a lunar mud-scape of shell craters, corpses, abandoned equipment and wire entanglements. Commanders faced the tactical problem of getting troops safely across this fire-swept terrain to penetrate the enemy’s defences.
For most of the war, the front here was locked in stalemate, despite a series of costly offensives. This bitter struggle to overcome the deadlock defined the conflict for many involved. It also decided its outcome, with an Allied breakthrough finally defeating the Germans in 1918.
First Battle of the Marne (1914): This battle, fought shortly after the war began, saw French and British forces halt the German advance into France, effectively ending the Schlieffen Plan and leading to trench warfare.
Battle of Verdun (1916): A prolonged and bloody battle on the Western Front, Verdun saw immense casualties on both sides as the German forces attempted to overwhelm the French defenders.
Battle of the Somme (1916): Another devastating battle on the Western Front, the Somme is remembered for its high casualty rates and the introduction of tanks, though they were not yet decisive.
Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916): An Allied attempt to open a sea route to Russia, this campaign was a costly failure for the Allies, resulting in heavy losses to British, French, and ANZAC forces.
Battle of Jutland (1916): The only major naval battle of World War I, Jutland saw a clash between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet. The battle was tactically inconclusive, with neither side achieving a decisive victory, but it solidified British naval dominance.
Battle of Amiens (1918): A major Allied offensive, the Battle of Amiens is often considered the beginning of the end for Germany. It marked a significant breakthrough on the Western Front and led to the Hundred Days Offensive that ultimately forced Germany to sue for peace.