World War I

 

XX Century

First World War (1914-1918)

European nations colonised territories in Africa and Asia throughout the 19th century. Alliances and rivalries were created between imperialist European nations trying to gain control over these new territories. 

Immediate cause

On June 28th 1914, Serbian fanatic, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Background causes: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism.

The beginning of the war

On June 28th 1914 began the outbreak of the First World War. 

A hundred years might seem like a very long time ago, but it isn’t really. Your great-great grandparents were around then, and they would have lived through, and maybe even taken part in, this terrible conflict if you were british. But Spain remained neutral in this war. 

Europe had split into two large families of countries. The Allies — the British Empire, France, and Russia — were in one family. And the Central Powers of Germany, Austria, and Hungary, were in the other. On 4 August 1914, Germany invaded Belgium, and so, standing by its promise to stick up for Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany. The world was at war!

By the winter of 1915, the opposing sides had both dug long ditches called trenches which faced each other, in some places just 30m apart! These lines of narrow trenches stretched from the Belgian coast to Switzerland, and were known as the Western Front. Over five million British soldiers spent time living in these muddy, miserable ditches, taking it in turns to be on the Front Line — the trench closest to the enemy.

Day-to-day life there was smelly and grim. There were millions of giant rats, overflowing latrines (loos) and terrible lice infestations. Not to mention the dead bodies. Every so often, soldiers on the Front Line would be instructed to leave their trench and venture into dangerous No Man’s Land (the area between the sides) to try to push back the enemy.

This war was very different from conflicts of the past. For the first time, powerful new weapons and vehicles were used – at sea, on land and in the air – resulting in many people being killed or wounded. 75% of all men who died in World War I were killed by artillery.

The largest battle of the World War I – the Battle of the Somme – is known as one of the bloodiest battles in history. It was fought by the French and British against the Germans on both sides of the River Somme in France, and lasted for more than five months. Over a million men were killed or wounded, and it was the first time that a tank was used in combat.

Women during world war I

Women weren’t allowed to join the army, but the war still completely changed their lives in some ways, for the better!

Millions of women went to work in offices, factories, shops, transport and on farms. Many men were horrified by the idea of females working and, even worse, wearing trousers! But the women proved that they could do the work of men, and do it just as well. Without the women of Britain growing food and making weapons, the war could not have been won.

When the war was over and the soldiers came home, women were made to leave their new jobs and go back into the home. But not all of them wanted to do that anymore! Their experiences during the war eventually led to women getting more freedoms and rights including the right to vote!

Children during World War I

Children were even paid to collect conkers which could be turned into explosives! They also wrote letters to soldiers and helped to knit socks and scarves for the troops in the winter months. Some boys lied about their age and went off to fight. 

Children were also used to carry messages for MI5, the British Secret Service. The Boy Scouts, who were MI5’s first choice for this work, apparently found it hard to keep sensitive secrets, so Britain’s agents turned to the Girl Guides, instead!

Armistice Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War I officially ended when an agreement was signed by Germany and the Allies. This date is known as Armistice Day.

Sadly, by the time World War I was over, more than 18 million people had been killed worldwide. It was hoped it would be the war to end all wars. But this wasn’t to be the case. Just 21 years later, World War II broke out.