World War I (1914-1918), also known as the Great War, was a global conflict primarily fought in
Europe, involving major powers divided into two alliances: the Allies (including France, Russia,
the United Kingdom, and later the United States) and the Central Powers (mainly Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire). Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria, the war was fueled by nationalism, imperial ambitions, and complex
alliances.
Characterized by brutal trench warfare, the Western Front saw soldiers enduring horrific
conditions as they fought for minimal ground. New weapons like machine guns, tanks, and
poison gas made the war devastatingly deadly, with millions of casualties. Key battles, such as
the Somme and Verdun, exemplified the scale of the slaughter and the stalemate.
The war took a turn in 1917 when the United States entered, providing fresh troops and
resources. In 1918, facing economic collapse and military losses, Germany sought an armistice,
which was signed on November 11. The Treaty of Versailles followed in 1919, imposing harsh
penalties on Germany and redrawing borders in Europe. The war’s outcome reshaped global
politics, sowing the seeds for World War II and the rise of new political ideologies.
