World War 1 also known as 'The Great War' started off as two countries fighting against each other, Serbia and Austro-Hungary. It was known as The Great War because it affected the entire world and was the biggest war known to mankind at the time. It is estimated that approximately 65 million soldiers from around the world fought in the war. Before the war men would bring in the weekly wage. However when the men went to war this forced women to get jobs. As the war preceded many different countries started becoming involved because they had existing agreements. These agreements meant that they would support each other if they had to go to war.
There were three alliances involved in World War 1, the Triple Alliance that consisted of Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy, the Central Powers that consisted of Austro-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire and the Triple Entente that consisted of France, Russia and Great Britain.
Before World War 1, Russia and Serbia were in a mutual agreement that started in 1838. Therefore when Serbia went to war, Russia announced that they would send defence forces to aide Serbia. Germany who were allied with Austro-Hungary saw the defence force sent by Russia as an act of war against Austro-Hungary and therefore on August 1st, Germany declared war on Russia.
When Germany declared war on Russia, France went to war with Germany because they had an existing treaty with Russia that also lead them to fight against Austro-Hungary. On August the 4th Britain being in an alliance with France declared war against Germany. They declared war on Germany because Germany invaded Belgium as an alternate route to invade France. Germany decided on this route because the French military were covering their borders and trying to stop Germany from invading their country.
On August 4th Britain entered the war because they had promised to defend Belgium under the Treaty of London of 1839. Germany's control of Belgium raised a serious threat to Britain because the Belgium ports were close to the British coasts. Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada and the Union of South Africa offered Britain with military and financial assistance. On August 23 1914 Japan joined forces with Britain and declared war on Germany. Two days later Austro-Hungary declared war on Japan.
On April 22nd 1915 poisonous and irritant gasses were introduced into the war. The French army was the first to use tear gas in the form of grenades. Other irritants and poisonous gasses used were chlorine, mustard gas and phosgene. On May 1915 Italy joined the war and sided with the allies and going against Germany and Austro-Hungary. On April 6 1917 the United States joined the war because Germany had a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare that threatened the United States commercial shipping.
In 1918 the German army realised that it was no longer possible to win the war. This led the German army to tell the German government to end the fighting. The German leader known as Kaiser Wilham, left his job on November 9 1918. On November 11 1918 Germany signed the armistice and the war was officially concluded.
There were three alliances involved in World War 1, the Triple Alliance that consisted of Germany, Austro-Hungary and Italy, the Central Powers that consisted of Austro-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire and the Triple Entente that consisted of France, Russia and Great Britain.
Before World War 1, Russia and Serbia were in a mutual agreement that started in 1838. Therefore when Serbia went to war, Russia announced that they would send defence forces to aide Serbia. Germany who were allied with Austro-Hungary saw the defence force sent by Russia as an act of war against Austro-Hungary and therefore on August 1st, Germany declared war on Russia.
When Germany declared war on Russia, France went to war with Germany because they had an existing treaty with Russia that also lead them to fight against Austro-Hungary. On August the 4th Britain being in an alliance with France declared war against Germany. They declared war on Germany because Germany invaded Belgium as an alternate route to invade France. Germany decided on this route because the French military were covering their borders and trying to stop Germany from invading their country.
On August 4th Britain entered the war because they had promised to defend Belgium under the Treaty of London of 1839. Germany's control of Belgium raised a serious threat to Britain because the Belgium ports were close to the British coasts. Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada and the Union of South Africa offered Britain with military and financial assistance. On August 23 1914 Japan joined forces with Britain and declared war on Germany. Two days later Austro-Hungary declared war on Japan.
On April 22nd 1915 poisonous and irritant gasses were introduced into the war. The French army was the first to use tear gas in the form of grenades. Other irritants and poisonous gasses used were chlorine, mustard gas and phosgene. On May 1915 Italy joined the war and sided with the allies and going against Germany and Austro-Hungary. On April 6 1917 the United States joined the war because Germany had a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare that threatened the United States commercial shipping.
In 1918 the German army realised that it was no longer possible to win the war. This led the German army to tell the German government to end the fighting. The German leader known as Kaiser Wilham, left his job on November 9 1918. On November 11 1918 Germany signed the armistice and the war was officially concluded.