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The World Goes to War - 1914–1918
World War I, also known as the Great War, engaged all the great powers of Europe, and their worldwide colonial empires, including South Africa, German East Africa, French West Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, India, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and Canada. The United States, Japan, and China also entered the conflict. More than 70 million military personnel were mobilized by all nations. The modern industrial capacity of the principal combatant countries fueled one of history's most destructive wars.
The Allies and the Central Powers
A complex set of long-standing pre-war alliances between the major powers of Europe brought country after country into the war after the heir to throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914, triggering an invasion of Serbia by Austria-Hungary. Within weeks the world was at war. Great Britain, France, and Russia -- the Allies -- joined forces against Austria-Hungary and Germany -- the Central Powers. The United States, Italy, and Japan joined the Allies. The Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria entered the war on the side of the Central Powers. |