World War I was a conflict that erupted in 1914 in the European nations of Austria-Hungary and Bosnia. The war lasted for four years and expanded to encompass most European powers including Germany, Italy, France and Great Britain as well as Japan and the United States.
Why Did the First World War Start?
Though tensions had been brewing for some time between the nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who wanted to be part of Serbia, and Austria-Hungary, who claimed the regions under their rule, the official inciting incident of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a 19-year-old Bosnian student radical. The crime sent shock waves through Europe, and Austria-Hungary was forced to retaliate with military force against the nation of Serbia, which they had long been wanting to do in order to settle the question of Serbian nationalism. Because of a mutual defense alliance agreement with Russia, Serbia had their support in any military conflict. Austria-Hungary was aware of this and didn't incite any violence until they were sure of the support of Germany with whom they had a mutual defense alliance agreement. Once Austria-Hungary did attack, they were soon met on the offensive by Russia, France, Great Britain and Belgium, signaling the official start to the global conflict.
Who Was in the First World War?
World War I saw the Central Powers of Germany, Turkey and Austria-Hungary against the Allied powers of France, Great Britain, Russia, Japan, Italy and, after 1917, the United States. The United States had initially pledged to remain neutral and not enter the war in order to maintain trade practices and agreements with countries on both sides of the conflict, but after several instances of German aggression in targeting nonmilitary ships with civilians aboard, including four U.S. merchant ships, the United States prepared to enter the conflict, declaring war against Germany.
Who Won the First World War?
In 1918, the Allied powers declared themselves victorious after the surrender of the German army. The Ottomans, who had supported the Central Powers, were the first to crumble in the face of a devastated terrain and ruined economy. They signed a treaty of the armistice with the Allies in October of 1918. Austria-Hungary shortly followed, with nationalist strife within the nation tearing it apart internally. Finally, Germany agreed to an armistice in November of 1918 – the country badly damaged and politically and economically unstable. November 11 of that year is considered the end of World War I.