1914 - 1918

Europe had split into two coalitions of countries. 'The Triple Entente' consisting of British Empire, France, Belgium, Russia and later, the USA, were in one group. 'The Central Powers' of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey were in the other. On 1st August 1914, Germany declared war on Russia and France ordered full mobilisation in support of Russia. Germany invaded Belgium, and so, standing by its promise to support Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany.

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The world was at war…

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When the war started that summer, most people thought it would be over by Christmas. Many believed that Britain was so powerful it could win very quickly. The First World War lasted four terrible years, not four months!

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By 1914, the opposing sides had both dug long trenches facing each other, in some places just 30m apart! These lines stretched from the Belgian coast to Switzerland, and was known as the Western Front. Millions of soldiers spent time living in muddy, miserable ditches, taking it in turns to be on the 'Front Line' - the trench closest to the enemy. Life was smelly and grim. Trenches were filled with rats, overflowing toilets and terrible lice infestations, not to mention the dead bodies.

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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. The sound of the war could be heard coming across the English Channel - The sound of explosions and artillery being fired on the Western Front. 75% of all men who died in World War 1 were killed by artillery.

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The largest battle of the World War 1 'The Battle of the Somme' was one of the bloodiest battles in history. Fought by the French and British against the Germans on both sides of the River Somme in France, it 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.

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On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War 1 ended. Officially when the 'Treaty of Versailles' was signed by Germany and the Allies in June 1919. 'Armistice Day' as it is now known is commemorated each year by the wearing poppies to remember those who fought and died in conflicts around the world. The red flowers were the only things that grew on the bloody battlefields of Western Europe.

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By the time World War 1 was over, around 20 million people had been killed worldwide. It was hoped it would be the war to end all wars but just 21 years later, World War 2 broke out.

Source: natgeokids.com / Wikipedia

The Somme, July 1916. Life in the

trenches was dangerous, muddy and smelly!

Cheering crowds in London on the day

war was declared.

Tanks were used for the first time in battle

at The Somme.