World War I

World War I, also known as the Great War, occurred from July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918.

The war involved the Allied Powers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia, against the Central Powers, primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, is often considered the catalyst for the war.

The war featured trench warfare on the Western Front, with soldiers facing harsh conditions, including mud, disease, and constant threat of enemy attacks.

New technologies such as machine guns, tanks, and poison gas were introduced during World War I, changing the nature of warfare.

The sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German submarine in 1915, killing many civilians, including Americans, contributed to the U.S. decision to enter the war in 1917.

The U.S. entry into World War I was officially declared on April 2, 1917, and American troops began arriving in Europe to support the Allies.

The signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, ended the fighting on the Western Front and marked the beginning of the end of World War I.

The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, officially ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers and imposed severe penalties on Germany, leading to economic hardship and contributing to future conflicts.

The war profoundly impacted the global economy, with widespread destruction and economic instability contributing to the Great Depression in the 1930s.