Lesson 1/55 min
World War I: how it began and who fought
28 June 1914. In Sarajevo, Bosnia, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife are shot dead by a Bosnian-Serb youth, Gavrilo Princip. Austria blames Serbia. On 28 July 1914 the First World War begins.
At a glance
- Other name: the Great War
- Period: 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918
- Immediate cause: the assassination of the archduke at Sarajevo (the book calls the killer a member of the ‘Black Hand’ secret society)
- Winners: the Allied Powers
- End: Germany's surrender on 11 November 1918
The two sides
| Allied Powers | Central Powers |
|---|---|
| Serbia, Russia, the British Empire, France, Japan, Italy, the United States (Belgium too in the winners' list) | Austria, the Ottoman Empire, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria |
Leaders
| Country | Leader |
|---|---|
| UK Prime Minister | Henry Asquith (1914–1916), David Lloyd George (1916–1918) |
| US President | Woodrow Wilson |
| France | Raymond Poincaré (President), Georges Clemenceau (Prime Minister) |
| Tsar of Russia | Nicholas II |
| Emperor of Japan | Emperor Taisho |
| Prime Minister of Italy | Vittorio Orlando |
| German Kaiser | Wilhelm II |
More facts
- Chief of the Allied forces: General Foch
- The United States joined on 6 April 1917 by declaring war on Germany
- Australia and New Zealand joined the Allies in 1914
- The Big Four: Woodrow Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Orlando
Watch out: The book says the armistice was signed ‘in Paris’. According to several sources, including the UK National Archives, it was signed before dawn on 11 November 1918 in Marshal Foch's railway carriage in the Compiègne forest, France; Matthias Erzberger signed for Germany. The war was formally ended on 28 June 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles.
Check yourself
Which event directly set off the First World War?
At a glance
- 1
World War I ran from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918; the direct cause was the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914.
- 2
The winning Allied Powers included Britain, France, Russia, Italy, the US and Japan; the Central Powers were Germany, Austria, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
- 3
The United States joined on 6 April 1917; the Allied commander was General Foch.
- 4
The German Kaiser was Wilhelm II; the US President was Woodrow Wilson.
- 5
The Big Four: Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George, Orlando.