The New Childrens Encyclopedia

208

World War I

At the beginning of the 1900s, military and

political tensions existed between some of the

countries of Europe. The assassination of the heir

to the throne of Austria-Hungary was the spark

needed to fire up a war that involved the world.

World at war Although most of the

fighting took place in Europe, there was

also fighting in the Middle East, in

Africa, and in the German colonies in

China and the Pacific Ocean.

German

triplane

1915

The German’s

zeppelins made

frequent nighttime

bombing raids over

British cities.

1914

TIMELINE OF WORLD WAR I

The assassination of Archduke Francis

Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, caused

Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia.

European countries took sides, and by

August The Great War had begun.

WHO’S WHO?

O

Two main groups battled each other—

the Allies led by the British, French, and

Russian armies, and the Central Powers

led by the German, Austro-Hungarian, and

Turkish armies.

O

The British and French armies included

many recruits from their colonies and

territories around the world.

O

In total, nearly 30 countries were drawn

in to take part in the fighting.

O

The US joined the war in 1917.

HISTORY AND POLITICS

O Warships: Fleets of warships were

used to protect supply ships from

attacks by the German U-boats.

O Aircraft: Biplanes and triplanes were

used to fly over enemy lines to observe

their movements and take photographs.

O Vehicles: Horse-drawn vehicles were

gradually replaced by mechanical ones

to transport men and supplies to and

from the front line.

O Tanks: The first tanks used in 1916

were not very reliable, but a year later

they were leading the way across to the

enemy trenches, shielding the troops.

MILITARY TRANSPORTATION

Horse-drawn

ambulance

Allied powers

Central powers

Neutral nations

Key battle sites

JUTLAND

VERDUN

GALLIPOLI

Russia

Austria-Hungary

Germany

France

Algeria

Italy

Great Britain

Libya

Morocco

Tu r k e y

Portugal

Tunisia

Egypt

Bulgaria

Greece

SerbiaRomania

(The Ottoman

Empire)

Western

Front

Atlantic Ocean

Mediterranean Sea

Black Sea