World War 1 Must-Knows
Ever wondered what life was like in the muddy trenches of World War 1? Soldiers engaged in trench warfare by digging deep into the earth to protect themselves from enemy gunfire. These horrible conditions led to medical problems like Trench Foot, where constant moisture caused soldiers' feet to literally rot.
The war began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, creating a domino effect that pulled countries into conflict. The fighting sides included The Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire) versus The Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, Russia, and eventually the United States in 1917). Some nations like Spain and Switzerland remained Neutral throughout the conflict.
The war featured new deadly technology like German U-Boats (submarines) that sank ships including the passenger liner Lusitania. Between opposing trenches lay No Man's Land, a deadly open area where countless soldiers lost their lives trying to advance.
Remember This! World War 1 ended with The Armistice agreement signed on November 11, 1918, specifically at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—a date still commemorated as Veterans Day or Remembrance Day in many countries.
President Woodrow Wilson led America during this conflict, which was called the Great War at the time, as no one yet knew a second world war would follow just two decades later.
