World War I

A global war fought from 1914 to 1918, primarily between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers. Its battles, revolutions, and peace settlements reshaped states and societies across several continents.

July Crisis: The diplomatic crisis following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that culminated in war declarations in July and August 1914. The sequence of ultimatums and decisions that began the war.
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The 28 June 1914 killing of Austria-Hungary’s heir by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. It triggered the diplomatic crisis that escalated into war.
Battle of the Marne: A 1914 battle in which French and British forces halted the German advance toward Paris. It ended hopes for a rapid German victory in the west.
Armistice of 11 November 1918: The agreement that ended fighting between the Allies and Germany on the Western Front on 11 November 1918. It stopped the principal fighting without itself establishing the peace settlement.
Woodrow Wilson: The 28th president of the United States, who led the country during its entry into World War I and proposed the Fourteen Points. His peace program influenced debate over the postwar settlement.
Schlieffen Plan: Germany’s prewar plan to defeat France quickly by invading through Belgium before turning against Russia. Its execution brought Belgium and Britain into the opening campaign.
Alliance system: A network of treaties and diplomatic commitments linking states for mutual support or security. Alliance commitments helped widen the Austro-Serbian conflict.
Battle of Verdun: A 1916 battle between French and German forces fought around the fortress city of Verdun. Its immense casualties became emblematic of attritional warfare.
Treaty of Versailles: The 1919 peace treaty that formally ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. Its terms shaped Germany’s postwar position and later political disputes.
David Lloyd George: British prime minister from 1916 to 1922 and a leading Allied wartime and peace-conference figure. He directed Britain through the war’s final years and negotiated the peace.

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