World War 1
Went by other titles such as the 1st world war or great war and was thought to be the “war to end all wars” due to its scale.
The opposing forces were divided in to two groups known as the central powers and the Allies.
Tensions had been building up over several years as several of the most power nations were expanding their empires across the globe, sometimes through taking control of smaller 3rd world developing nations or by strategic treaties with other powers.
The war started after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia jumped to the aid of Serbia, Germany invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg before moving towards France, leading the United Kingdom to declare war on Germany.
Central Powers | Allies |
Germany
Alsace-Lorraine
Cameroon
German East Africa
German Southwest Africa
Togoland (a protectorate)
German New Guinea (a protectorate)
Kiautshou Bay concession
Austria-Hungry
Kingdom of Bohemia (now known as the Czech Republic)
Kingdom of Dalmatia (now part of Croatia)
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (now Poland and Ukraine)
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Great Brittan and Ireland
Australia
New Zealand
Canada
India
South Africa
Newfoundland
Russia
France
Indochina
Madagascar
Algeria
Tunisia
Morocco
West Africa
|
Later
Ottoman empire
Turkey
Syria
Palestine
Lebanon
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Iraq and other Gulf states
Bulgaria
|
Later
Italy (originally allied with the Germany & Austria-Hungry)
Japan
USA
Belgium
Greece
Montenegro
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
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With so many nations/empires involved this was one of the largest wars in history with more than 70 million military personnel. There were over nine million soldiers and seven million civilians who died as a result of the war. The casualty rate was made worse by technological developments meaning more sophisticated weapons and bombs used to devastating effect and after years of gruelling and bloody trench warfare It became known as one of the deadliest wars in history. Nobody thought a war of this scale would ever take place again with one politician coining the phrase “The War to End all Wars”
Due to the size and scale of this war it would be hard pushed to find a village in this war that wasn’t touched in some way either providing back line resources “War Effort” or Front line personnel. Although the Boldon’s only covered a small geographical area, They played their part in the Great War with many enlisting for the front whilst those at home such as the miners digging the coal and the farmers growing the food all working etc all contributing to the war effort.
email : boldonwm@yahoo.com