Summary of World War One

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• 1. The war in brief
• 2. 1914
• 3. 1915
• 4. 1916
• 5. 1917
• 6. 1918
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The war in brief

1914

• Germany invades Belgium.
• Britain declares war on Germany.
• Japan joins the Allied forces: Ottoman Empire soon joins the Central Powers.
• War spreads to the seas.

1915

• Women take up men's jobs.
• Stalemate continues on the Western Front.
• The Lusitania passenger liner is sunk, with 1,200 lives lost.
• London attacked from the air by German Zeppelins.

1916

• Conscription for men aged between 18 and 41.
• A million casualties in ten months: Germany aims to 'bleed France white'.
• At sea the Battle of Jutland takes place.
• Armed uprisings in Dublin: the Irish Republic is proclaimed.

1917

• German Army retreats to the Hindenburg Line.
• United States joins the war and assists the Allies.
• Tank, submarine and gas warfare intensifies.
• Royal family change their surname to Windsor to appear more British.

1918

• Germany launches major offensive on the Western Front.
• Allies launch successful counter-offensives at the Marne and Amiens.
• Armistice signed on November 11, ending the war at 11am.
• In Britain, a coalition government is elected and women over 30 succeed in gaining the vote.

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Published: 2001-01-01