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Search "World War I" and link to images, videos, primary sources, websites, and more.

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Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction

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Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction

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Profiling the age of war and reconstruction, this encyclopedia details European history from the Bolshevik Revolution to the European Union, linking it to the history of the rest of the world. Many transformations in the European story are covered in this easily accessible collection of about 675 illustrations and 920 articles: Europe sundered by war and 🤬, Europe reconfigured after World War II and the Cold War, and much more.

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Link to
Introduction to World War I (1914-1919).

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Collections of photographs, maps, recollections and more.

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The Library of Congress is uniquely prepared to tell the story of the United States' participation in the Great War. The Library's unparalleled collections include posters, recordings, newspapers, sheet music, photographs, and veterans' stories as well as publications, exhibitions, educational tools, and research guides related to World War I.

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World War I | Topics | Library of Congress

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The Library of Congress is uniquely prepared to tell the story of the United States' participation in the Great War. The Library's unparalleled collections include posters, recordings, newspapers, sheet music, photographs, and veterans' stories as well as publications, exhibitions, educational tools, and research guides related to World War I.

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World War I Timeline From 1914 to 1919

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World War I was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 and ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Find out what happened in between these momentous events in this World War I timeline.

Although World War I officially began in 1914, much of Europe had been roiled by political and ethnic conflict for years before. A series of alliances among the leading nations committed them to each other's defense. Meanwhile, regional powers like Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were teetering on the brink of collapse.

Against this backdrop, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary's throne, and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip on June 28 while the couple was visiting Sarajevo. That same day, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. By Aug. 6, the British Empire, France, and Russia were at war with Serbia and Germany. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson announced the U.S. would remain neutral.

Germany invaded Belgium on Aug. 4 with the intent of attacking France. They made swift progress until the first week of September when the German advance was stopped by French and British troops at the First Battle of the Marne. Both sides began digging in and fortifying their positions, signaling the start of trench warfare. Despite the slaughter, a one-day Christmas truce was declared on Dec. 24.

Following the conclusion of hostilities, the warring factions met at the Palace of Versailles near Paris in 1919 to formally end the war. A confirmed isolationist at the beginning of the war, President Woodrow Wilson had by now become an ardent champion of internationalism.

Guided by his 14 Points statement issued the previous year, Wilson and his allies sought a lasting peace enforced by what he called the League of Nations, a forerunner to the United Nations of today. He made the league's establishment a priority of the Paris Peace Conference.

The Treaty of Versailles, signed on July 25, 1919, imposed strict penalties on Germany and forced it to accept full responsibility for the starting the war. The nation was not only forced to demilitarize but also cede territory to France and Poland and pay billions in reparations. Similar penalties were also imposed on Austria-Hungary in separate negotiations.

Ironically, the U.S. was not a member of the League of Nations; participation was rejected by the Senate. Instead, the U.S. embraced a policy of isolationism that would dominate foreign policy in the 1920s. The harsh penalties imposed on Germany, meanwhile, would later give rise to radical political movements in that nation, including Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party.

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1914 to 1919 and the Timeline of World War I

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World War I was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 and ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Find out what happened in between these momentous events in this World War I timeline. Although World War I officially began in 1914, much of Europe had been roiled by political and ethnic conflict for years before.

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Contains 12 chapters covering major topics related to the period, including the roots of the war; causes of U.S. involvement; the Espionage Act and Sedition Act; weapons of mass destruction; and more.