World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict fought between 1914 and 1918. It involved two major alliances: the Allies (primarily France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States after 1917) and the Central Powers (mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey). Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, the war quickly engulfed Europe due to a complex web of alliances. World War I was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, with an estimated 8.5 million soldiers and 13 million civilians dying as a result of wounds, disease, or war-related causes.
The war was marked by unprecedented levels of destruction and slaughter, largely due to new technologies like machine guns, tanks, airplanes, chemical weapons, and advanced artillery. Trench warfare on the Western Front resulted in long stalemates and immense casualties. While the fighting was mainly in Europe, the conflict extended to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, making it a truly global war. The war ended on November 11, 1918, with the defeat of the Central Powers. The aftermath saw the collapse of empires and a redrawing of the global political landscape.
