Facts of World War I

Between 1914 and 1918, more than thirty countries declared war. Most joined the Allies, which included the US, Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy, and other countries. The Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire, resisted them. A war between European empires erupted from what had started out as a relatively minor battle in southeast Europe. Since the United Kingdom and its Empire entered the war, it has been fought on a scale never before seen in history, making it a truly global struggle. There was fighting not only in the Middle East and Africa but also in eastern and southeast Europe and on the Western Front. In order to fight in large citizen armies, almost 65 million men either volunteered or were conscripted. Millions of civilians labored in industry, agriculture, or positions left vacant by enlisting troops in order to support the war effort. Success rested on public endorsement. When their people reached their physical and psychological breaking points, several nations were compelled to give up because they had no more will to fight. People were the target of the First World War as well. Atrocities were committed by invading armies on citizens in the places they captured. Attacks against civilians increased in frequency as nations sought to undermine the domestic morale of their rivals and reduce public support for the war. Propaganda targeted the "national characters" of opposing peoples and demonized entire nations. As each combatant nation scrambled to supply its armed forces with enough personnel and equipment, national resources were mobilized. Early weapons manufacturing setbacks in Britain resulted in complete government intervention in war production. By 1918, these regulations enabled its industry to produce almost 170 million artillery shell rounds, 250,000 machine guns, 52,000 aircraft, 2,800 tanks, 25,000 artillery pieces, and approximately 4 million rifles.