On July 28th 1914 began the outbreak of the First World War, aka World War 1 or The Great War for Civilisation. Join us as we learn everything there is to know in our World War 1 facts

ADVERTISEMENT
NGK UK XMAS24 MPU

 

World War 1 facts: Why did it start?

World War I facts

A hundred years might seem like a very long time ago, but it isn’t really. Your great-great grandparents were around then, and they would have lived through, and maybe even taken part in, this terrible conflict.

Lots of history books have been written on World War 1 facts and why it started. But it all boils down to the fact that Europe had split into two large families of countries. The Allies — the British Empire, France, Belgium, Russia and later, the USA — were in one family. And the Central Powers of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey were in the other. On 4 August 1914, Germany invaded Belgium, and so, standing by its promise to stick up for Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany. The world was at war…

 

Check out our magazine!

National Geographic Kids is an exciting monthly read for planet-passionate boys and girls, aged 6-13!

Packed full of fun features, jaw-dropping facts and awe-inspiring photos – it’ll keep you entertained for hours!

Find our magazine in all good newsagents, or become a subscriber and have it delivered to your door! Ask your parents to check out the ‘Subscribe’ tab on our website!

(AD)

 

How long did World War 1 last?

World War I facts

When the First World War began that summer, most people thought it would be over by Christmas. Many believed that Britain was so powerful it could win very quickly. In fact, the First World War lasted four terrible years, not four months.

 

Life in the trenches in World War 1

World War I facts
Soldiers in the trenches would spend their days doing chores, firing at the enemy, playing cards and writing letters home. Incredibly, nine out of ten men survived!

By the winter of 1915, the opposing sides had both dug long ditches called trenches which faced each other, in some places just 30m apart! These lines of narrow trenches stretched from the Belgian coast to Switzerland, and were known as the Western Front. Over five million British soldiers spent time living in these muddy, miserable ditches, taking it in turns to be on the Front Line — the trench closest to the enemy.

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable First World War primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

Day-to-day life there was smelly and grim. There were millions of giant rats, overflowing latrines (loos) and terrible lice infestations. Not to mention the dead bodies. Every so often, soldiers on the Front Line would be instructed to leave their trench and venture into dangerous No Man’s Land (the area between the sides) to try to push back the enemy.

All About the First World War

A new type of war

World War 1
These big guns were new to warfare.

This war was very different from conflicts of the past. For the first time, powerful new weapons and vehicles were used – at sea, on land and in the air – resulting in many people being killed or wounded. In Britain, you could sometimes hear what sounded like thunder coming across the English Channel from Europe. In fact, it was the huge boom of big guns, called artillery, being fired on the Western Front. 75% of all men who died in World War 1 were killed by artillery.

The largest battle of the World War 1 – the Battle of the Somme – is known as one of the bloodiest battles in history. It was fought by the French and British against the Germans on both sides of the River Somme in France, and lasted for more than five months. Over a million men were killed or wounded, and it was the first time that a tank was used in combat.

 

Animals during World War 1

World War I facts
This brave Airedale terrier, called Jim, was trained to spot Zeppelins approaching the Kent coast.

Both on the battlefield and back at home, some incredible creatures helped to transport soldiers and goods – and save lives.

Almost a million horses were involved in the war. Soldiers on horseback were known as the Cavalry and horses also pulled some of the gigantic gunsambulances and supply wagons. Gas from horse droppings could even be used to power lamps!

British families gave their pet dogs to the army so they could carry messages in special tubes on their collars (see above). Dogs were fast, difficult to shoot at, and they also caught rats! Pet pigeons were drafted in to carry messages over long distances, often carrying news from the Front Line back to Britain — Germans trained hawks to kill any carrier pigeons they saw. Goldfish did their bit too — after gas attacks, the gas masks were washed and rinsed. And if the rinsing water killed a goldfish that was placed in it, that meant the masks still had poison on them!

 

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable War Horses: WWI primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

 

What was life like in Britain during World War 1?

Just because you weren’t in the battle fields didn’t mean you weren’t in the danger zone. Back on the Home FrontBritain was under attack from all sides.

World War I facts
These enormous Zeppelin airships dropped bombs on ordinary people’s homes.

It was the first time in history that Britain had come under threat from the sky. Gigantic German airships, known as Zeppelins (below), carried out 52 bombing raids on Britain during the war – killing more than 500. People were terrified of them! To avoid Zeppelin attacks, no lights could be used after sunset and loud noises were banned, too. Large scale bombing raids on British cities were carried out during the day by German biplanes called Gothas.

World War 1

There were threats from the sea, too. Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby were the first seaside towns to be shelled by the German navy. Battlecruisers, ships with huge guns, launched a surprise attack on 16 December 1914 – 137 people were killed and 592 injured that night alone.

World War 1 facts
People from across the Britain were urged to fight.

But all these attacks on ordinary people only stirred up hatred against the enemy, encouraging more British men to volunteer and fight for their country against “The Beast”.  At the start of the war there were just 350,000 men in the British army. But by 1917, there were 3.5 million! Mind you, in 1916, conscription came in – a rule that said ALL healthy men aged 18 – 41 had to fight.

 

Women during World War 1

World War I facts
Many women worked around the clock in dangerous weapons factories.

Women weren’t allowed to join the army, but the war still completely changed their lives – in some ways, for the better!

Before the war, a woman’s role was in the home. But with the men away at war, help was needed in the workplace – and so millions of women went to work in offices, factories, shops, transport and on farms. Many men were horrified by the idea of females working and, even worse, wearing trousers! But the women proved that they could do the work of men, and do it just as well. Without the women of Britain growing food and making weapons, the war could not have been won.

World War I facts
The Women’s Land Army was made up of 40,000 women. They grew the food that kept people alive!

When the war was over and the soldiers came home, women were made to leave their new jobs and go back into the home. But not all of them wanted to do that anymore! Their experiences during the war eventually led to women getting more freedoms and rights – including the right to vote!

 

Children during World War 1

World War I facts
Boy scouts played ‘All-Clear’ signals on bugles following air raids.

Did you know that Boy Scouts and Girl Guides had a vital role on the Home Front? Girl Guides would make basic medical equipment for wounded soldiers, like bandages, swabs and slings. They also worked growing vegetables and delivering milk. Boy Scouts collected eggs for injured troops, protected roads and railway lines, and delivered messages.

Children were even paid to collect conkers which could be turned into explosives! They also wrote letters to soldiers and helped to knit socks and scarves for the troops in the winter months. Some boys lied about their age and went off to fight. The youngest of these, Sidney Lewis, was just 12 years old when he joined the army. He was sent home at the age of 13 after fighting in the Battle of the Somme, one of the war’s bloodiest battles.

world war 1 girl guides agents

Children were also used to carry messages for MI5, the British Secret Service. The Boy Scouts, who were MI5’s first choice for this work, apparently found it hard to keep sensitive secrets, so Britain’s agents turned to the Girl Guides, instead!

 

Believe it or not, Winnie The Pooh has his roots in World War 1 Britain. At the time, a young bear cub called Winnie was one of the most popular attractions at London Zoo. He was a mascot belonging to the Canadian Army, who had been left there for safekeeping. The bear was seen by author A. A. Milne‘s son Christopher Robin, who renamed his own toy bear Winnie – and it became the inspiration for his dad’s book, Winnie The Pooh!

 

Armistice Day

World War I facts

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War 1 officially ended when an agreement (known as an armistice) was signed by Germany and the Allies. This date is known as Armistice Day, and is still commemorated each year when people wear paper poppies to remember those who fought and died in conflicts around the world – the pretty red flowers were the only things that grew on the bloody battlefields of Western Europe.

Sadly, by the time World War 1 was over, more than 18 million people had been killed worldwide. It was hoped it would be the war to end all wars. But this wasn’t to be the case. Just 21 years later, World War 2 broke out.

 

Your connections to World War 1

World War I facts

What can you find out about your family’s involvement in World War 1? Ask your grandparents whether their parents, aunties or uncles ever talked about life during this time. Do you have any postcards or photographs from the war? Perhaps there are campaign medals belonging to a relative at home? Write in and tell us about it, we’d love to hear your family stories!

What did you make of our World War 1 facts? Let us know by leaving us a comment, below!

Likes

LEAVE A COMMENT

THANK YOU

Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.

WELL DONE,
YOUR COMMENT
HAS BEEN ADDED!

COMMENTS

  • Neveah

    WOW!!!!!

  • evs

    cool

  • tara

    I find this very interesting and I will definitly be using this website again. I love all the facts thank you vert much bye have a nice day

  • IDK a name

    i really like this topic

  • Idk a name

    Wow i am really interested now

  • idk a name

    that was so cool

  • joe mama

  • idk a name

    wow

  • Sarah

    We are actully learning about this Article, Today. In Remote Learning. Thursday 2nd of September.

  • someone

    That is some cool facts

  • Joe

    Cool

  • Emily

    so cool

  • Tristan

    cool

  • we

    Amazing facts

  • Amazing facts.

  • Rose112344

    Wow!

  • Rose11

    Wonderful facts!

  • Leroux

    Such great information and easy to understand - thank you so much!

  • cool

  • LOLLYLUCAS873

    LOL im glad i wasent there in that time.

  • Aya

    this is so helpful because i have this assignment due tomorrow and it REALLY those help. Thanks!

  • Andros

    Wow

  • hi

    nice

  • Jesse 12._-0

    SO IMFORMATIONAL CAN'T WAIT TO TEACH MY DAD

  • joe

    very helpful

  • mj

  • uhhhhh

    Cool!

  • R

  • Cool

  • fenando moleli

    nice

  • Buck g.

    Hi

  • Kaidenator

    thats horrible

  • helaine

    wow

  • ariana

    My great grandpa fought in the war and he is still alive!... 97 and still going strong, he is an amazing man. Everytime i go there i see his medals on display.

  • Raffael

    I loved the World war History, thank you by Telling me

  • BOB

    I salute my relatives

  • Joshua

    I'm loving it!

  • mj mcswag

    sad

  • Lindsey

    love it

  • Angus

    world war is interesting to learn about

  • jack

    i love facts about world war 1

  • 3L1Z4B3TH

    Awesome Work

  • ISTHISAMERICA9

    so gud

  • why can't so many people here spell properly :/

  • Hassan Ali

    I salute my elders for their bravery

  • sya2194

    its good facts

  • Eschelle

    These People Look so Familiar WoW thanks for sharing

  • jeff

    wow

  • This is very useful and I can understanding everything not like other website they are boring

  • docwaffles19

    thanks!

  • alice

    cool

  • small man

    lovely

  • MasirehS

    Thank you for all the information you have given .It will really help when I go to school on Monday.

  • rosie

    lol

  • rosie

    great for learning

  • JJJJJ

    Wow

  • Georgia

    Very interesting

  • Curlyfries

    These were so helpfull for my school homework

  • Jayden

    Good

  • Unicorn CH

    That's a very scary thing, the war. It would be terrible to have world war 3! Especially now when there's just so much more dangerous weapons!

  • pap

    Easy to understand. Brill thanks

  • miss manin

    very helpful for me and my students thank you

  • Dhruv

    I really like history

  • Mia

    This was very interesting to read and helped me with my homework!

  • Abby weeks

    This was very interesting my great grandpa Basil Weeks was in WW1

  • Annelise

    This stuff is really sad. I am going to read more this is interesting

  • good stuff

  • nice

  • lexy

    wow this is so intresting

  • history learner

    fantastic information

  • SpicyNoodle

    Cool

  • kys

    why

  • kylie

    great story

  • Olive De Courcy - Ireland

    WOW!!!! I love the facts and they are so interesting too!! I love the fact when they play football.

  • catty

    i like it

  • JACOB

    LOL HOW INTRESTING

  • jx

    LOL

  • jlewis219

    nice

  • WW1

    Very Informative

  • haw

    wicked

  • rachelangee

    very nice

  • Masonlira

    cool stuff

  • #1Samantha walden

    lot of info for kids like me age 11

  • Trivett

    Freaken awesome

  • Skslslslso

    Cool

  • Brytin

    Helpful

  • Hiroyuki

    This website is absolutely amaze balls

  • shark 10(tyler

    I think its fascinating about some things in history

  • superblader

    thanks for the info

  • Reffen

    Epic

  • glowup234

    not fun boring

  • glowup234

    that is not fun it was boring

  • CatherineP010365

    it is so interesting this that the other pages

  • Aubrey11

    That is so terribly sad. Pray for all the lost souls. Amen.

  • Sparkling water 123

    Story is COOL AND AWESOME

  • kopi

    awsome

  • charan

    it is totally wrong

  • narwal

    gymnast , plus i love baby chickens

  • narwal

    gymnast , plus i love baby chickens

  • narwal

    gymnast , plus i love baby chickens

  • Davyon

    fdfdfdfdfdfd

  • darryl hotdogdog

    the stroy was cool

  • LilacPetal

    hi

  • darryl hotdogdog

    cool:)

  • Davyon

    hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  • LilacPetal

    trollllllllll and on if class 6th

  • Davyon

    cool brooooooooo

  • icycool0

    eererere

  • darryl hotdogdog

    hot dog hot dog hot dog hot dog pizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  • Claysomthing

    this is cool even after months of learning ww1

  • CHEESE_PIZZIA

    ...

  • Claysomthing

    I know many things about history and years of learning ww1 i enjoy this site. it is very cool.

  • darryl hotdogdog

    hot dogs for life

  • darryl hotdogdog

    lol

  • darryl hotdogdog

    sup everyone good morning red bird

  • LilacPetal

    trollllllllllllll and on

  • icycool0

    LOL

  • alhagie

    coooooooool!!!!!

  • saylorwinkles

    you guy have a great website lol is so great i love it and blc miss.south said and i am so glad i did

  • Tilly poulter

    very interesting and factual

  • A_j

    Awesome!!!!

  • hussein

    pathetic 18 millions died because of one man

  • hussein

    pathetic 18 millions died because of 1 man

  • Laarman

    Nice Info

  • sup123

    hi

  • 2345387_bgfh

    good

  • AA1001169

    More info. I feel like this is hardly anything.

  • Bobby_Joe

    Cool!

  • ksa

    lol

  • Bily

    Really cool article.

  • lionphant

    I didnt learn about the first world war fully! But now I know much more!

  • Lucy age 7

    Oh my cool an I the oly one who can see this!!

  • 12345678901234567890

    Cool

  • madison4569871230

    interesting.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

  • snow

    wow

  • snow

    cool i love the information

  • Keren

    I didnt know that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Angelo1512

    Really helpful

  • Gideon tan

    Cool

  • Alice270769

    didnt really help soz

  • JoJo_22

    I want to learn more!

  • KILLER4545

    MY GREAT GRANDPA FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR 1

  • KILLER4545

    MY GRANDDAD FOUGHT THERE

  • LexiJean

    What did they play football with ?

  • bob

    lol

  • Jammer7r8

    I like the plane! I wanna fly it!

  • sahan

    amazing

  • Juana

    Ausome!

  • bobby_bom

    m8 this is slick

  • eliphant8457

    ummmmmm blah RAW MEAT? mvcxzaqwertyioplmbvzzawetuinn

  • Ryan Ellis

    Epic

  • lion girl

    love the facts helps me with my homework

  • Hale

    cool

  • Coolcat61

    I love it

  • issac_newton

    i a sorry for the soldiers that fought in the first world war I hope they are remembered LEST WE FORGET

  • Frankenstien

    It is sooo sad that many soldiers in the trenches were living in conditions as bad as that. But I thank them very much for saving us,and for making our future as good as it is.

  • Matilda Rennie

    Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Sruthelaya

    That was good history.It was sad that some men and fathers died

  • karategirl

    cool

  • prema108

    soooooo cool

  • Dr1Dray

    it must have been horribile

  • Titan

    Really good history. its good they stopped fighting for a little bit.

  • samuel

    cool and cool and cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

  • mel

    i love history . cool

  • huskylover

    I have no clue how they could like each other for a few days and then hate each other again. I like learning about the wars

  • Ted

    Good

  • Kopiop

    Thanks for information!

  • jude

    so sad

  • ryann

    cool

  • asherwav

    it is so cool

  • maisy

    Ive leant a lot from this website its soooo cool

  • A6--3

    Really good. Ive always wanted to know more about world war 1

  • giraffe11

    cool

  • Mr_Adam1234

    Can you believe it, they fought and then stopped for christmas by two days and then fought again!!!!!!!!!!!

  • lol

    good website

  • amelia

    This is really interesting, I love how they all stopped fighting for a day or two (the truce) and decided to get along, sing together and even play football. It shows you how friendly people can be - even your enemies!

  • portugal

    ITS NOT VERY NICE ONE BIT, ALL I CAN SAY IS IT WILL BE REMEMBERD!

  • szymon

    The war wasn`t a very nice time to live.

  • Emma

    Good

  • Cora

    Really good learning facts!

  • Yassy

    Cool facts!

  • bob

    awesome

  • #swags

    SICK!!!!!

  • Roseberryapple

    Awesome, but i am learning about the celts it grosses me out. I do play minecraft with my brother also i play AJ but some times i dilike AJ because of the lag, boredism and mean people on AJ.

  • yolo

    That did you know is very odd and interesting.

  • Billy

    cool info

  • Billy

    cool info

  • Santiago

    They called soccer football?

  • Adam

    This taught me a lesson, not to be enemies.

  • cooltim2004

    They are all cool facts about the first world war.

  • saul

    i love animal jam but mine craft is good i like this website

  • anne

    amazballs

  • callum

    lol

  • naledi

    history is good you can learn new things you did not know from a long time ago

  • IGHOST

    Very intresting facts with puciation caption and fact points

  • John

    Very interesting

  • luci

    Thanks for the information

  • AKFLOF

    it was intresting

  • hannah

    this helped alot thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jackted

    I learnt a lot about World War 1 today, I was surprised 9 out of 10 people survived.

  • Joe22

    Why stop fighting I for a day when it can be evey day

  • zach

    it rearly helped my brain!

  • NGKids-fan1234

    this gave me sooooo much information on world war 1

  • ayan

    it is astonishing

  • chloe

    my topic is ww1 and I learned new things on this website I knew a lot already someone in my family fought in ww1 and ww2

  • farhan

    i would not like to be in the war

  • Dillon

    helped alot

  • Amina

    I would not like to be in war

  • grace

    i feel sorry for the family of people who died coz they would have been real upset

  • 12345678910

    Learnt about this at school but not this much! Must have been terrible

  • Amrit

    I wouldnt like to be in the war.

  • Ignatius

    Cant have been nice! We should remember :)

  • joshua

    that is about the frest would war

  • 123PAA456

    i would have hated it if i had to live in these conditions:(

  • turtleshell1000

    cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • cooooool

    These facts are AMAAAAAAAAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • gamelover67810AJ

    I like the fact that actully learning about this on NG kids is fun

  • Ria

    It was nice that they played football at Christmas and stopped fighting.

  • PURPLEPIGS

    Awesome information and very informative!!!!!!!!!!

  • sethie

    great. Got a project about world war 1so AWSOME!

  • eliz

    cool

  • Ava

    very interesting i didnt know they played football on chrismas

  • Raven

    So informative

  • skyblue

    cool

  • sophia01928374655

    AMAZING

  • calvin

    this is great

  • Lena

    Lovely facts

  • aaron2254

    really informative i like it

More Like General History

General History

Stonehenge Facts!

Discover the secrets of this incredible ancient monument…
General History

Facts about the suffragettes

Discover the political movement that won women the right to vote…
General History

The Life of Mary Seacole

A one-of-a-kind nurse, intrepid traveller and black history heroine…
General History

The Great Fire of London Facts

Discover the fierce flames that changed London forever…