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World War I, also known as '''The Great War''', was waged in Europe from 1914 to 1918.  It was the first global war in history. World War I also saw the first use of [[Machine Gun]]s, poisonous gas, large artillery, and armored tanks.  It was a "total war" because the governments involved took control over the economy and factories, giving first priority to the goods needed for war.  Wage and price controls were imposed, there was rationing of goods for civilians, and free speech was limited.  The governments put out propaganda to maximize support for the war and dislike of the enemy.  World War I caused an entire generation of men to die.  Yet, despite this great cost, the war accomplished very little and only set the stage for [[World War II]] twenty years later.

World War I, also known as '''The Great War''', was waged primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918.  It was the first global war in history. World War I also saw the first use of [[Machine Gun]]s, poisonous gas, large artillery, and armored tanks.  It was a "total war" because the governments involved took control over the economy and factories, giving first priority to the goods needed for war.  Wage and price controls were imposed, there was rationing of goods for civilians, and free speech was limited.  The governments put out propaganda to maximize support for the war and dislike of the enemy.  World War I caused an entire generation of men to die.  Yet, despite this great cost, the war accomplished very little and only set the stage for [[World War II]] twenty years later.

On one side of the war were the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary, the Second German Empire, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.  The Allies consisted of the British and French Empires, the Tsarist Russian Empire, Italy, Japan, and after 1917, the United States.  Although German Empire was only forty-three years in existence when war broke out, it's aim was to achieve domination of the European continent.

On one side of the war were the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary, the Second German Empire, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.  The Allies consisted of the British and French Empires, the Tsarist Russian Empire, Italy, Japan, and after 1917, the United States.  Although the German Empire was only forty-three years in existence when war broke out, its aim was to achieve domination of the European continent.

=== Great Battles of World War I ===

=== Great Battles of World War I ===

'''Somme'''

'''Somme'''

Also in 1916, and also in France, the British and French armies met at the Somme River and began a massive attack on the Germans in order to distract them from [[Verdun]].  This became the Battle of the Somme, and the fighting was even heard across the British channel in England.  First the Allies shelled (fired many shots and bombs) at the Germans to weaken them, and then 100,000 British soldiers charged the enemy.  But the shelling did not have its intended effect, as the Germans were dug in too deeply to be affected by it.  On July 1, 1916, the Germans killed 20,000 of the British soldiers and wounded over 40,000, making it the single worst day for the British in their history.  This battle, which did not succeed in moving trench lines, eventually involved over 2 million men along a 30-mile front.  The British and French lost nearly 750,000 men.  

Also in 1916, and also in France, the British and French armies met at the Somme River and began a massive attack on the Germans in order to distract them from [[Verdun]].  This became the Battle of the Somme, and the fighting was even heard across the British channel in England.  First the Allies shelled the Germans to weaken them, and then 100,000 British soldiers charged the enemy.  But the shelling did not have its intended effect, as the Germans were dug in too deeply to be affected by it.  On July 1, 1916, the Germans killed 20,000 of the British soldiers and wounded over 40,000, making it the single worst day in British military history.  This battle, which did not succeed in moving trench lines, eventually involved over 2 million men along a 30-mile front.  The British and French lost nearly 750,000 men.  

'''Third Battle of Ypres or the Battle of Passchendaele'''

'''Third Battle of Ypres or the Battle of Passchendaele'''

For the first three years of World War I, the United States attempted to stay out of the war.  The United States had friends and citizens on both sides of the war, and the wise move was not to move, to remain neutral.  When the Germans used a [[U-boat]] to sink the ''[[Lusitania]]'' in 1915, killing over one thousand people, the Americans were outraged.  Later, when Britain implemented a naval blockade of Germany, the Germans announced they would sink any ship entering or leaving Britain.  They held true to their word and sunk three ships from America with the U-boats.  America now had many reasons to fight back, but she was still not ready to join the war.

For the first three years of World War I, the United States attempted to stay out of the war.  The United States had friends and citizens on both sides of the war, and the wise move was not to move, to remain neutral.  When the Germans used a [[U-boat]] to sink the ''[[Lusitania]]'' in 1915, killing over one thousand people, the Americans were outraged.  Later, when Britain implemented a naval blockade of Germany, the Germans announced they would sink any ship entering or leaving Britain.  They held true to their word and sunk three ships from America with the U-boats.  America now had many reasons to fight back, but she was still not ready to join the war.

The German Foreign Minister [[Arthur Zimmermann]] sent and encrypted telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico which sought to induce Mexico to declare was on the United States.  The British intelligence intercepted and deciphered the telegram, however, and gave it to the United States to help the British cause.  Presiden [[Woodrow Wilson]] made the contents of the telgram public.  The telegram promised that Germany would help Mexico regain land it had lost to the United States in the [[Mexican War]] if it would declare was on the United States.  At first, the American's doubted if the telegram was real and thought it had been forged by the British to make America favor them.  But then Zimmermann was foolish enough to promise the pledge to Mexico in a public speech.

The German Foreign Minister [[Arthur Zimmermann]] sent an encrypted telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico which sought to induce Mexico to declare was on the United States.  British intelligence intercepted and deciphered the telegram, however, and gave it to the United States to help the British cause.  President [[Woodrow Wilson]] made the contents of the telgram public.  The telegram promised that Germany would help Mexico regain land it had lost to the United States in the [[Mexican War]] if it would declare was on the United States.  At first, the Americans doubted if the telegram was real and thought it had been forged by the British to make America favor them.  But then Zimmermann was foolish enough to promise the pledge to Mexico in a public speech.

The Germans had gone too far.  On April 2, 1917 America declared war on Germany.  The addition of the United States to the Allies tipped the power in their favor.

The Germans had gone too far.  On April 2, 1917 America declared war on Germany.  The addition of the United States to the Allies tipped the power in their favor.

=== Russia ===

=== Russia ===

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As the United States was entering the war on the side of the Allies, Russia suffered two succesive internal Revolutions which would later caused it to withdraw from the side of the Allies and leave the war altogether. The [[February Revoultion]] overthrew the centuries old monarchial regime of the Tsar; the [[October Revolution]] ended any hopes for democracy within the former Tsarist territories for another two generations.  The lack of success against the German and Austrian Empires, and the hyperinflation caused by unsustainable military spending by the Russian government led to much internal discontent and economic chaos.

As the United States was entering the war on the side of the Allies, Russia suffered two succesive internal Revolutions which would later caused it to withdraw from the side of the Allies and leave the war altogether. The [[February Revolution]] overthrew the centuries old monarchy of the Tsar; the [[October Revolution]] ended any hopes for democracy within the former Tsarist territories for another two generations.  The lack of success against the German and Austrian Empires, and the hyperinflation caused by unsustainable military spending by the Russian government led to much internal discontent and economic chaos.

losses and hardship of the war had weakened Russian [[Czar Nicholas II]].  He abdicated the throne in March 1917 in favor of a provisional government heade by [[Alexander Kerensky]].  Hopes for a democratic revolution were existant at this time.  But in October 1917, [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin]], and the [[Communist Party]], which was never strong enough to challenge the Czar, overthrew the fledgling provisional government.  The Communists later executed every member of the Czar's family including the children.

Losses and hardship of the war had weakened Russian [[Czar Nicholas II]].  He abdicated the throne in March 1917 in favor of a provisional government headed by [[Alexander Kerensky]].  Hopes for a democratic revolution still existed at this time.  But in October 1917, [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin]], and the [[Communist Party]], which was never strong enough to challenge the Czar, overthrew the fledgling provisional government.  The Communists later executed every member of the Czar's family including the children.

Lenin became the founder of the Soviet state.  He was both a writer and a revolutionary, a rare combination.  He was the brother the "bomb thrower" [[Alexander Ulyanov]] who was hanged for his involvement in terrorist activity and an assination attempt on Czar Alexander III in 1887. An atheist, he personally converted in 1889 to [[Marxism]]. He obtained a law degree shortly afterwards, and by 1895 was a subversive who was arrested and sent to the Tsarist gulag along the Lena River in frigid Siberia where he adopted the name Lenin after the place of his internment.  Once he served his time he left for Zurich, where he developed his ideas further and became a leader of the [[Bolsheviks]].  He was returned to Russia by the Germans in the wake of chaos during the Kerensky regime with the hope to led the Bolsheviks to power and negotiate a peace settlement with the Germans.  After the Versailles Treaty failed to recognize the settlement between Germany and the Soviet Unions in the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]], he then ruled the Soviet Union and imposed a system of Marxism-Leninism (communism) that remained in force there until the 1990s.

Lenin became the founder of the Soviet state.  He was both a writer and a revolutionary, a rare combination.  He was the brother of the "bomb thrower" [[Alexander Ulyanov]] who was hanged for his involvement in terrorist activity and an assination attempt on Czar Alexander III in 1887. An atheist, he personally converted in 1889 to [[Marxism]]. He obtained a law degree shortly afterwards, and by 1895 was a subversive who was arrested and sent to the Tsarist gulag along the Lena River in frigid Siberia where he adopted the name Lenin after the place of his internment.  Once he served his time he left for Zurich, where he developed his ideas further and became a leader of the [[Bolsheviks]].  He was returned to Russia by the Germans in the wake of chaos during the Kerensky regime with the hope to led the Bolsheviks to power and negotiate a peace settlement with the Germans.  After the Versailles Treaty failed to recognize the settlement between Germany and the Soviet Unions in the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]], he then ruled the Soviet Union and imposed a system of Marxism-Leninism (communism) that remained in force there until the 1990s.

=== The Western Front ===

=== The Western Front ===

The Germans launched five major campaigns in a four month period in 1918 on the [[Western Front]].  The Germans had technology and lots of energy.  They had elite storm-troopers with automatic rifles, light machine guns, flame-throwers and artillery fire.  They used poisonous [[mustard gas]] lavishly.  They easily defeated the [[British Fifth Army]].  The Germans were advancing and taking property.

The Germans launched five major campaigns in a four month period in 1918 on the [[Western Front]].  The Germans had technology and lots of energy.  They had elite storm-troopers with automatic rifles, light machine guns, flame-throwers and artillery fire.  They used poisonous [[mustard gas]] lavishly.  They easily defeated the [[British Fifth Army]].  The Germans were advancing and taking property.

But fresh American troops entered the scene.  In the [[Second Battle of the Marne]] in July 1918, the Allies started winning.  Nine American divisions fought in this battle about 75 miles northeast of Paris.  The Germans started this battle on another one of their offensives, but the Americans turned the tables and enabled the Allies to win it.  Casualties were enormous for everyone, including the Americans.  Former President [[Teddy Roosevelt]]’s son was killed in this battle.

But fresh American troops entered the scene.  In the [[Second Battle of the Marne]] in July 1918, the Allies started winning.  Nine American divisions fought in this battle about 75 miles northeast of Paris.  The Germans started this battle on another one of their offensives, but the Americans turned the tables and enabled the Allies to win it.  Casualties were enormous for everyone, including the Americans.  Former President [[Teddy Roosevelt]]’s son Quentin was killed in this battle.

American Capt. Jesse Woolridge, 38th Inf., 3rd Division described the battle as follows:  “It’s God’s truth that one Company of American soldiers beat and routed a full regiment of picked shock troops of the German Army ... At ten o’clock ... the Germans were carrying back wounded and dead [from] the river bank and we in our exhaustion let them do it - they carried back all but six hundred which we counted later and fifty-two machine guns... We had started with 251 men and 5 lieutenants...I had left 51 men and 2 second lieutenants.  

American Capt. Jesse Woolridge, 38th Inf., 3rd Division described the battle as follows:  “It’s God’s truth that one Company of American soldiers beat and routed a full regiment of picked shock troops of the German Army ... At ten o’clock ... the Germans were carrying back wounded and dead [from] the river bank and we in our exhaustion let them do it - they carried back all but six hundred which we counted later and fifty-two machine guns... We had started with 251 men and 5 lieutenants...I had left 51 men and 2 second lieutenants."

=== The War Ends ===

=== The War Ends ===