Here are some facts about World War 1
- World War 1 began on July 28, 1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918. Differences in foreign policies were to blame, although the immediate cause was the assassination of Austria’s Archduke Ferdinand.
- The two main sides were the Allies, which included France, Great Britain and Russia; and Germany and Austria-Hungary. In total, 30 countries were involved in the conflict. Italy, once part of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, fought on the side of the Allies.
- Soldiers fought largely in trenches during the war, and thousands suffered from stress, known as shell-shock. The British and French trenches were often squalid, whereas the German trenches were almost luxurious in comparison, with bunks and decent cooking facilities. (Click here to learn more about life in the trenches)
- By the end of WW1, over 9 million soldiers had been killed, and another 21 million wounded. Over a million soldiers were killed in the infamous Battle of the Somme alone, including about 30,000 in just one day.
- Around 11 percent of the population of France was killed or wounded during the war. About 116,000 Americans were killed, even though the US was only in the war for about 7 months.
- During World War 1, dogs were used to carry messages in capsules attached to their body. Dogs also carried and placed telegraph wires in important areas.
- Pigeons were also used during the war. About 500,000 pigeons were regularly dropped into enemy lines by parachute, and then sent back with messages.
- On Christmas Eve, 1914, both sides declared an unofficial truce and sung Christmas carols to each other. A football match was played in no-man’s land (the area between the German and British) trenches, and German and British soldiers exchanged food and souvenirs.The following Christmas, sentries on both sides had orders to shoot any soldier who did this.
- Cannons and artillery were often extremely loud. In 1917, the explosives used to destroy a bridge in France could be be heard over 130 miles away in London.
- Many new weapons were invented or first used during World War 1. Big Bertha was one of the most famous; it was a 48 ton gun capable of firing a shell over 9 miles. It took 200 men several hours to assemble the gun.
- Tanks were so called because of early attempts to disguise them as water tanks. They were also known as male and female tanks; male tanks had cannons and female tanks had machine guns.
What next? Check out these World War 1 resources and factfiles.
- Wilfred Owen (World War 1 poet)
- Siegfried Sassoon (World War 1 poet)
- Rupert Brooke (World War 1 poet)
- Remembrance Day
- Harry Patch
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Thanks, Leah. Glad you liked them.
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Glad we could help you out with your homework, Shannon. Hope you get a good grade!
This helped for my English homework as well as I am doing the book called Private Peaceful which is about WW1!
Glad we were able to help you with your English homework, Chloe.
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Thanks for this website James! Helped me with HW for private peaceful
you helped me with my english homework too
Yeah it helped my hw aswell, thx
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I’m pleased we were able to help you out. Thanks for letting us know.
Thank you lots it really,really,really helped me LOL! My History homework wouldn’t be the same without your help, gave me a few ideas.
Thanks for leaving a comment. Really glad we were able to help you out.
Thank’s James for this site!!!
I am also doing English Homework based around Private Peaceful by Micheal Morpurgo so this site really helped me to finish my homework.
Thanks Again!
XD
Nat
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Also really good for world war 1:facts and info…
The trenches are also a very sad place.
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Glad we were able to help with your essay, Jodee. Thanks for letting us know.
These facts were helpful with my extensive research into Private Peaceful, also. Thanks for the outstanding facts, I’m sure that A* is in my grasp!
Glad we could help, Moli. Good luck with your A*
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Thanks for letting us know, Holly. Well done with your A+!
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Thanks!! really helped me with my English H/W as we are doing Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo!!!
In feel sorry for those men who fought in the war
Thanks a million helped a load with my homework!
Thanks for using Primary Facts, Rian. Glad we were able to help you out.
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Thanks, Chloe!
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Year 5
Thanks loads! This added to the stuff I already knew about WW1. Also helped a bit with my drama homework, due tomorrow! Without your help I probably would have had a lunchtime detention. Thanks a lot James! xox <3
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