When did World War One start?

On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany.

It became known as The Great War, as it affected people all over the world.

The war was between:

Each of the countries got their troops ready to fight. They included the army (people who fight on land) and the navy (people who fight on the seas).

Many countries had made alliances with one other. They agreed to protect each other. If one was attacked, the others would defend them.

On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was shot and killed by a Serbian man who thought Serbia should control Bosnia instead of Austria.

Because its leader had been shot, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. As a result:

1. Russia got involved because Russia had an alliance with Serbia.

2. Germany then declared war on Russia because Germany had an alliance with Austria-Hungary.

3. Britain declared war on Germany because of its invasion of neutral Belgium. Britain had agreements to protect both Belgium and France.

• Many battles were fought using trench warfare.

• Long ditches were dug in the ground.

• Soldiers lived in these trenches and sometimes climbed out to attack.

• There were restrictions on bonfires, pubs, and buying binoculars.
• Feeding wild animals was seen as a waste of food so it became a crime.
• Newspapers were stopped from writing anything that didn't support the war.

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