*** WELCOME TO HEINRICH OTTO'S WORLD WAR I HOMEPAGE ***     THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918     PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR NEW HISTORICAL MATERIAL     LAST UPDATED: NOVEMBER 11, 1999
NOTICE FROM THE WEBMASTER:

Welcome to my World War I homepage. This site is still being expanded, so please excuse any unfinished sections.

Welcome to the Great War

Welcome to my personal World War I history page. My name is Heinrich Otto, and I have been interested in the history of the First World War for many years.

The purpose of this website is to collect together information about the war of 1914-1918, including its causes, major battles, military technology, political leaders and the experiences of ordinary soldiers.

World War I was one of the most significant conflicts of the twentieth century. It involved countries from around the world and brought enormous changes to Europe and beyond.

ENTER THE HISTORY ARCHIVE

How the War Began

Sarajevo, June 28, 1914

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo.

The assassination became the immediate crisis that led Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. A complicated system of alliances, military mobilization plans and political tensions then caused the conflict to expand rapidly.

Germany supported Austria-Hungary, while Russia supported Serbia. France and Britain became involved as the crisis developed, and the German invasion of Belgium brought Britain into the war.

IMPORTANT: The assassination was the immediate trigger for the July Crisis, but the causes of the war were much broader and included nationalism, imperial competition, militarism and alliances.

The War: 1914 - 1918

1914

The war begins. Germany declares war on Russia and France and invades Belgium. The First Battle of the Marne stops the German advance toward Paris.

1915

Trench warfare becomes firmly established on the Western Front. The Gallipoli campaign takes place, and poison gas is used on a large scale.

1916

The battles of Verdun and the Somme cause enormous casualties. Tanks are introduced during the Battle of the Somme.

1917

The United States enters the war. Russia undergoes revolution and begins the process that will lead to its withdrawal from the conflict.

1918

Germany launches major offensives on the Western Front. The offensives fail and Allied forces advance. The Armistice takes effect on November 11, 1918.

Life in the Trenches

Trench warfare became one of the defining features of the Western Front. Soldiers lived in complex systems of front-line, support and reserve trenches.

Conditions were often extremely difficult. Rain, mud, cold weather, disease, artillery bombardment and the constant threat of enemy attack were all part of trench life.

A simplified diagram of a Western Front trench position.

Important People

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo became the immediate trigger for the July Crisis.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

German Emperor and King of Prussia during the First World War.

Woodrow Wilson

President of the United States. He led the country during its entry into the war in 1917.

David Lloyd George

British Prime Minister from 1916 through the final years of the war.

Georges Clemenceau

French Prime Minister during the final period of the war.

Paul von Hindenburg

German military commander who became one of the most prominent figures of the German war effort.

Weapons & Technology

ARTILLERY: Artillery was responsible for a very large proportion of battlefield casualties.
MACHINE GUNS: Machine guns could deliver sustained fire against advancing troops and became central to defensive warfare.
TANKS: Britain introduced tanks to the battlefield during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
AIRCRAFT: Aircraft were first used extensively for reconnaissance and later for air combat and bombing missions.
SUBMARINES: German U-boats were used extensively against Allied and neutral shipping.
CHEMICAL WEAPONS: Poison gases such as chlorine and mustard gas were used during the conflict.

November 11, 1918

At 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the Armistice between Germany and the Allied powers came into effect.

The fighting on the Western Front had ended, although the formal peace settlement came later. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.

NOVEMBER 11, 1918
The Armistice takes effect.

Books & Historical Sources

This homepage is intended as a personal historical reference. Information has been collected from history books, encyclopedias, museum material and other historical references.

  • Encyclopedias and general histories of the First World War
  • Published battlefield histories
  • Collections of photographs and military maps
  • Memoirs and writings of soldiers
  • Historical museum collections

A Note From the Webmaster

My name is Heinrich Otto.

I started this page because I wanted somewhere to keep my notes about the First World War and share them with other people who are interested in history.

I am particularly interested in the Western Front, battlefield maps, military equipment and the personal experiences of soldiers.

More photographs and information will be added to this site as I continue my research.

If you have found an error or have an interesting historical reference that you think should be included, please contact me.

— Heinrich Otto

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