How it Began - Introduction
If you are new to the First World War - or are rusty after many years since history class - the reasons for the so-called 'Great War' can be shrouded in confusion.
The Second World War was rather more straightforward: no questions there who did what and who was at fault.
This website contains much material based in and around the events of World War One - but if you are unsure how it began and who did what, well, where to begin? That's the purpose of this section of the site.
Admittedly the origins of the war remain somewhat controversial even after all these years, but the facts are there. The articles contained here outline the run-up to the war, who was who, and explain why the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was by no means the sole cause of the conflict, how it was spoiling anyhow.
Having read these primers you will hopefully be in a better position to explore the remainder of the site which despite its size is, of course, still very much in development.
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
What happened and why |
![]() |
Memoir of Archduke's assassination |
![]() |
Events of July 1914 leading to war |
![]() |
Plan XVII, Schlieffen Plan, Plan B... |
![]() |
The Black Hand and the Serbian Government |
![]() |
Kaiser to the Tsar and the Tsar to the Kaiser |
![]() |
Austria-Hungary's reaction to the assassination |
![]() |
European borders prior to the onset of war |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne |
![]() |
Member of the Black Hand and Ferdinand's assassin |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
Opening land battle of World War One in Belgium |
![]() |
Events of 1 August 1915 |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
German monarch |
![]() |
Russian monarch |
![]() |
Austro-Hungarian monarch |
![]() |
Serbian regent |
![]() |
British Foreign Secretary |
![]() |
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Secretary |
![]() |
U.S. President |
![]() |
French Commander-in-Chief |
![]() |
British Commander-in-Chief |
![]() |
German Army Chief of Staff |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece Montenegro, etc. |
![]() |
Rundown of war declarations by nation |
![]() |
List of primary events, actions and offensives |
![]() |
Summary of the war in the Dardanelles in 1915 |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
"It's a Long Way to Tipperary" (1914, MP3 music) |
![]() |
Daily routine of trench life |
![]() |
David Philips recounts his experiences |
![]() |
Story of the war's best known poem |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
Story of the unofficial truce of Christmas 1914 |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month |
![]() |
Numbers of dead, wounded and missing |
Article | Description |
---|---|
![]() |
Monument to the unknown dead in France at Thiepval |
"Coffin Nails" was a term used by British soldiers to describe cigarettes.
- Did you know?