"The lights are going out all across Europe, and I fear we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime"
—Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Minister
The First World War lasted from 1914 until 1918. It began as a regional dispute in Southeastern Europe, and within a few months, engulfed all of Europe's major powers. Each year, more nations joined the fight. By the end of the conflict, nearly 10 million people had died, a figure overshadowed only by the Second World War. Several of Europe's oldest monarchies and the empires they ruled collapsed as a result of the war. Governments and old boundaries were swept away, and so was the optimism that had started the 20th Century.
Here you can learn about some of the biggest battles in the war. The Central Powers are shown in gold, the Allied Powers in blue. Place your mouse cursor over one of the red battlefield icons below to learn more about each individual battle. You will soon realize that the First World War was a defender’s war; note how many offensives failed, even when the offensive side had superior manpower. Defense usually won the day in this war.