WWI Key Countries and Their Roles: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France, Britain, Italy, Serbia, Belgium, Ottoman Empire, USA, Bulgaria, Neutral Nations

Germany

Led by Kaiser Wilhelm II

Germany

Major member of the Central Powers

Germany

Invaded Belgium to reach France (Schlieffen Plan)

Germany

Unrestricted submarine warfare (U-boats) — sank the Lusitania

Germany

Sent the Zimmermann Note to Mexico

Austria-Hungary

The spark of WWI: Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo (1914)

Austria-Hungary

Declared war on Serbia, starting the conflict

Austria-Hungary

Multinational empire — included many ethnic groups

Austria-Hungary

Ally of Germany

Russia

Member of the Allied Powers

Russia

Fought on the Eastern Front

Russia

Left the war after the Bolshevik Revolution (1917)

Russia

Signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany

France

Member of the Allies

France

Site of major Western Front battles (e.g., Verdun, Somme)

France

Heavily devastated by trench warfare

France

Wanted revenge on Germany after its earlier defeat in 1871

Great Britain

Allied Power

Great Britain

Declared war when Germany invaded Belgium

Great Britain

Used its navy to blockade Germany

Great Britain

Received U.S. supplies and loans during the war

Italy

Started neutral but joined the Allies in 1915

Italy

Wanted territory promised by the Allies

Italy

Fought Austria-Hungary along the southern front

Serbia

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand happened here

Serbia

Supported by Russia

Serbia

First to be attacked in WWI

Belgium

Neutral nation invaded by Germany

Belgium

Its invasion brought Britain into the war

Belgium

Major Western Front battles fought here

Ottoman Empire

Joined the Central Powers

Ottoman Empire

Controlled Dardanelles Strait (key for Russia's access to the sea)

Ottoman Empire

Site of the Gallipoli Campaign

Ottoman Empire

Collapsed after WWI → became Turkey

United States

Stayed neutral until 1917

United States

Joined Allies after Lusitania sinking & Zimmermann Note

United States

President Woodrow Wilson pushed for "peace without victory" and the Fourteen Points

United States

Did NOT join League of Nations

Bulgaria

Member of the Central Powers

Bulgaria

Joined Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915

Bulgaria

Fought against Serbia and later Greece

Bulgaria

Surrendered before the end of the war in 1918

Spain

Remained neutral during WWI

Spain

Supplied both sides with goods for profit

Switzerland

Stayed neutral throughout the war

Switzerland

Hosted international Red Cross operations

Netherlands

Neutral nation during WWI

Netherlands

Provided refuge for civilians fleeing Belgium

Sweden

Neutral during WWI

Sweden

Traded with both sides but leaned toward Germany

Norway

Neutral during WWI

Norway

Its merchant ships were sometimes attacked by German U-boats

Denmark

Neutral during WWI

Denmark

Served as a buffer state between Germany and Scandinavia