WWI

WWI Human Costs

Total casualties include 13 million dead soldiers, 13 million dead civilians, 20 million wounded, 3 million prisoners of war, 5 million war widows, and 10 million refugees.

Total Financial Cost of WWI

WWI cost 300 billion dollars in 1919, equivalent to about 5 trillion in today's money.

Imperialism

The acquisition of colonies leading to tensions among countries seeking status and power.

Alliances System

The network of diplomatic agreements among countries which contributed to the outbreak of WWI.

Militarism

The belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war, which intensified rivalries among nations.

Pan-Slavism

A political and cultural movement aimed at unifying Slavic peoples, centered in the Balkans.

The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

Gavrilo Princip killed Archduke Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914, triggering WWI.

Lusitania

A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, killing 128 Americans, escalating tensions between the US and Germany.

Sussex Pledge

Germany's promise in 1916 to restrict submarine warfare and not target passenger ships.

American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)

The US forces sent to Europe in WWI, led by General John J. Pershing.

The Zimmermann Telegram

A secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the US.

Battle of Verdun

A major 1916 battle characterized by high casualties and lack of tactical gains; symbolizes the war of attrition.

Trench Warfare

A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other, leading to stalemates.

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting; WWI armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that officially ended WWI, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

League of Nations

An international organization created after WWI to promote peace and cooperation among countries.

The Red Baron

Manfred von Richthofen, a famous German fighter pilot known for his aerial combat success during WWI.

German Atrocities in Belgium

Violations during WWI where German forces committed acts against Belgian civilians, used in propaganda.

Industrial Warfare

The use of modern industrial technology in warfare, exemplified during WWI with tanks and chemical weapons.

Spanish Flu Pandemic

A devastating influenza outbreak in 1918, killing millions worldwide, including many soldiers from WWI.