First World War Essentials

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📌 Part 1: Key Facts and Chronology

First World War fact file

When? 1914–1918. The war began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on 28/06/1914.

Who fought? The Allies included Britain, France, Russia and later the USA. The Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.

Why did it spread? Alliances, rival empires, military planning and rising tensions meant that a crisis involving Austria-Hungary and Serbia became a much larger war.

What was it like? On the Western Front, many soldiers fought from trenches. New technology, including machine guns, artillery, aircraft and poison gas, made attacks dangerous.

How did it end? Germany agreed to an armistice on 11/11/1918. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, placed strict terms on Germany as part of the peace settlement.

1. Match each key term to its correct meaning. Write the correct letter beside each term.

A. Alliance

B. Empire

C. Trench

D. Armistice

E. Propaganda

F. Conscription

1. A temporary agreement to stop fighting

2. Information designed to influence people’s opinions

3. A defensive ditch or system of ditches used by soldiers

4. A group of countries that promise to support one another

5. Compulsory military service

6. A group of territories ruled by one powerful country

2. Put these events in chronological order by writing numbers 1–4 in the blanks.

_____ Treaty of Versailles is signed

_____ The First World War begins

_____ Battle of the Somme

_____ Armistice ends the fighting

✏️ Part 2: Check Your Understanding

3. Which event immediately helped to trigger the First World War?

The sinking of the Titanic

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The signing of the Treaty of Versailles

4. Which country joined the Allies in 1917?

The USA

Bulgaria

Austria-Hungary

5. What was an armistice?

A type of tank

An agreement to stop fighting

A military uniform

6. True or false? If the statement is false, correct it.

a) The First World War ended with an armistice in 1918. True / False

Correction, if needed: ____________________________________________

b) Propaganda always gives a completely balanced account. True / False

Correction: ________________________________________________________

c) The Treaty of Versailles was signed before the fighting began. True / False

Correction: ________________________________________________________

7. Source detective: Read the two fictional but historically plausible sources.

Source A: Soldier’s letter, Western Front, 1916
“The rain has filled the trench with mud. We spend hours waiting for orders, and the guns never seem to stop. I am thinking of home and hoping this will soon be over.”

Source B: Recruitment poster description, Britain, 1915
“A proud soldier stands beside the words: ‘Your country needs you. Join today and protect your family and freedom.’ The image uses bold lettering and bright colours.”

What does Source A tell you about soldiers’ experiences? Use one detail from the source.

What does Source B suggest about how recruitment propaganda tried to persuade people?

Give one limitation of either source. Think about its viewpoint, purpose or what it leaves out.

8. Explain it in 3 sentences: Why did the First World War become difficult to end?

✅ Teacher Answer Key

1. A–4, B–6, C–3, D–1, E–2, F–5.

2. Treaty of Versailles = 4; war begins = 1; Battle of the Somme = 2; armistice = 3.

3. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

4. The USA.

5. An agreement to stop fighting.

6. a) True. b) False: propaganda is selected or persuasive information, not always balanced. c) False: the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, after the war had ended.

7. Source A suggests mud, constant shellfire, waiting and homesickness. Source B uses patriotism, duty, family and bold visual language to encourage enlistment. A limitation could be that the letter gives one soldier’s personal viewpoint, while the poster is designed to persuade and does not show the dangers of war.

8. Answers should explain that trench warfare and powerful weapons made attacks costly, while both sides had large armies and strong alliances. The war continued because neither side could easily defeat the other. Credit references to resources, military plans, national determination or changing circumstances such as the USA joining the Allies.