http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders World War I ravaged Europe from 1914 until an armistice was signed in November 1918. In all, more than 9 million soldiers would be killed, and nearly 21 million more wounded. en Copyright 2013, History.com Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-18T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo1 The June 28, 1914, assassination of Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip set off a chain of events that ended in the outbreak of World War I. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo2 A fierce militarist, Wilhelm II encouraged aggressive Austro-Hungarian diplomatic policies following the assasination of Franz Ferdinand. The Kaiser was nominally in charge of the German army, but the real power lay with his generals. As World War I drew to a close, he was forced to abdicate in 1918 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo3 A graduate of West Point and a veteran of the Battle of San Juan Hill, "Black Jack" Pershing was named commander of the American Expeditionary Force when the United States entered World War I in April 1917. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo4 General Pershing initially resisted efforts to combine American troops with British and French forces, but after the Meuse-Argonne offensive failed to break the stalemate on the Western Front, a joint Allied command was launched. In November 1918, an armistice finally put an end to the fighting. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo5 George V assumed the British throne in May 1910, following the death of his father, King Edward VII. He made repeated visits to the front throughout World War I, earning him the deep respect of his subjects. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo6 When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia's alliance with its Balkan neighbor forced it to enter the war against the Central Powers. The tsar assumed control of the Russian army, with disastrous results. In 1917, he was forced to abdicate, and he and his family were executed in 1918. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo7 After the Bolsheviks seized power during the Russian Revolution of 1917, Lenin negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The treaty ended Russia's involvement in World War I, but on humiliating terms: Russia lost territory and nearly one-quarter of its population to the Central Powers. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo8 Despite his campaign pledge to keep the United States out of World War I, President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war in April 1917. Within months, massive numbers of American troops swelled the Allied ranks. More than 400,000 would see combat and 116,516 would die in the Great War. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo9 In 1918, President Wilson outlined his vision for a post-war world. He aimed to reduce arms, provide for self-determination and create an association of nations to prevent future wars. His ideas faced opposition at home and abroad and the Treaty of Versailles was never ratified by the United States. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo10 Foch led French forces at the First Battle of the Marne, but was removed from command after the Battle of the Somme in 1916. In 1918, he was named Allied Supreme Commander, coordinating the war's final offensives. Foch was present at the armistice ending the war in November, 1918. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo11 Haig commanded British forces at the Battle of the Somme, losing 60,000 men on the first day. By the end of the campaign, the Allies had lost more than 600,000 men--and advanced fewer than eight miles. Haig rebounded with success in 1918, but remains one of the most controversial generals of the war http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo12 In 1911, Churchill became First Lord of the Admiralty. In this position, he worked to strengthen the British navy. He was pushed out of office after the disastrous 1915 Gallipoli campaign, in modern-day Turkey, which resulted in more than 250,000 Allied casualties. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo12 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo13 As prime minister of France from 1917 to 1920, Clemenceau worked to restore French morale and concentrate Allied military forces under Ferdinand Foch. He led the French delegation to the peace talks ending World War I, during which he insisted on harsh reparation payments and German disarmament. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo13 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo14 Pétain became a national hero in France after his success at the Battle of Verdun during World War I. However, during World War II, Pétain headed the Vichy regime, a pro-German puppet government, and as a result has a mixed and deeply controversial legacy. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo14 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo15 Von Hindenburg was recalled to service at the outbreak of World War I. By 1916, he and Erich von Ludendorff had assumed near total control of the German war effort, which they led until defeat in 1918. He later served as German president, and named Adolf Hitler chancellor of Germany in 1933. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo15 http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo16 Adding to the tensions in pre-World War I Europe were the close familial ties that bound many rulers. England's King George V was the first cousin of both Kaiser Wilhelm II and Nicholas II of Russia and George, Wilhelm and Nicholas' wife, Alexandra were all grandchildren of Queen Victoria. http://www.history.com/photos/world-war-i-leaders/photo16