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World War I - Stories

World War I pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

Still from the film "Battle of the Somme," showing British troops.

How Many People Died in World War I?

The carnage of the First World War was so extreme that historians have had a difficult time agreeing on exactly how many people lost their lives.

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Senegalese soldiers after attack, circa 1914-circa 1918. The Senegalese Tirailleurs were a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army. They were recruited from Senegal and other sub-Saharan regions of the French empire.

6 Key World War I Battles Fought in Africa

Battles in Africa were waged between colonial powers, but most of those compelled to fight were conscripted Africans.

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A military balloon deployed in the Civil War near Gaines Mill, Virginia (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

How Nations Have Spied from the Sky

Since the Civil War, forces have deployed aerial surveillance gadgets from balloons to robotic dragonflies.

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How the Flu Became Endemic

How the World Learned to Manage the Flu

Since the 1940s, the World Health Organization has worked with different countries to keep the flu endemic by identifying strains and watching for signs of a pandemic.

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A German U-boat, circa 1916.

How German U-Boats Were Used in WWI—And Perfected in WWII

After terrorizing trans-Atlantic ships in World War I, German U-boats grew even more fearsome in World War II.

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Battle of Cambrai, World War I, WWI battles

How Imperialism Set the Stage for World War I

Many of the powers in World War I were competitive in overtaking territories in Europe and Africa.

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Brigadier General Billy Mitchell in cockpit of a Thomas Morse Pursuit Plane. Ca. 1910s.

How Airplanes Were Used in World War I

Even though airplanes were a relatively new invention, the race for air superiority started during World War I.

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Beginning of World War I between Austria-Hungary and Serbia: Fighting near the bridge over the Sava River.

How a Regional Conflict Snowballed Into World War I

When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in 1914, each of their allies quickly joined the fight.

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Site of the battle of Tannenberg, Germany, August 1914.

How the 1914 Battle of Tannenberg Emboldened German Forces at the Start of WWI

The 1914 conflict dealt a defeat so devastating that it drove a Russian general to suicide.

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A Timeline of U.S. Anti-War Protests

A Timeline of U.S. Anti-War Movements

Anti-war movements date back to the birth of the United States.

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How the Shocking Use of Gas in World War I Led Nations to Ban It

The Germans were the first to successfully weaponize gas in World War I—to horrifying effect.

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World War I's Battle of Messines: How Tunnel Blasts Secured Allied Victory

WWI’s Battle of Messines: How Allies Used Massive Explosives and Tunneling to Win

The June 1917 Allied attack involved meticulous planning, tunneling and devastating explosives.

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