World War I
The experience of soldiers in World War I was unique to the war, and often they did not chose to be a part of fighting for their country. In 1917 and 1918, there were three rounds of drafts in the United States. The first two were extended to men of 21-31 years of age, and the third 18-45 years of age. A total of 24.3 million men registered for mandatory drafts.
The photo to the left depicts soldiers in a trench during World War I, located outside Beaumont Hamel. 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Beaumont Hamel was a commune in Picardy, one of 27 regions, located in Northern France near the front lines of the war.
The picture was taken July 1st, 1916.
The picture was taken July 1st, 1916.
World War I began July 28th, 1914 after Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated. August 1st Germany declared war on Russia, and on the 3rd, Germany declared war on France. Germany invades Belgium on the 4th, prompting the UK to declare war against them. Around the time children in this day and age start dreading the beginning of school, the whole of Europe was at each others throats.
Alliances
During World War I, Europe had split into several alliances. Central Powers, Entente powers, and neutral countries. The Entente Powers included: France, Great Britain, and Russia. Though never a formal alliance. Later the term Entente was replaced with Allies and took in Japan and Italy. The Central Powers, the opposition to the Entente Powers, included: Germany and Austria-Hungary,