German forces were unable to achieve a decisive victory, however, ever, and the war soon became a conflict of fixed battle lines. In August 1914 Germany invaded Belgium and then moved into France. The southern front was in Serbia and involved Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The eastern front was in Russia, where Germany and Austria-Hungary opposed Russia. The western front was in France, where Germany was opposed by France, Great Britain, and eventually the United States. The Austria-Hungary declaration of war triggered these alliance commitments, leading to the widening of the war between the Allies and Central Powers.ĭuring the next four years, the war was fought primarily on three fronts and on the Atlantic Ocean. During the late nineteenth century, European nations had negotiated military alliances with each other that called for mutual protection. The war began on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The leadership of President woodrow wilson led to both the conclusion of hostilities and the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization dedicated to resolving disputes without war.

The United States did not enter the conflict until April 1917, but its entry was the decisive event of the war, enabling the Allies (Great Britain, France, Italy, and Russia) to defeat the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria). World War I was an international conflict primarily involving European nations that was fought between 19.

War to end all wars