World War I and II were the largest and deadliest conflicts in human history. These wars involved the majority of the world’s nations and had far-reaching consequences that continue to shape the world DW News Today. World War I began in 1914 and lasted until 1918. It was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist. This event led to a chain reaction of alliances and declarations of war, with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire facing off against the Allied Powers of France, Russia, and Great Britain, among others.
The war was characterized by trench warfare, with soldiers hunkered down in mud-filled trenches for months at a time. It was also the first major conflict to involve new technologies such as machine guns, poison gas, and tanks. The war ultimately ended with the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh penalties on Germany and set the stage for World War II. World War II began in 1939 and lasted until 1945. It was sparked by Germany’s invasion of Poland, which led to declarations of war by France and Great Britain.
The war quickly escalated, with the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan facing off against the Allied Powers of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, among others. World War II was characterized by a wide range of military tactics, including aerial bombing, naval warfare, and amphibious assaults. It was also marked by the Holocaust, in which millions of Jews and other minorities were systematically murdered by the Nazis.
The war ultimately ended with the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan.
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