The First World War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. It was a global war that involved the major powers of Europe and their colonies, as well as the United States, Japan, and other countries. The war was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, and it quickly escalated into a full-scale conflict that engulfed much of the world. At the time, the world was divided into two major alliances: the Allied Powers, which included Britain, France, Russia, and later the United States, and the Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

The war was fought on multiple fronts, from the Western Front in France and Belgium to the Eastern Front in Russia and the Balkans, and it involved brutal trench warfare, aerial bombardment, and naval battles. The war had a profound impact on the world, both during and after the conflict. It led to the deaths of millions of people, including soldiers and civilians, and it caused widespread devastation and destruction. It also led to significant political and social changes, including the collapse of empires and the rise of new nations.

One of the most significant outcomes of the war was the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed in 1919 and formally ended the conflict. The treaty imposed harsh penalties on Germany, including massive reparations payments and the loss of territory, and it set the stage for DW News Today the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in the 1930s. The Second World War, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, was an even more devastating conflict that involved much of the world. It was sparked by the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, and it quickly spread to other parts of Europe and beyond.