19161918

1916–1918 denotes the late period of World War I, encompassing the final years of the global conflict and the early stages of the postwar order. It includes major military campaigns, the collapse of empires, revolutions, and the beginnings of new international institutions and borders.

In 1916, Western Front warfare intensified. The Battle of the Somme (July–November 1916) produced massive casualties and limited gains, while Verdun continued to drain resources and troops. The year also featured broader wartime activity beyond Europe, including colonial deployments and domestic upheavals such as the Easter Rising in Ireland.

1917 saw a turning point in the war. The United States entered the conflict in April, boosting Allied military and industrial capacity. In Russia, two revolutions culminated in Bolshevik rule, leading to Russia’s withdrawal from the war and the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918 with the Central Powers.

The final year, 1918, was marked by German offensives and Allied counteroffensives that culminated in the Armistice on November 11, effectively ending combat on the Western Front. The year also included Russia’s peace with the Central Powers and the widespread impact of the 1918 influenza pandemic, which affected both military forces and civilian populations and contributed to the broader social and political upheavals of the period.