maailmasõjast

Maailmasõda, more commonly known as World War I, was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, which led to a series of ultimatums and declarations of war.

The conflict was characterized by trench warfare on the Western Front and vast offensives on the Eastern Front. New technologies such as machine guns, artillery, poison gas, tanks, and airplanes played a significant role, leading to unprecedented casualties. The war saw the collapse of empires, including the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and German empires.

The United States entered the war in 1917, tipping the balance in favor of the Allies. The war concluded with the armistice on November 11, 1918. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed harsh terms on Germany, contributing to future geopolitical instability. Maailmasõda resulted in an estimated 20 million deaths, both military and civilian, and profoundly reshaped the political map of Europe and the world. It also paved the way for new ideologies and contributed to the conditions that led to World War II.