Chronicles of Conflict- The Start and End of World War I – A Definitive Timeline

When did the world war start and end? This is a question that has intrigued historians and scholars for decades. The two World Wars, which had a profound impact on the course of human history, spanned a period of approximately 36 years, from 1914 to 1945. The First World War began on July 28, 1914, and concluded on November 11, 1918, while the Second World War started on September 1, 1939, and ended on September 2, 1945.

The First World War, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that involved most of the world’s nations, organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. The war originated in Europe, triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist. The assassination led to a series of events that culminated in the outbreak of war. The conflict lasted four years and resulted in the deaths of approximately 16 million soldiers and 7 million civilians.

The war was characterized by intense trench warfare, particularly on the Western Front, where both sides engaged in a stalemate for years. The use of new technologies, such as machine guns, poison gas, and tanks, led to unprecedented levels of destruction and loss of life. The war also witnessed the rise of revolutionary movements in various parts of the world, including the Russian Revolution of 1917, which led to the establishment of the Soviet Union.

The end of the First World War was marked by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. The treaty imposed heavy reparations on Germany and its allies, leading to economic instability and resentment in the defeated nations. This, in turn, contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the subsequent outbreak of the Second World War.

The Second World War was a global conflict that involved even more nations than the First World War. It was primarily fought between the Allied Powers, which included the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and China, and the Axis Powers, which included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The war began with the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, and quickly escalated into a full-scale conflict.

The war was marked by significant events, such as the fall of France in 1940, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942-1943. The war also saw the development and use of nuclear weapons, with the United States dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of the war.

The Second World War concluded with the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The war resulted in the deaths of approximately 70 million people, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.

In conclusion, the world wars started and ended over a period of 36 years, from 1914 to 1945. These conflicts had a lasting impact on the world, reshaping political boundaries, economies, and societies. The lessons learned from these wars continue to influence global politics and international relations to this day.