What Was World War I?

This compelling addition to the What Was? series covers what was supposed to be “the war to end all wars” but tragically wasn't.

In 1914, the assassination of an Austrian archduke set off a disastrous four-year-long conflict involving dozens of countries with battles taking place in all parts of the world. World War I was the first to use planes and tanks as well as deadly gases that left soldiers blinded or “shell shocked” (a condition now called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome). There were ...