World War 1 | War History

“Building an Army” – Missouri general developed system of military conscription used in WWI

War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Jeremy P. Ämick, who is a military historian and writes on behalf of the Silver Star…

The Warship That Fired The First Shots Of WWI Was Captured, Twice Scuttled, Raised, Served 4 Different Nations & Is Still In Service

Colin Fraser

Stuck into a muddy river bank, somewhere in Serbia, lies an old, derelict gravel barge. Rusted, useless, and over 100 years old it has limited…

Frank Luke, Medal of Honor Recipient – The “Arizona Balloon Buster”

Jeff Edwards

People might not think shooting a balloon out of the sky is a substantial feat for a fighter pilot. But surround that balloon with enemy…

Hiding Ships In Plain Sight: How Dazzle Camouflage Is Used To Confuse The Enemy

Dazzle camouflage was the brainchild of British artist Norman Wilkinson. It was put forward as a solution to the problem that ships could not be…

3 Wars That Paved the Way for World War I

The First World War was devastating in its scope and utterly unlike what national leaders expected. As such, it was seen by many as an…

Serbian WWI soldiers who died in the Netherlands

War History Online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Fabian Vendrig with the help of Tanja Vendrig & John Stienen In a corner of the Dutch…

The Dawn Of The Submarine: German U-9 Sank 3 British Cruisers in 90 Minutes, 22 September 1914

Colin Fraser

There are many unflattering labels to apply to the disastrous events in the North Sea early in the morning of September 22nd, 1914. Certainly, for…

The Letter That Forced America Into WWI

When the war in Europe was declared, America was determined to stay neutral until a letter forced its hand. It was rather complicated, but Japan,…

The Evacuation Of Gallipoli: The One Successful Operation In A Disastrous Campaign

The Gallipoli campaign of 1915-1916 is one of many infamous failures of the First World War. An attempt by the Allies to seize ground in…

Five Great British Inventors Of The First World War

The First World War was a period of unprecedented destruction, but also of previously unmatched creativity. The first truly industrial war, it was founded on…

Alvin Cullum York: the Most Decorated Pacifist of the First World War

He was a deeply religious man who abhorred violence and warfare. Despite that, he went on to become the most decorated veteran of WWI. Alvin…

The Ulster Division at Schwaben Redoubt: How Too Much Success Led to Terrible Loss

The Battle of the Somme, launched by the Allies against German lines on July 1, 1916, was an extraordinary offensive. A huge mass of troops…