First World War

While America is enjoying a period of magical transformation, Europe is embroiled in the late stages of a six-way power struggle for empire. This begins with the race to carve up Africa, and then spreads.

It s a giant global competition. Three powers have a fleet of battleships, and Germany is also building submarines. It's a multi-dimensional power struggle, with a brewing cauldron of trouble simmering in the Balkans.

Once the fighting gets started, it can't be stopped, but neither side can gain the advantage. America manages to stay neutral for the first three years, but is finally dragged in at the end, to tip the balance. Suddenly, we're heroes.
World War One, 1914-1918 map

  War That Goes Nowhere
All the major European powers are drawn into the war in the early days, based upon a tangle of pre-existing alliances. After the initial chaos, Germany joins forces with German-speaking Austria, and the tottering rump of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) (in GREEN). They're opposed by the 'Allies' (in BLUE), meaning Britain, France, Italy and (to the east) Russia.

Tanks and gas attacks, WW1

  The New Trench Warfare
Most memorable photographs from World War One document the horrors of continuing trench warfare east of Paris, on the so-called 'Western Front.' Both sides experiment with small battlefield tanks, which offer protection from withering machine-gun fire. By the end of the war, casualties on the Western Front total a staggering 13 million. Beyond that, many soldiers returning home from the battlefields are permanently scarred by amputations, 'shell shock,' and recurring nightmares. 


Battlefleets collide at Jutland, 1916

  Battle Fleets Finally See Action
Both sides have large fleets of modern battleships, but they play little role in the war. Britain has the largest fleet, which the Germans try to whittle down using submarines. When this fails, they send their entire fleet to sea , hoping to lure out a smaller British squadron. Instead, Britain also sends out its entire fleet, meeting the Germans in the titanic Battle of Jutland. The 'fog of battle' hampers operations on both sides, with limited visibility and confused communications. The German fleet is forced back to port.