World War 1 began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand during the war, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States. World War 1 saw unprecedented levels of destruction. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers took victory, about 16 million soldiers and civilians were dead.
In the early 1917, British and French troops were launching futile offensives against German lines in Belgium and France, suffering greatly.The Central Powers were building their defensive capabilities, but launching limited offensives continuing a stalemate costing thousands of lives every month.
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In 1904 Morocco had been given to France by Britain, but the Moroccans wanted their independence. In 1905, Germany announced her support for Moroccan independence. War was narrowly avoided by a conference which allowed France to retain possession of Morocco. However, in 1911, the Germans were again protesting against French possession of Morocco. Britain supported France and Germany was persuaded to back down for part of French Congo. |