Close Menu
Interesting FactsInteresting Facts
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Interesting FactsInteresting Facts
    • Home
    • Explore
    • Categories
      • Business
      • Games
      • Geography
      • History
      • Movies
      • Music
      • People
      • Sport
      • Technology
      • TV
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram TikTok YouTube
    Subscribe
    Interesting FactsInteresting Facts
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram TikTok YouTube
    Subscribe
    Home»History»World War I: 38 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

    World War I: 38 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

    Henno KrugerBy Henno Kruger9 Mins Read40 ViewsMarch 22, 2025
    Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Copy Link

    World War I, known initially as the Great War, was a defining event in modern history that reshaped global politics and left lasting effects on the 20th century. Fought from 1914 to 1918, it involved nations across multiple continents and introduced unprecedented levels of destruction and human suffering.

    NetfloristOfferforge

    The brutal realities of trench warfare and new military technologies made it one of the deadliest conflicts ever. While some hoped it would be “the war to end all wars,” its aftermath instead set the stage for further global turmoil.

    World War I

    There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about World War I, but today my aim is to change that…

    Here are 38 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know about World War I

    1. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914) was the immediate trigger for World War I. Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip killed the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.

    2. Austria-Hungary, with Germany’s backing, issued Serbia demands that were nearly impossible to accept. When Serbia refused some terms, Austria-Hungary declared war, triggering a chain reaction among allied nations.

    3. A complex web of treaties meant that when Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia, Russia stepped in to defend Serbia, Germany backed Austria-Hungary, France and Britain supported Russia, and a local conflict escalated into a global war. Serbian nationalists wanted independence from Austria-Hungary, while German nationalism pushed for military expansion and dominance in Europe.

    4. World War I is infamous for its extensive use of trench warfare. Soldiers lived in muddy, rat-infested trenches, sometimes for months, facing constant threats from enemy fire, disease, and harsh weather. The Western Front alone had over 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) of trenches by the war’s end.

    5. Tanks were introduced during World War I, with the British deploying the first ones in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Called “landships” initially, they were a game-changer, though early models were slow and prone to breakdowns.

    6. Millions of animals played vital roles. Horses hauled supplies, dogs carried messages or sniffed out wounded soldiers, and even pigeons delivered critical communications—over 100,000 pigeons were used, with some earning medals for bravery.

    7. In December 1914, an unofficial ceasefire occurred along parts of the Western Front. British and German soldiers sang carols, exchanged gifts, and even played soccer in no-man’s-land, a rare moment of humanity amid the carnage.

    8. The war claimed around 16 million lives (military and civilian) and wounded over 20 million more. The first day of the Battle of the Somme alone (July 1, 1916) saw nearly 60,000 British casualties, the bloodiest day in British military history.

    9. Machine guns, poison gas (like mustard gas), and airplanes were introduced, but generals often stuck to outdated strategies like mass infantry charges, leading to staggering losses.

    10. The war decimated a generation of young men, particularly in Europe. In Britain, it’s estimated that nearly one in three men aged 19–22 in 1914 didn’t survive the war, leaving lasting social scars.

    11. While focused in Europe, the war involved over 30 countries across multiple continents. Fighting occurred in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and the U.S. entry in 1917 shifted the tide.

    12. On August 22, 1914, the British captured the German colony of Togoland in West Africa in just 38 minutes, making it one of the briefest military campaigns ever recorded.

    13. The 369th Infantry Regiment, an African-American unit from the U.S., served with distinction under French command. They spent 191 days in combat—more than any other American unit—and never lost a trench or a man to capture, earning the nickname “Hellfighters” from the Germans.

    14. World War I was the first major conflict to use cinema as propaganda. Films like The Battle of the Somme (1916) were shown to millions, blending real footage with staged scenes to boost morale and recruitment.

    The Battle of the Somme - World War I

    15. German U-boats sank over 5,000 Allied ships, introducing unrestricted submarine warfare. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915, killing 1,198 passengers (including 128 Americans), was a key factor in pushing the U.S. toward war.

    16. To confuse German bombers, the French built a decoy version of Paris north of the real city, complete with sham buildings, lights, and a replica railway. It was never fully tested, as the war ended before it saw significant use.

    17. The war helped spread the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, which killed 50–100 million people worldwide—more than the war itself. Crowded trenches and troop movements created perfect conditions for the virus to spread.

    18. Poets like Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon captured the war’s brutality in vivid verse. Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est,” written from the trenches, remains a haunting anti-war masterpiece. Tragically, Owen died just one week before the armistice.

    19. The final soldier killed in action was American Private Henry Gunther, who died at 10:59 a.m. on November 11, 1918—one minute before the armistice took effect at 11:00 a.m., ending the war.

    20. During the Battle of Messines in 1917, the British detonated 19 massive underground mines beneath German lines, killing around 10,000 soldiers instantly. The blasts were so loud they were heard 140 miles away in London.

    21. German pilot Manfred von Richthofen, the “Red Baron,” shot down 80 enemy planes, making him the war’s top ace. Flying a bright red Fokker triplane, he became a legend before being killed in 1918 at age 25.

    22. South Africa entered the war on August 4, 1914, when Britain declared war on Germany. As a Dominion of the British Empire, South Africa had limited control over its foreign policy and was automatically drawn into the conflict, despite only achieving Union status in 1910.

    23. Not all South Africans supported the war. In 1914, pro-German Afrikaners, still bitter from the Second Boer War (1899–1902), launched the Maritz Rebellion against the government. Led by Manie Maritz, about 12,000 rebels sought to overthrow the pro-British government and align with Germany. The uprising was crushed by loyal forces under Louis Botha and Jan Smuts by early 1915.

    24. One of South Africa’s first major contributions was the invasion of German South-West Africa (now Namibia). Starting in September 1914, South African forces, led by Prime Minister Louis Botha, captured the territory by July 1915, securing key German naval and wireless stations for the Allies.

    25. South Africa played a significant role in the East African Campaign against German forces in German East Africa (modern-day Tanzania) in World War I. Under General Jan Smuts, South African troops, including the 1st South African Brigade, fought from 1916 onward. The campaign was grueling, with more casualties from disease (like malaria) than combat, but it tied down German resources.

    26. Over 7,000 South African soldiers served on the Western Front, most notably in the Battle of Delville Wood during the Somme Offensive in July 1916. The 1st South African Infantry Brigade suffered devastating losses—over 80% casualties—holding the position against German assaults, earning a reputation for bravery.

    the Battle of Delville Wood

    27. South Africa’s ports, like Cape Town and Durban, were vital for Allied shipping routes around the Cape of Good Hope. The country also supplied two-thirds of the British Empire’s gold, crucial for funding the war effort, with exports tightly controlled to prevent Germany from accessing it.

    28. Prime Minister Louis Botha and Defence Minister Jan Smuts, both former Boer generals who had fought Britain, became trusted members of the British Imperial War Cabinet. Smuts, in particular, gained international prominence, later influencing the formation of the League of Nations.

    29. The war exposed the fragility of Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II’s regime. He took personal command of the army in 1915, leaving domestic governance to his unpopular wife, Tsarina Alexandra, and her advisor, Rasputin. Military failures and economic collapse fueled discontent.

    30. World War I directly triggered the Russian Revolution. By early 1917, food shortages, inflation, and war weariness led to mass strikes and the February Revolution, forcing Nicholas II to abdicate. The Provisional Government continued the war, but morale collapsed.

    31. After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in November 1917. They signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany on March 3, 1918, ending Russia’s involvement. Russia ceded huge territories—Poland, Ukraine, the Baltics, and Finland—losing 25% of its population and vast resources.

    32. Signed in 1919 to end the war, it imposed harsh penalties on Germany, sowing seeds of resentment that fueled World War II. The treaty’s signing took place in the Hall of Mirrors, exactly where the German Empire was proclaimed in 1871—poetic irony.

    33. France lost around 1.4 million soldiers—about 4% of its total population and 10% of its adult male population. On average, 890 French soldiers died daily from 1914 to 1918, with the Battle of Verdun (1916) alone claiming over 300,000 lives on both sides.

    34. Germany suffered approximately 2 million military deaths and 4.2 million wounded in World War I. The war killed about 13% of its pre-war male population aged 15–49, leaving deep social and economic wounds.

    35. The British Empire lost over 900,000 soldiers, with the United Kingdom itself accounting for about 700,000. Including dominions like Canada (61,000), Australia (60,000), and South Africa (7,000), the empire’s total casualties exceeded 3 million in World War I.

    36. The Ottoman Empire’s military deaths are estimated at 700,000–800,000, but civilian losses were far higher—up to 2.5 million—due to famine, disease, and the Armenian Genocide, bringing its total casualties to over 3 million.

    37. Civilian deaths totaled around 6–7 million, with many caused indirectly by famine, disease, and displacement rather than direct fighting. Belgium and Serbia were hit hardest relative to population, with Serbia losing up to 17% of its people (military and civilian combined).

    38. The sheer scale of World War I’s casualties—enabled by industrial warfare and prolonged trench stalemates—left a lasting mark on the 20th century.

    Well, there you have it, 38 interesting facts you might not have known about World War I. If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.

    Watch this space for updates in the History category on Interesting Facts.

    Related articles:

    • Lord Of War: 15 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know
    • The 2010 FIFA World Cup: 20 Interesting Facts
    • The 2019 Rugby World Cup: 20 Interesting Facts
    • The 2022 FIFA World Cup: 20 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

    Craving fresh facts in your Inbox? Get Factual! Subscribe To Our Newsletter.

    Feel free to explore our website.

    featured event

    World War I: 38 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

    Looking for a gift for that special person in your life? Check out Netflorist.co.za, South Africa's top online florist and gift service. They offer flowers, gifts, and hampers for all occasions AND reliable nationwide delivery.

    Latest Music News

    Loading posts...
    France Germany Russia South Africa UK Wars World War I
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleProxy Servers: 6 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know
    Next Article Hanlé Barnard: 10 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know
    Henno Kruger
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • Instagram

    Founder and owner of Running Wolf's Rant, Interesting Facts and SA Music Zone.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Leigh Avenue
    Categories
    More History Facts
    Terracotta Army - 1974
    June 11, 2024

    21 Notable Events in 1974

    215 Views8 Mins Read
    Nelson Mandela in 1990
    June 5, 2022

    6 Notable Events in 1990

    705 Views3 Mins Read
    Star Wars in 1977
    July 29, 2023

    22 Notable Events in 1977

    9,203 Views5 Mins Read
    Delgona Coffee - 2020
    February 7, 2024

    22 Notable Events in 2020

    477 Views8 Mins Read
    More Facts
    Alien in 1979
    February 25, 2025

    Alien (1979 Movie): 16 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

    15 Views3 Mins Read
    Nicholas Cage in Matchstick Men
    February 29, 2024

    Matchstick Men: 12 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

    126 Views4 Mins Read
    The Fifth Element
    January 11, 2025

    The Fifth Element (Movie): 15 Interesting Facts

    75 Views5 Mins Read
    California Sunset
    May 16, 2023

    California: 22 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

    115 Views7 Mins Read
    NetfloristOfferforge
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    Recent Comments
    • Henno Kruger on Finland: 32 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know
    • F on Finland: 32 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know
    • David Devo Oosthuizen on Celeste Swift: 10 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter

    Let's Get factual!

    Get fresh facts via email

    Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram TikTok
    © 2025 Interesting Facts - Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.