The Great War began on 4 August 1914 and was initiated by the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Slav nationist on 28 June. This caused conflict between the two diplomatic alliances of the Central Powers of Austria, Hungary, Germany and Italy and the Triple Entente/Allied Forces of Britain, France and Russia. Germany then invaded Belgium, a neutral country. Britain had promised Belgium that they would defend them if Germany attacked. Not only were major battles fought in Europe, but also Africa and the Middle East.
On 11 November 1918 in the Forest of Compiegne and armistice was signed between Germany and the Allied forces. During the four years millions of young men died 947,000 being men of the British Empire. Celebrations took place all over the British Isles and people returned to normality. In June 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed between the allied powers and Germany which officially ended the ‘war to end all wars’.