Europe during the First World War
The countries involved and the front lines.
© Anne Frank HouseThe Eastern Front
The Eastern Front runs from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire are fighting against Russia and Romania.
© Anne Frank HouseThe Southern Fronts
The fronts in Italy, in the Balkans and in the west of the Ottoman Empire.
More than 100,000 soldiers were killed in the Battle of Gallipoli (1915).
© Anne Frank HouseThe Western Front 1
After a rapid advance through Belgium and Luxembourg, the German army came to a standstill near Paris in September 1914.
© Anne Frank HouseThe Western Front 2
The German army is pushed back over the rivers Marne and Aisne. The Germans hope to encircle the French via the west, but the Allies attack them in the flank from the north.
© Anne Frank HouseThe Western Front 3
The advance of the Germans comes to a halt and trench warfare ensues. Despite bloody battles, no side can gain much ground. Millions of soldiers are killed by the use of machine guns and other modern weapons.
© Anne Frank HouseThe Western Front 4
After a successful attack by the German army in the spring, the Allies counterattack, forcing Germany back to its old position.
The United States joins the Allies and sends troops. The German army retreats further into Belgium.
© Anne Frank House