Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon A Christmas Miracle

World War I World War I was a long and terrible war. It began on June 28, 1914, and ended on November 11, 1918. Never before had so many nations been involved in one war. Nearly 10 million soldiers died during the four years of the war. Most of the battles took place in Europe. They were fought on land, at sea, and in the air. http://www.worldbookonline.com/kids/Article?id=ar832215&st=world+war+i

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria Franz Ferdinand, Austrian Archduke. Copyright © 2006 Scholastic Library Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 was one of the events that started World War I.

Two groups of nations fought World War I Two groups of nations fought World War I. One group was called the Central Powers. It included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The other group was called the Allies. It was made up of more than 20 countries. The main Allied powers were France, Britain, Russia, and the United States. http://www.worldbookonline.com/kids/Article?id=ar832215&st=world+war+i

Soldiers from many nations took part in the war.

The equipment and training of the American soldier in World War I.

Soldiers fought from trenches they dug in zig-zag fashion. The trenches were usually about 10 feet deep.

In January, 1917 British Intelligence intercepted a message sent from Germany to Mexico. The message called for Mexico to attack the United States. President Woodrow Wilson called for the United States to enter the war on April 2, 1917.

Weapons of World War I

On Christmas Day, 1914, at certain points along the western front of fighting, enemies climbed out of their trenches under flags of truce to exchange gifts, tobacco and chocolate.