1. Newfoundland in the First World War: 1914-1918
The Great War
Newfoundland in the First World War:

2. Introduction to World War One
In the summer of 1914 the great powers of Europe began fighting what would come to be called the First World War.
Europe had been on the brink of conflict for a long time. The situation was made worse by the ALLIANCE SYSTEM. The big military powers joined together in agreements to protect each other when they were attacked.
Because of these agreements, if one nation attacked another it would be almost impossible to prevent the spread of the fighting.

3. Alliances
Great Britain, France and Russia were the main members of the “Triple Entente” or “The Allies”.
Germany and Austria-Hungary were the major powers of the “Central Powers”.
The countries in each alliance had problems with countries in the other alliance.
Because of these issues, many began fearing that a major conflict would break out over any event – big or small.
For example, if a country in the “Triple Entente” attacked a country in the “Central Powers” then all of the nations in the Alliance would have to go to war.

4. Assassination
The event that many people feared would trigger a war happened June 28th, 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, a prince of Austria (The Central Powers) was murdered.
The individual who assassinated the prince was from the province of Serbia.
Austria blamed the Serbian
government for the assassination
and declared war.
Because Serbia was allied with
Russia and the “Entente Powers”,
all of the nations in the
alliances were at war with each other.

5. The British Empire
When Great Britain declared war on the Central Powers, it did so on behalf of all members of its Empire.
The governments of many independent colonies, like Newfoundland, had no choice in the matter – they too were at war with Germany.
Courtesy of the Provincial Archives
of Newfoundland and Labrador
(PANL F-52-14), St. John's, Newfoundland.

6. 28 28 29 1 3 3 4 6 EUROPE IS AT WAR Austria Declares War on Russia
Britain
Declares
War on
Germany
London
Treaty
Germany
invade
Belgium
Schlieffen
Plan
Germany
Declares
War on
France
Schlieffen
Plan
Germany
Declares
War on
Russia
Russia
get ready
to help
Serbia
Austria
Declares
War on
Serbia
Sarajevo 28
June 28
July 29
July 1
August 3
August 3
August 4
August 6
August

7. The World At War Triple Entente/The Allies Neutral Countries
The Central Powers
Image courtesy of:

8. The Fighting The fighting of the war took place on several FRONTS.
The Western Front (France)
The Eastern Front (Central/Eastern Europe – Russia)
The Middle East
Italy
Over 40 Million casualties
resulted from the years of
fighting.
Combat Deaths
Accidents
Disease
Prisoners of War