World War I or the First World War: The name “world war” came into use shortly before the First World War and likely came from the German word “Weltkrieg,” or world war.
The Great War: World War I was one of the largest wars in history. It was the first...
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global war and it lasted over four years. 70 million combatants were involved, 10 million of whom were killed and 20 million of whom were wounded.
The War to End All Wars: World War I was unprecedented when it happened. War on a global scale with that many casualties and advances in military technology was something no one had ever seen. After all the destruction the hope was that it would be the last war.
The War to Make the World Safe for Democracy: This name is based on a speech given by US President Woodrow Wilson to Congress on April 2, 1917 in which he asked them to declare war on Germany. This was his statement
“The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.”
The War of the Nations: Thirty-two countries were involved in World War I, thus the name the War of the Nations.
Further Reading
World War I was also known as The Great War, and The War to End All Wars. It was qualitatively and quantitatively different from wars that had occurred up to that time. It was the first time so many nations, and such a large percentage of the globe, was involved in a conflict. It also saw the use of new weapons that were capable of causing horrendous casualties. Poison gas and machine guns, along with other weapons, wiped out entire units. And since the practice up till that time was usually to have all the soldiers from a town in the same unit, some towns lost all their young men. People were sure that after such a horrible war, the world would learn that wars would have to end. But 20 years later, the War to End All Wars simply became World War I.