World War I Key Terms

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The countries (including France, Britain, Russia, and later the United States) that fought together against the Central Powers during World War I.

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Triple Entente or the Allies

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The group of nations led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria that opposed the Allies in World War I.

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Central Powers

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A formal agreement to stop fighting; World War I fighting ended when an armistice went into effect on November 11, 1918.

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Armistice

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A style of fighting in which opposing armies dug long, fortified ditches (trenches) and faced each other across a “no man’s land,” causing slow, deadly stalemates.

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Trench Warfare

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The dangerous, open territory between opposing trenches where soldiers were extremely vulnerable to fire.

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No Man’s Land

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Information, often biased or misleading, used by governments or groups to influence public opinion and encourage support for the war effort.

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Propaganda

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The process of preparing and organizing a nation’s military forces and resources for war.

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Mobilization

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Mandatory enlistment of citizens into a nation’s armed forces; also called “the draft.”

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Conscription

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A war that involves not only armies but entire societies, where governments mobilize civilians, industries, and resources to support the war effort.

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Total War

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A German submarine used to sink military and civilian ships; unrestricted U-boat attacks were a major cause of tensions with neutral countries.

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U-Boat