World War I

World War I (also known as the First World War or the Great War) lasted from 1914 to 1918. It was the first global conflict and was fought mainly in Europe, although it also spread to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The conflict was notable for its use of new warfare technology, including poison gas, submarines, military aircraft, and tanks. Millions of soldiers died and it was the first war to be fought on a worldwide scale. This guide will look at how the war, and its subsequent ramifications, have been portrayed on stage, in both plays and musicals.

Terminology

• Ottoman Empire: An empire that controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14th and early 20th centuries.
• Western Front: A 400-plus mile stretch of land weaving through France and Belgium from the Swiss border to the North Sea.
• Weimar Republic: The government of Germany from 1919 to 1933.
• Expressionism: A style of theatre that utilized theatrical elements and scenery with exaggeration and distortion in order to convey strong feelings and ideas to audiences.
• No Man’s Land: Disputed ground between the front lines or trenches of two opposing armies.
• Austria-Hungary: A monarchy (1867–1918) in central Europe that included the empire of Austria, the kingdom of Hungary, and various crown lands.
• Satire: A form of comedy that presents ridiculous extremes in order to make a point about society or human nature.

Key Dates & Events

1914

• June 28 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand, prince to the Austria-Hungary throne, is assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian named Gavrilo Princip.
• July 28 - Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia begins mobilizing its troops.
• August 1 - Germany declares war on Russia.
• August 3 - Germany declares war on France.
• August 4 - Germany invades Belgium. Britain declares war on Germany.
• September 5 to 12 - The German army is halted before they reach Paris at the First Battle of the Marne. The Germans remain where they are and four years of trench warfare begins.
• October 19 to November 22 - The Allies defeat the Germans at the First Battle of Ypres.
• December 24 - An unofficial truce is declared between the two sides at Christmas.

1915

• May 7 - The Lusitania, a luxury British passenger ship, is sunk by a German submarine. 1,195 civilians were killed. The tragedy sparks international outrage and became a major factor in the United States’ decision to join the war.

1916

• February 21 - The Battle of Verdun begins between France and Germany. It lasts until December of 1916, finally resulting in a French victory.
• May 31 - The Battle of Jutland is fought between Britain and Germany in the North Sea.
• July 1 - The Battle of the Somme begins. Over the course of the battle, over 1 million soldiers are wounded or killed.

1917

• April 6 - The United States enters the war, declaring war on Germany.
• December 17 - The Russians agree to peace with the Central powers and leave the war.

1918

• July 15 - The Second Battle of the Marne begins. It ends in August with a decisive victory for the Allies.
• November 11 - Germany agrees to an armistice and the fighting ceases at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.

1919

• June 28 - The Treaty of Versailles is signed by Germany and World War I comes to an end.