Known by many names – the Great War, the First World War, or simply WWI – this international conflict forever altered the 20th century. Spanning just over four tumultuous years, from its outbreak on 28 July 1914 to its conclusion on 11 November 1918, it drew in nations across continents and unleashed unprecedented devastation. Far from being confined to Europe, the fighting extended to Russia, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey), with significant campaigns also waged across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia. It stands as one of history’s deadliest conflicts, claiming an estimated 9 million lives in combat alone, while a further 5 million civilians perished from the brutal realities of occupation, bombardment, hunger, or disease. The horrors were compounded by genocides orchestrated by the Ottomans and the global spread of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, tragically facilitated by the movement of combatants, adding millions more to the global death toll.

The Road to Conflict: A Continent on the Brink

In 1914, Europe was a powder keg, its Great Powers meticulously divided into two formidable, opposing alliances. On one side stood the Triple Entente, a pact uniting France, Imperial Russia, and Britain. Arrayed against them was the Triple Alliance, comprising Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Tensions, particularly in the volatile Balkans, reached a fever pitch on 28 June 1914. This fateful day saw the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Austro-Hungarian heir, by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist, in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary swiftly laid blame on Serbia, and the intricate web of interlocking alliances immediately entangled the Great Powers in a series of frantic diplomatic exchanges, a period now remembered as the July Crisis. The situation escalated rapidly: on 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia, compelled by its alliance, came to Serbia’s defence, and by 4 August, the conflict had ballooned to engulf Germany, France, and Britain, alongside their vast colonial empires. As the year progressed, new alignments solidified, with the Ottoman Empire joining Germany and Austria-Hungary to form the formidable Central Powers in November. The following spring, in April 1915, Italy, initially part of the Triple Alliance, switched allegiances to join Britain, France, Russia, and Serbia, becoming one of the Allied Powers.

The Global Battlefield and Shifting Strategies

Faced with the daunting prospect of a war on two fronts, Germany’s initial strategy in 1914 was encapsulated in the audacious Schlieffen Plan: a rapid knockout blow against France in the west, followed by a swift redeployment of forces eastward to defeat Russia. However, this ambitious plan faltered dramatically when the German advance into France was decisively halted at the First Battle of the Marne. By the close of 1914, the war in the west had devolved into a brutal stalemate along the Western Front – a continuous, entrenched series of fortifications stretching from the English Channel to Switzerland that saw little significant movement until 1917. In stark contrast, the Eastern Front proved far more fluid and dynamic, with Austria-Hungary and Russia engaging in a relentless tug-of-war, gaining and then losing vast swathes of territory. Beyond these primary theatres, significant fighting also occurred in the Middle East, along the challenging Alpine Front, and across the Balkans, drawing nations like Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece into the devastating global conflict.

The War's Climax and Aftermath

The prolonged naval blockade imposed by the Allies created severe shortages for Germany, prompting its desperate decision to initiate unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917. This aggressive move proved to be a critical turning point, drawing the previously neutral United States into the war on 6 April 1917. Meanwhile, a seismic shift occurred on the Eastern Front. In Russia, the Bolsheviks seized power during the 1917 October Revolution and, true to their promise, made peace with the Central Powers via the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918. This momentous withdrawal freed up vast numbers of German troops, which the German General Staff hastily transferred to the Western Front. Their final, desperate hope was to achieve a decisive victory before the full impact of American reinforcements could be felt. Thus, they launched the March 1918 German Spring Offensive. Despite initial successes, the offensive was ultimately halted by staggering casualties and ferocious Allied defence. In August, the Allies launched their powerful Hundred Days Offensive, and though the German army continued to fight valiantly, it could no longer stem the tide of the Allied advance. Towards the end of 1918, the Central Powers began to collapse under the immense pressure. Bulgaria signed an Armistice on 29 September, followed by the Ottomans on 31 October, and then Austria-Hungary on 3 November. Isolated, facing a mounting revolution at home, and with his army on the verge of mutiny, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated on 9 November. The newly formed German government signed the historic Armistice of 11 November 1918, finally bringing the brutal fighting to a close. The 1919 Paris Peace Conference subsequently imposed various settlements on the defeated powers, the most well-known being the highly contentious Treaty of Versailles. The dissolution of the Russian, German, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian empires led to numerous uprisings and the creation of independent states, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. However, for reasons still debated by historians, the failure to effectively manage the widespread instability that resulted from this massive upheaval during the interwar period ultimately culminated in the devastating outbreak of World War II in 1939.

The First Battle of Gaza: A Pivotal Encounter

Among the many engagements of World War I, the First Battle of Gaza stands out as a significant event, fought on 26 March 1917. This battle marked the initial attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) to invade the south of Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, during the crucial Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The fighting unfolded in and around the ancient town of Gaza, situated on the Mediterranean coast. Infantry and mounted infantry units from the Desert Column, a vital component of the Eastern Force, launched a determined assault on the town.

Leading up to this offensive, the EEF had achieved several key victories. In August 1916, their success at Romani had effectively ended the threat of land-based attacks on the Suez Canal, which the Ottomans had first menaced in February 1915. Further cementing their gains, the newly formed Desert Column secured the Mediterranean port of El Arish in December 1916 with a victory at the Battle of Magdhaba, simultaneously safeguarding the critical supply route, water pipeline, and railway that stretched eastward across the Sinai Peninsula. By January 1917, another Desert Column triumph at the Battle of Rafa completed the capture of the entire Sinai Peninsula, bringing the EEF within striking distance of Gaza.

Two months later, in March 1917, the attack on Gaza commenced. Infantry from the Eastern Force’s 52nd (Lowland) Division, reinforced by an additional infantry brigade, spearheaded the assault. This attack was strategically protected from the threat of Ottoman reinforcements by the presence of the Anzac Mounted Division and a screening force from the Imperial Mounted Division. The infantry’s advance from the south and southeast against the well-entrenched Ottoman garrison in and around Gaza was met with fierce and tenacious resistance. While the Imperial Mounted Division successfully held off threatening Ottoman reinforcements, the Anzac Mounted Division skillfully attacked Gaza from the north, even managing to enter the town. Concurrently, a joint infantry and mounted infantry assault successfully captured the crucial Ali Muntar position. However, despite these breakthroughs, the lateness of the hour, the unwavering determination of the Ottoman defenders, and the ominous threat posed by large Ottoman reinforcements rapidly approaching from the north and northeast ultimately led to the Eastern Force’s controversial decision to retreat. Many historians suggest this withdrawal was a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. This British setback was unfortunately compounded just a few weeks later by an even more emphatic defeat for the Eastern Force at the Second Battle of Gaza in April 1917.

Frequently Asked Questions about World War I and the First Battle of Gaza

What was World War I?

World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a major global conflict that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. It involved the vast majority of the world’s great powers, divided into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers.

When did World War I start and end?

World War I began on 28 July 1914 and officially ended with the signing of the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

What caused World War I?

The immediate trigger for World War I was the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip on 28 June 1914. However, underlying causes included a complex web of military alliances, imperialism, militarism, and nationalism among European powers, particularly in the Balkans.

Who were the main opposing sides in WWI?

The main opposing sides were the Allied Powers (initially France, Russia, Britain, later joined by Italy, the United States, and others) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, later joined by Bulgaria).

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

The Treaty of Versailles was the most important of the peace treaties that brought World War I to an end. It was signed on 28 June 1919 in Versailles, France, between the Allied Powers and Germany. It imposed harsh terms on Germany, laying much of the blame for the war at its feet.

What was the Western Front?

The Western Front was the main theatre of war in WWI, characterized by a continuous line of trenches stretching from the English Channel to Switzerland. It saw brutal trench warfare and little territorial gain for either side for much of the conflict.

What was the First Battle of Gaza?

The First Battle of Gaza was fought on 26 March 1917, during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of WWI. It was the initial attempt by the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) to invade Ottoman Palestine, but it resulted in a British tactical defeat despite nearing victory.