What Countries Were Involved In World War I?

WW1 Frontlines as of 1916 – Photo Source: Wikimedia

What Countries Were Involved In World War I?

Before we answer the question of what countries were involved in World War 1, let’s first look at factors that led to the outbreak of one of the deadliest conflicts in human history.

Although the immediate trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on 28 June 1914, the real cause of World War 1 remains controversial with a complex mix of factors being pointed out as the main reasons behind the outbreak of the War.

However, historians have identified a number of underlying factors that mainly led to the first global conflict. They include territorial disputes, economic competition, imperialism, nationalism; and the breakdown of the European balance of power created by the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Countries directly involved in World War 1

Monument to the fallen soldiers of World War I – Photo  by Daniel Huet From Wikimedia

World War 1, was fought from 1914 to 1918 and involved more than 30 countries from across the world. It officially began On July 28, 1914, when the Austro-Hungarian government declared war on Serbia. This was just one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo.

Immediately after the war began, the United Kingdom and France joined the war in support of Serbia and together formed the allied powers’ military coalition. Other countries that joined the coalition included Russia, Italy, the United States, Belgium, Montenegro, Romania, and Greece.

They were up against the central powers’ military coalition consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. Other countries involved in World War 1 but did not play a major role include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan,  China, Brazil, Mexico, and Thailand.

United States Joined the war 3 Years after the war has began

WW1 American servicemen – Photo Source: Wikimedia

Although the United States was a major supplier of war materials to the allies throughout World War 1, it remained neutral and was not directly involved for the first three years. This was due to strong anti-war sentiments among US citizens who opposed their country becoming involved in what they viewed as a foreign war.

However, all this changed in the early months of 1917, when the German Government approved the introduction of unrestricted submarine warfare, which meant all ships, including American merchant ships, were now targeted. Another major reason that provoked the US government into the war was the interception of a telegram sent by German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the Mexican president proposing a military alliance between the two nations which the US government viewed as a threat to its own national security.

Russia Withdrew from the war before it ended

Despite being among the first nations to join World War 1 in support of Serbia, the Russian Empire withdrew from the War before it officially ended. This was due to the Russian revolution which took place in 1917 and consequently ended the Russian monarchy and brought in a socialist form of government.

The Russian empire had joined World War 1 to protect its Slavic allies and to preserve its status as a great power. However, poor organizational skills and a severe shortage of supplies saw Russia suffer great losses which eventually led to the revolution.  

A few months after the Revolution, the new Russian leadership signed a peace treaty with Central Powers on 3 March 1918, which officially ended Russia’s participation in World War I. Nonetheless, despite its withdrawal, the war continued until November 5, 1918, when allied forces signed an armistice with Germany which technically marked the end of the Great War.

Italy joined the war in 1915

Although it is recognized as a prominent member of allied forces during World War 1, Italy did not join the War until 1915. When the war began in 1914, Italy declared its neutrality, arguing that it was neither obligated to support an Austrian attack on Serbia nor defend Serbia from an Austrian attack.

However, Italy was motivated to join the war after it was promised territory in Austria-Hungary and sovereignty over the Dodecanese in case allied forces emerged victorious against the central powers. It also wanted to assert itself as a major European power although its army was one of the weakest in Europe by the start of World War 1.

Several countries participated in the war by virtue of being colonies

Indian cavalry during WW1 – Photo Source: Wikimedia

Apart from independent countries that took part in World War 1 of their own free will, several other countries participated in the War by virtue of being major powers colonies. They included countries from Asian and African continents that were under British, Germans, Italian, or French rule.

In 1914, almost 90 percent of African countries were colonies of major European powers, which meant that much of their participation in WWI was either enforced or conscripted. In total, more than 40 African countries unwillingly participated in the war and together contributed over 2.5 million men who served as soldiers, laborers, or porters.  

India, which was a British colony at that time, contributed the largest number of men to the war than any other country outside Europe. It is estimated that close to 1.5 million Indian servicemen participated in World War 1, with more than I million of them being deployed to battlefronts in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Other Asian countries which contributed in one way or the other to the war efforts included, Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Ceylon, Persia, Siam, Singapore, and Qatar among others.

Conclusion

Although it was mainly fought in Europe, the First World War was the first global war that involved countries from all corners of the world. It is believed that over 100 nations worldwide willingly or unwillingly took part in the most devastating conflict in human history.

It is also estimated that over 60 million soldiers around the world actively took part in the conflict which saw close to 10 million of them losing their life. Despite the high loss of human life, destruction of property, and loss of people’s lively hood, the world did not learn as it became involved in another devastating world war only two decades later.