World War 1

World War 1 soldier in bunker

World War 1 for kids

World War 1

World War 1 facts for kids learning KS2 at Primary School. Homework help about history of the Great War, how it ended and Remembrance Day.




Time: 28th July 1914 – 11th November 1918

World War 1 was also known as The Great War. It had more countries involved in the war than any other war. More than 65 million men fought in the war. Over 9 million soldiers were killed and 21 million men wounded.

So how did the war start? There was always problems with Britain, France and Russia on one side and Germany and Austria-Hungary on the other. But on 28the June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the Austrian throne) was shot by a Serbian student.

Obviously the Austrians were not happy and with Germanys help they attacked Serbia. Russia then stepped in to help Serbia and the two sides were at war.

bbc-ww1BBC Bitesize - WW1 Class Clips
All about World War1, life about the children who lived through the war, family life during the war and famous figures through class clips.
bitesize-ww1BBC Bitesize - World War One
Learner guides and Class Clips on World War One.

World War one video

Free online History games

The German/Austrian side soon moved to northern France. Here the war didn’t move any further for four years. This was known as the Western Front.

By this time many countries were involved. With Germany and Austria-Hungary were Turkey and Bulgaria. And with Britain, France and Russia were Italy, Greece and Portugal. The war also extended with fighting in Africa and the Middle East.

German submarines sank any ship going to a British port. Some of the ships were American. This caused the Americans to join the war in 1917. This was now The Greatest War of all time.

history-10-facts-ww1History - 10 facts
Most of us are fairly well versed on many of the facts of Word War I, but there are some that are so quirky that we don't know about them.
cbbc-d-dayCBBC - What happened during World War 1?
On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. People in Britain opened their newspapers the next morning and found out war had begun.

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Frightful First World War

Frightful First World War video

facts-for-kidsFacts for kids - WW1
Answering questions like, why did it start? Who had the biggest army in the war? And, who were the heroes of the war?
bbc-history-12-ww1-factsHistory Kids - WW1 Facts & Information
Facts and information cover the most important events in World War 1 as they happened, and why the war began in the first place.
history-learning-siteHistory learning site - World war 1
Hear memories of the soldiers in the trenches and learn what life was like for them.
children-of-world-war1Children of the Great War
All armies in the Great War used kid soldiers. Enthusiasm to join the battle was so great that young boys (and even girls) could hardly be stopped to enlist.
imperial-war-museumImperial War Museum
Visit the Imperial War Museums in London, Manchester or in Cambridgeshire for a close up view of war life.

The war ended when the Russians were exhausted by the war and make peace with Germany. Germany continued to attack on the Western Front but they were forced back and Germany surrendered on 11th November 1918. The war finally ended.

Remembrance Day

Every year on 11th November we wear poppies and remember the millions of people that fought in this war and all the others since. This is called Remembrance Day but also called Armistice Day. It is on the same day as World War One ended. Not only do we remember and say thank you to the brave men and women who fought in the war, but we remember all the armed forces over the years and even the ones that protect us today.

Why do we wear poppies?

Poppy wreaths on war memorial

Poppies were the flowers that grew on the battlefields after World War I, and people wear them as a symbol of remembrance to honour those who fought and died in wars. We also have a minute of silence at the 11th hour (11 am). We all stop and think quietly about the war heroes that are no longer with us.

What is Remembrance Sunday?

Remembrance Sunday is always on the second Sunday of November. The Royal Family lay wreaths of poppies at the Cenotaph (war memorial) in London and will have a minute of silence at 11 am along with the rest of the country. Ceremonies take place at war memorials and churches all over the country.

rememberanceCBBC - What is remembrance day?
The second Sunday of November is Remembrance Sunday, but what does it all mean and what are you meant to do?
british-legionBritish Legion - Remembrance Day
The First World War officially ended on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day on the eleventh month, 1918 - Armistice Day. This is Remembrance Day.
the-school-runWorld War 1 and Remembrance Day
Homework help on World War 1 and Remembrance Day. Find out what it was, 10 top facts, view the gallery and find out things you really didn't know about the war.
remembrance-day-activity-villageRemembrance Day at Activity Village
Get involved and understand what Remembrance Day is all about with our collection of Poppy Day colouring pages, classroom printables, crafts and activities.
war-poemsPoems for Remembrance Day
Poems that are used for Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day video

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