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The World at WarParticipants in World War I
The war in Europe quickly expanded to other parts of the world. European colonies and dominions in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific provided men and resources to their mother countries. In some cases, these colonial territories themselves became battlegrounds. The entrance of the Ottoman Empire set off fighting in the Middle East and North Africa. Fighting spread to the seas, as both sides tried to prevent shipments of vital supplies to their opponents. When colonies and other possessions are included, most of today’s modern nations participated in some way.
The following nations formally declared war; not all participated in hostilities.
The Allies and Associated Powers
1914
- Serbia
- Russia
- Montenegro
- France
- Belgium
- Great Britain
Includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa & other British dominions and colonies - Japan
1915
- Italy
1916
- Portugal
- Romania
1917
- United States
- Cuba
- Panama
- Greece
- Siam
- Liberia
- China
- Brazil
1918
- Guatemala
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Haiti
- Honduras
The Central Powers
1914
- Austria-Hungary
- Germany
- Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
1915
- Bulgaria
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Lessons/resources
Search the National WWI Museum & Memorial Resource Database
More resources/lessons
» World War I Declarations
Articles from historical newspapers document the news coverage of many nations' declarations of war at the onset of the First World War. | Library of Congress
» Imperial War Museums • Learning Resources
Teaching tools and lessons (includes other eras). Focused on the British experience. | Imperial War Museums (UK)
» Imperial War Museums • First World War
Comprehensive collection of resource on Great Britain's World War One experience. | Imperial War Museums (UK)
» Library of Congress: World War I
Homepage for the Library of Congress' extensive WWI collections and resources. | Library of Congress