World War I also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. From the time of its start until the approach of World War II, the First World War was called simply the World War or the Great War and thereafter the First World War or World War. At the time, it was also sometimes called "the war to end war" or "the war to end all wars" due its then-unparalleled scale and devastation. During the interwar ... Learn about the origins, events and consequences of World War I, also known as the Great War, which started in 1914 and ended in 1918. Explore the roles of the Central Powers, the Allied Powers, the Eastern Front, the Western Front, the Battle of the Marne, the Treaty of Versailles and more. The First World War The First World War, which started in 1914, was unlike any previous war in history. It involved multiple nations and had an impact on nearly every country in the world. The war saw the use of new methods of defense and destruction, and because of its widespread reach, the damage it caused, and its overall impact, it was deemed unprecedented. This is why it came to be known as the First World War. World War I, [b] or the First World War, (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers.