World war: I

World War I, also known as the Great War, started in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder catapulted into a war across Europe that lasted until 1918. World War II[b] or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis. Nearly all of the world 's countries participated, with many nations mobilising all resources in pursuit of total war . Tanks and aircraft played major roles, enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the first and only nuclear weapons ever used in war . World War II is the deadliest conflict in history, causing the death of 70 to ... Home World News in depth How close are we to World War Three? The Taiwan Strait, the Israel-Iran theatre, Nato’s eastern front and the Korean peninsula all have different risk factors but ... A world war is an international conflict that involves most or all of the world 's major powers. Learn about the etymology, history and examples of world wars, such as World War I and World War II, and their consequences and controversies.