Allied Powers of World War I facts for kids

The Allied Powers of World War I were the countries who fought against the Central Powers during World War I. The main countries in this group included the British Empire, France, the Russian Empire, the United States, Italy, and Japan. Interestingly, most of these countries would fight together again in World War II. However, Italy and Japan changed sides and fought with Germany in the second war.

Many of the Allied Powers in Europe were already friends and allies before World War I even started. For example, Serbia was an ally of Russia. Russia, in turn, was an ally of both Britain and France. The war began in 1914 when the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. This event caused a chain reaction, leading many other countries to declare war on each other.

At first, the United States stayed neutral, meaning it did not pick a side. But after Germany took several actions against the US, the United States decided to join the war in 1917. They then fought alongside the Allied Powers.

Russia Leaves the War

Russia's fight against the Central Powers did not go well. Many Russian soldiers were not well-equipped or trained. A lot of Russians were killed, and problems like poverty and starvation became much worse. Many people in Russia blamed their leader, Czar Nicholas II, for these problems. Because of this, he was removed from power and sent away.

The new government, called the Russian Provisional Government, also made many Russians unhappy. This was because they promised to keep Russia fighting in the war. After a big change in Russia, a communist leader named Vladimir Lenin made a deal with Germany. He promised to stop the fighting between Russia and Germany if Germany helped him return to Russia to take over the government.

Lenin's main promise for his new communist government was "peace, land, and bread." This meant:

• No more fighting in the war.
• Land would be shared equally among all people in Russia.
• There would be plenty of food for everyone.

After the Communist Party took control of Russia, they kept their promise to Germany. Russia then stopped fighting in World War I.

Allies in World War II

In World War II, Italy joined Germany as part of the Axis Powers. This happened because Italy's leader, Benito Mussolini, had ideas similar to Nazism, which was Germany's main political belief.

Japan was also unhappy after World War I. They felt they did not gain as much as they wanted from the peace agreements. So, Japan also joined the Axis Powers. They believed this alliance would help the Japanese Empire grow faster than if they had stayed with the Allies.

Images for kids

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  1914 Russian poster depicting the Triple Entente

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  The Council of Four (from left to right): David Lloyd George, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, Georges Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson in Versailles, 1919

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  The British Empire in 1914

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  HMS Dreadnought; agreements with Japan, France and Russia allowed Britain to focus resources during the Anglo-German naval arms race.

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  Canadian Army recruitment poster

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  Indian soldiers of the 2nd Rajput Light Infantry on the Western Front, winter of 1914–15

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  Russian troops marching to the front

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  Russian recruiting poster; the caption reads 'World on fire; Second Patriotic War'

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  French bayonet charge, 1914; huge casualties in the early months of the war had to be replaced by French colonial troops.

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  French Zouaves of the Army of Africa

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  French artillery in action near Gallipoli, 1915

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  The Japanese carrier Wakamiya conducted the first ship-launched aerial attack in 1914.

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  Antonio Salandra, Italian PM March 1914 – June 1916

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  Alpini troops marching in the snow at 3,000 m altitude, 1917

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  The Serbian Army in retreat, 1915

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  The Yser Front, 1917 by Belgian artist Georges-Émile Lebacq

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  Belgian Congolese Force Publique troops in German East Africa, 1916

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  Eleftherios Venizelos with Constantine during the Balkan Wars

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  A unit of the National Defence Army Corps on its way to the front in 1918

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  Colonel Christodoulou of the National Defence Army Corps interrogates Bulgarian prisoners, September 1918

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  Nicholas accepts the surrender of Scutari, April 1913; Montenegro's major gain from the Balkan War, it was relinquished several months later.

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  Montenegrin soldiers leaving for the front, October 1914

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  Romanian 250 mm Negrei Model 1916 mortar at the National Military Museum

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  Vlaicu III

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  Romanian troops at Mărășești

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  Brazilian soldiers in World War I

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  Military leaders of World War I: Alphonse Jacques de Dixmude (Belgium), Armando Diaz (Italy), Ferdinand Foch (France), John J. Pershing (United States), and David Beatty (United Kingdom)

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  Marshal Foch's Victory-Harmony Banner

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  Russian High Command

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  President Raymond Poincaré and King George V, 1915

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  First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, 1914

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  Douglas Haig and Ferdinand Foch inspecting the Gordon Highlanders, 1918

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  Greek war poster

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  USAAS recruiting poster, 1918

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  Braziliian ship Cruzador Bahia

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  The Siamese Expeditionary Forces in Paris, 1919

See also

In Spanish: Aliados de la Primera Guerra Mundial para niños