Western Front (World War I) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Western Front
Part of World War I
For most of World War I, Allied and German Forces were stalled in trench warfare along the Western Front. This picture shows a sentry of A Company, 11th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment in a trench during the Battle of the Somme.
Date 1914 – 1918 Location Belgium and northeastern France Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Belgium British Empire Australia Canada India  Newfoundland New Zealand South Africa  France and French Overseas Empire  Portugal  United States	German Empire  Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
No unified command until 1918, then Ferdinand Foch	Moltke → Falkenhayn → Hindenburg and Ludendorff → Hindenburg and Groener
Casualties and losses
~4,800,000	Unknown

The Western Front was a very important battle line during World War I. It was located in Belgium and France. In 1914, the German army invaded Luxembourg and Belgium. This started the fighting on the Western Front.

The German army quickly took control of many important industrial areas in France. But their fast advance was stopped at the Battle of the Marne. After this, both sides began to dig long, defensive trenches. These trenches eventually stretched all the way from the North Sea to the border of Switzerland.

What Was the Western Front?

The Western Front was a long line of trenches where soldiers fought during World War I. It was a key area of conflict for four years. From 1915 to 1917, many attacks were launched from these trenches. Both sides used a lot of artillery (large guns) and thousands of infantry (foot soldiers).

Why Was the Western Front a Stalemate?

The fighting on the Western Front often resulted in a stalemate. This means neither side could make a big breakthrough. The trenches were very strong, protected by machine gun nests and barbed wire. Artillery fire also made it hard to advance.

New military technologies were developed to try and break this deadlock. These included poison gas, aircraft, and tanks. However, even with these new weapons, major breakthroughs were rare. Both sides were very determined not to lose any land. This led to a long and difficult war with many casualties.

Images for kids

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  Map of the Western Front and the Race to the Sea, 1914

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  Map of the Western Front, 1915–16

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  Ruins of Carency after it was recaptured by France

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  German soldier on the Western Front in 1916

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  French soldiers observing enemy movements

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  British infantry advance near Ginchy. Photo by Ernest Brooks.

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  The Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt seen from the air

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  Map of the Western Front, 1917

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  British Army on the Western Front (August 1917)

See also

In Spanish: Frente occidental (Primera Guerra Mundial) para niños