The First World War occurred between 1914-1918. The conflict was a power struggle between the Allies and the Central Powers. A huge shift in the balance of power led to the catalyst for World War I. One major cause was the rise of power in Germany. Another was the decline of the Ottoman Empire. Other factors included economic competition, tensions between the powers, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This assassination pulled in Russia. Shortly after, Germany, France, and the UK were drawn in. The United States did not enter the war until 1917 on the Allied side. Most of the fighting took places in Europe and the Middle East. World War I was primarily fought with trench warfare, artillery, tanks, and chemical warfare. The war came to a formal end in 1919 with the signing of the peace treaty, The Treaty of Versailles. This treaty ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers. The death toll in War World I added up to over 9 million military deaths, 8 million civilians deaths, and 23 million wounded. This was one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Let’s take a look at some of the images from the battlefields and from the point of view of those who were there. July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme Soldiers at the Battle of the Somme, 1916 Australian infantry wearing Small Box Respirators French soldiers moving into attack from their trench during the Verdun battle, 1916. First World War Casualties on the Western Front Wounded tended on the battlefield Soldiers making a meal in the trenches Tanks used to navigate difficult terrain Soldiers trying to dry their feet out to prevent trench foot First aid on the battlefield, Somme New Zealand soldiers with a copy of ‘New Zealand at the Front’ An injured soldier on the battlefield Soldiers getting a nap when they could Jewish German soldier during World War One Soldiers on the front hunkering in the trenches Injured Indian soldiers of the British Army during World War One being treated Salvage of the battlefield near Bapaume Casualties on the battlefield French cart picks up the dead from the battlefield, 1915 U.S. troops in France just week’s before Germany’s surrender Bringing in the wounded from the battlefield – April 1917 U.S. troops man a captured German communications outpost Wading through waterlogged trenches 1917: Canadian troops sit and take a break in a field during a pause in their attack on the Cambrai front, France, Western Front December 1915: Canadian cavalrymen Stretcher bearers and dressers Dispatch rider of the Royal Naval Division Signal Company A soldier stands at the junction of two trenches – Gourlay Trench and Gordon Alley John Meintz, punished during World War I German Infantry on the Battlefield Women’s War work during the First World War The Royal Navy during the First World War Arms production in Britain Australian Field Ambulance American Troops – Uniform and Equipment during the First World War Industry during the First World WarThe post Rare Images that Capture World War One as it Really Was first appeared on History Defined.