World War 1 vs World War 2
In order to comprehend the differences between World War 1 and World War 2, it is crucial to examine the details of each war. These two major wars took place during separate periods, but both had a significant impact on most of the world, earning them the designation of World Wars. World War 2 was the more recent and brutal of the two, ending with the Allied forces invading Germany and America dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. The end of World War 2 marked the beginning of the Cold War between America and the USSR.
More about World War 1
World War 1 occurred from 1914 to 1918 and lasted for four years. The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria in June 1914 is believed to have sparked the war. World War 1 was primarily fought between countries aiming to acquire colonies, territories, and resources. This war is also known as The Kaiser’s War, The Great War, and the War of the Nations. The two opposing sides were the Central Powers (Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Turkey) and the Allied Powers (Britain, Russia, France, Italy, Japan, and the U.S.). World War 1 was fought using trenches, artillery, machine guns, poisonous gas, and early airplanes. The war resulted in the defeat of the German, Russian, and Austro-Hungarian empires, with over 100 million people believed to have died and over 21 million injured, including both civilian and military casualties.
More about World War 2
World War 2, also known as the Second World War, took place between 1939 and 1945 and lasted for six years. The main cause of World War 2 was political and economic instability in Germany, leading the country to act irrationally. This war was considered a war of ideologies, primarily involving Fascism and Communism, with Nazism later emerging as well. The parties involved in World War 2 were the Axis Powers (Germany, Japan, and Italy) and the Allied Powers (Britain, France, the U.S., China, and the Soviet Union). Missiles, nuclear power, submarines, and tanks were extensively used during World War 2. The outcome of the war was the victory of the Allies over Germany and Japan in 1945, with over 55 million people believed to have died, including both civilian and military casualties.
Key Takeaways
- World War 1 took place between 1914 and 1918, while World War 2 took place between 1939 and 1945.
- World War 1 was fought to acquire colonies, territories, and resources, while World War 2 was a war of ideologies, such as Fascism, Communism, and Nazism.
- The methods of warfare used in each war were different, with World War 1 primarily involving trenches, artillery, and machine guns, and World War 2 incorporating the use of missiles, nuclear power, submarines, and tanks.
