Forgotten Armies of WWI
History: KS3, topic 16.4.1
What Do the Stories of the 'Often Forgotten Armies' Reveal?
World War I has often been viewed as a conflict between the Central Powers and the Allies. However, many other nationalities fought on the Western Front.
What is the Western Front?
- The Western Front was established at the start of the First World War when the Central Powers and the Allies raced to the sea.
- The Central Powers were Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary.
- The Allies were Britain, France and Russia.
Where did the fighting take place?
- Most of the fighting between armies took place along the Western Front.
- The Western Front went from the Swiss border with France in the south through France and Belgium to the North Sea.
Many nationalities fought
- WW1 is often viewed as a conflict between the British/ French and German armies.
- But many other nationalities fought on the Western Front.
Who else fought on the Western Front?
- From as early as August 1914 AD, a lot of other soldiers fighting on the Western Front came from the British and French empires.
- These included:
- India (British)
- Algeria (French)
- Canada (British)
Shortage of manpower
- Following the Battle of the Somme in 1916 AD and a shortage of manpower, Britain also recruited Chinese men.
- The Western Front was very multicultural with many different nationalities and religions.
Test yourself on Forgotten Armies of WWI
Which other nationalities fought on the Western Front?