What Was World War I?

What was...?

by Nico Medina, Who H.Q., Dede Putra (Illustrator)

This compelling addition to the What Was? series covers what was supposed to be “the war to end all wars” but tragically wasn't.

In 1914, the assassination of an Austrian archduke set off a disastrous four-year-long conflict involving dozens of countries with battles taking place in all parts of the world. World War I was the first to use planes and tanks as well as deadly gases that left soldiers blinded or “shell shocked” (a condition now called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome). There were battles that lasted for months with opposing troops fighting from rat-infested trenches, battles that often ended in a hollow victory with only a small area of land retaken. The author of many successful Who HQ titles Nico Medina gives young readers a clear and compelling account of this long and tragic event, a war that left over 20 million dead and was the lead-up to World War II barely twenty years later.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Historical, Audiobook, War

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2023

Reviews

[Daniel Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refresher of the war…. And I didn’t know this but the war helped women suffrage since they served on the front lines as nurses and filled many empty men’s jobs in the US. The 19th Amendment guaranteeing (white) women the right to vote passed 2 years after the war ended. An amendment takes 2/3rds of Congress and 3/4ths of the states.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this out loud with my second grader! Very informative with safe, easy to understand verbiage.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned...
3 of the countries' leaders were first cousins! King George V of Britain was first cousins on different sides with both Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany (their grandma was Queen Victoria) and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (their Grandpa was the King of Denmark).
Some Austria-Hungarian leaders were looking for an excuse to go to war against Serbia to assert their dominance, and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand provided the opportunity.
Archduke Ferdinand was aware of angry sentiment toward him because of the timing of his trip coinciding with a nationalist holiday. Also there was an attack on his motorcade that got the car behind him. But despite the warnings, he still continued on with the trip. He was finally attempting to leave but the driver didn't speak the language and took a wrong turn, and the couple were killed on that street.
The United States entered the war after Germany 1) reneged on its promise not to sink passenger ships and 2) wrote a telegram to the ambassador in Mexico asking them to go to war against America.
Soldiers weren't permanently stationed in the trenches at the front: they rotated every week or so.

[Goddess of Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Some called it the War to End All Wars, which sadly it wasn’t."

This book not only does a good job of explaining how World War I became a WORLD war, and how many countries were involved, but it also explores how it played in to World War II...it also notes how the war was fought, with Zepplins dropping bombs in Blitz like runs across the channel, notes how planes were used, again helping us to see the evolution of the tools the military and those fighting use.

It's awesome to note how many were injured and died in the trenches, when poison gasses were used... making me grateful we don't often hear such large/horrific numbers in modern times.

[Tegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A concise history and a good starting point for young readers. With the amount of information that needed to be shared, it felt a bit rushed and could be overwhelming/choppy. But given that the book is only 112 pages, that makes sense.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know a lot about WWII but very little about WWI, so I actually learned a lot from this book!

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read with a lot of interesting information

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always good for a short look at the history of a person or event, this Who HQ is about World War I that had other names before it became World War I when World War II came to life. The assassination of the duke (after almost being blown up a few hours before that) kicked off much of it and the book focuses quite a bit on the warfare itself (trench warfare including the Christmas Truce story with the medical issues the soldiers experienced like trench foot).

From the major players to several small events inside the larger war, it covers quite a bit of ground including women's contributions and the shifting territorial issues.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being halfway in my World War I class, my niece and I decided to read another addition of the What Was series. This was a great overview of how the war started, new wartime technology, a few key battles, and the ending of the war with the US supporting the Allies in the Great War! An addition to this book was a series of actual photos that helped give a clearer idea of trench warfare, battles at sea, and the devastation of towns like Verdun & Ypres. Great series for both young students and old students as they are learning world history.

[David Rough · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dynamics of World War 1 are as confusing as a combined game of chess and checkers played at the same time on the same board. The causes of the war seemed to fall like dominoes. This concise history of the war, written for younger readers, does an admirable job of putting the pieces together in a logical order.

The book presents the war with pages on battles on the land (particularly the trenches of France), in the air (including the zeppelins and the Gotha bomber), and at sea (highlighting the German U-boats). Excellent illustrations.

[Kevin Koppelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short little book that was interesting. Not sure it covered all the aspects of what started the war but it did cover the technology advancements and how the USA changed its outlook on isolationism after this war.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I liked it because it was about the war. I never knew about World War 1 until this book."

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as the non-fiction companion to "The Moffats" with my 3rd grader. He gave the 4 star rating ;)

[Susan's Sweat Smells Like Literature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Medina is one of, if not the best writers in the Who Was series. Very well done!

[John Dembowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinctly and clearly summarizes all the complicated aspects of this war for kids, including the ramifications to the rest of world history.

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has crucial facts about the beginning and the ending of WWI. It took me “3 minutes” to read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a great deal from reading this book. It amazes me how things went down and then looking back, how everything turned out. It was a truly difficult time all around the world.

[Amin Bachari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was sufficiently detailed.

Wars are horrible phenomena.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Was World War I is the best summary of WWI I've come across.

Highly recommended.

[Jack Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Learned more about WW1.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another easy read full of historical information that I think my grandchildren will enjoy and learn from.

[Callumhopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading another Ww1 history book at the same time and I think it was a very good review on the great war for ages 7-11 bit to short for my taste but very good.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and factual. Thank You

[Lauren M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, comprehensive history of World War I!

Great for kids learning about this war for the first time and adults who may need a refresher!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's crazy how such a small event in a small country could start a war.

[Columbo Magnum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books to listen to with the kids to give a brief overview of different historical events.

[Jenilee Mullikin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summary of WWI. Learned so much so quickly!

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. In a way ive always know about a lot of this because of star wars and old tv shows. But i did learn a lot of new things! My favorite part was when it was Christmas and both sides on the battle field celebrated together, it was just really strange.

[Δάσκαλος · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. The two groups of soldiers climbed cautiously out of their trenches and stepped into no-man’s-land. They met in the middle and shook hands, wishing one another a Merry Christmas. The Christmas Truce was celebrated by as many as one hundred thousand soldiers, all along the Western Front.
2. When World War I began, aviation was still new. Orville and Wilbur Wright had flown the first motor-operated airplane just eleven years earlier. Planes were fragile—painted canvas stretched over a wood frame encasing the engine—and highly flammable. There were no navigational tools, and pilots became lost easily.
3. After nightfall on January 19, 1915, two zeppelins crossed the English Channel. Witnesses said it was as if the airships had appeared out of nowhere, looking like floating cigars. Two English towns were bombed. Four people died.
4. Most Americans did not want to get involved in World War I. In 1914, US president Woodrow Wilson declared America’s neutrality. The United States would not pick sides. Wilson won reelection in 1916, in part because of one of his campaign slogans: “He kept us out of war.”
5. The day World War I ended, President Wilson wrote, “Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service.” In the coming years, states began declaring Armistice Day an official holiday. It became a national holiday in 1938. After World War II, November 11 became a holiday to honor veterans of all wars: Veterans Day.
6. Because of McCrae’s poem, the poppy became a symbol of the ultimate sacrifice borne by fallen soldiers. Wearing a poppy became a way to honor those who died for their country. Today, almost twelve thousand soldiers are buried at Tyne Cot, a cemetery in West Flanders. Most of them are identified only as “A Soldier of the Great War, Known Unto God.”