Who fought in World War I?


World War I was the first global war. This interactive map gives you an abbreviated glimpse into which countries and territories were involved in the Great War and how they were aligned.
 
Whether they fought with the Allied or the Central Powers, or stayed neutral, WWI still touched almost every country and region on the planet.

 

 

Tap on any country or territory on the map to learn more. 

Starting in the Balkans, the treaties and alliances between the countries of Europe quickly pulled both allies and enemies across the continent into war. Supplies, soldiers and labor were drawn from colonies and commonwealths around the world. Fighting spread to the Near and Middle East, Russia, Africa and China, and the naval war engulfed the seas.

 

 

Additional Countries and Territories:  

This list includes some of the territories and regions that may be harder to find on the global map of WWI combatants above. 

Caribbean Netherlands (Curacao or Aruba): A colony of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which remained neutral during the war.

Christmas Island (Australia): A colony of Great Britain, which entered the war in August 1914.

Cook Islands (Niue): A colony of Great Britain, which declared war on Germany on Aug. 4, 1914.

Falkland Islands (Great Britain or Argentina): A colony of Great Britain, which declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914; site of the Battle of the Falkland Islands on December 8. 1914.

Faroe Islands (Denmark): Part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which was neutral during the war.

French Guiana (France, Suriname, or Brazil): A colony of France, which entered the war in August 1914.

French Polynesia (France or Niue): A colony of France, which entered the war in August 1914.

Gaza Strip (Palestine not Israel): A territory of the Ottoman Empire, which entered the war as a Central Power in July 1914.

Gibraltar (Spain): A colony of Great Britain, which declared war against Germany on August 4, 1914; residents of the British colony established the Gibraltar Volunteer Corps for domestic defense. 

Guadeloupe (France or Dominica): A colony of France, which entered the war in August 1914.

Holy See (Vatican City State): Never formally declared neutrality, though its publication of “Ad Beatissimi” on Nov. 1, 1914 and “Peace Note” on Aug. 1, 1917 could be considered proclamations; provided humanitarian aid during the war.

Kiribati (Fiji): A colony of Great Britain, which entered the war in August 1914; eligible islanders served with New Zealand forces.

Maldives (Sri Lanka): A protectorate of Great Britain, which declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914

Marshall Islands (Nauru): A colony of Germany, which entered the war on August 1, 1914; the islands were captured and occupied by Japan in 1914.

Martinique (France or Dominica): A colony of France, which entered the war in August 1914

Mauritius (Madagascar): A colony of Great Britain, which declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914

Mayotte (Madagascar): A colony of France, which entered the war in August 1914

Micronesia (Nauru): A colony of Germany, which entered the war on August 1, 1914; the islands were captured and occupied by Japan in 1914.

Northern Mariana Islands (Guam): A colony of Germany, which entered the war on August 1, 1914; the islands were captured and occupied by Japan in 1914.

Palau (Philippines): A colony of Germany, which entered the war on August 1, 1914; the islands were captured and occupied by Japan in 1914.

Pitcairn Islands (Niue): A colony of Great Britain, which declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914.

Réunion (Madagascar): A colony of France, which entered the war in August 1914

Saint Barthelemy (Anguilla): A colony of France, which entered the war in August 1914

Saint Helena (Angola): A colony of Great Britain, which declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914 

Seychelles (Madagascar): A colony of Great Britain, which declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914

Somaliland (Republic of Somaliland): This de facto state was part of territory divided into British Somaliland (British colony) and Italian Somaliland (Italian colony) which supported the Allied Powers

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (Argentina): An overseas territory administered by Great Britain, which declared war against Germany on August 4, 1914.

Timor-Leste (Indonesia): A colony of Portugal, which officially entered the war on March 9, 1916 after Germany's declaration.

Tokelau (Samoa): A colony of Great Britain, which entered the war in August 1914; awarded to New Zealand in the Treaty of Versailles.

Tuvalu (Samoa): A colony of Great Britain, which entered the war in August 1914. Eligible islanders served with New Zealand forces, including Kaipati, the only-known man from Tuvalu.

Wallis & Futuna (Fiji): Administered by New Caledonia, a colony of France; islanders are known to have fought in the war, though an approximate number continues to be calculated.

 

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services ARPML-250549-OMLS-22