WORLD-WAR-I

He wants you to learn about the symbol’s history.

Who Was Uncle Sam, and Why Did He ‘Want’ You?

Uncle Sam is an easily recognizable piece of wartime propaganda. And legend says he was based off a real person—though that may not actually be the case.

World War I brought aircraft carriers into the action.

12 Technological Advancements of World War I

The Great War was a time of terrible tragedy, but also led to some inventions that had a lasting impact on society.

Seven years of bad luck would seem like a walk in the park to these people.

10 of the Unluckiest People in History

Grab your lucky rabbit’s foot and read up on the tales of some of the unluckiest people in history, from the man whose backyard became a battlefield (twice!) to an absurdly accident-prone instrument inventor and beyond.

"Doughnut lassies" did a lot to boost morale on the front lines.

How the Doughnut Became a Symbol of Volunteerism During World War I

While enjoying a free doughnut on National Doughnut Day, remember the women who introduced the treat to soldiers during World War I.

French gunners during World War I, circa 1914.

5 Misconceptions About World War I

We're shedding light on some common misconceptions about World War I, including who was actually involved and when the fighting officially ended.

A New Albanian Crisis

September 16, 1913: In 1912 and 1913, a series of crises centered on Albania repeatedly brought Europe to the edge of war.

Showdown in Constantinople

How World War I Turned Peanut Butter Into a Kitchen Staple

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Day with a World War I-era recipe for peanut loaf or peanut butter soup.

The African American Civil War Memorial.

11 Lesser-Known War Memorials

These tributes to fallen soldiers may not be as instantly recognizable as the Vietnam Memorial and others, but their stories are no less fascinating--including one that doubles as a mausoleum right in Manhattan.

An illustration of members of the Molly Maguires, a secret society that planned assassinations and destructions of property for higher wages.

9 Mysterious Secret Societies From Around the World

Some of history's most infamous secret societies have planned revolutions and assassinations—others, are happy enough just to hang around college campuses.

The National Archives is calling upon citizens to make World War I photographs searchable online.

You Can Help the National Archives Keep a Photographic Record of World War I

The National Archives needs citizens to help make its collection of WWI photographs and historical documents searchable.

Eugene Bullard, the World's First Black Fighter Pilot

Eugene Bullard survived some of the deadliest battles in history and became the world's first Black fighter pilot—all before the age of 30.

A pasta vendor in Naples during the late 19th or early 20th century.

Anti-Pasta: When Italian Futurists Tried to Ban Pasta in Italy

Futurist leaders considered pasta an “absurd Italian gastronomic religion” that went against the grain of fascism (literally).

Thanksgiving Day menu from November 1917 at Fort D. A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

5 World War I-Era Tips for Celebrating Thanksgiving in Strange Times

Thanksgiving may look different in 2020, but history provides some surprising insights on how to approach the menu, traditions, and celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Woodrow Wilson photographed in good health.

When Woodrow Wilson Caught the 1918 Flu During a Pandemic, But Hid It From the Public

Woodrow Wilson never publicly acknowledged the 1918 influenza pandemic—not even after he caught the virus himself.

Navy planes creating smoke screens during the 1920s.

This Video From 1923 Shows a U.S. Biplane Creating a Smoke Screen to Conceal Itself in Open Waters

World War I generated lots of new technology, including smoke screens that looked as large and solid as the Wall from ‘Game of Thrones.’

To Avoid Grocery Shopping, Quarantined Americans Are Reviving Wartime-Era Victory Gardens

Victory gardens were originally a way to supplement food supplies during World Wars I and II. Now, Americans are bringing them back in response to COVID-19 concerns.

Benedict Cumberbatch in Sam Mendes's 1917 (2019).

The 25 Greatest War Movies of All Time

It makes sense that master filmmakers keep returning to old wars to tell new stories, as war movies have all the elements needed for a compelling tale. From medieval epics to modern thrillers, here are 25 of the best of them.

New York State Military Museum // Public Domain

Henry Johnson, the One-Man Army Who Fought Off Dozens of German Soldiers During World War I

In May 1918, Henry Johnson found himself alone in a French forest with a wounded ally, an empty rifle, and dozens of German soldiers closing in. He didn't run. He fought.

Reconstructing History: Anna Coleman Ladd, the Mask Artist of World War I

An artist and sculptor, Anna Coleman Ladd offered her talents to soldiers who had been badly disfigured fighting in World War I. Her masks helped restore their appearance and their self-confidence.

The slang of WWI is still being used today.

20 Slang Terms From World War I

Though it was more than 100 years ago—on April 6, 1917—that the United States entered the First World War, its effect on our language continues.

The Time German and Russian WWI Soldiers Banded Together to Fight Wolves

WWI fighters had a lot to fear in battle—but few thought they'd be battling wolves.

Imperial War Museum, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

WWI Centennial: Armistice

"The war to end war" finally ends.

Indro Montanelli and Mario Cervi, Due Secoli di Guerre, Vol. 7, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.5

WWI Centennial: Allies Triumph In Italy, German Sailors Mutiny

Central Europe fragments while Germany sees the final throes of battle.