The two World Wars
The First World War began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Britain was part of the Allied Powers. The Battle of the Somme began in July 1916; the British suffered about 60,000 casualties on the first day. The war ended at 11.00 am on 11 November 1918.
In Ireland, the Easter Rising of 1916 was against the British. A peace treaty in 1921 led to Ireland becoming two countries in 1922. Northern Ireland remained part of the UK.
Between the wars, the Great Depression of 1929 caused mass unemployment. New industries grew, such as cars and aviation. The BBC began the world’s first regular television service in 1936.
The Second World War began in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940. In 1940 a huge evacuation rescued over 300,000 men from the beaches of Dunkirk. In the Battle of Britain (summer 1940) the RAF defeated the German air force, using aircraft such as Spitfires and Hurricanes. The Germans then bombed London and other cities in the Blitz.
The USA entered the war after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy. Germany was defeated in May 1945; the war against Japan ended in August 1945 after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Alexander Fleming, born in Scotland, discovered penicillin in 1928. It was developed into a usable drug and is still used to treat bacterial infections.
Key facts
- 1914–1918 — First World War. Ended 11 am, 11 November 1918.
- July 1916 — Battle of the Somme.
- 1922 — Ireland becomes two countries; Northern Ireland stays in the UK.
- 1939–1945 — Second World War.
- 1940 — Dunkirk evacuation; Battle of Britain; the Blitz.
- 6 June 1944 — D-Day landings in Normandy.
- Winston Churchill (1874–1965) was voted the greatest Briton of all time in 2002.
Important dates
| 1914 | First World War begins |
| 1916 | Battle of the Somme; Easter Rising |
| 11 Nov 1918 | First World War ends |
| 1928 | Fleming discovers penicillin |
| 1939 | Second World War begins |
| 1940 | Dunkirk; Battle of Britain; Churchill becomes PM |
| 1944 | D-Day |
| 1945 | End of the Second World War |
Important people
- Winston Churchill: Wartime Prime Minister from 1940; voted greatest Briton in 2002.
- Alexander Fleming: Scottish scientist who discovered penicillin in 1928.
Memory tips
- “The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” — the end of WWI and Remembrance Day.
- D-Day: 6/6/44 — “six-six-forty-four”.
Practice questions
1. When did the First World War end?
- 11 November 1918
- 6 June 1944
- 8 May 1945
- 28 June 1914
Show answer
The First World War ended at 11.00 am on 11 November 1918.
2. Who became Prime Minister in 1940 and led Britain during the Second World War?
- Neville Chamberlain
- Winston Churchill
- Clement Attlee
- David Lloyd George
Show answer
Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940.
3. In the Battle of the Somme (July 1916), about how many British casualties were there on the first day?
- 6,000
- 20,000
- 60,000
- 200,000
Show answer
The British suffered about 60,000 casualties on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
4. What happened at Dunkirk in 1940?
- A major British victory in Africa
- An evacuation of over 300,000 men from the beaches of France
- The D-Day landings
- The surrender of Germany
Show answer
Many civilian boats helped rescue more than 300,000 men from Dunkirk. This gave rise to the phrase “the Dunkirk spirit”.
5. What was the Battle of Britain?
- A sea battle with Germany
- The RAF’s defence against the German air force in summer 1940
- The bombing of London
- A land battle in Kent
Show answer
In summer 1940 the RAF defeated the German air force, using aircraft such as Spitfires and Hurricanes.
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