The war that 'would be over by Christmas' dragged on for four long years of bloody stalemate. Explore an overview of the war years in this brief year-by-year summary. The war in brief 1914 Germany invades Belgium. Britain declares war on Germany. Japan joins the Allied forces: Ottoman Empire soon joins the Central Powers. War spreads to the seas. 1915 Women take up men's jobs. Stalemate continues on the Western Front. The Lusitania passenger liner is sunk, …showed first 75 words of 2107 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2107 total…the coalition government were returned with a massive majority), women over 30 were allowed the vote for the first time. Although an armistice was agreed in November 1918, it was not until 28 June 1919 that the Treaty of Versailles was signed between the Allied powers and Germany, thus officially ending the war 'to end all wars'. Further treaties with the other defeated Central powers followed through 1919 and, in the victorious countries, public celebrations marked the end of hostilities.