Wars
By Robert Wilde, About.com Guide to European History
Europe has been beset by wars throughout its history, from our earliest records to within the last couple of years. Like it or not, they have often been the agent of great change.
World War 1
Between 1914 and 1918 conflict raged across Europe and the Middle East, disfiguring the landscape, killing over eight million people and transforming our concept of war.
- Introduction to World War 1
- World War 1 - Overview
- Timeline of World War 1
- Glossary of World War 1
- Casualties of World War 1
- Countries of World War 1
- The Christmas Truce of 1914
- The Zimmermann Telegram
- Women in World War 1
- Women and Work in World War 1
World War 2
While World War 2 was a truly global conflict, one of the two main belligerents was based in central Europe and conflict engulfed almost the whole continent, from western France to eastern Russia, from the Mediterranean to Arctic waters.
The Cold War
Between 1945 and 1991, Europe was divided between two superpowers and their allies: US led NATO in Western Europe and USSR led Warsaw Pact in the east. The war was 'cold' because there was never a direct military engagement between them, due partly to the presence of nuclear weapons on both sides.
Napoleonic Wars
Between 1796 and 1815 one of history's most outstanding military minds waged war across Europe: Napoleon Bonaparte.
