This database includes articles, lesson plans and primary sources from the National WWI Museum and Memorial and our partners around the world, presented in collaboration with the United States World War One Centennial Commission.
Do you have resources that you want to share or have questions? Contact us at education@theworldwar.org.
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List of Mothers and Widows of American Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Entitled to Make a Pilgrimage to the War Cemeteries in EuropePilgrimage for the mothers and widows of soldiers, sailors, and marines of the American forcesCreator: Villanova UniversityA full digitization (364 images) of the 1929 Pilgrimage for the Mothers and Widows of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines of the American Forces, an index of Gold Star Mothers and Wives entitled to travel to the war cemeteries in Europe to visit the graves of their loved ones. The book includes names and home cities of the family members, as well as the names, ranks, service information and cemetery location of the fallen soldiers.View Online |
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Mail CallA podcast of news, letters, and stories from the Great WarCreator: Villanova UniversityA podcast series created as part of Home Before the Leaves Fall (wwionline.org), each episode is approximately 30-50 minutes long and is available to stream or download. Topics include chronological events of the war, the sinking of the Lusitania, the Easter Rising, U.S. entry to the war, and the Russian Revolution.Listen Online |
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War and Revolution in Russia 1914-1921Creator: BBC HistoryRussia signaled its withdrawal from World War I soon after the October Revolution of 1917, and the country turned in on itself with a bloody civil war between the Bolsheviks and the conservative White Guard. This article for BBC by Jonathan Smele charts this turbulent episode in the forging of post-tsarist Russia.Read Online |
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The Arab RevoltA War of Unintended ConsequencesCreator: James Barr, Al Jazeera EnglishThis editorial article by James Barr for Al Jazeera English briefly lays out the history of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. The author also shows the modern parallels by comparing the British support for Bedouin Arabs in World War I with American special forces actions in Syria in 2016.Read Online |
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1917 and the French MutiniesCreator: National World War I Museum and MemorialOne hundred years after French mutineers shouted, “down with the war!” the legacy of the 1917 mutinies remains. Dr. André Loez presents an eye-opening lecture as he addresses how the mutinies inform and reframe our understanding of World War I. Consider what makes an army put down its weapons, or continue to fight. This program was presented in partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy with support from the French Mission du centenaire de la Première Guerre mondiale.Watch Online |
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Easter RisingThis Day in HistoryCreator: HISTORY®This short article from HISTORY® details the events of Easter Monday, April 24, 1916. A group of Irish nationalists proclaimed the establishment of the Irish Republic and, along with some 1,600 followers, staged a rebellion against the British government in Ireland. The rebels seized prominent buildings in Dublin and clashed with British troops. Within a week, the insurrection had been suppressed and more than 2,000 people were dead or injured.Read Online |
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Document Based QuestionGerman-Americans in WWI: Facing Challenges at HomeCreator: National WWI Museum and MemorialWhat challenges did German-Americans face after the United States entered World War I? Students will analyze primary source documents, including propaganda posters, letters, and legislation, to understand the attitudes and challenges faced by the German-American community, and how they responded.Download PDF |
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American Committee for Relief in the Near East: PostersCreator: National World War I Museum and MemorialThis collection of original posters and documents created by the American Committee for Relief in the Near East are part of an early groundswell of humanitarian aid from American citizens during WWI.View Online |
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Experiences of Colonial TroopsCreator: Santanu Das & The British LibraryAt least four million non-white troops served with the Allies and Central Powers in combat and non-combat roles during World War I. In the article "Experiences of Colonial Troops" from the British Library, Santanu Das describes the daily lives of colonial soldiers as well as how race was used to dictate military policy.Read Online |
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Life on the Front During World War ICreator: U.S. Army Heritage & Education CenterThis lesson from the U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center is intended to help students comprehend a Soldier's experience in war beyond the battles and to understand what the Soldiers relied on to keep life as "normal" as possible. In this lesson, students use photographs from World War I and two surveys completed by Veterans who served on the Western Front to shape their understanding of life on the front during the war.Download Part 1 (zip), Download Part 2 (zip) |
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The U.S. Confiscated Half a Billion Dollars in Private Property During WWIWorld War I: 100 Years LaterCreator: Smithsonian MagazineFrom Smithsonian Magazine, this article looks at the often-forgotten history of internment, deportation, and property seizure on the home front in the U.S., especially for German-speaking immigrants during World War I.Read Online |
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World War One: The original code talkersBBC News MagazineCreator: BBC NewsThough Native Americans were not considered U.S. citizens during WWI (that would not change until 1924), more than 10,000 still volunteered to fight in the war. Find out more about their contributions, especially the use of the Choctaw language as a communication code, in this online article from BBC News.Read Online |
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The Harlem HellfightersCreator: HISTORY®Watch this short video from HISTORY® (Rated TV-PG, 7 minutes) which briefly tells the story of the Harlem Hellfighters, an African American infantry unit in World War I that spent more time in combat than any other American unit in the war. Despite their courage, sacrifice and dedication to their country, they returned home to face racism and segregation from their fellow countrymen.Watch Online |
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Letter from the Commanding Officer of the 142nd InfantryRecords of the American Expeditionary ForcesCreator: National ArchivesThe Choctaw Code Talkers used their own language as basis for a military code that was never broken. This 1919 letter from the Commanding Officer of the 142nd Infantry to the Commanding General of the 36th Division details plans to use the code so that the enemy could not decipher messages.View Online |
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Puerto Ricans become U.S. citizens, are recruited for war effortThis Day in HistoryCreator: HISTORY®Puerto Ricans recruited and drafted into the war effort after the Jones-Shafroth Act of March 1917 made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens (though those on the island could not vote in U.S. elections or pay federal taxes). This short article from HISTORY® gives an historical overview of this recruitment effort.Read Online |
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about this project
The United States World War One Centennial Commission and the National WWI Museum and Memorial are dedicated to educating the public about the causes, events and consequences of the conflict and we encourage the use of these resources to better understand the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.
Assisting in this endeavor are:
