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The Great War of 1914-1918 was by far the greatest conflict the world had known up till that point. Four gruelling years of war eventually brought around the defeat of the central powers and victory to the Allies. In order to account for the allied victory in the war, it is necessary to explore and explain the different factors that managed to aid the Allies and hinder the Central powers. The factors themselves will be categorised as military factors, international factors, technological advances and other factors.

Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo on the 28th June 1914, Europe was gradually plunged into total war. Through a combination of alliances and loose associations, an escalation of arms, militarism in central Europe and age-old trouble in the Balkans, war was unleashed upon Europe. On the western front, Germany implemented the Schlieffen plan, invading Luxembourg and then Belgium. This act brought Britain into the war on the contingent of the 1839 Treaty of London, which theoretically committed Britain to help Belgium should her independence be questioned. Within the opening few weeks, a tactical stalemate began to emerge and within three months a comprehensive trench system was complete. There had been several advances in defensive technology, such as the development of machine guns, refinements in artillery and the extensive use of barbed wire. Whilst defensive positions were greatly improved, there was little advancement in offensive tactics, with cavalry still perceived as the most decisive unit on the battlefield. Since both sides had extensive and formidable trench systems for defence, but little creativity in offence, a stalemate soon developed.
Although the German Empire had the most proficient army in Europe, there were key decisive military victories that were achieved by the Allies. The most crucial early battle was the battle of the Marne in September 1914 and the consequently vital race to the sea. Both sides did not manage to out-flank the other, which was a critical victory for the Allies, as they retained control of the English Channel which was pivotal in the whole war effort for Britain, since it was the route to mainland Europe. This result managed to ensure Britain could remain in the war as an effective force. Perhaps one the most significant victories on the Western front during the whole of the war was the capture of Vimy Ridge during the Battle of Arras in 1917. A predominately

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