World War I: The Western Front

Source: ANZAC Centenary Queensland

The Western Front, a 400-plus mile stretch of land weaving through France and Belgium from the Swiss border to the North Sea, was the decisive front during the First World War. Whichever side won there – either the Central Powers or the Entente – would be able to claim victory for their respective alliance. Despite the global nature of the conflict, much of the world remembers the First World War through the lens of the Western Front. Read through the resources below to learn more about this theatre of war.

Western Front: World War I and Australia (State Library of NSW, n.d.)

This website links to a number of great primary sources about the Western Front and is a great place for further research.

Battles of the Western Front in France and Flanders (Long, Long Trail, n.d.)

This website has a list of all the battles of the Western Front, with links to study resources about each battle.

History of the Western Front (ANZAC Centenary, n.d.)

The Western Front Campaign is often said to be one of the darkest periods of the First World War. In March 1916, after Gallipoli, the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) were sent to France to the conflict on the Western Front, where the war was bogged down in trenches and mud. Read through this resource to learn more.

Australians on the Western Front 1916 to 1918 (ANZAC Portal, n.d.)

Over 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front between March 1916 and November 1918. Of those service men and women, 46,000 lost their lives and over 130,000 were wounded. Battle conditions were so dire that more than 18,000 of the fallen had no known grave. Read through this website to learn more.

Australia on the Western Front (ANZAC Centenary, 2021, March 15)

The Western Front, which ran across the industrial regions of France and Belgium, was one of the most important battlegrounds during the First World War. It is where great battles were fought and where more than 295,000 Australians served between March 1916 and November 1918. Read through this website to learn more.

The Western Front (Alpha History, n.d.)

The Western Front was a meandering 700-kilometre frontline, running from the North Sea coastline to the Swiss border and passing through (at various times) Belgium, north-eastern France and southern Germany. It was the main theatre of fighting in World War I and was the location of several major battles, including the Somme, Verdun and Passchendaele. Read through this website to learn more.

The Western Front (DK Find Out, n.d.)

This website is an interactive guide to life serving on the Western Front and is a great place to start your research.

Australia in France (Australian Screen, n.d.)

One of the Australian War Memorial’s most important films – the most accurate filmed record of the Battle of Pozières in 1916.