When was the term "World War" used first?

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello!

Below you can look for a thread in the "AIRCRAFT department".

A DFW color image for ID?

My question is: when was the term WORLD WAR first used and who used it first?

Additionally saying that there was a World War 1 implicates somehow that there must have been a second World War. But probably people talking about a "First World War" just said something logical, because it was simply the first worlwide war in history (and these persons were not expecting ever to see a second equally horrible war).

For me it would be of interest when these "historic terms" (like Napoleon wars, Boer wars, 30 years war, etc.) were used first.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[rammjaeger]

If I remember correctly the term World War was already used in the War Fiction books BEFORE WWI. German war fiction writers expected a World War - possibly since the 90s of the 19 century. Titles of books like "Weltbrand" and "Offensiv-Invasion gegen England" (both Carl Bleibtreu), "Der große Krieg von 189?" or "Der Krieg der Zukunft" described World War scenarios.

I found the term Weltkrieg already used after only some month of war in 1914 or 1915 but can not recall the earliest date of use. The first prediction of a world war was possibly Friedrich Engels in 1888 but I bet there were other people saying similar things.

VBR
Rammjaeger

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello rammjäger!

Thanks for the pretty quick answer. The first time I found it in my little library was in a small paperback book concerning the first of two voyages of the German cruiser / raider "Möwe" in 1916 (the book was printed in 1916, too). In the 20´s / 30´s "World War" became a commonly agreed historical term.

I must agree that things are repeating and that terms used of fiction writers often find their way back into our normal language (George Lucas / Ronald Reagan (and Mr. Bush) concerning STAR WARS).


But when was the term "World War" first used in English or French speaking countries?

[FinnN]

I'm pretty sure I've seen references to a world war in german from 1915 at least (possibly 1914).

As far as British terms are concerned I'm not sure when the earliest reference is that I've seen at all. I think initially it was called 'the European War' then the 'Great European War' and finally the 'Great War' (which was previously used for the Napoleonic Wars). Even post-WW1 I can't think of any references off the top of my head until quite a bit later. I'm sure the term will have been used though, but I suspect it didn't come into widespread use until later.

Interesting question though, I'd be interested if anyone has more information.

Have fun
Finn

[Volker_Nemsch]

The first time I found the term "World War I" in the English language was in the title and the preface of "Jane´s fighting aircraft of World War I". The book was published in 1919.

Maybe someone else knows more?

[FinnN]

I don't think that book was originally published in 1919. I think it's basically a reformatting of the landscape format 1919 'Jane's All The World's Aircraft' into portrait with some additions from earlier Jane's. I have a 2001 reprint of this book and looking at the foreward/preface it very strongly implies it was written post-1919 (although the copyright credit states it as 1919). For example:

"Unlike the present day, when many types of military aircraft remain in first line service for 20, 30, or more years,..."

Have fun
Finn

FinnN

I agree about JANES.

[PeterL]

When I was a a boy there were still many WWI veterans around and they included a number of uncles as well as the surviving grandfather. Often they would refer to "The Kaiser's war" *and it followed that WWII was "Hitler's war". Every town or village memorial I think I ever saw bears the legend "The Great War of 1914-1918". I really can't imagine numbers coming in before WWII

[EdStevens]

My impression has always been that it was referred to as The Great War and the First World War at the time and that World War One came into use once there was a World War Two.