World War I history at your fingertips

History fans will be able to sift through a vast library of World War I artefacts without leaving their homes thanks to a new digital archive.

The Europeana 1914-1918 website was launched with the National Archives and the National Library of Luxembourg to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War.

Among the items people can explore online free of charge are films, photos, official documents, postcards, diaries and letters. The content can also be sorted according to themes, such as propaganda, information and photos about life in the trenches and prisoners of war, among others.

The archive includes more than 2,500 documents and items from private collections which were recorded in Luxembourg at the National Library in 2012.

These are complemented with artefacts from a handful of other countries and national archives, including Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

With more than 60,000 documents, the digital archive provides a fascinating window to the past, ensuring that curious visitors to the website will be captivated by the stories they reveal.

Furthermore, the collection is growing as the website allows people to upload and share content related to the First World War from around the world.europeana1914-1918.eu

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