History glossary
Central Powers
the First World War alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
- Category
- Military alliance
- Region
- Europe and the Middle East
- Date range
- 1914-1918
What it means
The Central Powers were named for their central position in Europe between enemies on several fronts. Germany and Austria-Hungary formed the core, joined by the Ottoman Empire in 1914 and Bulgaria in 1915. They fought the Allied Powers until military defeat, blockade, shortages, and internal unrest brought armistices and imperial collapse in 1918.
Related terms
Stories using this term
The First World War
World War I reshaped empires, borders, and societies, setting the stage for World War II.
The Treaty of Versailles and Its Consequences
From the armistice of November 1918 to Hitler's rise in 1933, this story traces how the Treaty of Versailles — its punishment, its borders, its reparations, and its resentments — helped shape the conditions for a second world war.
