In August 1914, the world was plunged into chaos when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary sparked a chain reaction of events that led to the outbreak of World War I. Following the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, drawing alliances into the conflict and, as the conflict spread, millions of soldiers from across Europe and around the world were mobilized to fight in the trenches of the Western Front, enduring the brutal realities of trench warfare. After years of devastating battles and staggering loss of life, World War I came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, marking the beginning of a new era but leaving behind a legacy of destruction and suffering that would shape the course of history.

A significant number of medals and awards were given for gallantry or meritorious service for those who fought during the Great War. Some of the most popular include Pip, Squeak and Wilfred (the affectionate names given to the three WW1 campaign medals from the United Kingdom: The 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal), the French War Cross and Belgian War Cross, and the German Iron Cross, Wound Badge and the Hindenburg Cross.