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25 Powerful Vintage Photos from the First World War

By  Patrick Nichols 4-5 minutes 2/12/2026

The First World War, fought from 1914 to 1918, changed the world in ways people at the time could hardly imagine. It reshaped countries, ended empires, and introduced a scale of warfare that touched millions of lives. While history often focuses on strategies and political decisions, photographs from this period bring us closer to what it actually felt like to live through those years.

You will see soldiers coping with the harsh conditions of the trenches, brief scenes of rest and routine, and the faces of individuals living with uncertainty about what tomorrow might bring. Looking at these photographs today helps bridge the distance of time and reminds us that behind the history were real people doing their best to endure extraordinary circumstances. Let’s dive into 27 vintage photos from the First World War.

1. Soldiers loading up onto trains, 1914

A group of World War I soldiers wearing uniforms and helmets stand and walk near a train, carrying bags and gear. Some soldiers are boarding or disembarking the train in a muddy, outdoor area.
theafternoonstandard

2. When the old world collided with the new, 1915

A soldier wearing a gas mask and helmet sits on a horse, holding a long lance. He is equipped with military gear and a rifle, set against a barren, open landscape in black and white.
bumtown

3. Soldiers during the Christmas truce, 1914

A group of World War I soldiers in winter uniforms stand close together in falling snow, looking toward the camera. Most wear helmets or wool caps, and one soldier in front smokes a cigarette.
gliggett

4. WWI soldier fitted with a welding arm so he could still help the war effort

Two men wearing protective goggles, one holding a torch and welding metal while the other observes closely. Both are dressed in warm, long-sleeved clothing, focusing intently on the welding process.
fatalpaneling

5. Factory workers assembling different missiles, 1915

Two women in early 20th-century work clothes stand beside a row of large artillery shells lined up by size; one woman is writing on a shell while the other holds a notebook and watches.
mountain-fox-2123

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6. Members of the 369th Infantry wearing the medals they received in France

Nine African American soldiers in World War I uniforms pose for a group photo on a ship deck. They wear brown coats and caps, with medals pinned to their chests, and appear solemn and dignified.
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7. Senegalese infantrymen serving in the French Army, 1914

Two Black soldiers in early 20th-century military uniforms and helmets stand in a grassy area with a building in the background, both looking in different directions.
eaglemaxie

8. “I gave my eyes” WWI Veteran

A man wearing dark glasses and a sign reading "I gave my eyes. World War Veteran" stands on a city sidewalk holding a donation box. Old cars and people in 1930s-style clothing are visible in the background.
xstrauss2

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9. British and German troops lay down their weapons and congregate around a Christmas tree in a trench, 1914

A group of soldiers in gray uniforms gather around a small Christmas tree in a muddy trench, reading letters and parcels. The landscape is barren, with a river and barbed wire visible in the background.
careless_scallion_82

10. American Soldiers paying tribute

A large group of people in uniform stand arranged in the shape of a human eye, viewed from above on an open, sandy ground. The group forms the outline, iris, and pupil of the eye.
stuffyunicorn

11. A WWI field, then and now

A black-and-white photo shows soldiers in a WWI trench; below, a modern color photo shows a grassy field with cratered terrain, remnants of wartime explosions.
pnatgrandy

12. “Big Nims” of the 3rd Battalion, 366th Infantry, 1917

A Black pilot in a military uniform sits outdoors, laughing heartily. He holds a flight mask with a coiled tube and wears gloves, with a blurred background of tents and trees.
oldsoul8789

13. British and German soldiers stopped fighting to play football in no man’s land during World War I, 1914

A group of soldiers in uniform play a lively game of soccer on a dirt field, with several jumping and reaching for the ball in mid-air, under a clear sky.
ricriostoir

14. A member of the 369th Infantry Regiment holding a puppy that he saved during World War I

A Black soldier in uniform sits on the ground, holding a small dog in his lap, with another soldier seated behind him. The photo is in black and white and appears to be from an earlier era.
whilefalserepeat

15. Eddie Rickenbacker, 1916

A World War I pilot in uniform stands smiling beside a biplane with the number 5 and an insignia on its side. Several people are visible in the background on a grassy field.
userdeleted

16. Santa Ana, 1918, men of the first local draft for WWI

Five men in early 20th-century attire stand on stone steps, with three in the front row and two behind. Most wear suits and hats; the central figure in front wears suspenders and a cap, standing with arms crossed.
finalvestige617

17. Aiming down at enemies in the trenches

Soldiers wearing helmets aim rifles from a trench lined with grass and dirt in a wooded area, suggesting a scene from World War I. The image is sepia-toned, giving it a historical appearance.
theafternoonstandard

18. The famous WWI reconnaissance pigeon, 1915

A black and white photo of a pigeon wearing a small harness with a camera attached to its chest, perched on a wire with trees and foliage in the blurry background.
userdeleted

19. WWI pilot taking a mirror selfie, 1917

A young man in uniform takes a self-portrait using a box camera, capturing his reflection in a mirror atop a dresser with a glass bottle and other items in the foreground.
leredditmastertroll

20. Bandaging a Red Cross canine medic, 1917

A man in a helmet and uniform bandages the paw of a dog wearing a vest with a red cross, outside a rough stone building with an open door and a window.
whenmachinescry

21. Men of Bronze, New York’s 369th regiment, 1917

A collage of World War I-era African American soldiers: standing in uniform, aiming rifles in trenches, standing in formation outdoors, and marching in a city parade with American flags.
eaglemaxie

22. 116 Infantry, France, 1916

A group of soldiers in historical uniforms with spiked helmets sits in a line on grassy terrain, with an officer standing behind them; the landscape is open and stretches into the distance.
userdeleted

23. A WWI aviation oxygen mask, 1918

A black and white photo of a soldier wearing a military uniform and a protective leather flying helmet with a strap, featuring a prosthetic nose and mask covering facial injuries.
ibkeeper

24. Crowds in NYC after the end of the Great War, 1918

A large crowd fills a city street for a parade or celebration, with American flags hanging overhead and confetti falling. Early 20th-century cars and tall buildings are visible in the background.
bishopbyday

25. Getting ready to head into no man’s land

Soldiers in helmets and uniforms climb out of a trench and advance through barbed wire on a battlefield, likely during World War I. The scene is chaotic, with smoke and barren land in the background.
theafternoonstandard

26. Soldiers sitting with their mascot in the trenches

A group of World War I soldiers in kilts sit and rest in a narrow trench, rifles at their sides. A small dog lies on the ground among them. The scene is somber and quiet.
ratusca1233/VIA reddit.com

27. Soldiers posing with their gas masks in the Vosges Mountains, 1918

A group of soldiers in World War I uniforms and gas masks sit and stand in a trench surrounded by trees and foliage in a forested area. One soldier stands guard on the path above.
karim2k/VIA Reddit.com

Want to see more content from the early 1900s?

Check out 20 Colorized Photos From The Early 1920s, or take a look at 20 Vintage Photos Of People’s Cars And Bikes In The 1940s. Finally, if you want to see photos of mechanics in the early 1900s, check out 20 Vintage Photos Of Mechanics in the 1890s-1960s.