World War I

World War I (1914 – 1918), also known as the First World War or the Great War, was an armed military conflict initially between several European nations and their colonial empires, which soon expanded to include a number of countries from across the globe.

Foreshadowing

When the Medjay Bayek of Siwa visited the Eeyoo Sekedoo Aat complex in Haueris Nome during the 1st century, he triggered an encoded message inaudible to him from an unidentified female Isu that foretold future historical events, among which were "A labyrinth of trenches, filled with mud and mustard gas".

History

Principally, the conflict was fought between the two major alliances; the Triple Entente, comprising the United Kingdom, France, and Russia, and the Triple Alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Although Italy had also been a member of the Triple Alliance, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the alliance.

The war began after the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir presumptive Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by a Serb nationalist group, the Black Hand. The death of Franz Ferdinand led to tensions between the European nations, leading to war.

This conflict, like so many before and after it, was heavily influenced by the ongoing Assassin-Templar War, with members of each Order fighting on either side. Notably, during the Christmas truce of 1914, a Templar named Erich Albert, a general in the German Army, was assassinated by an unnamed British Assassin just moments after the two had worked together to save a wounded soldier's life.

In 1916, the Templars installed a spy ring in London while most British Assassins left the city to fight in the war, leaving Lydia Frye as the sole Assassin in London. On behalf of Winston Churchill, she infiltrated a German Templar spy facility located in Tower Bridge and eliminated all the spies located there. Afterwards, Churchill informed her of a Templar going by the moniker of the "Master Spy" and his devoted followers who were all Instruments of the First Will members. Unbeknownst to them, the Master Spy was in fact a Sage.

Churchill asked that Lydia investigate the Master Spy and his followers, deeming it a pressing matter of national security, which he had been unable to broach with the government due to the lack of significant evidence. In exchange for her services, Churchill promised Lydia that he would do what he could for the enfranchisemet of women once he returned to parliament after the war.

Lydia eventually tracked down and confronted the Master Spy at his hideout; a struggle ensued, and the Templar used a stun grenade to disorient the Assassin, giving him an opportunity to slip away. He then made his way towards another stronghold, where he and his remaining followers attempted to burn documents containing evidence of Juno's existence. However, Lydia followed them and killed the entire group, including the Master Spy himself, thereby eliminating the cult's presence in London.

In 1917, Churchill became Minister of Munitions, putting him in charge of the production and delivery of tanks, planes, and ammunition to the front; his efforts were regarded as a significant contributor to Germany's defeat.

On 23 April 1918, Eddie Gorm and his brother Marc participated in the Zeebrugge Raid in Belgium, for which he was awarded the highly prestigious Victoria Cross.

The countries envolved signed an armistice on 11 November 1918, ending the war.

Callum Lynch had an Assassin ancestor who fought as a doughboy of the American Army during the war.

Legacy and influence

The day following the armistice, painter Claude Monet gifted a selection of his Water Lilies to the French government as a symbol of peace. These paintings would later be installed at the Musée de l'Orangerie a few months after his death in 1927.

During the war, the French adopted the cornflower as symbol of remembrance and solidarity with the veterans and victims of war, as it was one of the few flowers that grew on battlefields riddled with shells. The poppy serves the same symbolic function in England.

Gallery

• 
  Zeppelins over London during the war
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  Fighter planes over London
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  Lydia Frye manning an anti-aircraft turret
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  London during the war
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  London during the war
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  London during the war

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Initiates
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed: Origins (indirect mention only)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)
• L'Armoire de Fer (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game