The End of WWI

1. The End of WWI The last 100 days & theTreaty of Versailles

2. Central Powers Collapse • Two important events in 1917 changed the direction of the war: • 1) angered by the sinking of the neutral ships and passenger liners such as the Lusitania, the United States declared war on Germany • 2) Bolshevik (communist) revolutionaries on Russia overthrew the czar, promising the public “peace and bread” • Russians signed a tough peace treaty with Germany, freeing the Kaiser’s troops to move to the Western Front

3. Sinking of the Lusitania • Departed on May 1, 1915 and sank on May 7th • US did not go to war for another two years • There were warnings that the ship could be a potential target sailing into the “War Zone” • Ship was known as the “fastest and largest” steamer • The liner was warned of U-boat activity off the S. coast of Ireland • The boat took only 18 minutes to sink! Why???

4. Why did the Lusitania sink? • The log of the U-boat stated clearly that the submarine had only fired one torpedo • There was a second explosion, which lead to the sinking • It is thought the second explosion occurred because the liner was carrying small arms and ammunition • Therefore a legitimate target for the Germans • The Great Lusitania Video

5. German Collapse • With Russia out of the war, Germany’s last chance was to conquer Paris before American troops reached France • March 1918: Germans used massed attacks at weak points to drive deep into France (positions won by Canadians, Ypres, the Somme, Passchendaele- were lost in weeks) • By summer, the front line was 75 km’s from Paris

6. The “Hundred Days” • Allied troops underwent secret counteroffensive attack • Thousands or soldiers and tonnes of artillery were secretly gathered at Amiens (French railway city) • Alliance was completely surprised when they were attacked and the Entente captured 13km of territory in one day! • This final offensive lasted between August and November 1918

7. The Last 100 Days (89 in Text) • the German forces were forced to retreat • as the forces were withdrawing, they destroyed roads, bridges, factories, etc. to slow down the Allies' pursuit so they could establish a last defensive line at their own border • In September and October Canadian soldiers broke through Germany’s defence • Won important battles (Arras, Cambraiand Valenciennes)

8. 100 Days Continued • Canadians captured more territory, prisoners and equipment than the American Army 6 times larger! • They defeated ¼ of the entire German Army • Alliance countries collapsed one by one • Fighting ended at 11:00 am on November 11th, 1918

9. Canadian Casualties • 60,000 killed and 172,00 wounded • Thousands would linger in veterans’ hospitals for years after 1918 • Spanish Flu: Swept across the world killing millions (21million world wide, twice death poll of entire war) • Soldiers brought the virus back to North America • 50, 000 Canadians lost their lives to virus • Virus forced cancellation of 1919 Stanley Cup after 4 games

10. Paris Peace Conference • this was the formal end to the war • held in 1919; Palace of Versailles • outcome of this conference was of greatest importance to Germany • yet had a lasting effect on other nations; including Canada • originally Canada was not to have any delegates at the Conference • Prime Minister Borden insisted upon having representation and was allowed to send four people to Paris

11. Borden & PM Lloyed George “Mr. Prime Minister, I want to tell you that if there is ever a repetition of Passchendaele, not a Canadian soldier will ever leave the shore of Canada so long as the Canadian people entrust the Government of my country to my hands.”

12. The Treat of Versailles • Wilson’s 14 points: Plan for German surrender; emphasizing peace and forgiveness • French PM wanted revenge and repayment from Germany • Since most of the war had been fought in Northern France, leaving it in ruins

13. Major Parts of the Treaty of Versailles • Reparations: • $5 Billion in first two years (totalling $30 billion) • Unspecific future amounts (linked to the war debts of Britain & France) • War Guilt: • Germany forced to sign a document accepting responsibility for the war • Military Limitations: 100 000 men in army, no airforce, no submarines, tanks, etc. • Loss of Land: creation of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary

14. Germany hesitated to sign the treaty because they thought it was very harsh • they eventually agreed to sign it out of fear of the Allies' threat to resume fighting • many will say that the treaty did not bring peace, but instead the certainty of a renewed war in the future • treaty was signed on June 28th, 1919 • “ We will have to fight another war all over again in 25 years at three times the cost.” – PM Lloyed George

15. Think/Pair/Share • What were some of the conditions that Germany was faced with in the implementation of the Treaty of Versailles? • What condition(s) do you think would be most detrimental to the Germans? Why? • Do you think the Treaty of Versailles will be able to be successful? • Would Wilson's Fourteen Points have been more successful if it had of been implemented fully? Could it have prevented World War II?