Ending the Great War

1. Ending the Great War The Treaty of Versailles

2. All Quiet on the Western Front • Erich Maria Remarque = All Quiet on the Western Front  Greatest Novel about World War 1. • German Soldier during World War 1 = wounded 5 times  narrates his experience from eager recruit to disillusioned veteran. • Movie Trailer… • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX1PW2n8POg

3. Winning the War • (1917) European societies = cracking under strain of war casualties on the fronts + shortages at home decreased morale. • Stalemate dragged on = one country departs from war + one entersthe stalemate ends.

4. Waging Total War • Total War the channeling of a nation’s entire resources into the war effort. • Nations realized = mechanized war required total war. • To achieve total war = Governments began to take a stronger role in directing economic + cultural lives of their people.

5. Economies Committed to War Production: • All warring nations except Britain = imposed universal military conscription early in war. • Conscription “The Draft” which required all young men to be ready for military or other service. • Germany set up a system of forced civilian labor as well. • Britain instituted conscription in 1916 too. • Governments raised taxes + borrowed huge amounts of money = pay costs of war  rationed food+ other products (boots + Gasoline + etc)

6. Economic Warfare: • Start of war = Britain’s navy formed blockade in North Seakeep ships from carrying supplies in + out of Germany. • International law = allowed wartime blockades to confiscate contraband. • Contraband = military supplies and raw materials needed to make military supplies, but not items such as food and clothing. • Despite International Law = British Blockade stopped both types of goods from reaching Germany. • As WW1 Progressed = Germany + Austria-Hungary harder and harder to feed people + turnip winter of 1916 (potatoes crop failed) • Retaliation = Germany used own blockade U-Boats sinking all ships carrying goods to Britain.

7. (May 1915) German submarine = torpedoed British Liner Lusitania off coast of Ireland  1,200 passengers killed including 128 Americans. • Germany = Justified attack argued the Lusitania was carrying weapons. • American President Woodrow Wilson = threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with GermanyGermany agreed to surface + give warning to neutral passengers to escape before attacking.

8. Women Join the War Effort: • Women = critical role in war took over jobs of millions of men that left to fight. • Women = kept economies going  manufactured weapons + supplies. • Women’s Land Army = grew nation’s food. • Nurses = shared same dangers of field as the men whose wounds they tended. • Women Nurses = worked near front lines + around the clock  War work gave women new sense of pride + confidence. • After men returned + women lost their jobs women in many countries challenged idea that they could handle demanding + dangerous jobs = + Helped them win the right to vote.

9. Morale Collapses • Despite Propaganda = by 1917 Morale of troops + civilians plunged. • Germany was sending 15 years old recruits to the front + Britain on brink of Bankruptcy.

10. Revolution in Russia • (March 1917) Bread riots in St. Petersburg = erupted into a revolution brought down Russian Monarchy • Allies welcomed the overthrowing of the Tsar = hoping for a democratic government instead V.I. Lenin came to Power with promise of pulling Russian troops out of war. • Lenin = Signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany treaty ended Russian participation in World War 1. • Russian Withdrawal = immediate impact Germany can concentrate forces on Western Front + optimistic they would have a breakthrough.

11. The United States Declares War • (1917) Many factors contribute = United States Declares War on Germany  alters balance of forces. • Why Join the Allies: • Many Americans supported Allies = cultural ties cultural history + language with Britain + Sympathized with France as another democracy. • (1917) Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare desperate to break stalemate.

12. (Early 1917) British intercepted message = German foreign minister Arthur Zimmermann to Ambassador in Mexico • Message authorizing proposal that Germany would help Mexico reconquer New Mexico + Arizona + Texas = in exchange for Mexican support against the United States in WW1. • When released to American Public = sharp increase in anti-German feelings in United States.

13. Declaring War: • (April 1917) Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany = “We have no selfish ends to serve”  Purpose to make the world safe for democracy. • Later described as “the war to end war” • (1918) 2 Million American soldiers joined Allied troops fighting on the Western Front = Arrival gave much needed Morale boost + Financial Aid.

14. The Fourteen Points • Wilson = Failed to maintain American Neutrality  hoped to be a peacemaker. • Fourteen Points a list of Wilson’s terms for resolving the Great War and future wars. • Called for freedom of the seas + free trade + large scale reductions of arms + end to secret treaties. • For Eastern Europe = Wilson Favored Self Determination. • For Eastern Europe = Wilson Favored Self Determination. • Self Determination the right of people to choose their own form of government. • Wilson urged the creation of a “General Association of Nations” = to keep peace in future.

15. Movie Endinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciq9ts02ci4 • (Early 1918) Final Showdown on Western Front = Germans badly wanted to achieve a major victory before eager American Troops arrived. • Germans launched huge offensive from March to July = pushed Allies back 40 miles  As Americans arrived German forces were exhausted + Allies launched acounterattack. • Slowly German forces were backed up across France + Belgium = September Generals told Kaiser the war could not be won William II stepped down + fled to Netherlands in exile. • Austria-Hungary reeling toward collapse.

16. Ending the Great War • New German Government = sought Armistice with allies  November 11, 1918 the Great War came to an End. • Armistice: agreement to end fighting. What Most People Don’t Remember About WWI