Impacts of the entry of the USA and the Russian withdrawal in WWI

1. Impacts of the entry of the USA and the Russian withdrawal inWWI Reasons Initial Impacts Consequences

2. Reasons for the USA’s entry -The issue that brought the U.S into the war was Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. -On May 7, 1915, the British Cunard liner, the Lusitania, was attacked and sunk by a German submarine. 1198 civilians were killed including 124 Americans. Many more attacks on American vessels caused the Americans to declare war. -The German Foreign minister, Zimmermann, sent a secret note to the German minister in Mexico suggesting joint German-Mexican action against the United States. This became known as the ‘Zimmermann Telegram’. -On 6 April the U.S declared war on Germany. War was not declared on Austria-Hungary until 7 December 1917.

3. Initial impacts • The U.S involvement had an immediate impact on morale. Allied morale jumped, and the German morale did the opposite. • At the beginning of 1917, the U.S had only a small army of about 160 000, 25 000 of whom were stationed overseas. By October 1918 it had an effective army of 4 million. More than 2 million had been transported to France and about 1.3 million were actually on the front.

4. Consequences • Operation Michael, the first stage of Ludendorffs’ spring offensive, occurred as a result of the U.S entry and the Russian withdrawal. This operation made use of storm troopers, who used ‘stealthier’ tactics to infiltrate and destroy the enemy artillery. • Germany’s ultimate and inevitable defeat came as a result of the U.S entry. For Germany, it seemed that the end of the war was very near and it did not seem the end would be to their favour.

5. British propaganda British propaganda such as this poster that was created after the German sinking of the British liner Lusitania was used to convince the Americans to declare war on Germany.

6. The Zimmermann Telegram Extract from the ‘Zimmermann Telegram- “If this attempt (to keep the U.S neutral) is unsuccessful we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico. That we shall make war together and make peace together. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The details are left for your settlement.”

7. The Russian Withdrawal • Two Revolutions in 1917 led to Russia’s formal withdrawal from the war in 1918. • Lack of supplies, food, ammunition, and even boots led to indiscipline, attacks on officers and mutiny. • The treaty of Brest Litovsk in March 1918 was a peace treaty between Germany and Russia. This had them withdraw from the war.

8. Extract from a speech by British prime Minister Lloyd George, London news paper, ‘The Times’, 29 March 1918 • “We are at the crisis of the war. Attacked by an immense superiority of German troops, our Army has been forced to retire. The retirement has been carried out methodically before the pressure of a steady succession of fresh German reserves... but this battle, the greatest and most momentous in the history of the world, is only just beginning. Throughout it, French and British morale is boosted with the knowledge that the USA will neglect no effort which can hasten its troops and ships to Europe. In war, time is vital.”

9. Extract from President Wilsons’ speech to congress, 2 April 1917 • “The present German submarine warfare against commerce, is a warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken…the challenge is to all mankind…our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of which we are only a single champion…the world must be made safe for democracy.”

10. Extract from ‘The Great War’ by Les Carlyon. • “The Germans had been outnumbered on the western front by about 175 divisions to 150. By March 20, 1918…the Germans, having brought troops back from the east and from Italy, would outnumber the allies by about 190 divisions to 170. And the allied figure was misleading. It included American divisions that were unready to be thrown into the line”

11. Ludendorffs’ Spring Offensive • As a consequence of the U.S entry, Ludendorffs spring offensive failed.

12. Impacts of the Russian Withdrawal • Ludendorff: ‘…We still have a chance of victory. Russia is at last out of the war, and the whole forces of Germany can be turned against France. Nearly forty divisions and 400 000 men can reinforce the western front. With these we have at last a superiority of force which will last for about four months.’ ‘Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries’, Longman, Green & Co.

13. Allied morale heightened • When the U.S entered the war, the morale of the allied forces was a record high. Here, French soldiers are depicted marching.

14. The wars’ end • Americas entry resulted in Germany’s ultimate defeat and the end of the war. Here, people rejoice at the wars’ end.

15. Abdication Proclamation of Wilhelm II • From World War I Document Archive “28 November, 1918 I herewith renounce for all time claims to the throne of Prussia and to the German Imperial throne connected therewith. At the same time I release all officials of the German Empire and of Prussia, as well as all officers, noncommissioned officers and men of the navy and of the Prussian army, as well as the troops of the federated states of Germany, from the oath of fidelity which they tendered to me as their Emperor, King and Commander-in-Chief. I expect of them that until the re-establishment of order in the German Empire they shall render assistance to those in actual power in Germany, in protecting the German people from the threatening dangers of anarchy, famine, and foreign rule. Proclaimed under our own hand and with the imperial seal attached. Amerongen, 28 November, 1918 (Signed ) WILLIAM”

16. The Armistice • Colonel Thomas Gowenlock served as an intelligence officer in the American 1st Division. He was on the front line that November morning and wrote of his experience a few years later: "On the morning of November 11 I sat in my dugout in Le Gros Faux, which was again our division headquarters, talking to our Chief of Staff, Colonel John Greely, and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Peabody, our G-1. A signal corps officer entered and handed us the following message: ‘Official Radio from Paris - 6:01 A.M., Nov. 11, 1918. Marshal Foch to the Commander-in-Chief.1. Hostilities will be stopped on the entire front beginning at 11 o'clock, November 11th (French hour).2. The Allied troops will not go beyond the line reached at that hour on that date until further orders.[signed]           MARSHAL FOCH5:45 A.M.’ ”