The End of WWI
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Transcript The End of WWI
The last 100 days & theTreaty of Versailles
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
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???
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
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
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
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, Cambrai and
Valenciennes)
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
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
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
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.”
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
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
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
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?