The End of WWI
Collapse of the Central Powers
and German Surrender
Note Worksheet! • For this week’s note worksheet (posted on my website or
Google Classroom), you will focus on the end of WWI.
Specifically -
1. How and why the Central Powers lost
2. The outcome and effects of WWI
• Start by reviewing this lesson AND chapter 27, lesson 4
in the textbook.
• Explain the events that led to a German surrender.
Focus on HOW AND WHY each event contributed to
Germany’s loss.
Events leading to the end of WWI1917 brought two big changes:
1. Russia’s withdrawal from the war
– Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Russia makes peace with Central Powers; loses territory of Poland, Finland, and Baltic states.
– Could free up German troops to focus on Western Europe
– Russia lost territory as they transitioned to communism
– Both sides became fearful of revolutions spreading throughout Europe.
2. U.S. entrance
– Brought fresh troops & morale boost to Allies
– Extra industrial and economic strength
U.S. Military StrengthBy the summer of 1918,
10,000 American troops
were arriving every day.
The U.S. emerged from
WWI with the most
powerful navy in the world!
U.S. Industrial StrengthU.S. factories
became the main
supplier for Allied
weapons,
ammunition and
supplies. As a
result, the U.S.
emerged from the
war with the
world’s strongest
economy!
Turning Point: Battle of the Marne
Events leading to the end of WWI• Britain introduces tanks which
transforms fighting on the Western Front
– How would tanks end the stalemate of trench warfare?
• American convoy system shut down U-boat attacks
• A convoy is a group of vehicles (usually motor vehicles or ships) traveling together for mutual support and protection.
– Why was the convoy system effective against German submarine warfare?
U.S. Convoy SystemConvoys relied on “strength in
numbers” and decreased the
threat of German submarine
attacks.
Events leading to the end of WWI
• British blockade
stopped all trade
with Germany
– Citizens couldn’t
get food
– Low on supplies of
weapons, coal, oil
Events leading to the end of WWI
• Allied powers launch 100
Days Offensive in August
of 1918
– Combined strength of Allied
forces on Western Front
– Advance for 100 days straight
– Set the stage for the invasion
of Germany
Ending the War• The Central Powers
began to collapse under constant Allied attacks.
• October 1918: Ottoman Empire collapses internal revolts cause overthrow of government & withdrawal from WWI (will transition to country of Turkey post-WWI)
The Ottomans ruled the Middle East for 400
years! Now the empire would be divided!
Ending the War• Nov 3, 1918: Separate states
began declaring their independence from Austria-Hungary collapse of empire!
• This was huge! Remember, Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated to try and prompt independence for these countries now that goal was achieved!
End of WWI• 11/3/1918: Berlin is occupied by Allied powers
• 11/11/1918: Germany surrenders–Leader steps down and a
provisional government is established
End of WWI• Extremely high death toll…… why?
Effects of War
Post-WWI Peace• Now that the Central Powers lost WWI, it
was up to the Allies to decide what to do
next. They had a lot to discuss
• Who was going to rule the losing
countries?
• How would Europe be divided?
• How was Europe going to be re-built?
• Who was going to pay for all this damage?
• How can they make sure war would not
happen again?
President Wilson’s proposals for
peace (textbook) League of Nations Fourteen Points
• Woodrow Wilson (US)
• Georges Clemenceau (France)
• David Lloyd George (Great Britain)
• Vittorio Orlando (Italy)
Paris Peace ConferenceIn 1919, the Allied leaders signed
the Versailles Treaty.
The Big Four at Versailles in 1919
"The Allied and Associated Governments affirm, and Germany accepts, the responsibility of Germany and her Allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associate Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of a war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her Allies."(Article 231)
The War Guilt Clause
GERMANY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR STARTING THE WAR
Treaty of Versailles: German
military restrictions• The German army was to be reduced to
100,000 men.
• It was not allowed to have tanks.
• Germany was not allowed to have an air force
• The German navy was to have no submarinesor large battle-ships
• The Rhineland was to be de-militarized.
Political Changes: Territorial Losses
Germany lost ALL of her overseas colonies
Alsace-Lorraine was given to France
Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria
Political Change: Division of Central
Powers = 11 new countries created!
Economic Punishment: REPARATIONS
Reparations: Payment for damages
Germany agreed to pay for the damage caused by her armies during the war. The sum she had to pay was later fixed at $31.4 billion!
($389 billion in 2018)
Make a prediction…..• How do you think German citizens responded to
the Treaty?
• Most Germans believed that the War Guilt
Clause was unjustified. The French and British
had done just as much to start the war
• The loss of territory and population angered
most Germans who believed that the losses
were too severe.
• Many felt this would cripple the economy
German Reaction to the Treaty
of Versailles • Read about the German reaction and answer the
last two questions on the worksheet.
• The new government were CRIMINALS!
• The anger, unhappiness and resentment cause
many Germans to support Adolph Hitler. In the long
term, the effects of WWI will lead directly to the
outbreak of WWII.
• Stay tuned……….
