The End of WWIThe End of WWI

Building Up to the Last 100 Building Up to the Last 100 DaysDays

The Status of the The Status of the WarWar19171917

The United States The United States Declares WarDeclares War

Russia Bows OutRussia Bows Out The war was going badly for Russia and the Tsar The war was going badly for Russia and the Tsar

(Nicholas II) was extremely unpopular(Nicholas II) was extremely unpopular A new philosophy “Communism” was becoming popular. A new philosophy “Communism” was becoming popular.

Communism:Communism:

Gov’t ownership of all land and factoriesGov’t ownership of all land and factories Elimination of “classes” (rich/poor), all were supposed to Elimination of “classes” (rich/poor), all were supposed to

be equalbe equal Focus was on creating a “workers’ paradise” in which all Focus was on creating a “workers’ paradise” in which all

would share equally in the wealth of the statewould share equally in the wealth of the state Championed the plight of the “working classes” against Championed the plight of the “working classes” against

the “greedy, rich parasites”the “greedy, rich parasites” The Communists called for a revolution to The Communists called for a revolution to

overthrow the Tsar and bring an end to the waroverthrow the Tsar and bring an end to the war In 1917, the Communists took control of Russia In 1917, the Communists took control of Russia

and executed the royal family.and executed the royal family. They signed a treaty with Germany to end the They signed a treaty with Germany to end the

war, but Russia had to give up a large chunk of war, but Russia had to give up a large chunk of western territory in exchange for peace – western territory in exchange for peace – Germany could now concentrate her forces on Germany could now concentrate her forces on the Western Frontthe Western Front

The United States The United States Declares WarDeclares War

Zimmerman NoteZimmerman Note

Zimmerman NoteZimmerman Note

Submarine WarfareSubmarine Warfare Germany needed to cut off the supplies going Germany needed to cut off the supplies going

to Britain in order to halt their war effort.to Britain in order to halt their war effort. Germany used the submarine to destroy Germany used the submarine to destroy

Allied supply ships and merchant vessels.Allied supply ships and merchant vessels. Some neutral countries Some neutral countries (including the (including the USAUSA) ) sold sold

supplies and war materiel to Britain.supplies and war materiel to Britain. To prevent this, Germany declared To prevent this, Germany declared

“Unrestricted Submarine Warfare”, claiming “Unrestricted Submarine Warfare”, claiming the right to sink any ship supplying the Alliesthe right to sink any ship supplying the Allies

After sinking a number of “neutral” targets, After sinking a number of “neutral” targets, the Germans sunk the the Germans sunk the LusitaniaLusitania a passenger a passenger liner with many Americans on board.liner with many Americans on board.

This shocked the American public and the This shocked the American public and the USA soon joined the Triple Entente against USA soon joined the Triple Entente against GermanyGermany

The United States The United States Declares WarDeclares War

April 1917April 1917

President Woodrow WilsonPresident Woodrow Wilson

““We have no selfish ends to serve…” We have no selfish ends to serve…”

““to make the world safe for democracy…”to make the world safe for democracy…”

““war to end war…”war to end war…”

The Status of the War (Jan.,1917)The Status of the War (Jan.,1917) Triple Triple EntenteEntente / / Triple AllianceTriple Alliance

The U.S.A had joined The U.S.A had joined but were, as yet, but were, as yet, unable to send unable to send troops (unprepared).troops (unprepared).

Russia, under new Russia, under new gov’t had abandoned gov’t had abandoned the war and the the war and the EntenteEntente

Canadian troops had Canadian troops had won victories at won victories at Vimy Ridge and Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele Passchendaele

Germany’s Germany’s “unrestricted” “unrestricted” submarine warfare has submarine warfare has brought the U.S. into brought the U.S. into the war.the war.

They had lost several They had lost several significant battlessignificant battles

They no longer had to They no longer had to worry about the worry about the Russians in the EastRussians in the East

Germany could Germany could concentrate on a concentrate on a massive offensive on massive offensive on the Western Frontthe Western Front

Last 100 DaysLast 100 Days

March to June 1918March to June 1918 Germany makes one last push to Germany makes one last push to

split the French and Britishsplit the French and British Allies pushed back led by CanadaAllies pushed back led by Canada August 8th 1918 known as “The August 8th 1918 known as “The

Black Day of the German Army” Black Day of the German Army” (they realized that they could not (they realized that they could not win the war)win the war)

Last 100 Days Con’tLast 100 Days Con’t

August 8August 8thth to November 11 1918- to November 11 1918- Canada’s Last 100 DaysCanada’s Last 100 Days

Canadians continued to press Canadians continued to press forward led by Currie forward led by Currie

Spearheaded an attack on the city of Spearheaded an attack on the city of Amiens and pushed the Germans Amiens and pushed the Germans back 13kmback 13km

Then they kept goingThen they kept going

Canada’s Hundred DaysCanada’s Hundred Days

September 27: Canal du NordSeptember 27: Canal du Nord October 11: CambraiOctober 11: Cambrai November 10: Mons (which had November 10: Mons (which had

been in German hands since early in been in German hands since early in the war) the war)

At the same time as they took Mons, At the same time as they took Mons, an armistice (a truce) was being an armistice (a truce) was being negotiatednegotiated

The Final ShotThe Final Shot

News of the coming armistice spread News of the coming armistice spread through the armies on both sides. The through the armies on both sides. The fighting would stop at exactly 11:00AM on fighting would stop at exactly 11:00AM on November 11, 1918.November 11, 1918.

However, in order to try and gain as best a However, in order to try and gain as best a post-war bargaining position as possible, post-war bargaining position as possible, each side kept fighting up until the last each side kept fighting up until the last minute.minute.

At 10:58AM, Nov. 11, 1918, Private George At 10:58AM, Nov. 11, 1918, Private George Lawrence Price was killed by a German Lawrence Price was killed by a German sniper.sniper.

He was Canada’s final casualty of WWIHe was Canada’s final casualty of WWI

The Treaty of The Treaty of VersaillesVersailles

The Peace Treaty That Would The Peace Treaty That Would Lead to WarLead to War

At VersaillesAt Versailles

In 1919, delegates from numerous In 1919, delegates from numerous nations gathered at the palace of nations gathered at the palace of Versailles in France to create a Versailles in France to create a peace treaty to officially end WWI.peace treaty to officially end WWI.

The treaty would also spell out the The treaty would also spell out the conditions and penalties that conditions and penalties that Germany would have to accept if she Germany would have to accept if she wanted to avoid invasion.wanted to avoid invasion.

German delegates were not invited German delegates were not invited to the conference or asked for their to the conference or asked for their input.input.

Canada sent two officials to the Canada sent two officials to the conference. This was significant as they conference. This was significant as they were not there as part of the British were not there as part of the British delegation. Canada was representing delegation. Canada was representing itself, apart from Britain, on the itself, apart from Britain, on the international stage.international stage.

The Canadian gov’t demanded this right The Canadian gov’t demanded this right from Britain, due to the major contribution from Britain, due to the major contribution Canada made to the war effort.Canada made to the war effort.

While there were hundreds of While there were hundreds of representatives from numerous Allied representatives from numerous Allied countries, it was the “Big Three” (USA, countries, it was the “Big Three” (USA, Britain, France) that made the major Britain, France) that made the major decisions. (Russia, which was now decisions. (Russia, which was now communist, was not invited)communist, was not invited)

The “Big Three”The “Big Three” British PM David Lloyd-GeorgeBritish PM David Lloyd-George wanted to wanted to

punish Germany, but felt that they had to punish Germany, but felt that they had to also also keep Germany economically keep Germany economically strongstrong. This would help re-establish . This would help re-establish European trade and keep communism from European trade and keep communism from growing in Europe.growing in Europe.

France’s Georges ClemenceauFrance’s Georges Clemenceau wanted only wanted only to to punish Germany severelypunish Germany severely for the for the damage the war had caused. He wanted to damage the war had caused. He wanted to crush the German economy and break the crush the German economy and break the country up into smaller, disconnected country up into smaller, disconnected states.states.

The US Pres. Woodrow WilsonThe US Pres. Woodrow Wilson thought thought Germany should be punished, but not Germany should be punished, but not too severely. He also had a plan of too severely. He also had a plan of 14 14 PointsPoints that he thought would lead to that he thought would lead to world peace and should be the basis world peace and should be the basis for the treaty.for the treaty.

None of the leaders got exactly what None of the leaders got exactly what they wanted. In the end, the treaty they wanted. In the end, the treaty was a mish-mash of compromises that was a mish-mash of compromises that were too harsh on some points and too were too harsh on some points and too lax on others.lax on others.

The TermsThe Terms

MilitaryMilitary:: Germany cannot have an army Germany cannot have an army

exceeding 100,000 soldiers.exceeding 100,000 soldiers. Germany’s navy can have only 6 Germany’s navy can have only 6

battleships and NO submarines or battleships and NO submarines or new crafts over 10,000 tonnes.new crafts over 10,000 tonnes.

Germany cannot have a military air Germany cannot have a military air force of any kind.force of any kind.

Germany could not enter into a Germany could not enter into a military treaty or any alliance with military treaty or any alliance with AustriaAustria

Territory:Territory: Germany must had over all of its Germany must had over all of its

overseas colonies to the new League of overseas colonies to the new League of Nations (went to the Allies).Nations (went to the Allies).

Sections of Germany were to be cut-off Sections of Germany were to be cut-off and given to other nations (in this way, and given to other nations (in this way, an independent Poland was created)an independent Poland was created)

The Rhineland area of German (on the The Rhineland area of German (on the French border) was demilitarized.French border) was demilitarized.

The coal-rich Saar Basin was also The coal-rich Saar Basin was also given to Francegiven to France

Make Germany Pay!Make Germany Pay! In addition to the other punishments, it was In addition to the other punishments, it was

decided that Germany must pay decided that Germany must pay reparationsreparations to the winners of the war. to the winners of the war.

This meant that Germany had to pay for the This meant that Germany had to pay for the cost of the war for all the Allies, plus the cost of the war for all the Allies, plus the damage the war had done.damage the war had done.

The bill was set at 6.6 Billion (British The bill was set at 6.6 Billion (British Pounds), to be paid in currency, steel, coal Pounds), to be paid in currency, steel, coal and other resourcesand other resources

It was estimated that it would take until It was estimated that it would take until 1984 for Germany to fully pay the 1984 for Germany to fully pay the reparations bill.reparations bill.

This would be crippling to the shattered This would be crippling to the shattered German economyGerman economy

Article 231Article 231

The section of the treaty that made The section of the treaty that made many Germans furious was Article many Germans furious was Article 231, the 231, the War Guilt ClauseWar Guilt Clause

This section blamed the war entirely This section blamed the war entirely on Germany and her Allies.on Germany and her Allies.

This was hard to accept as many This was hard to accept as many Germans believed they had been Germans believed they had been defending themselves against defending themselves against British/French military aggression.British/French military aggression.

Other SectionsOther Sections

New countries were created out of New countries were created out of the shattered Austro-Hungarian the shattered Austro-Hungarian Empire.Empire.

Also, many Balkan states were Also, many Balkan states were joined together into a country called joined together into a country called YugoslaviaYugoslavia

Other new countries were formed Other new countries were formed from parts of Germany and the old from parts of Germany and the old Russian EmpireRussian Empire

19141914 19191919

Initially, the German gov’t refused to Initially, the German gov’t refused to sign the treaty, but they Allies sign the treaty, but they Allies threatened to invade so on June 28, threatened to invade so on June 28, 1919, the Germans signed, under 1919, the Germans signed, under protest and under “threat of force”.protest and under “threat of force”.

The German people were shocked The German people were shocked and angered by the terms of the and angered by the terms of the treaty and many felt unjustly treaty and many felt unjustly punished by the Allies.punished by the Allies.

League of NationsLeague of Nations

One of Wilson’s “14 Points” was the One of Wilson’s “14 Points” was the creation of an international organization creation of an international organization that could mediate disputes and help to that could mediate disputes and help to avoid war.avoid war.

This idea was adopted and the “League of This idea was adopted and the “League of Nations” was created.Nations” was created.

Canada was given its own seat in the Canada was given its own seat in the organization, separate and independent organization, separate and independent from Britain.from Britain.

Germany was not allowed to join because of Germany was not allowed to join because of the war, and Russia was also left out the war, and Russia was also left out because it was a communist countrybecause it was a communist country

Prophetic WordsProphetic Words

WWI was soon called the “War to end all WWI was soon called the “War to end all wars”.wars”.

People felt that after the losses of WWI, no People felt that after the losses of WWI, no one would want to fight another war again.one would want to fight another war again.

Also, the new League of Nations was in Also, the new League of Nations was in place to mediate disputes and the Treaty of place to mediate disputes and the Treaty of Versailles would solve the old problems in Versailles would solve the old problems in Europe.Europe.

Not everyone shared this opinion. Some felt Not everyone shared this opinion. Some felt that the treaty not only wouldn’t prevent that the treaty not only wouldn’t prevent war, but would actually serve to cause it.war, but would actually serve to cause it.

After hearing the terms of the After hearing the terms of the Versailles treaty, Marshal Foch (high Versailles treaty, Marshal Foch (high commander of WWI Allied Forces) commander of WWI Allied Forces) was heard to remark, was heard to remark,

““This isn’t peace! This is a truce This isn’t peace! This is a truce for twenty years!”for twenty years!”

The Treaty of Versailles was signed The Treaty of Versailles was signed June 28June 28thth 1919. Twenty years and 1919. Twenty years and sixty-seven days later, Nazi Germany sixty-seven days later, Nazi Germany invaded Poland and WWII had begun.invaded Poland and WWII had begun.