The End of WWI The last 100 days & the Treaty of Versailles

Central Powers CollapseTwo 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

Reads: NOTICE! Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk. IMPERIAL GERMAN EMBASSY WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 22, 1915.

Sinking of the LusitaniaDeparted on May 1, 1915 and sank on May

7th

US did not go to war for another two yearsThere 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 IrelandThe 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 torpedoThere was a second explosion, which lead to

the sinkingIt is thought the second explosion occurred

because the liner was carrying small arms and ammunitionTherefore a legitimate target for the Germans The Great Lusitania Video: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURi21sJsWc

American propaganda

Zimmerman Telegram (1917)January, 1917: German foreign office sends a

communication to the Mexican governmentThis telegram was intercepted and translated

by British intelligenceThis was a proposal of alliance between the

Mexicans and Germans that encouraged Mexico to invade the lower United States

Warned of unrestricted submarine warfareThe US joined the war effort in April, 1917

German CollapseWith 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 attackThousands 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 Daysthe German forces were forced to retreatas 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 ContinuedCanadians captured more territory, prisoners

and equipment than the American Army 6 times larger!

They defeated ¼ of the entire German ArmyAlliance countries collapsed one by oneFighting ended at 11:00 am on November

11th, 1918

Canadian Casualties60,000 killed and 172,00 woundedThousands would linger in veterans’ hospitals

for years after 1918Spanish 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 virusVirus forced cancellation of 1919 Stanley Cup

after 4 games

Paris Peace Conferencethis was the formal end to the warheld in 1919; Palace of Versaillesoutcome of this conference was of greatest

importance to Germanyyet had a lasting effect on other nations; including

Canadaoriginally Canada was not to have any delegates at

the ConferencePrime Minister Borden insisted upon having

representation and was allowed to send four people to Paris

Borden & PM Lloyd 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 Treaty of VersaillesWilson’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 VersaillesReparations:6.6 billion pounds (1919 money)Unspecific future amounts (linked to the war debts of

Britain & France)War Guilt:Germany forced to sign a document accepting

responsibility for the warMilitary Limitations: 100 000 men in army, no airforce, no submarines, tanks,

etc.Loss of Land: Creation of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary

“The November Criminals”Germany hesitated to sign the treaty because they

thought it was very harshThey eventually agreed to sign it out of fear of the

Allies' threat to resume fighting and British supply blockades

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 Lloyd George

Think/Pair/ShareWhat 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?