WWI through US Entry

A War of Attrition

The StalemateFalse perception at start of war – last weeks?4 years later: 16 million dead + 20 million woundedWar on Western front becomes a stalemate

Neither side gaining nor losing much ground

Trench WarfareTrenches extend from Swiss Alps to English Channel

A War of Attrition & other goings on

WWI becomes attrition warfare

Outlasting your enemy through inflicting major casualties

Eastern front was more mobile

Russia withdraws in 1917Italy betrays alliance & joins Allies in 1915Central Powers: Germany, A-H, Ottoman EmpireAllies: G.B., France, Russia, US

German unrestricted Submarine warfare

Germany wanted to starve the Allies – sink supply ships

U-BoatsOrders unrestricted submarine warfare

Attack any allied vessels 1915: Sinking of the Lusitania

Carrying American civiliansGermany suspends unrestricted submarine warfare

US EntryUS was neutral at beginning Most Americans start to side with the Allies.Wilson trades exclusively with the AlliesGermany continues unrestricted sub warfareZimmerman Telegram

German telegram asking Mexico to attack US

US declares war on Germany in 1917

The Russian Revolution

COMMUNISM!

Background & Angry Workers

Russia had a large military, but it was poor.Russo-Japanese War of 1905

WWI very taxingHigh casualties, poor/low equipment, starving citizens

2 million soldiers dead by 1917 – LOW MORALEWomen workers begin striking & revolting in St. Petersburg in 1917Czar Nicholas II forced to step down: Czarist rule OVER

Rise of the BolsheviksNew Provisional gov’t stays in the war

Russian citizens do not like thisDifferent groups begin vying for powerBolsheviks (Marxist communists) become the most organized

Led By Vladimir LeninChampioned violent revolutionPromise to end the war & give land/job to the peasants

Bolsheviks seize control Nov 6, 1917 – become the “Communist” Party

Immediately end involvement in the Great War