The Last Hundred Days

August to November 1918

From August 4th – November 11th

Canadian troops led by Arthur Currie, fought several battles forcing the Germans to retreat.

Canadians suffered 46,000 casualties in these battles but defeated a quarter of the entire German army.

By 1918….

The tide had turned in the Allies’ favour

The anti-submarine campaign was successful

British blockade of Germany was effective

August 8, 1918, Canadian forces, with tanks and air support smashed into German lines

Canadians drove ahead 13 kms and for 6 weeks, the Canadians led the attack.

Canada’s Hundred Days

Canada seized 31,527 POWs, 623 artillery pieces and 2842 machine guns.

A total of 619 636 Canadians served in the First World War and 66 655 gave their lives.

The exploits of Canadian and Newfoundland troops are remembered at 13 memorials spread across Belgium and France.

Autonomous Nation

When Canada entered the war they essentially had no choice.

By the end of the war Prime Minister Borden argued that since Canada had played such an important role in the war, with 600,000 soldiers fighting, our country deserved to be an independent nation.

Germany’s “Black Day” - 1918

On August 8th, a massive British – Canadian – Australian attack, led by 600 tanks, was launched on the German lines in front of Amiens.

At Amiens, the German lines gave way, allowing the Allies to advance 11km by dusk.

Thousands of men surrendered, many more fled to the east. Morale collapsed as six entire divisions gave up the fight.

When German General Ludendorff studied the reports from Amiens, he declared “August 8th was the Black Day of the German Army.”

He lost all hope for winning the war. Ludendorff conferred with Kaiser

Wilhelm. They agreed that the war must end,

but negotiations should only begin if Germany were doing well in a battle so that they could negotiate a favorable peace.

Riots in Germany

With the help of U.S. forces, the Allies were successful to force the German army into total retreat

Meaning, they were no longer fighting offensively

German citizens began to revolt against the government because of the food shortages.

The Navy refused to go to sea anymore, it was clear the war was a loss.

Armistice

On November 7, 1918 after 4 years of intense battle, Prince Max, the leader of Germany sent a delegation to agree to an armistice.

He asked the Allies to suspend fighting.

French General Foch refused.

On November 9th, representatives of Britain, France and the USA met with the German delegation.

At 1 a.m. on November 11th, Prince Max replied that the German government agreed to the armistice terms.

At 5 a.m. the armistice was signed. It stated that all fighting would cease

everywhere at 11 a.m.

The last man to be killed was Canadian Private George Price.

He was shot by a German sniper at 10:58 a.m. on November 11th, 1918.

Wounded Soldiers Return…

More than 170,000 soldiers returned to Canada with injuries and disabilities.

Many were unable to work and received government pensions.

Some went to university or into trades with government support.

Soldier Settlement Act – Received free land and money to start farms

Aboriginal veterans were excluded from standard benefits.

The Royal Canadian Legion fought and suggested resolutions that they be recognized and receive the same benefits as their other Canadian comrades.

Paris Peace Conference 1919 The victorious Allied

countries met to discuss the settlement of WWI.

Some of the issues that needed to be resolved included: How to punish the

losing countries? Who was “guilty” for

causing the war? How would peace be

maintained?

Canada’s Recognition

Canada participated at the Paris Peace Conference as an independent nation and became a member of the League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

The treaty was the result of the Paris Peace Conference and it formally ended the war.

It demanded that Germany:

Accept blame for the war (War Guilt Clause)

Significantly reduce the army and navy

Relinquish control of its railroads Give back the land it had conquered Pay reparations amounting to

approximately $30 billion Allow Allied troops to be stationed on

its territory.

How the treaty was viewed…

This treaty was extremely harsh on Germany and many acknowledged that it would simply lead to the outbreak of another war.

Germany signed it under protest. Borden publically acknowledged that

these terms were harsh. The drafters of the peace terms

hoped that the Treaty of Versailles would make the First World War the “war to end all wars.”

Germany would be burdened by the terms of this treaty until Hitler takes power in the 1930’s.