The End of the War

The End of the War

Entry of the United StatesEntry of the United States

• U.S. tried to remain neutral in WWI• German policy of unrestricted

submarine warfare provoked U.S.• Lusitania attacked in 1915• Zimmerman note in Feb 1917• U.S. declares war on Germany

April 2nd 1917

• U.S. tried to remain neutral in WWI• German policy of unrestricted

submarine warfare provoked U.S.• Lusitania attacked in 1915• Zimmerman note in Feb 1917• U.S. declares war on Germany

April 2nd 1917

Russia WithdrawsRussia Withdraws

• Lenin signs peace treaty with Germany on March 3rd, 1918

• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk– Russia gives up territory in eastern

Poland, the Ukraine, Finland, and Baltic states

• Lenin signs peace treaty with Germany on March 3rd, 1918

• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk– Russia gives up territory in eastern

Poland, the Ukraine, Finland, and Baltic states

German offensiveGerman offensive

• Germany fighting only a one front war• Launches last offensive in 2nd Battle of

the Marne (March-July 1918)• Germany defeated by allies• By November people rebelled, Wilhelm

II stepped down and new socialist republic formed

• In Austria-Hungary nationalist rebellions occur

• Germany fighting only a one front war• Launches last offensive in 2nd Battle of

the Marne (March-July 1918)• Germany defeated by allies• By November people rebelled, Wilhelm

II stepped down and new socialist republic formed

• In Austria-Hungary nationalist rebellions occur

ArmisticeArmistice

• November 11th, 1918 armistice signed

• Jan 1919 delegates met in Paris to finalize peace settlement– 70 delegates from 27 nations– Big 4: U.S., G.B, France and Italy

• November 11th, 1918 armistice signed

• Jan 1919 delegates met in Paris to finalize peace settlement– 70 delegates from 27 nations– Big 4: U.S., G.B, France and Italy

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

• Germany not allowed to participate• Russia in civil war• 3 main allies could not agree

– Wilson: Idealistic, wanted international cooperation• Obsessed with League of Nations• Believed only a permanent int. org. could

prevent members from aggression & war

• Germany not allowed to participate• Russia in civil war• 3 main allies could not agree

– Wilson: Idealistic, wanted international cooperation• Obsessed with League of Nations• Believed only a permanent int. org. could

prevent members from aggression & war

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

• David Lloyd George (GB) and Georges Clemenceau (France) focused on punishing Germany

• Clemenceau wanted a buffer state between France & Germany, demilitarization of Germany and war reparations– Compromised by gave up idea of buffer

state for defensive alliance with GB & US

• David Lloyd George (GB) and Georges Clemenceau (France) focused on punishing Germany

• Clemenceau wanted a buffer state between France & Germany, demilitarization of Germany and war reparations– Compromised by gave up idea of buffer

state for defensive alliance with GB & US

Provisions of the TreatyProvisions of the Treaty

• Signed June 28, 1919• Germans considered treaty harsh • War Guilt Clause

– Declared Germany (& Austria) responsible for starting war

– Germany had to pay reparations for damages Allied governments and people suffered

• Signed June 28, 1919• Germans considered treaty harsh • War Guilt Clause

– Declared Germany (& Austria) responsible for starting war

– Germany had to pay reparations for damages Allied governments and people suffered

Provisions of the TreatyProvisions of the Treaty

• Germany had to lower army to 100,000 men, reduce navy and eliminate air force

• Lost territory in Alsace & Lorraine to France, sections of Prussia to the new Polish state, Rhineland was demilitarized zone

• Germany had to lower army to 100,000 men, reduce navy and eliminate air force

• Lost territory in Alsace & Lorraine to France, sections of Prussia to the new Polish state, Rhineland was demilitarized zone

Other Peace TreatiesOther Peace Treaties

• Separate peace treaties made with other Central Powers– Changed map of Europe– Germany & Russia lost territory,

Austrian Hungarian empire disappeared, new states of Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Hungary created

• Separate peace treaties made with other Central Powers– Changed map of Europe– Germany & Russia lost territory,

Austrian Hungarian empire disappeared, new states of Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Hungary created

Other Peace TreatiesOther Peace Treaties

• Serbia formed new, larger country of Yugoslavia

• Ottoman Empire broken up– Although Arab states promised

independence European powers controlled territory

– France gained Lebanon & Syria– Britain gained Iraq & Palestine

• Known as mandates

• Serbia formed new, larger country of Yugoslavia

• Ottoman Empire broken up– Although Arab states promised

independence European powers controlled territory

– France gained Lebanon & Syria– Britain gained Iraq & Palestine

• Known as mandates

CompositionComposition

• The Treaty of Versailles has been called a “peace built on quicksand”. Explain what this means and if you agree or disagree with this statement. If you were at the Paris peace conference what would you do differently? Explain

• The Treaty of Versailles has been called a “peace built on quicksand”. Explain what this means and if you agree or disagree with this statement. If you were at the Paris peace conference what would you do differently? Explain