Winning the War

Waging Total War As the war continued, the European governments had committee all the nations resources into the war – All the nations used the draft to increase their armed forces – Raised taxes and borrowed large amounts of money pay for the war – Rationed food, gasoline and other products Use of propaganda was fundamental for the government to wage total war

Propaganda Objectives of Wartime Propaganda Recruitment of soldiers, either through a draft or voluntary enlistment Financing the war effort through the sale of war bonds or new taxes Eliminating dissent and unifying the country behind the war effort Conservation of resources Participation in home-front organizations to support the war effort

Tools used in Wartime Propaganda Demonization Emotional Appeals Name Calling Patriotic Appeals Half-Truths/Lies Catchy Slogans Evocative Visual Symbols Humor or Caricatures

“Liberty Equality, Fraternity” “For France, pour out your gold. Gold fights for victory”

Blood Sucker of the World

“The enemy wills it so”

US Entry into the War German submarine sinks the Lusitania – Germany stopped unrestricted warfare only until 1917 when they were desperate to break the stalemate This new development was followed shortly by the interception of the Zimmerman Note – Said Germany would help Mexico regain lands from the US in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona – Anti-German feelings intensified

US Declares War April 6, 1917 Congress declares war Allies are relieved that America is finally joining the war – Hope for supplies, soldiers, and ships – U.S. warships began escorting cargo vessels and protecting them from attack » goods finally getting to Europe, drastically reduces the number of ships lost

Russia Leaves the War After the Russian Revolution in 1917 Lenin came to power – Lenin promised to get Russia out of the war – An armistice was negotiated with Germany It took Russia out of the war and ceded vast territories, including Finland, the Baltic provinces, parts of Poland and Ukraine to the Central Powers

The End of the War The collapse of the Central Powers came quickly. Bulgaria was the first to sign an armistice on September 29, 1918 On October 30, the Ottoman Empire signed The Armistice with Austria was signed on November 3. Austria and Hungary signed separate armistices following the overthrow of the Habsburg monarchy. Following the outbreak of the German Revolution, a republic was proclaimed on November 9. On November 11 an armistice with Germany was signed in a railroad carriage at Compiègne. At 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 — the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month — a ceasefire came into effect. Opposing armies on the Western Front began to withdraw from their positions.

Paris Peace Conference Victorious Allies met in Paris to discuss the fate of Europe – Wilson wanted “Peace without Victory” – David Lloyd George wants to rebuild Britain and needed money – Clemenceau wanted to weaken Germany to reduce the threat in the future Wilson had to compromise on his Fourteen Points but pushed for the League of Nations Thought the League could correct any other mistakes

Treaty of Versailles Established 9 new nations – Included Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Austria and Hungary – Carved out areas of the Ottoman Empire for France and Great Britain to govern until they were ready for self rule

Punishing Germany Treaty demilitarized Germany – Stripped of its air force, most of its navy, and reduced the army to 100,000 men Germany also had to pay $33 billion in reparations to the Allies Treaty contained the “War Guilt Clause” that forced Germany to acknowledge that it alone was responsible for WWI

Weaknesses of the Treaty Weakened the ability to have a lasting peace in Europe – Germany humiliated – Bolshevik government in Russia felt the Big Four ignored their needs – Germany stripped of colonial possessions which could have helped pay the reparations – Colonies angry at the mandate system