Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging Total War Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Quick Facts about WWI Years spanned-1914-1918 US enters in 1917 Russia drops out in 1917 War ends on November 11, 1918. Allies vs. Central Powers US joins the Allies. John Bull the British version of Uncle Sam Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Size of European Armies Nation Size of army in 1914 Total number of soldiers who fought during the war. Austria-Hungary 3,000,000 7,800,000 Belgium 117,000 267,000 Britain 975,000 8,905,000 France 4,017,000 8,410,000 Germany 4,500,000 11,000,000 Italy 1,251,000 5,615,000 Romania 290,000 750,000 Russia 5,971,000 12,000,000 Serbia 200,000 707,000 Turkey 210,000 2,850,000 Conscription necessary to raise such large armies. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

America Takes a Neutral Stance Just after the war began, President Wilson declared that the US would stay neutral. Wilson’s response to the war reflected the long-standing American tradition of isolationism-a policy of not being involved in the affairs of other nations. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Financially the US was NOT Neutral The US was supplying the Allies. By 1917 Britain was purchasing nearly $75 million worth of war goods from American businesses each week. Due to the British Blockade it made it difficult to sell goods to the Germans. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Why Does the US enter the War? Germany was practicing Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. -Germany did this as a response to the British Blockade. -May 1, 1915 the Lusitania was sunk (12,000 die-128 were Americans). Link Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRCGyxrGKn0&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active 18 Minutes of terror pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q4xcPR_pN4&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active 18 minutes of terror pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhB6FUjPSMk&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active 95th anniversary of sinking, survivor interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPMALrsqFN0&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

US enters cont. -Wilson warned Germany to back off-they did somewhat & agreed to only attack supply ships. -However, less than a year later Germany sinks the Sussex-killing about 80 people. Wilson threatened to end diplomatic relations with Germany. Germany feared we would enter the war and agreed to the Sussex Pledge. -Germany would resume USW on February 1, 1917. Sussex was a French cross channel ferry. The ensuing crisis stemmed from the 25 American civilian casualties (out of a total of 80 casualties, including 50 fatalities) who were on board the Sussex.  The torpedoed ferry nevertheless managed to limp onwards, towed to the French port of Boulogne. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

More Reasons why the US enters: The Zimmerman Note-Arthur Zimmerman sent a telegram to Mexico proposing an alliance. If Mexico would declare war on the US, the Germans would help them later. Mexico had no interest in fighting & the plan backfired. Britain also intercepted & decoded the note & gave it to the US. Russia fell into Revolution in March-it became questionable how long they would stay in the war. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Add Zimmerman note images Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

The Final Straw Mid-March 1917, German U-boats sank 3 American merchant ships. April 2, 1917 Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. April 6, 1917 the US joins the war on the side of the Allies. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Americans in Europe May 18, 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act New recruits went through intensive training. The American soldiers who went overseas formed the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) - led by Pershing. SSA - required men between the ages of 21 & 30 to register for the draft Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Mass Production 4 Major steps were taken: 1) Shipyard workers were exempted or delayed from the draft. 2) The importance of shipyard work was emphasized. 3) Fabrication techniques were used. 4) The gov’t took over commercial & private ships & converted them for war use. In addition to the mass army that had to be raised & trained, the US had to find a way to transport men, food & equipment over thousands of miles of oceans. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

America Turns the Tide of the War America convinced Britain to try the Convoy System- this technique was successful, by fall of 1917 shipping losses had been cut in half. The US Navy also set up a 230-mile barrier of mines to keep the Germans out of the Atlantic-by early 1918 Germany was suffering heavy losses. One of the biggest contributions made by US soldiers was their enthusiasm & readiness to fight-the Allied soldiers were exhausted from 2 and a half years of fighting. Convoy system: heavy guard of destroyers escort merchant ships Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Major Battles 1st Battle of Marne, Sept. 1914 -Allies halted the German advance & saved Paris from occupation. Battle of Gallipoli, April-Dec. 1915 -Failed attempt of the Allies to knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war. Battle of Somme, July-Nov. 1916 -First major offensive for the British, staggering loss of life. The Battle of Tannenberg, Aug 1914 -Russia’s worst defeat in WWI 1st Battle of Ypres, Oct-Nov. 1914 -Last major German offensive until 1914 Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

Battle of Verdun the longest and one of the bloodiest engagements of World War I. February 1916 – December 1916 Two million men were engaged. The intention of the Germans had been a battle of attrition in which they hoped to bleed the French army white. In the end, they sustained almost as many casualties as the French; an estimated 328,000 to the French 348,000. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11

The Collapse of Germany November 3, 1918 A-H surrendered to the Allies. November 9-socialist leaders in the capital, Berlin, established a German republic. The kaiser gave up the throne. Germany was too exhausted to keep fighting so on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 Germany signed the armistice. November 11, 1918 WWI is over. Armistice: an agreement to end fighting Nov 3, That same day German sailors mutinied against German authority-mutiny spread quickly. Ch 11 Sec 3 Waging total war 12 5 11