A Global Conflict Chapter 29, Section 3 World War I Comes to an End… For now!

Introduction World War I was much more than a European conflict Australia and Japan, for example, entered the war on the Allies’ side, while India supplied troops to fight alongside their British rulers. Meanwhile, the Ottoman Turks and later Bulgaria allied themselves with Germany and the Central Powers. As the war promised to be a grim, drawn-out affair, all the Great Powers looked for other allies around the globe to tip the balance. They also sought new war fronts on which to achieve victory.

The Gallipoli Campaign Break through Ottoman controlled Dardanelles Supply Russia Turned into “Western Battle” Failure

War Affects the World Battles in Africa and Asia Allies take control of German holdings in Asia and Africa. Britain and France use their colonial subjects to help in war effort

Reasons for American Entrance Into WWI German USW Allied Propaganda Hostility Toward Germany American economic Interests American Idealism

American Neutrality In 1914 the United States issues a Proclamation of Neutrality. Woodrow Wilson won the Presidency in 1916 under the slogan; “He Kept Us Out Of War.”

A Prosperous War for the United States America’s economy was greatly aided by trading supplies to European countries when the Great War broke out. America traded mostly with Britain and France. In June of 1915 Austria-Hungary suggested that American neutrality was threatened by its munitions trade with the Allies. As the war went on, it was in the best interest for the U.S. that the Allies won the war. $$$

Allied Propaganda Influenced the American Public When the Great War broke out the American public was split in its support. The majority of America’s population was Anglo-Saxon but there were also large German, Italian, and Eastern European groups in the U.S. Allied Propaganda helped to shift America’s support toward the Allies.

Propaganda Was Carefully Used By Both Sides The British printed headlines that were designed to stir up emotions regardless of whether they were accurate or not. The most infamous headlines included: “Belgium child’s hands cut off by Germans” “Germans crucify Canadian officer” Untrue headlines were tolerated and even encouraged by the German authorities. Some headlines were: “French doctors infect German wells with plague germs” “German prisoners blinded  by Allied captors” http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare German plan to blockade Britain and France. U-Boats attack without warning and without attempting to save crews and passengers. Torpedoed neutral and belligerent ships.

Germany Warns the U.S. Because many Americans traveled to Britain, Germany tried to urge Americans not to travel to Europe. The Germans went as far as taking out an add in the New York Time to discourage Americans from traveling to Europe.

The Sinking of the Lusitania On May 7, 1915 a German U-Boat sank the British passenger ship the Lusitania, 1198 die including 128 Americans. The Germans argued that the Lusitania was carrying munitions in the hull. The U.S. pressures Germany to end Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. Germany agrees to end USW after signing the Sussex Pledge in 1916.

Germany Sees No Other Alternative Unable to make any headway after ending Unrestricted Submarine Warfare, Germany decides to take action. On January 1917 Germany resumed Unrestricted Submarine Warfare believing they could defeat England in 5 months. “We will frighten the British flag off the face of the waters and starve the British people until they, who have refused peace, will kneel and plead for it.” Kaiser Wilhelm

The Zimmermann Telegram On January 19, 1917, British naval intelligence intercepted and decrypted a telegram sent by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Ambassador in Mexico City. In return for Mexico’s help in the war, Germany promised to assist Mexico in recovering the territories ceded to the U.S. after the Mexican-American war. Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona Arthur Zimmermann

The Actual Zimmermann Telegram

Germany's submarine warfare is no longer directed against belligerents, but against the whole world. All nations are involved in Germany's action. The challenge is to all mankind. Wanton, wholesale destruction has been effected against women and children while they have been engaged in pursuits which even in the darkest periods of modern history have been regarded as innocent and legitimate. There is one choice I cannot make. I will not choose the path of submission, and suffer the most sacred rights of the nation and of the people to be ignored and violated. With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragic character of the step I am taking, and of the grave responsibilities involved, but in unhesitating obedience to my constitutional duty, I advise Congress to declare that the recent course of the German Government is nothing less than war against the United States, and that the United States accept the status of a belligerent which has been thrust upon it, and will take immediate steps to put the country into a thorough state of defense, and to exert all her power and resource in bringing Germany to terms, and in ending the war. President Woodrow Wilson, April 3, 1917 The United States declares war against Germany in April 1917 joining the Allies.

War Affects the Home Front Governments Wage Total War World War I becomes a “total war”—nations devote all resources to war. Governments take control of the economy to produce war goods. Nations turn to rationing—limiting purchases of war-related goods. Propaganda—one sided information to build morale and support for the war.

War Affects the Home Front Woman and the War At home, thousands of women fill jobs previously held by men. Many women also experience the war by working as nurses.

The Allies Win the War Russia Withdraws Civil unrest in Russia forces Czar to step down from throne in 1917. Communists soon take control of Russia’s government. Russia signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in March 1918, pulls out of war.

The Allies Win the War The Central Powers Collapse With Russia gone, Germany moves most forces to Western Front Engage in major fighting; Allies force Germans to retreat. Allies win war; armistice—end of fighting—signed 11/11/1918

The United States Enters the Great War By early 1918 the United States is able to mobilize 2 million men led by General John J. Pershing. The Central Powers Collapse With Russia gone, Germany moves most forces to Western Front Engage in major fighting; Allies force Germans to retreat. By the end of 1918 the Central Powers are being overwhelmed by the Allies. Bulgaria surrenders on Sept. 29, 1918 Ottoman Empire surrenders on Oct. 30, 1918 Austria-Hungary surrenders on Nov. 3, 1918

“Pershing Boot” used to prevent Trench Foot Pershing oversaw the development of a new combat boot to prevent “trench foot.”

An Armistice is Signed On November 11, 1918 Germany agrees to a cease fire and surrenders after signing an Armistice. The document was signed on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh, of the eleventh month. Germany was not at the mercy of the Allies. America emerges as a world power.

Casualties % of Mobilized Countries Total Mobilized Killed & Died Wounded Prisoners & Missing Total Casualties Casualties % of Mobilized Allied Powers   Russia 12,000,000 1,700,000 4,950,000 2,500,000 9,150,000 76.3 France 8,410,000 1,357,800 4,266,000 537,000 6,160,800 British Empire 8,904,467 908,371 2,090,212 191,652 3,190,235 35.8 Italy 5,615,000 650,000 947,000 600,000 2,197,000 39.1 United States 4,355,000 126,000 234,300 4,500 364,800 8.2 Japan 800,000 300 907 3 1,210 0.2 Romania 750,000 335,706 120,000 80,000 535,706 71.4 Serbia 707,343 45,000 133,148 152,958 331,106 46.8 Belgium 267,000 13,716 44,686 34,659 93,061 34.9 Greece 230,000 5,000 21,000 1,000 17,000 11.7 Portugal 100,000 7,222 13,751 12,318 33,291 33.3 Montenegro 50,000 3,000 10,000 7,000 20,000 40.0 Total 42,188,810 5,152,115 12,831,004 4,121,090 22,104,209 52.3 Central Powers Germany 11,000,000 1,773,700 4,216,058 1,152,800 7,142,558 64.9 Austria-Hungary 7,800,000 1,200,000 3,620,000 2,200,000 7,020,000 90.0 Turkey 2,850,000 325,000 400,000 250,000 975,000 34.2 Bulgaria 87,500 152,390 27,029 266,919 22.2 22,850,000 3,386,200 8,388,448 3,629,829 15,404,477 67.4 Grand Total 65,038,810 8,538,315 21,219,452 7,750,919 37,508,686 57.6 World War I Statistics

The Legacy of the War A High Price War takes heavy toll; 8.5 million soldiers dead, 21 million wounded War devastates European economies, drains national treasuries. Many acres of land and homes, villages, towns destroyed. Survivors suffer disillusionment and despair; reflected in the arts.

As if War Wasn’t Enough The influenza pandemic took hold around the world in 1918-1919 and resulted in more death than in WWI. Some estimate that between 40-50 million people died from the Flu. More people died of influenza in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague.