Eastern Front & The End of the War Mr. Meester AP European History

Eastern Front Serbia repulsed the Austro-Hungarian army and forced a stalemate Russia had success invading Austria but were stopped at the Vistula River in Germany (September 1914) The combined Austro-Hungarian and German armies pushed the Russians back into Russian territory in 1915 Battle of Tannenburg Russian casualties were over 2.5 million during the first year of the war Russia ran out of artillery shells and rifles, forcing Russian soldiers to try and find weapons among the dead

The Russian Revolutions Initial changes in government Heavy Russian casualties turned the people against the war A progressive, democratic block, in Russia called for a new government with a stronger Duma Czar Nicholas II, under pressure from his wife and Rasputin, adjourned the Duma (1915) Rasputin murdered (1916) Bread riots in St. Petersburg (March 1917)

“March Revolution” Duma reassembled and declared a provisional government (March 1917) Power was shared with a council of workers and soldiers called the Petrograd Soviet Czar Nicholas abdicated (March 1917)

“October Revolution” Bolsheviks (Communists) Lenin returned from exile in Switzerland (with German help) and denounced the provisional government (April 1917) Lenin and his associates (Trotsky) convinced the Petrograd Soviet to issue Army Order No. 1 Stripped army officers of their authority Placed power in the hands of elected committees of common soldiers The Bolsheviks were elected leaders of the Soviets and then used that power to take control of the government

Russian Withdrawal The war was very unpopular with the Russian people and the Communists immediately sought peace terms from the Germans This was why the Germans helped Lenin return to Russia The Germans made large demands for territory as a condition of peace (Lenin balked on the demands) The Germans then intensified their attacks on the Eastern Front The Russians realized they did not have the means to keep up the war The Russians agreed to the German demands and withdrew from the war (Brest-Litovsk Treaty)

The Role of the United States American neutrality Propaganda Interference with shipping - sinking of the Lusitania Economic motives American entry into war Zimmerman Note April, 1917, Wilson pledges to 'make the world safe for democracy” US troops led by John J. Pershing

Failure of the Submarine In 1917: Germans destroyed shipping faster than it could be rebuilt Purpose: starve England before U.S. help counted Convoy system saved the day Allied success in the Middle East Allenby takes Jerusalem in December 1917 Turks forced out of Asia Minor in 1918 Allied forces move up from Salonika against Bulgaria in September 1918 - surrender follows Whole German southeast began to crumble

The Final German Effort March - July - create pockets in allied lines 800,000 casualties for French and British Ludendorff destroys the German army and the Allies hold on War of Attrition Americans tilt the balance - bring in 100,000 troops - second Battle of the Marne - Chateau Thierry

The New War Total War – A war involving all the human and material resources of the countries taking part. Civilians were killed as a direct result from the conflict Millions died from the war, hunger, and the influenza outbreak People on the "home front" sacrificed whatever they could to make sure their armies had enough supplies (daylight savings time was invented in Europe to save fuel) Governments used propaganda to boost public support for the war Governments steadily took more control over the economy, turning resources to the war effort

Reasons the Central Powers Fell Shortage of food and fuel Failure of Ludendorff's offensive Austria-Hungary on the brink of revolution Foch drives German army back in the West German soldiers on the Eastern Front infected with Bolshevism US Entry convinced Germans that the war is lost and that peace had to be made The Armistice - November 11, 1918

The Peace Treaties The Paris Peace Conference Wilson’s Fourteen Points (5 key ideas are listed below) Self-determination - nationalities should have the right to establish their own governments, free of foreign control. Peace without victory - Allies should treat their former enemies generously. Disarmament - wanted all nations of the world to disarm and end militarism. Fair treatment of colonial peoples - wanted imperial nations to look out for the welfare of their colonies. League of Nations - international organization meant to help large and small nations settle quarrels

Problems in Paris Obstacles to a settlement Separate peace treaties Stiff opposition by allies, especially France. Difficulty of self-determination. Secret treaties on how to share the spoils of war. Separate peace treaties Peace settlement made in Paris consisted of five separate treaties - one with each defeated states (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire). Treaty of Versailles - settlement with Germany

The Versailles Treaty Germany was forced to take the blame for starting the war Territorial changes - Germany lost land to France and Poland and was forced to dismantle most of its military De-militarized western Germany Mandates - Germany lost control of its overseas territories which became mandates of French, Britain, and Japan Reparations - payment of war damages to other nations 33 billion Designed to punish Germany and keep it weak.

The New Geography Various nationalities in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire carved out their own states Czechs and Slovaks formed Czechoslovakia Croats and Slovenes joined with Serbia to form Yugoslavia Italy and Romania gained land from the old empire Hungary became a separate nation The new Austria was forbidden to united with Germany

Geographic Changes

The League of Nations US Senate persuaded a policy of isolationism More than 60 countries joined. The US did not join the League of Nations. US Senate persuaded a policy of isolationism Felt that the League might drag them into future European conflicts