The End of WW1

The End of WW1 After three long years in a stalemate on the Western Front, two important events changed the direction of the war. Russia’s internal politics caused them to negotiate with The Central Powers to end the war, weakening the Allies on the Eastern Front. 2. On April 2, 1917 the United States joined the war, strengthening the Allies on the Western Front.

Hundred Days Campaign Russia and The Central Powers signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This truce on the Eastern Front freed German troops to fight on the Western Front. Germany quickly pushed deep into France, only 75 kilometers from Paris. Americans arrived and stopped the German advance. Allies launched a series of attacks, known as the Hundred Days Campaign.

Central Powers Collapse After the Hundred Days Campaign, Germany and the Central Powers were exhausted and running out of men and supplies. An armistice, or truce to end the war, on the Western Front was finally signed in a railway car in France at 5:00am on November 11, 1918. The war was to stop at 11:00am. This corresponds to the date and time of our modern day Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Last Casualty At 10:58am, Nov. 11, 1918 Private George Lawrence Price was killed by a sniper’s bullet. He was the last Canadian killed on the battlefields of the Great War.

Canada’s Emerging Autonomy After signing the armistice, leaders of the Allies that won the war met in Paris in 1919 at the Paris Peace Conference. Because Canada had contributed so much to the war, Canada got it’s own seat at the conference, independent of Britain. For the first time, Canada gained international recognition as an independent nation.

Treaty of Versailles One of the treaties to come out of the Paris Peace Conference was the Treaty of Versailles. This document laid out a 14 point plan for “just and lasting peace.” Germany was punished harshly in the treaty. Germany had to agree to a War Guilt Clause, meaning it had to accept full responsibility for causing the war.

Prophetic Words… “The peace, when it comes, must last for many many years. We do not want to have to do this thing all over again in another 15 or 20 years. If that is the be the case, German military power must be irretrievably crushed. This is the end we must attain if we have the will and guts to see it through. Gen A. Currie “What bloody fools! We had them on the run,. Now we shall have to do it all over again in 25 years! Canadian General a. McNaughton

Canada After WW1 After 4 years of fighting, Canadian soldiers returned home. Many returned to find that there were no steady pensions for veterans, no special medical services for those wounded and few jobs. Aboriginal soldiers were also disappointed that they still faced prejudice and received even less support than other veterans after the war.

Carnage of WW1 Military Deaths: 9.7 million Wounded: 21.2 million Prisoners of War and Missing Soldiers: 7.5 million Civilian Deaths as a result of direct military action: 950,000 Deaths caused by disease and famine: 6 million

WW1 Casualties by Country

Canadian Casualties Close to 61,000 Canadians were killed during the war Another 172,000 were wounded. Many more returned home broken in mind and body.