The Allies Win the War
Final Offensive Russian’s withdrawal allowed Germany to send nearly all its forces to the Western Front March 1918, Germany mounts final offensive on the Allies in France By May 1918 they have again reached the Marne River (less than 40 miles from Paris)
Final Offensive Reaching the Marne weakened Germany Allies, with 140,000 fresh US troops, launched counter attack July 1918-Second Battle of the Marne Allied tank offensive breaks through German line and begins pushing Germany back German morale collapses and troops desert
Central Powers Collapse September 1918 Bulgaria surrenders Austria-Hungary defeated and begins breaking apart October 1918 Ottomans accept defeat Germany stands alone against the Allies in November 1918 November 9, 1918-Kaiser William II steps down, Germany declares itself a republic
End of World War I Representative from Germany meets with French commander to sign an armistice Armistice: an agreement to stop fighting November 11, 1918-World War I comes to an end
Legacy of the War The legacy of the War: What was different about this war than earlier conflicts? Predict what will be different moving forward? Will anything remain the same? Should any countries be held responsible? If so, how?
Statistics http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/resources/casdeath_pop.html
What do numbers really mean? Entire generation of Europeans wiped out Estimated cost: 5 trillion-ish in today’s $ Total destruction of cities, towns, villages, farms Legacy of despair, depression, disillusionment Conflicts still unresolved
Austria-Hungary 1914-Attack on Serbia tried to crush nationalistic forces 1918-nationalistic forces caused the break up of the empire Ethnic minorities desire for national independence encouraged by Allies
Austria-Hungary By end of war, Austria-Hungary replaced by independent republics: Austria Hungary Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia (Slavic monarchical state) Rivalries among these nations would weaken Eastern Europe for next 8 years