The End of World War I

By the middle of 1918, the Central Powers had begun to run out of men, out of money, and out of supplies. With no end in sight to the stalemate on the Western Front, and the slow arrival of the United States into the war, the Central Powers realized that their eventual loss was inevitable.

Bulgaria surrenders on September 29, 1918

The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) surrenders on October 30, 1918

Austria-Hungary surrenders on November 3, 1918

11:00 AM, November 11, 1918, Germany surrenders

Consequences of World War I

The Human Toll

More than 8.5 million men died in WWI

In France, of the 8. 4 million men enlisted, 1 In France, of the 8.4 million men enlisted, 1.3 million men were killed. In Great Britain, of the 8.9 million men enlisted, 908,000 were killed. In the United States, of the 4.3 million men enlisted, 126,000 were killed. Russia’s overall casualty rate topped the Allies at 76%.

In Germany, of the 11 million men enlisted during the war, 1 In Germany, of the 11 million men enlisted during the war, 1.7 million men were killed. In Austria-Hungary, of the 7.8 million men enlisted, 1.2 million men were killed. Of all countries who participated in WWI, AH had the highest casualty rate at 90%.

More than 21 million men were wounded in WWI More than 21 million men were wounded in WWI. The overall casualty rate was more than 57%.

The Economic Hardships

WWI cost the fighting nations approx. $337 billion dollars

Many small businesses of Europe closed due to a lack sales.

Debts due to the war were enormous. Countries had borrowed from other countries and citizens to pay for the war. Many couldn’t pay back the loans.

Depressions in many countries was caused by inflation, severe losses of buyers (due to deaths during the war esp.), the closing of small businesses, and bankrupted governments (no spending)

Political Confusion

Collapsing governments in Russia (Communist Revolution took advantage of a government distracted by war), in Germany and AH (both kings abandoned their thrones at the end of the war and went into hiding, leaving leaderless governments), and Turkey (the sultan was overthrown in 1922)

Overall, Europe is bankrupt, in an economic depression, and physically devastated. Some countries are without leaders, and many have lost significant portions of their working populations.

Central Power Punishments

The Treaty of Versailles

The spoils of war (especially land) were given to the Allies – France esp.

The new borders split ethnic groups up into different countries, and forced different ethnicities into the same new countries, causing a lot of tension

Europe 1914 and Europe 1919 http://www.learn.co.uk/versailles/1919/maps.htm

Europe Before and after World War I

New lands created: Czechoslovakia, Poland, Danzig, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia from Germany

New lands: Iraq, Palestine, Syria free from the Ottoman Empire

Austria-Hungary split into two separate countries Austria-Hungary split into two separate countries. Portions of Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia created.

Loss of all German overseas colonies

Reparation payments for the cost of the war were billed to Germany; all government profits went to the Allies until the debt was paid – approx. $33 billion dollars

Military occupation of the German industrial Rhine Region by the Allies for approx. 15 years to make sure that no new weapons or navy were built

Reduction of German army to limited numbers (approx Reduction of German army to limited numbers (approx. 10,000 standing army), and the elimination of any new navy ships being built

The Fourteen Points

Woodrow Wilson’s plan for post-war Europe

Created the League of Nations – an international organization of countries intending to prevent future wars by having all nations agree to peace and protection – the US Senate votes NOT to allow the US to enter due to the fact that we would be obligated to foreign countries militarily once more….no more war !!

League of Nations

WWII?

Lack of a military leaves Germany feeling vulnerable and fearful

Severe lack of German identity around the globe  

Germany labeled “Losers” of a war they didn’t start

Crumbling German inner-cities due to the lack of funds to re-build

German resentment towards occupation (“Big Brother” is babysitting)

Depressed economy of Germany

Angry, unemployed youth of Germany, growing up in a country devastated by a war that they hadn’t fought, but were paying the consequences for (incl. tax dollars going to the Allies)

Adolf Hitler will tap into this anger and build the Nazi party out of the disgruntled youth of Germany