The End of the War

Right before the end… President Wilson issues the Fourteen Points

President Wilson issues the Fourteen Points Jan. 1918 First five points: End to secret agreements between nations Freedom of the seas Removal of trade barriers Arms reductions Fair settlement of colonial disputes

Fourteen Points Next 8 points: Dealt with specific territorial issues in Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Based on the principal of self-determination: the right of nations and peoples to control their own fate and decide what form of government they will have.

Fourteen Points Last point: called for “a general association of nations” League of Nations Members would work together to keep world peace. *collective security – joint action by member nations against an aggressor to keep peace. *Other Allies don’t like his plan, but keep quiet because they needed America’s help to win the war.

The End Russia – withdraws in 1917 – Germans can move all troops to Western Front March 1918- launch a massive attack on the British – Second Battle of the Somme 2 months of heavy fighting, both sides lost about 500,000 men; German army gets within artillery range of Paris! American forces save the Allies and push Germans back beyond their own border.

The End Between Sept and Nov 1918: Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary surrender German military starts to mutiny once they know they can’t win; revolts throughout German cities Nov 9: Kaiser abdicates Armistice signed on Nov. 11 at 11 am

The Cost 65 million men fought 8.5 million died 21 million wounded Civilian deaths/flu pandemic put death tolls over 20 million $200 billion – cost of fighting the war $37 billion in estimated damages

The Paris Peace Conference Jan. 1919 27 nations represented, but it was dominated by the “Big Four” Woodrow Wilson – US David Lloyd George – GB Georges Clemenceau – France Vittorio Orlando – Italy Defeated Central Powers and Russia (Communist) not included

Conflicting Goals President Wilson wanted to spread democracy and promoted “peace without victory.” Clemenceau wanted to crush Germany and limit their future power David Lloyd George – somewhere in between Orlando – just wanted the land Italy had been promised; walked out when he discovered the Allies had lied to him

The Treaty of Versailles Required Germany to accept full responsibility for starting the war and pay the Allies reparations $33 billion (about $402 billion today) Reduced Germany’s size and population by about 10% Returned Alsace-Lorraine to France (Franco-Prussian War 1871)

Treaty of Versailles Limited Germany’s military to a small navy and a 100,000 man army with no offensive weapons. German troops banned from the Rhineland – region along the French border Germany stripped of all overseas colonies These harsh, unfair reparations sew seeds of future conflict; leave Germany wanting revenge. Explains why Hitler is appealing.

Old Empires Collapse; New Countries Form The old multi-national empires were broken up: Poland was created out of land from Germany and Russia; Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania out of Russia. Other nations: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia

Post-War The League of Nations was formed to oversee and settle disputes between nations. Relied on collective security – joint action by member nations against an aggressor to keep peace. US Senate didn’t ratify it because of fear of obligation in future conflicts – left the LON powerless to keep peace.