2.  In March 1917, Tsar Nicolas (Romanov Imperial Family) and the autocracy in Russia were overthrown in a relatively peaceful revolution = the First of Russia’s two revolutions.  The Tsar abdicates = steps down from the throne.

3.  A Provisional Government (temporary) took over = they were moderate communists.  This government decided to continue the war despite the people’s protests = it was political suicide.

4.  The Bolsheviks (revolutionary communists) lead by Vladimir Lenin took over in what has become known as the second of Russia’s Revolutions.  Lenin created a communist government that ruled what was then known as the Soviet Union/USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics).

5.  The USSR would eventually be led by Lenin’s successor, Joseph Stalin (one of the most evil men in history).

6.  In order for Russians to leave WWI, Lenin immediately opened peace negotiations with the Germans.  The Treaty of Brest- Litovsk was the result.

7.  A peace treaty between Russian and Germany that enabled Russian to leave the war to take care of their political turmoil.  Left Germany fighting a one-front war.  Gave Germany money, land and citizens.

8.  The Americans entered WWI on April 2, 1917.  The US was the most powerful industrial nation on earth and Germany wanted to try one more time to win the war before US enforcements came – they failed at this attempt.

9.  The US brought in fresh troops and optimism.  There were many reasons why they joined the war.  The most prominent were the Zimmerman Telegram and the Lusitania.

10.  Zimmerman Telegram, 1917 = a German telegram to Mexico that was intercepted by the US; stated that the Germans would support the Mexicans in taking several states in the Southern US.  RMS Lusitania, 1915 = a neutral US/British boat that was sunk by German U-boats.

11.  Nickname for the last few months of the war (the last hundred days) as the Allies pushed Germany back.  The Allied (Triple Entente) effort finally broke the back of the German military = this was called the Hundred Days.

12.  Thousands of German soldiers were stopped just short of Paris after the USA arrived.  Recaptured France and Belgium.  The Canadians were at the forefront of this Allied advance against the German army.

13.  During the last hundred days of the war Canadian troops were at the front of the most difficult tasks of dislodging the Germans from their defensive positions.

14.  Canadians were responsible for leading the charge at Mons, Amiens, as well as the main German line of defence – the Hindenburg Line.  German troops hated to face Canadians.

15.  Kaiser (emperor/king) Wilhelm II abdicated and fled to the Netherlands (Holland).  Germany, after surrendering, would set up a democratic republic called the Weimar Republic.

16.  The fighting stopped when the Allies reached the German border.  On the 11th month, 11th day, 11 th hour = on November 11, 1918, Germany formally surrendered. › To this day we remember the sacrifices of those who fought and died on Remembrance Day.

17.  10 million military personnel died at the front.  7 million civilians died.  24 million were left disabled/wounded.  In all, approximately 15 million were killed.

19.  620,000 Canadians served in WWI.  66,000 died.  172,000 were wounded.

20.  Two important effects: › Ended public admiration for old school imperialism – allure of Britain paled and thrill of imperial military pride never recovered. › Self image – Canada’s strong contribution to the war gave us a strong international voice.

21.  “It can hardly be expected that we shall put 400,000 or 500,000 men in the field and willingly accept the position of having no more voice and receiving no more consideration than if we were toy automata”  ~ Robert Borden

22.  “We want more men from them. We can hardly ask them to make another great recruiting effort unless it is accompanied by an invitation to come over and discuss the situation with us”  ~ Lloyd George

23.  Cost $400,000,000,000 (400 Billion) in 1919 = values approximately $4+ Trillion today. › These sums do not take into account the disruption of the European economy, the crippling of soldiers and civilian, or the sums of money to be paid to veterans in the form of pensions for generations.

24.  The Spanish Influenza struck in the trenches of the western front and then flourished when soldiers returned home.  It became the greatest public health disaster of modern history.

25.  The pandemic killed between 22 and 30 million people worldwide, or roughly twice as many as had died during the fighting.  No disease, plague, war, famine, or natural catastrophe in world history had killed so many people in such a short time.