1. End Of World War I

2. Background The Lusitania MAIN “The Spark” Selective Service Act
Zimmerman Telegram
Selective Service Act
Pershing & the “Doughboys”
Allied Victory
MAIN
“The Spark”
Schlieffen Plan
Western Front
Trench Warfare

3. Background

4. War on the Eastern Front
The Eastern Front of World War I was Germany v. Russia.
This front was much longer than the Western Front… it spanned almost 1,000 miles !
Trench warfare did not develop here, rather open field combat.
Resulted in high casualties on both sides.

5. War on the Eastern Front
Russia was not as industrialized as other nations and did not have the advanced weaponry of Germany.
Germany also controlled the Baltic Sea (see map), so Russia could not get weapons, or reinforcements from France and Great Britain.
Result: Suffered heavy losses in battles.
Example: 30,000 killed at the Battle of Tannenberg (1914)

6. War on the Eastern Front
By 1917: Russian casualties had reached 1.7 million soldiers killed, missing, and/or deserted.
Csar Nicholas II’s army was getting pushed back and there was trouble in the fatherland as well…

7. The Russian Revolution
The Russian economy collapsed due to the strain of war.
Food shortages led to civil unrest in cities across Russia.
December 1917: The Bolshevik Rebellion takes hold…more on that in the next unit.
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany and withdraws from World War I… this allows Germany to focus on the Western Front only.
Vladimir Lenin (Revolutionist)

9. Germany Collapses By 1918, German troops were too exhausted to fight.
A revolution in Germany forced Kaiser Wilhelm II into exile.
Nov. 11th, 11 p.m. – Germany signs armistice

10. U.S. Home Front Celebrates!

11. Paris Peace Conference 1919 The “Big Four” included:
Diplomats from over 32 countries attended. Russia and the Central Powers were not invited…
The “Big Four” included:
1. Georges Clemenceau – France
2. Woodrow Wilson – United States
3. Vittorio Orlando – Italy
4. David Lloyd George – Great Britain
Included President Wilson’s 14 Points.

12. Wilson’s 14 Points No secret treaties Freedom of the seas
Tariffs among nations should be lowered
Arms should be reduced
Colonial policies should consider the interests of colonial people
thru 13. deals with self-determination (let people decide on their government
14. Creation of a League of Nations

13. Treaty of Versailles 1919 9 new nations created.
Germany punished… hard!!!
Germany forced to return land to France.
Germany’s military reduced to 100,000 soldiers.
Germany forced to sign war guilt clause.
Germany had to pay $33 billion in war reparations.
U.S. signs a separate treaty with Germany in 1921

14. Versailles Settlement in Europe 1919

15. Weaknesses of the Treaty
Germany is humiliated and soon goes into economic depression… turns to Adolf Hitler as leader of the country.
Ho Chi Minh will ask for help dealing with French in SE Asia… he is ignored! (Vietnam War)
Russia is ignored… leads to growth of Communism and nationalism in Russia.