1. The War’s End and Aftermath
Ch. 12 (s.4)
The War’s End and Aftermath

2. Read to Discover

3. 1. What were the final events of WWI?
Revolution in Russia
November (1917) – Bolsheviks (radical Russian socialists) seize power in Russia
March (1917) – Czar Nicholas II abdicates his throne in the Russian Revolution
November (1917) – A radical group of Socialists led by Vladimir Lenin take control of Russia
This was precipitated by a secret treaty w/Central Powers whereby Russia would withdrawal from the war & in return, Germany would help bring Lenin back into Russia from his exile in Switzerland (March 1918)
Central Powers free to concentrate forces on the Western Front

4. 1. What were the final events of WWI?
Germany’s last bid for victory
March 21 (1918) – Germans launch big offensive against the Allies (1 million German soldiers; 6,000 artillery guns)
By late May (1918) – Germany had pushed the Allies back to the Marne River (50 miles from Paris
Pershing agreed to place U.S. troops under the command of Marshal Foch of France (this decision made all the difference)
In a last-ditch defense of Paris, U.S. troops helped the French stop the Germans at Chateau-Thierry on June 3-4 (1918)
July 15, Germans launch huge attack but Allied lines hold & launch a counterattack

5. 1. What were the final events of WWI? (Continued)
Allied Victory
The tide had turned in favor of the Allies
In August (1918), Foch launched a major offensive along the entire Western Front
U.S. troops led the attack and the Allies pushed the Germans back for the next 3 months
September (1918) – Allies took the town of Saint-Mihiel
October (1918)– Allies battled the Germans through the Argonne Forest
Month-long battle as the Allies (led by the U.S.) pushed northward along the Meuse River in northeastern France
African-American soldiers from the 369th Regiment earned the Croix de Guerre (Cross of War) from the French for their valor in combat
Faced heavy artillery/machine gun fire as the U.S. suffered 120,000 casualties
Finally captured the town of Sedan

6. 1. What were the final events of WWI? (Continued)
Allied Victory
The Central Powers forces began to disintegrate & moral in the German military dipped really low
Mutinies broke out throughout the German army/navy (German citizens began to riot and demanded food)
November 9 (1918) Kaiser Wilhelm gave up the throne; November 11 – cease fire/armistice goes into effect
Paris Peace Conference set for January (1919)

7. 2. What were the goals of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points?
Wilson’s 14 Points tried to eliminate problems that caused war in first place
1) Provide self-determination
The right for people to govern themselves was needed to solve the territorial disputes brought on by the war
3) Prevent arms races and secret treaties
4) Provide for freedom of the seas
5) Established a League of Nations (an international governing body)
Make world “safe for democracy” by peacefully solving disputes between/among member nations
Prevent offensive wars
This would make WWI the “war to end all wars”
The Allies were not so favorable to this plan (why?)

8. Big Four
Paris Peace Conference (started on 1/18/19) & dominated by the Big Four
President Wilson
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George
French Premier Georges Clemenceau
Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando
George/Clemenceau/Orlando insisted that Germany bear the financial cost of the war & wanted secret spoils-of-war treaties honored (this went against many of Wilson’s 14pts.)

9. 3. What were the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
Contradicts most of Wilson’s 14 points
Took away most of Germany’ of colonies
Took away German territory by creating Czechoslovakia & Yugoslavia, & reestablishing the independence of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, & Poland
Took away German territory in Alsace- Lorraine/the Saarland and gave it to France

10. 3. What were the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (Continued)
Restricted the size of German military
War Guilt Clause  Reparations (pay back)
WWI was Germany’s fault  $33 billion
The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to pay billions of dollars to offset Allied war debts
Pay off U.S. war loans
Rebuild British/French economies/infrastructure
This had a dramatic negative impact on Germany’s inability to recover

11. 3. What were the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (Continued)
Republicans disagreed with Wilson’s 14pts.
Henry Cabot Lodge—US Should be isolationist
Senator from Massachusetts who headed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee & long-time political enemy to President Wilson
Led the charge of Senators who did not support the Treaty and wanted the U.S. to return to a policy of ‘isolationism’ because they feel we got dragged into this war unnecessarily

12. 3. What were the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (Continued)
League of Nations (Article #10)
Committed US to supporting other members of the League (US Senate did not like this provision)
Wilson tries to get nation to support the treaty
Senate does NOT ratify treaty
US does NOT sign treaty OR join the League of Nations (back to US isolation)

13. World War I 1914-1918 Total Involvement:
Most of the world’s nations involved; Fought in all places; Nations use everything they have
Total commitment = post-war bitterness = WW II
Overall: Approximately 40 million casualties
17 million killed (10 million Soldiers/7 million Civilians)
21-23 million wounded, MIA, etc.

14. 4. What was the global impact of WWI?
The war’s destruction/human suffering was unbelievable
The war left Europe’s industry/agriculture in ruins
Northern France was completely destroyed
The treaty left Germany especially hard hit and was an integral part of Hitler’s rise to power

15. 4. What was the global impact of WWI?
With Europe’s economy in collapse, rapid inflation & food shortages compounded an already devastating situation
European countries competed with each other over territories they felt were given or owed to them through the Versailles Treaty
Arab nations who sided w/Allies thought they would win their independence after the Ottoman Empire disbanded, only to find they fell under Allied control