1. The Final Push
The End of the War

2. March – June 1918 German final offensive
Russia had surrendered Jan. 1918
Russian Revolution
German troops freed up from the Eastern front

3. German Final Offensive
Reasons for the offensive
U.S. troops would be ready for combat by late 1918
U.S. joint the war after Germany sank the Lusitania (April 1917)
British naval blockade was, after 3 years having an effect
Germany was starving

4. German Final Offensive
German failure to win this offensive = loose the war
March – June 1918 Germans drove the Allies back 48 km
August 1918 Allies launched their offensive – spearheaded by the Canadians
Canadian’s bringing in prisoners
at the Battle or Amiens – 1st battle
of ‘Canada’s 100 days’

5. Canada’s 100 Days Canadians gained 13 km in 1 day
August 8 “The Black Day Of The German Army”
The day the Germans realized they could not win the war
August 8 – Nov 11 became known as “Canada’s 100 Days”

6. Canada’s 100 Days continued
September – October the Hindenburg line is broken
October Canadians capture French town, Cambrai
German forces collapse and retreat all along the Western front
Cambrai, 1918

7. Armistice Germany asked for an Armistice – 11am, November 11, 1918
An armistice – agreement to end the war Cease Fire

8. Armistice – Cease-fire
Terms of the cease-fire
Immediate evacuation of all territories captured during the war
Withdraw troops within 10 km of the Rhine River – leave all artillery, guns….
Surrender its navy and merchant ships
Compensate Allies for war damages
Surrender most of its railway rolling stock to France and Belgium
Allied blockade to continue until a peace treaty was signed – many civilians consequently starved to death
Intended to make it impossible for Germany to resume the war

9. Paris Peace Settlement – Jan 1919
Conference to draw up peace treaty – formally ending the war
Canada initially part of the British delegation
Sir Robert Borden insisted Canada’s war effort entitled it to be represented as its own nation – with its own vote
U.S opposed Canada getting its own vote
Canada sent its own delegation but had no vote

10. Treaty of Versailles Palace of Versailles, where the treaty was signed
Additional conditions as well as those accepted under the armistice
Canada felt the treaty was too tough on Germany
Allied leaders at Versailles
The Interior of the Palace des Glaces
during the signing of the Peace
Terms. Versailles, France. June 1919.

11. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Evacuate the Rhineland (Germany west of the Rhine River)
Reduce army to , no conscription
Abandon its air force
Cease building submarines and tanks
Reduce its navy to 6 battleships (all built before 1905)
Admit responsibility for causing the war “war guilt clause”
Pay damages (reparations) to the allies $30 billion
If Germany did not sign the war would resume
Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles as its own separate nation

12. Treaty of Versailles

13. Treaty of Versailles – The New Map of Europe

14. The Treaty of Versailles
The Fall-out!