End of WWI

1
End of WWI

• Key notes

2
Allies Win the War

• When the US joined the war on April 6th, 1917,
  the Allies gained a key advantage.
• Nov. 1917 Russian Revolution lead to Russia
  leaving the war by signing the Treaty of
  Brest-Litovsk (peace treaty between Russia and
  Germany)
• Under the treaty, Russia gave up lands to Germany
• With the new revolutionary government, Russia was
  kept out of the peace treaty

3
Allies win the War (cont.)

• March, 1918- Germany tries one last push against
  France, but were to weak to complete the attack
  on France.
• France, with the new supply of American troops,
  was able to counterattack Germany.
• Germany was now facing shortages, soldiers
  revolting, and a revolutionary movement, which
  eventually forced the Kaiser to step down.
• Germany and France signed an armistice and WWI
  ended on 11/11/1918 at 11 am.
• Now the question remained, how to bring peace to
  Europe and prevent another war, like this, from
  happening again.

4
Allies Meet at Versailles

• The Big Four Wilson (US), Clemenceau (France),
  Lloyd George (UK), and Orlando (Italy) meet to
  discuss peace in France (_at_Palace of Versailles).
  (Germany and Russia were excluded from
  attending.)
• Wilson had a plan for peace called the 14 Points
• 1. End of secret treaties 2.Freedom of the seas
• 3. Free trade 4. Reduced armies and navies
• 5. Colonial rights (for colonies)
• 6.-13.New borders (new nations)
• 14. Idea for the League of Nations

5
League of Nations

• Wilson hoped that this would be a general
  association of nations that would work together
  to keep peace in Europe, and peacefully negotiate
  solutions to global conflicts.
• Treaty of Versailles created the League of
  Nations, but ironically the US did not join,
  because Congress (in US) would not agree to it,
  they thought it would strip the US of its own
  self-determination and independence.

6
A Harsh Peace

• Britain and France disagreed with Wilsons ideas
  for peace.
• They were both more worried with punishing
  Germany, and protecting themselves from a future
  German attack.
• Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919
  (five years to the day after the assassination of
  Archduke Franz Ferdinand)

7
A Harsh Peace (cont.)

• The Treaty
• Germany lost territory in Europe, Africa and Asia
  (to new nations and to the Allies/France)
• Germany had severe restrictions placed on its
  military operations. (limited size of army and
  navy, no air force, and no purchasing weapons.)
• Article 231 (of the Treaty) aka War Guilt
  clause- placed sole responsibility for the war on
  Germanys shoulders.
• Finally, Germany forced to pay 33 billion in war
  reparations to the Allies, over 30 years.
• This completely destroyed Germanys economy and
  helped lead them into a Great Depression.

8
The Legacy of the WWI

• Germany was bitter, since it was blamed for the
  entire war, and had to pay reparations.
• Colonialism continued, despite discussion of
  giving colonies some independence or
  self-determination.
• League of Nations (which US did not join) was
  powerless to take any actions to prevent war.
• 10 million dead, 30 million in casualties
  (wounded and dead)

9
Legacy (cont.)

• Entire generation of Europeans wiped out. (16-28
  year olds)
• Economic cost for the Great War 338 billion.
• Economic depression that followed, allowed
  fascist regimes to take over some countries.