Failed Final Push◦Germany sends all troops to Western Front Led by Erich Ludendorff

◦March 1918 – launch massive attack in France◦May 1918 – Germans reach Marne River◦Germany army very weak Exhausted men and low supplies Allies launch counterattack w/help of

Americans Americans fill gaps in French ranks

Marshal Ferdinand Foch Americans inexperienced, but courageous

and eager

July 1918 – Second Battle of the Marne350 tanks push through German lines

2 million Americans help push Germans back

August 8 – Second Battle of the Somme

September 29 – Ludendorff tells German leaders war was lost

Central Powers Crumble◦1918 - Bulgarians and Ottoman Turks surrender

◦Oct. 1918 – revolution in A-H ends empire German soldiers mutiny and turn on Wilhelm II

◦Nov 3 – soldiers in Kiel mutinied◦Nov 9, 1918 – Wilhelm II steps down Germany declares itself a republic

◦Nov 11, 1918 – Armistice signed WWI ends German rep signs armistice w/Marshal Foch

A Flawed PeaceSec 4

Paris Peace Talks at Versailles◦January 18, 1919 One year conference 32 nations represented

The Allies Meet and Debate

The Big Four◦US – Woodrow Wilson◦France – Georges Clemenceau◦GB – David Lloyd George◦Italy – Vittorio Orlando◦Russia and Germany not included Could this pose a problem?

Jan 1918Fourteen Points

◦First Four end to secret treaties freedom of seas free trade reduced armies and navies

Wilson’s Plan for Peace

5th - adjustment of colonial claims w/fairness to colonial peoples

6-13◦specific suggestions for changing borders and creating new nations

◦Goal is self-determination Allowing people to decide best gov’t for

themselves 14 – proposed “general association of the nations”

Allies Dictate a Harsh Peace◦GB and France show little sign of

agreement with WW Concerned w/nat’l security Wanted to strip Germany of war-making

power France wanted to punish Germany

The Versailles Treaty

Treaty of Versailles◦Signed June 28, 1919◦Created League of Nations

League of Nations◦International association w/goal of keeping peace among nations

◦Five Allied powers are permanent members of Executive Council US, GB, France, Italy, Japan

◦General Assembly 32 Allied and neutral nations Germany excluded Russia left out

Treaty punished Germany◦Germany loses substantial amount of

land◦Alsace and Lorraine ◦Severe restrictions placed on military◦Article 231 – War Guilt Clause Sole responsibility for war placed on

Germany Forced to pay reparations to other

nations

Germany’s territories in Africa and the Pacific declared mandates◦Territories administered by League of Nations

◦League would govern until judged ready for independence

Creation of New Nations◦Separate treaties signed w/Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire

◦Austria-Hungary Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia

A Troubled Treaty

◦Ottoman Turks retain Turkey Palestine, Iraq, Transjordan – British mandates

Syria, Lebanon – French◦Russia loses land Poland, Romania, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Treaty did little to build peace◦US rejected treatyDidn’t like League of Nations idea

◦Germany left w/legacy of bitterness and hatredWar Guilt Clause

“A Peace Built on Quicksand”

◦Countries felt cheated and betrayedPeople in mandates angry about disregard for independence

◦Japan and Italy angry about not gaining enough

War’s Extreme Cost◦8.5 million soldiers died◦21 million wounded◦Civilians die b/c of starvation, disease, slaughter

◦$338 billion◦Destroyed farmland Homes, villages, towns

Legacy of the War

A Lost Generation◦Disillusionment felt by survivors◦Insecurity and despair