WWI through US Entry
A War of Attrition
The StalemateFalse perception at start of war – last weeks?4 years later: 16 million dead + 20 million woundedWar on Western front becomes a stalemate
Neither side gaining nor losing much ground
Trench WarfareTrenches extend from Swiss Alps to English Channel
A War of Attrition & other goings on
WWI becomes attrition warfare
Outlasting your enemy through inflicting major casualties
Eastern front was more mobile
Russia withdraws in 1917Italy betrays alliance & joins Allies in 1915Central Powers: Germany, A-H, Ottoman EmpireAllies: G.B., France, Russia, US
German unrestricted Submarine warfare
Germany wanted to starve the Allies – sink supply ships
U-BoatsOrders unrestricted submarine warfare
Attack any allied vessels 1915: Sinking of the Lusitania
Carrying American civiliansGermany suspends unrestricted submarine warfare
US EntryUS was neutral at beginning Most Americans start to side with the Allies.Wilson trades exclusively with the AlliesGermany continues unrestricted sub warfareZimmerman Telegram
German telegram asking Mexico to attack US
US declares war on Germany in 1917
The Russian Revolution
COMMUNISM!
Background & Angry Workers
Russia had a large military, but it was poor.Russo-Japanese War of 1905
WWI very taxingHigh casualties, poor/low equipment, starving citizens
2 million soldiers dead by 1917 – LOW MORALEWomen workers begin striking & revolting in St. Petersburg in 1917Czar Nicholas II forced to step down: Czarist rule OVER
Rise of the BolsheviksNew Provisional gov’t stays in the war
Russian citizens do not like thisDifferent groups begin vying for powerBolsheviks (Marxist communists) become the most organized
Led By Vladimir LeninChampioned violent revolutionPromise to end the war & give land/job to the peasants
Bolsheviks seize control Nov 6, 1917 – become the “Communist” Party
Immediately end involvement in the Great War
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