end of the great war - mr. ruest's...

End of The Great War

This note will be about turning points in World War I

United States enters WWI ▪ German U-Boats were increasing their attacks on allied

shipping; innocent civilians were caught in the crossfire

▪ The Lusitania was sunk in 1915, killing 159 Americans

▪ After decoding the British decoded a telegram in January from Germany to Mexico detailing a plan to attack the United States, President Woodrow Wilson pushed the U.S. to officially declare war on April 6, 1917

United States enters WWI ▪ Doughboys were recruited and sent over to fight;

American troops finally arrive in Europe on June 1917

Russia pulls out of the war

▪ In February of 1917, the Russian army had to fight an uprising

▪ This lead to a civil war, which caused the Russians to sign a peace treaty with Germany

▪ The Tsar and his family were killed by the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin

▪ This leads to the formation of Communist Russia

Germany’s Last Effort▪ With Russia occupied with their

revolution, Germany is able to fight a war on a single front

▪ Germany launches a final spring offensive before U.S. reinforcements arrive

▪ The Germans closed in on Paris, but over-extended their armies; they began to fight a defensive war

Canada’s 100 Days- The new allied offensive happened at French Railway city of

Amiens; the German armies were completely surprised.

- This was the beginning of the final offensive of the war, or the “Hundred Days” Offensive, which would last from August to November 1918.

- The German forces began to retreat, and tried to do whatever they could to establish a last defensive line at the German border by destroying roads, bridges, factories, and towns to slow the Allies’ down.

- German armies tried to divide the Canadian armies to defeat them, but we countered their plans

September 1918 - October 1918▪ Canadians liberated many

French Towns, and captured more territory, prisoners, and equipment than the American forces who were six times as large.

▪ Canadian troops defeated one quarter of the entire German army.

Ceasefire, End of the War▪ The war ended at 11 am, on the 11th day, of the

11th month of 1918 when an armistice was signed ▪ Not all countries had an equal say in the

“negotiation” of a treaty; dominated by Britain, US and France

Simulation Game

Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points vs. Treaty of Versailles