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