Transcript File
• Russia quits the war • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk • Germans move all the troops to France • British and French forces losing ground • Civilians upset by death and destruction • U.S. to the rescue • Advantages for the United States and the Allies • Industry • Food • Navy •Convoys and Destroyers • New Weapons (tanks) • Different Strategy • Morale/Energy • American Expeditionary Force enters the war. •Fights as a separate unit. • Battle of the Somme – Allies stop the German advance, protect Paris. • Battle of Belleau Wood – TURNING POINT – German forces are pushed back, begin retreating. • Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary drop out of the war. • Harlem Hell Fighters • U.S. offers deal to Germany • Cease fire if German Kaiser abdicates • United States is looking for “Peace without victory!” • Cease fire takes place on November, 11th, 1918 at 11:00 AM •Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. • Approximately 10 million battlefield deaths. • Estimated 5-10 million civilian deaths • 20 million people seriously wounded • Influenza epidemic kills 30 million worldwide • 70% of all young (20-40) French men are killed or seriously wounded. • Worldwide cost in dollars of 200 billion in direct costs, more than 500 billion in other costs. • By far the deadliest and most expensive war in human history up to that point. • “Peace without victory” • Overall plan for world peace not just the end of WWI • Key points: • Freedom of the Seas • Self Determination – end imperialism • No secret alliances • Disarmament • Creation of an international peace keeping organization called the League of Nations • European Nations reject 14 Points – too soft • Unilateral treaty – Germany/Central Powers not invited • Big Four – President Wilson – U.S. Vittorio Orlando - Italy Georges Clemenceau – France David Lloyd George – Great Britain GERMANY IS BLAMED FOR ALL OF WORLD WAR I • Germany must disarm. • German colonies are given to Britain and France • Austria- Hungary and Ottoman Empire are broken up • Germany loses a lot of land • Germany split into two parts – “Polish Corridor” • New nations are created in Eastern Europe. • League of Nations is created • Germany is forced to pay reparations – 30 billion dollars • Treaty of Versailles is a complete failure and sets the stage for World War II • Too Harsh • Too Soft • League of Nations was the problem • Entangle U.S. in foreign affairs • lose our independence • embarrassing for President Wilson • U.S. Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles • Separate agreement reached with Germany in 1921. • U.S. does not join the League of Nations