Transcript Ending “The Great War”

Ending “The Great War”
1917 Turning Points
1918 Armistice
1919 Treaty of Versailles
1917
• Mounting casualties on the Eastern Front between Germany and Russia,
combined with widespread civil unrest force the abdication of Russia’s Czar
Nickolas II.
• The United States enters the war in April as an Allied Power
• The Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin and Trotsky topples the provisional
Russian government
• The Bolsheviks begin to negotiate a peace settlement with Germany
• The war on the “Western Front” has ground to a stalemate in the trenches
Czar Nickolas II and the Romanov Family
Bolshevik Leader V.I. Lenin
The Western Front
Trench Warfare
1918
• The USSR (Bolsheviks) conclude the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany
• The massive Spring offensive mounted by Germany has been halted
• Social, economic, and political unrest in Germany has led to fears of a communist
revolution similar to that which had happened in Russia. The German Kaiser abdicates his
throne.
• Conservatives in Germany fearing even greater military losses and a potential revolution
agree to a cease fire or armistice ( the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month.
• American President Woodrow Wilson offers his idealistic 14 Points For Peace hoping to
achieve “peace without victory” with the goal of “making the world safe for democracy”.
Key points deal with freedom of the seas, economic issues, boundary settlements, and the
14th point hoped to achieve lasting peace through “collective security” via a League of
Nations.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending the war
between Russia and Germany
American flying Ace Eddie Rickenbacker
American Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Alvin York
Poison gas attack
Hostilities cease on Nov. 11th, 1918
Today recognized as “Veteran’s Day”
American President Woodrow Wilson authors his 14 Points for peace
1919
• Nations meet at Versailles (outside Paris, France) Germany is not invited to
participate in the treaty talks.
• The treaty is largely the work of the “Big Four” (Wilson-U.S., GeorgeEngland, Clemenceau-France, and Orlando-Italy)
• Wilson is forced to compromise on many of his idealistic 14 Points in order to
secure the inclusion of the League of Nations in the treaty.
The “idealism” of Pres. Woodrow Wilson
Wilson with wife Edith
Palace at Versailles
Peace with Victory
The winners fight to divide the spoils at Versailles
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The Treaty of Versailles
Major Provisions:
Revised boundaries, dismemberment of old empires and the
creation of new countries
Disarmament of Germany ( no navy or air force, land army limited
to 100,000 men)
War Guilt placed upon Germany
Reparations payments placed upon Germany ($33 Billion)
Creation of the League of Nations
Establishment of a new German government, The Weimar Republic
Post WW I Map of Europe
U.S. Congressional reaction to the Treaty of Versailles
• Strong objections are voiced by various factions within the U.S
Congress/Senate due largely to concerns over the “collective
security” responsibilities within the League of Nations
• “strong reservationists” led by Henry Cabot Lodge
• “Irreconcilables” Led by William Borah of Idaho: objection to the
League on any grounds
• “mild reservationists” could agree if changes were made
• The result is failure by the U.S. to ratify the Treaty or join the
League
Article “X” in the treaty was The League of Nations
Henry Cabot Lodge
A pro League cartoon
Effects of the Treaty of Versailles
• The United States even though an established influential world power, sinks into a period of
relative isolation in foreign affairs during the 1920’s
• Russia also isolates itself during the 1920’s and ’30’s under communism. With death of
Lenin, Joseph Stalin becomes the leader of Russia
• Germany’s economy is devastated first by inflation and then by depression, leading to
widespread frustration, anger and resentment
• Increased political unrest in Germany leads to challenges form both the right and left.
• Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (NSDAP or Nazis) come to
power in Germany
• Various acts of aggression culminate on Sept. 1st, 1939 with the German invasion of
Poland,
• WWII (1939-1945) has begun