3. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Nationalism
Similar to patriotism.
Countries proud of their heritage and
culture
Ethnic groups of similar heritage wanted to
free their oppressed brethren and unite
their people into one country
Germany wanted to expand its culture and
political influence throughout Europe.
5. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Imperialism
Imperialism = economic and political
control over other countries
France, Great Britain, Germany and Russia
were establishing colonies in Africa and
Asia
These countries were in competition for
colonies
9. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Militarism
Imperialism led to ―militarism:‖
– the development and stockpiling of arms and
weapons
European nations began an arms race as they
competed for colonies around the world.
Militarism is not just an arms race. It‘s also a
government's state of mind:
– Sees war as a valid means of foreign policy.
All the nations of Europe were militaristic,
but the governments of Germany and Austria-
Hungary were especially so.
10. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Militarism
All the countries of Europe built up their
armies and navies. In 1914, their armed
forces stood like this:
– Germany: 2,200,000 soldiers, 97 warships
– Austria-Hungary: 810,000 soldiers, 28 warships.
– Italy: 750,000 soldiers, 36 warships
– France: 1,125,000 soldiers, 62 warships
– Russia: 1,200,000 soldiers, 30 warships
– Great Britain: 711,000 soldiers, 185 warships
As one country increased its armies, so all the
others felt obliged to increase their armed
forces to keep the ‗balance of power‘
11. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Militarism
Germany and Britain clashed over the size
of their navies
– In 1900 Kaiser Wilhelm began to build up the German
navy (Tirpiz's Navy Law), announcing that he wanted
Germans to sail all over the world and take for Germany
‗a place in the sun‘
– After 1906, he began to build numbers of the new, large
Dreadnought battleships, which were more powerful
than any other ship
By 1906, President Roosevelt had built the US
Navy into the 3rd largest naval fleet in the world:
– The Great White Fleet
12. Soldiers Mobilized before 1914
Soldiers Mobilized
14
12
10
Millions
8
6
4
2
0
France Germany Russia Britain
13. Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers
in millions of dollars
(Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, British and Russia)
1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914
$94M $130M $154M $268M $289M $398M
1910-1914
Percent Increase in Defense Expenditures
France 10%
Britain 13%
Russia 39%
Germany 73%
14. Mobilization
Had been no major
war in Europe for 50
years
No one believed that
such a global war
would occur
Home by Christmas!
15. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Alliances
European nations began forming military
alliances with one another to maintain a
balance of power
Complexity of the alliances will cause a
―domino effect‖ that leads to war.
16. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Alliances
Where and when does it all start?
– Late 1800s in Austria, Russia, Serbia, England, Germany, France
and Belgium
– Treaty of London (1839) Britain agrees to protect the neutrality
of Belgium
– German-Austrian treaty (1879) or Dual Alliance
– Italy joining Germany and Austria in 1882 (Triple Alliance)
– Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)
– British naval treaty with Japan (1902)
– The "Entente Cordiale" between Britain and France (1904) which
left the northern coast of France undefended
– Triple Entente (1907): Alliance between Britian, France and
Russia
19. Alliances Prior to WWI
In the Balkan Wars of 1912, Serbia fought the
Ottoman Empire and gained territory
Austria-Hungry had a diverse ethnic population,
with many Serbs
Austria-Hungry feared their Serbs would revolt
and join Serbia.
Thought that a ‗preventive‘ war against Serbia
would preserve the dual monarchy
21. Alliances Prior to WWI
Germany had long planned for a possible
European war via the Schlieffen Plan.
– Plan assumed Russia would enter the war with
massive human reserves.
– Germany could not fight a two-front war against
Russia and win.
– Prepared a pre-emptive strike against France to
destroy her first, and thus be able to concentrate on
Russia
– Assumed invasion through Beligum.
23. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Chain of Events
Serbia was protected by a treaty Russia
Russia was aware of the Austrian ―plan‖ for
preventive war against Serbia
– Russia began a major military reconstruction and
arms build-up
Germany, in alliance with Austria-Hungry,
was alarmed by Russian build-up and the
possibility of war.
– Germany also steps up military preparation
24. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Chain of Events
Austrian-Hungarian Empire controlled several
ethic groups.
Serbian nationalists wanted to untie Serbs who
lived in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire with
Serbia.
This led to the assassination of the Archduke
Franz Ferdinand.
25. Immediate Causes of WWI:
The Chain of Events
Austrian-Hungarian
Empire controlled
several ethic groups.
Serbian nationalists
wanted to untie
Serbs who lived in
the Austrian-
Hungarian Empire
with Serbia.
This led to the
assassination of the
Archduke Franz
Ferdinand.
26. Immediate Causes of WWI:
The Chain of Events
Assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Garvillo Princip, a
Serbian nationalist
assassinated the
Archduke. He was
trying to gain Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his
allowances for his family. Archduke was heir to the throne
fellow Serbs who lived in the Austrian Hungarian Empire. His
under Austrian rule. assassination June 28, 1914 eventually
led to WWI.
27. German Invasion of Belgium
battle fronts
German invasion in August of
1914, through Belgium to
conquer France.
Gave French and British
militaries enough time to
mobilize their army
Belgium puts up a strong fight.
1st Battle of the Marne River,
France and Great Britain stop
Germany from capturing Paris.
France, England and Germany
involve itself in trench warfare
from 1914 to 1918
28. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Alliances
1. June 28
Assassination
at Sarajevo
2. July 28
Austria-
Hungary
declared war
on Serbia
3. July 30
Russia began
mobilization
4. August 1
Germany
declared war
on Russia
29. Immediate Causes of WWI:
Alliances
5. August 3
Germany
declared war
on France
6. August 3
Great Britain
declared war
on Germany
7. August 6
Russia and
Austria-
Hungary at
war.
8. August 12
Great Britain
declared war
on Austria-
Hungary
31. Stalemate and Modern Warfare
Stalemate Modern Warfare
By Sept. 1914, the war had Neither soldiers nor officers
reached a stalemate, a were prepared for the new,
situation in which neither side highly efficient killing
is able to gain an advantage. machines used in WW I.
When a French and British Machine guns, hand
force stopped a German grenades, artillery shells,
advance near Paris, both and poison gas killed
sides holed up in trenches thousands of soldiers who
separated by an empty “no left their trenches to attack
man’s land.” Small gains in the enemy.
land resulted in huge As morale fell, the lines
numbers of human between soldiers and
casualties. civilians began to blur. The
Both sides continued to add armies began to burn fields,
new allies, hoping to gain an kill livestock, and poison
advantage. wells.
32. U.S. in 1914
Panama Canal was completed in August of 1914
just a week before WWI began in Europe.
Woodrow Wilson became President in 1912.
Americans were shocked by the outbreak of war,
but hey! It was in Europe, and that‘s far away.
US was officially NEUTRAL
33. Wilson’s Neutrality
―The effect of the war upon the United States will depend
upon what American citizens say and do. Every man who
really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit
of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and
fairness and friendliness to all concerned.‖
―The people of the United States are drawn from many
nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war. It is
natural and inevitable that there should be the utmost
variety of sympathy. Some will wish one nation, others
another, to succeed in the momentous struggle.‖
―I venture, therefore, my fellow countrymen, the United
States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during
these days that are to try men's souls.‖
wilson neutrality1
34. U.S. Policy Before WWI
U.S. believed:
– It had the right to trade
with the warring nations
– Warring nations must
respect our neutrality in
the freedom of the seas
– German submarine
warfare and British
blockade violated our
neutrality
35. Effects of Allied
blockade
•1914, $70 million in trade
with Central Powers
•1916, trade reduced to $1.3
million
Allied trade
•Grew from $825 million to
$3.2 billion in same time
period
•WWI transformed the US
from a debtor to a creditor
nation
37. Submarine Warfare
The Germans could not match Great Britain's
superior navy.
Germans introduced unrestricted submarine
warfare with U-Boats
Germans warned the world they would sink any
ship they believed was carrying contraband to
Great Britain.
38. U-Boats
Two types
•small subs with a
crew of 24
•larger subs with a
crew of 60
•44 by 1918
By 1918, Germans
had sunk 6,500
allied ships.
41. Sinking of the Lusitania
May 7, 1915, the Germans sunk the Lusitania
which was British passenger liner.
Germans believed it was carrying contraband
(weapons) to the British.
Killed 1,198 civilians including 128 Americans.
U.S. and other countries outraged towards
Germany because of ―unrestricted submarine
warfare‖.
US believed the Germans had violated
international law of targeting civilians
43. Sinking of the Lusitania
After the sinking of the Lusitania, public
opinion of most Americans was to go to
war with Germany.
Germany promised they would not sink
anymore ships unless warning them first
and providing safety for civilians.
BUT, President Wilson was able ―keep us
out of war.‖
44. X
Sussex Sunk: led to Sussex
Pledge in March 1916.
Germany promised not to sink
anymore ships.
45. Ships Sunk by U-Boats:
Sept. 1916 to April 1917 (6 months)
46. Ships Sunk by U-Boats,
May 1917 to Jan. 1918 (6 months)
47. Zimmerman Telegram
Berlin, January 19, 1917
―On the first of February we intend to begin
unrestricted submarine warfare. In spite of
this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep
neutral the United States of America.‖
―If this attempt is not successful, we propose
an alliance on the following basis with
Mexico: That we shall make war together and
together make peace. We shall give general
financial support, and it is understood that
Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in
New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details
are left to you for settlement.... ―
zimmerman notes
48. Zimmerman Telegram
―You are instructed to inform the President
of Mexico of the above in the greatest
confidence as soon as it is certain that there
will be an outbreak of war with the United
States and suggest that the President of
Mexico, on his own initiative, should
communicate with Japan suggesting
adherence at once to this plan;‖
―At the same time, offer to mediate between
Germany and Japan. Please call to the
attention of the President of Mexico that the
employment of ruthless submarine warfare
now promises to compel England to make
peace in a few months.‖
– Zimmerman (Secretary of State) zimmerman notes
52. Wilson’s War Speech
When German
submarines sank
three American
merchant ships in
March 1917, Wilson
asked Congress for
a declaration of war.
53. Wilson’s War Speech
April 8, 1917, the US declares war on Germany.
The new German policy has swept every restriction aside.
Vessels of every kind….have been ruthlessly sent to the
bottom without warning and without thought of help or
mercy for those on board….The present German
submarine war…..is a war against all nations….Our
motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of
the physical might of the nation, but on the vindication of
right, of human right….
We are…..the sincere friends of the German
people…..We shall, happily, still have an opportunity to
prove that friendship in our daily attitude and actions
towards the millions of men and women of
54. Wilson’s War Speech
German birth and native sympathy who live amongst us
and share our life…... There are……many months of
fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to
lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most
terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself
seeming to be in the balance.
But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall
fight for the things which we have always carried nearest
our hearts……democracy, for the right of those who
submit to authority to have a voice in their own
Governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations,
for a universal dominion of right…..as shall bring peace
and safety to all nations and make the world safe for
democracy.
55. Wilson’s War Speech
―To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our
fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we
have, with the pride of those who know that the day has
come when America is privileged to spend her blood and
her might for the principles that gave her birth and
happiness and the peace which she has treasured.‖
56. Principles Fought For
The right is more precious than peace
War to end all war
The world must be safe for democracy.
Defend human rights
Defend our trade
Neutrality
Freedom of the seas
Violation of international law
57. The War of
the
Industrial
Revolution:
New
Technology
80. Battle of Verdun: Feb. to Dec. 1916
German offensive, and the longest battle of
WWI
Germany believed Russia was on the verge
of internal revolution, and would withdraw
from the war.
– Therefore they wanted to focus on the Western
Front, and defeating the French & British
The fortress at Verdun had great symbolic
value to the French.
82. Battle of Verdun: Feb. to Dec. 1916
Fought over a 10
month period
Resulted in 306,000
French & German
deaths, and half a
million wounded
– That‘s about 1,000
men every day!!
Technical victory for
the French, but a
stalemate in reality.
83. Battle of the Somme:
July 1916 to Feb. 1917
British & French offensive, and one of the
bloodiest battles in all of human history
– Led by the British
– Designed to create a rupture in French lines
– First day of battle = 60,000 dead British
soldiers
– British battalions were comprised of people
from the same local area. This meant that such
deaths had a huge social impact on specific
areas of Britain.
84. Battle of the Somme
Shells from the first day of the Battle of the Somme
86. Battle of the Somme:
July 1916 to Feb. 1917
Battle of attrition, German withdrew back
to fortified lines in Feb. 1917
At the end of the battle, the British had
gained only 6 miles of territory.
Total deaths at the end of the battle:
– British Empire: 419,654, with 95,000 missing
– French: 204,253, with 50,756 missing
– Germany: 465,000, with 164,000 missing.
– TOTAL: more than 1 million men dead!
95. The First Global War
Ottomans entered war in 1915 on side of
the Central Powers
– Wanted to acquire Russian territory
– Turkey slaughtered millions of Armenians
to get their land
– Britain wanted to protect trade routes to
India
– Arabs promised their own country if they
would join with Britain against the
Ottomans
96. The First Global War
The sprawling Ottoman Empire battled British
and Russian-led forces in Egypt, Iraq, and the
Caucasus.
In East Asia, Japan declared war on Germany and
seized German possessions in China.
The British and French conscripted colonial
subjects:
– India: 1 million soldiers to Allies. (60,000 died)
– Africa: more than 1 million soldiers, 3 million
transported goods. (150,000 died)
– Australia, New Zealand, and Canada: Over 1 million.
99. Russia Bears the Brunt
Russia had men, but few weapons and
supplies
– By December, 1914, the Russian Army had
6,553,000 men. However, they only had
4,652,000 rifles.
– Untrained troops were ordered into battle without
adequate arms or ammunition.
– In 1915 Russia suffered over 2 million casualties
and lost Kurland, Lithuania and much of
Belorussia.
– Agricultural production slumped and civilians had
to endure serious food shortages.
100. Russia Bears the Brunt
Led an offensive against the Austro-
Hungarian Army in June 1916.
– Initially Brusilov achieved considerable success
and in the first two weeks his forces advanced
80km and captured 200,000 prisoners.
– The German Army sent reinforcements to help
their allies and gradually the Russians were
pushed back.
– When the offensive was called to a halt in the
autumn of 1916, the Russian Army had lost
almost a million men.
102. Battle of Gallipoli:
April 1915 to Jan. 1916
Took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in
the Ottoman Empire
A joint British and French operation to
capture the Ottoman capital of
Constantinople and secure a sea route to
Russia.
The attempt failed, with heavy casualties
on both sides.
104. The Gallipoli Disaster
Gallipoli casualties
Source: Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs
Dead Wounded Total
Total Allies 44,092 96,937 141,029
United Kingdom 21,255 52,230 73,485
France (estimated) 10,000 17,000 27,000
Australia[4] 8,709 19,441 28,150
New Zealand[4] 2,721 4,752 7,473
British India 1,358 3,421 4,779
Newfoundland 49 93 142
Ottoman empire
86,692 164,617 251,309
(estimated)
Total (both sides) 130,784 261,554 392,338
108. What is a “Revolution”?
A complete change in the way things are
done (Agricultural Revolution, Industrial
Revolution, Russian Revolution)
– Sometimes peaceful
– Sometimes violent
Russian Revolution = the overthrow of the
Czar‘s government and the eventual
establishment of Communist Rule
109. Pre-Revolutionary Russia
Only true autocracy left in
Europe
No type of representative
political institutions
Nicholas II became Czar in
1884
Believed he was the
absolute ruler anointed by
God
Revolution broke out in
1905
--Russo-Japanese War
(1904)
110. Nicolas, Alexandra, Alexis
& Rasputin
Nicolas & Alexandra had a
son, Alexis, with hemophilia
Brought in Raputin, a
―healer,‖ to help him.
Rasputin came to have
extraordinary influence in
the Czar‘s government
– Scandals surrounding
Rasputin served to discredit
the monarchy
111. People & Events Leading to the
Bolshevik Revolution
Karl Marx & Fredrick Engels publish the
―Communist Manifesto‖ (1848)
– Advocated political & economic revolution
of the working class
Vladimir Lenin: Russian scholar &
philosopher influenced by Karl Marx.
– Writes multiple economic works on
socialism, communism and capitalism in
Russia.
– Exiled several times for political activism
– Participated in the 1905 Russian Revolution
– Was absent from Russia during the Feb. 1917
revolution
112. Events Leading to the
Bolshevik Revolution
Czar Nikolas II
– Not a strong leader
– Did not keep promises made to increase personal freedoms
(speech, religion, movement, language, etc).
– Heavily influenced by Rasputin
– Did not give DUMA (national parliament, much power)
―Bloody Sunday‖
– Unarmed peasants demonstrated before the Czar‘s palace
requesting shorter work days, minimum wage, and a
constitution for Russia.
– Palace Guards fired upon crowd killing hundreds, injuring
thousands (without orders)
– Bond between Czar and his people broken forever
113. Events Leading to the
Bolshevik Revolution
1905 Russian Revolution
– a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread
through vast areas of the Russian Empire.
– directed against the government
– included terrorism, worker strikes, peasant unrest, and
military mutinies.
– Led to the establishment of limited constitutional
monarchy, the State Duma (national parliament), a multi-
party system, and the Russian Constitution of 1906.
Czar Nikolas largely ignored the Duma between
1905 and the start of WWI.
114. World War I: “The Last Straw”
WWI revealed the
ineptitude and
arrogance of the
country‘s aristocratic
elite
Govt suffered from
corrupt military
leadership and contempt
for ordinary Russian
people
Average peasant has
very little invested in
the War
115. World War I: “The Last Straw”
Russia unprepared for war
Not enough supplies (food,
weapons, clothing)
Army poorly organized
Soldiers didn‘t understand
why they were fighting
Tsar Nicholas II and his
ministers provided poor
leadership and organization
116. The Collapse of the Imperial
Government
Nicholas leaves for the
Front—September, 1915
Alexandra and Rasputin
throw the government into
chaos
Alexandra and other high
government officials
accused of treason
Rasputin assassinated in
December of 1916
Complete mismanagement
of the wartime economy
117. The Two Revolutions of 1917
The March Revolution
(March 12)
The November Revolution
(November 6)
– Origins: Food riots and
strikes
– Duma declared itself a
Provisional Government on
March12th
– Czar abdicated on March 17th
118. Provisional Government
Declared all Russian citizens equal
Freedom of speech, religion, press, and
assembly given to all citizens
Unions and strikes legal
Planned on continuing war
Provisional Government made these
promises, but asked people to wait
People tired of waiting and listened more
and more to the revolutionaries
119. Vacuum of Leadership in Russia
Failure of the Provisional
Government
Workers refusing to work
and soldiers refusing to fight
Peasants were expropriating
the land outright
Power was literally lying in
the streets of Petrograd
By September 1917, there
was widespread unrest
among peasants
120. Bolsheviks
Term comes from a Russian
word meaning ―majority‖
Bolsheviks believed that a small
group of trained revolutionaries
could establish socialism in
Russia
Led by Lenin
Tried to attract followers with
slogans like, ―All Power to the
Soviets‖ and ―Bread, Peace, and
Freedom‖
121. The Bolshevik Revolution
Nov. 1917
Armed Bolsheviks
overthrow the Provisional
Government
Lenin takes control and
heads government
– All private property of
wealthy was abolished and
divided among the peasantry
– Largest industrial enterprises
nationalized
122. Bolshevik Revolution (cont)
Political Police
organized: CHEKA
Revolutionary army
created with Trotsky
in charge
-- ―Red Army‖
Bolshevik Party
renamed Communist
Party in March of
1918
123. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)
Bolsheviks needed peasant support to stay in power
Lenin decided to get Russia out of WWI and send
peasant soldiers home
In March of 1918, Lenin signed the Treaty of
Brest-Litovsk with Germany
– Conceded territory of Ukraine, Belorussia, the Baltics,
and Finland to Germany
– Russia lost over one quarter of its farmland and one third
of its population, almost all its coal mines, and more than
half its industries
– Huge loss to Russia‘s economy
Left the Germans with a single front war
124. Russian Civil War (1917–1920)
Treaty and the Bolshevik
Revolution lead to Civil
War in Russia.
– ―Reds‖ = Communists
(Bolsheviks)
– ―Whites‖ = counter-
revolutionaries loyal to
Czar
– ―Greens‖ = anarchists
who favored socialism
without strong central
government
125. Allied Invasion of Russia
Allies had three goals for military intervention
in Russian Civil War:
– prevent the German or Bolshevik capture of Allied
weapons stockpiles in Russia
– mount an attack rescuing the Czechoslovak
Legion stranded on the Trans-Siberian Railroad
– resurrect the Eastern Front by defeating the
Bolshevik army and, in the process, stop the
spread of communism and the Bolshevik cause in
Russia
126. Allied Invasion of Russia
Approximately 200,000 combined Allied troops
participated in military activities in Russia
– Japan seized land in East Asia
– Britain, France and U.S. participated in Northern, Southern
and Siberian campaigns
– Allies provided assistance to the Russian ―Whites‖ because
they wanted Russia to continue in war against Germany
European Allied forces withdrew in 1920 (long after
the Treaty of Versailles), and Japan stayed until 1925
in some parts of Russia
127. Results of Russian Civil War
Much of Russia in ruins
Cities, land, factories
destroyed after almost eight
years of fighting
Millions died or fled
country
Bolsheviks had mammoth
task of rebuilding country
Allied invasion of Russia
led to long term communist
distrust of the West
144. 1917 – Selective Service Act
24,000,000 men registered for the draft by
the end of 1918.
4,800,000 men served in WW1 (2,000,000
saw active combat).
400,000 African-Americans served in
segregated units.
15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts,
messengers, and snipers in non-segregated
units.
146. Council of National Defense
War Industries Board
– Bernard Baruch
Food Administration
– Herbert Hoover
Railroad Administration
– William McAdoo
National War Labor Board
– W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh
155. Results of This New Organization
of the Economy?
1. Unemployment virtually disappeared.
2. Expansion of ―big government.‖
3. Excessive govt. regulations in eco.
4. Some gross mismanagement overlapping
jurisdictions.
5. Close cooperation between public
and private sectors.
6. Unprecedented opportunities for
disadvantaged groups.
156. New Social & Economic
Opportunities:
Women, Blacks &
New Immigrants
167. Opportunities for
African-Americans in WW1
―Great Migration:
– 1916 to 1919 = 70,000 blacks
migrated from the South to other
areas of the U.S.
War industries work.
Enlistment in segregated units.
176. The Committee of Public Information
(George Creel)
Committee on Public Information (aka the Creel
Committee) created in April 1917
– An independent agency of the government created to
influence U.S. public opinion regarding American
participation in World War I.
– In existence for just 28 months
– Goals:
1. To create enthusiasm for the war effort
2. Enlist public support against foreign attempts to undercut
America's war aims.
177. The Creel Committee
Used newsprint, posters, radio,
telegraph, cable and movies to
broadcast its message.
It recruited about 75,000 "Four
Minute Men"
– volunteers who spoke about the war at
social events for an ideal length of four
minutes
– Speeches covered the draft, rationing,
war bond drives, victory gardens and
why America was fighting.
– Made more than 7.5 million speeches to
314 million people in 5,200
communities.
178. The Creel Committee
The CPI staged events designed for
specific ethnic groups.
Targeted the American worker and
filled factories and offices with
posters promoting the critical role of
American labor in the success of the
war effort.
Both a News Division and a Films
Division were established to help get
out the war message.
Had over twenty bureaus and
divisions, with commissioner's
offices in nine foreign countries.
185. The End of the Great War
German forces, weakened by internal political and
social strife as well as the Spanish Influenza
pandemic, suffered heavy losses during a series of
Allied offensives in 1918
– Following the outbreak of the German Revolution, a republic
was proclaimed on 9 November.
– The Kaiser fled to the Netherlands.
On November 11, 1918, an armistice with Germany
was signed in a railroad carriage
– Symbolism: the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the
eleventh month
– Opposing armies on the Western Front began to withdraw
from their positions.
186. World War I Casualties
10,000,000
9,000,000 Russia
8,000,000 Germany
7,000,000 Austria-Hungary
6,000,000 France
5,000,000
4,000,000 Great Britain
3,000,000 Italy
2,000,000 Turkey
1,000,000 US
0
187. The Big Four
Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd-George
President, United States Prime Minister, Great Britain
Georges Clemenceau Vittorio Orlando
Premiere, France Prime Minister, Italy
189. French Goals at Versailles
What did France want from the treaty?
– Security
– Revenge
– Reparations
Clemenceau wanted to make sure that Germany could
not invade France in the future.
– Weak German military
– Wanted Germany broken down into smaller states
France had suffered the most during the war so
Clemenceau was under great pressure from the French
people to make Germany pay for the damage that had
been caused in northern France by the invading
German armies.
190. British Goals at Versailles
Germany to be ―justly punished‖
Germany to lose its navy and colonies as
these were a threat to Britain's own navy
and empire
Germany and Britain to become trading
partners
– Recognized that European economic recovery
depended on renewed trade with Central
Powers
BUT overall, Lloyd George did not want
to punish Germany too harshly as he did
not want Germany seeking revenge in the
future
191. American Goals at Versailles
Wanted the treaty to be based on his
―Fourteen Points‖
Wanted a just settlement that would not
leave Germany feeling resentful
Establishment of an international
organization to settle disputes called The
League of Nations
Colonial rights to self-determination
The American public did not support
him. They were fed up with involvement
in European affairs. The USA became
more isolationist.
192. German Reasons for Optimism at the
Treaty of Versailles
Abdication of Kaiser ?
New democratic govt
Expectations the Allies
would help the new Weimar
government
President Wilson‘s desire
for fairness – 14 Points
Other countries were not
blameless
What do you think Chancellor Ebert was
thinking on the eve of the Paris Peace
Conference?
193. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
The “War Guilt” Clause:
– Article 231 of the Treaty stated that Germany
was to take full responsibility for starting the
war.
– "The Allied and Associated Governments affirm, and
Germany accepts, the responsibility of Germany and her
Allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the
Allied and Associate Governments and their nationals
have been subjected as a consequence of a war imposed
upon them by the aggression of Germany and her Allies."
194. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
The terms of the Treaty were negotiated
exclusively between the Big Four.
– Germany was excluded from participating in the
negotiations
– Terms of the Treaty were forced on Germany
“Through the doors at the end…come four officers of France, Great
Britain, America and Italy. And then, isolated and pitiable, come the two
Germans, Dr. Muller and Dr. Bell. The silence is terrifying…They keep
their eyes fixed away from those two thousand staring eyes, fixed on
the ceiling. They are deathly pale…There is general tension. They sign.
There is general relaxation…We kept our seats while the Germans were
conducted like prisoners from the dock.”
(Harold Nicolson, Peacemaking, 1919.)
195. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Reparations (payment for damages)
– As Germany was held responsible for the war,
the allies could claim reparations for the
damage caused
– In 1921 a special commission fixed a sum of
£6,600 m. to be paid in annual instalments
– The Treaty also took away 10% of Germany‘s
industry and 15% of its agricultural land
196. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Military Restrictions
– Air force was disbanded
– Army limited to 100,000 soldiers
– Navy limited to 15,000 sailors, six battleships
and no submarines
– Rhineland occupied by the Allies for 15 years
– No German troops allowed in this area
197. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Territorial Losses
– Germany lost ALL of her colonies overseas
• Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
• West Prussia and Posen (Polish Corridor) lost to
Poland
• Saarland taken over by the League of Nations for
15 years
• Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium
• North-Schleswig was given to Denmark
198. Terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Large parts of Germany and Austria
became new, independent nations
– Germany and Austria forbidden to reunite
199. Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
Lloyd George, Great Britain:
– Privately hated the Treaty.
– Needing for public support to stay in office, he publicly echoed
anti-German views to insure re-election.
– Liked the fact that Britain got German colonies, and the small
German navy helped British sea-power.
– Although many British people wanted to ‗make Germany pay‘,
George thought that the Treaty was too harsh, and that it would
start another war in 25 years time.
200. Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
Clenenceau, France:
– Liked the harsh things that were in the Treaty, especially
reparations, because they would weaken Germany while
helping France to recover.
– Liked the idea of a small German army, and the
demilitarised zone in the Rhineland
– He was pleased that France received Alsace-Lorraine as
this had been taken off France by Germany in 1871.
– He wanted the Treaty to be harsher.
201. Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
Woodrow Wilson, United States:
– Wilson got self-determination for the peoples of Eastern
Europe, and a League of Nations, but he was
disappointed with the Treaty because few of his
‗Fourteen Points‘ were acted upon.
– The U.S. Senate refused to join the League of Nations,
and refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles!
– In America, there was a growing desire for the
government to adopt a policy of isolation and leave
Europe to its own devices.
– Wilson believed the treaty did not allow for
reconciliation (peace), and that it would eventually
promote a desire for revenge (war) in Germany.
202. Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
Germany:
– Germans thought the Treaty was a ―diktat‖ : a dictated
peace. They had not been invited to the peace conference
at Versailles and when the Treaty was presented to them
they were threatened with war if they did not sign it.
– The Treaty was NOT based on Wilson‘s Fourteen Points
as the Germans had been promised it would
– Most Germans believed that the War Guilt Clause was
unjustified. The French and British had done just as
much to start the war.
– The loss of territory and population angered most
Germans who believed that the losses were too severe.
– Many Germans believed the German economy would be
crippled by having to pay large reparations.
203. Consequences?
Most Germans were horrified by the
harshness of the Treaty.
There was anger amongst all groups
in Germany, no matter what their
political beliefs.
Some German newspapers called for
revenge for the humiliation of
Versailles.
204. Consequences?
Much of the German anger was also directed
against the new, democratic government.
– Already there was a myth growing in the country that the
German army had been ―stabbed in the back‖ by
politicians…the so called ―November Criminals‖.
– Now these same politicians had signed the ―Diktat‖, the
dictated peace.
– The new democracy in Germany was now closely linked
with the humiliation of Versailles.
Many historians believe the Treaty terms will be a
major cause of WWII.
207. Hussein-McMahon Letters: 1915-16
―Britain is prepared to
recognize and uphold
the independence of
the Arabs in all regions
lying within the
frontiers proposed by
the Sharif of Mecca…‖
Hussein ibn Ali,
Sharif of Mecca
209. Balfour Declaration: 1917
Dear Lord Rothschild.
I have much pleasure to convey to you, on behalf of His
Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with
Jewish Zionist aspirations {hopes} which has been submitted to, and
approved by, the Cabinet.
“His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment
in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use
their best endeavors to facilitate {assist} the achievement of this
object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may
prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish
communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by
Jews in any other country.”
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the
knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours sincerely,
ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR
British Foreign Secretary