The End of WW1 Flashcards
United States, April 1917
Originally neutral
People had migrated to the USA from all over Europe
Good for business – could sell goods and give loans to all European countries. By 1917, the amount raised by selling goods to Europe reached $2.25bn
Anti-German feelings began to grow
Sinking of RMS Lusitania, an unarmed passenger ship; 1198 casualties, 128 of which were American civilians
Jan 1917 German submarines would target neutral ships, including USA
Zimmerman Telegram: Germany invited Mexico to join a war against the USA. USA declared war in April 1917.
Production of armaments increased, more loans to Allies ($7bn between April 1917-Nov 1918)
October Revolution, Nov 1917
Bolsheviks take over Russian government
War extremely unpopular in Russia
Suffering from food shortages
Communists determined to take Russia out of the war
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918
Russia loses about 1 million square miles of territory and a third of its population
Ends Russia’s involvement in WW1
Germany now able to devote all resources to the Western Front.
Ludendorff Offensive, March 1918
Spring 1918: US army had began to mobilise with around 50,000 troops arriving a month in France. Germany decided to go on the offensive before too many more American troops arrived.
Bombardments and gas attacks followed up by smaller groups of specially trained ‘stormtroopers’. Very effective – advanced 64km and broke the stalemate.
However, the German Army lost 400,000 men whilst advancing and there were no reserves to replace them. Troops were also poorly disciplined, badly fed and badly supplied.
Allies pushed back in August 1918 – well fed and well equipped thanks to the entry of USA. Also had access to technologically advanced tanks, aircraft and improved artillery.
German Revolution, Nov 1918
By autumn 1918, it was clear that German would lose the war. Domestically, its population was suffering and its economy was under great strain.
In September 1918, the heads of the German army, Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff, told the Kaiser (the German Emperor) that Germany should ask the Allies for an armistice.
On 3rd November, frustrated German sailors at the main German naval base in Kiel mutinied instead of following orders to attack the British Royal Navy. This sparked rebellions all over Germany and in a matter of days led to the collapse of the German government.
The Kaiser abdicated on 9th November and was replaced by a democratic government.
Armistice, 11 Nov 1918
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the sounds of artillery fire abruptly went silent along the Western Front in France.
The Germans agreed to pull their troops out of France, Belgium and Luxembourg within 15 days, or risk becoming prisoners of the Allies.
They had to turn over their arsenal, including 5,000 artillery pieces, 25,000 machine guns and 1,700 airplanes, along with 5,000 railroad locomotives, 5,000 trucks and 150,000 wagons.
Germany also had to give up the contested territory of Alsace-Lorraine.
There was no negotiation.
Who won the war?
While there were massive celebrations in Britain and elsewhere, those on the front lines felt the armistice very differently.
“There was a cold dense mist, in which I suddenly noticed that I could hear water dripping off a bush next to me. Our guns stopped—and no shells were coming on us. It seemed mysterious, queer, unbelievable. All the men knew what the silence meant, but nobody shouted or threw his hat in the air.”
- Stanhope Bayne-Jones, an American army doctor, stationed in France
“I think it was a bit of an anti-climax. Suddenly you thought about, you see, all the people you had known who were killed, etc. They were just in the war zone, and they could come home in your imagination. But the Armistice brought the realisation to you that they weren’t coming back, that it was the end. I think that it was not such a time of rejoicing as it might have been.” - Ruby Ord, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, stationed in France
