The Final Push

The End of the War

March – June 1918 German final

offensive

Russia had surrendered Jan. 1918 Russian

Revolution 600 000 German

troops freed up from the Eastern front

German Final OffensiveReasons for the offensive1. U.S. troops would be

ready for combat by late 1918 U.S. joint the war after

Germany sank the Lusitania (April 1917)

2. British naval blockade was, after 3 years having an effect Germany was starving

German Final Offensive German failure to win

this offensive = loose the war

March – June 1918 Germans drove the Allies back 48 km

August 1918 Allies launched their offensive – spearheaded by the Canadians

Canadian’s bringing in prisoners at the Battle or Amiens – 1st battle of ‘Canada’s 100 days’

Canada’s 100 Days

Canadians gained 13 km in 1 day

August 8 “The Black Day Of The German Army” The day the Germans

realized they could not win the war

August 8 – Nov 11 became known as “Canada’s 100 Days”

Canada’s 100 Days continued September – October

the Hindenburg line is broken

October Canadians capture French town, Cambrai

German forces collapse and retreat all along the Western front

Cambrai, 1918

Armistice Germany

asked for an Armistice – 11am, November 11, 1918

An armistice – agreement to end the war Cease Fire

Armistice – Cease-fireTerms of the cease-fire

Immediate evacuation of all territories captured during the war

Withdraw troops within 10 km of the Rhine River – leave all artillery, guns….

Surrender its navy and merchant ships Compensate Allies for war damages Surrender most of its railway rolling stock to France and

Belgium Allied blockade to continue until a peace treaty was

signed – many civilians consequently starved to death

Intended to make it impossible for Germany to resume the war

Paris Peace Settlement – Jan 1919 Conference to draw up

peace treaty – formally ending the war

Canada initially part of the British delegation

Sir Robert Borden insisted Canada’s war effort entitled it to be represented as its own nation – with its own vote

•U.S opposed Canada getting its own vote

•Canada sent its own delegation but had no vote

Treaty of Versailles Palace of Versailles,

where the treaty was signed

Additional conditions as well as those accepted under the armistice

Canada felt the treaty was too tough on Germany

Allied leaders at Versailles

The Interior of the Palace des Glaces during the signing of the Peace Terms. Versailles, France. June 1919.

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles Evacuate the Rhineland (Germany west of the Rhine

River) Reduce army to 100 000, no conscription Abandon its air force Cease building submarines and tanks Reduce its navy to 6 battleships (all built before

1905) Admit responsibility for causing the war “war guilt

clause” Pay damages (reparations) to the allies $30 billion

If Germany did not sign the war would resume Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles as its own

separate nation

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles – The New Map of Europe

Europe 1914 Europe 1919

The Treaty of Versailles

The Fall-out!