World War IWorld War I12.412.4

The War’s End & The War’s End & AftermathAftermath

Allied OffensiveAllied Offensive

Summer 1917Summer 1917

Launched without the aid of US Launched without the aid of US soldiers on the western frontsoldiers on the western front

Failed miserablyFailed miserably

Morale decreasesMorale decreases

US troops needed badlyUS troops needed badly

Russian RevolutionRussian RevolutionMarch 1917March 1917Russian workers walked out of Russian workers walked out of factories and protestedfactories and protestedWorkers demanded:Workers demanded:-A Change in the Government-A Change in the Government-An end to the war-An end to the warCzar Nicholas II was overthrownCzar Nicholas II was overthrown

Russian RevolutionRussian RevolutionNov. 1917Nov. 1917

BolsheviksBolsheviks seize power seize power

= Group of Russian Socialists= Group of Russian Socialists

Vladimir Lenin – Bolshevik LeaderVladimir Lenin – Bolshevik Leader

Opposed WWI and removed Russia Opposed WWI and removed Russia from itfrom it

March 1918 signs treaty with Central March 1918 signs treaty with Central PowersPowers

German Offensive For German Offensive For VictoryVictory

March 21, 1918March 21, 19181 million Germans attack1 million Germans attackDeepest advance since 1914. Deepest advance since 1914.

Late May 1918Late May 1918Allies pushed back to Marne River outside Allies pushed back to Marne River outside ParisParisUS General Pershing agrees to allow US US General Pershing agrees to allow US troops to fight under French Leader troops to fight under French Leader Marshal FochMarshal Foch

German Offensive For German Offensive For VictoryVictory

Big Bertha –Big Bertha –

–German guns capable of firing German guns capable of firing 2,100 pound shells almost nine 2,100 pound shells almost nine milesmiles

Very effective weapon for the Very effective weapon for the Germans during this offensiveGermans during this offensive

German Offensive For VictoryGerman Offensive For Victory

Paris is saved –Paris is saved –

US forces able to turn the tideUS forces able to turn the tideUS & French troops stop the US & French troops stop the Germans at Germans at Chateau-ThierryChateau-Thierry on on June 3June 3rdrd & 4 & 4thth

German advance haltedGerman advance halted

German Offensive For VictoryGerman Offensive For Victory

German Assault at Reims –German Assault at Reims –

July 15, 1918July 15, 1918

Final German assaultFinal German assault

Allied lines held and Ferdinand Foch Allied lines held and Ferdinand Foch counterattacked 3 days latercounterattacked 3 days later

Allies pushed the Germans backAllies pushed the Germans back

Allied Offensive for VictoryAllied Offensive for Victory

Summer 1918 –Summer 1918 –

Foch ordered an entire Allied Foch ordered an entire Allied offensive of the western frontoffensive of the western front

Able to push deep into German Able to push deep into German territory for 3 monthsterritory for 3 months

Led by fresh American troopsLed by fresh American troops

American ContributionAmerican Contribution

Led attack at Saint-MihielLed attack at Saint-Mihiel

Pushed through German lines Pushed through German lines along the Meuse River through the along the Meuse River through the Argonne ForestArgonne Forest

American ContributionAmerican Contribution

Goal – Take French rail center SedanGoal – Take French rail center Sedan

= Battle of Argonne Forest= Battle of Argonne Forest

Suffered 120,000 casualtiesSuffered 120,000 casualties

By Nov. 1918 they occupied SedanBy Nov. 1918 they occupied Sedan

Germany SurrendersGermany Surrenders

Repeated shelling of Germany during Repeated shelling of Germany during the offensive took its tollthe offensive took its toll

German morale suffered German morale suffered

–Mutinies began to occur throughout Mutinies began to occur throughout the German army and navythe German army and navy

Germany SurrendersGermany SurrendersOct. 1918 –Oct. 1918 –

German chancellor asks Wilson for an German chancellor asks Wilson for an armisticearmistice

Nov. 9, 1918 –Nov. 9, 1918 –

Kaiser Wilhelm II gives up throneKaiser Wilhelm II gives up throne

Nov. 10, 1918 –Nov. 10, 1918 –

Germans arrive at Allied headquarters to Germans arrive at Allied headquarters to hear the terms of the armisticehear the terms of the armistice

Armistice TermsArmistice Terms

Germans must evacuate Alsace-Germans must evacuate Alsace-Lorraine, Belgium, France, and Lorraine, Belgium, France, and LuxembourgLuxembourg

Germans must surrender massive Germans must surrender massive amounts of military equipmentamounts of military equipment

Peace Conference set for January of Peace Conference set for January of 1919 in Paris1919 in Paris