The End of WWI & Treaty of Versailles

Ypres

• Five battles from 1914-1918• 1,700,000 soldiers on both sides were killed or

wounded and an uncounted number of civilians

Verdun – February, 1916

Verdun – February, 1916

• German offensive.German offensive.

• Each side had 500,000 casualties.Each side had 500,000 casualties.

• German offensive.German offensive.

• Each side had 500,000 casualties.Each side had 500,000 casualties.

The Somme – July, 1916

The Somme – July, 1916

• 60,000 British soldiers killed in one day.

• Over 1,000,000 killed in 5 months.

• 60,000 British soldiers killed in one day.

• Over 1,000,000 killed in 5 months.

The Somme American Cemetery, France

The Somme American Cemetery, France

116,516 Americans Died116,516 Americans Died116,516 Americans Died116,516 Americans Died

War Is HELL !!War Is HELL !!

The Gallipoli Disaster, 1915

The Gallipoli Disaster, 1915

Fighting in AfricaFighting in Africa

British Sikh Mountain Gunners

British Sikh Mountain Gunners

Black Soldiers in the German Schutztruppen

[German E. Africa]

Black Soldiers in the German Schutztruppen

[German E. Africa]

Fighting in AfricaFighting in Africa

3rd British Battalion, Nigerian Brigade

3rd British Battalion, Nigerian Brigade

Fighting in Salonika, Greece

Fighting in Salonika, Greece

French colonial marine infantry fromCochin, China - 1916

French colonial marine infantry fromCochin, China - 1916

The Sinking of the Lusitania

The Sinking of the Lusitania

The Zimmerman Telegram

The Zimmerman Telegram

Armistice – 11th hour of 11th day of 11th month of 1918

Effects of War - Casualties• Britain :  750,000 soldiers

killed; 1,500,000 wounded

• France : 1,400,000 soldiers killed; 2,500,000 wounded

• Belgium : 50,000 soldiers killed

• Italy : 600,000 soldiers killed

• Russia : 1,700,000 soldiers killed

• America : 116,000 soldiers killed

• Germany : 2,000,000 soldiers killed

• Austria-Hungary : 1,200,000 soldiers killed

• Turkey : 325,000 soldiers killed

• Bulgaria : 100,000 soldiers killed

The total deaths of all nations who fought in the war is thought to have been 8.5 million with 21 million being wounded. 

Effects of War - Destruction• War had destroyed vast areas of land in

northeastern Europe– Homes of 750,000 French people were

destroyed– Infrastructure (roads, buildings) damaged– Could not function normally

Treaty of Versailles

• Months of negotiation – signed on June 28th, 1919 in Hall of Mirrors (in Versailles Palace)

The “Big Three” or “Big Four”

Great BritainP.M. David Lloyd George

United StatesPres. Woodrow Wilson

FranceGeorges Clemenceau

ItalyVittorio Orlando

“Germany should be treated as a barrier to resist spread of communism; needs to be punished, but not so much that they would turn against Europe”

“We did not have a large part in the war, but we were defeated in some battles; I was mainly on the sidelines of the treaty negotiations.”

“Germany should be brought to its knees; France was destroyed and Germany should never be able to do this again.”

“The U.S. has a desire for isolation and keep American input to a minimum.”“The main ideas of my Fourteen Points, or plan for Europe, are…1)No secret treaties2)Countries reduce weapons and armed forces3)National self-determination 4)All countries belong to League of Nations

Terms of the Treaty - Territorial

Lands Taken from Germany

• Alsace-Lorraine • Eupen and

Malmedy • Northern Schleswig • West Prussia• Hultschin

Countries that Received Lands

• France• Belgium• Denmark• Czechoslovakia• Poland

Terms of the Treaty - Military • Germany’s army reduced to

100,000 men• No tanks, air force, or

submarines• Only 6 naval ships• Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) –

area west of Rhineland– No German soldier or

weapon allowed– Allied occupation

Terms of the Treaty - Financial• German required to pay reparations

(payments for cost of war) – about $32 billion

• Germany forbidden to unite w/Austria into one super-state

Terms of the Treaty – General Clauses

1) “War Guilt Clause” – Germany takes full responsibility

2) Germany had to pay reparations

3) League of Nations created to keep peace

Germany’s Reaction• Germany expected to be

consulted about terms, but was not

• Saw terms of treaty for the first time only weeks before it was signed

• Anger throughout Germany

– Known as “Diktat” – forced on them, had no choice but to sign it

Germany’s Reaction• One last act of

defiance– Captured German

naval force scuttled (deliberately sank itself)

• Germany had two choices:1) Sign the treaty2) Be invaded by Allies

Georges Clemenceau Chose this one

“It is a beautiful

day.”