The End of the War

Central Powers Collapse By the summer of 1918 with the Americans now

fully in the war and Germany were struggling to keep up the conflict.

Germany made one final push to take lands poorly protected in Northern France which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.

During the last “Hundred Days” of the war Canadians helped overcome the tired and depleted German army.– The Central Powers knew it was over.

End Of The War Timeline January 1918: Wilson’s 14 points made public

– More about this later 3 March 1918: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 11 November 1918: Armistice signed 18 January 1919: Peace of Paris convened 28 June 1919: Treaty of Versailles signed

The Results Of World War I The retreat of the German army after it’s defeat at the hands of

the allies caused political upheaval in Germany and Austria-Hungary. The result was widespread anarchy and revolution.

The Austro-Hungarian empire dissolved into new states.

The Russian and Turkish empires disintegrated.

The Kaiser abdicated on 17 of October and went into exile, and Germany became a republic.

The War had cost approximately 10 million dead and 21 million wounded. It caused mass extermination of a generation.

Financial costs were estimated at $330 billion.

Treaty of Versailles Leaders from the various powers met to discuss

the terms of a lasting peace. The most important terms included:

– Germany accepting responsibility for the conflict.– Germany had to pay out $30 billion.– Germany’s enhanced territory was shrunk to create

Poland and hinder its own growth.– German forces were restricted in what they were

allowed to make and do (especially concerning the military and industrialization).

Territorial losses for Germany

The following land was taken away from Germany and given to other European powers:

Alsace-Lorraine (to France) Eupen and Malmedy (to Belgium) Northern Schleswig (to Denmark) Hultschin (to Czechoslovakia) West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia (given to Poland) The Saar, Danzig and Memel under the control of the League of

Nations and the people of these regions allowed to vote to stay in Germany or not in a future referendum.

The League of Nations also took Germany's overseas colonies.Germany had to return to Russia land taken in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Some was made into new states : Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. An enlarged Poland also received some land.

Military Losses for Germany in The Treaty of Versailles

Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 men; the army was not allowed tanks

Germany was not allowed to have an air force Germany’s navy was limited to only 6 Capital naval ships and no submarines. The west of the Rhineland and 50 kms east of the River Rhine was made into a DMZ. No German soldier or weapon was allowed into this zone. The Allies were to keep an army of occupation on the west bank of the Rhine for 15 years.

Financial Losses The loss of industrial territory hamper

attempts by Germany to rebuild her economy. Coal from the Saar and Upper Silesia in particular was a vital economic loss. Combined with the financial penalties linked to reparations. Germany was also forbidden to unite with Austria to form one super state, in an attempt to keep her economic potential to a minimum.

The War Guilt Clause Germany had to admit full responsibility for starting

the war. Clause 231 - the infamous "War Guilt Clause". As Germany was responsible for starting the war as

stated in clause 231, Germany was, therefore responsible for all the war damage caused by the War. Therefore, Germany had to pay for the war, in the form of reparations. Most of the money from reparations would go to France and Belgium to pay for the damage done to the infrastructure of both countries by the war.

Reparations would be used to pay for the damage to be repaired. Payment could be in kind or cash. The actual amount owed was to be determined later. The Germans were told to write a blank cheque which the Allies would cash when it suited them. The figure was eventually put at £6,600 million - a huge sum of money well beyond Germany’s ability to pay.

Wilson’s 14 Points Was against financial compensation from

Germany to France, Britain, etc. Suggested the return of land to the major powers

who lost it. Did not put sanctions on the Central powers. Countries should be allowed to grow without

restriction (including Germany).

If Wilson’s 14 points were excepted we might have been able to avoid World War II.

Basics of the 14 points 1) no more secret treaties

2) countries must seek to reduce their weapons and their armed forces 3) national self-determination should allow people of the same nationality to govern themselves and one nationality should not have the power to govern another 4) all countries should belong to the League of Nations.