HOW DID THE WAR END?

1917

• Russian revolution and exit
• US entry - Zimmerman and U-Boats
• Anti-war sentiment grows in Germany
• Food shortages and Communism
• The collapse of Turkey

THE SPRING OFFENSIVE

• March 1918, led by Hindenburg and Ludendorff
• Troops from Russia intended to attack France
• Force French surrender before the Americans arrived
• First attack of 1 million troops on a 60km front
• Burst through and 4 offensives brought them close to Paris

THE SPRING OFFENSIVE

• However, Germans in salients had supply problems
• Germans also had no replacement troops
• Allies counter-attacked in July using US troops led by tanks
• Broke through German line with tanks on 8 August - 40 000 German casualties
• Broke through thr Hindenburg line in October

GERMANY FALLS APART

• From October, Germany collapsed
• Political faction fighting, strikes, food riots
• Naval mutiny at Kiel in November spread
• Kaiser abdicated on November 10th
• Germany surrendered unconditionally on Nov 11th

Go here and read a firsthand account of the Armistice:

www.eyewitnesshistory.com/armistice.htm

Try to explain why this account describes the armistice as causing "nervous collapse" amongst soldiers at the Front

THE STATISTICS

• 42 189 810 soldiers mobilised
• Around 10 million killed
• Around 23 million wounded
• Around 7 million civilian casualties
• Total casualties around 37 million

THE STATISTICS

• 52% of mobilised soldiers became casualties
• 2.3% of the world's population became casualties
• Total cost somewhere around $208 billion (1913 $USD)
• Russia, Germany and France suffered the most casualties
• 13.43% of the white male Australian population enlisted

VERSAILLES

• Peace conference at Versailles in 1919
• Britain wanted to "make Germany pay"
• However, they also feare the spread of Communism
• France anted to bring Germany to its knees
• USA wanted to put better procedures in place - 14 Points

THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

• Germany stripped of land and colonies
• German army reduced to 100 000 men
• No tanks or airforce
• DMZ between Germany and France
• Key industrial regions lost

THE TREATY OR VERSAILLES

• War Guilt Clause
• Reparation payments
• League of Nations

IMPACT ON GERMANY

• Had to sign or be invaded
• German anger at the "November Criminals"
• Failure of th democratic government in Germany
• Economic problems due to reparations and Depression
• Hitler eventually elected based on promises to restore German greatness

What problems do you think arose in Australia after the end of the First World War?

Research if you need to.