REVIEWING WORLD WAR I&

THE VERSAILLES TREATYSection 1

What is war?

Official definition written by Carl Von Clausewitz in 1827: “An act of force to compel your enemy to do

your will.” The aim of victory:

“The destruction of the enemy force, or put them in a condition where they cannot fight.”

This way of thinking would be used by both sides during WWI and WWII.

Total war: “To break the power and will of the enemy.”

World War I

Fought from August 1914- November 1918

Fought on a scale never imagined Results directly contribute to WWII

Destruction

Fought on 3 continents “Allied Powers”: France, Great Britain,

Russia, Italy, USA, Romania, Japan, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal

“Central Powers”: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

New tactics: Trench warfare and frontal assault Use of airplanes Mustard gas Submarine and Armored warfare Perfection of the machine gun

The Beginning

War began unofficially with the assassination of Austria-Hungary’s archduke, Franz Ferdinand

This created a snowball effect, as A-H would invade Serbia, then Germany invaded Belgium and France

Germany

Germany would be the major nation involved during the war, but they did not have the manpower to continue fighting

Near the end of the war, the allies formed a blockade around Germany, preventing civilians from getting food and water

Most of the German population is clueless about the war, and has no idea how bad it is going for them

Not an American War Until 1917

America wants to stay out of the war Germany attacks American passenger

ship Lusitania in 1915. President Woodrow Wilson still refuses war.

Instead demands Germany stay away from American ships

By 1917, Germany announces they will resume “Unrestricted Submarine Warfare”

America then gets involved, by drafting 2.8 million men 10,000 new troops are sent to France every

day

Germany seeks a truce

With no hope for victory, German military high command seeks a truce

Many are paying attention to a Communist uprising in Russia, known as the Bolshevik Revolution, and fear that the same thing will happen in Germany if the war does not end

Military is being defeated in battle after battle on the Western Front

Surrender

The actual surrender happened in September of 1918, but it would take until November to decide on a treaty November 11, at 11am (11/11 @ 11) German military furious at government for

surrendering without telling them The treaty that ended the war would be

known as the Treaty of Versailles, because it was signed in Versailles, France

Aftermath

Worldwide: 10 million dead soldiers, 7 million dead civilians (more would die in the

following months from starvation) 20 million wounded soldiers and civilians

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria all lost more than 3% of their ENTIRE POPULATIONS

Ottoman Empire (Turkey) lost nearly 14%!

Architects of the Versailles Treaty

Woodrow Wilson, President of USA Lloyd George, Prime Minster of Britain Georges Clemenceau, Minister of France Vittorio Orlando, Minister of Italy

Germany seeks terms at the beginning; not granted

All would be at the treaty for the common purpose of ending the war, but for different reasons

Versailles Treaty Compromise

“Article 231”: guilt is placed on Germany German Emperor put on trial France is allowed to occupy an area of Germany

known as Rhineland for the next 15 years Germany must pay $3 billion in reparations The German army must be kept below 100,000 men German naval forces must be kept below 15,000.

No submarines are allowed to be owned Germany not allowed to bring in or ship out

weapons on any kind 15 areas of Germany and its colonies are either

taken away or occupied

Weimar Republic

The new government formed in Germany would be called the Weimar Republic (named after the city it was located in)

League of Nations

As a result of the end of the war, the “League of Nations” would be created.

It would not last long, but years later, the United Nations would take many of the same ideas

The War to End All Wars

World War I was not called by that name until after World War II began

During the war, it was called “The Great War”

After it ended, it was called “The War to End All Wars”

The Pop-Culture of WWI

At the end of WWI, it became fashionable to be anti-war instead of patriotic

Many books/movies would come out, showing the horror of war

“A Farewell to Arms” and “All Quiet on the Western Front”