Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Ch 11 Sec 3
Waging Total War
Quick Facts about WWI• Years spanned-1914-
1918• US enters in 1917• Russia drops out in
1917• War ends on
November 11, 1918.• Allies vs. Central
Powers• US joins the Allies.
Size of European Armies
NationSize of army in
1914
Total number of soldiers who fought during the
war.Austria-Hungary 3,000,000 7,800,000
Belgium 117,000 267,000
Britain 975,000 8,905,000
France 4,017,000 8,410,000
Germany 4,500,000 11,000,000
Italy 1,251,000 5,615,000
Romania 290,000 750,000
Russia 5,971,000 12,000,000
Serbia 200,000 707,000
Turkey 210,000 2,850,000
America Takes a Neutral Stance• Just after the war began,
President Wilson declared that the US would stay neutral.
• Wilson’s response to the war reflected the long-standing American tradition of isolationism-a policy of not being involved in the affairs of other nations.
Financially the US was NOT Neutral
• The US was supplying the Allies.
• By 1917 Britain was purchasing nearly $75 million worth of war goods from American businesses each week.
• Due to the British Blockade it made it difficult to sell goods to the Germans.
Why Does the US enter the War?• Germany was practicing Unrestricted
Submarine Warfare.-Germany did this as a response to the British Blockade.-May 1, 1915 the Lusitania was sunk (12,000 die-128 were Americans).
• Link
US enters cont.
-Wilson warned Germany to back off-they did somewhat & agreed to only attack supply ships.-However, less than a year later Germany sinks the Sussex-killing about 80 people. Wilson threatened to end diplomatic relations with Germany. Germany feared we would enter the war and agreed to the Sussex Pledge.-Germany would resume USW on February 1, 1917.
More Reasons why the US enters:• The Zimmerman Note-Arthur Zimmerman
sent a telegram to Mexico proposing an alliance. If Mexico would declare war on the US, the Germans would help them later. Mexico had no interest in fighting & the plan backfired. Britain also intercepted & decoded the note & gave it to the US.
• Russia fell into Revolution in March-it became questionable how long they would stay in the war.
The Final Straw• Mid-March 1917, German U-boats
sank 3 American merchant ships.
• April 2, 1917 Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany.
• April 6, 1917 the US joins the war on the side of the Allies.
Americans in Europe• May 18, 1917, Congress passed the
Selective Service Act
• New recruits went through intensive training.
• The American soldiers who went overseas formed the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) - led by Pershing.
Mass Production• 4 Major steps were taken:
1) Shipyard workers were exempted or delayed from the draft.
2) The importance of shipyard work was emphasized.
3) Fabrication techniques were used.
4) The gov’t took over commercial & private ships & converted them for war use.
America Turns the Tide of the War• America convinced Britain to try the Convoy
System- this technique was successful, by fall of 1917 shipping losses had been cut in half.
• The US Navy also set up a 230-mile barrier of mines to keep the Germans out of the Atlantic-by early 1918 Germany was suffering heavy losses.
• One of the biggest contributions made by US soldiers was their enthusiasm & readiness to fight-the Allied soldiers were exhausted from 2 and a half years of fighting.
Major Battles• 1st Battle of Marne, Sept. 1914
-Allies halted the German advance & saved Paris from occupation.
• Battle of Gallipoli, April-Dec. 1915-Failed attempt of the Allies to knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war.
• Battle of Somme, July-Nov. 1916-First major offensive for the British, staggering loss of life.
Battle of Verdun• the longest and one of the bloodiest engagements of World
War I. February 1916 – December 1916
• Two million men were engaged.
• The intention of the Germans had been a battle of attrition in which they hoped to bleed the French army white.
• In the end, they sustained almost as many casualties as the French; an estimated 328,000 to the French 348,000.
The Collapse of Germany• November 3, 1918 A-H surrendered to the
Allies.
• November 9-socialist leaders in the capital, Berlin, established a German republic. The kaiser gave up the throne.
• Germany was too exhausted to keep fighting so on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 Germany signed the armistice.
• November 11, 1918 WWI is over.
