Fighting the Great War

1. Fighting the Great War 1914 - 1918

2. Total War • Countries devote all their resources to the war effort • Government told factories what to produce and how much • Facilities converted to munitions factories • Unemployment ceases to exist • WWII – term takes on a slightly different context

3. European Reaction to Americans • Summer 1918: 2M Americans on French soil • “Sammies” – French term • “Doughboy” – referred to an Am. Infantryman • Americans visit the tomb of La Fayette • “La Fayette, nous voila” • “La Fayette here we come”

4. Germans Make a Final Push • Spring 1918: Germans launch the largest offensive of the war • By May: Germans reach Marne R. • 40 miles outside of Paris • Effort exhausted German military and supplies • American troops arrive and reinforce Allies

5. Great War comes to an End • 10M soldier died • Reason for such a high number: • New weapons and failure of leaders to adjust tactics • 13M noncombatants died • Millions more displaced • Property and industrial losses catastrophic • Esp. in France, Belgium, Poland, and Serbia

6. Treaties • Strip Central Powers of territories and impose war reparations • Empires of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the Ottomans collapse with end of war

7. Treaty of Saint-Germain-En-Laye • Republic of Austria established • Former A-H lands used to est. Czechoslovakia, Poland, Croatia, and Yugoslavia • Barred Austria from unifying with Germany

8. Other Treaties • Treaty of Trianon • Est. of Hungary • Treaty of Sevres • Cease hostilities between Ottoman Empire and Allies

9. Fourteen Points – A Foundation for Lasting Peace • Before end of war, President Wilson composed a list of war aims • Eight dealt with territorial and political settlements • Remaining six dealt with preventing war in the future • Point XIV: League of Nations

10. Fourteen Points • Upon signing armistice, truce, many Germans believed 14 Points would serve as basis for future treaty