World War I From 1917 to Armistice

1. World War I From 1917 to Armistice

2. Objectives • Understand the setbacks that the Allies faced in 1917 and 1918. • Discover how American forces contributed to the Allied victory. • Explain the agreement that ended the fighting.

3. Terms and People • convoy – a large group of merchant vessels sailing together • John J. Pershing– commander of the American Expeditionary Force • Vladimir Lenin– Bolshevik leader who seized control of Russia’s government in 1917

4. Terms and People(continued) • communism – an economic and political system based on the idea that social classes and the right to private property should be eliminated • armistice – a halt in fighting that allows peace talks to begin

5. How did the arrival of American troops in Europe affect the course of the war? After Congress declared war, it took over a year for the United States to engage in major battles. American soldiers quickly helped bring about an overwhelming Allied victory.

6. In 1917, U.S. forces prepared to go overseas. The U.S. Army chose John J. Pershing to lead American troops in Europe. He wanted American troops to fight in separate units under U.S. command. This would show the world that the United States could stand on its own.

7. Meanwhile, German submarines attacked ships bringing supplies from the United States to the Allies. More than 11 million tons of Allied shipments were destroyed and nearly 14,000 people were killed.

8. Allied naval leaders had destroyers sail in convoys with supply ships for protection. Allied ship losses fell dramatically.

9. U.S. troops joined the Allies in June 1917, but the Allies continued to face setbacks. Russia withdrew from the war and made peace with Germany. In March 1918, Germany broke through the Allied lines. The Italians were defeated by the Central Powers at Caporetto.

10. On November 7, 1917, a radical group called the Bolsheviks seized control of Russia. The new leader, Vladimir Lenin, embraced the ideas of communism. Social classes andprivate property should be eliminated. Workers should unite to overthrow the ruling class.

11. Losing Russia was a huge setback for the Allies. Lenin pulled Russia out of the war and made peace with Germany. It transferred a great deal of territory to Germany. Germany moved many troops out of its new territory and moved them to the Western Front.

12. In March 1918, Germany began a series of attacks called the “peace offensive.” In June, the Germans broke through Allied lines in Belgium and France. Pershing pledged that U.S. troops would now fight under French command. U.S. troops arrived to reinforce the Allies.

13. In the summer of 1918, U.S. troops helped turn the tide for the Allies. In July, the Allies won several battles in France. The Allies began an offensive. By November, they were advancing on Germany.

14. Germany’s leaders realized that their cause was lost. They decided to seek an armistice. France and Britain wanted to impose a harsh settlement. President Wilson proposed a peace plan based on international cooperation. France and Britain dictated the terms of the armistice.

15. The terms of the armistice were harsh. Germany was forced to: Cancel its peace treaty with Russia Pull back its troops from the Western Front Hand over all of its U-boats President Wilson also demanded that Germany’s leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II, step down. The Kaiser fled, and Germany became a republic.

16. The armistice took effect at 11 A.M. on November 11, 1918. The war had ended. Soldiers could hardly believe it. Soldiers returned home. Millions had been severely wounded.

17. World War I was the most destructive war the world had ever seen. It cost the lives of 10 million military personnel. Some historians believe just as many civilians died.