World War I:The Fighting EndsUS History Honors

The German War Machine• Germany faced troubles in 1918• A home front revolution forced the Kaiser into exile• Shortage of soldiers (Iron Youth was gone); munity in Navy• US entry proved to be too much for them (fresh troops & morale)

Germany Surrenders

Armistice• November 1918, Germany asked for an armistice• November 11, 1918 – fighting stopped (Armistice Day)• The Allied Powers had won the Great War• Allied blockade of German ports continued until the treaty was signed

Peace Conference at Versailles

Peace Conference - Versailles• Peace Conference – Versailles, France (January 1919)• Major Participants (The Big Four)

• Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Great Britain: sought $$$• Premier Georges Clemenceau of France: sought revenge• Vittorio Orlando of Italy: sought land promised to them earlier• President Wilson of the US: sought Peace without Victory

• What resulted was dictated peace – Germany was not allowed inside, but hoped the peace would be based on Wilson’s plan

Peace Conference

Treaty of Versailles• The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919) product of compromise• New independent nations were formed in Europe• Empires were destroyed and ethnic groups were united• A League of Nations was formed to maintain peace and prevent

future world wars (Wilson’s 14th Point)• Germany was blamed & punished for WWI (war guilt clause)

• Asked to pay huge reparations ($33 billion)• Forced to give up large amounts of land• Massive disarmament left them with only a defensive army

Treaty of Versailles Rejected in the United States

• The Treaty was REJECTED at home, despite Wilson’s efforts• Many feared the “League” was just another alliance• The US never joined; rejected by the US Senate in 1920• Most Americans desired isolationism• The US made a separate peace treaty with Germany in 1921

Result of the Treaty of Versailles• The Treaty of Versailles planted the seeds of German

bitterness after WWI that allowed for Adolf Hitler to rise to power and begin World War II