Ending the War

• When did Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and why?

  March 1918.

  • Tsar Nicholas II took command of the armies, but this was disastrous and thousands more were killed.
  • The winter of 1916 was very hard and due to people in Russia starving, the Tsar was abdicated in 1917
  • The new Government continued the way but by 1917, many Russian soldiers were deserting and the army was falling apart
  • The Bolsheviks took over in November as the German army was advancing into Russia
  • The Bolshevik government had little choice but to sign the peace treaty
• What were the consequences of Russia leaving the war?

  Germany moved large numbers of troops from the Eastern Front. It aimed to start a big attack in France in Spring 1918. This could have given a decisive breakthrough but almost two million American troops arrived in Europe.

  Some of the soldiers who moved to the Western Front were German prisoners of war. Some were almost useless in the army after their wartime experiences. One million German soldiers remained on the Eastern Front.
• What is the background information of America at the time?

  The USA had been traditionally isolationist (stayed out of the affairs of other nations) and in 1823, US president James Monroe said 'In the wars of the European Powers...we have never taken part, nor does it comport [fit] with out policy, so to do'.
• What were the reasons for USA entering the war?

  As the USA began to hear of German atrocities in Europe and their deliberate attack on Lusitania in 1915, public opinion was growing more hostile towards Germany. In 1916, another passenger ship, the Sussex, was sunk. Woodrow Wilson, US President, then issued an ultimatum to Germany.
• What was the trigger for the USA to join the war?

  Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare directly affected American merchants but the Zimmermann Telegram was the final straw for the US. The telegram was sent in 1917 by the German Foreign Minister. It promised Mexico territory lost in the Mexican-American War if it declared war on the USA. The British intercepted the telegram
• What was the impact of US entry into the war?

  By the time the Armistice was signed on 11 Nov 1918, 10,000 new troops were arriving in France each day. The US troops increased the number of troops available to the Allies and also boosted morale. Troops arrived at a time where General Hindenburg was launching one last desperate offensive. Had the Americans not entered the way, that offensive might have succeeded.
• What did the US do to help the Allies?

  The USA supplied the allies with billions of dollars worth of weapons during the war. When the USA declared war on Germany in 1917, it drafted four million men into military service They sent roughly half of these troops to fight in Europe, increasing the Allies' personnel and resources in the war of attrition.
• Who were the Bolsheviks?

  The Bolsheviks were communists, who believed Russia should become a more equal society without a king. The Bolshevik slogan, 'Peace, Land and Bread', reflected the views of many Russian people who wanted to end WW1, to seize land from the rick and stop food shortages.
• What happened when the Bolsheviks took over Russia?

  They took Russia out of the war in March 1918. Russia gave the Central Powers almost half of its European territory and 50 million people. It also lost much of its fertile land.
• How was technology by the end of the war?

  By 1918, war technology had become much more innovative. One of the greatest difficulties of the war was that technological innovation was not matched by tactical innovation. As a result, many soldiers were unnecessarily killed.
• How were war tactics at the end of the war?

  War tactics evolved after 1918 as a result of more firepower and automatic weapons. Authority became more decentralised (local) and military units became more specialised. By the end of the war, technological developments were being more effectively used in battle. For example, tanks and infantry worked together and machine guns were built onto aeroplanes.
• What reasons were there for the Spring Offensive?

  The German military command recognised that Germany could not win a war of attrition and Germany was also convinced of success as it had brought 500,000 troops from the Russian Front. And so on the 21 March 1918, Germany launched its Spring Offensive, ordered by General Ludendorff.
• What tactics were used in the Spring Offensive?

  The Spring Offensive targeted the places where the British and French troops were gathered together. Winning battles against both nations simultaneously would affect morale in both countries and in both their armies. The Germans launched a huge attack, hoping to quickly destroy the Allied Powers. 3,000 shells were fired every minute in the first few hours.
• What was the result of the Spring Offensive?

  Although the launch started with great intensity, Germany could not move its supplies and troops fast enough to sustain the attack. By July, Germany had reached the River Marne but couldn't make a decisive move forward. The Allied commander Ferdinand Foch launched a counter-attack. Germany had suffered a huge number of casualties and began to retreat.
• How did the Allies advance after the failed Spring Offensive?

  Germany was weak after the failed Spring Offensive, so the Allies used this as their moment to strike. Starting with the battle of Amiens, the offensive forced Germany out of France. More key battles that occurred were the Second Battle of the Somme in August 1918 and the Battles of the Hindenburg Line in September 1918. This response was issued by the single commander of the Allied forces, French General Ferdinand Foch.

  
• What was the naval blockade?

  The Allied blockade against Germany restricted ships supplying goods to the Central Powers. Although Germany had launched a U-boat campaign against Britain, it was far less effective. The impact of the blockade on Germany was enormous.
• What was the impact of the blockade on Germany and what impacts do some historians believe benefited the Allies?

  Historians have said that around 425,000 German civilians died because of starvation and disease caused by the blockade. Some argue that starvation on the home front forced German defeat in 1918. The blockade made the 'turnip winter' of 1916-1927 worse in Germany (this was when Germany was suffering because of a failed potato harvest).
• How do historians disagree with the saying that the blockade had a greater impact on Germany?

  Many historians disagree, saying Germany had new resources from Russia and starvation was reduced by the rationing system. The blockade had a material effect on Germany but also contributed to a growing sense of war weariness and resentment against the military leadership.
• What events led to the Kaiser abdicating?

  By 29 September 1918, it was clear that Germany would be defeated. Field Marshal Hindenburg and General Ludendorff told Kaiser Wilhelm II that Germany could not win the war. Hindenburg and Ludendorff said that a democratic government was needed for a favourable peace settlement with the Allied Powers.
• When was a more democratic government formed in Germany?

  3 October 1918. The Kaiser appointed a Liberal, Prince Max of Baden, to be Chancellor. Prince Max of Baden set up a new government.
• When did the Kaiser lose the support of the military?


  28 October 1918. Sailors in the navy refused to follow the Kaiser's orders. This was called the Kiel Mutiny.
• When and how was the new republic born in Germany?

  10 November 1918: Philipp Schiedemann, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), declared the new German Republic. Friedrich Ebert, the leader of the SPD, became the leader of the German Republic. Ebert created the Council of People's Representatives as a temporary government.
• When did the Kaiser abdicate?

  9 November 1918: the Kaiser lost the support of his advisors and was forced to abdicate. At first, ministers tried to force the Kaiser to abdicate, but he refused. Following this, the leaders of the army withdrew their support for the Kaiser. The Kaiser abdicated and fled to Holland.
• When was the Armistice signed?

  November 11, 1918. Friedrich Ebert admitted defeat and signed the armistice (peace agreement) with the Allies.

  Some Germans felt that Germany could have won the war and so were 'stabbed in the back' by Ebert and his government.
• What was Ebert's reputation/legacy like?

  Ebert and the politicians who negotiated peace became known as the 'November Criminals'. This event was exploited by the Nazi Party in their rise to power in the 1930s.
• What were General Sir Douglas Haig's beliefs?

  Haig believed the war would be won on the Western Front. He ordered the Battle of the Somme to relieve the pressure at the Battle of Verdun. Overall, this helped the Allied effort to survive. But the severity of casualties at the Somme and Passchendaele brought Haig's name into disrepute - his authority was questioned.
• What was the single command?


  During the final phase of the war, Haig strongly supported the creation of a ingle command under Marshal Ferdinand Foch. This unified the Allied Powers and reduced disagreement within the military leadership. Under Haig, the Allies had a series of victories between August and November 1918.
• How did the single command affect Foch's reputation?


  As supreme commander, he managed to organise French, American, British and Italian troops with tactical skill. Foch is largely credited with withstanding the Spring Offensive and helping launch the Allied counter-offensive.
• How was Foch's attitude often remembered?

  Foch is often remembered for his optimism. In the fact of the German attack, he said that 'materially, I do not see that victory is possible. Morally, I am certain that we shall gain it.'
• Which event did Marshal Foch help shape in Nov 1918?


  Armistice.