A Bloody Conflict

Chapter 9 Section 3 US History A Bloody Conflict

• COMBAT IN WORLD WAR 1

• MAIN IDEA – New technologies made World War I the first modern war. COMBAT IN WORLD WAR 1

• Trench Warfare – Early offensives in 1914 demonstrated that warfare had changed. – Powerful Artillery guns were several miles behind the front lines and could fire large explosive shells onto the battle field. – To protect themselves troops began digging trenches COMBAT IN WORLD WAR 1

– On western front, French, British and Swiss dug network of trenches that went from English Channel to Swiss boarder – New weapon, Machine Gun prevented enemy from over running trenches – Space between trenches was no-man’s-land • Filled with craters from artillery fire and barbed wire obstacles COMBAT IN WORLD WAR 1

• To break through, attacker would begin with massive artillery fire, soldiers would then run across no-man’s-land (avoiding machine gun fire) and try to capture enemy trenches. – Troops also attached bayonets to use once inside the trenches – Fighting inside trenches was brutal – Both sides would lose thousands of men but not able to break through lines COMBAT IN WORLD WAR 1

• New Technologies were needed to break through enemy lines – April 1915: German’s used first poisoned gas • Caused vomiting, blindness and suffocation – Allies soon began using poison gas – To counter attacks both sides developed gas masks – Late 1915 British introduced armored tanks • Slow and unreliable BUT could crush barbed wire and cross trenches • Not enough of them and did not impact WW 1 (more use in WW 2) COMBAT IN WORLD WAR 1 • World War I also was the first use of Aircraft in war – First and last time that zeppelins were used in combat. • Zeppelins giant rigid balloons (aka Blimps) sent to drop bombs on British warships in North Sea – Airplanes used as scouts, spying on enemy ships/troops – Soon were supplied with machine guns to attack Zeppelins – Some carried bombs to drop on enemy lines and eventually used to shoot down other aircraft • Battles known as “dogfights” – Easy to destroy, average life expectancy of pilot in World War 1 = 2 weeks

A Bloody Conflict

• THE AMERICANS ARRIVE

• MAIN IDEA: – The arrival of Americans changed the course of the war and helped the Allies win THE AMERICANS ARRIVE • As American’s (nicknamed ‘doughboys’) arrived, boosted Allies and demoralized Germans. – No American troop ships were sunk on their way to Europe – Admiral William S. Sims arranged troop ships and merchant ships into convoys – Destroyers would protect and escort them – If ships were attacked and destroyed, saved lives because other ships in convoy could rescue survivors THE AMERICANS ARRIVE

• March 1917 riots in Russia over Czar Nicholas II leadership in the war forces him to abdicate – Start of Russian Revolution – Russia had temporary government that wanted to stay in war but gov’t couldn’t deal with problems inside Russia like food shortage – Bolshevic Party led by Vladimir Lenin overthrew temporary gov’t and established Communist Gov’t 1917 THE AMERICANS ARRIVE

• First act of new government was to take Russia out of the war – Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany March 3 1918 ended their part of war – Russia lost a lot of territory in treaty – Germany could now focus on Western Front THE AMERICANS ARRIVE

• Many American’s believed we owed France for its help in the Revolution – Thought of France as our friends – General John J. Pershing arrived in Paris July 4 1917 – British and France wanted to integrate American troops to be under their command, Pershing said no (supported by Wilson). • Only exception was 93rd Infantry Division, First American’s to enter combat under French. THE AMERICANS ARRIVE

• March 21st 1918 Germany launched massive attack on Western Front – Started with gas attacks, then artillery bombardment – Germany strong with replacements from Russian front, made it within 40 miles of Paris • American Troops played important role in containing German offensive – American first major attack June 1st – Stopped Germany from taking Paris on its last attempt July 15 THE AMERICANS ARRIVE • The Battle of the Argonne Forest – German drive stalled, French commander ordered massive counter attacks – American troops pushed German forces back through another major attack near Argonne Forest – Amer. Had 600,000 troops, 400,000 tons of supplies, and 4000 artillery pieces – Most massive attack in American history – Attack began September 26 1918 and soon after all German forces began to retreat (created a hole in their lines). THE AMERICANS ARRIVE

• American Heroes – Alvin York: Born 1887 grew up in Tennessee • Tried to avoid draft (against war)… conscientious objector • October 8 1918 in battle of Argonne forest, York took charge after 9 American men killed and charged German machine guns, killed between 9 and 25 Germans and took 132 prisoners • Used fame to fund Alvin York Institute, a school for poor Tennessee Children THE AMERICANS ARRIVE

– Eddie Rickenbacker: Born in Ohio, was a famous race car driver • Combat pilot, commander 94th Aero Squadron • Fought 134 air battles and shot down 26 aircraft • One battle single-handedly fought 7 German Aircraft • Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor THE AMERICANS ARRIVE • The War Ends – While fighting western front, Austria-Hungary had revolution and split into separate countries • Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia • November 1918 Austria-Hungary surrendered to Allies – November 3rd, German Sailors mutinied and within days several towns were under army control – Emperor stepped down and German became a republic – 2 Days later gov’t signed an armistice – At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month 1918 fighting stopped. A Bloody Conflict

• A FLAWED PEACE

• MAIN IDEA – The United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and rejected the League of Nations A FLAWED PEACE

• Although fighting stopped, World War I was not over – Peace treaty had to be negotiated and signed – January 1919 delegates from 27 countries traveled to France for Peace Conference – Peace Treaty with Germany known as Treaty of Versailles – Treaty with Austria-Hungary known as Treaty of Saint-Germain A FLAWED PEACE

• Negotiations for Versailles Treaty lasted 5 months – Most important “Big Four” participants • Pres. Wilson (USA) • Prime Minister David Lloyd George (Great Britain) • Georges Clemenceau (France) • Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando (Italy) – Russia not invited, Allies refused to recognize new communist gov’t A FLAWED PEACE

• The Fourteen Points – Pres. Wilson brought his peace plan known as “Fourteen Points” • Believed if implemented would have long lasting peace in Europe – First 5 points eliminate causes of the war through free trade, freedom of seas, disarmament , impartial adjustment of colonial claims and open diplomacy A FLAWED PEACE

– Next 8 points addressed national self-determination • Boarders of countries based on ethnicity and national identity • This also meant no country could keep territory claimed from another nation (Central Powers give up what had taken during the war) – 14th point was most important, called for creating League of Nations • Help preserve peace by pledging to protect and respect each other’s territory and political independence • Wilson wanted this most and willing to give up other points A FLAWED PEACE

• The Treaty of Versailles – Wilson popular in Europe, helped with negotiations going his way … adopted 14 points – France and Britain not happy, wanted Germany Punished for war – Despite 14 points and Wilson hopes, peace terms were harsh against Germany • Armed Forces greatly reduced • Not allowed to put troops west of Rhine River • Blamed Germany for the war – Treaty Signed June 28 1919 A FLAWED PEACE

• Germany accepted guilt of war by signing treaty – Allies could now demand reparations – Decided that Germany should pay $33 Billion (intended to keep Germany economy weak) • National Self-determination was more successful – Dismantled Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russian Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire – Nine New Nations in Europe due to peace treaty • Austria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Yugoslavia – This did not apply to Germany (many Germans living outside Germany boarders).. Set stage for 1930 crisis A FLAWED PEACE

• Treaty did not address – Freedom of seas or Free trade – Ignored goal of fair settlement of colonial claims • Treaty did create League of Nations – Members promised • Reduce armaments • Submit all disputes to arbitration if endangered peace • Come to the aid of any member who was threatened with aggression by another state A FLAWED PEACE • The US Senate did not ratify the peace treaty even though Wilson was confident they would – Needed Republican support but refused to take republican leaders to conference (Wilson was democrat) – Opposition focused on League of Nations (thought as another “entangling alliance” and did not like that US might go to war without congress approval – Even after going to the people with the treaty (causing his illness) congress refused to ratify treaty and Wilson Refused to compromise. • After Wilson left office, US negotiated separate peace treaty with Central powers and did not join League of Nations EXIT TICKET

• On A Half Sheet of paper answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. What new technologies were introduced in World War 1? 2. Why would Pershing want to keep US soldiers in their own units? 3. What was national self-determination and why did Wilson think it would help prevent war?