W.W.I: A Global Conflict

Ch. 29 Section 3

Global Conflict• W.W.I was much more than a European conflict.

• Australia and Japan entered the war on the Allies side.

• Ottoman Turks and Bulgaria allied themselves with the Central Powers.

• Gallipoli Campaign – Britain’s attempt to attack the Turks at Gallipoli in 1915.• Trying to establish a supply line to Russia – Not successful

• Battles in Africa and Asia – Germany’s colonial possessions came under assault by French and British but with the help of India, South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Indochina.

German War Tactics• Germany seeks to control Atlantic Ocean to stop

supplies to Britain.• German Blockade

• Germany announced it would begin unrestricted submarine warfare -- sinking ships without warning in the waters around Britain.

• Sinking of the Lusitania (British Ship) killing 1,198 people including 128 Americans.

• U.S. warned Germany after the sinking• Germany continued to this type of warfare.

Zimmerman Telegram• In 1917, Britain intercepted a telegram from

Germany’s foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, to the German ambassador in Mexico. The message said that Germany would help Mexico “re-conquer” the land it lost to the U.S. if Mexico would ally itself with Germany.

• When the Zimmerman Note was made public, Americans called for War against Germany.

• U.S. declares war against Germany in April 1917, joining Allies.

Here is a picture of the telegram as it was received, encoded:

                                                                        

                       

This is a picture of the same telegram, but decoded:

                                                                               

                      

Total War• The Great War, as the conflict came to be known,

affected everyone. Not only soldiers but civilians as well.

• World War I becomes total war—nations devote all resources to war• Governments take control of economy to produce war

goods.• Gov’ts turn to rationing—limiting the amount of goods

people can buy.• Propaganda—one-sided information to build morale,

support for war

Women and the War

• At home, thousands of women filled jobs previously held by men.

• Women built tanks, plowed fields, paved streets and ran hospitals.

• They also kept troops supplied with food, clothing, and weapons.

• Many women also experience the war by working as nurses.

The End is Near• The losses suffered during the war for Russia took

away from the Russian people’s support for their Czar.

• Civil unrest in Russia forces czar Nicholas to step down.

• Lack of food and fuel brought the czar’s government to the brink of collapse.

• Communists take control of Russia’s government. • Russia signs the treaty of Brest-Litovsk with

Germany in March 1918, which ends the fighting between them.

Victory in Sight• With Russia gone, Germany moves most forces to

Western Front• Germans mounted one final massive attack on the allies in France.

• More than 6,000 German cannons opened the offensive with the largest artillery attack of the entire war.

• German forces crushed everything in their path and victory was within reach.

• By this time, the German military had weakened and sensing this, the allies launched a counterattack.

• France with the help of nearly 140,000 fresh troops Americans force Germans to retreat.

• In July 1918, the Allies and Germans clashed again and soon the Central powers began to crumble.

• Allies win war• Armistice is signed in November 1918 (ending the fighting).

Legacy of the War• War takes heavy toll: 8.5 million soldiers dead, 21

million wounded.• War devastates European economies and drains

national treasuries.• Many acres of land and homes, villages, towns are

destroyed• Survivors suffer disillusionment and despair; reflected in

the arts and literature.• Peace agreement, which was sought to bring a new sense

of security and peace, prompted mainly anger and resentment.