Why did Germany and her Allies lose WWI?

1. Why did Germany and her Allies lose WWI?

2. German Tax System • Germany’s federal tax system meant it was unable to raise large sums for the war • Germany did not have taxes on war profits until 1916 • Hindenburg programwas too late

3. Germany sacrificed the moral high ground • Attacked Belgium in 1914 • Sank the Lusitania May of 1915 • January 19, 1915 First German Zeppelin air raid on England. • Jan 31st, 1917 Germany (after a halt in sub-warfare) again declared unrestricted submarine warfare.

4. Sank the Lusitania May of 1915

5. Germany’s actions = Propaganda gift for Allies • January 19, 1915 First German Zeppelin air raid on England.

6. unrestricted submarine warfare.

7. British Propaganda • http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/uk.htm

8. The British Blockade of Germany • Created massive food shortages in Germany. • Germans ate ‘K-bread’ made from black grain • ‘turnip winter’ in 1917 • Sawdust used for flour • German population devastated

9. Italy switches sides • April, 1915 Italy declared war on the Central Powers • War was fought on three fronts from that time • Too much for the Central Powers

10. DORA • Defense of Realm Act in Britain (1914) • After Munitions Crisis in G.B. 1915 DORA mobilizes society to help in war • Over 1 million G.B. women become ‘mutionettes’

11. 1915 Munitions Crisis in Britain • David Lloyd George appointed new Minister of Munitions • Solved munitions crisis • G.B. mobilized its people faster than Germany

12. Conscription G.B. 1916 • David Lloyd George centralized economy through DORA • Uses DORA to introduce conscription • Replaced Asquith as Prime Minister • Began to lead G.B. to victory against the Kaiser and Germany

13. Failure of the Schlieffen Plan • 1914 – creates 2 front war • BEF intervenes • Germans defeated at Marne • War of attrition condemns Germany and her plans emerged as futile

14. Failure of Schlieffen Plan • G.B. recruits 1 million men by Christmas • Reinforcements help BEF in battle of attrition • G.B. introduces conscription in 1916 • Germany is doomed

15. The USA Involvement • Jan. 1917 USA intercepted the Zimmerman Telegraph • April 6, 1917 USA declared war on Germany • USA provided massive morale boost as well as massive resources and manpower

16. Arab Revolt • Summer of 1917 • British T.E, Lawrence (of Arabia) led Arabs • Followed General Allenby • Led coordinated attack on the Ottoman Empire rule in the Middle East • Disrupted the Ottoman rule

17. Surrender of Russia • Nov. 1917 Russia surrendered • Negotiations of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk take ages • The terms of the treaty were so harsh • Allies become even more determined after TBL is signed

18. Arrival of U.S. troops in France • Jan, 1918 50,000 U.S. troops arrive on battlefields in France • Every week 50,000 troops arrived to help in war effort • http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/chart.ww1.html

19. Allies United! Axis Fall apart • March, 1918 formation of Allied command • Haig, Petain, Pershing (U.K., Fr., USA generals) agree to give Allied Control to General Foch (France) • Coordination of anti-Spring Offensive against Germany

20. Battle of Piave • Devastating for Austria-Hungary • Emperor of A-H ordered an attack on Italian positions • Wanted to unite his waning multi-national support • Austria lost 100,000 men

21. Failure of German Spring Offensive • August, 1918 • Operation Michael • Germany planned massive offensive • Unable to break the trench line • Attack grinded to a halt • German casualties in almost 4 years of war exceed 1 million men

22. Bulgaria surrendered to G.B., France and the USA. • Sep, 1918 • Bulgaria surrendered Germany’s main supply of oil cut off • The same day Ludendorff explained to Kaiser that the War is lost • Germany’s citizens were shocked by news of armistice.

23. Ludendorff’s resignation • Sep, 1918 • Resigned after he told the Kaiser the war was lost • Threatened resignation if Kaiser did not ‘fight with utmost vigor’ • The Kaiser accepted his resignation

24. The Battle of Vittorio Veneto • Oct, 1918 • Austria is defeated by Italian army • Hundreds of thousands are taken prisoner

25. Ottoman Empire surrendered to Western Allies • Oct, 1918 • The Ottomans are defeated by General Allenby • The final battle was at Megiddo

26. Mutiny in German Army • The Kaiser ordered the Germany navy to launch a suicide mission against British navy • Kiel Mutiny subsequently followed • Afterwards mutiny spread through the whole of the Germany army

28. Abdication of Kaiser • Nov. 1918 • Bavaria was in hands of Communists • Berlin was in the midst of a battle between various socialist groups • Germany was falling apart • The Kaiser fled to Holland

29. Armistice • With no other choice left, the Germans proposed the armistice on October 3rd • The armistice was given to Germany.  It basically required that the Germans retreat into their own borders and leave all of their weapons behind.  • William II fled the country and Prince Max was put on the throne just long enough to sign the armistice.  • The German soldiers began to retreat into their own country and on November 11 the armistice was signed, officially ending the war.

30. SHOCK • The propaganda campaign had been so successful in Germany that it came as genuine shock to the German people that they had lost the war. They felt betrayed and rather than blaming the Kaiser blamed the new government that had signed the armistice.