The End of the War

Aims:

• Identify the main factors which led to Germany’s defeat in the First World War.

• There were many factors which led to Germany’s defeat in the First

World War.• All of them played an important role

in their surrender in 1918.• You are already aware of some of

these factors – can

Why Was Germany Defeated in the First World War?

Failure of the Schlieffen Plan

Naval Blockade

Failure of the German U-Boat

Campaign

Collapse of the German Home

Front

Entry of the USA

Failure of the Ludendorff Offensive

The USA – A Neutral Country

• When war broke out in 1914 the USA remained neutral.

• However they did sell goods to Britain and France and provide them with loans to finance the war.

• American industry greatly benefitted from this.

America Joins the WarApril 1917

In 1915 the Germans sank the Lusitania with American

citizens on board.

In January 1917 the Zimmerman telegram showed that Germany was

an enemy of the USA.

From February 1917 German U-Boats attacked American ships taking supplies to Europe

The Lusitania sailed from New York in May 1915 with over 2,000 passengers on board.

Half way through its voyage on 7th May, the ship was hit by a German U-Boat.

1,153 passengers and crew drowned, including 128 US citizens.

There was outrage in both the USA and Britain that innocent people had been killed.

However after the ship was hit by a torpedo from the German U-Boat, there was a second explosion.

The Lusitania had been secretly carrying 4, 200 cases of small arms ammunition to Britain. Germany reassured the USA that there would be no repeat of the sinking of the Lusitania.

The Zimmermann Telegram

• In January 1917 British Naval Intelligence intercepted a telegram from the German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmermann.

• The telegram was to the German minister in Mexico and urged the Mexicans to join Germany in an alliance.

• The Mexicans were promised part of the state of Texas as a reward.

• When news of this reached America, there was a fury of anti-German feeling. America was closer to joining the war.

Task:

Using Heinemann page 59 and the information you have been given on the Zimmermann telegram write a note in your jotter which describes the THREE reasons why America joined the war in April 1917.

• The Sinking of the Lusitania 1915

• The Zimmerman Telegram 1917

• The German U-Boat Campaign 1917