Breaking the Stalemate Enter the USA

At the Start of WWI The USA [led by President Woodrow Wilson] was friendly to the Entente democracies but was officially neutral in WWI. From the start of the war German U-boats were sinking all cargo ships bound for Britain. [This policy was called ‘unrestricted submarine warfare.’

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare The Germans were careful not to sink American ships- but U-boat captains like Walther Schwieger attacked many anyway. Germany posted warnings in the USA to passengers traveling on ‘liners.’

The Heads Up

Unterseeboote 20

The Lusitania On May 15, 1915, U-boat 19 fired 2 torpedoes into the liner- it sank in 15 minutes. 1198 [out 1959] were killed. 248 were Americans.

The Lusitania There was global out rage over the attack –aided by Entente propaganda. The US talked of entering the war against Germany-Wilson demanded the end of U- boat attacks on US shipping.

The Kaiser Retreats Kaiser Wilhelm knew that if the US entered the war- Germany would lose so he suspended U- boat attacks against neutral ships. Things calmed down until 1917.

1917- Russia Out/USA In The Russian Revolution of October 1917- gave Germany a victory on the ‘eastern front’. Germany had over a million troops to throw into an all out assault on the western front – and so end the war. As part of this all out attack- Germany re-launched it’s ‘unrestricted U-boat war’ on all shipping. This would bring the USA in against Germany. The Kaiser was gambling that Germany would win in the west before the US could arrive to save the Entente.

The Zimmerman Telegram In April 1917, Germany sent a note to the Mexican gov’t which promised to give them Texas if they joined the war against America. This note was intercepted by British intelligence and given to the US media. President Wilson declared war on April 6, 1917.

The Zimmerman Telegram

Germany’s ‘Spring Offensive’ Along with the 1 million extra troops, Germany gave command on the ‘western front’ to victors of the east-Generals Hindenburg [left] and Ludendorff. They would execute the Kaiserschlacht [Kaiser Battle]- intended to end the war.

The Battle Plan

The Plan Germany intended to smash through the British lines, separate them from the French army and destroy them both. The German’s massed over 5 million troops against 2 million British and Empire troops.- A big numerical advantage [for the first time] AND- Germany had developed new tactics on the eastern front that had destroyed the Russians.

The Stormtroopers Strormtroop companies [1000 troops] were formed by taking the best soldiers from different armies and giving them special training and equipment. [eg sub-machine guns and flamethrowers] These units would lead the German attacks as ‘shock troops.’

The Stand Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, issued an "Order of the Day" on April 11 stating, "With our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the end."

The Result The Kaiserschlacht series of offensives had yielded large, in First World War terms, territorial gains for the Germans. However, the strategic objective of a quick victory was not achieved and the German armies were severely depleted, exhausted and in exposed positions. In six months the strength of the German army had fallen from 5.1 million fighting men to 4.2 million. Manpower was exhausted

The Allies Counterattack From 8 August 1918 to 11 November 1918. In French it is sometimes referred to as "Les cent jours du Canada" (Canada's Hundred Days), highlighting the prominent participation of the Canadian Corps The offensive led to the final demoralisation and retreat of the German armies and the end of World War I.

The Black Day of the German Army August 11, 1918 the Canadians [led by Sir Arthur Currie] routed the German’s and forced them into a chaotic retreat. In the official German war history this event is called ‘the black day of the German Army.’

The End Germany agreed to an ‘armistice’ [cease fire] on 11 November 1918. Peace treaty negotiations began in June 1919. The ‘war to end all wars’ was over. Or was it?