1. The Last Two Years of WWI

2. America’s Entrance to the War
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine sank the unarmed British liner Lusitania
The incident killed 128 Americans and quickly raised the United State’s hostility towards Germany.
The United States official entrance into the war occurred in 1917, when Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare that interfered with foreign trade.

3. Funeral of Lusitania Victims

4. United States Effect on the War
In the two years that the U.S. was involved, the size of the American army jumped from 200,000 in early 1917, to over 4 million by the end of the war.
Within two years, the Allies had neutralized the Axis forces and the war had ended.

5. Key Events of the Last Two Years
French soldiers mutiny against their leadership
50,000 soldiers involved
French censorship was so great, that the Germans did not find out until after the war and could not take advantage

6. The Third Battle of Ypres
Meticulously planned, The Third Ypres was launched on July 31, 1917 and continued until the fall of Passchendaele village on November 6, 1917.
The offensive resulted in gains for the Allies but was by no means the breakthrough they intended for, and gains that were made came at a great cost to human life.
The final great battle of attrition of the war.
700,000 total casualties

7. America’s Victory
The Meuse-Argonne offensive, launched on September 26, John J. Pershing hurled some 1.2 million "doughboys" into the Meuse-Argonne attack, and though their inexperience produced appalling casualties, their sheer quantity finally broke the German resistance. Germany quickly realized it could not hold out against the western front.

8. Paris Peace Conference
Meeting of Allied Powers (No Central Powers) to determine post-war arrangements.
Georges Clemenceau, France
Lloyd George, Great Britain
Woodrow Wilson, United States
British blockade created urgency to make arrangements
Threatened to restart war if treaties were not followed

9. Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1919
Purpose: decrease military potential of Central powers
Conditions for Germany:
Accept responsibility and guilt for starting the war
Not allowed to have navy or air force and an army of only 100,000
No union with Austria
Pay for cost of war and pay reparations to Allies in either money or goods such as land

10. Additional Allied Treaties
Treaty of Neuilly (1919)- Bulgaria ceeded portions of territory
Treaty of St. Germain (1919) and Treaty of Trianon ( 1920)- Allies recognize the break-up of Austrian-Hungarian Empire
Treaty of Sevres (1920)- end of Ottoman Empire and led to foreign control of that region
Treaty of Lausanne (1923)- Allied powers recognized Republic of Turkey as separate entity from Ottoman Empire

11. Lasting Effects Deaths
War conflicts killed at least 15 million people and wounded 20 million
Millions more died in following years from starvation, malnutrition, diseases

12. Europe Prior to War, 1914

13. Europe After War, 1919