1. World War 1 – Nearing The End
In 1914 (…the start of WW1…), the United States did NOT declare war on Germany.
Throughout the war, German submarines attacked and sank any ship…passenger liner, military vessel, freighter or medical ship. In 1915, the Germans sank a British passenger ship killing 1195 passengers, including 128 Americans.
In 1917, the USA prepared to enter WW1 as a fighting nation.
WW1 also included the Eastern Front with the Germans fighting the Russians. German won this part of the war, and in 1917, Russia withdrew.
If you were a German General, what would you do?

2. World War 1 – Nearing The End
If you were a German General, what would you do?
You would want to attack and defeat the Allied armies on the Western Front (i.e., French, English and Canadians) BEFORE the USA entered the war with new supplies and fresh troops.
In early 1918, the Germans launched a massive assault on the Western Front. Initially, the Allied troops retreated, but eventually the German advance was stopped.
In the summer of 1918, American troops reinforced the Allied positions.
With the new equipment and soldiers, what would likely happen?

3. World War 1 – Nearing The End
What happened next was a large Allied attack. It is called THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE. It is the last 100 days of WW1.
The first battle began on 8 August 1918, and it involved 414 tanks and soldiers. In seven hours, the Germans were routed and retreated nearly 12 km. This attack was halted when the tanks ran out of gas.
Led by Canadian General Arthur Currie, the Canadians won many battles. In this march, 9000 Canadian soldiers were killed and almost were wounded.
By October 1918, the Germans armies had lost many battles. They were nearly surrounded.
If you were a German General, what would you do?

4. World War 1 – Nearing The End
At the same time, support inside Germany for the war was falling.
Recall…
The British navy had defeated the Germany navy in the battles for the Atlantic Ocean.
The German ships had been forced to return to docks.
The British navy had established a naval blockade that prevented ANY SUPPLIES from reaching Germany.
In 1918, desperate German Generals planned to undertake a suicide attack to break the blockade.
You are a German sailor. You learn about the plan to attack the British blockade. What would you do?
With all the clues, offer one idea why support for the war be falling inside Germany?

5. World War 1 – Nearing The End
Why was support for the war be falling inside Germany?
The British naval blockage stopped food from reaching Germany. The German people were starving.
On the Western Front, the German armies were surrounded. New German soldiers were old men or boys. They had no food or supplies, while the Allies had tanks and fresh USA soldiers. The Germans faced sure defeat.
German sailors staged a mutiny rather than attack the British blockade.
As a German leader, what would you do?

6. World War 1 – Nearing The End
An ARMISTICE to end the fighting was negotiated. Fighting was to stop on 11 November 1918 at 11:00 a.m.
German soldiers fought fiercely until the very last moment, and the last Canadian soldier, Private George Lawrence Price, was killed at 10:58 a.m.
In total, over 10 million soldiers were killed.
About Canadians fought in WW1. Nearly were killed and wounded. Nearly 40% of Canadian troops were killed or wounded.

7. World War 1 – Nearing The End
Country
Dead
Wounded
Missing
TOTAL
Germany
Austria-Hungary
France
Great Britain
Canada
67 000
Russia
USA
58 480
14 290