Key Facts

The entry of the USA into the war gave Britain and France the advantage of hundreds of thousands of fresh fit, young American soldiers; American industrial power and money but this would take time to organise. It would be the summer of 1918 before they were in Europe in any numbers.

The withdrawl of Russia gave the Germans a temporary advantage until the Americans arrived in force. They had to win the war in 1918 or face defeat in 1919.

On March 21st 1918 the Germans launched the first attack to try to break the allies before the Americans arrived in force.

This was a new type of attack. There was a short bombardment, then specially trained stormtroopers advanced across the trenches. It was a great success and the allies pulled back. Once the attack slowed down the Germans switched troops to another area for a fresh attack.

The first attack was on the Somme battlefield. In April the Germans attacked in the Ypres area and in May they attacked on the river Aisne near Soissons. All these attacks drove the allies back but the allied line was not broken.

The allies were so shocked that they appointed a single man to command the British and French armies, General Ferdinand Foch. Also by the summer of 1918 American forces in Europe were growing rapidly in number. By July the German attacks had been halted.

The allies counterattacked in July and pushed the Germans back. August 8th, 1918 was the "black day" of the German army when a force of Australians aided by aircraft and tanks broke the German lines. The German High Command panicked and in September the German army commander, Ludendorff, demanded that the German government ask for an armistice through the American government.

President Wilson of the USA had his conditions for peace - among them the Fourteen Points. Diplomatic messages passed between Washington and Berlin. The Americans wanted an end to German militarism and in particular the abdication of the Kaiser.

The condition of Germany's allies was now desperate. The Austro - Hungarian government and army collapsed on total chaos and surrendered on 4th November. Bulgaria had already given up on the 30th of September and on the 30th October the Turks signed an armistice with the allies. Finally, the Kaiser having abdicated a few days before, the First World War came to an end on the 11th November 1918 at 11.00am.

It would finally be over by Christmas.

Read page 55 and the Key Facts and answer these questions-

How many American troops were in Europe by summer 1918?

According to source N in what way was the war becoming unbearable for most Germans?

Why could the allies afford to lose valuable supplies?

What German attacks were launched in the spring of 1918?

In what way were these attacks different from previous ones?

Why was August 8th the "black day" for the German army?

When did the Germans decide on surrender?

When did a. Bulgaria, b. Turkey and c. Austria-Hungary surrender?

When did the First World War come to an end?