World War I Summary

World War I Timeline

• July 1914 - August 1915: Major alliance systems declare war.

• Feb-Dec 1916: Battle of Verdun, with ~1 million casualties.

• Jan 1917: Zimmerman Telegram sent, influencing US opinion to enter the war.

• April 1917: US declares war on Germany.

• June 1919: Peace treaty signed in Versailles by German delegates and Allies.

Key Events

• June 28, 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo.

• Sept 15, 1914: First trenches dug on Western Front.

• July-Nov 1916: Battle of the Somme - ~1 million casualties.

• Dec 1917: Russia leaves war after Bolshevik Revolution.

Considerations for Peace

• Post-war, leaders sought sustainable peace; Wilson called for peace not forced on losers.

• Wilson's 1918 address: proposed a 14-point program for world peace with open diplomacy.

Peace Arrangements

• Nov 4, 1918: Austro-Hungarian empire armistice; Nov 11, 1918: Germany's armistice.

• Jan 1919: Paris Peace Conference - established Treaty of Versailles.

• Big Four (UK, France, US, Italy) dominated discussions.

• Treaty included formation of the League of Nations for conflict resolution.

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

• Article 231: Germany accepts responsibility for war damages.

• Article 160: German military reduced to minimal forces by March 31, 1920.

• Reparations: Germany required to pay $55 billion for damages.