The End Of The War - 1052 Words

In autumn of 1918, it all started. Desertion rates were dramatically rising in the German army, and civil strikes reduced protection of German cities. This was the beginning of the end of the war. While the German army was slowly collapsing, the Americans found the perfect chance to strike the German army. The Americans then launched the important Hundred Day Offense which was the concluding offensive of the war. The Hundred Day Offense pushed Germany out of France, therefore, forcing them to retreat beyond the Hindenburg Line where they landed their final attack of this war. The Hindenburg Line was built during the winter of 1916 as an important German defense position on the eastern front. Once the Germans retreated to the Hindenburg†¦show more content†¦Approximately a month after bargaining was over, the Treaty of Versailles was presented to Germany for â€Å"consideration.† Germany was given 3 weeks to accept the terms. If it was not accepted, continuation of the war would be inevitable. The Treaty of Versailles is widely known for its essentials to end the war, but it inflicted harsh terms on the Germans as well. Germany was forced to give up 13.5% of its 1914 territory (including land taken from Russia in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and a lot of vital industrial territory), its army was limited to 100,000 men, German use of heavy artillery, gas, tanks, and aircraft was banned, Germany s navy was restricted to shipping under 10,000 tons, Germans weren t allowed to use submarines, and Germany was forced to pay $55 billion in reparations. The $55 billion the Germans needed to pay was one of the harshest term of the treaty. After the Germans gave up this money, unemployment struck and Germany slowly collapsed as a whole, and the German people accepted Hitler’s rise to power under the motto that he was going to help Germany become a power and avoid war (he obviously didn’t). This treaty received mixed reactions. The most important politicians involved with the signing of this treaty were Georges Clemnà ©ceau of France, David Lloyd George of Britain, and, of course, the American Woodrow Wilson (28th President of the United States). Similar to Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, pushed