Figure 1.--The Germans in their initial offensive suceeded in occupying almost all of Belgium (August 1914). The Allied 100 Days Offensive begining in August 1918 cracked the vaunted Hindenburg Line and liberated substantial areas of occupied Belgium and France before the Armistice finally ended the fighting (Novedmber 11). Here the defeated German Army after the Armistice withdraws from the region of Belgium the Allies had not yet liberated while Belgian civilans look on. Note the lack of war damage. The area of Belgium and northern France where the War had been fought were devestated.

Allied offensives on the Western Front cracked the German front forcing them back toward Germany. The German Navy mutined. Riots broke out in Germany cities. A German Government was hastily formed and asked for an armistice based on President Wilson's 14 Points. After determining that the request came from a civilian German Government and not the Kaiser or German military, the Allies accepted the German offer. The gun fell silent after 4 years of vicious fighting at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (November 11, 1918). There had been over 8.5 million soldiers killed and 21.2 million wounded. The General staff informed the Kaiser that they could no longer guarantee his saftey. He abdicated and fled to the neutral Netherlands (November 28).

Allied 100 Days Offensive (August-November 1918)

When the German Spring 1918 Western offensive ground to a halt the Allies initiated their offensive. This was largely an Anglo-American opperation. The French Army since 1917 was largely restricted to defensive operations. The British in 1914 had only a small professioinal force. By 1918 they had built a large conscript army. The army had learned a great deal on the Somme (1916) and with a new tank force was ready to assault the Hindenburg Line. The Americans when they entered the War in 1917 also had only a small professional army. America rapidly built a large concript army and by mid-1918 that army was ready to assault the Germans lines. The Allies wanted the Americans to be used as replacement troops in British and French units. Pershing insisted on fielding an American army--the AEF. Having helped stop the German offensive, the Americans along with the Brirish went on the offensive. The Allied Hundred Days Offensive proved to be the war-winning offensive of World War I. The Allies struck (August 8). The German Spring-Summer offensive had severely bled the German Army. Unfer the powerful Allied onslaught, the Germans finally began to crack and large numbers of soldiers began to surrender and desert. The Allies forced the Germans to retreat all along the Western Frint which had proven such a deadly obstacle for over 4 years.

Central Powers Desintegrate (September 29-November 3, 1918)

The core of the Central Powes were Germany and Austria-Hungary with Germany by far the dominant power. With Germany successes at the beginning of the War, the Ottomans and Bulgarians entered the War on the side of the Central Powers. The War went bady for all three German partners. The Russians and British delivered stinging blows to the Ottomans causing the final disolution of the Empire. The Russians badly mauled the Austrians to such an extent that despite the Russian collapse, the Austrian Empire itself was fately weakened. Bulgaria participated in the defeat of Serbia and Romania, but when Greece entered the War, the Allies with the Serbian army opened a new front in the south. All three of Germany's allies decided to quit the War.

Bulgaria (September 29)

Bulgaria participated in the defeat of Serbia and Romania, but when Greece entered the War, the Allies with the Serbian army opened a new front in the south. Bulgaria was the first member of the Central Powers to sign an armistice at Saloniki (September 29, 1918).

Ottoman Empire (September 30)

The Ottoman armies in Palestine and Mesopotamia (Iraq) collapsed, British armies wre posed to move north toward Anatolia. The Empire capitulated at Mudros (September 30).

Austria-Hungary (November 3)

Austria-Hungary had set Word War I in motion by invading Serbia and ignoring Russia;s commitment to that country. Although the Germans suceeded in defeating the Russian, that was not before the Russian Army has inflicted enormous casualties on the Austian-Hungarian Army. The Itlians opened what was to be their final offensve of the War against the Austrians (October 24). Their objective was to recover the territory lost in the disastrous Battle of Caporetto. This Italian offensive culminated in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. This proved to be the end of the Austro-Hungarian Army. The Austrians were a small minority in the Army and the ethnic groups which composed the bulk of the Army were no longer willing to fight for Austria. The Army after Vittorio Veneto began to disentegrate. So did the Empire itself as the various parts of the Empire began to declare independence. Goverments were set up in Budapest, Prague and Zagreb. Austrian authorities ased asked Italy for an armistice (October 29). The Italians, however, continued their advance, taking Trento, Udine and Trieste. The Austrians under a flag of truce made a second offer (November 3). The terms were worked out with the Allied Authorities in Paris. The Armistice was signed in the Villa Giusti, near Padua (November 3). Austria and Hungary subsequently signed separate armistices following the overthrow of the Habsburg monarchy and the establishment of searate governments in Vienna and Budapest.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff Lose their Nerve

With the western front collapsing, Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff lost their nerve. They finally sought to negotiate an end to the War.

Prince Max von Baden (October 1)

The Third Supreme Command and the Kaiser turn to Prince Max von Baden chancellor October 1). Prince Max was a member of the Baden royal family. He was the son of Grand Duke Frederick I's brother Prince Wilhelm. He became heir to the grand duchy in 1907. He played only a minor role in the War until the final months. He was at first active in welfare work for prisoners of war. He gradually became seen as a moderate voice, criticising the extreme right-wing policies, especially the Third Supreme Command, the military dictatorship headed by Hindenburg and Ludendorff in 1917. He had opposed the resumption of unresticted submarine warfare that ptoved ineffective, but disatrously brought America into the War against Germany. Prince Max succeeded Georg Hertling and hastily formed a new government. What the Third Supreme Command wanted was an Armistice that would give them time to reorganize and resupply the Army so they could prepare a new offensive. The Generals and the Kaisr hoped Prince Max with his reputation for moderation and oposition to the U-boat campaign could effectively deal with President Woodrow Wilson who seen as favoring a soft, non-vindictive peace. Wilson's 14 Points seen more attractive than anything the British and French would offer Germany. Wilson had offered the 14 Points as part of a peace plan the presented to Congress (January 1918). One of the points was national self determination this would prove a principle that the Germans would come to strenuosly reject in border regions were non-German populations were separated frlm Germany. Prince Max sent a telegraph to Wilson requesting an armistice between Germany and the Allies (October 4). Prince Max announced that he was preparing to move Germany towards a parliamentary democracy.

President Wilson's Response (October 14 and 23)

Prince Max approached President Wilson who he believed would be easier to deal with than the British and French. President Wilson replied (October 14 and 23). He was not about to agree to an temporary armistice that would allow a future cointinuation of the War. Wilson indicated that the Allies would only deal with a democratic government and not the Kaiser or the military Supreme Command. The German generals saw Wilson's stern reply as "unacceptable". Ludendorff’s resolve appears to have returned with Wilson's sobering note. He insisted that the Wilson's note should be rejected and the War resumed with vigor. On November 7 - Hindenburg contacted the Allied Supreme Commander, Ferdinand Foch, to open armistice negotiations; four days later, World War I came to an end.

Ludendorff Replaced (October 26)

The Allied offemsive, however, was rolling east toward the German border. German morate at the front and on the home front was affected by knowledge that the Government was attempting to neogiate ab armistice. Prince Max saw that more than cosmetic reforms would be necessaru\y in Germany to placate the Allies. He saw the need to end the dictatorship of the Third Supreme Command, especially the leading role played by the extrene right-wing Ludendiorff. Ludendorff was relieved (October 26). He desguised himself and fled to Sweden.

Approaching Collapse

General Gröner replaced Ludendorff as quartermaster general. He informed Prince Max that the Army was near collapse and would have to surrender if an armistice was not reached with 3 days. Riots broke out in Germany cities.

Prince Max's Dilemma

Prince Max was in an impossible possition. The socialists wanted to remove the Kaiser. Right-wing deputies were adament in the continuation of the monarchy. Prince Max temprized He could not decided whether to pursue the possibility of a real constitutional monarchy.

British and French

Wilson actually had more problems with the British and French than the Germans. The Germans as the Western Front was collapsing were strongly motivated to end the War. The 14 Points sounded very attractive as German armies faced defeat. The British and French had no real incentive as the Allied armies pushed toward the Rhine. The British, French, and Italians all had serious reservations about Wilson's 14 Points. They War had been extreemly costly. Belgium and northern France was uin ruins. The British and French were determined to get reprations. Wilson favored a softer peace, but was willing to compromise to get British and French support to the new League of Nations. He was also committed to national self-determinastion, especially a revived Polish state for which he needed British and French support. Only after Wilson agreed to reparations would the British and French consent to the Armistice.

Hindenburg Requested an Armistice (November 7)

Hindenburg contacted the Allied Supreme Commander, Ferdinand Foch, to open armistice negotiations (November 7).

German Republic (November 9)

Social Democrat Philipp Scheidemann declared the creation of a German republic on the Reichstag balcony (November 9). Prince Max did not resist amd immediately resigned, becoming the final imperial chancelor. The Kiel naval mutiny occurred on the same day. Prince Max handed over to Social Democratic Party leader Friedrich Ebert, thus earming the hated of the right-wing nationalists.

The Kaiser Announced his Abdication (November 9)

The Socialists who were powerfull in the Reichstag demanded the Kaiser abdicate (November 3). Some deputies suggested he abdicate in favor of one of his sons, but not the Crown Prince who was hated by the Socialists. The Kaiser hesitated even after General Paul von Hindenburg informed him that the Army would not support him. The Kaiser abdicates and flees with Crown Prince to Holland November 10). Wilhelm fully intended to remain in Germany after abdication. The General staff informed the Kaiser that they could no longer guarantee his saftey. His last Chancellor, Prince Max of Baden, however, convinced the former Kaiser that the best action he could take was to seek refuge in a non-beligerant friendly country. He was thus forced to flee his country and sought refuge in neighboring Holland. The Netherlands had maintained its neutrality during the War. Unlike Belgium, the Germans did not invade the Netherlands in World War I. Finally on November 28, only 2 weeks after the Armistace on November 11, Wilhelm abdicated and shortly after fled to the Netherlands.

I herewith renounce for all time claims to the throne of Prussia and to the German Imperial throne connected therewith. At the same time I release all officials of the German Empire and of Prussia, as well as all officers, noncommissioned officers and men of the navy and of the Prussian army, as well as the troops of the federated states of Germany, from the oath of fidelity which they tendered to me as their Emperor, King and Commander-in-Chief. I expect of them that until the re-establishment of order in the German Empire they shall render assistance to those in actual power in Germany, in protecting the German people from the threatening dangers of anarchy, famine, and foreign rule.
Proclaimed under our own hand and with the imperial seal attached. Amerongen, 28 November, 1918 (Signed) WILHELM

Wilson's Offer

Ebert forwarded a note to President Wilson. After determining that the request came from a civilian German Government and not the Kaiser or German military, the Allies indicated that they were willing to accept the German offer. Wilson replied that the Allies were willing to begin peace negotiations on the basis of his 14 Points. Marshal Foch was empowered to expalain the aristice conditions. Ebert and Hindenburg had no alternative. Ebert appointed representatives to receive the terms for the armistice from the Allies.

Armistice Signed (November 11)

There was not total agreement on this Genetral Pershing wanted to fight on to Berlin. The Armistice was signed in a railway car at Compiegne in France on November 11, 1918. The provisions of the Armistice included: 1. Effective six hours after signing. 2. Immediate clearing of Belgium, France, Alsace-Lorraine, to be concluded within 14 days. Any troops remaining in these areas to be interned or taken as prisoners of war. 3. Surrender 5000 cannon (chiefly heavy), 30,000 machine guns, 3,000 trench mortars, 2,000 planes. 4. Evacuation of the left bank of the Rhine, Mayence, Coblence, Cologne, occupied by the enemy to a radius of 30 kilometers deep. 5. On the right bank of the Rhine a neutral zone from 30 to 40 kilometers deep, evacuation within 11 days. 6. Nothing to be removed from the territory on the left bank of the Rhine, all factories, railroads, etc. to be left intact. 7. Surrender of 5,000 locomotives, 150,000 railway coaches, 10,000 trucks. 8. Maintenance of enemy occupation troops through Germany. 9. In the East all troops to withdraw behind the boundaries of August 1, 1914, fixed time not given. 10. Renunciation of the Treaties of Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest. 11. Unconditional surrender of East Africa. 12. Return of the property of the Belgian Bank, Russian and Rumanian gold. 13. Return of prisoners of war without reciprocity. 14. Surrender of 160 U-boats, 8 light cruisers, 6 Dreadnoughts; the rest of the fleet to be disarmed and controlled by the Allies in neutral or Allied harbors. 15. Assurance of free trade through the Cattegat Sound; clearance of mine fields and occupation of all forts and batteries, through which transit could be hindered. 16. The blockade remains in effect. All German ships to be captured. 17. All limitations by Germany on neutral shipping to be removed. 18. Armistice lasts 30 days. [German press release] The gun fell silent after 4 years of vicious fighting at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (November 11, 1918). There had been over 8.5 million soldiers killed and 21.2 million wounded.

Provisions

Terms Include Withdrawal from Alsace-Lorraine, Disarming and Demobilization of Army and Navy, and Occupation of Strategic Naval and Military Points

Created: 8:45 AM 1/11/2007
Last updated: 3:43 AM 10/15/2007