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===The United States===

===The United States===

For three years (1914-1916) the United States attempted to stay out of the war.  Europe had been having internal fights since the days of the Greek empire, and the United States had friends on both sides of this massive war.  Many Americans were of German descent and sympathetic to the Central Powers, although most Americans were of British descent then (and now).  If the United States were to intervene, then it was clear that it would enter the war on the side of the British.

For three years (1914-1916) the United States attempted to stay out of the war.  Europe had been having internal fights since the ancient time of the Greek empire, and the United States had friends on both sides of World War I.  Many Americans were of German descent and sympathetic to the Central Powers, although most Americans were of British descent then (and now).  If the United States were to intervene, then it was clear that it would enter the war on the side of the British, but most Americans were initially against getting involved.

The Germans were using submarines to patrol the Atlantic in order to intercept British ships.  The German submarine was known as the “U-boat”, and it terrorized everyone.  In 1915, still relatively early in the war, a U-boat sunk a massive British passenger liner known as the Lusitania.  This one sinking killed 1,198 people, including 128 U.S. citizens.  A member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, known for its railroad empire, was among the fatalities.  The overall number of casualties was only a few hundred less than those who died on the Titanic when it hit an iceberg in 1912.

The Germans were using submarines to patrol the Atlantic in order to intercept British ships.  The German submarine was known as the “U-boat”, and it terrorized everyone.  In 1915, still relatively early in the war, a U-boat sunk a massive British passenger liner known as the Lusitania.  This one sinking killed 1,198 people, including 128 U.S. citizens.  A member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, known for its railroad empire, was among the fatalities.  The overall number of casualties was only a few hundred less than those who died on the Titanic when it hit an iceberg in 1912.

By 1917, and after nearly three years of brutal war, the Germans were not so friendly any more.  When the British implemented a naval blockade of Germany, preventing ships from entering or leaving its ports, the Germans announced they would sink any ship entering or leaving Britain.  The U-boats went back into action and quickly sunk three American ships.

By 1917, and after nearly three years of brutal war, the Germans were not so friendly any more.  When the British implemented a naval blockade of Germany, preventing ships from entering or leaving its ports, the Germans announced they would sink any ship entering or leaving Britain.  The U-boats went back into action and quickly sunk three American ships.

But many Americans, and the influential William Randolph Heart newspapers, were still against the United States entering this bloody European conflict.  True, the Germans sunk several American ships, but the Germans were simply doing what they must in response to the British blockade of Germany.  Besides, the Germans warned the United States beforehand.

But many Americans, and the influential William Randolph Heart newspapers, were still against the United States entering this bloody European conflict.  True, the Germans had sunk several American ships, but the Germans were simply doing what they must in response to the British blockade of Germany.  Besides, the Germans warned the United States beforehand.

Another incident outraged Americans more.  German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann sent an encrypted (secretly coded) telegram to the German ambassador to Mexico, which sought to induce Mexico to declare war on the United States. The British intelligence intercepted and deciphered (decoded) the telegram and gave it to the United States to help the British cause. President Woodrow Wilson made the contents of the telegram public.  

Another incident outraged Americans more.  German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann sent an encrypted (secretly coded) telegram to the German ambassador to Mexico, which sought to induce Mexico to declare war on the United States. The British intelligence intercepted and deciphered (decoded) the telegram and gave it to the United States to help the British cause. President Woodrow Wilson made the contents of the telegram public.  

The telegram promised that Germany would help Mexico regain land it had previously lost to the United States in the Mexican War (in the 1840s) if Mexico would declare war against the United States during World War I. Americans were outraged, and some newspapers doubted that the British self-serving version of the telegram was true. But then Zimmermann himself was foolish enough to confirm the promise (pledge) to Mexico in a public speech.

The telegram promised that Germany would help Mexico regain land it had previously lost to the United States in the Mexican War (in the 1840s) if Mexico would declare war against the United States during World War I. Americans were outraged, and some newspapers doubted that the British self-serving version of the telegram was true. But then Zimmermann himself was foolish enough to confirm the promise (pledge) to Mexico in a public speech.

This news, plus the sinking of American ships by German submarines, swung American opinion towards entering the war against the Germans.  Even though President Woodrow Wilson campaigned for office on the promise to keep America out of World War I, he pushed Congress to declare war on Germany on April 2, 1917.  The addition of the United States to the Allies tipped the power in their favor.

This news, plus the sinking of American ships by German submarines, swung American opinion towards entering the war against the Germans.  Even though President Woodrow Wilson campaigned for the presidency on his promise to keep America out of World War I, he pushed Congress to declare war on Germany on April 2, 1917.  The addition of the United States to the Allies tipped the power in their favor.

===Russia===

===Russia===

As the United States was entering the war on the side of the Allies, changes were occurring in Russia that would later cause it to withdraw from the side of the Allies and leave the war altogether.  In 1917 Russia was having an internal revolution known as the Communist Revolution, which would change the world for the rest of the century.

As the United States was entering the war on the side of the Allies, changes were occurring in Russia that would later cause it to withdraw from the side of the Allies and leave the war altogether.  In 1917 Russia was having an internal revolution known as the Communist Revolution (discussed further below), which would alter the world for the rest of the century.

The losses and hardship of the war had weakened Russian Czar Nicholas II.  He abdicated the throne in March 1917 in favor of a provisional government, which intended to continue fighting in the war.  But in November 1917 Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924), the leader of the Communist Party, overthrew the government.  In July 1918, the communists executed every member of the czar’s family.  (The bodies of two of the children have never been found, and years later a woman claimed to have been a girl in the family, but historians doubted it and DNA evidence did not support her claim.)

The losses and hardship of the war had weakened Russian Czar Nicholas II.  He abdicated the throne in March 1917 in favor of a provisional government, which intended to continue fighting in the war.  But in November 1917 Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924), the leader of the Communist Party, overthrew the government.  In July 1918, the communists executed every member of the czar’s family.  (The bodies of two of the children have never been found, and years later a woman claimed to have been a girl in the family, but historians doubted it and DNA evidence did not support her claim.)

Lenin was one of the most influential persons in all of history.  He was both a thinker and a revolutionary, which is a rare combination.  An atheist, he personally converted in 1889 to Marxism (as previously formulated by Karl Marx).  He obtained a law degree shortly afterwards, and by 1895 was a subversive who was arrested and sent to the frigid Siberia as punishment.  Once he served his time he left for Western Europe, where he developed his ideas further and became a leader of the Bolsheviks.  He returned to Russia after tsarist (czarist) rule ended in March 1917, and then Lenin led the Bolsheviks to power in the “October Revolution” (which was really in November under our Western calendar).  He then ruled the Soviet Union and imposed a system of Marxism-Leninism (communism) that remained in force there until the 1990s.

Lenin was one of the most influential persons in all of history.  He was both a thinker and a revolutionary, which is a rare combination.  An atheist, he personally converted in 1889 to Marxism (as previously formulated by Karl Marx).  He obtained a law degree shortly afterwards, and by 1895 was a subversive who was arrested and sent to the frigid Siberia as punishment.  Once he served his time he left for Western Europe, where he developed his ideas further and became a leader of the Bolsheviks.  He returned to Russia after tsarist (czarist) rule ended in March 1917, and then Lenin led the Bolsheviks to power in the “October Revolution” (which was really in November under our Western calendar).  He then ruled the Soviet Union and imposed a system of Marxism-Leninism (communism) that remained in force there until the 1990s.

Lenin quickly arranged for peace with Germany to end Russia’s involvement with the Allies in the war.  In March 1918, Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, by which Russia gave to Germany much territory, including what is now Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia.  This was a humiliating defeat for Russia, but it was simply too weak to fight the Germans further.

Lenin quickly arranged for peace with Germany to end Russia’s support of the Allies in the war.  In March 1918, Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, by which Russia gave to Germany much territory, including what is now Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia.  This was a humiliating defeat for Russia, but it was simply too weak to fight the Germans further.

===The Western Front===

===The Western Front===

The exit of Russia allowed Germany to shift all of its troops to the western front, saving Germany from having to continue a two-front war.  Almost immediately it appeared that Germany would win, as it unleashed all of its power against France in March 1918.

The exit of Russia allowed Germany to shift all of its troops to the western front, saving Germany from having to continue a two-front war.  Almost immediately it appeared that Germany would win, as it unleashed all of its power against France in March 1918.

The Germans launched five major campaigns in a four month period in 1918 on the “Western Front.” The Germans had technology and lots of energy.  They had elite storm-troopers with automatic rifles, light machine guns, flame-throwers and artillery fire.  They used poisonous mustard gas lavishly.  They easily defeated the British Fifth Army.  The Germans were advancing and taking property.

The Germans launched five major campaigns in a four month period in 1918 on the Western Front.  The Germans had technology and lots of energy.  They had elite storm-troopers with automatic rifles, light machine guns, flame-throwers and artillery fire.  They used poisonous mustard gas lavishly.  They easily defeated the British Fifth Army.  The Germans were advancing and taking property.

But fresh American troops entered the scene.  In the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918, the Allies started winning.  Nine American divisions fought in this battle about 75 miles northeast of Paris.  The Germans started this battle on another one of their offensives, but the Americans turned the tables and enabled the Allies to win it.  Casualties were enormous for everyone, including the Americans.  Former President Teddy Roosevelt’s son was killed in this battle.   

But fresh American troops entered the scene.  In the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918, the Allies started winning.  Nine American divisions fought in this battle about 75 miles northeast of Paris.  The Germans started this battle on another one of their offensives, but the Americans turned the tables and enabled the Allies to win it.  Casualties were enormous for everyone, including the Americans.  Former President Teddy Roosevelt’s son was killed in this battle.   

American Capt. Jesse Woolridge, 38th Inf., 3rd Division described the battle as follows: “It’s God’s truth that one Company of American soldiers beat and routed a full regiment of picked shock troops of the German Army ... At ten o’clock ... the Germans were carrying back wounded and dead [from] the river bank and we in our exhaustion let them do it - they carried back all but six hundred which we counted later and fifty-two machine guns... We had started with 251 men and 5 lieutenants...I had left 51 men and 2 second lieutenants ....”

American Capt. Jesse Woolridge, 38th Inf., 3rd Division described the battle as follows:<ref>http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/2marne.htm </ref>

 

:“It’s God’s truth that one Company of American soldiers beat and routed a full regiment of picked shock troops of the German Army ... At ten o’clock ... the Germans were carrying back wounded and dead [from] the river bank and we in our exhaustion let them do it - they carried back all but six hundred which we counted later and fifty-two machine guns... We had started with 251 men and 5 lieutenants...I had left 51 men and 2 second lieutenants ....”

As the Americans and the Allies advanced toward Germany, the Ottoman Turks and Bulgarians surrendered.  There was a revolution in Austria-Hungary that overthrew its government, and Germany would not recognize that new government.  Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne in Germany on November 1918, and the Germans formed a new republic.  Members of the German republic signed an armistice (agreement to stop fighting) on November 11, 1918.  The Great War was over.

As the Americans and the Allies advanced toward Germany, the Ottoman Turks and Bulgarians surrendered.  There was a revolution in Austria-Hungary that overthrew its government, and Germany would not recognize that new government.  Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne in Germany on November 1918, and the Germans formed a new republic.  Members of the German republic signed an armistice (agreement to stop fighting) on November 11, 1918.  The Great War was over.