How did World War One end and what happened next? | History for Year 6 PDF Download

When did World War One end?

World War One concluded at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, known as Armistice Day, when Germany signed an armistice, halting hostilities. Celebrations erupted in Britain, France, and their allied nations.

‘How London hailed the end of war’
A headline from The Daily Mirror on November 12, 1918, captured the joy in London.

What happened at the end of the war?

In early 1918, Germany held a strong position, bolstered by Russia’s withdrawal the previous year. However, several developments shifted the tide:

• Britain and France launched a counteroffensive following Germany’s Michael Offensive in March 1918.
• The German Navy went on strike.
• The United States entered the war against Germany in April 1917.
  These events led Germany and its allies to realize victory was unattainable. The German military leadership urged the government to end the conflict, and Kaiser Wilhelm, Germany’s leader, abdicated on November 9, 1918.

Postcard with illustration of flags promoting freedom (circa 1917).

What did the Treaty of Versailles do to Germany?

The leaders of the United States, Great Britain, and France convened in Versailles to determine postwar arrangements, excluding Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The resulting Treaty of Versailles stunned Germany with its terms:

• Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for initiating the war.
• They were barred from joining the newly formed League of Nations, an organization for international cooperation and peace.
• Territories like Alsace-Lorraine were stripped from Germany.
• Germany’s military was restricted to no more than 100,000 troops, with no submarines or air force allowed.
  The treaty sparked outrage in Germany, as the nation was required to pay 132 billion gold marks in reparations, plunging the country into economic hardship.

1919: Germans take a tank apart outside Berlin, as ordered by the Treaty of Versailles. This tank is in fact a British tank, which the Germans had captured and used during the war.

What happened to soldiers after the war?

Many returning soldiers grappled with shell shock or physical disabilities, haunted by the war’s traumas. In Britain, training centers were established to help ex-servicemen reintegrate by teaching skills like cobbling, electrical work, and jewelry-making. For many, life was permanently altered.