Why Did World War I End So Suddenly? The Unexpected Armistice of 1918 - David Stevenson

00:00 // Introduction: The Mystery of the War’s End 00:30 // The Short War Illusion of 1914 01:20 // The Long War Assumption of 1917 02:30 // The Signing of the Armistice: November 11, 1918 03:45 // The Unexpected End: Why It Was a Surprise 05:00 // The Triple Stalemate: Military, Political, and Diplomatic 07:15 // The Role of the Russian Revolution and Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 09:30 // The 14 Points: Wilson’s Peace Program 11:00 // The Failed German Offensives of 1918 12:30 // The Allied Counteroffensives and Technological Advantages 15:00 // The Collapse of the German Army and Revolution at Home 17:00 // The Political Calculations Behind Ending the War 19:30 // The Aftermath: Myths, Treaty of Versailles, and Legacy 21:00 // The Stab-in-the-Back Myth and Its Consequences 22:30 // The Challenges of the Treaty of Versailles 24:00 // The Role of the Armistice in Shaping Future Conflicts 25:30 // The First Remembrance Day and Public Commemoration 27:00 // The Lasting Impact of World War I on Europe This lecture will re-examine how the First World War ended, anticipating the centenary commemorations in 2018. It will discuss both why Germany requested a ceasefire, and why the Allies and America granted one. It will argue that the German army was near collapse, and that Germany was not defeated by a 'stab in the back' at home. None the less, the Allies had good reasons not to press on to Berlin. A lecture by David Stevenson, Professor of International History at LSE 7 November 2018 https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/ending-wwi-11-november Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/ Website: https://gresham.ac.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/greshamcollege Facebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollege Instagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollege