Primary Documents - 1918
This page of the Primary
Documents section of the website collects together archive source documents
originating in 1918.
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This, the final year of the war, saw the Allies triumph over the Central Powers, and the collapse of monarchies throughout Europe.
Included among the following documents is the text of U.S. President Wilson's famed Fourteen Points outlining the basis for peace. Also available is the text of the annexationist Treaty of Brest-Litovsk which Germany imposed against Russia; and Kaiser Wilhelm II's abdication proclamation.
The list presented below - with each entry accompanied by a brief summary of its significance - is sorted by date, with earlier documents listed first.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
 President Wilson's Fourteen Points |
January - U.S. President's formula for peace |
| Ukraine's Call for Inclusion at Brest-Litovsk |
January - Vinichenko's plea for seat at peace conference |
| Russian Announcement on Brest-Litovsk |
January - Government announcement protesting terms |
| Count Hertling on the Fourteen Points |
January - German Chancellor's conciliatory response |
| Ukraine-Central Powers Peace Treaty |
February - Text of peace treaty agreed by Ukraine |
| Kuhlman on the Ukraine Peace Treaty |
February - Reaction of Brest-Litovsk Conference chairman |
| Severyuk on the Ukraine Peace Treaty |
February - Reaction of Ukraine government |
| Russian Withdrawal from Brest-Litovsk |
February - Leon Trotsky's announcement of Russia's act |
| Wilson's Clarification of the 14 Points |
February - U.S. President's explanation of certain clauses |
| Karl I on the Ukraine Peace Treaty |
February - Reaction of Austro-Hungarian Emperor |
| Douglas Haig's Cambrai Despatch |
February - British Commander-in-Chief's report |
| Lenin on Need to Accept Brest-Litovsk |
February - Lenin's appeal in support of Brest-Litovsk peace |
| Count Hertling on Wilson's 11 Feb Speech |
February - German Chancellor's follow-up re: 14 Points |
| Arthur Balfour on Count Hertling's Speech |
February - British Foreign Secretary's critique of Hertling |
| De Broqueville on Count Hertling's Speech |
February - Belgian Prime Minister's position re: peace |
| Treaty of Brest-Litovsk |
March - Germany's treaty with Russia |
| Count Hertling on Brest-Litovsk Treaty |
March - German Chancellor's speech to Reichstag |
| U.S. Railway Control Act |
March - U.S. law giving government control of railways |
| Hindenburg on the Spring Offensive |
March - German Chief of Staff's account of the offensive |
| Ludendorff on the Spring Offensive |
March - Ludendorff's official report |
| Pershing's Offer to Subordinate U.S. Forces |
March - U.S. C-in-C's address to Ferdinand Foch |
| Lloyd George on Co-ordination of Forces |
March - British Prime Minister on rationale for decision |
| Arz v. Straussenberg on the German Army |
April - Austro-Hungarian C-in-C's official statement |
| Count Czernin on Brest-Litovsk Treaty |
April - Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister's view |
| U.S. Ambassador to Paris on the Paris Gun |
April - William G Sharp's account of its early use |
| Foch's Appointment as Allied Commander |
April - Official Allied documentation appointing Foch |
| Lloyd George on Allied Army Co-operation |
April - British Prime Minister's repeated appeal |
| Hindenburg on the Lys Offensive |
April - German Chief of Staff's account of the offensive |
| Douglas Haig's Special Order of the Day |
April - Commander-in-Chief's 'Backs to the Walls' call |
| British Report on Zeebrugge Raid |
April - Admiralty statement trumpeting raid's success |
| German Report on Zeebrugge Raid |
April - Alfred von Tirpitz's official report |
| Sir Arthur Currie on the Lys Offensive |
April - Canadian Corps Commander's appeal for courage |
| Treaty of Bucharest |
May - Germany's treaty with Romania |
| British Report on Ostend Raid |
May - Admiralty account of raid upon Ostend |
| U.S. Espionage Act |
May - Modification of act initially passed in June 1917 |
| Pershing on the Battle of Cantigny |
May - U.S. C-in-C's surprise at German approach to battle |
| French Military Report on Belleau Wood |
June - Brief French military report praising U.S. forces |
| British Press Report on the Paris Gun |
June - Account of its use and significance |
| Pershing on the Allied Call for Extra Troops |
June - U.S. C-in-C's account of European calls for troops |
| Allied Prime Ministers' Call for U.S. Troops |
June - Urgent appeal issued by France, Italy and Britain |
| Pershing on the Battle of Belleau Wood |
June - U.S. C-in-C's brief summary of crucial U.S. battle |
| Josephus Daniels on Belleau Wood |
June - U.S. Secretary of the Navy's account |
| British Press Report on Belleau Wood |
June - British press report praising U.S. efforts |
| Conrad on Battle of Piave River |
June - Austro-Hungarian commander's pre-battle address |
| French Report on Battle of Piave River |
June - Official French observer's report |
| German Report on Battle of Piave River |
June - Official German observer's report |
| G. M. Trevelyan on Battle of Piave River |
June - Account by head of British Red Cross in Italy |
| Lord Cavan on Battle of Piave River |
June - Official report by British commander in Italy |
| Ferdinand Foch on Allied Prospects |
July - Allied Supreme Commander's optimism for victory |
| Gouraud on Second Battle of the Marne |
July - French General's appeal to his forces at onset |
| Masaryk on Czech Fighting in Russia |
July - Tomas Masaryk on rationale for fighting in Russia |
| Wegener on Second Battle of the Marne |
July - Semi-official German press statement |
| Ludendorff on Second Battle of the Marne |
August - German strategist's view of Allied counterattack |
| Mangin on Second Battle of the Marne |
August - French General's praise of U.S. efforts |
| Hindenburg on the Battle of Amiens |
August - German Chief of Staff's post-war reflections |
| Degoutte on Second Battle of the Marne |
August - French General's praise of U.S. role |
| Pershing on Second Battle of the Marne |
August - U.S. C-in-C's summary of U.S. participation |
| Ardenne on Second Battle of the Marne |
August - Semi-official German statement on outcome |
| Pershing's Marne Special Order of the Day |
August - U.S. Commander's praise of U.S. conduct |
| Philip Gibbs on the Battle of Amiens |
August - Official British journalist's newspaper account |
| Mangin on Allied Attacks at the Marne |
August - French General's view of battle's turning point |
| Rosner on Allied Attacks at the Marne |
August - News reporter's account of Kaiser's reaction |
| Robert Lansing on Post-War Czech State |
September - U.S. Secretary of State's statement |
| Crown Prince Wilhelm on U.S. Troops |
September - Wilhelm's views on U.S. troops |
| Paul von Hindenburg on Allied Propaganda |
September - German Chief of Staff's warning to soldiers |
| Crown Prince Wilhelm on Battle of St Mihiel |
September - Account from Wilhelm's post-war memoirs |
| Max von Gallwitz on Battle of St Mihiel |
September - Local German commander's account |
| Sir Edmund Allenby on Battle of Megiddo |
September - British Commander-in-Chief's report |
| George Milne's Vardar Order of the Day |
September - British commander's praise of Greek troops |
| Bulgaria's Request for a Ceasefire |
September - Government request pending an armistice |
| Maurice on the Battle of the Canal du Nord |
September - British General's summary of battle |
| Colonel Frantzis on Vardar Offensive |
September - Summary by Greek Military Attaché in London |
| d'Esperey to Venizelos on Vardar Offensive |
September - Telegram to Greek Prime Minister |
| Allied Armistice Terms with Bulgaria |
September - Terms dictating surrender of Bulgaria |
| d'Esperey on the Vardar Offensive |
September - Commander-in-Chief's official report |
| George Milne on the Vardar Offensive |
September - British regional commander's official report |
| Venizelos Celebrates Bulgaria's Defeat |
September - Statement issued to Greek Army commanders |
| Tsar Ferdinand's Abdication Proclamation |
September - Bulgarian Tsar's forced abdication |
| W. T. Massey on Allenby's Progress |
September - Account of Allenby's victory at Megiddo |
| Georg von der Marwitz on Meuse-Argonne |
September - Address by local German commander |
| High Command's Peace Recommendation |
October - German military's address to Reichstag |
| Hindenburg's Call for Negotiated Peace |
October - Army Chief of Staff's urgent call |
| Kaiser's Appeal to the German Army (1) |
October - Wilhelm II's appeal for renewed vigour |
| Kaiser's Appeal to the German Army (2) |
October - Wilhelm II's statement of urgency |
| Czecho-Slovak Declaration of Independence |
October - Provisional Government's declaration |
| Kaiser's Call for Representative Government |
October - Kaiser's proclamation to Chancellor |
| Gaston Bodart on the Fall of Turkey |
October - Official German observer's account |
| Liebknecht's Call for German Revolution |
November - German revolutionary's appeal |
| Armando Diaz on Austria-Hungary's Defeat |
November - Italian Army Chief of Staff's proclamation |
| Trevelyan on Austria-Hungary's Defeat |
November - Account by head of British Red Cross |
| Hindenburg's Request for Armistice |
November - Telegram series between Hindenburg and Foch |
| French Eyewitness to Armistice |
November - French Captain's account of armistice |
| British Eyewitness to Armistice |
November - British account of German delegate's arrival |
| Foch's Telegram Urging Coordinated Action |
November - Telegram from Allied Supreme Commander |
| von Baden Announces Kaiser's Abdication |
November - German Chancellor's announcement |
| Kaiser Wilhelm on Reason for Seeking Exile |
November - Kaiser's rationale in letter to Crown Prince |
| Owen on Surrender of Gallipoli Peninsula |
November - War journalist's account |
| Ward Price on Surrender of Constantinople |
November - Official British observer's account |
| Ebert on Post-Imperial Government |
November - Ebert's appeal for public calm |
| Allied Armistice Terms with Germany |
November - Allied demands from Germany |
| Emperor Karl I's Abdication Proclamation |
November - Austro-Hungarian Emperor's abdication |
| Wilson's Armistice Address to Congress |
November - U.S. President's summary to U.S. Congress |
| Count von Moltke on Kaiser's Abdication |
November - Account by member of Kaiser's personal staff |
| Crown Prince's Request to Stay with Army |
November - Crown Prince Wilhelm's request to Ebert |
| Regency Council's Appointment of Pilsudski |
November - Polish governing body's appointment |
| Regency Council's Decree of Dissolution |
November - Polish governing body's announcement |
| Josef Pilsudski on Post-war Plans in Poland |
November - Newly appointed Polish leader's statement |
| Crown Prince on the German Revolution |
November - Crown Prince's letter to von Hindenburg |
| Yugoslav Committee on Greater Serbia |
November - Ante Trumbic-led council's aspirations |
| Prince Alexander on Greater Serbia |
November - Serbian Regent's reply to Yugoslav Committee |
| Kaiser Wilhelm II's Abdication Proclamation |
November - German Kaiser's reluctant abdication |
| Official Report of the U.S. Navy |
November - U.S. Naval Secretary's account of war role |
| Report of the U.S. Navy's Transport Division |
November - Charles C. Gill's account of troop transports |
| Montenegrin Skupshtina's Decree |
December - Declaration of new Greater Serbian state |
| Gibbs on Allied Occupation of the Rhineland |
December - British war journalist's account |
| Sultan Mehmed VI's Proclamation |
December - Sultan's regret for illegal Turkish acts |
| French Citation on Battle of Belleau Wood |
December - Official recognition for U.S. efforts |
| Masaryk's Address on Re-entering Prague |
December - Czecho-Slovak President's emotional speech |
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