16.5.3

The German Spring Offensive

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The German Spring Offensive

The Spring Offensive was seen as Germany's last chance to end the war before the USA could send too many troops to help the Allies.

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Reasons for the offensive

  • 21 March 1918 AD: Germany launched its Spring Offensive, ordered by General Ludendorff.
  • The German military command recognised that Germany could not win a war of attrition.
  • Germany was also convinced of success as it had brought 500,000 troops from the Russian Front.
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Tactics used in the offensive

  • The Spring Offensive targeted the places where the British and French troops were gathered together. Winning battles against both nations simultaneously would affect morale in both countries and in both their armies.
  • The Germans launched a huge attack, hoping to quickly destroy the Allied powers.
  • 3,000 shells were fired every minute in the first few hours.
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Result of the offensive

  • Although the launch started with great intensity, Germany could not move it's supplies and troops fast enough to sustain the attack.
  • By July, Germany had reached the River Marne but couldn't make a decisive move forward.
  • The Allied commander Ferdinand Foch launched a counterattack.
  • Germany had suffered a huge number of casualties and began to retreat.

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1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

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2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

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3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

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11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

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14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

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20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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