Why Germany lost the War in 1918

Why Germany lost the War in 1918

After four years of monotonous stalemate the war was finally over. In

October the German Chancellor appealed to the USA and by 11th November

the armistice was signed in a railway carriage in the French forest of

CompiAgne. An end to the war, which had cost so many lives, was the

only option for a crumbling Germany. This defeat was inevitable from

the outset of 1918 for a number of reasons. They can be split into

three categories; the first being the strikes, rebellions and general

chaos within a tired, hungry Germany, the second are the gains, losses

and mistakes of Germanys military force and the third being the

arrival of the USA on the battlefield and the strength of the British

and French forces.

In 1917 events and uprisings in Russia lead to a potentially crucial

change in the way the war progressed. In November a communist

rebellion led by Lenin and Trotsky overthrew the Provisional

government and by March 1918 the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed.

This non-aggression pact between Germany and Russia meant that

Ludendorff could now concentrate his German troops entirely on the

Western border, as Russia was no longer a dangerous threat. In many

ways this is another main reason as to why Germany failed in 1918

because suddenly Germany could focus her whole strength on to the

western borders. The treaty lifted a tremendous weight off Germany's

shoulders and was the beginning spark for Ludendorff's motivation to

push ahead. Brest-Litovsk was signed by Germany ideally to help them

win the war but some Historians would argue that in fact it actually

helped them loose the war.

The USA was a...

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...ly would the fear of a revolution be absent and

therefore Ludendorff wouldn't be so pressurised but also the Kaiser

may never have felt that abdication was his last resort and if the

Kaiser hadn't abdicated then maybe the war would have dragged but

because he did the armistice was signed by and eager Ebert who had the

total support of his country.

Some Historians would argue that the failure of the German offensive

was more important because if the offensive had been a success then

not only would there be a change of heart in the people of Germany but

there would be no need for an armistice if Germany had the upper hand.

In conclusion I think that all of these reasons are necessary to the

closure of war and in I am no means discounting other reasons by

saying that the internal collapse of Germany is more important.