March–July 1918Reputable sourceWell documented
The German Spring Offensive
On the timeline · around March–July 1918 ·
What happened
Reinforced by troops freed from the Eastern Front, General Ludendorff launched a series of massive offensives beginning on 21 March 1918, hoping to win the war before American forces arrived in strength. The Germans made dramatic gains but outran their supplies and could not deliver a knockout blow.
Why it matters
The failure of the Spring Offensive exhausted the German army and left it vulnerable to the Allied counterattacks that would end the war.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. German Spring Offensive · Reputable source