The Germans were also fighting a war at sea, with there U-boat campaign. They enforced there own blockade upon Britain with a sink on site strategy destroying all supply vessels coming into Britain. This was very bad for Britain as at one point they were brought down to just six weeks worth of rations. If Germany had been able to keep up the blockade for these 6 weeks, they would have brought Britain to its knees and forced them out of the war, leading to a victory and the end of the war on the western front. Unfortunately for Germany, Britain enforced a convoy system just in time to save them from defeat and continuing the long drawn out war.
In 1917 the Americans eventually entered into the war. This was great relief for the allies and a major problem for the Germans. The Americans were able to ship in troops of up to 50,000 a week and could provide money and supplies towards the war. With this great amount of power behind them the Americans were going to prove to strong for the Germans and were sure to be one of the deciding factors in the outcome of the war.
After years of stalemate on the western front, things looked like they would come to an end with the Americans entry to the war. Germany knew something had to be done fast if victory was to be theirs, so the Ludendorff offensive was devised; an all out attack bringing in an additional million troops from the eastern front. The attack went very well very quickly pushing the allies so far back that for the second time in the war it looked as though Paris would fall. However the speed of their attack soon became the downfall, supplies and reinforcements were unable to keep up, and so the army became weak. Also their speed had created a salient, they were vulnerable to an attack on three sides and it was not long before the Germans were pushed right back and Germany surrendered.
The main reason for the defeat of Germany should not simply be seen as the last major event before their defeat but should be looked into in more detail. Germany launched the Ludendorff offensive because it looked as tough they would fall, America had entered the war and with the ability to bring up to 50,000 men into the war a week, it would not be long before Germany surrendered. Germanys defeat was inevitable, the Ludendorff offensive simply drew it out, with Americas aid the Allies were certain to win Ludendorff offensive or not. This is why Americas entry should be seen as the main reason for defeat, not the Ludendorff offensive.
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