The following were equally important reasons why the stalemate on the Western Front was finally broken: new technology like the tank, American entry into the war, blockading of German ports and the German offensive of March 1918.

In April 1917 America declared war on Germany. Although the Americans had already been supplying the Allies with weapons etc, this meant that all of America’s resources and manpower could be used to fight the Germans. The American troops were fresh and were not suffering from fatigue and demoralisation like the forces of the other countries fighting in the war. This gave the Allies an advantage as the American soldiers were trained properly in shooting and tactics unlike their British and French counterparts who were conscripted and had little training in the art of war. The Americans made use of new technology such as the tank and were able to supply the other allied forces will vital materials to build more tanks and other munitions.

One of the biggest problems facing the army planners was supplying the army with food, weapons and other equipment. As a result the blockade of German ports also played an important part in breaking the stalemate. The blockade of German ports had starved the economy of raw materials and the population including soldiers of food. This demoralized the Germans and made them less of an efficient fighting force. The cut in the bread ration resulting from the shortage of food caused strikes in Berlin and Leipzig. The blockading of Germany brought the German economy to its knees. There was little coal or other fuel for heating. What fuel there was, was directed to the national war effort. The blockade resulted in a lack of maintenance of the German railway system, which was required to move troops and other supplies to where they were needed on the front lines.        

The German offensive of March 1918 called the “Ludendorff offensive” had gone well for the Germans; the Allies had retreated but the Germans had stretched themselves. The Germans had suffered losses in this breakthrough but had no reserves to call upon. Meanwhile more American troops were arriving every week. The German troops were badly disciplined and under fed due to the blockade on Germany. This caused them to be inefficient as they stopped to loot villages for food.  

In conclusion I believe that the above are all equally important reasons for the ending of the stalemate on the Western Front. The Germans had broken through the Allied lined with the Ludendorff offensive. However, the Allies now had large numbers of well-trained and equipped troops, which were supported by tanks, aircraft and improved artillery. The Germans couldn’t call up reinforcements due to the lack of food and poor infrastructure caused by the Allied blockade of Germany. The American entry into the war meant an injection of “new blood” and provided the allies with a fresh supply of troops and equipment. New technology meant a new kind of war and demoralised German troops making them inefficient. The lack of food and supplies due to the blockade also made the Germans an ineffective fighting force.