The reason why the Americans entered the war was because of Unrestricted U-boat warfare. The Germans attacked any ships going into British ports, so Britain would receive no supplies. Britain also used this tactic on German ports. However, Germany stopped doing this after they torpedoed the Lucitania which was an American ship which resulted in the death of 128 American citizens. Germany feared that the United States would enter the war, but Germany was given a warning by them, resulting in Germany stopping Unsinkable U-Boat warfare for two years. Britain, however, had continued torpedoing boats on the German harbour, resulting in malnutrition throughout Germany. Germany knew that if America joined the French and British forces they would undoubtedly defeat the German army. However, because of Malnutrition throughout Germany they resorted back to Unrestricted U-Boar Warfare. This is what caused the American entry to the war.
It would take about a year for America to train its army, meaning Germany’s objective was to stop the war within a year. If America joined they knew they would be out numbed and lose the war. At the time Germany was fighting a war on two fronts, one on the western border against the English and French army, and the other on the east Prussian border fighting the Russians. Ideally, Germany wanted all her armies on one front to have a chance of breaking the stalemate. Luckily, the Russian Monarchy was taken over by the Bolsheviks (Communists) who signed a treaty saying they were pulling out of the war. This was very significant as now all the German army fighting on the east Prussian border could be transferred to the Western Front.
As the Russians had pulled out of the war, there were 2 million more men on the Western front and more chance of winning the war. The German offensive, concocted in 1918, was very important because it stopped the stalemate. It was a surprise attack which divided the French and German army on the Western Front and allowed the soldiers to go through all the trenches. The Germans continuously fired over no mans land and they were shrouded from mist. They then managed to enter the French and English trenches and slaughter them, trench line by trench line. The military tactic used was the rolling barrage.
Another Military tactic was the use of new technology and weaponry. For example, the tank was a machine that helped break the stalemate on the Western front, but this time to Britain’s advantage. The tank was not available for the Germans, only the British. It made a huge difference against the Germany offensive as it pushed back all the German army. The tank also prevented trenches reappearing as it was able to go across them. The tank was such a breakthrough as it stopped any hope of the Stalemate or trench warfare re-appearing.
There were a number of reasons why the stalemate ended. It is very difficult, however, to say which had the biggest impact. In my opinion, I would say that Unrestricted U-Boat warfare was the key factor since this started the chain of events which eventually led to the ending of the ceasefire.
