All of these factors helped to break stalemate: New Technology, The American entry into the war, the blockade of German ports and the German offensive in March 1918.How far do you agree with this statement?

“There before our astonished eyes appeared about six of the first Mark I tanks, lurching about the country on their caterpillar tracks… bursting through hedges crossing trenches demolishing walls and even destroying small trees.”

Another new weapon used in the war to help break stalemate was the heavy artillery. ‘The big guns’ were among the general’s favourites. These guns fired shells and had enormous power. These would explode and throw shrapnel over 13 kilometres.

The American entry into the war

The USA were neutral in the war but supplied loans and equipment to the Allies. The German attacked and destroyed many American ships that they suspected of carrying supplies to the Allies. They also sank passenger ships killing many Americans; Germany attacked many American ships using submarines. When the USA discovered that Germany had tried to ally with Mexico this was the last straw for the Americans and they declared war on Germany. The Americans declared war on Germany on 1st April of 1917. With the USA joining the war so late the war did not hit them economically as much as the rest of Europe. With Russia making peace with Germany America joined the war just in time for the Allies, but the American did not arrive in great forces. However with America joining the war this gave the Allies a huge economic boost and America brought some highly trained scientist and this improved the technology used.

Blockading of German ports

Throughout the war both sides tried to prevent the other side from getting supplies. The British had been blockading German ports since 1914. The blockade was supposed to strangle German industry so it couldn’t supply the German industry. German trade got reduced from $5.9 billion in 1914 down to $0.8 billion in 1917. German civilians were experiencing severe shortages. The German ports were blocked with help from the USA. The Germans responded with submarine warfare. Once America had joined the war they made themselves targets. Many American lives were lost.

The Germans offensive in March 1918

Ludendorff’s plan was to break through on the Somme, swinging northwards through Albert and roll up on the British line. He had his best troops trained in new tactics. A short but ferocious bombardment brilliantly organised by Colonel Bruchmuller. Though the early months of 1918 German troops moved east to west. This was when Ludendorff launched his plan to win the war. Instead of the usual wave of inventory he followed up with smaller band of specially trained and lightly equipped troops nicknamed the ‘storm troopers’. This was very effective. The German broke through the allied lines in many places. Now Paris was I heavy fire range. The plan had gone very well for the Germans. However the Germans lost 400,000 troops in making this advance, and they had no reserves to call on. More Americans were arriving every week and the French commander called up more French reserves. Between May and August the Germans made no further advance and everyone knew it was only a matter of time before the Germans were defeated. The Germans ended trench warfare but it was the Allies that gained from it. On the 8th of August the allies counter-attacked along much of the Western front. By September they reached the Hindenburg Line. By October the Germans were in full retreat and on 11 November 1918 the armistice came into effect. The war was finally over.

I think that all of these points contributed to end of stalemate. So I do agree with statement I think they all equal in the break up of stalemate. All of these points link together in one-way or another. The American entry into the war was partly a result to Germany submarine attacks on American ships, and German submarine warfare was a result of the blocking of German ports. Another link to American entry into the war is with new technology was partly because America brought the money and the scientists to research for the tanks. A third link with the American entry into the war was to do with the German offensive. This is because the Americans kept sending troops that stopped the Germans advancing any more and this gradually helped win the war. Another link is between The German offensive and new technology. The reason for this link is as a result of the use of the tanks the Germans had to come back with something so they brought in highly trained troops and used counter attacks. So all the elements played are part in the break of stalemate. Without anyone of the elements the break of stalemate would not have happened in the way that it did and it would not have happened in the time that it did.