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[[File: German Offensive 1.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|German troops taking an allied trench in 1918]]==Background==The German Spring Offensive army was under the direction of 1918 General Erich Ludendorff, by this stage in the war, his old collaborator Field Marshall von Hindenburg was one only nominally German Chief of Staff. He was the last great offensives mastermind of the First World War. The Spring offensive ultimately failed and the allies were able in 1918, which is often referred to beat back as the German attacks"Ludendorff Offensive."<ref> Zabecki, D.T, <i>[https://www.amazon. com/gp/product/0415558794/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415558794&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=373626d3ceaebc75f2fc9c065091d643 The German Spring Offensive 1918 Offensives: A Case Study of the Operational Level of 1918 was War]</i>, (Taylor & Francis, London, 2005), p 56.</ref> On the last effort by face of it, Germany to win the war and its failure meant that the Central Powers had effectively lost were in a strong position in early 1918. After the war. If Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Spring Offensive Russians had succeeded the outcome of withdrawn from the war and the course of history Germans had secured new territory in the Twentieth Century east. Romania had been defeated and Italy and Greece were no longer a threat. By 1918, it was clear that the Great War would have been very differentbe decided on the western front.<ref> Zabeck, p. 57</ref> The German Spring Offensive failed for a variety command knew that after America joined the war they could potentially tip the balance in favour of reasons and these included poor suppliesthe allies. By early 1918, stubborn Allied defensive tactics, over reliance the Americans had already begun to make a difference on Stormtroopers, and the German military overestimating western front. Germany was concerned that if they were allowed to build up their capabilitiesstrength the allies could inflict a decisive defeat on Imperial Germany.

==Background==The German army was under the direction of General Erich Ludendorff, by this stage in the war, his old collaborator Field Marshall von Hindenburg was only nominally German Chief of Staff. He was the mastermind of the Spring offensive in 1918, which is often referred to as the ‘Ludendorff Offensive’<ref> Zabecki, D.T, The German 1918 Offensives: A Case Study of the Operational Level of War, (Taylor & Francis, London, 2005), p 56 </ref>. On the face of it Germany and the Central Powers are in a strong position in early 1918. After the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Russians had withdrawn from the war and the Germans had secured new territory in the east. Romania had been defeated and Italy and Greece are no longer a threat. By 1918, it was clear that WW I would be decided on the western front <ref> Zabeck, p. 57</ref>. The Germans knew that after America had joined the war, that they would tip the balance in favour of the allies, in the long term. By early 1918, the Americans had already begun to make a difference on the western front and if they were allowed to build up their strength, further, then the allies, eventually could inflict a decisive defeat on Imperial Germany. Furthermore, as a result of the allied naval blockade, Germany was on the brink of starvation . Unrest and there was great unrest in the cities and labor strikes had become very common in German cities.<ref> Pitt, Barrie, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1783461721/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1783461721&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4e188665c596836086b502c71ce49de0 1918 The Last Act. ,]</i> Pen & Sword Military Classics. Barnsley: Pen and Sword, 1962, p. 45</ref>. Ludendorff was in a race against time. Germany had to defeat Britain and France or they faced almost certain defeat, Ludendorff believed that they had only one last chance to strike a decisive blow against the allies before it was too late. Ludendorff was a realist and knew that the situation was grave for Germany .<ref> Pitt, p. 47</ref>. After the The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk allowed the German Army could to transfer some 50 divisions from the Eastern Front eastern to the western front, in early 1918. Ludendorff would decided to use these divisions in his last offensive and Germany’s last effort force the Allies to win WW I sue for peace.<ref> Pitt, p. 13</ref>.

The Germans Germany first transported the shifted fifty divisions by rail from the east to the western front. Ludendorff decided that the goal of the offensive would be to divide the British and the French armies. The British are were mainly based in the north of northern France, while the French army is was located in the centre and east of France. The Germans wanted to drive a wedge between the British and the French. They intended after this to drive the British back to the Channel Ports. Concurrently, at the same time the Germans German command planned to seize the remaining ports in Belgium. It was They hoped that by defeating the British that they would seek peace terms with Germany and that once their main ally had capitulatedafter capitulating, the French would also seek be forced to negotiate with Berlin. This would, in turn, persuade the Americans to also seek a negotiated settlement with the Germans. The Germans at this stage are well aware knew that it was almost impossible for them to achieve outright victory and that the best that they could their only hope for was some form of advantageous negotiated settlement .<ref> Keegan, John . <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375700455/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375700455&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=db56d7558b1712170cfe13c1af2e9f2c The First World War ]</i> (London, Pimlico, 1999), p. 345</ref>.Key to the The German strategy was relied on the widespread use of Stormtrooper units and formations. These were highly mobile soldiers who would storm the allies’ trenches and then attack the their rear, disrupting supply lines and communications and especially destroying artillery. The Stormtroopers were the elite forces of the German army. The best men are wer used to form these units and they receive received special training and advanced weaponry.<ref> Keegan, p. 346 </ref>. They were to be used to as the spearhead of the German advance and they were expected to . The German command hoped that the Stormtroopers would quickly occupy key strategic positions very quickly. The speed of the Stormtroopers was expected to deliver victory on the western front. The Germans also used short, massive bombardments before the assaults, a tactic that had been previously used with great success on the eastern front.

[[File: German Offensive 2.jpg|thumbnail|300px350px|British Machine gunners 1918]]The Offensive took place over a period of one hundred days and four or five major battles are identifiable during this phase of the war. The first major operation of the Spring Offensive was Operation Michael. On 21 March 1918, the German Stormtroopers launched an attack against the British Fifth Army and against the right wing of the British Third Army. By the end of the first day, the British had suffered some 50,000 casualties and the Germans had broken through at several points. The British Fifth Army after two days was in full retreat and the Third Army was also forced to withdraw from its positions as its commanders feared being surrounded by the Germans. The French dispatched several divisions to halt the German advance and they helped to slow and eventually to halt the German advance. The German attack had achieved real and substantive gains but it was not a decisive defeat for the British in particular, who regrouped and established a new line of defences .<ref> Middlebrook, Martin. <i>The Kaiser's Battle: 21 March 1918: The First Day of the German Spring Offensive</i>. (Hammondsworth, Penguin. 1983), p. 111</ref>. The British had been forced to send their reserves to support the British Third and Fifth Army and this left them very weak on their flanks, especially in the sectors around the Channel Ports. The Portuguese Second Division was targeted by the Germans. The Portuguese were spread very thin and expected to hold a very long line. The Germans launched a brutal artillery assault on their positions and the Portuguese Division fled<ref> Keegan, p. 347</ref>. The Stormtroopers soon entered the breach in the line and pushed several miles towards the Channel Port of Dunkirk. Fearing being outflanked the British Divisions withdrew and they formed a new defensive line on the River Lys. It was feared that if this line did not hold then the Germans could press on and take the Channel Ports and this could have dealt a decisive blow to the Allied war effort. The French again sent reinforcements, but before they even arrived the Germans had come to a halt, as their supply lines were overextended <Middlebrook, p. 114</ref>.

Then the Germans turned The British were forced to send their attention reserve units to the area where support the British Third and Fifth Army. This shift left them very weak on their flanks, especially in the French lines metsectors around the Channel Ports. Ludendorff wanted The Portuguese Second Division was targeted by the Stormtroopers Germans. The Portuguese were spread very thin and expected to drive hold a wedge between the two armiesvery long line. The Germans after launched a brief, but heavy bombardment, attacked several weakened British Divisions in brutal artillery assault on their positions and around Reimsthe Portuguese Division fled. They drove them back many miles and the Stormtroopers almost advanced to the Marne, causing people to flee from Paris <ref> Gray, Randal, Kaiserschlacht, 1918: The Final German Offensive, Osprey Campaign Series 11 (London: Osprey, 1991)Keegan, p. 176347</ref>. Once again The Stormtroopers soon entered the breach in the German advance falters line and there was no attempt made to drive pushed several miles towards Paristhe Channel Port of Dunkirk. The Germans then turned their attention to Fearing that they were being outflanked, the French army British Divisions withdrew and launched formed a surprise attack new defensive line on French positions near Amiensthe River Lys. This It was once feared that if this line did not hold then the Germans could press forward and take the Channel Ports. Had the Germans succeeded this could have dealt a decisive blow to the Allied war effort. The French again successful at least initialysent reinforcements, but before they even arrived the Germans had come to a French counterattackhalt, supported by the Americans, halted the Germans in May 1918as their supply lines became overextended. <ref> GrayMiddlebrook, p. 179114</ref>.

The Germans had so far had some real success. Ludendorff was aware that he needed then turned their attention to inflict a decisive defeat on the allies. They had already received more support from area where the Americans than expected British and this was a worry to the German High Command. They decided on one last all-out assault in order to break the allies will to fight and bring them to the negotiating tableFrench lines met. This attack was called by Ludendorff wanted the Peace Offensive because it was believed that if it succeeded it would lead Stormtroopers to drive a peaceful resolution of wedge between the war, and one in Germany’s favortwo armies. The Germans after a brief, but heavy bombardment, attacked the French and the several weakened British Divisions in and around Reims. They drove them back many miles and the Stormtroopers almost advanced to the River Marne in mid-July 1918, this battle is sometimes known as the Second Battle of the Marne causing people to flee from Paris.<ref> KeeganGray, Randal, Kaiserschlacht, 1918: The Final German Offensive, Osprey Campaign Series 11 (London: Osprey, 1991), p. 337176</ref>. The French had strongly fortified this sector in order Once again the German advance stalled and they were not able to protect push towards Paris. The Germans had lost many of then immediately turned their best men attention to the French army and they were running low launched a surprise attack on suppliesFrench positions near Amiens. MoreoverThis was once again successful at least initialy, they had lost the element of surprise and but a German prisoner had informed them of where and whenFrench counterattack, supported by the attack would take place. This German assaultAmericans, unlike halted the earlier attacks did not yield any significant results and the French lines heldGermans in May 1918. In fact<ref> Gray, Ludendorff had to evacuate some divisions fearing they would be outflanked and this is regarded as the end of the German Spring Offensivep.179</ref>

The This series of offensives had attacks yielded large territorial gains for the Germans, at lease when compared to previous offensives. The Germans, however did not inflict a decisive defeat on the allies and they failed to drive a wedge between the British and the French and . Additionally, they utterly failed to force them to the negotiating table .<ref> Gray. p 213 </ref>. The territory that the Germans had gained meant that they had an extended line to defend and this meant that their supply lines. Their army was quite thinly spread in many areas. Moreover, some were in thinned across the form of salients that front and were vulnerable susceptible to allied attacksAllied counterattacks. It has been argued that despite the territorial gains that the Germans were left in a far weaker positions’ positions after the Spring Offensive than before the attacks. The Germans lost many men during the battles in the Spring of 1918. It has been estimated that the strength of the German army had fallen from just over five million in March 1918 to just over four million by the Autumn of 1918. The allies had also suffered many losses but these were made good alleviated by reinforcements from Americathe United States. The Germans after the offensives found themselves in a very weak position and during the allied offensives in the By Autumn, their the German army had all but collapsed, leading to the Armistice of 1918 and the defeat of the German Empire .<ref> Keegan, p. 401</ref>.

The Germans failed for a variety of reasons. One was that First, Ludendorff did not failed to set out clear objectives. He constantly changed his mind and he deviated from his original plans and goals. This caused some confusion in the German chain of command. Then there was the overreliance over reliance on the Stormtroopers, they were among the finest soldiers of the First World War <ref> Gray, 212</ref>. However, but after the first assaults the they suffered heavy casualties and the Germans could not effectively replace them with the same quality of troops.<ref> Gray, 212</ref>. This meant that the Stormtroopers became relatively ineffectivequickly lost their effectiveness due to the high casualty rate. This is best seen was demonstrated at the Second Battle of the Marne, when they failed to achieve any sort of breakthrough. Ludendorff also failed to support the Stormtroopers when they did advance, there were no . The German army lacked mobile units, such as cavalry mad available, made to reinforce the newly captured territories .<Gray, 214</ref>. This made the Stormtroopers very vulnerable to any counterattacks as in May 1918during the offensive. Furthermore, after the first battles the allies reinforced their defensive positions and this made any German breakthrough even harder to achieve. Then there were  The German military during the offensive faced a critical issues shortage of German supplies. The German economy was on the verge of collapse and it could barely feed its people. This was perhaps the main reason why the German Offensive in Spring 1918 ultimately failed. The German army was often hungry and its advance was advances were often slowed as hungry troops pillaged captured allied supply depots. There was also a critical shortage of fuel for tanks and the German planes, so much so that . This allowed the allies are able to retain air superiority during the course of the offensives. Then as the German made rapid advances their supply lines are were unable to keep pace and this results in shortages of everything that slowed the advance. On several occasions the Germans simply stopped their advance, not because of ally’s resistance but because they had run out of supplies<ref> Zabecki, p 345</ref>.