Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
The End of the War (Why did Ludendorff launch the Spring Offensive in…
The End of the War
-
-
Allied response
A new defence line was hastily formed and troops brought in from Italy and the Middle East to reinforce British defences.
All armies placed under one commander, General Foch, who would co-ordinate all attacks.
When the Germans attacked through the Ypres again, the British built new defences
When Ludendorff launched attacks in Verdun, the French defences were resolute
Situation in July 1918
Germans had been moving too quickly and supporting forces, bringing food and munitions, could not keep up; they had wasted time looting French villages that they had captured along the way
Suffered appalling casualties - 880,000 by the end of July
-
-
Ludendorff's Tactics 
Thought that if the British were driven back, the French would be eventually forced to surrender.
Aimed to cut straight through the Somme and then wheel north-west to cut the British lines of communication. His men would attack in groups rather than waves, probing against the Allied lines until a weakness was found that they could infiltrate.
Operation Michael began on the 21st March 1918 involving mustard gas and artillery. German troops advanced shrouded swirling mists and the visibility was less than 10 metres, allowing them to quickly overpower the British. The Germans advanced 8 kilometres on the first day alone.
-
-