Berlin had calculated it would take months for the Americans to ship all their men and supplies—but the U.S. troops arrived much sooner, as they left their supplies behind, and relied on British and French artillery, tanks, airplanes, trucks and equipment.
Cruttwell, A History of the Great War: 1914-1918 (1935) ch 15-29D. The shock troops frightened and disoriented the first line of defenders, who would flee in panic. The military did not have the reserves to take advantage of the initial gains. They were not inspired by the elan of 1914, nor thrilled with battle—they hated it, and some began talking of revolution. The winter of 1916-1917 was known as the "turnip winter," because that hardly-edible vegetable, usually fed to livestock, was used by people as a substitute for potatoes and meat, which were increasingly scarce.
Eventually—in 1939 and 1940—the formula would be perfected with the aid of dive bombers and tanks, but in 1918 the Germans lacked both.Ludendorff erred by attacking the British first in 1918, instead of the French. The Germans suffered twice as many casualties as they inflicted, including most of their precious stormtroopers.
The rations for cheese, butter, rice, cereals, eggs and lard were less than 20% of peacetime levels.German women were not employed in the Army, but large numbers took paid employment in industry and factories, and even larger numbers engaged in volunteer services. Germany depended on imports of food and raw materials, which were stopped by the British The German army opened the war on the Western Front with a modified version of the 1916 was characterized by two great battles on the Western front, at After, morale was helped by victories against Serbia, Greece, Italy, and Russia which made great gains for the Central Powers.
At first, little was done to regulate the economy for a wartime footing, and the German war economy would remain badly organized throughout the war. In October 1914, Turkey joined the war on Germany's side, becoming part of the Central Powers. Kaiser Wilhelm II and German nationalism and militarism played a leading role in the Europeans tensions leading to... 2. Reduced coal supplies left everyone in the cold. Berlin also assumed that Americans were fat, undisciplined and unaccustomed to hardship and severe fighting. The new German replacements were under-aged youth or embittered middle-aged family men in poor condition. Features The hunger and popular dissatisfaction with the war precipitated The "spirit of 1914" was the overwhelming, enthusiastic support of all elements of the population for war in 1914. Howard, N.P. The men who returned from the front were those who had been permanently crippled; wounded soldiers who had recovered were sent back to the trenches.Many Germans wanted an end to the war and increasing numbers of Germans began to associate with the political left, such as the Social Democratic Party and the more radical Independent Social Democratic Party which demanded an end to the war.
The British likewise were bringing in reinforcements from the whole Empire, but since their home front was in good condition, and since they could see inevitable victory, their morale was higher.
It would, therefore, be well advised in order to avoid internal difficulties to distract the attention of the people and to give fantasies concerning the extension of German territory room to play.William II felt compelled to promise an eventual end to the restrictive Prussian franchise in his Easter message of 1917. "By September 1918, the Central Powers were exhausted from fighting, the American forces were pouring into France at a rate of 10,000 a day, the British Empire was mobilised for war peaking at 4.5 million men and 4,000 tanks on the Western Front.
Morale was at its greatest since 1914 at the end of 1917 and beginning of 1918 with the defeat of Russia following her rise into revolution, and the German people braced for what In spring 1918, Germany realized that time was running out. At the Somme River in March, 63 divisions attacked in a blinding fog.
Germany had to improvise rapidly. Prisoners of war were sent to work on farms, and many women and elderly men took on work roles. N.P. When war erupted in August 1914, Germany’s initial strategy involved an attack on France through neutral Belgium,... 3.
All major political sectors initially supported the war, including the Socialists. From 1880 to 1914,the military expenditure of the six bog powers(viz.Germany,Russia,Austria,Italy,France,and Britain) Daily life involved long working hours, poor health, and little or no recreation, an increasing fears for the safety of loved ones in the Army and in prisoner of war camps.