For Over Three Years, There Was Stalemate. Then, in 1918, There Was Considerable Movement. Why Did These Changes Happen So Quickly?

For over three years, from the end of 1914 to early 1918 there has been very little movement on the western front. Then, in 1918, there was considerable movement as first the Germans advanced, and then the allies counter attacked. Why did these changes happen so quickly?

Towards the end of the First World War there were some significant movements on the western front. These changes were affected by issues at home, internationally and on the western front itself. Some matters hold little significance on an overall scale, but each factor contributed to the changes that took place on the Western Front, such as broken stalemate must be taken into consideration. Within this essay I am going to explore the reasons for broken stalemate and Germany’s Armistice, due to emanate matters and events which took place in 1918 and the lead up to this date.

Stalemate occurred on the western front following the failure of the German’s Schlieffen plan (A scheme to invade Western Europe, and getting through the French border without being intercepted by the French army). This plot did not go to plan however, whilst going through Belgium to get to the French border they were held up by the Belgium troops  giving the French waiting for them time to regroup. Furthermore stale mate occurred from late 1914 to early 1918, due to the technology, numbers and strategies of both sides on the western front. Both armies had approximately the same amount of troops and the same kind of technology and strategies. Each side kept trying to come up with different technology that would give them an advantage over the other, but nothing did that. Stalemate happened because both sides were in the same position in a never ending battle that would only change is an army took charge and tried new tactics or gained advantage.  

Events within 1918 are not the only exploratory factors to bear in mind but the past proceedings which let up the measures and actions taken within 1918 also need to be considered. A great reason for the Germans to break stale mate was the advantages gained within 1918:

On the 2nd of January 1918 the Russian Bolsheviks threatened resuming war unless German troops quit Russian territory. With the Bolsheviks growing and planning to take over Russia, the Russian state was not in a key position to fight with Germany. However, Germany would not benefit from fighting a war on two fronts as she previously had been.