<!:TITLE=World War I: 1918><l:lexpage><l:lexhead>World War I: 1918<l:/lexhead>
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<l:h1>The Western Front:<l:/h1>
On the 21st of March 1918 - This day general <l:ep_ludendorff> had chosen for his storm. Before dawn 6,000 large cannons started a crushing bombardment. Deadly mustart gas flowed over the Allied trenches. This was followed by a storm by 70 german divisions. The Allied lines were broken and the germans had broken the front and could march against Paris.
In this crisis it was decided that one man should lead both the English and French army, <l:ep_ferdinand>. In the beginning it seemed hopeless and the german army won 65 kilometers and reached the river Marne. But Ludendorffs offensive had been a mistake. The army had moved to fast and the german supply lines had been broken. Furthermore this had brought the german army into a position were they could be attacked from three sides.
Through a period of time 50,000 american soldiers had arrived in France each week. The 18th of Juli they and Fochs army began a counterattack. In only two weeks the germans were defeated and had to pull back. For the rest of the war germany was on retreat.
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<l:h1>Revolution in Germany:<l:/h1>
In a last attempt to win a victory at sea the german fleet was orderet to attack the english fleet. But the seamen refused and a mutiny was started. After taking over the ships they took over <l:ec_kiel>. Seamen in other harbours followed their example and soon the revolution was started.
The german generals saw that there were no point in fighting any more and two politicians were sent to France to sign a peace treaty. Another politician were sent to Emperor <l:ep_wilhelm> with the message that the army would no longer take orders from him. The same day Emperor Wilhelm left Germany and escaped to the Netherlands. The German Empire now became a republic.
Two days later general Foch met the two politicians in his personal railway carriage in Compiégne in the northern France. While the conditions of peace were read loud one of the German politicians cried - the conditions were extremly tough. But they had no choise and at five am. the 11th of November 1918 the germans signed the peace conditions.
<l:h1>The first World War had ended...<l:/h1><s:15><l:eh_p_feather></s>
