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BATTLE // March 21, 1918

Spring Offensive

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Overview

The German spring offensive, also known as Kaiserschlacht or the Ludendorff offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during the First World War, beginning on 21 March 1918. Following the American entry into the war in April 1917, the Germans decided that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the United States could ship soldiers across the Atlantic and fully deploy its resources. The German Army had gained a temporary advantage in numbers as nearly 50 divisions had been freed by the Russian withdrawal from the war with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Forces & casualties

Casualties

  • German Empire688,341
    medium
  • France433,000
    medium

Commanders (14)

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Related

6 sibling battles · 4 factions

Last verified June 2026
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