NEWSFLASH: Why am I playing this song?

1. NEWSFLASH: Why am I playing this song?

2. 15th Dec 1917 Russia OUT

3. Russia was part of the Triple Entente: Britain & France were still at war. Plus, although Russia had experienced heavy defeats against Germany in the past 2 and a half years, at the same time had achieved significant successes.

4. So… What happened to make Russia bow out??

5. < < < REWIND < < <

6. 8th March1917Riots! THE START OF A REVOLUTION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrkwgTBrW78&safe=active

7. 15thMarch Tsar Nicholas II Abdicates

8. On 25 October 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power from the provisional government in St Petersburg

9. October The Bolshevik Revolution So, as the struggle for control of the country began, parts of the Russian military continued to fight on the war front, others quit fighting altogether, and others even fought each other!

10. Effects of U.S. Involvement and Russia’s cease fire in the War • Russia leaving left Germany in a strong position BUT • America’s military resources of soldiers and war materials tipped the balance of the war and led to Germany’s defeat in 1918

11. OVERALL, was 1917 a good year for the Allies? Give three reasons for your answer

12. Recap from last lesson… • Who joins the war to help the allies in 1917? • Can you remember the 4 key reasons as to why they joined the war? (PICTURES MAY HELP) • Which factor do you think was most important?

13. The Ludendorff Offensive (Sometimes referred to as the Spring Offensive)

14. What was the plan? • Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive Plan 1918 was an effort to win the war before America arrived with Fresh Troops. • Its was aimed at stopping the British and French Armies getting supplies from the sea.

15. WHAT WAS THE PLAN German intention – to draw the British away from the Channel ports

16. Why Now? REASON 1

17. “ We must strike at the earliest moment before the Americans can throw strong forces into the scale. We must beat the British.” General Ludendorff the German Commander. • Ludendorff knew that Germany would achieve victory only if it acted before the full power of the United States joined the Allied force.

18. Why Now? REASON 2 DESTROYED

19. November 26th Russia ends fighting The advantage of nearly 50 divisions freed by the Russian surrender

20. Why Now? REASON 3

21. Why Now? REASON 4

22. Why Now? REASON 5

23. Tactics Offensive Vs. Defensive

24. 3 phases to German attack:- Destruction of artillery Ka-Boom Smash front-line infantry defences Ka-Boom Attack enemy command and communications

25. Offensive tactics (Germans) Stormtroopers The Germans had developed ‘stormtrooper’ units who were the fittest and best soldiers in each battalion. They would storm ahead and attack at the enemies strongest points, leaving the infantry to ‘mop up’ after them.

26. Storm Troopers were equipped with a light machine guns and flame throwers. As seen in the photo above of a storm trooper assault squad.

27. Outpost Zone (Forward Zone) Lightly held by snipers, machine-gun posts and patrols Battle Zone The offensive was firmly resisted here Rear Zone Reserves held ready to counter-attack or seal of any penetrations

28. Outpost Zone Battle Zone Rear Zone

29. QuestionsPut the Heading ‘The Ludendorff Offensive’ • Why did the Germans choose to launch an offensive now? • What were stormtroopers? • Describe the 3 main offensive strategies the Germans were planning on using. • Describe the Allies planned to do in response to the German attack.

30. What was the offensive? • There were four separate attacks, codenamed:- • Michael • Georgette • Gneisenau • Blucher-Yorck • There was also a Final Offensive which was really a last act of desperation on the part of the Germans.

31. Georgette Michael Blücher-Yorck Gneisenau Final Offensive

32. Michael First Offensive (Operation Michael) • German • Success • Allies taken by surprise by size of attack • Foggy conditions gave the Germans a great advantage • Stormtroopers penetrated deep into Allied positions • After 2 days the British Fifth Army in full retreat • 255,000 allies killed

33. Michael First Offensive (Operation Michael) • German • Failures • Ludendorff failed to follow correct stormtrooper tactics • Troops exhausted after 3 days • Troops had little support • Newly won territory of little use (mostly No-Mans-Land) • Failed to capture important strategic points • The German casualties were mostly stormtroopers i.e. their strongest and fittest soldiers

34. Georgette Second Offensive (Operation Georgette – The Battle of the Lys • This was an attempt to cut off the British from their supply line across the English channel • The Germans smashed through a Portuguese defensive line only to be stopped by the British. There was then a desperate struggle as the British waited for French re-inforcements • Again, the Germans could not capitalise as they could not get their supplies through in time and had to retreat as the British, French and Australians counter-attacked.

35. Third Offensive Blücher-Yorck • The idea here was to split the British and french forces before the Americans could arrive to back them up • The Germans had a huge deal of success here as the French and British were not ready. They almost made it as far as Paris • The United States forces arrived just in time to foil the German advance

36. Fourth Offensive Gneisenau • The idea here was to draw more Allied reserves south and link with the Germans at Amiens • The French were tipped of by German prisoners and were ready for the massive artillery bombardment • Eventually a French counter-attack drove the Germans back

37. Again the Germans tried to draw the Allies south • The French launched a successful counter-attack again, threatening to cut off the Germans who just escaped • By now, the Offensive was on it’s last legs Final Offensive

38. Is this picture a fair reflection of the Spring Offensive?