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Can you elaborate? I was looking up why US entered WWI the other day, and one such reason appeared to be an ongoing stalemate between the various powers, with a

Can you elaborate? I was looking up why US entered WWI the other day, and one such reason appeared to be an ongoing stalemate between the various powers, with a 100% correlation to the losing side occurring with America's entry and military expansion within 2 years. I'm open to counterpoints, given the recurring theme of "we could have just not"

thesimon 10y ago
> Can you elaborate Not sure about the high impact of the US. German troops and the resources were quite exhausted (malnutrition and bad equipment) and the Brits were effectively blocking the seaway. France was also able to encrypt the German communication, giving them an edge. The strategy of the Germans contained a lot of flaws as well, so their success at least of the Army was quite limited. One might argue that the Germany Navy wins over Britain (which was one of the reasons the US entered) could've turned the war, but I'm sceptical.
- fetbaffe 10y ago
  Correct. When the Germans did the Spring Offensive 1918, with substantials reinforcements from the Eastern front after the peace treaty of Brest-Litovsk, they found shops filled with all types of food in the areas they where advancing, when they at the same time severely lacked food supplies. This lead to looting and a break down in morale. And by that time, the German civilian population had severe war fatigue by years of blockade. US troops balanced the German reinforcements from the Eastern front, and thereby removed the German advantage, however it did not grant the victory. Remember that when Armistice of 11 November 1918 was signed, Germany was not occupied by any forces of the entente. It was Germany that was on the offensive. This was the motive for the Stab-in-the-back myth (Dolchstoßlegende), the army was not beaten, but the politicians made peace behind their backs.

thesimon 10y ago

> Can you elaborate Not sure about the high impact of the US. German troops and the resources were quite exhausted (malnutrition and bad equipment) and the Brits were effectively blocking the seaway. France was also able to encrypt the German communication, giving them an edge. The strategy of the Germans contained a lot of flaws as well, so their success at least of the Army was quite limited. One might argue that the Germany Navy wins over Britain (which was one of the reasons the US entered) could've turned the war, but I'm sceptical.

fetbaffe 10y ago
Correct. When the Germans did the Spring Offensive 1918, with substantials reinforcements from the Eastern front after the peace treaty of Brest-Litovsk, they found shops filled with all types of food in the areas they where advancing, when they at the same time severely lacked food supplies. This lead to looting and a break down in morale. And by that time, the German civilian population had severe war fatigue by years of blockade. US troops balanced the German reinforcements from the Eastern front, and thereby removed the German advantage, however it did not grant the victory. Remember that when Armistice of 11 November 1918 was signed, Germany was not occupied by any forces of the entente. It was Germany that was on the offensive. This was the motive for the Stab-in-the-back myth (Dolchstoßlegende), the army was not beaten, but the politicians made peace behind their backs.