On March 21, 1918, near the Somme River in France, the German army launches its first major offensive on the Western Front in two years.
At the beginning of 1918, Germany’s position on the battlefields of Europe looked extremely strong. German armies occupied virtually all of Belgium and much of northern France. With Romania, Russia and Serbia out of the war by the end of 1917, conflict in the east was drawing to a close, leaving the Central Powers free to focus on combating the British and French in the west. Indeed, by March 21, 1918, Russia’s exit had allowed Germany to shift no fewer than 44 divisions of men to the Western Front.
Continue reading “THIS DAY IN HISTORY – Germany begins major offensive on the Western Front – 1918”
