The End of the War

• The USA's entry into the war

  Seemed to spell defeat for Germany and the central powers
• Russian Revolutions


  Appeared to turn the tide in Germany's favour
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk


  Effectively ended the war on the eastern front
• US involvement


  Caused the failure of the last German offensive along the River Marne and led to the allied breakthrough on the German western front near Amiens
• Anti-war mood at the front

  Aggravated by desertions and refusals to obey orders
• OHL declared the war to be unwinnable and sued for an armistice


  14 August 1918
• Armistice declared in Compiègne

  11 November 1918
• Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff


  Resigned from their posts in order to avoid assuming responsibility, and transferred their authority to a parliamentary government, led by Prince Max of Baden
• About one year later

  Hindenburg and Ludendorff would be primarily responsible for the creation of the so-called stab-in-the-back legend that was used by the right-wing as a means of propaganda against the Weimar Republic