Into the Night — Minorities between the Wars

Abstract

In March 1918 German troops launched a massive assault in the West, designed to crush the French and the British before the Americans, who had declared war on Germany in April 1917, could come to the rescue. But the assault ground to a halt by midsummer, and with the arrival of fresh, well-armed American troops it was clear that the war could not be won. This conclusion was reinforced by news from elsewhere. Allied forces had landed in Salonika and in October forced Bulgaria out of the war. Turkey capitulated as its armies in the Middle East were defeated. Austria-Hungary was disintegrating as the by now ill-equipped starving regiments on the Italian front began to melt away to join the ethnic nations of the empire which were beginning to proclaim their independence. At home the Soviets of workers and soldiers had begun to foment mutiny in the armed forces and seize control in Germany’s leading cities. Offers of an armistice were made to President Wilson with the proposal that the basis of the peace be his Fourteen Points, announced to Congress on 8 January 1918.