The ‘stab-in-the-back' legend (Dolchstusslegende) became popular among right wing nationalists in Weimar Germany after the end of World War One. The Weimar politicians were referred to as “traitors” who had been responsible for the ‘stab-in-the-back' of the German military. Little could persuade those who expounded the ‘stab-in-the-back' legend that there was little substance in their arguments and even a post-war Reichstag commission stated that the ‘stab-in-the-back' legend had little substance in it but that some people were responsible for failing to fully support the military.
In the spring of 1918, the German army launched its Spring Offensive. This was spectacularly successful to start with. German storm troopers redefined the way infantry fought on the Western Front. However, it failed probably because it was initially too successful. The attack swept aside all Allied forces in front of it and nearly reached the very important rail city of Amiens. However, by advancing so far and so quickly, the Germans had stretched their supply lines to the very limit and they could not supply those at the very front of the attack. As a result the attacked petered out and a withdrawal was inevitable. The Spring Offensive was the last success of the German army in the western sector of the war and after ‘Black Monday' the withdrawal became chaotic and defeat was inevitable. The Germans simply could not match the combined might of the Americans, British/Commonwealth and French troops.
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