The kaiser's Battle - 21 March 1918

How about a generous German peace note to the Entente in the immediate aftermath of their Brest-Litovsk triumph - 1914 borders in the west with no monetary reparations by any parties, and an acknowledgement that the overseas colonies are gone and may be divided up between France, the UK and Belgium? Quid pro quo being that the western powers recognize Brest-Litovsk and German influence in eastern Europe.

Snowball's chance in hell?

If America hadn't joined the war then maybe the Entente would have taken it but it's by no means certain. They would think about it but I think they would still say no.

The French wanted Alsace Lorraine back and it still united all the parties in France and the British would want German naval power reduced.

IMO the Germans would have to inflict some defeats on the Western Front to make the Entente drop those demands.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
If America hadn't joined the war then maybe the Entente would have taken it but it's by no means certain. They would think about it but I think they would still say no.

The French wanted Alsace Lorraine back and it still united all the parties in France and the British would want German naval power reduced.

IMO the Germans would have to inflict some defeats on the Western Front to make the Entente drop those demands.

This is about right. Now if Germany offered the discussed terms, and then was having major success in the 1918 offensive in the West, and Germany was smart enough not to try to make the terms harsher, then it could be very appealing to the Entente. The terms look a lot better if the Germans have take Ameins and Harcourt and the British are falling back on the Channel ports to form a new defensive line, and the French Army is moving troops around to defend against an attack towards Paris.
 

Deleted member 1487

Its impossible for the German High Command to offer that for political and personal reasons.

Still if the Germans publicized their peace off and vowed to make restitutions to Belgium while ensuring her territorial integrity that would go a long way to splitting Britain politically, as that was a major sticking point for British liberals in the war. Germany making that offer public would put political pressure on Llyod-George to accept that deal. The British public was not concerned about Alsace-Lorraine and were about to go back to hating the French once the war was over anyway. They were also very concerned about the Soviets in Russia and needed a strong ally to prevent communism from taking over there.

The best offer couple with military victory at Amiens would be status quo ante in the West, perhaps with Luxembourg annexed, reparations to Belgium and Britain for damages, acknowledging loss of colonies, and a treaty limiting the German navy, especially the Uboat arm would, especially if publicized to the British public by Germany somehow would be a very hard offer politically for the British to pass up. The French wouldn't go for it, the US wouldn't be happy, and the German public most certainly would be very unhappy after a victory giving up all of that.
 
Its impossible for the German High Command to offer that for political and personal reasons.

This would require a complete change in their leading personel, since all diplomatical and political moves would wreck when Ludendorff becomes involved.
 
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