Wi germany stay on defensive 1918

What if after the german make peace with russia in 1917 they decide to try to make peace with Allies and stay on defensive for 1918 and start their offensive in 1919 if they cannot get a peace treaty they like in 1918?
 

BigBlueBox

Banned
Negotiations aren't an option. Germany would be unwilling to offer anything more generous than status quo ante bellum in the Western Front without reparations, and continued control of everything Germany gained in Brest-Litovsk. The Entente would never accept these terms. If Germany doesn't launch the Spring Offensive in 1918 then they will just get worn down slowly from attrition as the Entente's ranks swell with American reinforcements and American supplies. They might make it to 1919 in one piece but by that time they would have burned through manpower and supplies and be completely incapable of launching a major offensive. World War 1 would probably end similarly, with similar results to the OTL Treaty of Versailles.
 
The war lasting longer could make the communist revolution stronger. An extra 6 months or so of starving is gonna radicalize a lot of people
 
The war lasting longer could make the communist revolution stronger. An extra 6 months or so of starving is gonna radicalize a lot of people

Food situation was improving over the course of 1918 and was actually made worse by the Armistice; Ukrainian grain was also expected sometime in 1919.
 
The Allies planned a major offensive in 1919 which involved extensive use of light and medium tanks in an exploitation role and lots, and lots of follow on logistics. The Germans would have found themselves in much the same position as the French in 1940 with lots of light armour running around their rear areas shooting up anything in sight. It is likely the Germans may well have collapsed more rapidly in 1919 as they would have used up the extra men and material freed from the East in trying to hold onto to what they.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plan_1919
 
Staying of defensive Might manage to stop the various entente advances in 1918, or at the least slow them down
Once 1919 offensives start tho... the war be ending shortly
 
A 1919 peace. To get the Allies to agree to something more compromise before then, the Germans are going to have to put Alsace-Lorraine, some amount of reparations, the loss of all their colonies, and naval limitations on the bargaining table.

Of course by 1919 the Americans are the largest force around, so perhaps this is more of an American dictated peace, might be better for Germany.
 
What if after the german make peace with russia in 1917 they decide to try to make peace with Allies and stay on defensive for 1918 and start their offensive in 1919 if they cannot get a peace treaty they like in 1918?

Germany would have no offensive options in 1919 due to American reinforcements. Either the Germans sue for peace in 1919 (home front collapse) or 1920 (home front collapse).

The only 1918 option that would not set course for failure was if the BEF had attacked, been allowed to break through and pursue, then met Operation Michael head on with the BEF strung out in the open. Not sayin' that was likely, just saying that by process of elimination that was the only possible successful German gambit left, if one assumes an offensive in Italy was futile at the strategic level.
 
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