The 1918
Spring Offensive or
Kaiserschlacht (
Kaiser's Battle), also known as the
Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the
Western Front during the
First World War, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914. The Germans had realised that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and
matériel resources of the United States could be fully deployed. They also had the temporary advantage in numbers afforded by the nearly 50
divisions freed by the Russian surrender (the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk).