Canadian soldiers escorting German prisoners, August 1918
Dr David Stevenson examines the Allied successes during the final phase of fighting on the Western Front.
The Hundred Days Offensive was a series of military operations that took place on the Western Front between July and November 1918. But why, after four long years of stalemate, was it so successful in delivering the decisive breakthrough for the Allies?
Taking into account underlying factors such as logistics, manpower, and morale, Dr David Stevenson will examine the roles of Germany, France and the USA, as well as Britain and its empire, in this final phase of the First World War.
He will then consider how the developments during this period helped shape the 11 November armistice.
Dr David Stevenson recently retired as Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His publications include '1914-1918: the History of the First World War' (Penguin, 2004) and 'With Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918' (Penguin, 2011).
The German Spring Offensive saw mobile warfare return to the Western Front. Despite early gains, the Germans exhausted themselves, setting the stage for a successful Allied counter-offensive.