After the disasters of 1917 the Allied plans on the Western Front were for retrenchment and defence. 'I await the tanks and the Americans,' Petain told his grateful troops. Indeed the steady build-up of American forces was the reason why, for the Germans, 1918 would have to be the year of decision. The threat of a massive German offensive soon became apparent.

This article is located in the History of the First World War Volume 6 (REF D522 .H58 1969 V.6).