What is the turning point event of World War 1?

Question

What is the most significant event of WWI that decided its outcome? (during the war, so that rules out archduke and peace treaty)

Answer 1

You have no doubt heard the phrase 'a long slow agonizing death?'
World War One was an excellent example. It would be 'nice' to point to an incident in 1915 or '16 or '17 or even late in 1918 and say, 'see, that's the turning point' but the sad point is that much like a losing American football game often the mistakes made during the second quarter are what ultimately decide the game.

Despite their vaunted Army, the German High Command was in disarray. They over played their initial thrust into France and much as I hate crediting the French they fought far better then the Germans expected. And poor Belgium, everyone cr^ps on Belgium assuming the country rolled over & played dead. Belgium did not, not during WOrld War One. Belgium fought. Her brave underated King Albert slowed down the German drive and kept France alive.

The turning point? Thirty mles from Paris, the German Army exhausted was frustrated by a surge of French patriotic zeal that stopped them at The Marne. Though the war would see saw for the next four years, the ugly truth was once Germany failed in its objective to capture Paris, there was no other game plan and Germany wasted resources trying to figure out a game plan and they never did. After the First Battle of the Marne the Germans floundered in the mud of France until their troops finally rebelled fearing slaughter at the hands of newly arriving Americans late in 1918. What Germany failed to do in 1914 broke Imperial Germany.

See Corelli Bennet's 'The Swordbearers' for a terrific account of the amount of stupidty & indecision that cost Germany the War.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/marne1.htm
"""Battles: The First Battle of the Marne, 1914
Updated - Saturday, 11 August, 2001

The First Battle of the Marne was conducted between 6-12 September 1914, with the outcome bringing to an end the war of movement that had dominated the First World War since the beginning of August. Instead, with the German advance brought to a halt, stalemate and trench warfare ensued.

Having invaded Belgium and north-eastern France, the German army had reached within 30 miles of Paris. Their progress had been rapid, having successfully beaten back Belgian, French and British forces in advancing deep into north-eastern France. Their advance was in pursuance of the aims of the Schlieffen Plan, whose primary focus was the swift defeat of France in the west before turning attention the Russian forces in the east.

As the German armies neared Paris, the French capital prepared itself for a siege. The defending French forces (Fifth and Sixth Armies) - and the British - were at the point of exhaustion, having retreated continuously for 10-12 days under repeated German attack until, directed by Joseph Joffre, the French Commander-in-Chief, they reached the south of the River Marne.

With victory seemingly near, Alexander von Kluck's German First Army was instructed to encircle Paris from the east. The French government, similarly expecting the fall of the capital, left Paris for Bordeaux.

Joseph Joffre, imperturbable in the face of crisis, resolved on 4 September to launch a counter-offensive strike, under the recommendation of the military governor of Paris, Gallieni, and aided by the British under Sir John French (the latter only after prompting by the British war minister, Lord Kitchener).

Joffre authorised General Maunoury's Sixth Army - comprising 150,000 men - to attack the right flank of the German First Army in an action beginning on the morning of 6 September. In turning to meet the French attack a 30 mile wide gap appeared in the German lines between the First and Second Army, the latter commanded by the cautious General Karl von Bulow.

The Allies were prompt in exploiting the break in the German lines, despatching troops from the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to join the French Fifth Army in pouring through the gap between the two German armies, the right wing of Fifth Army simultaneously attacking the German Second Army.

Nevertheless, the German forces were close to achieving a breakthrough against Maunoury's beleaguered forces between 6-8 September, and were only saved on 7 September by the aid of 6,000 French reserve infantry troops ferried from Paris in streams of taxi cabs, 600 in all.

The following night, on 8 September, the aggressive French commander General Franchet d'Esperey's Fifth Army launched a surprise attack against the German Second Army, serving to further widen the gap between the German First and Second Armies. D'Espery was a recent appointment, Joffre having given him command of Fifth Army in place of the dismissed General Lanrezac, who was deemed too cautious and wanting in 'offensive spirit'.

On 9 September the German armies began a retreat ordered by the German Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke. Moltke feared an Allied breakthrough, plagued by poor communication from his lines at the Marne.

The retreating armies were pursued by the French and British, although the pace of the Allied advance was slow - a mere 12 miles in one day. The German armies ceased their withdrawal after 40 miles at a point north of the River Aisne, where the First and Second Armies dug in, preparing trenches that were to last for several years.

In a strategic triumph at the First Battle of the Marne, which ended on 10 September, the French forces - assisted by the British - had succeeded in throwing back the German offensive, recapturing lost ground in the process. More importantly, the battle ended any hopes the Germans had of effectively bringing the war on the Western Front to an early close.
Casualties at the battle were heavy. The French incurred 250,000 losses, and it is believed that the Germans suffered similar casualties (no official figures are available). The British recorded 12,733 casualties among the BEF."""
http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/alberti.htm
""Albert I (1875-1934) was King of the Belgians throughout the war, organising resistance to German occupation of much of Belgium.

He came to the throne in 1909, succeeding his uncle, Leopold II.

Belgium occupied the only open tract of land between France and Germany, thus its stance as a neutral power was key to the balance of power in pre-war Europe.

Belgium's neutrality not withstanding, Germany issued an ultimatum on 2 August 1914, demanding that Belgium allow German forces access to its territory so that Germany could gain ready access to French borders. Albert I resisted the demand and took personal charge of his forces.

Germany therefore invaded Belgium on 4 August 1914, quickly overrunning the country's small army (consisting of 43,000 men in 1914, with 115,000 reserve troops) and forcing Albert I to move the Belgian government to Le Havre from where he continued to govern his nation (although he himself continued to live in Belgium, firstly in De Panne and then in Kasteel De Moeren).

On 22 November 1918, Albert I triumphantly re-entered Brussels having successfully commanded the Belgian army in the autumn 1918 Courtrai offensive.

Albert I was killed in a climbing accident in 1934, and was succeeded by his son, Leopold III""

Peace........o o o p p p o o o p p p o o

Answer 2

Turning Point Of World War 1

Answer 3

The 2 main ones were: El Alamein 1942 - stopped the Germans winning the North Africa campaign, and thereby gaining control of the Suez Canal and the Middle East oil fields. Also, was the first British victory over the Germans on land, so gave the Allies a big confidence boost. Stalingrad 1942/1943 - stopped the Germans knocking Russia out of the war, and thus winning WW2.The Germans had to keep the vast majority of their manpower and war effort focused on fighting the Russians, making it much easier for the Allies to invade Italy, do D-Day, and liberate western Europe.None of this would have been possible if the Germans had been able to move their army to the west. Realistically,the Japanese were never going to 'win' in the Pacific, as they were incapable of invading and conquering USA, so turning points in the Pacific were far less influential on the global war situation than those involving the Germans.

Answer 4

I think the best answer is a fantastic explanation and offers some great insight into World War 1, but I think it avoids the question. I think if you were to look at WW1 and find a Gettysburg / Vicksburg type of 1 - 2 punch that ended the confederacy (then there s the siege of Atlanta); you could look at the Failed final offensive of Autria-Hungary against Italy in June 1918 at Piave, then the failed German Offensive followed by a French counter offensive at the Marne in July 1918 and finally the Greek front breaking through into Serbia leaving an undefended southern front into Austria/Hungary/Czechoslovaki/Bosnia/Yugoslavia/Croatia.

Answer 5

von Moltke not fullfilling the Schlieffen Plan. He weakened the northern wheel so it stopped short of Paris (he kept sending troops to the southern thrust). Had he kept the northern wheel at full strength, he would have taken over all of France and would have had more time to deal with the Russians (as the British would have been a non factor with no place to land).

Since this is probably a school question, another good answer would be King Albert of Belgium fighting and not laying down. This brought Britain into the war as they might not have without the violation of Belgium's neutrality. (And the German atrocities against the Belgans did not help their cause either). Britain was dealing with Home Rule questions with the Irish, and although nominally allies with the French, they had no treaty with France....only with Belgium.

Answer 6

Bearstir and Mike very good points. Also, another possible turning point was Operation Micheal, the German Spring Offensive in 1918. Up that point the Germans had been happy to stay in well fortified positions and let the Allies throw the punches. Mindful that numerous US troops were on their way, they had to do something to end the advantage. As it was, they didn't have the strength or supplies to take it all the way, and were spent.

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the turning point event of World War 1?
What is the most significant event of WWI that decided its outcome? (during the war, so that rules out archduke and peace treaty)

Answer 8

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Sep 1914, German advance towards Paris is decisively defeated by the French. Marks the end of mobile warfare as both sides dig in April 1915-Jan 1916, British and French task force attempts to capture Istanbul and open a new supply route to Russia. First major use of Imperial Australian and New Zealand troops. The campaign, known as Gallipoli, fails with heavy Entente losses. May 1915, Italy joins the war on the Entente side June 1916, Battle of Jutland, Clash of the Titans as the German High Seas Fleet takes on the mighty British Grand Fleet. Although the British suffer heavier losses the Germans are henceforth confined to harbour and the Royal Navy takes control of the North Sea July-Nov1916, Battle of the Somme, First major British offensive, first use of the Tank Dec 1916, Kaiser Wilhem declares a German victory and attempts to negotiate peace with the Entente. Britain and France say they will only accept peace on their terms. March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates. Russia soon leaves the war and descends into civil war April 6 1917, USA declares war on Germany June-July 1917, Battle of Messines, First use of underground mines to destroy enemy trenches, decisive British victory Dec 9 1917, The British capture Jerusalem March-July 1918, Knowing that US troops are arriving in France, Germany gambles everything and makes one last push for Paris. Despite initial success, supply lines become stretched and the French defeat them once more at the Marne Aug-Nov 1918, British Empire and French forces counterattack at Amiens and then go on to win a series of decisive victories known as the Hundred Days Offensive. Oct 1918, Battle of Megiddo, destruction of the Ottoman armies and the conquest of Palestine by the British Nov 1918, With it's army in full retreat and the Allies close behind, Germany throws in the towel.

Answer 9

America joined in 1917. It provided the manpower to overpower the German trenchlines and force Germany back out of France.

German troops were unable to recover long enough to rebuild their trenches.

With the machine guns on the Allies side and no cover from the trenches that had been destroyed, the Germans lost too many troops to continue the fighting.

Answer 10

All of you people greatly underestimate the importance of the southern front.
Austro-Hungary and Bulgaria capitulated after losing territory greater than Great Britain to allied offensive spearheaded by recovered Serbian Army.
It is hardly arguable that an Allied army in modern Slovenia, hundreds of miles from Vienna had considerable significance for the outcome of the war.

Woodrow Wilson said that "It is fitting that the people of the United States, dedicated to the self-evident truth that is the right of the people of all nations, small as well as great, to live their own lives and choose their own government, and remembering that the principles for which Serbia has so nobly fought"

Answer 11

Technological advances which influenced the outcome are the development of aircraft as offensive weapons (originally used as observer platforms) and, vital to ending the trench warfare on the Western Front, the tank.