As the Battle of the Selle rages, Germany's military mastermind Erich Ludendorff suddenly resigns.

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: During the Battle of the Selle in 1918, German Quartermaster General Erich Ludendorff resigns his post. This video examines the mounting pressure from the Kaiser and the Reichstag as the German military position crumbles, signaling a turning point for the German upper class and their allies in Austria-Hungary.

Erich Ludendorff, the architect of Germany's massive spring 1918 offensive and a key figure in the nation's military dictatorship, found his position untenable as German forces retreated during the Battle of the Selle. His resignation was not voluntary but forced by the combined pressure of the Kaiser and the Reichstag.

The event reflects a broader realization among the German elite that the war's current trajectory threatened their survival. This sentiment was mirrored by Emperor Karl of Austria-Hungary, who reached a similar conclusion regarding the precarious state of his own empire as the conflict neared its end.

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