The End of Empires

By late 1918, the exhaustion of World War I was palpable as the Allies turned their full attention to Germany, the last central power standing. With the Ottomans, Bulgarians, and Austro-Hungarians out of the fight, the Americans brought fresh troops and resources, tipping the balance. The Germans, weakened by years of conflict and the Spanish flu, faced inevitable defeat as the Allies prepared for a decisive offensive.