Why did Russia’s withdrawal from the war hurt the allies
Russia's withdrawal from the war had a significant impact on the Allies for several reasons:
- Russia was one of the major Allied powers, and its withdrawal reduced the overall strength and resources available to the Allies in their fight against the Central Powers.
- The loss of Russia also meant that the Eastern Front, where much of the fighting had taken place, was no longer being actively defended by a major power. This allowed the Central Powers to divert more troops and resources to the Western Front, where the Allies were already struggling.
- The Bolshevik Revolution that led to Russia's withdrawal also brought about a new government that was openly hostile to the other Allied powers. This strained relations between the Allies and made cooperation more difficult.
- With Russia out of the war, the Allies lost an important source of supplies, particularly food and ammunition, that had been coming from Russia. This put additional strain on the already stretched resources of the Allied powers.
- The timing of Russia's withdrawal, in early 1918, also coincided with the start of the German Spring Offensive, which put further pressure on the already weakened Allied forces.
Overall, Russia's withdrawal from the war hurt the Allies by reducing their strength, resources, and ability to withstand the German offensive.