German strategy in 1914 failed Western Front trenches English Channel Switzerland Eastern Front Bulgaria Romania Greece Italy United States entered the war Bolsheviks October Revolution peace Allies France Russia Central Powers
German strategy in 1914 was to first defeat France then transfer forces to the Russian front. However, this failed, and by the end of 1914, the Western Front consisted of a continuous line of trenches stretching from the English Channel to Switzerland. The Eastern Front was more dynamic, but neither side could gain a decisive advantage, despite costly offensives. As the war expanded to more fronts, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Italy and others joined in between 1915 and 1917. In early 1917, the United States entered the war on the side of the Allies, while in late 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power in the Russian October Revolution and made peace with the Central Powers in early 1918. 
