Video: '1. Weltkrieg - Westfront 1918/1 (Januar bis Juni)' ('Spring Offensive' first 4 videos; Mar. 21, 1918, begins on second video at 4:45)

(Thursday, March 21, 1918, artillery bombardment began at 4:40 a.m. local time; on the Western Front during World War I) — Germany launched its Spring Offensive on the Western Front today with Operation Michael, hoping to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and materiel resources of the United States could be fully deployed.