Editing Germany (section)

==== Military effort ====
From 1914-1917, the German Empire seemed to be winning the war. Germany successfully invaded [[Luxembourg]] and [[Belgium]], then moving swiftly to occupy northeastern France. However, the [[United Kingdom]] (UK) responded to the German offensive of 1914 by joining the war on the side of France. A coalition of British and French soldiers, aided by the remnants of Belgium, managed to mount a successful defense of [[Paris]]. After Germany's failure to take the French capital of Paris, the Germans retreated further north and entrenched themselves. For the remainder of the war, [[Western Europe]] saw tens of millions die in brutal [[trench warfare]].<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/With_the_Allies/b72fAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 With The Allies]</ref> [[Eastern Europe]] saw major German advances against Russia until the outbreak of the [[Russian Revolution]] in 1917, which effectively ended Russian involvement in World War I as the country devolved into the [[Russian Civil War]] between the Communist Bolsheviks, [[Anarchism|anarchists]], and the [[White Movement]]. German positions in [[Africa]] and [[Asia]] were quickly overrun by the [[British Empire]] and the [[Empire of Japan]], the two empires having had an [[Anglo-Japanese Alliance|alliance]] since 1902.

However, in 1917, the [[Zimmermann Telegram]] was intercepted by the UK and forwarded to the [[United States]] (US). The telegram proposed an alliance between Germany and [[Mexico]] to launch a surprise invasion of the US. The American government responded by declaring war on Germany, sending four million soldiers to fight in [[Europe]] alongside the French and British. The American intervention eliminated the possibility of further German gains against the French. The Americans even aided in a counteroffensive that pushed the Germans back.