The German Army did not defeat the Russian Army militarily on the Eastern front in World War One, the war did however contribute to the unrest within Russia. The Russian Revolution saw the cessation of hostilities and the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between the two parties. The ambitious conditions of the treaty saw vast territories coming under German control, requiring 50 divisions to maintain. This reduced the availability of military resources for the Spring Offensive on the Western Front in 1918.

The strategic significance of Russia leaving the war was also balanced out by the Americans declaring war and joining combat operations on the Western Front. The German Navy resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917, and the targeting of neutral shipping within the designated war zones gave impetus for the US to join the war.

Operation Michael was an immediate tactical success, with the German successfully breaking through the defensive line. The transition to Open Warfare however, required more resources than could be mustered to complete the operational task. The assault was moving into the old Somme battlefield, in which the British were able to maintain Semi-open Warfare as the area was still suitable for defensive operations due to the prevalence of old shell hole and trench defences. The further the German forces extended into the west, the less effective their successful tactical developments became. The British were able to bring fresh reserve formations into battle to meet the slowing offensive.

The operation could not be repeated at this scale due to the decline in manpower and resources available to the Germans. The operation proved to be a strategic failure, and contributed to shortening the war in the Allies favour.

Source: German tactics in the Micael Offensive, March 1918 by Patrick T Stackpole.