Why did Wilhelm II dismiss Erich Ludendorff in October 1918?

In October 1918, Wilhelm II dismissed Erich Ludendorff primarily due to the general's erratic shifts in judgment regarding the war's end and his insistence on continuing hostilities despite the government's efforts to secure peace.12

Following the collapse of Germany's allies and the failure of the German offensive, Ludendorff initially demanded immediate armistice negotiations. However, upon realizing the severity of the Allied armistice conditions—which he interpreted as a demand for unconditional surrender—he reversed his position and insisted that the war be carried on. When he discovered that the political leadership, led by Chancellor Prince Maximilian of Baden, was not prepared to continue the conflict, Ludendorff offered his resignation. Wilhelm II accepted this resignation on October 26, 1918, acting on the advice of Prince Max to remove the military leader who had become an obstacle to the necessary peace process.12