I think the “old men” in Germany, the leadership of the country, thought surrendering was the right thing to do.
They saw there young, nationalistic men going off to war, getting killed, over a few inches of mud.
They called it, because they wanted people to LIVE, instead of die for pride. The German Surrender, was also based on Wilson’s 14 points, all but 1 of which, they never recieved in the treaty of versailles.
Talk about taking one for the team, that’s what the germans did, for everyone’s benefit, they saw that the war was stupid, and bore a heavy cost. For this good deed, tey only recieved ridicule from within and without…
For what it’s worth, they should have just hung on, letting all those people die would have done them better off in the long run, so it would seem?