The First World War (2003)

This program deals with the causes and outbreak of World War 1. There is some interesting material and on a number of occasions different perspectives about the causes of the war. The national politics of Europe are discussed in the context of competing Empires. The assassination of Austria’s heir is described and discussed at some length. An interesting outline and discussion of the outbreak of war follows. The earliest actions of the war are outlined.

The German invasion of Belgium and France was brutal and atrocities fanned the flames of war.

The European empires clashed all across the world, from the South Atlantic Seas to the planes of Africa.

The Turkish Ottoman Empire proved a formidable foe, as the Allies found to their cost at Gallipoli and in the Middle East.

As the Germans and Austrians clashed with The Russians on the bitter Eastern Front, Italy became embroiled in a terrible slaughter.

The Somme and Verdun saw carnage on an unprecedented scale, as armies fought to break the stalemate on the Western Front. Stalemate; attrition; lions led by donkeys; the slaughter only ceasing for a brief truce one Christmas - these are the conventional views of the Western Front and this episode brings a fresh new appraisal of the conflict in Europe. There was constant tactical evolution on the Front - not a stalemate, but innovation and counter-innovation. It was here that German storm troopers evolved. Artillery was the key weapon of the war - not the machine-gun or the tank, and the trenches were not big killers but in fact saved many lives. The generals did not skulk in chateaux, but over two hundred were killed in action. There were many little truces all along the Western Front, not just one Christmas. However, prisoners on both sides were killed by their captors.

The war at sea was every bit as bitter as the war on land. The battle at Jutland proved inconclusive but the U-Boat menace threatened Britain as never before. Meanwhile, America entered the war.

The effect of the Great War shattered nations, inspired mass mutinies by desperate troops, caused great upheaval on the home front and changed the world forever.

Over one million German troops were committed to Kaiserschlacht - the last great offensive of the war - while conflict still raged on many other fronts.

The dramatic Allied victory at Amiens led to victory in just 100 days - and the signing of a bitterly-resented peace, while other nations stumbled towards their own ceasefire agreements.