S01E01 To Arms (1914)
The First World War shaped the twentieth century. It sparked the Russian Revolution, and it launched America as a world power. The fault-line from its failed peace settlement led to a second terrible world war...
The First World War
Overview
This ten-part docuseries tells the comprehensive story of the First World War, featuring excerpts written by Winston Churchill, Karen Blixen, Georges Clémenceau, David Lloyd George, Siegfried Sassoon and Rudolf Hess.
Episodes
S01E02 Under the Eagle (1914-1915)
The first months of the war on the Western Front were mobile, fast and dangerous; casualty rates were higher than with later trench warfare. The Germans were halted by the Allies at the Battle of...
S01E03 Global War (1914-1916)
War for Europe meant war for the world. Germany gambled that Britain might risk everything to protect her Empire - even victory on the Western Front. So, to divert British resources, maverick German commanders led...
S01E04 Jihad (1914-1916)
The Ottoman Empire, Germany's ally, summoned all Muslims to Jihad - holy war - to overthrow Allied power in the Middle East. They proved a formidable foe, as the Allies found to their cost at...
S01E05 Shackled to a Corpse (1914-1916)
As the Germans and Austrians clashed with The Russians on the bitter Eastern Front, Italy became embroiled in a terrible slaughter.
S01E06 Breaking the Deadlock (1915-1917)
Attrition, "lions led by donkeys", the slaughter only ceasing for a brief truce one Christmas - old, mistaken views of the war on the Western Front. In fact there was constant tactical evolutions; hundreds of...
S01E07 Blockade (1916-1917)
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.
S01E08 Revolution (1917)
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.
S01E09 Germany's Last Gamble (1918)
Over one million German troops were committed to Kaiserschlacht - the last great offensive of the war - while conflict still raged on many other fronts.
S01E10 War Without End (1918- )
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.
Cast
Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Self
Marie of Romania
Self
Hermann Göring
Self (archive footage)
Jonathan Lewis
Self - Narrator
