Episode list

The Premier episode gives a brief historical summary of all the major players in WWI right up to the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

This 2nd installment of the series covers the 5 weeks from the assassination of the Archduke on June 28 through the final declaration of war by the United Kingdom on August 4, 1914.

The 3rd installment of the series covers the first 3 weeks of the war. The initial Belgian resistance caves under withering German artillery fire. Initial victories by the French are quickly reversed, and finally the BEF arrive.

The Schlieffen Plan is continuing according to plan. The Germans suffer loses in the East only to turn the tide of war around. The British Expeditionary Forces engage the Germans, but have to fall back. The loss of Paris seems imminent.

The First Battle of the Marne, the Race to the Sea, the Siege of Antwerp and the First Battle of Ypres in the West; Austrian defeats in Serbia and in Galicia; reprisals against Germans in Britain; mass enlistment in the British Empire.

For the first 6 months of the war, the Royal Navy did what it could to contain the German navy around the world. It also showed the problems Britain had with its navy.

War in Europe in 1915; German success at the Masurian Lakes; Russian Siege of Przemysl; German Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive; Russian shortage of materiel; Germans use poison gas at Ypres; British munitions shortage; the role of wartime industrial production.

The effects of protracted war on civilian life of the major powers. The sinking of RMS Lusitania, reprisals against foreign nationals. The founding of Lloyd George's Ministry of Munitions, employment of women in the war industry, resulting labor disputes.

The Ottoman Empire joins the war on the side of the Central Powers. Armenian Genocide and Gallipoli Campaign.

The war in the latter half of 1915, marked by successes of Central Powers. German and Austrian advance in the East, Russian withdrawal. Italy enters the war on the Allied side, attacking Austria and is stopped at the river Battles of the Isonzo. The Allied offensive in the Second Battle of Champagne and Third Battle of Artois falters. Serbia is overrun by German and Austrian troops; Bulgaria joins on the side of the Central Powers. Allied relief troops land in Salonika but are delayed by Greek internal politics, while Serb and Montenegrin forces and civilians flee through Albania to Corfu.

The Battle of Verdun through June 1916, with a brief look at the civilian life in France at the time.

The summer of 1916 has the British army getting ready for Battle of the Somme.

Britain fights its first major battle, the Battle of the Somme.

War-weariness in Europe. In Britain, conscription, loss of shipping to German U-boats, Easter Rising in Dublin, the Battle of Jutland and the death of Earl Kitchener. In Germany and Austria, loss of morale, construction of the Hindenburg Line and the death of Emperor Franz Joseph. In Russia, discontent bordering on revolution. A change of guard in Britain, Germany and France, favoring continuation of war.

Early 1917 was the coldest winter know for a long time. It was a difficult time for all armies to survive and to fight. The French army were exhausted in 1917 and they mutinied. A new French army commander helped improved moral.

The US enters the war. US foreign policy in the early 20th century. Non-interventionism at war's start, swings of public opinion, industrial production favoring the Allies. Wilson's re-election and the declaration of war on Germany, prompted by the Zimmermann Telegram and unrestricted submarine warfare. Preparations for war, conscription, General Pershing's arrival in Europe.

The mess and huge loss of life at paschendale. Told through archive footage contemporary memoirs, commentary, music and poetry, narrated and realised by Michael Redgrave, Ralph Richardson, Marius Goring, Cyril Luckham and Emlyn Williams.

Russia in the late 1917 was discontented on how the war was going and how the Tsar was running the country. Revolution was going to happen.

The Western Front at the end of 1917. Experiences: artistic portrayals, sounds and smells of the war, aerial photographs. The discrepancy in perceptions between soldiers and civilians, psychological breakdowns, sense of belonging to the unit. Georges Clemenceau becomes French Prime Minister, the Battle of Cambrai ends in stalemate.

Propaganda and censorship; the u-boat menace at sea. Rationing at home and the greater contribution of women. The struggle to produce sufficient food and war materials; the brief zeppelin raids and other bombing raids on London.

The start of German Spring Offensives in 1918. Shortage of manpower in Allied lines, German reinforcements from the East. German offensives Operation Michael at the Somme and the Battle of the Lys in Flanders.

The German attacks falter. The allies struggle. The Americans still haven't arrived. The Germans attack anew and the USA finally arrives in strength.

Allied offensives in summer 1918. French counter-offensive at the Marne, the Battle of Amiens, the Second Battle of the Somme, advance to the Hindenburg Line. In Britain, public protests yield to skeptical optimism. In Germany, troops lose morale and leaders realize that victory is impossible.

War in the Middle East. British capture Basra and mount an unsuccessful campaign toward Baghdad. Ottomans fail to capture Suez but check the British advance; Palestine campaign begins. Britain encourages Arab Revolt against the weakened Ottomans, then captures Baghdad, Jerusalem and in 1918, Damascus. The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the seeds of future conflicts.

War on Austria-Hungary, in the Balkans and Italy. Allies establish the Macedonian Front but do not advance; the Central Powers occupy Romania. Allies bring Greece to its side. Austrian and German troops breach the Italian front and stop just short of Venice but next Austrian assault at the Piave fails. Allies breach the Macedonian Front, Bulgaria capitulates. Czechoslovakia and South Slavs declare independence, Italy launches counter-offensive Battle of Vittorio Veneto; Austria-Hungary capitulates and dissolves.

The Central Powers disintegrate. The realization at the front that the war is unwinnable, and mutiny in the cities at home force the Germans to seek an armistice; the Allies dictate the terms. The Kaiser abdicates, flees. Peace is declared and the troops and civilians try to deal with it.