X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

The Great War

"The Great War" is a four-hour cinematic documentary covering U.S. involvement in World War I in the critical year of 1918. After three years of horrific battle in the trenches of France and Belgium, the Allies are on the verge of collapse, and Germany is on the cusp of victory. The United States is forced to rapidly train, arm, and ship millions of young soldiers overseas to Europe for the first time. Our story follows General John J. Pershing, leader of the American Expeditionary Force, who is charged with training and deploying an army almost from scratch; Michael B. Ellis, a young man fighting with the Army's soon-to-be legendary Big Red One; and Horace Pippin and Henry Johnson, brave African American soldiers whose courage in battle helped their regiment be christened the Harlem Hellfighters. "The Great War" weaves together the stories of these four men to tell one story: how an isolationist America reluctantly entered World War I and emerged a global power.

Loading. Please wait...

Content not available in your region? ExpressVPN can help you stay connected wherever you are. Get 4 extra months FREE with TV Guide's exclusive offer.

Cast & Crew See All

Yohuru Williams
Self - Professor, University of St. Thomas
Edward T. O'Donnell
Self - Professor, Holy Cross College
Doug Douds
Self - Professor, U.S. Army War College

Season 1 Episode Guide See All

Episode 1

Into Hell

Mon, May 27, 2024120 mins

After four long years of unimaginable horror on the battlefield, the Allies are exhausted and in danger of losing the war to Germany. General John J. Pershing races to train and deploy the untested American Army before democracy collapses in Europe.

Where to Watch

You May Also Like See All

Blue Planet II
D-Day: The Unheard Tapes
Planet Earth II
America to Me

Popular Shows See all shows

The Crown

6 Seasons
This drama follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
78   Metascore
2016 Documentary, Drama

Band of Brothers

1 Season
This landmark miniseries based on Stephen E. Ambrose's best-seller, and executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, recounts the remarkable achievements of an elite team of U.S. paratroopers during World War II.
87   Metascore
2001 Action & Adventure, Drama, Documentary

48 Hours

39 Seasons
48 Hours is television's most popular true-crime series, investigating shocking cases and compelling real-life dramas with journalistic integrity and cutting-edge style.
1988 Documentary, Suspense

The Son

2 Seasons
The Son, from writers/producers Philipp Meyer, Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy and producer Michael Connolly, is a multi-generational epic telling of the story of America's birth as a superpower through the bloody rise and fall of one Texas oil empire.
57   Metascore
2017 Drama, Documentary, Action & Adventure

The Curse of Oak Island

13 Seasons
Rick and Marty Lagina, two brothers from Michigan with a life-long interest in the mystery of Oak Island, renew efforts to discover the legendary treasure with sophisticated machinery.
2014 Documentary, Reality

When Calls the Heart

14 Seasons
A teacher from a wealthy family in the East travels out West to teach in a small coal mining town.
2014 Drama, Documentary