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26 Episodes 1964 - 1964
Episode 1
40 mins
The Premier episode starts with the idle summer of 1914 in the UK. The episode does a good job of showing the real state of affairs in the European countries that eventually were dragged into the great war. In Europe at that time, living conditions for the vast majority of the people were terrible by today's standards, with vast disparities of wealth and much agitation for change. The episode continues country by country in showing strengths and weaknesses: the United Kingdom with its worldwide empire and naval power and 30% of the population living below the poverty line, France and its people and great traditions, and the bitterly resented loss of Alsace-Lorraine in 1870 to Prussia, the industrial might of Germany and the hubris of the Kaiser Wilhelm II, Russia with its vast land empire and the constant labor unrest, and finally the Austro-Hungarian empire and its wars of expansion in 1912 and 1913 that helped fan the flames of resentment. The episode finishes with the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo in June of 1914.
Episode 2
It begins with the funerary procession of the Archduke Ferdinand back to Vienna juxtaposed with the ignorance of most Europeans of the event that will in 5 weeks' time propel all of Europe to war. There are anti-Serbian riots as a result of the assassination, and a July 6th note from the German Kaiser to the Austria-Hungary authorities that they will support any action taken against the Serbs in accordance to the secret treaty called the "Dual Alliance" of 1879 wherein they are allied in any war against Russian aggression (Russia was also the sworn protector of the Slavs and many of the people in the Balkans). Italy joined this secret treaty in 1882 to make this the "Triple Alliance". This was later balanced by countries on the other side of the Great War with the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894, then France and the UK formed the Entente Cordiale in 1904, and finally the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. Now all of the booby traps that would inexorably drive Europe to war in less than 3 weeks were in place. The end of the beginning was the July 23 ultimatum to Serbia leading up to the July 28th declaration of war on Serbia by the Austria-Hungarian Empire. The French began their mobilization the following day followed on that same day with an ultimatum issued by Germany to Russia and France. The first four days of August 1914 were a series of war declarations by all of the major parties on each other: August 1, Germany declares war on Russia, August 2, Germany issues a 12 hour ultimatum to Belgium for right of passage to invade France - it is refused, August 3, Germany declares war on France, Russia declares war on Germany, France declares war on Germany, and the U.K. issues an ultimate to both Germany and Austria that expires at midnight that results in the war starting on the morning of August 4th, 1914.
Episode 3
The armies are now on the move with fanfares of cheers and music. In August 1914, the armies of Europe march to war with enthusiasm and excitement. Germany strikes first on August 4th by invading Belgium. The Reichstag votes unanimously for funds for the war. The Schlieffen plan has the German forces invading Belgium, heading for the coast, turning south and then swinging anticlockwise and capturing Paris in 40 days. The Belgium army was not prepared to resist the German army and would not be able to resist for long. The German war machine was ready with 1 million soldiers and 4 million in the reserves. The German artillery was to have the greatest impact in the war, especially the very large artillery pieces that stood well back from the front lines. The German attack on Liege proved that the Belgium's forces would not be easily beaten. Lord Kitchener made an appeal in Great Britain for 100,000 men. Bertrand Russell declared his endorsement in a war against Germany. In Belgium, once the big German guns were brought forward, Liege was pounded into rubble and then overrun. Now nothing stood in the way of a full invasion of Belgium. The allies would now have to come to the rescue. France's Plan 17 would have French forces advancing and invading Germany towards the Rhine through Alsace and Lorraine. The French Foreign Legion, as well as troops from Algeria and Morocco, would be involved. The one advantage that the invading French troops had was the world's finest 75mm artillery gun. The French quickly took Mulhausen in an early victory, but was quickly lost back to the Germans. The early setbacks of both the Germans and French were concealed by both governments. Newspapers added to the general confusion about the status of the war on both sides. On August 18, the French crashed into the German forces. The German artillery guns from long range, and their machine gun at short range, decimated the French Second Army. But disasters like this did not yet lead the French to abandon Plan 17 at this point, but the Germans were already considering modifying the Schlieffen Plan as initially formulated. As the Germans continued their advance through Belgium, they started suffering from a form of guerrilla war by the Belgians. At one point, 600 civilians including a 3 week old) were executed by the Germany forces. Libraries were burned as the Germans attempted to 'teach the Belgians a lesson'. The British Expeditionary Force IBEF) used 1800 trains to transport troops to ports of disembarkation. Landings began in secrecy on August 7th in France. Field Marshal John French believed he would be leading the British forces into the Rhine alongside the French. However, one of the earliest air reconnaissance flights indicated a massive German force in front of his forces, yet he failed to modify his plans under the assumption that the French were advancing. They were not. The French troops on his right were retreating. On August 22nd, disaster would strike both the BEF and the French Army.
Episode 4
How the British army fought its first battle at the Belgian town of Mons. Despite initial success, the British infantry were sent into retreat after two weeks. Yet as the Germans pressed forward to Paris, apparently invincible, French Commander-in-Chief General Joffre slowly began to build a more solid resistance - which would lead ultimately to Allied victory.
Episode 5
September 6th 1914. With the Germans now just 20 miles from Paris, the French and the B.E.F. launch a successful counter-attack. Allied hopes are high. Some talk of sweeping into Germany within just six weeks. However, the reality of trench warfare is just starting to sink in. This is going to be a long war.
Episode 6
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.
Episode 7
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.
Episode 8
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.
Episode 9
1915.The Allies desperately need a victory to boost morale. The Western Front is mired in trench warfare and news from the East is grim. British and Commonwealth forces launch a strike against Gallipoli in the Dardanelles to try and knock Turkey out of the war. The campaign is a disaster - and a slaughter.
Episode 10
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.
Episode 11
The Battle of Verdun through June 1916, with a brief look at the civilian life in France at the time.
Episode 12
General Sir Douglas Haig would have preferred to confront the Germans in Flanders, but circumstances draw him inextricably towards the Somme. The British Army is ready and willing to fight. It's poised to go 'over the top' - but is it really up to the task ahead?
Episode 13
Britain fights its first major battle, the Battle of the Somme.
Episode 14
Sat, Aug 29, 1964
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.
Episode 15
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.
Episode 16
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.
Episode 17
1917. The British Army find themselves bearing the brunt of the fighting at Passchendaele. The battlefield is a nightmare panorama of shattered tree stumps, liquid mud and shell craters filled to the brim with filth into which countless soldiers slip and drown. If ever war was truly hell, this is it.
Episode 18
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.
Episode 19
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.
Episode 20
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.
Episode 21
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.
Episode 22
The German attacks falter. The allies struggle. The Americans still haven't arrived. The Germans attack anew and the USA finally arrives in strength.
Episode 23
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.
Episode 24
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.
Episode 25
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.
Episode 26
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.