The Premier 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.
1915 brings little progress for the Allies, but a huge German offensive at Gorlice-Tarnow forces the Russians to retreat in the East. The Allied conference at Chantilly agrees on a strategy of simultaneous attacks in 1916.
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 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.
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.
Relief spreads through the ranks on all sides as history's bloodiest conflict finally comes to an end. With the Armistice now in effect, the Allied countries are overcome by a frenzy of joy and exultation.
