The Great War: 1914 - Europe Goes To War
The Great War is a documentary series that explores the events leading up to and during World War I. The series begins with the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which sets off a chain of events known as the July Crisis. The European powers, including the Entente and the Central Powers, mobilize their armies in anticipation of a short war that is expected to end by Christmas. The series prov
Season overview
The Great War is a documentary series that explores the events leading up to and during World War I. The series begins with the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which sets off a chain of events known as the July Crisis. The European powers, including the Entente and the Central Powers, mobilize their armies in anticipation of a short war that is expected to end by Christmas. The series provides a historical account of the early stages of the conflict, focusing on the mobilization of armies and the outbreak of war. The series is presented by Indy Neidell, who guides viewers through the events leading up to the war. The Great War series offers a comprehensive and detailed look at the early days of World War I, drawing from historical records and events.
Episode Guide
Season 1 Progress Shield
The Outbreak of WWI - How Europe Spiraled Into the GREAT WAR - Week 1
Jul 28, 2014 · 7 min
After the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary is determined to put a lid on Serbia once and for all. Germany wanted to go to war with Russia sooner than later, becaus
Germany in Two-Front War and the Schlieffen-Plan - Week 2
Aug 7, 2014 · 9 min
Austria-Hungary starts the bombardment of Belgrade. What follows is a deployment race of armies between all major powers in Europe. Nobody wants to be unprepared in case of an atta
To Arms! The Deployment of Troops - Week 3
Aug 14, 2014 · 8 min
The first few days of war were a combination of failed organisation and chaos. The Austro-Hungarian supreme command lacks combat experience, and their irrational actions in Serbia
A New War with Old Generals – Carnage on the Western Front - Week 4
Aug 21, 2014 · 10 min
In the early days of World War 1, warfare is still based on ideas and ideals of 19th century generals. The technological progress during industrialisation clashes with obsolete war
The Rape of Belgium and the Battle of Tannenberg - Week 5
Aug 28, 2014 · 9 min
During their advance through Belgium, the German Army is committing atrocities against Belgian civilians - justified as response to resistance and sabotage against their advancemen
Plans Are Doomed to Fail - The Battle of Galicia - Week 6
Sep 4, 2014 · 10 min
While the Germans on the Western Front are very close to reaching Paris, the Eastern Front proves to become a disastrous failure for the Austro-Hungarian forces. Conrad von Hötzend
Taxi to the Front – The First Battle of the Marne - Week 7
Sep 11, 2014 · 8 min
The German Army is so close to Paris that French soldiers are brought to the front by taxis. Together with the British Expeditionary Forces, the French are fighting the German adva
Welcome to the Dirt – The Beginning of Trench Warfare - Week 8
Sep 18, 2014 · 8 min
After the advances and retreats during the early weeks of war, the front is coming to a grinding hold after the Battle of the Aisne. The German Army is digging itself in on one sid
The Russian War Machine and the Race to the Sea - Week 9
Sep 25, 2014 · 9 min
parked by the desperate state of the Austrians, the Russian army goes on the offensive. General Ivanov even tries to use his numerical superiority to make up for the German victori
Dying in the Mud - Autumn Is Taking Its Toll - Week 10
Oct 2, 2014 · 9 min
he autumn rain turns the battlefields into muddy landscapes. Mud in which the soldiers are hardly able to dig trenches and in which no artillery gun will stand. The first change of
Back for Christmas? - The Illusion of a Short War - Week 11
Oct 9, 2014 · 9 min
In the trenches on the Western Front and in the mud on the Eastern Front, hundreds of thousands of soldiers die and with them dies the illusion of a short war. After heavy casualti
Learning From Napoleon – Russia, The Underestimated Enemy - Week 12
Oct 16, 2014 · 9 min
After defeating the Russian Army in the early weeks of the war, the German and Austrian generals hope to push the Russians back with combined forces. But, like Napoleon 100 years e
A War to End All Wars - Home Front Propaganda - Week 13
Oct 23, 2014 · 9 min
The first weeks of war already took hundreds of thousands of lives and the daily struggle to survive in the trenches on the Western Front has nothing to do with the promised glory.
Fresh Meat - The Search For New Recruits - Week 14
Oct 30, 2014 · 9 min
After some heavy casualties during the first months of war, the armies had to look for new recruits. While Great Britain undertook soldiers in military service to fill up their ran
The World at War - The Ottoman Empire Enters the Stage - Week 15
Nov 6, 2014 · 10 min
Three months after the outbreak of the war, another world power enters the conflict: The Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman war minister Enver Pascha, a supporter of a new Turkish self co
The Defensive War on the Western Front - Week 16
Nov 13, 2014 · 9 min
The German army dug in at the Western Front and waited for the next Russian attack at the Eastern Front. Even though the Germans outnumbered their opponents, they barely stood a ch
The Enemy Within - The German Army's Power Play - Week 17
Nov 20, 2014 · 9 min
The commanders of the German army blame each other for the missing victories. Erich von Falkenhayn and Paul von Hindenburg both believe that they have the only solution to the prob
Iron, Steel and Oil - The Fight for Resources - Week 18
Nov 27, 2014 · 8 min
Four months after the outbreak of the war, a new objective develops: the fight for the most valuable resources. The modern warfare and its war machines need one thing more than any
Mission Accomplished? - The Austro-Hungarian Empire Conquers Belgrade - Week 19
Dec 4, 2014 · 9 min
During the first week of December, Austria manages to capture Belgrade. Thereby Austria is the first nation to achieve one of its war aims. The victorious Austrians are joyful, but
The Battle at the Falkland Islands - The Death of Maximilian von Spee - Week 20
Dec 11, 2014 · 9 min
Near the far away Falkland Islands the story of the German East Asia Squadron is coming to an end: in a naval battle nearly the entire squadron is sunk and Maximilian von Spee dies
The Raid On Scarborough - A Failed Attempt at Intimidation - Week 21
Dec 18, 2014 · 9 min
German admiral Franz von Hipper reluctantly carries out his orders to bomb British costal towns. And indeed, this attempt to intimidate British civilians only unites them. British
The First Battle of Champagne - Dying in Caucasus Snow - Week 22
Dec 25, 2014 · 9 min
Right before Christmas the allied powers begin the Champagne offensive, which will last several months. In snow, mud,and under horrible living conditions not only the soldiers suff