The Great War: 1915 - Stalemate
The second season of The Great War continues the documentary series' chronological examination of the First World War, tracking events as they occurred one hundred years prior. While initial expectations suggested the conflict might conclude by Christmas 1915, the narrative arc of this season focuses on the reality of continued escalation. The scope of the war expands significantly during this period as both the Otto
Season 2 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- The series follows the events of the First World War in real-time, tracking occurrences exactly 100 years after they happened.
- The documentary format utilizes historical records to present the progression of the war on a week-by-week basis.
- The series features Indy Neidell as a primary figure in the presentation of these historical events.
- The narrative is grounded in the initial context of a global conflict that began with the expectation of a short duration.
Season overview
The second season of The Great War continues the documentary series' chronological examination of the First World War, tracking events as they occurred one hundred years prior. While initial expectations suggested the conflict might conclude by Christmas 1915, the narrative arc of this season focuses on the reality of continued escalation. The scope of the war expands significantly during this period as both the Ottoman Empire and Italy enter the conflict. The season documents the introduction of gas warfare as a tactical development on the battlefield. Furthermore, the narrative shifts focus to the Eastern Front, detailing the large-scale military engagements occurring between the forces of Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. By following these developments week by week, the season illustrates how the global situation grew increasingly complex and violent throughout 1915, moving away from the prospect of a swift resolution and toward a protracted struggle. The series maintains its commitment to historical accuracy by presenting these events through a documentary lens, providing viewers with a comprehensive look at the strategic and geopolitical shifts that defined this specific year of the war.
Episode Guide
Season 2 Progress Shield
The Ottoman Disaster - The Battle of Sarikamish - Week 23
Jan 1, 2015 · 9 min
The Champagne offensive is still going on the Western Front without any side gaining a decisive advantage. In the Caucasus, Enver Pasha is showing how far he's willing to go to ach
In Dire Straits - Russia on Austro-Hungary's Doorstep - Week 24
Jan 8, 2015 · 9 min
The Austro-Hungarian army resembles a better militia after six months into the war. The defeats against Serbia and Russia and still under siege in Galicia - the forces are in dire
Onwards! - The Western Front Of Early 1915 - Week 25
Jan 15, 2015 · 10 min
French general Joseph Joffre is stuck in a dilemma: the Champagne offensive has been going on for weeks now - without any of the expected results. Should he dig in and tolerate the
Zeppelins Over England - New Inventions For The Modern War - Week 26
Jan 22, 2015 · 8 min
For a decisive advantage on the Western Front, the military commanders of both sides are trying to use technological advances. And so this week, German Zeppelins are flying their f
All Or Nothing - Winter Offensive In The Carpathians - Week 27
Jan 29, 2015 · 10 min
Konrad von Hötzendorf has to prevent the Russian army from entering the Hungarian plains. He starts a huge offensive in the Carpathian Mountains - in mid winter. He also wants to d
Gas! - A New Horror On The Battlefield - Week 28
Feb 5, 2015 · 10 min
After more than 6 months of stalemate, the German Empire is playing two new cards to gain a decisive advantage. On the Eastern Front, the Germans use gas on a huge scale for the fi
Stopping Russia - Hindenburg's Final Offensive? - Week 29
Feb 12, 2015 · 8 min
This week, well over 1 million soldiers are on the advance everywhere in Europe. General Hindenburgs tries to beat the Russians once and for all at the Masurian Lakes. Austria-Hung
Hindenburg's Cunning Plan - A 2nd Tannenberg - Week 30
Feb 19, 2015 · 9 min
After more than six months of war, the first big mutiny breaks out in Singapore. The endless battles in which big powers sacrifice thousands of soldiers are leading to an organised
Prelude to Gallipoli - Naval Bombardement of the Dardanelles - Week 31
Feb 26, 2015 · 9 min
To break up the stalemate and get a decisive advantage, France and Great Britain open up yet another theatre of war in the Dardanelles. The plan is to seize the strait and open eve
Playing With Fire - The First Flame Thrower - Week 32
Mar 5, 2015 · 8 min
Modern war already took place in the sky and under water but the waring nations also wanted to gain an advantage in the trenches. So this week, we see the first use of another merc
The Battle of Neuve-Chapelle - Week 33
Mar 12, 2015 · 9 min
The British Expeditionary Forces are starting their first major offensive since the beginning of trench warfare. Near Neuve-Chapelle they attack the Germans and try to "bite and ho
A Slice of The Pie - Splitting Up The Middle East - Week 34
Mar 19, 2015 · 9 min
Even though the Entente offensive near Constantinople didn't really take off yet, the allied powers were already dreaming about splitting up the Ottoman Empire between themselves -
The Fall of Przemyśl - Changing Strategy On The Western Front - Week 35
Mar 26, 2015 · 9 min
The generals at the Western Front are slowly starting to adapt to the modern war. The battle of Neuve-Chappelle will be a blueprint for future operations and further improvements a
Showdown In The Dardanelles - Bulgaria Flirts With The Central Powers - Week 36
Apr 2, 2015 · 9 min
The Ottoman Navy is finally able to fend off the Russian and Royal Navies in the Dardanelles, Bulgaria is considering joining the Central Powers, Austria-Hungary is fighting off th
The Armenian Genocide - Week 37
Apr 9, 2015 · 9 min
The leaders of the Ottoman Empire are looking for a scapegoat after their collosal defeat in the Caucasian Mountains a few month earlier. They start the systematic relocation and d
Russia Fails In The Mountains - Basra Falls - Week 38
Apr 16, 2015 · 9 min
This week, generals on three different fronts show that they are not able to realise their mistakes. Basra falls to the British, the quick victory at the Dardanelles is getting mor
Gas On The Western Front - Baptism of Fire for Canada - Week 39
Apr 23, 2015 · 9 min
fter experiments on the Eastern Front, the German Army is using poison gas for the first time on the Western Front. At the beginning of the 2nd Battle of Ypres, the wind blows in a
The Sea Turns Red - Landing At Gallipoli - Week 40
Apr 30, 2015 · 11 min
Completely underestimating the Ottoman army at the Dardanelles, the British commanders decide to let the ANZACs take the Gallipoli peninsular as a gateway to the Bosporus and Const
Sinking of the Lusitania - The Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive - Week 41
May 7, 2015 · 10 min
Ignoring the warnings and cruising carelessly slow the RMS Lusitania is hit by a torpedo of the German U-Boat U20. Almost 2000 people die during the sinking of the Lusitania. At th
The German Phalanx Chases Russia - Week 42
May 14, 2015 · 9 min
The 2nd Battle of Ypres is still going but no side can gain a decisive advantage. The main reason on the British side is a lack of artillery ammunition. Even the delivered shells a
The Battle of San River - Winston Churchill Gets Fired - Week 43
May 21, 2015 · 9 min
The big success of the Gallipoli Campaign never came, thousands of soldiers died and so Winston Churchill is forced to resign. At the same time August von Mackensen is pushing back
The New Alpine Front - Italy Joins World War 1 - Week 44
May 28, 2015 · 9 min
After the defeats of Austria-Hungary against Russia, Italy is seeing her chance to grab disputed territories from them. Even though they are not prepared for a full scale war econo
Artillery in World War 1 - The Key To Success - Week 45
Jun 4, 2015
When Przemysl falls for the 2nd time and when the British and ANZAC troops fail at Gallipoli again, one thing becomes clear: Artillery is the key for future battles. August von Mac
Rex Warneford Destroys A Zeppelin - Austria Digs Into the Mountains - Week 46
Jun 11, 2015 · 9 min
Reginald Warneford is important to Britain's war effort. Not just because he shot down a German zeppelin, but because he is made a hero in times when heroes are needed. He receives
Cavalry, Spies and Cossacks - Week 47
Jun 18, 2015 · 8 min
The war seems like a romantic novel this week: In the East the Russians are saved by Cossack Cavalry while August von Mackensen's artillery is plowing through Galicia. In the meant
The Austro-Hungarian Empire Strikes Back - Week 48
Jun 25, 2015 · 9 min
Just a few weeks ago Austria-Hungary's military laid in shambles. But with German support from August von Mackensen and other German generals, the tide is turning on the Eastern Fr
On the Move but going Nowhere - Optimism is Failing! - Week 49
Jul 2, 2015 · 9 min
Two months after landing in Gallipoli the fight has become a trench warfare. In Mesopotamia British troops were losing the optimism, they had felt just a few weeks ago. The change
Adapt or Die - The Artillery Barrage - Week 50
Jul 9, 2015 · 9 min
The Great Retreat of the Russians during the last weeks has shown one thing: Artillery is the key to success. More specifically, a new kind of artillery tactic called the artillery
The Tumbling Giant - Russia's Army On The Verge Of Collapse - Week 51
Jul 16, 2015 · 9 min
The German-Austrian offensive on the Eastern Front had undone all of Russia's territorial gains in the last weeks. Lemberg had fallen and the German troops were at the gates of War
Scorched Earth - Russia's retreat goes up in flames! - Week 52
Jul 23, 2015 · 10 min
This week Russia premieres her tactics of „Scorched Earth“. A new strategy of burning their own land is to avoid enemies profiting from their conquests. Russia had been retreating
Russian Roulette - Germany Helps The Bolsheviks - Week 53
Jul 30, 2015 · 9 min
After Russia's Great Retreat and the defeat on the Eastern Front, the Russian Army is demoralized and even revolution is in the air. Germany is fanning the revolutionary flames by
Warsaw Falls - The Fokker Scourge Begins - Week 54
Aug 6, 2015 · 9 min
After the Russian defeats on the Eastern Front, Warsaw falls. The first time in over 100 years a new foreign power occupies the city. The German onslaught in the East seems to be u
The Ruse at Gallipoli and the Siege of Kovno - Week 55
Aug 13, 2015 · 9 min
Another 20.000 soldiers fresh from the barracks are supposed to turn the tide at Gallipoli. But Mustafa Kemal is an Ottoman commander to be reckoned with. With a tactical ruse and
Escalation At Sea - Russia Up Against the Wall - Week 56
Aug 20, 2015 · 9 min
he Entente was in desperate need of American supplies and so the German submarine campaign in the Atlantic was a real problem. The British started to run false flag operations with
The Battle of Hill 60 - Lunatic Persistence in Gallipoli - Week 57
Aug 27, 2015 · 9 min
Peter Hart described the state of the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 as "lunatic persistence in the face of the obvious" - and the Battle of Hill 60 proved just that. Outgunned and wit
The Western Front Awakens - The Tsar Takes Over - Week 58
Sep 3, 2015 · 9 min
The Western Front has been relatively quiet the whole summer while the Russians were on their Big Retreat. The French and British generals have been busy trying to find a new strat
The Socialists Call for Peace - But the Plans Do Not - Week 59
Sep 10, 2015 · 9 min
While the Socialist movement gathers in Switzerland and calls for peace on the Western Front, on the Eastern Front and the Balkans the signs are set for the opposite: An escalation
The State Of World War 1 - As Reported by A Newspaper 100 Years Ago - Week 60
Sep 17, 2015 · 9 min
This week Indy dissects a contemporary source from autumn 1915 - the Hobart Mercury Newspaper from Australia. While the French and British prepare a new offensive on the Western F
The German Occupation of Lithuania - Unrest in Russia - Week 61
Sep 24, 2015 · 9 min
When the Germans take Vilnius, they set their plans of "germanizing" the whole area into motion. Erich Ludendorff believes that Courland and other areas near East Prussia are cultu
The Battle of Loos - New Offensives On The Western Front - Week 62
Oct 1, 2015 · 9 min
After weeks of preparation the French and British Armies unleash a new offensive on the Western Front. Not only is it supposed to relieve pressure on the Russians on the Eastern Fr
Serbia Is Invaded Once Again - The Entente Lands in Greece - Week 63
Oct 8, 2015 · 9 min
The Central Powers want to open a direct supply connection between Berlin and Constantinople. So, they start a new offensive on Serbia to defeat them once and for all. It's an open
Learning Lessons From Loos - Bulgaria Enters The War - Week 64
Oct 15, 2015 · 9 min
By the numbers the Battle of Loos was a defeat for the British Army but they learned valuable lessons for the future on the Western Front. The creeping artillery barrage is used fo
"The Crime That Shook the World" - The Execution of Edith Cavell - Week 65
Oct 22, 2015 · 9 min
Edith Cavell was a British nurse serving in a nursing school in occupied Belgium. She was executed by the Germans for treason and espionage in Brussels. Her death and the surroundi
Russia Stems The Tide - Winter Is Coming - Week 66
Oct 29, 2015 · 10 min
After the Great Retreat during the summer, the Russians are finally able to fight back the Germans at Dvinsk. With a new type of trench warfare, they are able to render August von
The Third Battle of the Isonzo - French Despair On The Western Front - Week 67
Nov 5, 2015 · 10 min
For the third time the Italians had tried to conquer the Austrian positions at the Isonzo front and for the third time they had failed. And like the other defeats before, the Third
Serbia's Last Stand Against The Central Powers - Week 68
Nov 12, 2015 · 9 min
erbia's Army cannot hold out much longer against the invasion of the Central Powers. Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria are relentlessly pushing forward through the Balkan count
The Forgotten Front - World War 1 in Libya - Week 69
Nov 19, 2015 · 9 min
12 war zones were not enough for this global war and this week an often forgotten theatre of war opens in Libya. Local Arab tribesmen fight against the British in guerrilla war. As
Pride Comes Before The Fall - British Trouble in Mesopotamia - Week 70
Nov 26, 2015 · 9 min
Far away from the Western Front, the British Indian Army gets intro trouble in Mesopotamia against the Ottoman Empire. In the Alps, the Fourth Battle of the Isonzo is proving just
The Serbian Exodus Through Albania - Week 71
Dec 3, 2015 · 9 min
Serbia's last stand is over and the remaining forces and civilians have to leave their home country across the inhabitable trails of the Albanian Alps. So, a whole nation is on the
Britain On The Run - The Siege of Kut Al Amara - Week 72
Dec 10, 2015 · 9 min
Serbia is breaking under the pressure of the Central Power invasion and the last troops and civilians flee through the Alps. The final decision to evacuate Gallipoli is made and th
Despair And Mutiny On The Italian Front - Week 73
Dec 17, 2015 · 9 min
The morale of the Italian Army at the Isonzo Front is on an all time low. Catastrophic defeats against the Austrians, bad and broken equipment, unsanitary conditions, no supplies,
The Beginning Of The End - Evacuation At Gallipoli - Week 74
Dec 24, 2015 · 9 min
While the Western and Eastern Front freeze over and the armies there have to fight the harsh conditions as much as the fight the enemy, the evacuation of Gallipoli is set into moti
Preparing for 1916 - The Year of Battles I THE GREAT WAR - Week 75
Dec 31, 2015 · 10 min
1915 was a year for the Central Powers except on the Western Front where the stalemate continues. But plans are being made on both sides to gain an advantage. Preparations for huge