The Great War - 1914 - 18 [DVD]

Disc 1. 1914: To Arms 1 x 50:00 min The first phase of WWI, known as the "Battle of the Frontiers" included the efforts of the British Expeditionary Force at Mons, the regrouping of the British and French at Marne and the brilliant victory by the Germans at Tannenberg. The second phase "The Race for the Sea" saw both sides attempting to outflank their enemies but by Christmas a stalemate was reached and trench warfare characterised the conflict. Disc 2. 1915: Death in Foreign Fields 1 x 50:00 min 1915 was characterised by deadlock and a widening of the conflict. British cities were bombed by Zeppelin airships, German U-Boats attacking neutral shipping and gas was used at the Battles of Bolimov, Ypres and Loos. The Italians faced awful hardships in the first of twelve battles along the Isonzo River and the year ended with the Allies' withdrawal from Gallipoli which typified their fortunes throughout 1915, small gains at an enormous cost. Disc 3. 1916: Stalemate 1 x 50:00 min 1916 saw the carnage increase to new levels. In February, the Germans began their assault on the forts at Verdun. In the East, the Russians launched the Brusilov Offensive whilst the British initiated the Battle of the Somme with terrible loss of life for little gain. At sea, the dreadnoughts of the Royal Navy and German High Seas Fleet clashed atJutland in the war's one substantial sea battle. Disc 4. 1917: The Breaking of Armies 1 x 50:00 min Mutiny in Russia's ranks forced her withdrawal from the conflict. However, morale was restored by a string of Allied successes. Spectacular gains were achieved by Canadian forces at Vimy Ridge and the Battle of Messines allowed for the much larger Third Battle of Ypres. In November, the Battle of Cambrai heralded the first time tanks were used with marked success. By Christmas, both sides realised that 1918 would be a decisive year. Disc 5. 1918: Germany's Last Gamble 1 x 50:00 min 1918 began disastrously for the Allies' war effort. Using new Storm Trooper' tactics, the Germans launched attacks with devastating results. However, the lack of supplies and the outbreak of "Spanish Influenza" meant that the German forces were unable to push on. Their collapse was rapid and panic in the German High Command led to an Armistice which began on November 11th, 1918. The Great War was finally over. Disc 6. Land Warfare Technology 1 x 50:00 min This programme closely examines the development of land warfare and the effect it had on the conflict. The killing power of the machine gun resulted in wholesale slaughter. A new terror weapon emerged in the form of gas used by the Germans with terrible effect at Ypres in 1915. Arguably the most dramatic development was the tank, first used at the Somme in 1916, it would prove a decisive weapon. Disc 7. Air Power Technology 1 x 50:00 min The Great War introduced many new technologies but perhaps the most far reaching was the aeroplane. In 1909, Louis Bleriot managed to fly across the English Channel, an event which wakened military commanders to aviation's potential. At the outbreak of the war, aircraft were to play an increasingly important role in reconnaissance and rangefinding for the artillery. In the latter stages of the conflict, their roles included ground attack and long-range bombing. Disc 8. Sea Power Technology 1 x 50:00 min The Battle of Jutland in 1916 was the one great showdown of the war. Although it ended indecisively, the German Fleet returned to its harbours never to pose a serious threat again. Much attention was given to submarine technology and the German blockade of Britain nearly succeeded in forcing victory. The aircraft carrier's first deck landing in 1917 was a major breakthrough but it was to play no significant role in the conflict.