The Great War

1916 - The Year of Battles

2016 · 52 episodes · 8h 43m in all

2 years after the start of the war, three of the biggest battles of human history are fought simultaneously: The Russian Brusilov Offensive, the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Verdun cause over 4,000,000 casualties. And still there is no end in sight.

Episodes

1. 

   1. Prelude to Verdun And The Road To the Somme - Week 76

   7 Jan 2016 · 9 min

   1915 was a year in favour of the Central Powers. But in early 1916, the Russians, British and French were sending more fresh troops into battle than ever before – and better equipped too. French General Joseph Joffre was confident that a huge combined offensive at the Somme in summer would turn the tide. But German Chief of Staff Erich von Falkenhayn had his own plans to bleed the French dry at Verdun.

2. 

   2. The Invasion Of Montenegro - The End of Gallipoli - Week 77

   14 Jan 2016 · 9 min

   It already started around Christmas but this week the evacuation of Gallipoli is complete. While the evacuation was a success, the overall defeat is inarguable for the British. On top of that the Ottomans can now send 40.000 soldiers to the siege of Kut in Mesopotamia where the British are still awaiting relieve. At the same time the Austro-Hungarian Army starts its invasion of Montenegro and the Western Front is still quietly awaiting the offensive at Verdun.

3. 

   3. The Fight for Montenegro & The Disaster Of Kut - Week 78

   21 Jan 2016 · 10 min

   The Russians try to take Czernowitz, the Capital of Austrian Bukovina but thousands upon thousands of Russians were killed in action. While in Montenegro, Austro-Hungarian troops under commander in chief Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf take control of the Balkan state of Montenegro. A relief force led by Lieutenant-General Fenton Aylmer had to return to base after a big loss against the Turks, while in South Cameroon, so the Germans retire into Spanish territory.

4. 4

   4. The Kaiser's Birthday - Hypocrisy in Greece - Week 79

   28 Jan 2016 · 10 min

   Even though Britain went to war over the violation of the Belgian neutrality by the Germans, the neutrality of Greece seems to be of no concern to the Entente. The military presence on Corfu and Salonika is growing and growing. And even though there is no fighting there, the soldiers have to suffer since general Malaria is taking his toll. In the week of the Kaiser's birthday, the diplomatic tensions between the USA and Germany are increasing and on the Western Front Trench Foot is becoming a real problem.

5. 5

   5. Germany Aims For Verdun - Russia Goes South - Week 80

   4 Feb 2016 · 10 min

   The preparations for the huge German offensive at Verdun are almost complete. Thousands of artillery pieces are moved, millions shells brought to the front. Erich von Falkenhayn would soon unleash is offensive on the Western Front. At the same time, Russia headed south to the Caucasus once more in search for a desperately needed victory against the Ottomans.

6. 6

   6. The Generalissimo Goes Forth - Week 81

   11 Feb 2016 · 10 min

   The situation for the Italian soldiers was dire during the winter battles, but even though Luigi "The Generalissimo" Cadorna maintained a tight grip on the strategy used, the equipment of the Italian soldiers was greatly improved. At the same time, the Russians were advancing on Erzurum in the Turkish Caucasus and war at sea counted a few more casualties on all sides.

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   7. The Ghost Of The Lusitania - Russia Takes Erzurum - Week 82

   18 Feb 2016 · 10 min

   The sinking of the Lusitania is still causing diplomatic tensions between Germany and the USA. While the Germans insist they were forced by the British blockade to adopt unrestricted submarine warfare, the Americans think otherwise. In the meantime the Russian Army is taking Erzurum in the Caucasus and the big offensive at Verdun is delayed for a week.

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   8. The Battle of Verdun - They Shall Not Pass - Week 83

   25 Feb 2016 · 10 min

   The Germans start the biggest battle in history with an artillery barrage of over 1000 guns on a 20 km front. The Battle of Verdun is the first major German offensive since the Race to the Sea and Erich von Falkenhayn has high hopes to break through the French lines. Right before the offensive starts, the French are able to reinforce their defences, so they are barely able to hold the line. The French credo is: "lls ne passeront pas!" – they shall not pass!

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   9. The US Arms Industry - The Fight for Douaumont - Week 84

   3 Mar 2016 · 10 min

   The fierce Battle of Verdun continues but as the Germans under Crown prince Wilhelm push harder and harder, the German casualties begin to rise to the same levels as the French. The French Army is only kept alive through the sacred road which brings men to the front without a pause. One French soldier that gets captured around Verdun, is Charles De Gaulle. At the same time, on the almost forgotten Libyan Front South African cavalry saves the day like in the glorious past of the British Army.

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    10. Equilibrium of Carnage at Verdun - Portugal Joins The War - Week 85

    10 Mar 2016 · 10 min

    The fierce battle of Verdun is still going on and the initial surprise momentum of the German Army under Erich von Falkenhayn is lost. Battles for hill tops and forts turn into carnage where even the winning side is loosing too much men to go on. The Siege of Kut is growing ever more desperate as the there is virtually no food left for the British Army. And in all that Portugal is joining the war.

11. 11

    11. Battle of the Isonzo - Discord Among the Central Powers

    17 Mar 2016 · 10 min

12. 12

    12. Russian Spring Offensive - Confusion at Fort Vaux

    24 Mar 2016 · 9 min

13. 13

    13. Verdun - A Nightmare to Annex

    31 Mar 2016 · 10 min

14. 14

    14. Zeppelins over Britain - Terror in the Skies

    7 Apr 2016 · 10 min

15. 15

    15. The Meat Grinder at Verdun - Brusilov's New Plan

    14 Apr 2016 · 10 min

16. 16

    16. The Muddy Graves of Russia and Kut

    21 Apr 2016 · 10 min

17. 17

    17. Dividing Up the Middle East - The Sykes-Picot Agreement

    28 Apr 2016 · 10 min

18. 18

    18. The British Surrender at Kut - Germany Restricts the U-Boats

    5 May 2016 · 10 min

19. 19

    19. The British Death March in Mesopotamia

    12 May 2016 · 10 min

20. 20

    20. Conrad's Cunning Plan - Hiding in Plain Sight

    19 May 2016 · 10 min

21. 21

    21. Cutting Germany's Wings - The Dawn of the Air Force

    26 May 2016 · 10 min

22. 22

    22. The Battle of Jutland - Royal Navy vs. German Imperial Navy

    2 Jun 2016 · 10 min

23. 23

    23. The Brusilov Offensive - The Arab Revolt

    9 Jun 2016 · 11 min

24. 24

    24. What If - Two Pivotal Moments of World War 1

    16 Jun 2016 · 9 min

25. 25

    25. The Death of Max Immelmann - Haig's Final Offensive

    23 Jun 2016 · 11 min

26. 26

    26. British Artillery at the Somme - Brusilov Offensive Implodes

    30 Jun 2016 · 10 min

27. 27

    27. The Battle of the Somme - Brusilov on His Own

    7 Jul 2016 · 11 min

28. 28

    28. Meatgrinder at the Somme - Battle of Mametz Wood

    14 Jul 2016 · 9 min

29. 29

    29. Australia's Darkest Hour - The Battle of Fromelles

    21 Jul 2016 · 10 min

30. 30

    30. Happy Birthday World War 1

    28 Jul 2016 · 10 min

31. 31

    31. Germany's Grandeur - Analyzing the War Effort

    4 Aug 2016 · 10 min

32. 32

    32. Italy Breaks Through - Cadorna's Triumph

    11 Aug 2016 · 10 min

33. 33

    33. Cadorna Snatches Defeat From the Jaws of Victory

    18 Aug 2016 · 10 min

34. 34

    34. The Five Nation Army - The Salonica Front Erupts

    25 Aug 2016 · 10 min

35. 35

    35. Romania Joins the War

    1 Sept 2016 · 10 min

36. 36

    36. Fire in the Sky - Zeppelin Shot Down Over Britain

    8 Sept 2016 · 10 min

37. 37

    37. Beasts of Steel - The First Tanks on the Battlefield

    15 Sept 2016 · 10 min

38. 38

    38. Manfred von Richthofen's First Victory - American Volunteers in WW1

    22 Sept 2016 · 10 min

39. 39

    39. Falkenhayn Crosses the Carpathians - The Battle of Sibiu

    29 Sept 2016 · 11 min

40. 40

    40. Douglas Haig's Fantasies Drown in Mud

    6 Oct 2016 · 11 min

41. 41

    41. Deadly Routine on the Italian Front - The 8th Battle of the Isonzo

    13 Oct 2016 · 10 min

42. 42

    42. French Plans for Glory at Verdun - Romania Stops the Germans

    20 Oct 2016 · 10 min

43. 43

    43. France Turns the Tide at Verdun

    27 Oct 2016 · 10 min

44. 44

    44. War of Attrition on the Italian Front - The Ninth Battle of the Isonzo

    3 Nov 2016 · 10 min

45. 45

    45. Charming the Poles - The Central Powers Look for New Allies

    10 Nov 2016 · 11 min

46. 46

    46. Heavy Action at the Somme - The Fight for Monastir

    17 Nov 2016 · 10 min

47. 47

    47. The Death of Franz Joseph - The End of the Somme

    24 Nov 2016 · 10 min

48. 48

    48. Romania on the Ropes - Reflections on the Battle of the Somme

    1 Dec 2016 · 11 min

49. 49

    49. The Fall of Bucharest - Political Turmoil in Russia

    8 Dec 2016 · 10 min

50. 50

    50. The Mesopotamian Front Awakes - Joseph Joffre Gets Sacked

    15 Dec 2016 · 10 min

51. 51

    51. They Did Not Pass - The Battle of Verdun Ends

    22 Dec 2016 · 10 min

52. 52

    52. Turmoil in Russia - The Assassination of Rasputin

    29 Dec 2016 · 11 min