The Great War | |
---|---|
Written by | |
Voices of | |
Narrated by | Michael Redgrave |
Theme music composer | Wilfred Josephs |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Production | |
Producers |
|
Running time | 40 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | BBC2 |
Release | 30 May 22 November 1964 | –
The Great War is a 26-episode documentary series from 1964 on the First World War. The documentary was a co-production of the Imperial War Museum, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The narrator was Michael Redgrave, with readings by Marius Goring, Ralph Richardson, Cyril Luckham, Sebastian Shaw and Emlyn Williams. Each episode is c. 40 minutes long.
In August 1963, at the suggestion of Alasdair Milne, producer of the BBC's current affairs programme Tonight, the BBC resolved to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War with a big television project. The series was the first to feature veterans, many of them still relatively fit men in their late sixties or early seventies, speaking of their experiences after a public appeal for veterans was published in the national press. [1] Those who appeared in the series included Edward Spears, [2] Henry Williamson, [3] Horace Birks, [4] Benjamin Muse, [5] Melvin Krulewitch, [6] George Langley, [7] Keith Officer, Douglas Wimberley, [8] Charles Carrington, [9] Egbert Cadbury, [10] Euan Rabagliati, [11] Robert Cotton Money, [12] Richard Talbot Kelly, [13] Norman Demuth, Walter Greenwood and Cecil Arthur Lewis. [14] The small number of Germans who appeared included Stephan Westmann [15] and Gustav Lachmann. [16] Others who were interviewed by the BBC but not featured in the series included Norman MacMillan, [17] Mabel Lethbridge, [18] Edgar von Spiegel, [19] Edmund Blunden, [20] Martin Niemöller, [21] John Shea, [22] Hans Howaldt, [23] William Ibbett, [24] Marthe Bibesco, [25] Philip Joubert de la Ferté [26] and Eric Dorman O'Gowan. [27]
The series title sequence used a rostrum camera to create a montage of three images, the first showing a silhouetted British soldier standing over the grave of a comrade, the camera first focuses on the cross, where the almost imperceptible words IN MEMORY are glanced, the second shows a uniformed, skeletal corpse by the entrance to a dugout. The final image shows a lone Irish soldier, looking directly into the camera apparently surrounded by corpses, which is a montage of several images combined for dramatic effect. [28] [29] The original image of the staring soldier, showing him surrounded by fellow soldiers rather than corpses, was taken from photograph Q 1 in the Imperial War Museum photograph archive but has been described as having quickly become symbolic of the First World War. [30] [nb 1] This title sequence was set against the series theme music, composed by Wilfred Josephs and performed by the BBC Northern Orchestra. [31]
The episode titles are taken from quotations, the origins of which are shown in parentheses. With few exceptions, successive blocks of episodes are devoted to each year of the war: episodes 1–6 to 1914, 7–10 to 1915, 11–14 to 1916, 15–19 to 1917, 20–23 and 26 to 1918.
No. | Title | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "On the Idle Hill of Summer..." ( A. E. Housman) | 30 May 1964 | |
Profiles of the five European powers engaged at war's start:
German Empire,
French Third Republic,
United Kingdom,
Russian Empire and
Austria-Hungary. The
Balkan Wars and the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand. | |||
2 | "For Such a Stupid Reason Too..." ( Queen Mary) | 6 June 1964 | |
Political consequences of the assassination: the
July Crisis. Austrian pressure on
Serbia, involvement of Russia and Germany, the
Schlieffen Plan and diplomatic exchanges leading to the
British declaration of war on Germany. | |||
3 | "We Must Hack Our Way Through" ( Bethmann-Hollweg) | 13 June 1964 | |
The start of
war in the West. German invasion of Belgium, the
Battle of Liège and subsequent
atrocities.
French advances and retreats in
Alsace-Lorraine and the
Ardennes, the deployment of the
British Expeditionary Force. Interviewees include
Stefan Westmann,
Edward Spears and
Euan Rabagliati. | |||
4 | "Our Hats We Doff to General Joffre" (1914 jingle) | 20 June 1964 | |
The events preceding the
First Battle of the Marne. The
fighting retreat of BEF and the French in the West,
Russian invasion of East Prussia and
German counter-attack at Tannenberg. The
Battle of Mons, the
First Battle of Guise and preparations for the defence of Paris. Interviewees include
Robert Cotton Money,
Edward Spears and
Stefan Westmann. | |||
5 | "This Business May Last a Long Time" ( Rudolf Binding) | 27 June 1964 | |
The stabilisation of the fronts. 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 in the
East. Reprisals against Germans in Britain, mass enlistment in the
British Empire and Christmas at the front lines. Interviewees include
Edward Spears,
Stefan Westmann and
Henry Williamson. | |||
6 | "So Sleep Easy in Your Beds" ( Admiral Fisher) | 4 July 1964 | |
The first months of war at sea. Naval supremacy of the
Royal Navy and its vulnerabilities to
mine and
submarine warfare. The seizure of
German overseas colonies, the
Siege of Tsingtao, the raids of the
Emden and the pursuit of
Maximilian von Spee. The naval
Battle of Heligoland Bight,
Battle of Coronel,
Battle of the Falkland Islands and the
Battle of Dogger Bank. | |||
7 | "We Await the Heavenly Manna..." ( Russian General) [32] | 11 July 1964 | |
War in Europe in the first half of 1915. German success at the
Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, Russian
Siege of Przemyśl, German
Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive and Russian collapse due to severe shortage of
materiel. German use of
poison gas at the
Second Battle of Ypres, British
munitions shortage and the role of wartime industrial production. Interviewees include
Gustav Lachmann. | |||
8 | "Why Don't You Come and Help?!" ( Lloyd George) | 18 July 1964 | |
The effects of protracted war on civilian life of the major powers, with focus on Britain. 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
labour disputes. Interviewees include
Norman Demuth and
Walter Greenwood. | |||
9 | "Please God Send Us a Victory..." (soldiers prayer) | 25 July 1964 | |
The
Ottoman Empire joins the war on the side of the
Central Powers.
Armenian genocide and
Gallipoli Campaign. | |||
10 | "What Are Our Allies Doing?" (Russian General) | 1 August 1964 | |
The war in the latter half of 1915, marked by successes of Central Powers. German and Austrian advance in the East, Russian
withdrawal.
Italy enters the war on the
Allied side, attacking Austria and is stopped at the river
Battles of the Isonzo. The Allied offensive in the
Second Battle of Champagne and
Third Battle of Artois falters.
Serbia is overrun by German and Austrian troops, with
Bulgaria joining the war in this operation, on the side of the Central Powers. Allied relief troops land in
Salonika but are delayed by
Greek internal politics, while Serb and
Montenegrin forces and civilians flee through
Albania to
Corfu. Interviewees include
Richard Talbot Kelly. | |||
11 | "Hell Cannot Be So Terrible" (a French soldier) | 8 August 1964 | |
The
Battle of Verdun through June 1916, with a brief look at the civilian life in France at the time. | |||
12 | "For Gawd's Sake Don't Send Me" (1916 song) | 15 August 1964 | |
The British army in
Picardy in 1916.
Recruitment and training of volunteers in Britain, deployment in France, logistics of supplying a million-strong force. The
artillery barrage preceding the Allied joint offensive. Interviewees include
Charles Carrington. | |||
13 | "The Devil Is Coming..." (German soldier) | 22 August 1964 | |
The
Battle of the Somme, with mentions of concurrent Allied offensives: the
Brusilov Offensive in Galicia,
Romanian
invasion of Transylvania and several Battles of the Isonzo in Italy. All sides suffer immense losses, Germany adopts a defensive posture and Britain introduces
tanks. Interviewees include
Stefan Westmann. | |||
14 | "All This It Is Our Duty to Bear" ( Lord Lansdowne) | 29 August 1964 | |
War-weariness in Europe. In Britain,
conscription, loss of shipping to
German U-boats,
Easter Rising in Dublin, the
Battle of Jutland and the
death of Earl Kitchener. In Germany and Austria, loss of morale, construction of the
Hindenburg Line and the death of
Emperor Franz Joseph. In Russia, discontent bordering on revolution. A change of guard in Britain, Germany and France, favouring continuation of war. | |||
15 | "We Are Betrayed, Sold, Lost" (French soldier) | 5 September 1964 | |
The Western Front in 1917 prior to the arrival of
US troops. German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, successful British
diversion at Arras, French failure in the
Nivelle Offensive.
Mutinies in the French Army follow but are resolved by General
Philippe Pétain. Interviewees include
Edward Spears,
Henry Williamson and
Stefan Westmann. | |||
16 | "Right Is More Precious Than Peace" ( President Wilson) | 13 September 1964 | |
United States enters the war.
US foreign policy in early 20th century.
Non-interventionism at war's start, swings of public opinion, industrial production favouring the Allies.
Wilson's re-election and the declaration of war on Germany, prompted by the
Zimmermann Telegram and
unrestricted submarine warfare. Preparations for war,
conscription,
General Pershing's arrival in Europe. | |||
17 | "Surely We Have Perished" ( Wilfred Owen) | 20 September 1964 | |
British and Dominion offensives in
Flanders in 1917, originating from the
Ypres Salient. The successful
capture of Messines Ridge is followed by the
Battle of Passchendaele, with many casualties on both sides. Rainy weather sets in early and armies bog down in mud. Interviewees include
Cecil Arthur Lewis and
Richard Talbot Kelly. | |||
18 | "Fat Rodzianko Has Sent Me Some Nonsense" ( Tsar Nicholas II) | 27 September 1964 | |
Russian revolutions of 1917. Overview of life in imperial Russia and of consequences of war. Food revolts lead to
February Revolution, the Czar abdicates. The
Provisional Government continues the war, Germany helps
Vladimir Lenin return to
Petrograd. Failure of
Kerensky Offensive, widespread desertions,
October Revolution. Germany supports independence of
Ukraine and
Finland, forces the punitive
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on the
Bolsheviks. | |||
19 | "The Hell Where Youth and Laughter Go" ( Siegfried Sassoon) | 4 October 1964 | |
The Western Front at the end of 1917. Experiences: artistic portrayals, sounds and smells of the war, aerial photographs. The discrepancy in perceptions between soldiers and civilians, psychological breakdowns, sense of belonging to the unit.
Georges Clemenceau becomes
French Prime Minister, the
Battle of Cambrai ends in stalemate. Interviewees include
Charles Carrington,
Horace Birks and
Henry Williamson. | |||
20 | "Only War, Nothing but War" (Clemenceau) | 11 October 1964 | |
Impact of war on everyday life.
Shell shock. Censorship and propaganda. British
naval blockade leads to starvation diets in Germany. German submarine warfare, countermeasures, food shortages and rationing in Britain. Use of women's labour, better labour policies,
women's suffrage.
Zeppelin air raids, air defence,
Gotha Raids,
Mustard gas,
railway guns and
Paris Gun. Interviewees include
Benjamin Muse and
Egbert Cadbury. | |||
21 | "It Was Like the End of the World" (German soldier) | 18 October 1964 | |
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. Interviewees include
Stefan Westmann. | |||
22 | "Damn Them, Are They Never Coming In?" ( F. S. Oliver) | 25 October 1964 | |
The end of German advance in the West. Delayed deployment of US troops, German
offensive in Champagne hastens their arrival. First
AEF engagements. The final German assault halted, again at the
Second Battle of the Marne. Brief footage of
African American regiments. Interviewees include
Melvin Krulewitch and
Charles Carrington. | |||
23 | "When Must the End Be?" ( Hindenburg) | 1 November 1964 | |
Allied offensives in summer 1918. French
counter-offensive at the Marne, the
Battle of Amiens, the
Second Battle of the Somme,
advance to the Hindenburg Line. In Britain, public protests yield to sceptical optimism. In Germany, troops lose morale and leaders realise that victory is impossible. Interviewees include
Douglas Wimberley. | |||
24 | "Allah Made Mesopotamia – and Added Flies" (Arabian proverb) | 8 November 1964 | |
War in the Middle East. British
capture Basra and mount an unsuccessful
campaign toward Baghdad. Ottomans
fail to capture Suez but check the British advance
Palestine campaign begins. Britain encourages
Arab Revolt against the weakened Ottomans, then
captures Baghdad,
Jerusalem and in 1918,
Damascus. The
dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the
seeds of future conflicts. Interviewees include
George Langley. | |||
25 | "The Iron Thrones Are Falling" (British officer) | 15 November 1964 | |
War on the frontiers of Austria-Hungary,
in the Balkans and
in Italy. Allied troops in Greece
establish the Macedonian Front but do not advance, the Central Powers
occupy Romania. Allied intervention
brings Greece to their side. Austrian and German troops breach the Italian front at the
Battle of Caporetto and stop just short of
Venice but next Austrian assault
at the Piave fails. Allies
breach the Macedonian Front, Bulgaria capitulates.
Czechoslovakia and
South Slavs declare independence, Italy launches counter-offensive
Battle of Vittorio Veneto,
Austria-Hungary capitulates and
dissolves. | |||
26 | "...And We Were Young" ( A. E. Housman) | 22 November 1964 | |
War's end. Allied
Hundred Days' Offensive in the West continues, US
President Wilson offers
Fourteen Points as peace terms. Germany's allies capitulate after defeats on other fronts.
Revolution in Germany,
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates, Germany
accepts peace terms.
Human costs of war, reception and celebration of the armistice. Interviewees include
Henry Williamson and
Keith Officer. |
Two "Extra" episodes exist on the dual-layer DVD edition:
The music for the series was composed by Wilfred Josephs. It was performed by the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Hurst. His expressive yet unsentimental score was widely acclaimed at the time and many have recalled the strong contribution it made to the series. In August 2007, Guardian columnist Ian Jack remembered how at the start of each episode Josephs' "ominous music ushered the audience into the trenches". [33] Much use was made of 20th century symphonies, including Shostakovich's 11th Symphony and Vaughan Williams' Sinfonia Antartica.[ citation needed]
Each episode of The Great War was seen by an average audience of over eight million people, a 17 percent share of the estimated viewing population. The fourth episode, the most popular of the series, reached an audience of over eleven million (22.6 percent of the audience). [34]
The programme won a Bafta Special Award in 1964. [35] Following transmission of the series by the Republic of Ireland's national TV station, Telefís Éireann, The Great War won a Jacob's Award at the 1964 presentation ceremony in Dublin. [36]
On 16 October 2013, fifty years after the release of the series, the BBC announced that unshown interview material, recorded during the making of The Great War, will be used in a new programme, My Great War, to be shown as part of the BBC's programmes during the First World War centenary. [37] The programme was first broadcast on 14 March 2014 and entitled "I Was There: the Great War Interviews".[ citation needed]
There appear to be two releases as of mid-2007, both in the UK, both Region 2. The audio has been remastered. The first shows copyright 2001 and consists of five volumes, each housing two DVDs (single-layer). On the cover descriptions [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] there is no mention of the Extra episodes The other shows copyright 2002 and consists of seven DVDs – six containing the original 26 episodes and one with the two Extras. These discs are dual-layer. It is distributed by DD Video.[ citation needed]
Books
Journals
Websites
The Great War | |
---|---|
Written by | |
Voices of | |
Narrated by | Michael Redgrave |
Theme music composer | Wilfred Josephs |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Production | |
Producers |
|
Running time | 40 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | BBC2 |
Release | 30 May 22 November 1964 | –
The Great War is a 26-episode documentary series from 1964 on the First World War. The documentary was a co-production of the Imperial War Museum, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The narrator was Michael Redgrave, with readings by Marius Goring, Ralph Richardson, Cyril Luckham, Sebastian Shaw and Emlyn Williams. Each episode is c. 40 minutes long.
In August 1963, at the suggestion of Alasdair Milne, producer of the BBC's current affairs programme Tonight, the BBC resolved to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War with a big television project. The series was the first to feature veterans, many of them still relatively fit men in their late sixties or early seventies, speaking of their experiences after a public appeal for veterans was published in the national press. [1] Those who appeared in the series included Edward Spears, [2] Henry Williamson, [3] Horace Birks, [4] Benjamin Muse, [5] Melvin Krulewitch, [6] George Langley, [7] Keith Officer, Douglas Wimberley, [8] Charles Carrington, [9] Egbert Cadbury, [10] Euan Rabagliati, [11] Robert Cotton Money, [12] Richard Talbot Kelly, [13] Norman Demuth, Walter Greenwood and Cecil Arthur Lewis. [14] The small number of Germans who appeared included Stephan Westmann [15] and Gustav Lachmann. [16] Others who were interviewed by the BBC but not featured in the series included Norman MacMillan, [17] Mabel Lethbridge, [18] Edgar von Spiegel, [19] Edmund Blunden, [20] Martin Niemöller, [21] John Shea, [22] Hans Howaldt, [23] William Ibbett, [24] Marthe Bibesco, [25] Philip Joubert de la Ferté [26] and Eric Dorman O'Gowan. [27]
The series title sequence used a rostrum camera to create a montage of three images, the first showing a silhouetted British soldier standing over the grave of a comrade, the camera first focuses on the cross, where the almost imperceptible words IN MEMORY are glanced, the second shows a uniformed, skeletal corpse by the entrance to a dugout. The final image shows a lone Irish soldier, looking directly into the camera apparently surrounded by corpses, which is a montage of several images combined for dramatic effect. [28] [29] The original image of the staring soldier, showing him surrounded by fellow soldiers rather than corpses, was taken from photograph Q 1 in the Imperial War Museum photograph archive but has been described as having quickly become symbolic of the First World War. [30] [nb 1] This title sequence was set against the series theme music, composed by Wilfred Josephs and performed by the BBC Northern Orchestra. [31]
The episode titles are taken from quotations, the origins of which are shown in parentheses. With few exceptions, successive blocks of episodes are devoted to each year of the war: episodes 1–6 to 1914, 7–10 to 1915, 11–14 to 1916, 15–19 to 1917, 20–23 and 26 to 1918.
No. | Title | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "On the Idle Hill of Summer..." ( A. E. Housman) | 30 May 1964 | |
Profiles of the five European powers engaged at war's start:
German Empire,
French Third Republic,
United Kingdom,
Russian Empire and
Austria-Hungary. The
Balkan Wars and the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand. | |||
2 | "For Such a Stupid Reason Too..." ( Queen Mary) | 6 June 1964 | |
Political consequences of the assassination: the
July Crisis. Austrian pressure on
Serbia, involvement of Russia and Germany, the
Schlieffen Plan and diplomatic exchanges leading to the
British declaration of war on Germany. | |||
3 | "We Must Hack Our Way Through" ( Bethmann-Hollweg) | 13 June 1964 | |
The start of
war in the West. German invasion of Belgium, the
Battle of Liège and subsequent
atrocities.
French advances and retreats in
Alsace-Lorraine and the
Ardennes, the deployment of the
British Expeditionary Force. Interviewees include
Stefan Westmann,
Edward Spears and
Euan Rabagliati. | |||
4 | "Our Hats We Doff to General Joffre" (1914 jingle) | 20 June 1964 | |
The events preceding the
First Battle of the Marne. The
fighting retreat of BEF and the French in the West,
Russian invasion of East Prussia and
German counter-attack at Tannenberg. The
Battle of Mons, the
First Battle of Guise and preparations for the defence of Paris. Interviewees include
Robert Cotton Money,
Edward Spears and
Stefan Westmann. | |||
5 | "This Business May Last a Long Time" ( Rudolf Binding) | 27 June 1964 | |
The stabilisation of the fronts. 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 in the
East. Reprisals against Germans in Britain, mass enlistment in the
British Empire and Christmas at the front lines. Interviewees include
Edward Spears,
Stefan Westmann and
Henry Williamson. | |||
6 | "So Sleep Easy in Your Beds" ( Admiral Fisher) | 4 July 1964 | |
The first months of war at sea. Naval supremacy of the
Royal Navy and its vulnerabilities to
mine and
submarine warfare. The seizure of
German overseas colonies, the
Siege of Tsingtao, the raids of the
Emden and the pursuit of
Maximilian von Spee. The naval
Battle of Heligoland Bight,
Battle of Coronel,
Battle of the Falkland Islands and the
Battle of Dogger Bank. | |||
7 | "We Await the Heavenly Manna..." ( Russian General) [32] | 11 July 1964 | |
War in Europe in the first half of 1915. German success at the
Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes, Russian
Siege of Przemyśl, German
Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive and Russian collapse due to severe shortage of
materiel. German use of
poison gas at the
Second Battle of Ypres, British
munitions shortage and the role of wartime industrial production. Interviewees include
Gustav Lachmann. | |||
8 | "Why Don't You Come and Help?!" ( Lloyd George) | 18 July 1964 | |
The effects of protracted war on civilian life of the major powers, with focus on Britain. 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
labour disputes. Interviewees include
Norman Demuth and
Walter Greenwood. | |||
9 | "Please God Send Us a Victory..." (soldiers prayer) | 25 July 1964 | |
The
Ottoman Empire joins the war on the side of the
Central Powers.
Armenian genocide and
Gallipoli Campaign. | |||
10 | "What Are Our Allies Doing?" (Russian General) | 1 August 1964 | |
The war in the latter half of 1915, marked by successes of Central Powers. German and Austrian advance in the East, Russian
withdrawal.
Italy enters the war on the
Allied side, attacking Austria and is stopped at the river
Battles of the Isonzo. The Allied offensive in the
Second Battle of Champagne and
Third Battle of Artois falters.
Serbia is overrun by German and Austrian troops, with
Bulgaria joining the war in this operation, on the side of the Central Powers. Allied relief troops land in
Salonika but are delayed by
Greek internal politics, while Serb and
Montenegrin forces and civilians flee through
Albania to
Corfu. Interviewees include
Richard Talbot Kelly. | |||
11 | "Hell Cannot Be So Terrible" (a French soldier) | 8 August 1964 | |
The
Battle of Verdun through June 1916, with a brief look at the civilian life in France at the time. | |||
12 | "For Gawd's Sake Don't Send Me" (1916 song) | 15 August 1964 | |
The British army in
Picardy in 1916.
Recruitment and training of volunteers in Britain, deployment in France, logistics of supplying a million-strong force. The
artillery barrage preceding the Allied joint offensive. Interviewees include
Charles Carrington. | |||
13 | "The Devil Is Coming..." (German soldier) | 22 August 1964 | |
The
Battle of the Somme, with mentions of concurrent Allied offensives: the
Brusilov Offensive in Galicia,
Romanian
invasion of Transylvania and several Battles of the Isonzo in Italy. All sides suffer immense losses, Germany adopts a defensive posture and Britain introduces
tanks. Interviewees include
Stefan Westmann. | |||
14 | "All This It Is Our Duty to Bear" ( Lord Lansdowne) | 29 August 1964 | |
War-weariness in Europe. In Britain,
conscription, loss of shipping to
German U-boats,
Easter Rising in Dublin, the
Battle of Jutland and the
death of Earl Kitchener. In Germany and Austria, loss of morale, construction of the
Hindenburg Line and the death of
Emperor Franz Joseph. In Russia, discontent bordering on revolution. A change of guard in Britain, Germany and France, favouring continuation of war. | |||
15 | "We Are Betrayed, Sold, Lost" (French soldier) | 5 September 1964 | |
The Western Front in 1917 prior to the arrival of
US troops. German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, successful British
diversion at Arras, French failure in the
Nivelle Offensive.
Mutinies in the French Army follow but are resolved by General
Philippe Pétain. Interviewees include
Edward Spears,
Henry Williamson and
Stefan Westmann. | |||
16 | "Right Is More Precious Than Peace" ( President Wilson) | 13 September 1964 | |
United States enters the war.
US foreign policy in early 20th century.
Non-interventionism at war's start, swings of public opinion, industrial production favouring the Allies.
Wilson's re-election and the declaration of war on Germany, prompted by the
Zimmermann Telegram and
unrestricted submarine warfare. Preparations for war,
conscription,
General Pershing's arrival in Europe. | |||
17 | "Surely We Have Perished" ( Wilfred Owen) | 20 September 1964 | |
British and Dominion offensives in
Flanders in 1917, originating from the
Ypres Salient. The successful
capture of Messines Ridge is followed by the
Battle of Passchendaele, with many casualties on both sides. Rainy weather sets in early and armies bog down in mud. Interviewees include
Cecil Arthur Lewis and
Richard Talbot Kelly. | |||
18 | "Fat Rodzianko Has Sent Me Some Nonsense" ( Tsar Nicholas II) | 27 September 1964 | |
Russian revolutions of 1917. Overview of life in imperial Russia and of consequences of war. Food revolts lead to
February Revolution, the Czar abdicates. The
Provisional Government continues the war, Germany helps
Vladimir Lenin return to
Petrograd. Failure of
Kerensky Offensive, widespread desertions,
October Revolution. Germany supports independence of
Ukraine and
Finland, forces the punitive
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on the
Bolsheviks. | |||
19 | "The Hell Where Youth and Laughter Go" ( Siegfried Sassoon) | 4 October 1964 | |
The Western Front at the end of 1917. Experiences: artistic portrayals, sounds and smells of the war, aerial photographs. The discrepancy in perceptions between soldiers and civilians, psychological breakdowns, sense of belonging to the unit.
Georges Clemenceau becomes
French Prime Minister, the
Battle of Cambrai ends in stalemate. Interviewees include
Charles Carrington,
Horace Birks and
Henry Williamson. | |||
20 | "Only War, Nothing but War" (Clemenceau) | 11 October 1964 | |
Impact of war on everyday life.
Shell shock. Censorship and propaganda. British
naval blockade leads to starvation diets in Germany. German submarine warfare, countermeasures, food shortages and rationing in Britain. Use of women's labour, better labour policies,
women's suffrage.
Zeppelin air raids, air defence,
Gotha Raids,
Mustard gas,
railway guns and
Paris Gun. Interviewees include
Benjamin Muse and
Egbert Cadbury. | |||
21 | "It Was Like the End of the World" (German soldier) | 18 October 1964 | |
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. Interviewees include
Stefan Westmann. | |||
22 | "Damn Them, Are They Never Coming In?" ( F. S. Oliver) | 25 October 1964 | |
The end of German advance in the West. Delayed deployment of US troops, German
offensive in Champagne hastens their arrival. First
AEF engagements. The final German assault halted, again at the
Second Battle of the Marne. Brief footage of
African American regiments. Interviewees include
Melvin Krulewitch and
Charles Carrington. | |||
23 | "When Must the End Be?" ( Hindenburg) | 1 November 1964 | |
Allied offensives in summer 1918. French
counter-offensive at the Marne, the
Battle of Amiens, the
Second Battle of the Somme,
advance to the Hindenburg Line. In Britain, public protests yield to sceptical optimism. In Germany, troops lose morale and leaders realise that victory is impossible. Interviewees include
Douglas Wimberley. | |||
24 | "Allah Made Mesopotamia – and Added Flies" (Arabian proverb) | 8 November 1964 | |
War in the Middle East. British
capture Basra and mount an unsuccessful
campaign toward Baghdad. Ottomans
fail to capture Suez but check the British advance
Palestine campaign begins. Britain encourages
Arab Revolt against the weakened Ottomans, then
captures Baghdad,
Jerusalem and in 1918,
Damascus. The
dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the
seeds of future conflicts. Interviewees include
George Langley. | |||
25 | "The Iron Thrones Are Falling" (British officer) | 15 November 1964 | |
War on the frontiers of Austria-Hungary,
in the Balkans and
in Italy. Allied troops in Greece
establish the Macedonian Front but do not advance, the Central Powers
occupy Romania. Allied intervention
brings Greece to their side. Austrian and German troops breach the Italian front at the
Battle of Caporetto and stop just short of
Venice but next Austrian assault
at the Piave fails. Allies
breach the Macedonian Front, Bulgaria capitulates.
Czechoslovakia and
South Slavs declare independence, Italy launches counter-offensive
Battle of Vittorio Veneto,
Austria-Hungary capitulates and
dissolves. | |||
26 | "...And We Were Young" ( A. E. Housman) | 22 November 1964 | |
War's end. Allied
Hundred Days' Offensive in the West continues, US
President Wilson offers
Fourteen Points as peace terms. Germany's allies capitulate after defeats on other fronts.
Revolution in Germany,
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates, Germany
accepts peace terms.
Human costs of war, reception and celebration of the armistice. Interviewees include
Henry Williamson and
Keith Officer. |
Two "Extra" episodes exist on the dual-layer DVD edition:
The music for the series was composed by Wilfred Josephs. It was performed by the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Hurst. His expressive yet unsentimental score was widely acclaimed at the time and many have recalled the strong contribution it made to the series. In August 2007, Guardian columnist Ian Jack remembered how at the start of each episode Josephs' "ominous music ushered the audience into the trenches". [33] Much use was made of 20th century symphonies, including Shostakovich's 11th Symphony and Vaughan Williams' Sinfonia Antartica.[ citation needed]
Each episode of The Great War was seen by an average audience of over eight million people, a 17 percent share of the estimated viewing population. The fourth episode, the most popular of the series, reached an audience of over eleven million (22.6 percent of the audience). [34]
The programme won a Bafta Special Award in 1964. [35] Following transmission of the series by the Republic of Ireland's national TV station, Telefís Éireann, The Great War won a Jacob's Award at the 1964 presentation ceremony in Dublin. [36]
On 16 October 2013, fifty years after the release of the series, the BBC announced that unshown interview material, recorded during the making of The Great War, will be used in a new programme, My Great War, to be shown as part of the BBC's programmes during the First World War centenary. [37] The programme was first broadcast on 14 March 2014 and entitled "I Was There: the Great War Interviews".[ citation needed]
There appear to be two releases as of mid-2007, both in the UK, both Region 2. The audio has been remastered. The first shows copyright 2001 and consists of five volumes, each housing two DVDs (single-layer). On the cover descriptions [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] there is no mention of the Extra episodes The other shows copyright 2002 and consists of seven DVDs – six containing the original 26 episodes and one with the two Extras. These discs are dual-layer. It is distributed by DD Video.[ citation needed]
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