Any good WW1 documentaries out there?

[Fedorov]

I think my knowledge in WW1 history is lacking, can you guys recommend me some good documentaries about WW1?

 

[doubleplusungood]

The 2003 10-part series "The First World War" will give you a nice overview. Most (if not all) episodes can be found on YouTube...

The First World War - E01 - To Arms - YouTube

 

[Gamburd]

Both of the following are really great WWI documentaries:

Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four, says:

“I am delighted to bring these two seminal series about the First World War to BBC Four as part of our commemorative season. ‘The Great War’ was produced to mark the war’s 50th anniversary, and was the first to feature veterans’ first-hand testimony, so I am immensely proud that BBC audiences will once again have the chance to watch what many regard as one of the greatest historical series ever made.

Sir Hew Strachan’s 2003 series, ‘The First World War’, was celebrated for its breadth and originality, covering not just the Western Front, but many other theatres of a global conflict. Together, the two series offer an extraordinary counterpoint – and panorama – of World War One. I am sure our viewers will find them a compelling addition to our overall coverage.”

http://www.1914.org/news/landmark-tv-series-added-to-the-bbcs-world-war-one-programming-line-up/


I also thought "Trenches: Battleground WWI (Tin Can Collection) (2006)" was suprisingly very good; it's not very entertaining in its presentation but it also features interviews with WWI veterans (all in black and white) and covers the military history quite well. Most of the footage shown is good too but I think they repeat some of it from time to time throughout the documentary series.



http://www.amazon.com/Trenches-Battleground-WWI-Tin-Collection/dp/B000CCZR8Q


Also:

The Battle of the Somme (documentary) BBC 1976

Canada and the Great War (or The Great War) (CBC TV)

 

[nymets1104]

The 2003 10-part series "The First World War" will give you a nice overview. Most (if not all) episodes can be found on YouTube...

The First World War - E01 - To Arms - YouTube

This looks awesome, Thanks!

 

[Lt_Kettch]

If you are interested in the battle of the Somme, check these out:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL13DDE8B2E668856E

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL20F3811C10A523C0

Line of Fire also has good documentaries (not only about WWI), there also should be one about Gallipoli on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD135E0246728BB9A

 

[GRIZZLY]

I love ww1 documentaries. The following two are the best IMO :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXhiagFG8KE&list=PLwn22WhrrUFMg65XgPicFBfYgHj7Xpcdn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6xyU2JcGKs&index=38&list=PLnvu7h5XhOAAhIR80vePKfu_bTsEoHfYi
(I'd recommend buying the DVDs, the quality on YouTube is terrible (on top of footage that is already 100 years old and equally terrible (on top of the fact that these are old documentaries)))


I also really like the one doubleplusungood posted.

This one really fascinated me with the Battle of Verdun : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWJB6Y-3N5o

French one about Verdun : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHE8jgR1cc&list=PLnvu7h5XhOAAhIR80vePKfu_bTsEoHfYi&index=107

Line of Fire series (this one on Mons) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl0GzdcUde0&list=PLnvu7h5XhOAAhIR80vePKfu_bTsEoHfYi&index=159

 

[Fedorov]

Thanks guys, I'm watching the series that doubleplusungood posted. I'll check the rest in due time. I can't believe how little I knew about the conflict.

 

[GRIZZLY]

Thanks guys, I'm watching the series that doubleplusungood posted. I'll check the rest in due time. I can't believe how little I knew about the conflict.

It's really an eye opener. If you don't mind reading 500 pages, I'd recommend "The Great War : A combat history of the first world war" by Peter Hart.

Does an excellent job of citing first hand accounts (some strategic, some descriptive, some heart breaking), provides insight and argument to the major notions and theories about the war, discusses the high command's strategic ideas, and really gets into the nooks and crannies of the less well known theaters and battles.

There was a naval battle by the Falkland Islands in Argentina. The battle of Jutland in the North Sea was actually quite interesting (despite most accounts). The British took Jerusalem. The Australians made camp at the great pyramids of Giza before embarking on a fateful d-day at the Gallipoli peninsula. There were campaigns near Baghdad, Gaza, in the snowy Alps, and in the marshes of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Japanese took the German controlled port of Tsingtao in China. The aerial battles were more than just a sideshow and fumbling with innovation - they were crucial battles to get reconnaissance supremacy for the artillery batteries and featured almost celebrity pilots in a sport like atmosphere. Also gives the proper attention to the battles of 1914 and 1918, which sometimes seem overshadowed by the massive stalemate attrition battles of the middle years. The Battle of the Frontiers in 1914 actually had the highest per day casualty rate of the war, while Napoleonic tactics and cavalry charges clashed with artillery batteries and machine gun nests.

and absolutely check out the photos on this page :

http://www.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/wwi/