SERIES

WWI: The First Modern War

20141 Season45m episodes6.8

Documentary, War & Politics

TMDB6.8

Votes5

Your rating

Runtime: 45m episodes
Genre: Documentary
Certificate: TV-14
Origin: US

About

When ancient war tactics became overwhelmed by powerful new weapons like tanks, air attacks, weapons of mass destruction and submarines, a pivotal game-changing moment in history occurred. History is delving into the background of each weapon explaining the how and why they were developed, the strategy, and their ultimate effectiveness.

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Stream

HISTORY Vault Apple TV channel

HISTORY Vault Amazon Channel

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Availability from JustWatch via TMDB.

Details

Director: Susan Werbe
Status: Ended
First aired: Jul 26, 2014
Network: History
Studio: First Film Productions, Impossible Pictures

Time to finish

3 hrs

4 episodes. About 1 week at an hour a night.

View on IMDb ↗

Cast

Tom Bromhead

Various

David Silbey

Himself

Harry Pritchett

Host

SERIES

WWI: The First Modern War

20141 Season45m episodes6.8

Documentary, War & Politics

TMDB6.8

Votes5

Your rating

Runtime: 45m episodes
Genre: Documentary
Certificate: TV-14
Origin: US

About

Where to watch

Region

Stream

HISTORY Vault Apple TV channel

HISTORY Vault Amazon Channel

Free

Buy

Availability from JustWatch via TMDB.

Episodes

0 of 0 watched

E1 · Airs Jul 26, 2014 · 45m
Armored Beasts
Tanks were the first armored fighting machine to be used on the battlefield. These "land ships", as they were first called, were championed by Head of the British Admiralty Winston Churchill. Adapted from an American tractor with caterpillar tracks, the machine was designed in secrecy to break through the heavily fortified trenches and offer protection for troops that were being mowed down by heavy artillery.
E2 · Airs Jul 26, 2014 · 45m
Massive Air Attacks
While most people think the Blitz originated in WWII, the truth is that the first Blitz happened during WWI. Bombs were delivered from giant airships designed by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who got his inspiration when he was a Germany Army observer in the US during the Civil War and rode in a hot air balloon for the first time. These lighter than air superstructures, two times longer than the Statue of Liberty is high, measured their flights in hundreds of miles when pioneering aviators measured their success in hundreds of yards.
E3 · Airs Jul 26, 2014 · 45m · ★ 10.0
Clouds of Death
The Germans, ignoring international treaties they signed, were first to weaponize a chemical. In this case it was chlorine–a highly toxic ingredient used in the manufacture of chemical dyes of which they had a huge supply. Their action unleashed an escalation of poison gas weapons as both sides developed different chemicals and more effective counter measures. Their use of culminated in a bold British plan that unfolded beneath the battlefield at Messine Ridge. British mining and explosive experts planted 450 tons of high explosive hidden in a network of tunnels under Messine ridge. When ignited, they created the biggest land mine in history–killing 10,000 German soldiers. The explosion rattled windows at 10 Downing St., 140 miles away and registered as an earthquake in Switzerland.
E4 · Airs Jul 26, 2014 · 45m
Underwater Killers
The Atlantic became a killing field as German submarines took on the might of the dominant British Navy. The stealth and silent killers were able to sink 5,200 ships by war's end, and nearly brought Britain to its knees. But in their frenzy of attacks, the Germans sink the US passenger liner Lusitania, killing nearly 2,000 on board. American outrage helped President Wilson get Congress to finally agree to enter the war. In the end, the Allied Atlantic blockade forces Germany to surrender, but the submarine was established as an effective military weapon.

Details

Director: Susan Werbe
Status: Ended
First aired: Jul 26, 2014
Network: History
Studio: First Film Productions, Impossible Pictures

Time to finish

3 hrs

4 episodes. About 1 week at an hour a night.

View on IMDb ↗

Cast

Tom Bromhead

Various

David Silbey

Himself

Harry Pritchett

Host

WWI: The First Modern War

About

Where to watch

Details

Time to finish

Cast

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WWI: The First Modern War

About

Where to watch

Episodes

Details

Time to finish

Cast

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