History - World War 1

[00:00:00]What began as the assassination [music] of one man soon escalated into a global conflict involving more than 30 nations.

[00:00:09]World War I lasted 4 years, claimed millions of lives, and forever changed the course of history. In 1914, Europe was a continent of powerful empires, military rivalries, and secret alliances.

[00:00:26]>> During the 19th [music] century, European powers began a rapid expansion.

[00:00:31]They claimed vast territories [music] across Africa and Asia. This reshaped the global map forever.

[00:00:58]>> On June 28th, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip.

[00:01:06]>> In June 1914, [music] Sarajevo was filled with a deceptive calm.

[00:01:12]Few understood [music] that a single moment here would change the world forever.

[00:01:16]>> Austria-Hungary declared [music] war on July 28th. Russia supported Serbia.

[00:01:22]Germany [music] backed Austria-Hungary, while France and Britain joined against Germany. Within weeks, Europe was at war.

[00:01:33]>> [music] >> One by one, the lamps are going out.

[00:01:40]Declarations of war spread across the continent. [music] Europe is consumed by the flicker of aggression.

[00:01:46]>> Vollaus, Männer!

[00:01:47]>> German advances were halted at the Battle of the Marne.

[00:01:51]>> Mama, where's Papa?

[00:02:00]>> All hands on deck.

[00:02:01]Prepare to weigh [music] anchor.

[00:02:06]>> Hold the line.

[00:02:07]>> The Western Front became a meaningless stretch of land switching hands in a matter of months.

[00:02:12]Soldiers endured mud, disease, artillery bombardments, and poison gas.

[00:02:25]>> Dearest mother, the mud is everywhere.

[00:02:27]But do not worry, I am safe.

[00:02:30]Tell everyone I miss them.

[00:02:34]>> Meanwhile, fierce fighting erupted on the Eastern Front, expanding the war into the Middle East.

[00:02:40]>> In 1916, battles at Verdun and the Somme resulted in enormous losses.

[00:03:09]>> Hold on, my brother. We must HOLD THIS LINE.

[00:03:14]PUSH FORWARD. DO NOT STOP.

[00:03:29]>> In 1917, Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Telegram prompted the United States to enter the war on the side of the Allies.

[00:03:39]The industrialization of slaughter had truly begun.

[00:03:53]>> Push forward. DO NOT STOP NOW. FOR FRANCE, CHARGE!

[00:04:00]>> THE RUSSIAN Revolution forced Russia to withdraw, but Germany's final offensive was pushed back by fresh American soldiers.

[00:04:08]Facing collapse, Germany sought peace.

[00:04:12]>> Power to the people!

[00:04:15]>> On November [music] 11th, 1918, an armistice was signed, and the guns finally fell silent.

[00:04:22]>> World War I claimed over 16 million lives.

[00:04:26]>> [music] >> The great empires collapsed, and the Treaty of Versailles redrew the map.

[00:04:31]The war ended, but the peace [music] was fragile, creating tensions that would lead to an even darker horizon just two decades later.

[00:04:42]>> [music] >> The Great War ended, but its legacy