13: The Devil Is Coming | The Great War

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Synopsis

The Battle of the Somme began in July 1916. By February 1917, an irreparable blow had been struck at the German Army, but at the cost of 415,000 British troops.

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More episodes from this series

1: On the Idle Hill of Summer | The Great War

1: On the Idle Hill of Summer | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 42'46''

In 1914 the world stands on the brink of enormous change. The French and the British enter into the Entente Cordiale against Ge...

2: For Such a Stupid Reason, Too | The Great War

2: For Such a Stupid Reason, Too | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'56''

Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914, international diplomacy breaks down completely.

3: We Must Hack Our Way Through | The Great War

3: We Must Hack Our Way Through | The Great War

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Following the declaration of war, the German army began to carry out the Schlieffen Plan, perhaps the most famous military pl...

4: Our Hats We Doff to General Joffre | The Great War

4: Our Hats We Doff to General Joffre | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'00''

As the German forces advance on Paris, the French commander-in-chief General Joffre builds up a surer resistance.

5: This Business May Last a Long Time | The Great War

5: This Business May Last a Long Time | The Great War

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The Battle of the Marne resulted in a decisive victory for Allied forces, and trench warfare began to emerge at Aisne.

6: So Sleep Easy in Your Beds | The Great War

6: So Sleep Easy in Your Beds | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'55''

Britannia no longer rules the waves as the Royal Navy suffers shattering defeats.

7: We Await the Heavenly Manna | The Great War

7: We Await the Heavenly Manna | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'29''

The war continued into 1915 and the French and British struggled to keep up with the demand for shells and artillery.

8: Why Don't You Come and Help? | The Great War

8: Why Don't You Come and Help? | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 40'06''

Minister of munitions David Lloyd George struggles to modernise Britain's industrial capability.

9: Please God, Send Us Victory | The Great War

9: Please God, Send Us Victory | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 41'09''

Kitchener recognised the stalemate on the Western Front and looked elsewhere for victory. A British naval expedition tried to ...

10: What Are Our Allies Doing? | The Great War

10: What Are Our Allies Doing? | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 41'06''

The war continues throughout 1915. Towering over all else was the mighty German offensive of Gorlice-Tarnow, where the Russian...

11: Hell Cannot Be So Terrible | The Great War

11: Hell Cannot Be So Terrible | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 40'11''

This episode looks at the Battle of Verdun, one of the bloodiest clashes in history, which lasted for ten months during 1916.

12: For Gawd's Sake Don't Send Me | The Great War

12: For Gawd's Sake Don't Send Me | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'19''

Over two million volunteers respond to Kitchener's appeal of 1916, and many are sent to the killing grounds of the Somme.

13: The Devil Is Coming | The Great War

13: The Devil Is Coming | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 38'59''

The Battle of the Somme began in July 1916. By February 1917, an irreparable blow had been struck at the German Army, but at the cost...

14: All This It Is Our Duty to Bear | The Great War

14: All This It Is Our Duty to Bear | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'33''

By the end of 1916 a compromise peace is considered, but the new leaders are committed to seeking total victory - at any ...

15: We Are Betrayed, Sold, Lost | The Great War

15: We Are Betrayed, Sold, Lost | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 40'32''

This episode explores the attempts to rally the French Army for a spring offensive, but they began to openly mutiny.

16: Right Is More Precious than Peace | The Great War

16: Right Is More Precious than Peace | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 40'33''

In 1917, the October revolution brought the Communists to power in Russia, while America entered into the war on 6th Ap...

17: Surely We Have Perished | The Great War

17: Surely We Have Perished | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'23''

Morale becomes impossible to sustain as the battle of Passchendaele lasts through the summer of 1917.

18: Fat Rodzyanko Has Sent me Some Nonsense | The Great War

18: Fat Rodzyanko Has Sent me Some Nonsense | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 40'03''

Following the October Revolution, Russian enthusiasm for the war heartens the Allies and alarms the Germans.

19: The Hell where Youth and Laughter Go | The Great War

19: The Hell where Youth and Laughter Go | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'40''

A look at the experiences of soldiers on the Western Front and the effect this had upon the human spirit.

20: Only War, Nothing But War | The Great War

20: Only War, Nothing But War | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'04''

The war has evolved from an old-fashioned localised conflict to an all-engulfing 'total' war involving entire nations.

21: It Was Like the End of the World | The Great War

21: It Was Like the End of the World | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 40'22''

Germany takes a huge risk, launching a massive offensive in early 1918, aiming to achieve victory before the Americans a...

22: Damn Them, Are They Never Coming In? | The Great War

22: Damn Them, Are They Never Coming In? | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'29''

The German army launched a successful counter-attack in May 1918, but it was is too late - the Americans had arrived.

23: When Must the End Be? | The Great War

23: When Must the End Be? | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'23''

By 5 August, the Germans had once again been driven back to the River Aisne. This was the turning point of the war. Six days later,...

24: Allah Made Mesopotamia and Added Flies | The Great War

24: Allah Made Mesopotamia and Added Flies | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 40'22''

With the Western Front dominating the minds of generals and statesmen, they sought a back door to victory - the Mi...

25: The Iron Thrones are Falling | The Great War

25: The Iron Thrones are Falling | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'15''

The penultimate episode recounts the collapse of Germany's Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian allies.

26: And We Were Young | The Great War

26: And We Were Young | The Great War

BBC Two | 1964 | 39'08''

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year 1918, the Armistice came into effect.

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