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Special Features
- Includes 32-page booklet
Editorial Reviews
This definitive ten-part series offers insight and analysis to provide a coherent and strategic military narrative of the worldwide conflict that changed history.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
448 of 461 people found the following review helpful
By Scout
Format:DVD
This series is to the First World War what the classic World at War series was to the Second World War. It is shorter but excellent nonetheless.
Although the First World War gets less attention than its successor, it was really the watershed event of the 20th century. This conflict shaped the world that came after to this day. It was the catalyst for the rise of soviet communism in Russia, whose unravelling less than a decade and a half ago continues to affect worldwide diplomacy and economics. Germany's defeat provided the opportunity for fascism and Hitler to come to power there, causing the Second World War and its greater destruction. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War and the diplomatic and political morass that followed was the precursor for the reconstitution of Israel and eventually brought the Middle East into center stage today.
This series is based upon the books and encyclopedic knowledge of Professor Hugh Strachan. It examines every aspect of the war, from its causes to the conduct of the war on and behind the front lines to its aftermath. In doing so, it covers the diplomatic, political, military and social aspects, each of which played a role in shaping what happened and why. It does not just present the summary facts but goes in depth in its explanations. For example, instead of simply depicting the spring 1918 German offensive on the western front, it gives detail about how they accomplished it, the attitudes of the troops on each side and the thought processes of the respective high commands.
Not having seen Kenneth Branagh's World War 1 in Color, this reviewer is incompetant to compare the two. However, because this series is thorough and draws upon the professor who may well be THE authority on this era of history, it is likely the best presentation on the subject available today.
Although the First World War gets less attention than its successor, it was really the watershed event of the 20th century. This conflict shaped the world that came after to this day. It was the catalyst for the rise of soviet communism in Russia, whose unravelling less than a decade and a half ago continues to affect worldwide diplomacy and economics. Germany's defeat provided the opportunity for fascism and Hitler to come to power there, causing the Second World War and its greater destruction. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War and the diplomatic and political morass that followed was the precursor for the reconstitution of Israel and eventually brought the Middle East into center stage today.
This series is based upon the books and encyclopedic knowledge of Professor Hugh Strachan. It examines every aspect of the war, from its causes to the conduct of the war on and behind the front lines to its aftermath. In doing so, it covers the diplomatic, political, military and social aspects, each of which played a role in shaping what happened and why. It does not just present the summary facts but goes in depth in its explanations. For example, instead of simply depicting the spring 1918 German offensive on the western front, it gives detail about how they accomplished it, the attitudes of the troops on each side and the thought processes of the respective high commands.
Not having seen Kenneth Branagh's World War 1 in Color, this reviewer is incompetant to compare the two. However, because this series is thorough and draws upon the professor who may well be THE authority on this era of history, it is likely the best presentation on the subject available today.
199 of 207 people found the following review helpful
By Hal Owen
Format:DVD
"The First World War-The Complete Series" is a marvelous introduction to the world we now live in. Arranged in ten parts and based on historian Hugh Strachan's insightful observations, this eight hour plus look into the "War To End All Wars" is always engaging and amazingly contemporary. Mixing film elements of the period with contemporary footage, this four disc program offers insightful explanations into such controversial topics as Jihad and the troubled Middle East, Ireland, Africa, the rise of the nation state, and the rise of the United States to name but a few. What "The World At War" is to World War Two, "The First World War-The Complete Series" is to its predecessor; simply the best documentary on the subject I've yet seen.
171 of 178 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I cannot praise this series enough. Remarkably complete and ultimately absorbing, this series does for WWI what "World At War" (1973) did for WWII. Every installment is a fascinating, up-close and comprehensive examination of the often complex elements and participants fighting in the world's first truly "modern war."
Special attention is paid to specific details that most other series leave out; for example, the role of the Ottoman Turks, the significant naval battles between Germany and Great Britain, the battles in the Middle East, and the contributions of the British Commonwealth soldiers from across the Empire. It makes the old CBS series narrated by Robert Ryan a mere footnote and PBS's politically-correct "The Great War" resemble something of a mere amateur documentary filmmaker. Much of the unseen footage secured by Channel 4 in making the documentary was recently discovered from archives in Central and Eastern Europe. The series also takes a close-up look of the weaponry and the letters/diary entries of soldiers from both sides.
Can a excellent documentary compel you to read more on the subject? Well, this one certainly can. This series makes WWI a most fascinating subject worthy of further study and analysis. Too often, what has been mistakenly taught in school is that WWI was merely a "dress rehersal" for the rise of fascism and WWII. This series proves otherwise and we need more first-class documentary series like this. Kudos to Johnathan Lewis and Channel 4 for putting together such a superb series. I liked the series so much, I purchased the Hew Strachan book the series is based on! A real gem....
Special attention is paid to specific details that most other series leave out; for example, the role of the Ottoman Turks, the significant naval battles between Germany and Great Britain, the battles in the Middle East, and the contributions of the British Commonwealth soldiers from across the Empire. It makes the old CBS series narrated by Robert Ryan a mere footnote and PBS's politically-correct "The Great War" resemble something of a mere amateur documentary filmmaker. Much of the unseen footage secured by Channel 4 in making the documentary was recently discovered from archives in Central and Eastern Europe. The series also takes a close-up look of the weaponry and the letters/diary entries of soldiers from both sides.
Can a excellent documentary compel you to read more on the subject? Well, this one certainly can. This series makes WWI a most fascinating subject worthy of further study and analysis. Too often, what has been mistakenly taught in school is that WWI was merely a "dress rehersal" for the rise of fascism and WWII. This series proves otherwise and we need more first-class documentary series like this. Kudos to Johnathan Lewis and Channel 4 for putting together such a superb series. I liked the series so much, I purchased the Hew Strachan book the series is based on! A real gem....
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Completely satisfying series
I have seen this series twice (TV, library DVD), and I could watch it again and again and always learn something new. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Magnitude
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most comprehensive
Excellent series and lectures. My husband really enjoyed each disc and subsequent topics that were covered. He thought this is the best series he has seen so far.
Published 1 month ago by Janice M. Jimenez
5.0 out of 5 stars
everyone should study WWI
Well connected, well narrated, presented in an illuminating manner. Its like being shown the real reason behind things you always suspected.
Published 2 months ago by Ilovebooks
2.0 out of 5 stars
The more I Delve Into It, The More Confused I Get
I decided recently to learn more about World War I. Compared to World War II, I knew very little of The Great War regarding the causes and the lead up to the onset of this war,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by E. J. Tully
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprising series - 'The First World War'
'The First World War' is one of the most unusual and interesting documentary series available on the subject. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Michael Haller
5.0 out of 5 stars
The WAR
The First World War was THE War of the last century. It destroyed the governments that started the war and the societies that supported it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tony Marquise Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely fascinating and so very sad ....
Hew Strachan is my favorite author on the study of WWI. I have the book plus the documentary film based on his book... both that I treasure.
The film is just excellent. Read more
The film is just excellent. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Magda Denes
5.0 out of 5 stars
That Haunting Piano Theme
In case you are wondering, that haunting piano theme which pops up periodically and perfectly captures the manque melancholy of a world gone simultaneously modern and barbaric, is... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jean Sapione
4.0 out of 5 stars
The First World War--The Complete Series
I highly recommend this video series to those who already have some familiarity with the events of WWI, but not for people just wanting to learn the general history of the period. Read more
Published 9 months ago by TheKat
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great overview of world war I
There is a lot of very good educational documentary material in this 4 set DVD collection on World War I. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Richard B
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