WWI: The Complete Story 100th Memorial Edition

The reason WW II occurred is because of the end of World War I. This 100 yr anniversary set is a must to understand not only WWI but the way it helped cause WW2. I know, I taught military history for 35 yrs. Amazon simply has the best customer service and selection of merchandise.

World War I is probably one of the most tragically forgotten wars in U.S. history, partially because of this country's late entry into it and being eclipsed by other 20th century events like the Depression, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the current fiascos in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who have done at least a little studying of WWI will agree that it was uniquely horrifying because of its senselessness, basically brought on by a pissing match between various royal families in Europe and Ottoman aggression, and striking incompetence by the armed forces of almost every country in it except for the Americans, Australians, and Belgians, who, despite being run over by Kaiser Wilhelm despite being a neutral country, fought like wildcats when the opportunity finally came to push Germany back. This DVD set is remarkable despite its being released in 1964 after the series aired on CBS, back when history shows actually had viewers who were still interested in learning something besides keeping up with Kardashians, fashion networks and other totally useless programming today that is more of an insult than entertainment. Narrated by Robert Ryan, it uses authentic film from the actual pre-war years, the war itself and post war. I severely doubt any single source has the amount of genuine footage this program had. It is very accurate, puts blame where it belonged, particularly in the hands of the incompetent British commander Douglas Haig, who was monumentally stupid along with most of the rest of the commanders, Winston Churchill, who ordered the pointless slaughter of over 50,000 British troops at Gallipoli in Turkey, basically herding them onto very small strips of beach to be pinned down and shot and mauled with artillery fire by superior Ottoman troops who only had to maintain higher ground and mow down troops ordered to attack where it was impossible. Despite criticism for the needless carnage, Churchill never admitted failure and wanted to keep killing men until they could break through the Dardanelles and control the Black Sea. Finally the Brits had to withdraw in total defeat, not gaining one inch of enemy ground and losing several ships and subs in the Straits too. As history shows, Churchill wasn't done. He was dead set against Britain taking part in D-Day when plans were being drawn up, preferring a long difficult march through Italy and trying to cross the Alps. That would have bogged the Allies down terribly and had FDR not told Churchill he damn well better be ready to pitch in on D-Day, the end of the war would have been much farther away. Appointing another British general lunkhead, Bernard Montgomery was a Churchill idea, and Montgomery was infamously slow in helping soften the beaches at Omaha and getting his naval support and troops to the beach heads. I submit Churchill was a grandstanding military idiot who is not worthy of the adulation he unfairly receives to this day. But back to the DVD - we get the horrors of the Somme, the pointless back and forth attack and retreats that annihilated northeast France and most of Belgium for years and the U.S.' involvement that finally resulted in drafting men after the Germans announced unrestricted submarine warfare and were sinking American cargo vessels. Worst of all, France and Britain were so vengeful toward the Germans that it wiped them out as far as food and clothing was concerned. An ambitious German corporal, Adolph Hitler took the extreme surrender terms badly, and 25 years later would exact a terrible revenge. I can't recommend this DVD enough. It's easy to watch in 30 minute installments, or all at once. In a world that is on the perennial brink of total war, or so it seems sometimes, one would be hard pressed to view a DVD that points out just how ultimately pointless war is.

The music that introduces each section gets old quickly, and the style may be a bit stilted but the information appears accurate and this is a war that many no little or nothing about, even though it literally changed the face and character of Europe and many colonies in Africa and Asia, and of course was very much on the minds of the architects and leaders in World War 2. I'm glad that I bought it especially for the parts that were far from the classic Western Front, like Italy and the Middle East.

World War I was obscured by World War II, mostly because the follow-on war began only 21 years after the first one ended and, for the United States, had a cataclysmic beginning when Pearl Harbor was attacked.But WWI was an even more bloody affair for Western Europe than its successor and was the means of destroying four once powerful empires: German, Austrian-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian. The war and its aftermath wrought tremendous changes on the world. We should know more about it to help us understand why we are where we are now.This series is an excellent and entertaining way to begin to understand this war. Made for broadcast by CBS Television during 1964-65, the 50th anniversary of the war's start, it is 58 years old but better for the purpose than anything else one is likely to see. Narrated by Robert Ryan (who, interestingly, played Gen. James Gavin, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, in the wonderful D-Day Invasion movie _The Longest Day_), the 26 episodes (each about 26 minutes long) will give the viewer a pretty decent overall concept of World War I.This is well worth having and watching.

NEED A WORLD WAR ONE EDUCATION? GOOD PLACE TO START RIGHT HERE.THIS VIDEO TAUGHT ME WORLD WAR ONE WAS THE END OF KINGS, THE START OFDAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, THE WOMEN IN THE FACTORIES WON THEM THE RIGHT TOVOTE, THE BEGINNING OF ISRAEL BACK IN THEIR HOME LAND, THE INTRODUCTIONOF THE TANK, THE BOMBING AIRPLANE, ARGONNE TAUGHT AMERICA HOW TOMOVE FROM CIVIL WAR TACTICS TO MODERN WARFARE WE STILL TRAIN US FORCESWITH. WE LEARN ABOUT THE SHIFTING OF EMPIRES THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE FACEOF THE WORLD AS IT EXISTS TODAY. EVERYONE NEEDS TO LEARN ABOUT THEFIRST WORLD WAR THE FIRST TIME 2 MILLION TROOPS LEFT THE UNITED STATESAND WAS THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA AS A POLICING POWER AND THE COLLAPSEOF THE CZAR IN RUSSIA THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION LED TO COMMUNISM.IF YOU DONT READ A BOOK OR SEE THIS VIDEO - HOW CAN YOU LEARN ABOUT IT?IF WE DONT LEARN FROM THE WARS OF THE PAST WILL WE AVOID REPEATING IT?

An excellent production, so far (only on 2nd of 3rd disc).Comprehensive, yet informative, with coverage of background stories / facts. Good selection of "extras" included on each disc. GREAT: video footage, from French, British, American sources, probably others too; music score; script and voice; titles; editing. Does not appear to have been designed for TV viewing since various "chapters" are not limited by specific time limits. The "chapters" will vary in length based on the topic.Would definitely recommend - great value for home library and for others wanting to understand USA's entry into a worldly arena. The European WWII theater may have evolved from the manner that WWI was "resolved". Another instance explaining about how history does repeat!A wonderful 100th Year Anniversary History Lesson.

Lie the way that it's done 4 DVD's each containing chapters following WW 1, very informative.

Very well done documentary on the First World War includes segments on parts of the war that tend to get neglected. I recommend it.it would be great for high school students.

This set of DVDs was really well produced... It told me a lot of things about World War 1 that I didn't know. It was well worth the money and very educational. I highly recommend this set. And that's from a War buff.

Excellent recap of The Great War from an American perspective.

Product just as described and arrived quickly.