00:00 - 02:15
2m 15s
This clip gives some background and an overview of World War I. It states that the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand started the war and that the conflict spread across the world, involving 30 countries and 65 million soldiers. It puts into perspective the scale of the conflict and offers some fun facts, such as a soccer game between the German and British troops near Ypres, Belgium. Finally, it indicates how the Treaty of Versailles' destabilized the region, which helped Adolf Hitler rise to power.
Video Transcript
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An Austro-Hungarian general advises Emperor Franz Josef I to take punitive actions against Serbia for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Emperor Franz Josef worries about the greater implications of these actions since Russia is Serbia's ally. The general believes that the Austro-Hungarian alliance with Germany is enough to restrain them.
General Mireau walks through the trenches and checks on his soldiers' will to defeat the enemy. He comes across a soldier that is shellshocked and instructs the sergeant to remove that soldier, as he feels his cowardice can be detrimental to the group.
03:50
The two soldiers cross into No Man's Land, showcasing the full magnitude of war during World War I.
This clip discusses the origins and evolution of trench warfare and its use in several prominent wars, such as the American Civil War, and World War I. It also explains how the typical trench system was designed during World War I and how the modern day trenchcoat was inspired by a coat made for soldiers in the trenches.
While being attacked by mortars, Colonel Dax guides his troops out of the trenches and into the battlefield in an attempt to capture the ant hill. This clip also illustrates "no man's land," the area between opposing trench lines.