GREAT WAR AND THE SHAPING OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE: EPISODE SIX: COLLAPSE (TV)
Summary
The sixth of eight episodes in this series examining World War I and its effect on the remainder of the twentieth century. The story is told through the use of archival film and photographs, interviews with writers and scholars, and the words of those directly involved in the war. Each episode is comprised of multiple segments that focus on different aspects of the war. The segment "What Is It All For?" looks at the effect of rampant militarism and despair on civilian life. The segment "Monarchy" considers the decline of Kaiser Wilhelm from worshipped demigod to contemptuously regarded figurehead. Generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff take true control of Germany, based on their past great successes in the war. They hatch a plan to launch unrestricted attacks on all Allied ships by German U-boats, starving England into submission. This tactic carries the risk of killing American citizens and drawing the United States into the war. The segment "Democracy" describes the United States' attitude toward the war in Europe. President Woodrow Wilson's life and career are examined, as is his decision to enter the war following the interception of the "Zimmerman Telegram," a proposal from Germany to Mexico encouraging Mexico to declare war on the United States. The United States begins a massive enlistment and military training campaign as an anti-Germany frenzy sweeps the country, culminating in the lynching of an innocent German immigrant. Ugly racial riots break out as African-American soldiers enlist and are relegated to manual labor tasks. W.E.B. Dubois campaigns for the establishment of African-American combat troops. The segment "The Bitter Truth" concerns Germany's decision to make a final all-out effort at the Western Front in the wake of the failure of the U-boat plan and dire civilian food shortages. Ludendorff's barrage at the Front allows stormtroopers to sweep over the British line and make significant advances. Germany tries to build on this success, but the Allied Force's sheer numbers begin to wear down the German soldiers. British commander Douglas Haig makes a brilliant counterstrike to break Germany's formidable "Hindenburg Line," sending the German army into massive retreat. The segment "The Great Adventure" follows soldier Harry S. Truman to war and looks at the excitement and enthusiasm felt by the American soldiers in Europe. General John Pershing refuses to feed American soldiers into existing Allied armies, insisting they fight as an American army under American command. Despite U.S. soldiers' lack of success battle, the mere fact of their presence rattles an exhausted Germany. The segment "Death Throes" discusses the mutiny of Germany's navy after receiving orders for a suicidal attack. This humiliation, combined with the now clear impossibility of the German army prevailing against the combined might of France, Great Britain, and the United States, breaks the back of the German war machine. Wilhelm and Ludendorff flee the country in disgrace. The segment "November 11, 1918" looks at the Armistice that ends the war and the disorientation of soldiers and citizens suddenly at peace. This program contains commentary by the following individuals: Niall Fergusson of Oxford University; David Kennedy of Stanford University; Jay M. Winter of Cambridge University; and Trevor Wilson of the University of Adelaide. This program is closed-captioned.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1997.
Details
- NETWORK: KCET-TV (Los Angeles, CA) / PBS
- DATE: November 12, 1996 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:48950
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American soldiers; Armistices; United States. Army - African-American troops; United States - History - 1913-1921; World War - 1914-1918
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1996
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Blaine Baggett … Executive Producer, Writer
- Cynthia Crompton … Producer, Director
- Jay Winter … Co-Producer, Writer
- Michelle Morgan … Series Associate Producer
- Carl Byker … Series Producer
- Alf Penn … Researcher
- Karen Wyatt … Researcher
- Robin Wilder … Researcher
- Jeffrey Verhey … Researcher
- Michael O'Toole … Researcher
- David Orenstein … Researcher
- Mason Daring … Music by
- Salome Jens … Narrator
- Niall Ferguson … Guest
- David Kennedy … Guest
- Trevor Wilson … Guest
- Jay M. Winter … Guest
- Helen Mirren … Voice
- Michael Barrett … Voice
- Martin Landau … Voice
- Louis Gossett … Voice
- Udo Keir … Voice
- Rupert Graves … Voice
- Paul Mercurio … Voice
- David Keith … Voice
- Jeroen Krabbe … Voice
- W.E.B. Dubois
- Douglas Haig
- Erich Ludendorff
- John Pershing
- Harry S. Truman
- von Hindenburg, Paul
- Kaiser Wilhelm
- Woodrow Wilson