Doomsday World War 1 is a documentary series on DVD.
The First World War – carnage on a scale never-before seen.
The First World War – carnage on a scale never-before seen. But how did it all start? And how did some key figures of WWII fare in the earlier war? In three episodes we trace their careers back to the battlefields of WWI, including Adolf Hitler, Bernard L. Montgomery, Hermann Goering, Charles de Gaulle, George S. Patton and Walter Model. Their personal stories are set against the backdrop of a bigger political and strategic reality.
Carefully restored and colourised archive combined with re-enactments and personal testimonies portray individual fates, providing the detail behind the bigger picture.
Episodes:
1. The Fall of Man
Montgomery and Hitler: two WWII leaders who participated in the start of the
conflict that would define the first half of the 20th century – WWI. Like so
many others, they go into the battles of the “Great War” in high
spirits – still oblivious to the real meaning of the advance of modern
military technology: random and merciless killing on a scale previously unheard
of and hitherto technically impossible. It is a turning point in the history of
the world. Eventually, Hitler will use his wartime experiences to bait the
German people with the promise to make amends for the results of the First
World War.
2. Purgatory
In March 1916 at the battle of Verdun, Captain Charles De Gaulle is wounded by
a bayonet and forced to surrender to German forces. It’s a bitter moment for
the battle-hardened officer. His time as a German POW shapes his impressions of
Germany, and will have a profound impact on his stance during World War II and
right into the post-war era. Meanwhile, Herman Goering makes reconnaissance
flights over the battlefield of Verdun and downs a number of enemy aircraft.
He’s fighting the ‘chivalrous war’ in the air. Would their later actions
have been different, had their WWI experiences have taken an
alternative shape?
3. Battle of Nations
In August and September 1918 the German Army suffers defeat after defeat,
overwhelmed by Allied superiority in supplies, men and machinery – a crushing
experience for a devout nationalist like the young Walter Model. The emerging
American tank troops have been trained by Lieutenant Colonel George S. Patton.
At the end of September 1918, he leads some tanks into battle and is wounded.
Recovering from his wounds he witnesses the end of World War One. Germany has
been brought to its knees. But could the bitter pill of defeat have created a
generation of young Germans, ready to avenge the humiliation of WWI?