World War I
This section will feature documentaries on World War I. World War I was also known as the Great War. It started in 1914 and ended in 1918. The spark of the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Lusitania: Terror at Sea - YouTube (1:30:05)
This docu-drama is about the sinking of the Lusitania during World War I. It tells the story of the sinking from Professor Holbein’s perspective. This docu-drama brings together the story of the passenger and the British Admiralty. It tells what happened during the voyage, the decisions that were made to not warn the ship, and what happened during the sinking. *Recommended for a high school classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
Lusitania - YouTube (52:37)
This is an older documentary on the Lusitania. This documentary came out in 1994 and features the last known Lusitania survivors. The survivors tell their stories about the ship and how they survived the sinking. They also discuss their theories about why she sank so fast. It also features Bob Ballard, who was trying to discover why she sank so fast. Did the contraband on the ship explode and cause the ship to sink? *Recommended for an independent study student.*
The Battle of Passchendaele - VIDEO UNAVAILABLE
Trench warfare has been established during World War I. Passchendaele seemed to elude recapture by the British. It was the site of the worst battle of World War I. This documentary combines photography, archival footage, and a well-told story. It is a good look at what happened that led up to the Battle of Passchendaele. *Recommended for a high school world history classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
The Great War In Numbers - Episode 1 (44:46) Episode 2(45:13) Episode 3 (44:58) Episode 4 (45:09) Episode 5 (45:03) Episode 6 (45:02)
World War I: The Numbers covers the sheer numbers involved in World War I. The Imperial powers were not satisfied with the vast territories and wealth they acquired over decades. So when in 1914, when the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was killed the world exploded. This war would kill 18 million people. This war would change world history. *Recommended for a high school world history classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
The First Tank Battle - YouTube (44:11)
World War I was the first war where tanks were introduced in warfare. It was the British that introduced the first tanks. The British were determined to end the stalemate of trench water. The Germans did not know what happen. However, they caught up with lethal fire and then with their tanks. How did the first tanks develop? Would they put a stop to trench warfare? This documentary explores the history of the tank and the greatest battles they participated in. *Recommended for a high school world history classroom. Recommended for an independent study student who has an interest in military history.*
World War I - VIDEO UNAVAILABLE
In 1918, the Allied Armies came together to assemble a strike force to finally break the backs of the Germans. The last few months of the war were brutal for the men in the trenches. The biggest problem was to keep the operation a secret. The Germans knew nothing of a coming attack nor did they fear an attack coming. When it did come, it would shatter the German military. *Recommended for a high school classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube (50:31)
It is 1914 and the soldiers on both sides of the Great War are exhausted from fighting. Christmas comes and the British soldiers suddenly hear something in the night sky. It is the German soldiers singing Christmas carols. The Germans are also putting up Christmas trees in the trenches. Morning comes and there is a sense of peace in the air… *Highly recommended for history and independent study students for Christmas Time or when World War I is studied.*
Mata Hari: The Beautiful Spy - YouTube (52:15)
She is charged with high treason. She was a female pay. Her name was Mata Hari. She was an exotic dancer who moved around high society. Then World War I happened and she was charged with treason because of her contacts with the upper echelons of society. What is the truth about Mata Hari? Who was she really? Will she finally reveal her secrets after one hundred years? *Recommended for research purposes and not for a classroom setting.*
HMS Audacious - YouTube (50:05)
Today, deep sea divers are going to investigate the British battleship “HMS Audacious.” It was declared unsinkable and went into battle during World War I. She struck a mine and the men onboard her fought to keep her alive. It was a secondary, mysterious explosion that sent her down to the bottom of the Irish Sea. The wreck lies 14 miles off the tip of Ireland. So what caused this second explosion that sent her to the bottom? *Recommended for a history and science classroom.*
SS Armenian - YouTube (49:31)
The year is June 1915. The SS Armenian is carrying 1400 mules for the battlefields of Europe. A U-boat spots the ship and fires. Twenty-nine Americans are killed and the mules are sent to the bottom of the sea. Americans already outraged by the Lusitania sinking are made even angrier. The sinking of this ship would cause a second international incident between Germany and the United States. Now a team of divers plans to locate the wreck of the ship off Cornwall. Will these divers be successful? *Recommended for independent study students and for the history classroom.*
The Great War Tour - Episode 1 (45:27) Episode 2 (48:55) Episode 3 (51:24) Episode 4 (49:49)
Norm Christie, a military historian has traveled extensively through the western front of the Great War. This series focuses on the Canadian soldiers that were killed during the Great War. 60,000 Canadians were killed during the Great War. Christie looks at the impact of Canadian soldiers during the Great War. He looks at the sacred sites, missing soldiers and other areas where the Canadians fought. *Skip the first episode. The other three episodes are excellent and should be shown in a Canadian history class.*
The Hidden Secrets of the Battle of Yrpes - YouTube (1:10:25)
Norm Christie examines the Battlefields of Ypres in the Lost Battlefield series. He is exploring the story of the Canadian soldiers that were killed during World War I. The Battle of Mount Sorrel and the Battle of Hill 70 would shape the Canadian Corps. He explores the legacy of the Canadian Corps and its contributions to the Great War. Christie travels to the battlefields of Yrpes to learn about the Canadian contributions to the Great War. *Not recommended for a history class.*
The Kaiser's Pirates - YouTube (52:15)
The story of World War I piracy begins in the port of Kiel in Germany. The ship was called the Wolf. The SMS Wolf was engaging in piracy during World War I. The Grandson of the captain of the ship has been doing research on the ship. In 1916, a ship slipped out of the harbor and went on a voyage. The ship was on an important mission for the Kaiser. She was going to engage in piracy on the high seas during World War I. *Recommended for a history class and for independent study students.*
This docu-drama is about the sinking of the Lusitania during World War I. It tells the story of the sinking from Professor Holbein’s perspective. This docu-drama brings together the story of the passenger and the British Admiralty. It tells what happened during the voyage, the decisions that were made to not warn the ship, and what happened during the sinking. *Recommended for a high school classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
Lusitania - YouTube (52:37)
This is an older documentary on the Lusitania. This documentary came out in 1994 and features the last known Lusitania survivors. The survivors tell their stories about the ship and how they survived the sinking. They also discuss their theories about why she sank so fast. It also features Bob Ballard, who was trying to discover why she sank so fast. Did the contraband on the ship explode and cause the ship to sink? *Recommended for an independent study student.*
The Battle of Passchendaele - VIDEO UNAVAILABLE
Trench warfare has been established during World War I. Passchendaele seemed to elude recapture by the British. It was the site of the worst battle of World War I. This documentary combines photography, archival footage, and a well-told story. It is a good look at what happened that led up to the Battle of Passchendaele. *Recommended for a high school world history classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
The Great War In Numbers - Episode 1 (44:46) Episode 2(45:13) Episode 3 (44:58) Episode 4 (45:09) Episode 5 (45:03) Episode 6 (45:02)
World War I: The Numbers covers the sheer numbers involved in World War I. The Imperial powers were not satisfied with the vast territories and wealth they acquired over decades. So when in 1914, when the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was killed the world exploded. This war would kill 18 million people. This war would change world history. *Recommended for a high school world history classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
The First Tank Battle - YouTube (44:11)
World War I was the first war where tanks were introduced in warfare. It was the British that introduced the first tanks. The British were determined to end the stalemate of trench water. The Germans did not know what happen. However, they caught up with lethal fire and then with their tanks. How did the first tanks develop? Would they put a stop to trench warfare? This documentary explores the history of the tank and the greatest battles they participated in. *Recommended for a high school world history classroom. Recommended for an independent study student who has an interest in military history.*
World War I - VIDEO UNAVAILABLE
In 1918, the Allied Armies came together to assemble a strike force to finally break the backs of the Germans. The last few months of the war were brutal for the men in the trenches. The biggest problem was to keep the operation a secret. The Germans knew nothing of a coming attack nor did they fear an attack coming. When it did come, it would shatter the German military. *Recommended for a high school classroom. Recommended for an independent study student.*
The Remarkable Story of the Christmas Truce - YouTube (50:31)
It is 1914 and the soldiers on both sides of the Great War are exhausted from fighting. Christmas comes and the British soldiers suddenly hear something in the night sky. It is the German soldiers singing Christmas carols. The Germans are also putting up Christmas trees in the trenches. Morning comes and there is a sense of peace in the air… *Highly recommended for history and independent study students for Christmas Time or when World War I is studied.*
Mata Hari: The Beautiful Spy - YouTube (52:15)
She is charged with high treason. She was a female pay. Her name was Mata Hari. She was an exotic dancer who moved around high society. Then World War I happened and she was charged with treason because of her contacts with the upper echelons of society. What is the truth about Mata Hari? Who was she really? Will she finally reveal her secrets after one hundred years? *Recommended for research purposes and not for a classroom setting.*
HMS Audacious - YouTube (50:05)
Today, deep sea divers are going to investigate the British battleship “HMS Audacious.” It was declared unsinkable and went into battle during World War I. She struck a mine and the men onboard her fought to keep her alive. It was a secondary, mysterious explosion that sent her down to the bottom of the Irish Sea. The wreck lies 14 miles off the tip of Ireland. So what caused this second explosion that sent her to the bottom? *Recommended for a history and science classroom.*
SS Armenian - YouTube (49:31)
The year is June 1915. The SS Armenian is carrying 1400 mules for the battlefields of Europe. A U-boat spots the ship and fires. Twenty-nine Americans are killed and the mules are sent to the bottom of the sea. Americans already outraged by the Lusitania sinking are made even angrier. The sinking of this ship would cause a second international incident between Germany and the United States. Now a team of divers plans to locate the wreck of the ship off Cornwall. Will these divers be successful? *Recommended for independent study students and for the history classroom.*
The Great War Tour - Episode 1 (45:27) Episode 2 (48:55) Episode 3 (51:24) Episode 4 (49:49)
Norm Christie, a military historian has traveled extensively through the western front of the Great War. This series focuses on the Canadian soldiers that were killed during the Great War. 60,000 Canadians were killed during the Great War. Christie looks at the impact of Canadian soldiers during the Great War. He looks at the sacred sites, missing soldiers and other areas where the Canadians fought. *Skip the first episode. The other three episodes are excellent and should be shown in a Canadian history class.*
The Hidden Secrets of the Battle of Yrpes - YouTube (1:10:25)
Norm Christie examines the Battlefields of Ypres in the Lost Battlefield series. He is exploring the story of the Canadian soldiers that were killed during World War I. The Battle of Mount Sorrel and the Battle of Hill 70 would shape the Canadian Corps. He explores the legacy of the Canadian Corps and its contributions to the Great War. Christie travels to the battlefields of Yrpes to learn about the Canadian contributions to the Great War. *Not recommended for a history class.*
The Kaiser's Pirates - YouTube (52:15)
The story of World War I piracy begins in the port of Kiel in Germany. The ship was called the Wolf. The SMS Wolf was engaging in piracy during World War I. The Grandson of the captain of the ship has been doing research on the ship. In 1916, a ship slipped out of the harbor and went on a voyage. The ship was on an important mission for the Kaiser. She was going to engage in piracy on the high seas during World War I. *Recommended for a history class and for independent study students.*
List Updated on March 14, 2022
