Apocalypse WWI

This graphic, but informative, documentary series offers a detailed examination of what World War I was like for those who fought, and for the civilians lived through it. It features information and images about what helped create the conditions necessary for the war to break out, including the race to colonize as much of Africa and the Middle East as possible. It also discusses how monarchies, thanks to the rise of populism, were no longer able to hold on to their power. The role of key leaders on both sides, as well as more mythical figures including Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. the Red Baron, and Thomas Edward Lawrence, more famously known as Lawrence of Arabia, are also discussed.

However, Apocalypse WWI also spends much of its time objectively revealing the horrors of the Great War, including the endless months of trench warfare under unimaginable conditions, the use of poisonous gas, and the destruction of what were once prosperous European countries. Meanwhile, the colorized newsreel footage paints a long, dark picture of these events, but in a way that makes it impossible to shy away from the human stories of suffering and survival. It's not the easiest to watch, but it is educational, and war and history buffs will appreciate what it has to offer.