Introduction

A six-part documentary series about the First World War which uses recorded figures to outline the full extent of the conflict.

This series tells the complete story of World War I – from outbreak to conclusion – and the fragile peace that followed. The Great War was a conflict driven by quantity and numbers, fought by calculating generals for who no cost was too high. For the first time in history, everything was recorded in exacting detail and this documentary reveals the startling facts behind the staggering scale of the war to end all wars.

Outline of Episode 5

Episode five tells how, after 1916 and the hell of the Somme and Verdun, the imperial powers redoubled their efforts to crush their enemies. In Germany the new commander in chief, Paul von Hindenburg, and his deputy, Erich Ludendorff, demanded that German industry doubled its output of shells, to 11 million a month, and treble production of machine guns, artillery and aircraft. To meet these new targets Germany needed three-million more workers. Those who were too young or too old to fight had to work in the munitions factories. More than a million prisoners of war would be put …

The Great War in Numbers Series

• Episode 01: The March to War.
• Episode 02: Weapons of War.
• Episode 03: Descent in Hell.
• Episode 04: The Home Front.
• Episode 05: Total War.
• Episode 06: Endgame.

Production & Filming Details

• Narrator: John Heffernan.
• Released Date: 01 November 2017 (UK).
• Running time: 270 minutes (total running time).
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

YouTube Link