Armistice: The Bitter Endgame Of World War One | Armistice | Timeline
1,737,576
Published 2018-11-10
Professor David Reynolds uncovers a story of wounded egos, political scheming and strategy behind the lines as statesmen and generals haggled over the terms of peace, while the soldiers fought on the front-line.
In a journey that takes him through command centers and battlefields, he explores why half-a-million men were killed or wounded in the bitter endgame of the ‘Great War’ and unravels how Germany ultimately plunged to total defeat. November 11th proved to be a doomed peace, a prelude to a century-long struggle for mastery of Europe. David Reynolds argues that it was the frenetic politicking and brutality of the fighting in 1918 that sowed the seeds of the even bloodier Second World War just 20 years later.
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All Comments (21)
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My grandfather (U.S. Army) took a bullet in the stomach on the last day of the war. He was hospitalized for a year, and suffered greatly the rest of his life. I never really knew him, but my mother said he was never, ever the same after the war. What a waste.
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WWII was an inevitable extension of WWI. My mind will never be changed.
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After watching this very informative presentation, I wonder if there really were two wars, it seems to me there was only one war with a twenty-one year ceases fire.
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Professor David Reynolds is a first class Moderator that explains what went on behind the scenes within all the belligerents leaders, both military and political. The German high command underestimated what would happen if they asked for a cease fire. The upheaval of the people of the Central Powers was caused by starvation, the death of their soldiers in a never-ending war, and the collapse of Germany's allies that could not continue to fight. I have watched other war videos with Professor Reynolds telling the story. They are all worth watching. Thank you!
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2023-05-19 ... wow ... an absolutely excellent presentation of an otherwise skipped-over historical moment ... the WW1 overview is clearly and superbly explained ... Woodrow Wilson's personal attempt to humiliate Germany is a revelation to me ... Highly recommended one hour video.
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I have loved every one of professor David Reynold's documentaries. A master presentatator like no other, shedding light on less talked about aspects of history that nonetheless had dramatic consequences for the world we all inhabit today.
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Is sad that the “war to end all wars” only led to the “war of all wars”
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I wish every documentary was hosted by this guy, he's very well spoken and articulates the information very well.
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“Nowhere have I seen such Lions led by such lambs “ excerpt of poem penned by a WW1 German soldier , describing the unwavering bravery of the British Soldier while being ‘led’ by Cowards in the Rear with their Tea & crumpets
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My Grand Grand Mother who lost three of her four brothers in WWI used to say that few things were so meaningless than a war..as an English woman settled in my country i think she was right..peace to all of them...
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It’s funny how they left out the part where Ludendorff financed Lenin’s return to Russia and the chance for him to start the revolution.
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The German delegation walked up to the signing table expecting to see an ARMISTICE, meaning a ‘peace without victory’ as Woodrow Wilson promised....instead the armistice had turned into a strong-armed actual surrender and caught them off guard. Being forced to declare ‘war guilt’ and then pay reparations (which were actually France’s bills to the US and Britain that she told them she wouldn’t pay back) was particularly brutal considering the fact that there was plenty of guilt to go around regarding WWI. Members of the delegation literally fell down upon reading it. It was MORE than just the tangible ‘harshness’ of the treaty...it was the perceived (and actual) injustice of it and their no tangible losses psychologically that fueled the later rise of a certain angry little man. Also, history has shown that whenever a democracy is forced upon a people before they are ready for it, it never works out well.
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America was hardly neutral. We had loaned Britain huge amounts of money and I believe this was as much of a reason for going to war as the U-boat attacks. However, Wilson could hardly tell the country to go to war so JPMorgan can get its money back, so the U-boat war was a convenient cause.
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An excellent documentary, it is important to remember that the 11th November 1918 Armistice which is so well commemorated in Western Europe has absolutely no bearing or significance in Central or Eastern Europe. There the Great War dragged on in various civil and border conflicts into the early and mid 1920's.
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My Granddad was born in Brighton England on November 24th 1918, not long after the Armistice happened. His mother was an English lass from London whose first husband was also English and a sailor who died at sea during the war and had 2 daughters. His father was born in Manchester, to Irish parents who died thanks tot the Famine. He was brought to Canada as an orphan at 6 years old and went back to fight with the Canadians in WW1 and brought his family to back home to Canada after the end of WW1. My Grandpa then went back to fight in WW11. I love the history behind the two World Wars. So this is interesting for me to watch.
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thoroughly enjoyed this walk through this part of our history with Professor David Reynolds. He really brings it to life and I watched it twice already. Thank you greatly.
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I think that the history understanding is the first necessary step to fix our messed up world. I wish there are more documentaries like this ….
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We didn't learn about this at school sadly I'm 39 and learning it now
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Thank you for this. I've learned so much about the war in recent weeks by watching these videos and reading.
