The First World War - The Complete Series

Directors: Corina Sturmer, Marcus Kiggell, Simon Rockell
Actors: Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Mustafa Kemal Atatuerk, Andree Bernard, Emperor Franz Josef, Hermann Goering
Studio: Image Entertainment
Category: DVD

List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $29.06
You Save: $10.93 (27%)


New (14) Used (3) Collectible (1) from $29.06

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 65 reviews
Sales Rank: 2782

Format: Box Set, Black & White, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 4
Running Time: 523 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.6 x 1.2

MPN: D0551D
UPC: 014381055122
EAN: 0014381055122
ASIN: B0009S2K9C

Release Date: August 30, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW AND FACTORY SEALED
The First World War - The Complete Series

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Customer Reviews

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4 out of 5 stars More of a social history...    January 6, 2009
T.Velasquez (Beaverton, OR, USA)
While extremely well made and presented, this documentary series is more of a social history of world war one than a military one. The series focuses on the personal effects of the war with very little focus on the military history. Entire sections of episodes are given over to narration recreating personal diaries and accounts. One boy's diary, which was fascinating in itself, was the whole account given of the advance on the western front in 1914! The military and war situation is often glossed over and summarized while films of burials and accounts of "attrocities" (on both sides, to give the show its due) are reported at length. Hardly any mention is made at all of the leaders and generals involved. Major battles and engagements of the war are mentioned in passing before diving in depth into diary recollections of a child, a gun puller or someone who saw a farm burned.

It seems that the creaters of this series intended it for the advanced student of World War One. You already have to know the indepth history of the political and military situations in the war because this series assumes you already know and is simply filling in the gaps with reports of the usual and horrible excesses that war can cause.


5 out of 5 stars Fantastic insight on an often overlooked war    January 3, 2009
Dart Wilson
The First World War is an interesting documentary that offers much to those who know little about the war(and certainly much to scholars of the war). I couldn't stop watching once I started. From first-hand accounts of civilians and soldiers involved in the war to the fantastic footage of the many armies involved, there is much to love about this documentary.
I would recommend this to anyone who knows little about the war as a great introduction as well as to anyone who is schooled on the war but would like to see more.



5 out of 5 stars A Peach!    October 25, 2008
Dennis Helms (Elkton, Oregon)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

If your a WW1 buff you'll really enjoy this series. Not the end of the rainbow but a good solid overview nicely presented.


4 out of 5 stars Very satisfied    October 1, 2008
Steven T. Richter
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I found this documentary very informative. I claim to be a WW1 buff and it showed me a brand new perspective. The script is clearly researched well and includes many of the soldiers and civilians written words to enhance it, however, they use the same British for every person which was kind of irritating. This documentary can get a bit dry at times for someonewho shows little interest in the subject, especially in the Global War and Jihad episodes. What this series' crowning acheivement was is to relate the war to every country that fought in it. Battles such as Verdun, Tannenburg and the Somme were discussed but it focused on many other factors (much of which were behind the scenes) for the majority. I would highly recommend this video to anyone wanting to learn more on the subject.


5 out of 5 stars DVD, is the gem!    September 17, 2008
T. Kaczor (Toms River, NJ USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

If you've seen is on PBS or the military channel you know why it's perhaps the most important break down of events in the past century and while it doesn't cover WWII it explains it's roots, the cold war and the basis for issues in the world today. Outstandingly done history that you wish was how other things were presented. Better than perhaps Ken Burns' civil war series.