The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (1996)

Name: The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century
Genre: Documentary
Rating: 8.4
Cast: Salome Jens

Where to watch The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century

The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century is available to stream on Nabby via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The documentary from Jay Winter, Blaine Baggett has 1 season and 8 total episodes, rated 8.4/10 by 5 viewers.

Last verified: October 22, 2026 · Source: TMDB

Episodes 8 total across 1 season

8 episodes19963 watched

Instability in Europe is fueled by Germany's growing militarism, Kaiser Wilhelm II's obsession to match the British Royal Navy, and French and German war plans before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria triggers combat.

At the start of World War One it was predicted the fighting would be over in a matter of weeks, owing to technical advances in weaponry. But the reality proved entirely different as soldiers dug into the ground to escape artillery, trenches began to spread for miles and the Western Front developed.

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What if... Total War✓

Nov 24, 1996

An insight into the personal experiences of people caught up in World War One, with diaries and letters shedding light on the conflict. One million women left the home to work in Britain's munitions factories, while soldiers' families lived in dread of receiving a telegram or telephone call bearing bad news.

The stories of the battles of Verdun, the Somme and Passchendaele, three of World War One's most bloody encounters, using newsreel footage taken at the scene during a time when film was on the verge of becoming a major influence on the public's perception of warfare

Account of the despair which swept Europe in 1917, as World War One dragged on into its fourth year with no end in sight. While British doctors struggled to find an effective shell-shock treatment for patients, including poet Wilfred Owen, half of the French army mutinied and Russia was gripped by revolution.

Account of the sudden ending of World War One in 1918, tracing the various causes responsible for Germany's ultimate downfall, including a failed offensive, the Americans joining the Allied Forces and crumbling civilian morale. Archive footage reveals the momentous occasion when the guns fell silent on the 11th hour of November 11, and British and German troops shook hands.

Covers the continuing blockade on Germany as the Allies drew up the Treaty of Versailles, with considerable focus on Woodrow Wilson’s role in the Paris Peace Conference.

Examines the cost of the war and its continuing reverberations through the rest of the 20th century.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century have?

The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century has 1 season with 8 episodes in total.

Is The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century still on the air?

The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century?

The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century airs on PBS.

When did The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century first air?

The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century first aired on November 10, 1996.

Cast

Full cast →

Salome Jens

Narrator (voice)