HISTORY® is commemorating the 100th anniversary of WWI with a new four-hour miniseries focusing on the game-changing weapons that were introduced during a transitional time in war history with "WW1: THE FIRST MODERN WAR" beginning Saturday, July 26 at 8 PM ET/PT.
When ancient war tactics like set ground battles with troops bunkered down in massive trenches became overwhelmed by powerful new weapons like tanks, air attacks, weapons of mass destruction and submarines, a pivotal game-changing moment in history occurred. These new weapons would end up defining modern warfare and now through experts, eyewitness testimony, riveting archive and specially- created recreations, HISTORY® is delving into the background of each weapon with an hour-long episode explaining the how and why they were developed, the strategy, and their ultimate effectiveness. The four-part mini-series premieres on Saturday, July 26 at 8 PM ET/PT in the below order:
Armored Beasts: Premieres Saturday, July 26 at 8PM ET/PT - Tanks were the first armored fighting machine to be used on the battlefield. These "land ships," as they were first called, were championed by Head of the British Admiralty Winston Churchill. Adapted from an American tractor with caterpillar tracks, the machine was designed in secrecy to break through the heavily fortified trenches and offer protection for troops that were being mowed down by heavy artillery. Though a massive failure in their first combat in the Battle of the Somme - they broke down and got stuck in the mud - British government propaganda reversed the story and paved the way for thousands of tanks to be built and become a decisive weapon in the war.
Massive Air Attacks: Premieres Saturday, July 26 at 9PM ET/PT - While most people think the Blitz originated in WW2, the truth is that the first Blitz happened during WWI. Bombs were delivered from giant airships designed by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who got his inspiration when he was a Germany Army observer in the US during the Civil War and rode in a hot air balloon for the first time. These lighter than air superstructures, two times longer than the Statue of Liberty is high, measured their flights in hundreds of miles when pioneering aviators measured their success in hundreds of yards.
Clouds of Death: Premieres Saturday, July 26 at 10PM ET/PT- The Germans, ignoring international treaties they signed, were first to weaponize a chemical. In this case it was chlorine - a highly toxic ingredient used in the manufacture of chemical dyes of which they had a huge supply. Their action unleashed an escalation of poison gas weapons as both sides developed different chemicals and more effective counter measures. Their use of these chemicals culminated in a bold British plan that unfolded beneath the battlefield at Messine Ridge. British mining and explosive experts planted 450 tons of high explosive hidden in a network of tunnels under Messine ridge. When ignited, they created the biggest land mine in history - killing 10,000 German soldiers. The explosion rattled windows at 10 Downing St., 140 miles away and registered as an earthquake in Switzerland.
Underwater Killers: Premieres Saturday, July 26 at 11PM ET/PT - The Atlantic became a killing field as German submarines took on the might of the dominant British Navy. The stealth and silent killers were able to sink 5,200 ships by war's end, and nearly brought Britain to its knees. But in their frenzy of attacks, the Germans sink the US passenger liner Lusitania, killing nearly 2,000 on board. American outrage helped President Wilson get Congress to finally agree to enter the war. In the end, the Allied Atlantic blockade forces Germany to surrender, but submarines was established as an effective military weapon.
Produced by Impossible Pictures Ltd and First Film Productions for History, Executive Producers are Paul Wooding and Steve Maher. For History, Susan Werbe serves as Executive Producer.
About HISTORY®
HISTORY®, now reaching more than 98 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network's all-original programming slate, including scripted event programming, features a roster of hit series including American Pickers®, American Restoration™, Ax Men™, Counting Cars™, Pawn Stars®, Swamp People® and
The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man as well as HISTORY®'s first scripted series Vikings, and epic miniseries and special programming such as
The Bible and the Emmy® Award-winning Hatfields & McCoys, Men Who Built America, Gettysburg, Vietnam in HD,
America The Story of Us® and 102 Minutes That Changed America. The HISTORY® website is the leading online resource for all things history, and in 2011, the United States Library of Congress selected HISTORY®'s Civil War 150 site for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the American Civil War sesquicentennial. www.history.com.
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