Original version

BBC Four

BBC 4

BBC Four HD

The First World War

Jonathan Lewis

Alan Clements

The First World War: Episode 9: Germany's Last Gamble

Documentaries

Factual

Factual: History

Episode 9

Episode 9: Germany's Last Gamble

Germany's Last Gamble

BBC Four - The First World War, Germany's Last Gamble

In March 1918, the Germans launched a massive offensive on the Western Front.

Series based on the book by Hew Strachan. In March 1918, the Germans launched a massive offensive on the Western Front hoping it would win them the war.

In March 1918, Germany launched a massive offensive on the Western Front - her bid to win the war before the Americans arrived. The master was General Erich Ludendorff - a genius, but unstable. Within days the British Fifth Army was in retreat, Paris was under shell-fire and some Allies feared defeat. But Germany's allies, Ottoman Turkey and Austria-Hungary, were starving and demoralised and the war-weary German Home Front was infected with dangerous socialist ideas. Then Ludendorff's great offensive ran out of steam, having stormed ahead without strategic aims or supplies. German soldiers slowed, exhausted and hungry. And then the Americans started pouring in.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Ten-part series which tells the story of the First World War as never before.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The First World War

Episode 9: Germany's Last Gamble

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Four

About BBC Four