This educational film from 1940 gives viewers a brief overview of the causes of the First World War, a recap of the war, and the political-geographical consequences of the war. The film opens with footage of a young Winston Churchill standing with officers and then addressing a crowd about the dangers of global armament. Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II climbs into a carriage (01:15). King Edward VII inspects British troops (02:02). The film then shows footage of Morocco in 1905 (03:10), showing a town and men riding horses. Russian Tsar Nicholas II greets troops (03:39). The film again shows footage from Morocco, this time of Agadir (04:04)—people walk through the city’s streets. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George waves to people from a carriage. Serbia’s King Peter I sits in a tent (04:38). Austrian troops march to the border with Serbia. Footage shows Europeans producing large quantities of weapons and munitions (05:25). Kaiser Wilhelm II poses with officers (06:00). There is a series of shots of New York City newspapers to show how the breakout of war developed. German troops leave their horses in a forest near Belgium and take cover on the ground with rifles ready (07:13). Germany’s General Paul von Hindenburg stands with officers. Allied forces rally at Marne (07:45) and push back German troops. Footage shows machine guns firing and soldiers moving through trenches. Italian troops hike up a snowy slope (08:15). British warships sail across the ocean (08:37). An ocean liner (possibly the Lusitania) is shown with tug boats at its side. That is followed by footage of sinking ships from German U-boat attacks. Woodrow Wilson sits in an office (09:15) just before the U.S. enters the war. Russian people crowd the streets during the Bolshevik Revolution (09:53). Vladimir Lenin is shown speaking to a crowd. German troops run out of the trenches and attack Allied forces at Marne (10:56). General John J. Pershing walks past Allied soldiers (11:08). Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Jean Marie Foch walks with troops and then is shown speaking. An allied tank moves into a field (11:33). The film then shows footage in a German city where people are rebelling against the Kaiser (12:06). People celebrate the end of the war in Paris with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. President Wilson boards the S.S. George Washington to sail for France (12:33). Footage shows the coaches of various statesmen as they arrive at the Palace of Versailles for the peace conference (12:55). Lloyd George, Wilson, French PM Georges Clemenceau, and Italian PM Vittorio Orlando walk out of the palace (13:30). The film then uses a map to show the political changes of Europe’s geography following the divvying up of German possessions. President Wilson returns to the U.S. and rides in a car during a parade (16:16). Turkish soldiers ride on horses (18:50), and some soldiers are shown walking off a ship. The film concludes with footage of Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, and Adolf Hitler.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com