The Century of Warfare is a documentary series produced in 1994 by the Nugus/Martin Productions in the UK, producers of later series "Great Mysteries and Myths of the Twentieth Century", among a number of others and has been seen on ABC as well as the History Channel in more recent years. This is a significant reason why my reviews has been rather sparse for the last month or two, as I felt the need to keep watching more of this 8 disc series.
The 26 episode series spread over the 8 discs is a mammoth task, both to produce and disappointingly to watch. Although the series has a phenomenal amount of archive footage, and I would imagine an inordinate amount of research, for the most part it just seems to miss the mark.
Perhaps it main strength is it’s attention to detail, such as the strong opening episode which examines the political and social make-up of the world from the late 1800s up to the start of the First World War. Factors often overlooked by more conventional military history video productions are given their due, including a thorough examination of the Balkan wars which lead to the Great War.
World War I is given very detailed treatment, particularly in lesser known battles and regions. For example, the episode entitled Battle Fleets and U-Boats takes the time to cover many secondary naval clashes, that would generally missed from less detailed series.
World War II is a weak spot, but I suspect because even when this series was made the series "World at War" from the 1970’s was already a milestone in it’s own right, and they chose to concentrate of other areas of interest.
The Korean Conflict is given more than a cursory glance, going into more detail than other series of this type. Many minor conflicts which have been largely ignored are also covered.
Production values are excellent, relying on historical footage with no attempt to edit or correct flaws. This insistence on authentic images of the actual topics of narration does give this series some strengths that would be lacking if generic footage were used in more conventional documentaries of this type.
The one main weakness is in the narration. Robert Powell's droning, monotonous reading of the script is perhaps the reason I found the interest in watching this series to wan after just a few episodes. This almost made it feel like I was back in school, watching some boring documentary that would kill but the most ardent student any interest in history. For this reason alone I could only give it 4 stars overall, if the narration had been better, I suspect this would have become a classic series, that would have to be on every history or military buff dvd collection, except for this on flaw.. As it is I suspect only the die hard purists could justify the $90 cost to this, but I am sure there are enough of them around for there to be worth the release of the doorstop of a set.
A brief synopsis of the discs( just to prove I did watch them all)
Disc 1
1. The Violent Century;
THE CENTURY OF WARFARE opens with a look at the defining characteristics of modern war and the development of the weapons that revolutionized combat.
An overview of the series, looking at the multitude of influences that affected the last century that has had some conflict occurring somewhere around the world for the last one hundred years.
2. The World Goes To War:
Explore the factors that led to the outbreak of World War I and see why efforts to prevent the coming conflict failed.
Period of time before the start of World War 1, which was not exactly a time of peace and perhaps a show of the future of conflict around the world.
3. Blood And Mud:
Harrowing photos and rare footage show the grim reality of trench warfare on the Western Front.
The start of the Great War in what became one of the worst periods in the history of mass warfare.
4. War Of The Eagles:
Three empires clash on the Eastern Front, until the Russian Revolution topples the Czar and the nation withdraws from the fight.
Details the war at the Russian front, which eventual cause was the collapse of the Csar monarchy and the rise of the Communists under the leadership of Lenin. This lead to the withdrawal of Russia from the Great War.
Disc 2
5. Battle Fleets And U-Boats:
Naval warfare in World War I, from submarine attacks and supporting forces on land to the Battle of Jutland.
A great deal of information about the effects of numerous sea battles and naval tactics of various means developed during WW1.
6. Aces High:
See how the plane became a weapon, fly with the pioneers of military aviation, and relive the exploits of legendary pilots like the Red Baron.
The first war to use air power to any significant extent lead to the fame of the pilots or ‘aces’ of the WW1, the most famous was of course the Red Baron. Numerous new technologies were developed including the aircraft carrier which would dominate tactics during WW2 some 20 years later.
7. War To End All War? :
The entry of the United States helped bring World War I to a close, but the harsh conditions of the Versailles Treaty paved the way for a greater conflict to come.
With the assistance of the US, peace was finally achieved in WW1. However the extreme conditions and requirements of the Versailles treaty would create the political climate for the rise to power of facist states that would eventually lead to WW2.
Disc 3
8. Enter The Dictators:
The years between the World Wars were marked by the rise of totalitarian states in Europe and a growing militancy in the Far East.
The period of twenty years between the two world wars was anything but uneventful, with the rise of several extremely right wing governments all over the world.
9. The War Clouds Gather :
Conflicts in China, Spain and Africa presaged the horrors to come, while Hitler cemented his power and prepared for his bloody campaign of aggression.
With a number of conflicts around the world, was the prime time for the expansion of Hitler’s new empire with the eventual result being the start of the Second World War.
10. Blitzkrieg:
Germany's invasion of Poland introduced the world to a new brand of warfare. Less than a year later, the fall of France left Britain to face Hitler essentially alone.
The invasion of Poland was just the start of the German colossus that used lightning fast tactics, now known as Blitzkrieg or Lightning War.
11. Britain Stands Alone:
The extraordinary heroism demonstrated by British citizens and soldiers and a vital lifeline from across the Atlantic kept England from falling into Nazi clutches.
With the rest of Europe under the control of German forces, Britain defiantly stands alone, at what would become the perhaps the most terrifying time waiting for what was expected but never eventuated, the invasion of Britain. The realization that without US assistance Britain would not prevail let to numerous attempts to encourage the US to join the war on the allies side.
Disc 4
12. Sand And Sea War:
In and around the Mediterranean, Monty battled Rommel, American doughboys got their first real combat experience, and the Italian campaign gave the Allies a foothold in Europe.
Details about the North Africa campaign and some of the great sea battles in the Atlantic. After the Japanese Pearl Harbour attack, the US was now heavily involved in the war in Europe and the first landings in Italy by allied forces.
13. Hitler Turns East:
Operation Barbarossa--the largest land invasion ever mounted--sent 3 million German troops and 3,300 tanks into the Soviet Union.
In Hitler’s biggest mistake of WW2, the invasion of Russia by Germany was at first a great success, but was not bound to last for long.
14. The Long Road Back :
Defeated at Stalingrad and denied entry to Moscow, the Wehrmacht embarked on a two-year delaying action as it retreated to Germany.
With Russian forces finally making an impact on the invading German troops. Germany could do little to stop the eventual retreat from the eastern front.
Disc 5 (Missing from review set)
15. Normandy To The Rhine:
Follow the preparations for D-Day and the course of the war in Europe after the successful invasion.
16. The End In Europe:
As Germany was squeezed in the vice of the Allied advance, the Big Three met at Yalta to plan for the aftermath of war.
17. Oriental Blitzkrieg:
Analyze the forces that drove Japan to war and relive the initial victories that gave the Imperial forces an air of invincibility.
18. Jungle And Ocean:
The American island-hopping campaign drove the Japanese from their Pacific strongholds, but it would take a weapon of a different order bring the war to an end.
No comments for Disc 5, as this was missing from review set.
Disc 6
19. The War At Sea:
This sweeping overview of World War II's naval engagements includes footage from Atlantic convoys, major Pacific battles and the amphibious landing at Normandy.
A broad overview of the Normandy invasions and battles around the Pacific Ocean in 1944.
20. Air War:
Fly in a B-17 on a harrowing daylight bombing raid, see how British aviators staved off the Luftwaffe, and watch as carrier-based fighters battle Zeros in the skies over Midway.
Looking at the various ways in which air power was used in all the theatres of conflict around the world during WW2.
21. Iron Curtain:
Divided at the end of World War II, Europe was a potential flashpoint for 40 years as the superpowers maintained an uneasy peace built on deterrence.
At the end of WW2 in Europe was the grab for control by the allies that would lead to the cold war that would influence the political climate for the next 40 years.
22. Oriental Communism:
From the withdrawal of the old Colonial powers to the conflict in Korea, instability, regional conflicts and the boiling over of Cold War tensions marked much of the 20th century in Asia.
A great deal of information (new to me anyway) about the Korean war in the 1950’s, and the rise of Communism in China after the end of WW2.
Disc 7
23. Wars In Peace:
The perennial problems of civil war, terrorism and bilateral wars have taken on a new urgency in the years since the end of the Cold War, and the international community is struggling to deal with them.
All over the world since the end of the Second World War, war has broken out throughout the world.
In Asia, Africa and other regions around the world, with conflicts between nations, as well as numerous civil wars.
24. Vietnam:
It was a war that proved that might and money do not lead inevitably to victory, and its harsh lessons forced America to rethink its role in the world.
Deals with the lead up to the conflict in Vietnam in the early 1960’s, till the end of the Vietnam war with the withdrawal of the Americans in 1975.
25. War In The Middle East:
From Israel's continual battles to defend itself to inter-Arab squabbles and the role of oil, trace the many conflicts that have shaken this tumultuous region.
After Israel became a nation in the late 1940’s, the middle east region has been in almost constant conflict.
Disc 8
26. Gulf War And The Future:
The Allied victory over Iraq showed showcased a new generation of weapons and tactics, but evolving threats--particularly from weapons of mass destruction--require a new approach to deterrence.
The invasion of Kuwait in 1990, lead to the largest military taskforce since the end of the Vietnam war. It was also a large testing ground for numerous untested weapons, in what would become the sign of future wars into the 21st century. This episode has obviously been updated as the episode includes the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
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