The Great War in Numbers (2017)

Episode Overview

In the sixth episode, the shifting tides of 1918 are explored as the scales tip in favor of one side, then the other. With the Bolsheviks withdrawing Russia from the conflict, vast numbers of German and Austro-Hungarian forces were released to confront Britain, Belgium, France, and Italy. Meanwhile, the United States was mobilizing a two-million-strong army. German generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff realized that failing to secure a decisive victory this year would lead to disaster in 1919. In a mere 100 days, what seemed like a German triumph transformed into a loss, resulting in Germany’s leaders seeking an armistice. The war’s final day, November 11, 1918, saw 11,000 casualties, underscoring a grim end. Although the war was deemed over, the underlying animosities led to the rise of fascism and communism, setting the stage for future conflicts in