The Great War goes down in history as one of the bloodiest conflicts that man will ever know. This is a war that contained much horror and tragedy, with the introduction of weaponised gases, tanks and combat aviation, as well as other new technologies that led to the slaughter. Our selection of Great War DVD titles explores the horror of war, engaging with numerous experts, as it draws a larger picture of what happened on those fields.
Whether you have been to the Western Front, or are about to visit, the series 'Walking the Western Front' continues to serve such a useful purpose of explaining the battlefield. With the continued probing questions of Ed Skelding, and the military expertise of Nigel Cave, this second volume in the series on the First Battle of Ypres, breaks down, sometimes complex military movements, with detailed clear descriptions, alongside views and being on the ground.
Jon Sandison
Whether you have been to the Western Front, or are about to visit, the series 'Walking the Western Front' continues to serve such a useful purpose of explaining the battlefield. With the continued probing questions of Ed Skelding, and the military expertise of Nigel Cave, this second volume in the series on the First Battle of Ypres, breaks down, sometimes complex military movements, with detailed clear descriptions, alongside views and being on the ground.
Jon Sandison
The most important thing about these series of documentaries from Pen and Sword, is that they bring to life elements of the battlefield that would be impossible capture, even in the most descriptive book. This is because they are delivered on the ground, by top military historians and guides. The film is written and presented by Tim Saunders, Tom Dormer, Andrew Duff, Mike Peters, Paul Oldfield and Ed Church. Throughout, you feel as if you are on the battlefields with these men, having the detail explained to you. It is presented in a very professional, but also relaxed and inclusive manner, which you would expect on a battlefield tour.... Overall, for any military enthusiast, this is a superb dvd to watch.
Jon Sandison
The most important thing about these series of documentaries from Pen and Sword, is that they bring to life elements of the battlefield that would be impossible capture, even in the most descriptive book. This is because they are delivered on the ground, by top military historians and guides. The film is written and presented by Tim Saunders, Tom Dormer, Andrew Duff, Mike Peters, Paul Oldfield and Ed Church. Throughout, you feel as if you are on the battlefields with these men, having the detail explained to you. It is presented in a very professional, but also relaxed and inclusive manner, which you would expect on a battlefield tour.... Overall, for any military enthusiast, this is a superb dvd to watch.
Jon Sandison
This is an excellent resource which provides an excellent reference point for the first few months of the war, and the important action in and around Ypres.
Jon Sandison, Freelance
This is an excellent resource which provides an excellent reference point for the first few months of the war, and the important action in and around Ypres.
Jon Sandison, Freelance
The story of the Battle of Mons is relayed by film maker Ed Skelding, and military historian Nigel Cave who is the series editor of the excellent Battleground Europe guides to the battles of the Western Front. The focus on Mons brings to life visually to the fore how this quiet Belgium town was to witness the first great battle between the British and the German during the First World War. The Battle of Mons was fought over two days in late August, 1914, marking the start of the British action on the Western Front. For anyone who has watched any of this series of documentaries, the ultimate strength of them is two fold. Firstly if you have not previously had the opportunity to visit the battlefields, they serve the fantastic purpose of not only inspiring you to want to visit, to plan a visit, and also give you a fantastic overview of the sequence of events and ground at particular locations. At the same time, they bring the locations into a modern concept with sweeping views of the ground... Read more
Jon Sandison, Freelance
The story of the Battle of Mons is relayed by film maker Ed Skelding, and military historian Nigel Cave who is the series editor of the excellent Battleground Europe guides to the battles of the Western Front. The focus on Mons brings to life visually to the fore how this quiet Belgium town was to witness the first great battle between the British and the German during the First World War. The Battle of Mons was fought over two days in late August, 1914, marking the start of the British action on the Western Front. For anyone who has watched any of this series of documentaries, the ultimate strength of them is two fold. Firstly if you have not previously had the opportunity to visit the battlefields, they serve the fantastic purpose of not only inspiring you to want to visit, to plan a visit, and also give you a fantastic overview of the sequence of events and ground at particular locations. At the same time, they bring the locations into a modern concept with sweeping views of the ground... Read more
Jon Sandison, Freelance
Following on from the success of the two films on Ypres (Slaughter of the Innocents and The Immortal Salient) The Walking the Western Front series turns its attention to the infamous Battle of the Somme, where almost 60,000 British men were either killed, wounded or classed as missing on the first day alone. Spread across three seventy-minute DVDs, acclaimed film-maker Ed Skelding and eminent military historian Nigel Cave take us on a tour of the Somme battlefields as they exist today and explain the Battle of the Somme in its entirety, from the opening day offensive where thousands of troops lost their lives against a determined German defence to the abandonment of the operation on 18 November with the final failed Battle of the Ancre. Accompanied by a selection of original photographs from the period and exclusive money off vouchers for related books from the Pen and Sword catalogue, these DVDs are the perfect companion for fans of the Battleground series and students of the Great War.. Read more
Friends of the National Archives
Following on from the success of the two films on Ypres (Slaughter of the Innocents and The Immortal Salient) The Walking the Western Front series turns its attention to the infamous Battle of the Somme, where almost 60,000 British men were either killed, wounded or classed as missing on the first day alone. Spread across three seventy-minute DVDs, acclaimed film-maker Ed Skelding and eminent military historian Nigel Cave take us on a tour of the Somme battlefields as they exist today and explain the Battle of the Somme in its entirety, from the opening day offensive where thousands of troops lost their lives against a determined German defence to the abandonment of the operation on 18 November with the final failed Battle of the Ancre. Accompanied by a selection of original photographs from the period and exclusive money off vouchers for related books from the Pen and Sword catalogue, these DVDs are the perfect companion for fans of the Battleground series and students of the Great War.. Read more
Friends of the National Archives
Second Ypres 1915
The Second Battle of Ypres was a battle of the First World War fought from 21 April–25 May 1915 for control of the strategic Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium, following the First Battle of Ypres the previous autumn. It marked the first mass use by Germany of poison gas on the Western Front. For the first time a former colonial force (the… Read more...
With the Battle of the Aisne grinding to a halt as trench warfare gradually set in, both the German and Allied commanders realised the dominance of the defensive, established by quick firing artillery and the machinegun, meaning that casualties in frontal attacks on a dug-in enemy were enormously heavy. Consequently, the armies sought to outflank the… Read more...
Never before have so many resources been available to the family historian tracing Great War ancestors, both online and locally but the past dearth of easily accessible material has now been replaced by a blizzard of information that needs its own skills to navigate. This highly detailed DVD is split into three parts that deal with the various methods… Read more...
