Video information
Thistwo-partdramadocumentarytellstheepicstoryoftheAllies’finesthour-andtheinventionofmodernwarfare.Thefirstepisode,TheSpringOffensive,beginsinearly1918,atamomentofmaximumjeopardyfortheAllies.InthefamouswordsofFieldMarshalHaig,theyhadtheir"backstothewall"asagreatGermanattacksweptwestwardinafinalbidtowinthebloodiestwarofall.StandingintheGermanarmy’spathareBritish,Australian,CanadianandFrenchforces,whiletheAmericansarestillarrivingtojointhefight.Theonslaughttriggersaleadershipcrisis:FieldMarshalHaigandMarshalFochaskAustralia’sGeneralMonashandCanada’sGeneralCurrietoperfectanewwayofwagingwar-onethatwilldeliverultimatevictory.MonashandCurrieconcludethattheonlywaytovictoryistoeffectivelyachievethe‘combinedarms’co-ordinationofartillery,tanks,aircraftandinfantry-onamassivescale.It’sthebirthofmodernwarfare.ByAugust,they’rereadyforwhatwillbecomeamajorturningpointintheWar:TheBattleofAmiens.Fromthevisceralexperienceofthoseservingonthebattlefieldtothecrucialdecisionmakingofthegenerals,thisdramadocumentaryseriesbringsthestoryofWWI’sremarkablemultinationalfeatofarmsvividlytolife.