The First World War – Ep 10: War Without End

Description: The war ended as surprisingly as it had begun, its last months more destructive than trench warfare had been. War-weariness, hunger and defeat after defeat had taken their toll on Germany and her allies, and the Kaiser abdicated. Yet Germany was still on French soil, believing herself unbeaten. The Allies set out to achieve on paper what their armies had not done in the field: obtain Germany's unconditional surrender. At Versailles, Germany was made to accept blame for the war, to force her to pay for it. Even US President Wilson, while determined to create a liberal post-war world, came down hard on Germany. The war, with losses over 20 million, was later deemed as senseless waste, but at the time was seen in positive terms: for defense against aggression. For glory. It had curbed militarism and had liberated occupied areas. The First World War moved Europe from the era of empires to that of nation states. It gave a sense of national identity to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It helped Russia become the world's first communist state and launched America as a world power. Yet it solved few of the grievances over which it was fought; we still live with its unresolved consequences today, in the Middle East, the Balkans and Ireland. It had not been the war to end all wars. Its terrible message to the century it shaped, was that war can effect change. That war can fulfill ambitions. That war can work.