The Pity of War

Description

The First World War was one of the great turning points of modern history. We know - or think we know - where and when it began. In the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, on 28 June 1914, a Bosnian Serb named Gavrilo Princip murdered the heir to the Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy. But how and why did this crisis in the Balkans escalate into a bloody global conflagration? Did Britain really have to fight a war against Germany? And what did this war say about humankind's propensity for violence? In this fascinating and fresh take on the Great War, Harvard historian Professor Niall Ferguson argues that much of the responsibility for the scale of the conflict lies with the British. He suggests that Britain's decision to enter the war in 1914 was not merely tragic for the those who lost their lives, it was also a catastrophic error that unleashed an era of totalitarianism and genocide around the world.

Runtime

51 min

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

[2014], c2014

Database

Films on Demand

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