Prologue to the Great War (WWI) - PT4: Great historical documentation chronically the start of World War One. This section features Central Powers vs. Triple Entente Powers, battle on the Western Front & mobilization of troops. Time Period: 1914.
Belgium: CU cartoon illustrating the "Rape of Belgium." TLSs Belgian soldiers marching along bombed city of Leuven. Panning LS houses in ruins, people milling about, sifting through remains. TLS wagon train of refugees on road. GV city street w/soldiers & civilians.
Western Front, Triple Entente Forces: Belgrade, Serbia: MS Serbian Army commanders looking at map on table in the field. Panning TLS Serb artillery & artillery unit. LSs explosions & smoke rising from mountain. France: TLSs British Army battalion at camp: sitting in small groups, cooking, resting; breaking down tents; etc. TLS British artillery unit on road, horse-drawn carriages. TLS British infantry marching on road. LS/TLSs Australian troops wearing bush hats marching though field.
Belgium, Central Powers: GVs Commander in Chief of German force on the European Front PAUL VON HINDENBURG and his staff incl General Erich Ludendorff posing on steps. LS/TLSs Kaiser Wilhelm II & officers reviewing troops in field in Belgium, sand dunes in BG; TLSs German troops marching with rifles shoulder bound.
France, Western Front, Battle/Combat, Mobilization: Great MSs French Army soldiers wearing kepi hats in trenches, barbed wire posts in one shot. TLSs French soldiers cleaning rifles in trench. CU French poster announcing that the Government has left Paris, signed by Gallieni, the Military Governor of Paris, and dated 3rd September 1914. Good TLSs "Taxis of the Marne" -- long line of taxi cabs carrying soldiers driving down street, some waving to civilians. (General Gallieni had commandeered Paris taxicabs & private cars to take reserves to the front in the Battle of the Marne.)
Western Front, Battle/Combat: Excellent TLS/MSs hard-working British & Australian Army artillery units loading & firing field artillery, intercut with nice shots of ground explosions.
Europe, German POW: MSs German prisoners of war marching through a village, standing and eating bread, being served soup. MSs German POWs taking showers in special field shower. MS young German soldier w/ his uniform tunic half off, man tapping or making marks with pen on his upper arm (not an injection, but maybe checking tuberculosis test?). MS Germans sitting on the ground, some still pulling their shirts on. Panning MS prisoners sitting in field, many lie down resting, some mending things.
Triple Entente: MSs King GEORGE V decorating Australian soldiers during field ceremony.
Triple Entente: MSs General JOSEPH JOFFRE decorating French soldiers, pinning medals & kissing both cheeks. Premier GASTON DOUMERGUE follows along, shaking hands. MS Gen. Joffre kissing two French colonial Muslim soldiers.
Triple Entente: MS British King GEORGE V & President of France RAYMOND POINCARE exiting car. MS Prince of Wales & General Joseph Joffre getting out of 2nd car. MSs of the four walking onto field, inspecting troops. Nice action TLS/LSs of French cuirassiers (cavalry) galloping across the field.
Triple Entente: MS King George V inspecting group of boys in military uniforms, standing at attention. MSs Queen Mary and Princess Mary of England inspecting women's ambulance corps.
Triple Entente: MS Gen. Joffre & General JOSEPH GALLIENI pacing on otherwise empty railroad platform at Compiegne, France. MS British Field Marshal Lord HORATIO KITCHENER arriving at train station. Great h/a TLSs Lord Kitchener walking through trench w/ group of French generals & Prime Minister Gaston Doumergue, then looking field glasses. TLS group walking across field, toward cam.