Recruits from Alsace - Angel of Siberia I OUT OF THE TRENCHES

Next to the Chair of Wisdom, Indy Neidell talks about how the German Army dealt with recruits from Alsace-Lorraine and how Elsa Brändström became the Angel of Siberia to many prisoners of war.

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» WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES?
Videos: British Pathé
Pictures: Mostly Picture Alliance
Literature (excerpt):
Gilbert, Martin. The First World War. A Complete History, Holt Paperbacks, 2004.
Hart, Peter. The Great War. A Combat History of the First World War, Oxford University Press, 2013.
Hart, Peter. The Great War. 1914-1918, Profile Books, 2013.
Stone, Norman. World War One. A Short History, Penguin, 2008.
Keegan, John. The First World War, Vintage, 2000.
Hastings, Max. Catastrophe 1914. Europe Goes To War, Knopf, 2013.
Hirschfeld, Gerhard. Enzyklopädie Erster Weltkrieg, Schöningh Paderborn, 2004
Michalka, Wolfgang. Der Erste Weltkrieg. Wirkung, Wahrnehmung, Analyse, Seehamer Verlag GmbH, 2000
Leonhard, Jörn. Die Büchse der Pandora: Geschichte des Ersten Weltkrieges, C.H. Beck, 2014

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» WHAT IS “THE GREAT WAR” PROJECT?
THE GREAT WAR covers the events exactly 100 years ago: The story of World War I in realtime. Featuring: The unique archive material of British Pathé. Indy Neidell takes you on a journey into the past to show you what really happened and how it all could spiral into more than four years of dire war. Subscribe to our channel and don’t miss our new episodes every Thursday.

» WHO IS REPLYING TO MY COMMENTS? AND WHO IS BEHIND THIS PROJECT?
Most of the comments are written by our social media manager Florian. He is posting links, facts and backstage material on our social media channels. But from time to time, Indy reads and answers comments with his personal account, too.

The Team responsible for THE GREAT WAR is even bigger:

- CREDITS -
Presented by : Indiana Neidell
Written by: Indiana Neidell
Director: Toni Steller & Florian Wittig
Director of Photography: Toni Steller
Sound: Toni Steller
Editing: Julian Zahn
Motion Design: Christian Graef
Research by: Indiana Neidell
Fact checking: Markus Linke

A Mediakraft Networks Original Channel
Based on a concept by Spartacus Olsson
Author: Indiana Neidell
Visual Concept: David van Stephold
Producer: Toni Steller & Florian Wittig
Social Media Manager: Florian Wittig

Contains licenced Material by British Pathé
All rights reserved - © Mediakraft Networks GmbH, 2018

[capralean]

What a remarkable woman! I had not heard of Elsa Brändström before, thanks. She should be better known. Her work reminds me of Fridtjof Nansen's efforts in helping POWs and refugees in Russia on behalf of the League of Nations around the same time. I wonder if they knew each other.

[jimbodeathgrip]

At least we can see the chair of wisdom.

[brokenbridge]

The Angel of Siberia sounds like a really cool lady. Great job.

[JagerLange]

I'm a superstitious person, and I fear that Indy not using the Chair of Wisdom may have an effect on Austria-Hungary's war effort. We all know they're going to win, but don't tempt fate.

[GravesRWFiA]

the chair of wisdom is on strike. it's a sit down.

[ArcturusOTE]

Not really a WW1 question but I wanna ask what kind of valuable experience did you and the team gain while working this project for the last 4 years, what emotional change at what do you and co. hope to achieve by the end of TGW?

[hansheden]

Shouldn't this episode be called "Out of the chair" then?

[baron_von_brunk]

I may not have a Chair of Wisdom or a Desk of Knowledge -- but I have a Refrigerator of Courage!

[willCollett]

nothing magical happens in my life, but watching you guys here helps enlightened the dull mind. Thanks muchly Flo, Indy500 and ALL.

[burntsavvy]

Cause the desk of Knowledge is far more superior.

[Messy_marxist]

Hey Indy, I love watching your show and have been following week by week since 1915. I have yet to write an out of the trenches question, so here it goes. Did the German military begin drafting or accepting volunteers from the area under German occupation after the signing of the he Treaty of Brest-Litovsk agreement? Thanks Indy and team for all the hard work it takes to make such an amazing YouTube docuseries!

[JenniferinIllinois]

It can't truly be Out of the Trenches without the Chair of Wisdom!

[MartieD]

When the war ends, I'd rather have this channel talk about the inter-war years for a while (although maybe not week for week). Loads of interesting things happened in the 1920s, including many conflicts.

[blueband]

Alsace is a great place to visit. I was based in the Vosges earlier this yr, but travelled about quite a bit. Great place for historical interests.

[Vapefly]

Really excited to see you deal with another topic on Alsace-Lorraine, it's like you knew that I'd finally go there myself! :)

[TheSirBrainbug]

Really interesting stuff. My brother went to a school named after Elsa Brändström. Never knew her story, though.

[Duke_of_Lorraine]

My great-grandfather lived in Alsace-Moselle and was enrolled in the german army against the british army.

[Elyk]

Can we get the final episode of Out of the Trenches with Indy in the Chair of Madness?

[MP-ktoh]

Please don't stop uploading the great war videos

[neilwilson]

Indy gave a big yawn, and settled down to sleep
And of course when Indy goes to sleep, all his friends go to sleep too
The caltrops were ornaments on the desk
The Kukri and Grenade were just dolls
And Flo was a carved wooden bookend in the shape of a woodpecker
Even the chair of wisdom himself once he was asleep was just an old, saggy cloth chair
Baggy, and a bit loose at the seams
But YouTube loved him

With apologies to the creators of Bagpuss, of course.