World War I: The Seminal Tragedy - The Final Act - Extra History - Part 4

📜 The Seminal Tragedy of World War I - European History - Part 4
Serbia responded to Austria-Hungary's ultimatum after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and the pretext for war grew thinner and thinner. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Austrian Foreign Minister Leopold Berchtold makes a desperate decision to declare war. Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and Czar Nicholas II of Russia call upon their family ties to each other in a last-ditch effort to avert the war, but their previous inattention has left their prime ministers Bethmann-Hollweg and Sazonov in impossible positions. With their forces mobilized, unable to back down, Russia must accept Germany's declaration of war from Ambassador Pourtalès - and as our series ends, the Seminal Catastrophe begins.

*Miss an episode in our World War I Series?*

Artist: David Hueso I Writer: James Portnow I Voice: Daniel. Floyd I Editor: Carrie Floyd

#ExtraHistory #WW1 #History

[justinthomas]

"And a month later, a million men are dead."
What an ending...
This whole story is one of the saddest things I've ever heard.

[ChironTheWounded]

I'll admit, I cried like a bitch during that closing song. Fuck man, my feels are all over the place...

[Loop]

“War does not determine who is right, only who is left” - Bertrand Russel

Lest we forget... lest we forget.

[hoangtran]

28th june 1919, at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Ferdinand Foch: "This is not peace. It is an armistice for 20 years".

20 years, 2 months and 5 days later, Germany invaded Poland. WW2 began.

[TheOrangeType]

Its crazy how someone can say "and a month later, 1 million men are dead" and actually mean it. Its completely insane how thats an historical fact. Just goes to show how bloody the First World War was I suppose.

[CreepsMcPasta]

It's eerie how whimsical this tale is. Almost like a fairy tale, or an old Greek legend.

[beardedcanadian]

I'm not ashamed(as a man) to say that "In Flanders Field" always brings tears.

[cheese]

100 years. 100 years today to the end of this war. This war that shaped our modern history up to today. This war that we so nearly avoided. Rest in Peace all of those who lost their lives in this conflict. We will never forget.

[TheSpearkan]

Extra History WWI Drinking Game:

Drink every time the war could have been averted

[declank]

"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children."
-Jimmy Carter

[Edmonton-ofec]

I still wonder how Wilhelm felt when he learned of the possibility of Tsar’s execution, and knowing that his government had facilitated Lenin back into Russia through Finland via Sweden from Switzerland. Knowing to be responsible for not only the death of your third cousin, but your first cousin (the Empress Alexandra was a close relative) and their children. The emotional toll that must take on a person....

[croweman]

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I teared up at the end with the rendition of "In Flanders Fields" and the WW1 photos.
Peace To The Fallen.

[nathanseper]

The first time I ever heard "In Flanders Fields" was watching this video. That song, just following the line where 1 million men would die and the last meeting between Portales and Sazonov just hit me really hard. In punctuates the tragedy and folly of World War I better than any textbook I've ever picked up.

[gearsofdawn]

I always tear up for: the death of Ferdinand, the end of this video, the sinking of Bismark, the death of admiral Yi, and the Christmas day truce.
There is definitely something to be said for humanizing history.

[thatonestormtrooper]

It really is amazing how the moments before war came down to something as simple as a man begging on his hands and knees to stop this now. No shrewd plan no power no peace deal. Just sheer human desperation

[tummywubs]

"I must not allow myself to dwell on the personal but I do not want to die.
Not that I mind for myself. If it be that I am to go, I am ready. But the thought that I may never see you or our darling baby again turns my bowels to water.
My one consolation is the happiness that has been ours. Also my conscience is clear that I have always tried to make life a joy for you. But it is the thought that we may be cut off from each other which is so terrible and that our babe may grow up without my knowing her and without her knowing me. It is difficult to face. And I know your life without me would be a dull blank.Yet you must never let it become wholly so, for you will be left with the greatest challenge in all the world; the upbringing of our baby. God bless that child, she is the hope of life to me.My darling, au revoir. It may well be that you will only have to read these lines as ones of passing interest. On the other hand, they may well be my last message to you. If they are, know through all your life that I loved you and baby with all my heart and soul, that you two sweet things were just all the world to me. I pray God I may do my duty, for I know, whatever that may entail, you would not have it otherwise"

Captain Charles May wrote this to his wife and died the next day in the battle of the Somme.

[edkopik]

can we have a TV series of the months prior to ww1?
there is enough drama for 3 seasons

[CellSpex]

9:40: The particular collection of elements contained in this second is so shockingly effective its practically a masterpeice, the simplified almost childlike art of the grim reaper and the pile of skulls, with the music and the line 'a month later, a million men are dead', serving as the tragic punchline to the previous very emotional scene. I thank you extra credits for this this series and will watch every history segment you do.

[teamcybr]

I never beforeheard a telling of the start of WWI that made me -want to- break down sobbing.

[officialxverzusz]

"In that case, sir, I have the honor to inform you that we're at war"
The last few words before the greatest disaster of human history