History of World War 1 (in One Take) | History Bombs

Welcome to World War One! Starting with the causes of the First World War, this video introduces key events including the Western Front, the Gallipoli campaign, the Battle of the Somme and the Russian Revolution.

This video covers:

💣 A chronology of the key events, battles and figures that defined World War 1.

💣 A look at the causes of World War 1, including Kaiser Wilhelm II's antagonistic behaviour and the alliance between France, Russia and Britain.

💣 A look at key battles and campaigns including the Western Front, Gallipoli campaign, Battle of the Somme and the Russian Revolution.

World War 1 was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 - 1918 and had a significant long-term impact on the development of Europe throughout the 20th century.

Germany's expansionistic leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II, is often cited as a key cause of the conflict, which escalated quickly after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo (28 June 1914).

From the assassination to the Armistice 11th November 1918, this video charts the course of the Great War.

👇 Click time to skip to scene 👇

0:18 - Introduction
0:40 - Kaiser Wilhelm II
1:12 - Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
1:20 - Slide to war
1:40 - Western Front
2:03 - Your Country Needs You / Gallipoli campaign
2:18 - Chemical weapons
2:36 - Volunteer nurses
3:04 - Brusilov offensive
3:35 - Sinking of the Lusitania
4:35 - US enter the war
4:59 - Creeping barrage
5:18 - Armistice

🙌 Connect with us on your favourite social platforms for behind-the-scenes content!

💣 What was your favourite scene?

💣 What video would YOU like to see next?

Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for watching 'History of World War 1 (in One Take)' by History Bombs.

CAST
Presenter: Chris Hobbs
Gavrilo Princip/British Soldier: Tom Dangerfield
Kaiser Wilhelm II/British Soldier: Jackson Davies
Tsar Nicholas II: Ed Gamble
General Joffre/British Volunteer Nurse: Lucy Fennell
British Officer: Kieran Barton
General Kitchener/Vladimir Lenin: Tom Tokley
British Messenger/American Soldier: Freddy Waller

CREW
Producer, Writer, Music: Chris Hobbs
Production Manager: Claire O’Brien
Director: Ellie Rogers
Steadicam Operator: Ilana Garrard
Focus Puller: Finn Margrie-Jones
Camera Assistant: Christian Leake
Costumes: Hampshire Wardrobe
Pyrotechnics: Paul Heddell

Sign up to our BAFTA award-winning website at

Support History Bombs and access exclusive behind-the-scenes content on Patreon!

#historybombs #ww1 #historyteacher #ks3history #ks4history #commoncore

[CavCave]

"Forward!"
*2 meters later*
"Get down boys, we must take cover."

[lebronthegoat]

2:20 high school hallways when axe was invented

[sarpbakrsoy]

"I promise to take this country far. But first, we need to kick out the Tsar!"
*Kicks air*
*Tsar Nicholas II changes aggresively changes direction*
"Good, that was easy, now everyone's equal!"

[BoleVad]

i just now noticed how perfectly the german flag in the beginning began to wave and then settled again once wilhelm was done speaking. incredible luck

[User-bbsz]

“We must get down! Take cover!”
*kneels down in the middle of the battlefield*
“Much Better!”

[knighttiger]

The Kaiser just chilling in the British trench, no big deal....

[generic]

Kid: Grandpa how did you survive WW1 and WW2?
Grandpa: I was a camera man

[mingyboo]

In the gas scene the sergeant goes "an ecstasy of fumbling", which is a reference to a poem by Wilfred Owen, a well known WWI poet. The poem in question is Dulce Et Decorum Est

[theabstractchicken]

"But first we need to kick out the Tsar-"




"Good that was easy!"

[NoName-fnek]

How to survive World War 1??? Easy
Be a narrator

[MORENO]

4:36 As an American I can confirm this is how we enter France

[unusuallyasian]

“Its worth pointing out that the kaiser was mentally unstable”
The Kaiser: *w a i t w h a t*

[nateanunciacion]

4:00 when you get picked as a team captain in gym class.

[dannhihuynh]

0:50 I love how he turned around like that

[wolfspirit]

Once I proposed making a WWI musical to my cousins and the laugh.. but look at what you guys have acomplished! This is fire

[diximir]

WW1 according to Americans:

1. Serb shoots an Austrian
2. Everyone goes to war
3. Allies start to lose
4. USA joins and saves the day

[dararooney]

For those who don’t know, at 2:20, a soldier quotes one of the most famous war poems of all time, that being Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen, which focuses on trauma soldier’s experience after war. That particular quote is the first line of the second stanza

[TheDane]

Danish fact During the First World War (1914 - 1918), Denmark maintained its neutrality. The position of neutrality was agreed to by all the major political parties. Denmark maintained trade with both sides of the war, and was among several neutral countries that exported canned meat to the German army.

[ediecasto]

2:15 i love how he just says "oh dear"

[penguinesperanza]

“WW1 is the war to end all wars”
*Causes WW2
*Causes Vietnam War
*Causes Cold War
*Causes Cuban Missile Crisis
*Causes Korean War

Edit: shut up about the order, the Cuban missile crisis not being a war, and the Korean and Vietnam war being part of the Cold War. Don’t know if y’all have heard about exaggerating to get a point across.