1917: History Buffs Reaction

[@LorianElderPrince]

fun fact for those who dont know: when Schofield was running across the field at the end of the movie, he runs into 2 soldiers completely on accident and unscripted but got back up and kept running so the director left it in

[@bj.bruner]

Not to mention it was expensive to film this movie and they didn't want to waste it using a lot of takes

[@fleureus1170]

It was too expensive to reshoot but tbh, I think it's perfect because it really adds to the chaos of these kinds of assaults

[@robertsandberg2246]

​@@fleureus1170Kinda like that scene in "Tora Tora Tora" when the P-40s in the line are hit by the other P-40 trying to take off and nearly killed the actors. Only not nearly as scary.

[@Jonathan-cm4ew]

Schofield runs into both of the soldiers and sprints to keep up with the camera truck filming the scene as it speeds away from him. His sprinting is real

[@aleriaproductions2869]

One of the guys he hits just like stays down like he was dead it's pretty funny when you pay attention to him

[@marke4663]

My great grandfather served with the 8th Devons. He was killed in action in April 1917 during the battle of Arras. His remains have never been recovered. Lest we forget.

[@alanholck7995]

We will remember them.

[@etherealtb6021]

😢❤

[@DerekWitt]

I can somewhat relate to that. One of my distant cousins was shot down in May 1945 in the South Pacific. He was only 20. I don’t know whether they ever found his body. However, his name is on the WWII memorial in Honolulu.

[@ChefSpicyRice]

Yep

[@laurapalmer7120]

Your Ypres Battlefield Tour documentary was incredible.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Appreciate that! Going back in May to do another series of videos there.

[@londontipton6033]

@@VloggingThroughHistorylooking forward to that original content🙏

[@alanholck7995]

Give my respects to the Brooding Soldier.

[@mrchambers31]

This movie gets the age of the soldiers right, they got young actors unlike Saving Private Ryan which has nearly all just middle aged men lol

[@LordBloodraven]

Even Band of Brothers was an interesting stretch because Col. Robert Sink went from 37-41 over the course of his time commanding the 506th Regiment while Captain Dale Dye (who portrayed Sink) was in his 50s when principal photography was shot. Still, he brought a mature tone and commanding presence to the role that I don't think actors in their 30s could have pulled off.

[@Grant25]

No it doesn’t. Apart from Hanks and Sizemore, all the other main actors are in the mid to late 20s

[@ForzaOwnz]

I like your confidence, pity the facts were wrong

[@mrchambers31]

@@ForzaOwnz Pity your eyes dont function.

[@ForzaOwnz]

@@mrchambers31 Eyes are one of the most deceiving things. At time of release the main actors were Hanks 41 (A captain) Damon 27, Sizemore 34, Burns 30, Pepper 27, Goldberg 27, Diesel 30, Ribisi 25, Davies 28. Hardly middle aged don't you think? You can take off a few years as well due to filming. Considering you'd want more of a mature team to go on a hand picked misson You'd also notice when they are going through dogtags there are a significant amount of soldiers who look well under 20. Average age in ww2 was 26. Filming wrapped up in 1997 so you can knock down 2 years for all ages which means average age would be 27. Oh dear what a disaster

[@Nuvendil]

Kinda shocked he missed the whole point that the final fight in the film is very deliberately NOT depicting the Battle of Arras. It's depicting a "forgotten" minor engagement that Schofield stops, but ultimately doesn't matter in the grand scheme of the War. Because, as the Colonel points out, "Tomorrow they'll send a new order: attack at dawn." Which specifically foreshadows the Battle of Arras which was fought just days later

[@josephagundez5336]

I recently showed this film in my high school history class when we covered our WWI unit. It's been the only film where all of my students watched from beginning to end without looking at their phones. Lol

[@joeohara3447]

VLogging: that's an oversimplified way of looking at it Oversimplified: that's ™️, there's a tax for that

[@chadjenkins4876]

You will be punished, severely

[@joeohara3447]

@@chadjenkins4876 dude.... Uncool

[@rustywenzlawe6287]

When he approaches.... we run AWAY

[@joeohara3447]

@@rustywenzlawe6287 genius, he's a genius

[@zacharync3066]

Col McKenzies speech at the end to Schofield gives me goosebumps every single time I watch it. Every word he said was true, and that’s the tragedy of the entire thing

[@XaviRonaldo0]

Anybody who thinks the casualties didn't take a toll on the brass are sorely mistaken. Let's not forget they were far closer to the action than even WW2 senior officers.

[@Nuvendil]

​@@XaviRonaldo0And most of them had sons and brothers in the military as common soldiers and minor officers, many, many of whom died.

[@NastyNate18B]

Ive found myself a small history community from this channel. Its nice not being alone while enjoying this stuff

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Glad you're a part of the community!

[@wrythe777]

slava

[@captaincaveman5175]

Love to binge watch your videos when I come off rotation .takes my mind to a happier place away from this war . Loved this one .

[@Shlumpledink]

You've found a way to make videos I already enjoy watching and improve them! In a way that makes them more entertaining, and informative. Well done, and thanks.

[@fantango8012]

Really cool that your cracking into History Buffs. It's by far one of my favorite movie review channels and I can't wait for you to get into some of his older videos as well!

[@sgtrpcommand3778]

7:40 that is a fascinating point, I never realised that! And it definitely works - it makes the audience realise "ok this is someone important" which is exactly what the soldiers would think just by knowing the rank insignia or uniforms.

[@jonathandavies89]

So true! And Mark Strong was the other famous actor he couldn’t quite remember

[@sarahannwhite]

I found this movie incredibly moving. My dad's older first cousin died of wounds after a trench raid on 22 March 1917, near the Y Farm CWGC Cemetery. Rest in peace, cousin Clarrie. Clarence Victor Tarlin, 2nd Auckland, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Aged 19 years.

[@BlandSpagetti]

I really regret not seeing this movie in theaters

[@TriggeringOpinionsandFacts]

I’ll definitely be putting this movie up on my home theater. It’s definitely worth becoming a Facebook market pirate for 🤣

[@afriendlycadian9857]

I remember seeing it in the cinema it was amazing

[@willigagbob8243]

Would have been worth it for sure but I'm happy I saw it period.

[@ConClasher3]

Honestly if it ever shows again I highly recommend you go to it cause holy shit with a big screen and speakers you just get so immersed

[@JCaylor2099]

It's one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen on the big screen

[@zach7825]

Low key a big fan of VTH movie reviews. Would love to see more stuff like this. I noticed there were several times where you pointed out something soon mentioned in the OP you’re reacting to. I love your depth of knowledge and specific details you can recall from events that are so defining in world history but so microcosmic in the events themselves. Great commentary as always

[@TheBrandon898]

There’s supposed to be a new movie coming out this year about the ANZAC’s on the western front called “Before Dawn”. I think there is a resurgence coming in WW1 movies and shows.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Yep it's gonna focus on 3rd Ypres, specifically Messines Ridge and Polygon Wood. Which is great because I'm making videos on those battles when I go there in May!

[@XaviRonaldo0]

I need to check that out. Had a great great uncle killed in France in 1917

[@sarahannwhite]

It's on Netflix now, it's very 👍

[@mattybgame]

"Lions led by Donkeys." I adore the casting of "known" actors as the callous armchair commanders. Most provocatively promoted during anti-Thatcherite times (I think?); it is still a narrative held among many artists (especially young) in Britain. P.S. The ending of the Black Adder series still does it best. Nicely done reaction as always fine sir! "All Quiet" next?

[@reneszeywerth8352]

Siegfried is not just some dude who kills a dragon, he's one of the main characteres of the German national epic the "Nibelungenlied" (kinda the German version of the Ilias). The dwarf king Alberich is another character in the story.

[@feartheamish9183]

From my understanding he's a huge folk hero. Like Arthur for the briton.

[@meganoob12]

Afaik it's not only German. It dates back to the times of oral tradition, before nationality really was a thing. If I remember correctly there are islandic, swedish, norwegian and danish versions aswell. Names and locations might vary, but at their core they all share the same story... one could say it is a Germanic epic.

[@wedgeantilles8575]

@@feartheamish9183 That is not true. Maybe it was true 100 years ago. In the last 4 decades, the huge majority of all children growing up in Germany have never heard from Siegfried and even less from Alberich. It's not something that is present in media nor is it taught in school. I live in Germany and I can't recount a single instance when I came along it - neither in paper, nor on TV, nor in school. I know about it because I am interested in this kind of stuff - but among my friends most will not be able to tell a single event, a single thing that happens there. (And most of my friends are of higher education - Gymnasium and University or Hochschule later)

[@feartheamish9183]

@wedgeantilles8575 cultural hero characters outlast waning current knowledge. Arthur was the same for a few 100 years. He was than repopularized in the 1800s. They wax and wane in popularity. Sometimes the do disappear from general public knowledge. But all you need is a writer looking for a cool character for their new story for them to come back.

[@wedgeantilles8575]

@@feartheamish9183 Well, it depends on your definition of "huge falk hero" I guess Personally, I wouldn't rate somebody who is unknown to 90% of people in Germany below 40 a "huge folk hero", and I'd definitly not compare him with Arthur who is known to way more (even in Germany) people. But you definitly can count it as cultural heritage :)

[@layeeeeeTV]

One of the narratives I loved from the movie was the fact that Schofield after the booby trap scene wanted nothing to do with the mission and it wasn’t until Blake convinced him that he kept moving forward. Blake is the one that ends up getting killed shortly after not Schofield. So when he meets Blake’s older brother then sits by the tree. You feel his shame and how guilty he felt knowing he’d see his own family, but had to break the news that will destroyed his best friends’ It’s a very touching ending that had a lot of layers to unpacked.

[@joshuabowen6919]

I'm so glad that VTH is reacting to History Buffs. I found VTH around a year ago and have loved it since. I found HB like 6-7 years ago and am a big fan. I'm a huge fan of both and seeing VTH reacting to HB is so awesome.

[@YourUncleBenny251]

New VTH. My day has been made.

[@SplendidFactor]

I remember playing the beginning of Battlefield 1. It greets you with text reading "You are not expected to survive" as you're suddenly thrust into a firefight as a regular soldier, and then you die.

[@luker6667]

Keep on doing what you're doing VTH, I always enjoy your content and your love of history.

[@augustdIi]

ahh perfect my favorite youtuber reacting to my other favorite :D

[@moaklerqt]

Please continue doing more History Buffs reactions! Nick is one of my other favorite history KZbinrs and his movie reviews from a history fan's perspective is wonderful!

[@SabrinaKelleyKris]

My grandpa (at one year old) came to the US. He was born in the Netherlands. His grandma, mom (pregnant) , dad, 2 sisters and brother also come, arriving in May 1916

[@christopherjones1937]

Hey Chris, I'm sorry to hear that you lost your parents! I'm so sorry. I watch u all the time been meaning to tell you that! The beginning of this video hit me not even getting into the content yet. I lost my mother and her mother my granny both in 2023 my parents. We all lose we all hurt. But we must continue to LOVE and share the legacy of the lives of our ancestors for our descendants! That is why I love all your content. You share the legacy of those we have lost in history. I will pray for you and your family this is something we will never get over or understand, but only makes us stronger. God Bless you and God Bless you all.

[@GammaRays10]

Fantastic movie. One of the few I made sure to see in theaters and then own. Glad to see your take on it. Agreed, hopefully future film makers take note and make just as high quality portrayals of war/history.

[@Omega_419]

It was an absolute surreal experience seeing this in theaters. I went to this movie alone and I wouldn't have changed a thing about it. I left the theaters with a legitimate thousand yard stare.

[@pickle4422]

I always liked the movie. I watched it with my Grandpa, and he was telling me after we watched the movie about the few things his Grandpa told him about his time in the Canadian Army during WW1. The one thing my Grandpa found weird about the movie (he spent nearly 40 years in the Army) was that they only sent two men, and not a team of men under a more experienced NCO or Officer.

[@willigagbob8243]

I think it was the "play dead" tactic, send two guys to watch each other's back, if they get spotted one guy plays dead and the other pretends to treat him, that throws the enemy off, think they have a weak and vulnerable target.

[@anathardayaldar]

36:30 What impressed me most about the rest of the movie from here is how he must be completely exhausted beyond any level I have experienced. Yet he still is able to break out into a run, push away 2 fresh guards and clearly articulate the order at the end.

[@stephaniekaminsky7497]

I never thought I had any interest in learning about the Great Wars. I was wrong and now I realize how much I didn’t know and wasn’t taught.

[@seanentzel9616]

My grandmother's brother passed recently and I practiced and practiced and sang that song for her... Edit: just would like to add that I practiced it so much so I wouldn't break down in the middle but when I sang to her I still couldn't stop from crying halfway through. Just wanted to give my grandma some piece of thought and I think the song is great for that

[@coachgoltzbizpro23]

First Sam Mendes brings 007 back with a vengeance by directing Skyfall, then he directs one of the most historical epics in recent memory.

[@samrevlej9331]

16:50 That deadliest day for the French army was August 22nd 1914, with 27,000 killed outright (might include the missing) and an unknown number of wounded.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Yep that's the one I was talking about.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

​@@VloggingThroughHistoryIs this where the red leggings met the machine guns?

[@samrevlej9331]

@@VloggingThroughHistory Thanks for mentioning it (I should've been more clear in my phrasing). It's often overlooked in English-language history of the war.

[@luisf2793]

I was lucky to watch this movie in theaters twice The first time was when it originally came out I watched it with a friend I watched a lot of movies with. Afterwards my friend said this was his favorite movie of the year. Since 1917 was nominated for an Oscar it was rereleased in theaters along with the other nominees. Another one of my friends was graduating from school early so as a gift I took him to see 1917. He enjoyed the movie a lot.

[@mikeb6085]

Love how this movie subverted multiple tropes in the death of Blake... how many of you thought "oh it's just a knife to the gut, he'll be fine" cause in Hollywood that's nothing lol... then when he began turning white and fading out within minutes, just chilling...

[@IanDuckworth-n4b]

My grandad was in the "Salford Pals " Part of the Lancashire Fusiliers and fought on the first day of the Somme. He later was caught in a chlorine gas attack which turned the buttons on his uniform green. Real event. Ian DEE.

[@simonphillips3329]

Great video, Chris. You say you hope there will be more WW1 movies made. I've always thought that one about the Zeebrugge Raid on St George's Day 1918 would be a great action packed drama. You're an influencer so use your influence to get it made! ;-)

[@thecynicaloptimist1884]

When I watched _1917,_ I thought they were going to go down the route of Blake, the young and wide-eyed soldier, getting progressively more broken to do the "war is hell" message again. But his death so early on was a really unexpected curveball, and the movie is actually about Schofield, the cynical and broken soldier, rediscovering that there's still beauty to be found, such as the moment he shares with the French woman and the child in the cellar, to listening to Wayfaring Stranger, to saving the lives of the 2nd Devons.

[@FrontierCinema23]

Had the good fortune of visiting the Meuse-Argonne back in the summer of 2018. First time visiting any WW1 trenches, happened to rain a few hours before we arrived which really helped to get your mind in the right place; trudging through the mud of the German line of trenches. When walking through the trenches I just had an Erie feeling like I was being watched by the ghosts of the past. Blew my mind that the giant crater that was in between use to be a beautiful little French town; just like the one we were staying in. Really helped tie everything together. Can’t recommend visiting there enough.

[@Cdre_Satori]

One thing that struck me is at the very beginning when the two are chilling in a field, Scofield talks about having visited family during leave and I just had this horrifying realisation that some of these guys went home to families and then went back. I can't even imagine the balls it took to go back after seeing what the war is like

[@jakesheldon7637]

It wasn’t until after my first viewing of this movie that I read somewhere that the film was shot in one 2 hour long continuous scene (of course it was edited but it appeared as one long shot) and I realized that they must have done a really good job stitching the scenes together if I didn’t even notice it on my first viewing.

[@robertstrong6798]

Seriously going the extra mile visiting verdun really respect that 👍

[@GuentherSteiner92923]

38:29 This part was completely accidental by MacKay but it was kept in the movie.

[@Awells89]

Speaking of World War 1 movies, I stumbled across one recently that's worth checking out from 1999 called The Trench. It's about a British regiment gearing up for the Battle of the Somme and they're awaiting orders to begin the attack. it stars Daniel Craig, a young Cillian Murphy (yes Oppenheimer himself) and it's mostly about life in the trenches themselves.

[@mazrimtaim1]

Such a great movie. Went to see it in the theater with my mom and her friend. Would love to watch it again

[@robertsandberg2246]

This was the second to last movie I saw in theaters before the pandemic started. (The last was "Call of the Wild") I had a really good time that night. I saw "Devotion" about a year ago and that theater closed about a month after that. I miss that theater.

[@mattgregorowicz7705]

Wish I saw this movie in theaters. I've seen it multiple times, and it's one of my favorite war movies of all time. Thanks for the commentary!

[@jackson857]

Was actually my favourite movie of 2019. Which is an achievement because there were some incredible movies in 2019.

[@Vandelberger]

I highly recommend Jordan. Wonderful people, great food, and phenomenal historical sites. Temple to Hercules, Moses’s temple, and who can forget the wonder of Petra?! Just wait until the area calms down… but it truly is a diamond in the rough. Side note, Siegfried is one influence to St. George, but many cultures have the image of the warrior slaying a dragon. There is an interesting carving of Horus spearing set from horseback.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

I've heard great things about Jordan from friends who have been there.

[@jcdiaz4062]

I have an hour gap between lectures and this video just came in clutch

[@jaideepdesai5321]

Hell yeah, more History Buffs.

[@johnlindley1604]

The videography is the best I’ve ever seen!!!

[@gmen1267]

Some GoT trivia, since 2 actors were mentioned haha. Richard Madden is the actor who portrayed Robb Stark. Also, Tommen Baratheon was recast during the series. The actor who portrayed Tommen by the time he ascended the throne originally portrayed Martin Lannister (the older of the two Lannister boys murdered by Lord Karstark)

[@richardmardis2492]

Saw this movie just before Covid. Then when I was able to back into a theater to see a move, you could hear me say, “the last time I saw a movie in a theater was 1917.”

[@stevenrobinson2047]

I saw this movie in a USO when I was deployed. Loved it!

[@cosmedelustrac5842]

A new History Buffs video reviewed ?! Wonderfull !

[@Omega_419]

"Make sure there is a witness. Some men just want the fight."

[@gabriellynch2764]

I remember not being able to convince anyone to go see this movie and then i randomly mentioned it to my aunt and she was already super excited to see it. So i saw this in theaters for the first time with my aunt. My cool aunt!

[@etherealtb6021]

OMG! You have videos of the WWI sites? You've got a follow from me! ❤️ Love this movie. It got cheated out of Best Picture because of the propaganda campaign that it was "just a great camera trick". 🙄 My friend joked there should've been a grief counselor in the lobby when we came out of the theatre. Ill tell you, I've never gripped my theatre chair arms so hard. The one camera "trick" made me feel like I was there with them. I'd waited since I studied WWI in college to see a film that really got the audience to feel what the Western Fromt was like, as Saving Private Ryan did. 1917 finally did that!

[@msspi764]

Thanks for this reaction. I can forgive a lot of the details he criticizes because Mendez gets so much right. Weapons, uniforms, no man's land, trenches, the makeup of the troops in the lorry, all that are spot on and, though those things aren't a sign of a well done work of historical fiction, they show significant dedication to accuracy. This came out about the same time as They Shall Not Grow Old, Peter Jackson's documentary of The Great War. It's a perfect pairing with 1917.

[@msspi764]

I really appreciate how your experiences in France and Belgium and your interest in The Great War inform your analysis. We all benefit greatly from that. Thanks.

[@shadowmane55]

Hell yes. More history buffs reactions 🙏🏾❤️

[@IanDuckworth-n4b]

Another comment. When Schofield turned up with the letter the first thing he would have been asked by the officer would have been " Where's you weapon soldier?" Which would still be asked in the British Army today. Ian Dee.

[@2104dogface]

As a old WW1 reenactor doing (7th RIR) 7th Royal Irish Rifles in the trenches of Newvill, PA so got to be as close to how it was , so the big thing that bugged me with the main characters was how they wore their SBR 's the left them on in Marching Order , but it was a standing order once you were in 1 mile of the front it had to be combat order worn on the front chest . also love they showed both P08 &P14 web gear.

[@zavano92]

I do agree that more WWI movies are needed. I really liked this movie and War Horse

[@johnwilletts3984]

In 1914 my Grandfather James Duke joined the 8th Battalion York and Lancs Regt. This was territorial (part time weekend soldiers). In 1915 the battalion was sent to France. James was to be just a handful of survivors and was awarded the Military Medal. He was demobbed in 1919. But amazingly he later rejoined the territorial battalion to continue his soldiering hobby! Our local museum has a collection of photos showing the lads out training in the countryside. All with big smiles and seemingly enjoying their hobby! When WW2 started many of them now senior NCOs went back to France to do it all again. James however by this time had lost his sight. He spent WW2 using his blind skills to help people in the blackout find their way into bomb shelters. He would only tell me funny stories of life in the trenches, but my Grandmother described an attack through no-man’s land as running though a sea of hands. The wounded from earlier waves would put a hand up, begging for help, This they were ordered to ignore and just focus on getting into the German trench. I was hoping to see that sea of hands in this film.

[@parkeydavid]

I recommend two from Australia. One is a miniseries, "ANZACS: The War Down Under" (1985). The is a movie, "The Lighthorsemen" (1987). You can watch both here on KZbin. ANZACS follows a small group of men from Australia that join up in 1914 and fight in Gallipoli and France too the end of the war. The Lighthorsemen is about the charge of Beersheba in 1917.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

New one coming as well. It's called Before Dawn and will mostly be about the Australians in 3rd Ypres.

[@DerekWitt]

Speaking of WWI, Some of the unspoken heroes were with the Knights of Columbus. The Knights were among the many organizations that helped the soldiers on the front lines with basic supplies (including toiletries, candy, religious books, and even cigarettes [different times, folks]). The Knights of Columbus headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut has an exhibit dedicated to WWI. Very fascinating from a historical standpoint. Also, the World War I Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri is just wonderful.

[@mikepenny8940]

1917 was a great movie and we all love when you enlighten us on ww I chris. I love all of your channels

[@cwalker94]

@VloggingThroughHistory If you haven't yet seen it, "They Shall Not Grow Old" is a very good movie directed by Peter Jackson where they took old WW1 movies and film and colorized, fixed the timing, and gave sounds and voices to them.. Very good documentary

[@danielevans8728]

Great shout out for Master and Commander, amazing movie

[@mp40submachinegun81]

24:10 you can see this in ukraine aswell, its due to airburst artillery. the trees snap at the height that the shells explode.

[@JCaylor2099]

1917 was amazing to see on the big screen it's an absolutely beautiful film

[@kirkdaley3441]

This video makes me wanna go back and play Battlefield 1 . So much that was said made me remember operations game mode 😢😢

[@TheSupertube22]

if people are curious, the director last name mendes, is because if grandfather, Alfred Mendes is son of a portuguese man, that was from Madeira island, who left because of the persecution of the protestants

[@tkatvibez9567]

Considering most of my World War One history comes from battlefield one I appreciate learning it from actual experts

[@simplybernsarizala]

Good info thanks !

[@XaviRonaldo0]

History Buffs doesn't upload often but when they do it's always quality.

[@ninetenduh]

1917 was a film I didn't have on the Radar, I am not a big cinema fan, but I saw some scenes and knew I had to watch it, while not the most Historical film of all time, the cinematography and story are just superb and as mentioned, sometimes you have to bend things and change things to create a better film and not a documentary, and they succeeded in changing things that still create a coherent and fantastic film.

[@blackiono5945]

You give me my daily dose of history

[@HistoryDose]

Actually just gave Joe “1917” on blu-ray for his birthday! It’s partly a nudge that we ought to do a WWI video this spring 😄. This was a nice reaction!

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Yes! You need to do some WW1 stuff for sure.

[@barbaraallen435]

I enjoy your vlogs ,I hope you do more on the American civil war ,for me in the UK its interesting .

[@ZGWAGS]

MORE HISTORY BUFFS!!! LETS GO

[@Richey24]

You gotta do his review of midway!! I absolutely loved that movie. Would love to see what you think about it!

[@MasterWooten]

28:31 Yes, although many say that there was not clear "villain nation" during the Great War Operation Alberich together with the initial invasion of neutral Belgium, (which by today's standards is a clear violation of Article 2 of the UN Treaty) did essentially make the Germans out to be the bad guys, that and the attack on Belgian civilians for which today we apply command and state responsibility to parties whose troops engage in such conduct. Since the Entente powers were really fighting on home turf they were likely not engaging in such breaches of what we now would refer to a international law albeit this might have changed when we began occupying parts of Germany after the war IOT ensure their compliance with the terms therein.

[@r.b.ratieta6111]

Recently watched a three-part documentary on the Battle of Verdun. It's amazing how what was supposed to be a quick blitz surprise attack became one of the longest, bloodiest and costliest sieges in the entire war. We as Americans like to give the French crap for their government surrendering in WW2, but you can't question their toughness and resilience at Verdun. The Germans threw everything they could and the French refused to cave.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

100%.

[@marc.ristau]

One thing often gets forgotten is that due to the movie being shot/edited as a one shot, they had to condense the area. Otherwise it would have been a ten hour movie at least. Most of the liberties they have taken are for that.

[@michaeleverett7247]

I’ve been to the movies once in the last 15 years and it was to see this movie

[@MulleDullen]

Not to complicate matters, but when you said "all Germans on the other side" it reminded me, that I have this excerpt from Danish-German soldier Peter Poulsen's diary, who wrote in June 1918 about a tragic case of his Polish comrade: "Around 8 days ago we welcomed a comrade back, a huge Pole named Gulochinsky. He was a reserved and quiet man, big and strong and everyone held him dearly, but we also sensed that he had something on his mind. We tried to enquire, but no one could convince him to open up. The French attack never materialized. They took up positions in a forest some 3 km away, and those of us who weren't on guard then received the orders to sleep in those small dug-outs, where there were space for 4 men in each. . Three of us had went inside and laid down, the fourth was the Pole. He too came inside and laid down quietly; but after a few minutes he stood up, walked over to me and grabbed my hand, and I felt him shaking like a leaf. . I soon realized that he was crying. He stood in silence for a short moment, then, he began talking, and all while squeezing my hand, he said: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "Before the war I was a happy man. I had a wife, a lovely wife and seven healthy children. I worked on a sugar factory in Poland and was well-paid. When I came home from work in the evening, my wife was busy cooking food for me. My children jumped on my knees and my back, and I sang and jumped with them to my heart's desire, and we were so happy with each other. I was home on leave just before I was attached to your Company, but then my wife and all seven children had died." . Then he went quiet again and sobbed, and when he opened his mouth again, he just said: "You may speak now." . Indeed, what should I have said to him? I stood up. There lay a couple of small chests, so I put my arm around my comrade and forced him to sit on one of them and I sat beside him on the other, and we both cried."

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

I get your point, but remember Poland didn't exist at the time. He may have been ethnically Polish, but he was still in the German army.

[@davidburroughs2244]

Falkenburg being sacked after Versun leads me to suspect his later statement the purpose was not required to win but was required to ruin.

[@arubberduckey3984]

Hey Vlogging through history. I have been watching your videos for a while now and I am a student so I don't have the money to support you with patreon so I choose to support you through your content. I was wondering if you have a video going over the rise of fascism in the US pre world war 2? The reason I wanted it from you is that it's a very polarizing topic and the more I learn about it the more confused I get about the truth of the matter. I just honestly trust you to give an open and honest interpretation so I thought I would ask.

[@arubberduckey3984]

I would like to clarify that I am asking to get a true understand of history and not that I support or endorse fascism in any way! I just know there are just areas such as prescott bush where you can't learn a lot about the subject.

[@chrislane8466]

I loved the pace of this movie. Great flick.

[@joystickjedi368]

The blast wave from those explosions would not rupture his internal organs. Shrapnel is the main killer, and this is precisely why being in foxholes massively reduces casualties. The Shrapnel pattern goes up, so troops down low survive better. The explosive charge in most artillery is not that strong. about 25lbs even in modern 155mm rounds. If you were very close you might be killed, but you would need to be closer than he is in these scenes. The blast wave of an explosive charge loses power exponentially. I think many people would be rather surprised by how small the shockwave lethalr radius of even 500lb bombs is.

[@livethefuture2492]

I think its in open air thats why the concussion blast isnt that lethal. It dissipates quickly out in the open. It is in confined spaces that it becomes deadly.

[@gloverfox9135]

Why don’t you stand next to an artillery explosion and tell me you don’t feel the shock wave then?

[@TheIvanMilky]

​@@livethefuture2492this was going to be my point exactly, even a grenade in a tight space can kill you with over pressure

[@dmweibel7423]

Hi, love your channel! I'm also a big Great War buff and an active WWI reenactor at Newville, Pennsylvania. The biggest WWI reenactment in the country, with over 800 reenactors. You should check it out. 1917 is definitely a great film, one of my favs.

[@meanmoon5779]

Finally yessss more history buff reacts ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@StoryTimeZE]

You gotta check out blue jays “how to worship like an Egyptian” if you’re going to Egypt! Very informative

[@Awells89]

One thing I respect about this movie is how it depicts just how much of a desolate wasteland No Man's Land was. if enemy bullets and shells don't get you the barbed wire and the mud and everything else you have to worry about will.

[@onefadedgunner3281]

From what I've read, it took decades to repair No Man's land to pre-war appearance.

[@daveenberg9075]

My favorite war movie. A few points so bear with me. Yes I always wondered about the date as the movie ends on the 7th. but my Grandfather (at Vimy) doesn't go over the top until the 9th. The weather is shown as overcast and even sunny but in reality it was cold and raining (snowing on the 9th.) but my guess is some concessions for story telling and being able to film. You mention Battalion sizes and casualties. Did the sizes of the Battalions very within the Empire ? My Grandfather's Battalion (16th. Canadian Scottish) was 850 men at full strength. And causalities. Yes when ever I tell someone about the numbers it is always confusing to them. The 16th battalion had a strength of 850 men but had approx. 6200 men served in it with 5400 causalities, of these 2200 KIA. My Grandfather appeared on the casualties list four times 1. gas, dislocated shoulder, shell shock 2. shrapnel left hand, shell shock 3, shrapnel chest, gunshot right hand 4, gas. Yes there are some concessions made for story telling but in general it seems to be very detailed and realistic. Deas Gu Cath