Western Front - Making The Front (Part 1/6)

1999 BBC documentary series, presented by Richard Holmes. Visit my site at www.drumtracksdirect.co.uk/

[@bigjohno242]

Richard Holmes was just the best historian ever. RIP.

[@johnhill8529]

My warfare instructor at Sandhurst. His lectures have stayed with me as much as 05:30 parades. Wise, intelligent, incredibly well educated he was a true renaissance man. A joy to learn from, a delight over an evening glass. I’m now the age he was when this was made, I wish I had a tenth of his talents.

[@clivedavies5618]

A very humane man too, sensitive to the death and suffering. I remember his comment about the Osiary at Verdun - "The saddest place I know."

[@davidmcgill7850]

True words

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Prof Richard Holmes was a superb military historian and author. He is very much lamented, his television productions were outstanding, he excelled at bringing history alive. His enthusiasm and passion for history, and his immense pride in the British soldier, was very evident. I always remember him in the episode of, 'War Walks,' focusing on Mons. He clutched a No 1 Lee Enfield .303 as though it was a sacred artifact, and waxed lyrical about the high calibre of the BEF soldiers. He left us far too early.........As you will know, Richard was the highest ranking Territorial Army officer in the UK at one stage- a Brigadier.

[@MrSstiel]

It's a great shame Richard Holmes wasn't around for the BBC's programmes to mark the centennial of the First World War. His War Walks programmes too were excellent.

[@philbraithwaite1316]

His War Walks were on KZbin but (I think) the BBC had them pulled.

[@steve1962]

A genius orator - this man was just brilliant - I recently purchased one of his books in a charity shop........to my delight and surprise it has his signature in it - what a find.

[@mcmax571]

Its a damn shame that Professor Holmes isn't around for the Centennial.

[@Ed-om9xy]

"I'm rather out of practice" / Proceeds to drill about 6 in his first 15 seconds. Was utterly devastated when I heard about this man's death, and still am today

[@elisabird6245]

Have to agree with you. Richard Holmes is greatly missed for the way he made it easy to understand even the more complicated military stories.

[@davidmurray5399]

I have a copy of Holmes' WAR WALKS, an excellent look at battlefields as well as the fighting that took place there. I've also fired the SMLE, the Mauser 98, the Moisin-Nagent and the Lebel rifles at a range. I rate the Lee-Enfield as the best of these; it has the smoothest pull for the bolt, the ease of loading, and the ten round magazine make it a deadly and reliable infantry weapon.

[@Stoolie33]

As a USAer and lover of history, I had never really been able to connect with and understand the thinking of the English as WW1 developed. Richard Holmes is my favorite documentary producer and gave me understanding. I lined up all of his books and documentaries and have gone through most of them. I don't want them to run out. It's devastating to me that he is no longer with us. RIP Richard.

[@thechieftain8936]

USAer lol. I haven't hear that before usually people just say American

[@checkm9784]

my dude, it's american

[@BeadedbyCoralie]

Well said, I feel the same way about him.

[@fraserfleming6983]

George Miller - I don't. Holmes starts off by saying we owe it to the soldiers to find out why they did what they did. There are only two answers and he already mentioned patriotism and the other is pure testosterone Unfortunately most wars are fueled by these two stimulants and men seem incapable of banishing patriotism or controlling their hormones. Senseless slaughter seems baked into the human condition.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

Watching this documentary again after 6 six years I never fail to be impressed by Richard Holmes. His commentary is always gripping and exciting, conveying the mood and atmosphere of the events he's discussing. His commentary is so rich in fascinating detail. There is so much information contained in this film that I have never heard before. I have read dozens of books on the war and watched countless documentaries and movies on the period and this great historian is in the top rank.

[@jasonward6723]

just found these videos amazing totally hooked really love this guy Richard holmes style of documentary

[@PhilBe]

Thanks for uploading this. I still have it on a VHS tape and have looked everywhere for a DVD version. This is the next best thing. Richard Holmes, much missed.

[@felicitywright791]

Why the Hell hasn't the BBC ever released this on DVD? And why hasn't it been repeated for the Centenary & - today - for the Somme Centenary? My grandfather fought at the Somme & had a proper phobia of mud ever afterwards. It wasn't until I saw this TV series that I really understood. I hadn't comprehended the true horror those poor men went through.

[@markfaustino846]

This mоvieеee is now available to watch hеeеere => twitter.com/e8509ea7f3aa6e359/status/795843715935805440 Wеstеrn Front Making TТThe Front Раaаart 1 6

[@elrjames7799]

Exemplifier: Dan Snow, et alia: tendential money making as opposed to simple historical education.

[@shahzebpasha9563]

Miss this guy...

[@FrienderRoomer]

Multiplied thanks for sharing this monumental series. And... come on, folks, why all this mourning? Sir Richard stays with us, don't you see?... and forever! ... for he's a jolly good fellow!...

[@claytonman31]

Holmes was and is the best

[@knockshinnoch1950]

Thanks for posting this series. Richard Holmes is sorely missed. His tv programmes such as this were excellent. Holmes presenting style was entertaining and informative- never dull. I recently picked up a copy of his book "Tommy" at W.H. Smith an excellent detailed history of the British soldiers of ww1

[@user-rh4uw8cb2j]

The late, great Richard Holmes! Still, he was a great teacher, and lucky were they who sat at his feet to learn, why war still matters!

[@SGTRIP-dh7fz]

I really miss this guy (RIP Prof.).

[@ibrahimegal7186]

War historian general Richard Holmes best documentary

[@tnesp]

10:20 anyone who's ever been in a military recognizes the scene where there's work to do and a few people work and most just stand around while trying to look busy. Some things don't change!

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Thanks for uploading.

[@allanr1515]

Thanks for posting! I read somewhere the red French trousers were from a time when gun powder smoke was thick and the only way to tell the difference between friend and foe on the battlefield was the brightly colored uniform.

[@rchapman4444]

Allan Radman, D.C. That's A Fact !

[@mmk749]

Thank you very much! This is from a time when you got information, not infotainment. )

[@christophertull7787]

Not the same without Richard,The best documentary teller of all time,Miss you!!

[@HughTube-ni6kb]

"Even Sir John French, calvalryman though he was, realized the situation..." That's serious Olympic-grade shade !

[@giovannidepetris6335]

I know the Italian front was never in the english historians radar much but: Just adding that attacking was the only way to fight especially for the italians as seen in the terrible Isonzo river Battles : 11 offensives that lead perhaps to a close victory just to be dashed by the battle ofCaporetto That knock pushed back the end for a year before another italian attack with british and french bit of help finished off the Austohungarian at Vittorio Veneto

[@chrismac2234]

My brigadier of history. R.I.P. A historians historian

[@Dg-zj6jo]

yes what a great person he was

[@zeppelinboys]

thanks for this! never seen it before

[@sofalugger]

Watched Chris Tarrant few weeks ago , doing the Railway thing, the trains moved Everything! . .The War to end all Wars!??

[@0000thommes]

3:39 now thats a great transition

[@Chromegrillz]

Best ww1 documentary but Indy channel even put It better.

[@kokonut4202]

loading screen hint #258/9283 : Watch on 2x speed with subtitles if you're late for an assignment need need to study fast!

[@davidmurray5399]

The biggest German advantage was it's park of 105mm and 150mm howitzers, something the British and the French had no answer for until late 1915 to summer 1916.

[@michaelnagle8625]

I have it on VHS. Why don't they release it on DVD! Everybody interested in history would buy it.

[@rosesprog1722]

Oh, an almost unbiased BBC documentary about war and the BEF... highly unusual and just as highly enjoyable, will it persist in the next episodes? That's what we shall see but whatever the source, death is on the battlefield and the suffering is at home, one is instantaneous, the other lasts a lifetime, one thought for the families, please.

[@michaelnagle8625]

Where"s the DVD? Doesn"t make sense that this great

[@philbraithwaite1316]

Would it be worth my while uploading Richard Holmes’ War Walks series or will they be blocked by the BBC? I remember they were on KZbin a while back but they have gone.

[@evan6901]

Second that!!

[@calengr1]

5:30 petrified numbness Breton peasants

[@jimbo5458]

Anyone wanna play Axis and Allies before my dad gets home?

[@jameson32]

Drum tracks and WWI. Clearly, very closely related subjects. /sarcasm

[@rchapman4444]

Serendra Hardu Sarcasm don't work in print!

[@andreysavenko6373]

9G gang?

[@lizclarke8570]

The war was all for the interbreeding monarchies of europe, especially the british monarchy

[@kurtbjorn3841]

I understand amphibious warfare was pretty new, but I've never understood why a serious landing wasn't attempted. For example, Germany could have landed in Normandy in 1915, presaging WW2. The Royal Navy stood in their way... but the RN, with superiority, could have landed farther North in Belgium and just abused the German rear. Give it a try? Why not? Better than the Somme.

[@kurtbjorn3841]

@Totus Tuus - You don't have to be rude. QUOTE "as he launches 500k men in a probably suicidal attack". Hmm, D-Day 1944 had less men and worked. Galipoli was a fiasco because it was under-supported logistically, the Turks were under-rated as soldiers, and the terrain sucked. Your "Why Not?" applies more to the German 1918 Spring Offensive, Verdun, and other stupid frontal attacks. ALL of them failed because they lacked mobility and impetus. Finally, the Royal Navy DOMINATED the North Sea and the Channel; Germany was blockaded in port. GB could have executed an operation if they chose.

[@adicristian354]

slave father kaiser

[@calengr1]

13min offensive bias

[@billpugh58]

They all died for Brexit.

[@jimbo5458]

That isn't Holmes Its Himmler. My dad hits me.

[@calengr1]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Holmes_(military_historian) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_French,_1st_Earl_of_Ypres

[@calengr1]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_rugby_union_players_killed_in_World_War_I#British_Isles_team