The Century of Warfare

Season 1

The Century of Warfare is a 26 part British TV documentary first released in 1993 and shown on A&E Television Networks. It was narrated by Robert Powell, and produced by Nugus/Martin Productions Ltd, and coincided with another Powell/Nugus-Martin project called Great Crimes and Trials.

Where to Watch The Century of Warfare • Season 1

26 Episodes

The Violent Century
E1
The Violent CenturyThis first program looks at the background to the wars which have convulsed our planet, and technological advances which have transformed warfare. From the Boer War to the Gulf War From Cavalry to the main Battle Tank From Biplane Fighters to the Stealth Bomber From the Battleship to the Trident Submarine.
The World Goes to War
E2
The World Goes to WarExplore the factors that led to the outbreak of World War I and see why efforts to prevent the coming conflict failed.
Blood and Mud
E3
Blood and MudHarrowing photos and rare footage show the grim reality of trench warfare on the Western Front.
War of the Eagles
E4
War of the EaglesThree empires clash on the Eastern Front, until the Russian Revolution topples the Czar and the nation withdraws from the fight.
Battle Fleets and U Boats
E5
Battle Fleets and U BoatsNaval warfare in World War I, from submarine attacks and supporting forces on land to the Battle of Jutland.
Aces High
E6
Aces HighSee how the plane became a weapon, fly with the pioneers of military aviation, and relive the exploits of legendary pilots like the Red Baron.
War to end all War
E7
War to end all WarThe entry of the United States helped bring World War I to a close, but the harsh conditions of the Versailles Treaty paved the way for a greater conflict to come.
Enter the Dictators
E8
Enter the DictatorsThe years between the World Wars were marked by the rise of totalitarian states in Europe and a growing militancy in the Far East.
The War Clouds Gather
E9
The War Clouds GatherConflicts in China, Spain and Africa presaged the horrors to come, while Hitler cemented his power and prepared for his bloody campaign of aggression.
Blitzkrieg
E10
BlitzkriegGermany's invasion of Poland introduced the world to a new brand of warfare. Less than a year later, the fall of France left Britain to face Hitler essentially alone.
Britain Stands Alone
E11
Britain Stands AloneThe extraordinary heroism demonstrated by British citizens and soldiers and a vital lifeline from across the Atlantic kept England from falling into Nazi clutches.
Sand and Sea War
E12
Sand and Sea WarIn and around the Mediterranean, Monty battled Rommel, American doughboys got their first real combat experience, and the Italian campaign gave the Allies a foothold in Europe.
Hitler Turns East
E13
Hitler Turns EastOperation Barbarossa--the largest land invasion ever mounted--sent 3 million German troops and 3,300 tanks into the Soviet Union.
The Long Road Back
E14
The Long Road BackDefeated at Stalingrad and denied entry to Moscow, the Wehrmacht embarked on a two-year delaying action as it retreated to Germany.
Normandy to the Rhine
E15
Normandy to the RhineFollow the preparations for D-Day and the course of the war in Europe after the successful invasion.
The End in Europe
E16
The End in EuropeAs Germany was squeezed in the vice of the Allied advance, the Big Three met at Yalta to plan for the aftermath of war.
Oriental Blitzkrieg
E17
Oriental BlitzkriegAnalyze the forces that drove Japan to war and relive the initial victories that gave the Imperial forces an air of invincibility.
Jungle and Ocean
E18
Jungle and OceanThe American island-hopping campaign drove the Japanese from their Pacific strongholds, but it would take a weapon of a different order bring the war to an end.
The War at Sea
E19
The War at SeaThis sweeping overview of World War II's naval engagements includes footage from Atlantic convoys, major Pacific battles and the amphibious landing at Normandy.
Air War
E20
Air WarFly in a B-17 on a harrowing daylight bombing raid, see how British aviators staved off the Luftwaffe, and watch as carrier-based fighters battle Zeros in the skies over Midway.
Iron Curtain
E21
Iron CurtainDivided at the end of World War II, Europe was a potential flashpoint for 40 years as the superpowers maintained an uneasy peace built on deterrence.
Oriental Communism
E22
Oriental CommunismFrom the withdrawal of the old Colonial powers to the conflict in Korea, instability, regional conflicts and the boiling over of Cold War tensions marked much of the 20th century in Asia.
Wars in Peace
E23
Wars in PeaceThe perennial problems of civil war, terrorism and bilateral wars have taken on a new urgency in the years since the end of the Cold War, and the international community is struggling to deal with them.
Vietnam
E24
VietnamIt was a war that proved that might and money do not lead inevitably to victory, and its harsh lessons forced America to rethink its role in the world.
War in the Middle East
E25
War in the Middle EastFrom Israel's continual battles to defend itself to inter-Arab squabbles and the role of oil, trace the many conflicts that have shaken this tumultuous region.
Gulf Wars and the Future
E26
Gulf Wars and the FutureThe Allied victory over Iraq showed showcased a new generation of weapons and tactics, but evolving threats--particularly from weapons of mass destruction--require a new approach to deterrence.