The Hebrides
Composed in 1830 by Felix Mendelssohn. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.
This Central Powers propaganda piece from 1914 depicts the Russian Emperor in Jewish garb, ironically appealing to “my beloved Jews” to “remember the kindnesses that the House of Romanov has shown you,” as crimes against Jews are committed all around him.
The Great War began as a confrontation between Austria and Russia. As we have seen, it quickly developed into much more. But for the Austrians, the main dispute is still against Serbia, and against Russia for supporting her. The Austrians began this confrontation as an effort to prove Austria was still a Great Power. Ironically, 1914 would prove exactly the opposite.
“Entrance of the Gladiators”
Composed in 1897 by Julius Fučík. Public domain.
Performed by the Eastern Wind Symphony, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 3.0 License. Source.
The U.S. $100,000 gold certificate, issued in 1934, with a portrait of Woodrow Wilson, honoring him for his role in creating the Federal Reserve System. This is the largest denomination of currency ever issued by the United States. Only a small number were printed. They were intended to move funds between Federal Reserve Banks, and were never available to the general public. In more modern times, when funds can be shifted electronically, bills such as this one have become obsolete.
President Wilson pushed a variety of important reforms through the 1913-14 Congress, including the Federal Reserve Act, making this one of the busiest Congresses in US History. As the Great War breaks out, the US remains neutral, but faces a financial crisis.
The front lines in September, 1914. The dotted red lines in the south show the farthest advance of the German right flank. The solid red line shows the German position after they fell back. The dotted red line running north from the right end of the German line shows the “Race to the Sea,” which we haven’t gotten to yet. The Western Front will remain stable along these lines for the next three and a half years.
The Germans make their final push to defeat France and end the war in the west, but they underestimate French and British resolve.
Fantasie from Siegfried
Composed in 1876 by Richard Wagner. public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.
Medal commemorating the entry of German troops into Paris in 1914.
The German invasion of France continues to unfold according to plan. The French counteroffensive has failed. The arrival of the British Expeditionary Force changed nothing, and now the British are also in retreat. Paris itself is no longer secure, and the French government has left the capital.
“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”
Composed in 1912 by Jack Judge and Harry Williams. Public domain.
Public domain recording. In the alternative, it is asserted that the use of the recording here is fair use under copyright law. Source.
String Quartet in F Major
Composed in 1903 by Maurice Ravel. Public domain.
Performed by The Musicians from Marlboro and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. Source.
The Great War began as an Austrian effort to punish Serbia. It has grown into a much wider and more complex conflict, but the dispute between Austria and Serbia is still a part of it. This episode recounts the Austrian effort to defeat Serbia in the fall of 1914.
Concerto Grosso in G minor (“Christmas Concerto”)
Composed c. 1690 by Arcangelo Corelli. Public domain.
Performed by the Advent Chamber Orchestra and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0 license. Source.
Cello Suite No. 5
Composed c. 1720 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Public domain.
Performed by Elias Goldstein and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0 license. Source.
The French Army planned to respond to a German attack with a counteroffensive into Lorraine. When war came, the offensive was launched on August 21, 1914 and is known to history as the Battle of the Frontiers. The offensive was a failure, and when it ended, the French Army was everywhere in retreat.
Danse macabre
Composed in 1874 by Camille Saint-Saëns. Public domain.
Performed by the University of Chicago Orchestra and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. Source.
The sudden outbreak of the Great War found a German battlecruiser, SMS Goeben, alone in the Mediterranean except for the light cruiser, SMS Breslau. But these two ships would give the Entente navies no end of grief.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Composed in 1897 by Paul Dukas. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.
Egmont Overture
Composed in 1810 by Ludwig van Beethoven. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.
Punch Magazine’s take on Belgian resistance to the German offensive, published in August 1914.
The first military action of the war was the German offensive against France, which began with invasions of Luxembourg and Belgium. The Belgians surprised everyone with the ferocity of their resistance.
