In response to French pleas, Russia invades Germany in August 1914 in order to relieve the pressure on France.
 

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Prelude in C# Minor
Composed in 1892 by Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff. Public domain.
Performed by the composer. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Photograph of the Hindenburg medallion by Wikimedia user Berlin-George and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Source. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
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.
 

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“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.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
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.
 

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening War Theme

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.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
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.
 

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening War Theme

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.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
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.
 

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening War Theme

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.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5. Photograph from the German Federal Archive used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 3.0 license.

 
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.
 

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Fanfare

Opening WarTheme

Fantasie fromSiegfried
Composed in 1876 by Richard Wagner. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
A look at pre-war planning by the French, British, and Austrian militaries.
 

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening Theme

Élégie
Composed in 1880 by Gabriel Fauré. Public domain.
Performed by Hans Goldstein. Used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Source.

“Who Can from Joy Refrain?”
Composed in 1689 by Henry Purcell. Public domain.
Performed by Michel Rondeau. Used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 3.0 license. Source.

Symphony No. 1 in C minor
Composed in 1876 by Johannes Brahms. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
A look at pre-war planning by the German and Russian general staffs, and in particular, the famous “Schlieffen Plan.”
 

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening Theme

“Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walküre
Composed in 1870 by Richard Wagner. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Farewell of Slavianka
Composed in 1912 by Vasily Agapin. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Coast Guard Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

 
In this episode we examine why the Concert of Europe failed, and how this led to the Great War.
 

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Playlist:
 
Fanfare

Opening Theme

Closing Theme

 

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2016, 2017 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.