James and Sean discuss the outstanding 2018 Peter Jackson documentary They Shall Not Grow Old, which combines interviews with British World War I veterans with colorized and slowed-down footage from the war.

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In this episode, Sean and James step away from battles and politics to focus on the daily lives of the ordinary men who fought in World War I. They explore what soldiers from the major powers wore, ate, and carried into battle, as well as the terrifying wounds and diseases that claimed millions of lives. The episode traces dramatic advances in medical care, from battlefield triage and antiseptic surgery to the first blood transfusions and reconstructive surgery. It also delves into the psychological toll of trench warfare, the spread of illnesses like trench fever and influenza, and the grim realities of capture and imprisonment. Through it all, listeners gain a vivid sense of the endurance, suffering, and humanity of the common soldier.

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While the Western Front quickly descended into trench warfare, the fighting in the East remained highly mobile, spanning vast distances across Eastern Europe. In this episode, Sean and James discuss Austria-Hungary’s failed invasions of Serbia, Russia’s disastrous defeats at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes, and the massive but costly Russian victory over Austria at Galicia. Listeners will learn how poor leadership, logistical chaos, and ethnic divisions crippled the Austro-Hungarian and Russian armies alike. By year’s end, both sides were bloodied and exhausted, setting the stage for a long and brutal struggle in the East.

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