Published in 2014, this documentary series commemorating the 100th anniversary of World War One, the professors of the Department of History of York University examine various aspects of the war and the role Canada played in it.
Did you know income tax in Canada is a direct result of the First World War? That we lost nearly an entire generation of men in the war that lasted more than four years? Or that only the Canadian military ranked women as officers during the war?
In this fascinating documentary series commemorating the 100th anniversary of World War One, the professors of the Department of History examine various aspects of the war and the role Canada played in it. The six-part series in English titled The War to End all Wars, includes The World at War, Canada at War, Women at War, Empires at War, Technologies at War, The Spoils of War, and its comprehensive French version is titled Les Canadiens français et la Première Guerre mondiale.
Episode 1: The World at War
Professors Deborah Neill, Stephen Brooke, William Wicken, Molly Ladd-Taylor and Jennifer Stephen discuss the origins of the war. Particular attention focuses on the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungary Empire and how the countries of Europe and elsewhere became involved in the escalating conflict.
Episode 2: Canada at War
Professors William Wicken, Marcel Martel, Jennifer Stephen, William Jenkins and Craig Heron discuss how Canada became involved in World War One and how its citizens reacted. While many were excited to enter what was believed to be a short war, many others objected fighting in a war they knew little about.
Episode 3: Women at War
Professors Kathryn McPherson, Molly Ladd-Taylor and Jennifer Stephen examine the extensive role women played in World War One, both at home and overseas. One of the more fascinating revelations discussed is that Canada was the only country to give women nurses officer status in the military.
Episode 4: Empires at War
Professors Deborah Neill, Stephen Brooke, Joan Judge and Thabit Abdullah discuss how the British, French, Chinese and Ottoman Empires approached the war often recruiting soldiers from their respective colonies as the war dragged on.
Episode 5: Technologies at War
Professors Deborah Neill and Craig Heron discuss the central importance of industry in producing weapons and how new technologies that were developed between 1914 and 1918 helped to end the conflict.
Episode 6: The Spoils of War
Professors Stephen Brooke, Joan Judge, Kalman Weiser, Thabit Abdullah, Jennifer Stephen and William Wicken break down the aftermath of World War One. Particular attention is given to the Treaty of Versailles, how the Chinese were affected by “secret treaties,” and how the war helped to create the modern Middle East.
French Version
Les Canadiens français et la Première Guerre mondiale
Professors Marcel Martel, Colin Coates & Roberto Perin discuss the war from the perspective of French Canadians.
Creating this documentary series was very exciting as we were able to bring in several facets of the Great War and its impact on Canada, and also include historic images to support our analysis at the century mark.
— Professor Marcel Martel