By 1917, World War I had expanded far beyond Europe, pulling nations from around the world into a global conflict.

In Episode 5 of Moments That Shape Us, the war reaches a turning point as new countries enter the fight and others begin to fall apart. The episode explores Germany’s use of submarine warfare, including the sinking of RMS Lusitania, and how attacks on civilian ships increased tensions with the United States.

It also examines the events that led to American involvement, including the Zimmerman Telegram and the decision by President Woodrow Wilson to enter the war in 1917. At the same time, Russia faces internal collapse, leading to revolution and its eventual withdrawal from the conflict.

As new forces enter and others exit, the balance of the war begins to shift. What started as a European war has now become a true world war, setting the stage for its final and most decisive phase.

• (00:00:00) - World War I

By 1916, World War I had changed into something much larger than a battlefield conflict.

In Episode 4 of Moments That Shape Us, the focus shifts from the trenches to the home front, where entire nations became part of the war effort. Governments took control of industries, economies were redirected toward production, and civilians were asked to support the war through rationing, labor, and propaganda.

This episode also examines two of the deadliest battles of the war, including Battle of Verdun and Battle of the Somme, where massive losses resulted in very little movement on the front lines. These battles revealed the true scale and cost of modern industrial warfare.

As the war expanded beyond soldiers and into everyday life, it became clear that this was no longer a limited conflict. It was a total war, involving entire societies and demanding everything they could give.

• (00:00:00) - The First World War

What began as a regional conflict quickly spread beyond control.

In Episode 2 of Moments That Shape Us, the focus shifts from the assassination in Sarajevo to the rapid chain reaction that pulled all of Europe into war. As alliances activated, countries mobilized millions of soldiers, turning a localized dispute into a global conflict within days.

This episode follows the early decisions that defined the war’s direction, including Germany’s Schlieffen Plan, the invasion of Belgium, and Britain’s entry into the war. It also explores the early battles, such as the First Battle of the Marne, where fast-moving warfare came to a halt and a new kind of fighting began.

What many believed would be a short and controlled war was quickly becoming something much larger, more dangerous, and far more difficult to end.

• (00:00:00) - The First World War
• (00:02:41) - Battle of the trenches