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Our Hats We Doff to General Joffre

Episode 4 of 26

Classic BBC documentary series. As the German forces advance on Paris, the French commander-in-chief General Joffre builds up a surer resistance.

The fourth part tells how the British Army fought its first battle at Mons. Despite initial success, the entrenched British infantry were forced into retreat after two weeks. Yet as the Germans pressed forward to Paris, apparently invincible, the French commander-in-chief General Joffre began to slowly build a new and surer edifice of resistance - leading ultimately to Allied victory.

40 minutes

Music Played

  • Wilfred Josephs

    The Great War

    Orchestra: BBC Northern Orchestra. Conductor: George Hurst.

Credits

RoleContributor
NarratorMichael Redgrave
ParticipantRalph Richardson
ParticipantMarius Goring
WriterJohn Terraine
ProducerGordon Watkins
ProducerTony Essex

Broadcasts

Commemorating the centenary of World War I

Commemorating the centenary of World War I

Find our more about the Great War on the BBC History site.