0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:03 > 0:00:07- The First World War started - a hundred years ago, in 1914.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13- The war changed the lives - of men, women and children forever.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18- Children and young people - from all over Europe...
0:00:19 > 0:00:23- ..described their experiences - in diaries and letters.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27- These are the stories of - the Great War through their eyes.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32- One of them was a ten-year-old boy - from South Tyrol in Austria.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35- His name was Tobias Klein.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40- We were going to the mountains - with flour and water...
0:00:40 > 0:00:44- ..for my brother, grandfather - and the other soldiers.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- Our plan was thwarted.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- Have you no shame, Herman?
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- You've had it all. Look. - It's all gone.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- THE BETRAYAL
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Italians, Herman.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13- Italy had agreed to help Austria - if war broke out.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19- But when the Great War broke out, - not only did they refuse to help...
0:01:19 > 0:01:23- ..they made territorial demands - on Austria.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28- The Austrian Emperor didn't want - to surrender South Tyrol to Italy.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- The King of Italy - sided with the enemy.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35- He declared war on Austria-Hungary.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39- The Italian army - marched towards South Tyrol.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- Stupid beast!
0:01:53 > 0:01:55- I'll teach you a lesson!
0:01:56 > 0:01:58- No! Leave him alone!
0:02:01 > 0:02:04- Where are the men?
0:02:04 > 0:02:09- Where is your father? Or are you - defending Austria single-handedly?
0:02:12 > 0:02:17- They're fighting the Russians - and Serbs. There's no-one left.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- So where were you taking this?
0:02:21 > 0:02:22- To the mountains.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- To the mountains.- - Excellent! That's where we're going.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27- Good luck.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29- Good luck.- - Lead the way.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34- Our guide - had an unfortunate accident.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38- Forget it!
0:02:38 > 0:02:42- I won't help Austria's enemy, - even if you beat me black and blue.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49- Who do you think we are? - Italians don't beat children.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- We have other ways to persuade them!
0:03:00 > 0:03:02- No! No! I'll do it!
0:03:02 > 0:03:04- No! No! I'll do it!- - Are you sure?
0:03:05 > 0:03:07- Where do you want to go?
0:03:07 > 0:03:09- Where do you want to go?- - To Col di Lana.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12- I had to find a solution.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16- My friends were hiding - on Col di Lana.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21- Whoever conquered the mountains - controlled the valleys.
0:03:22 > 0:03:28- That's why Col di Lana - was important to Italy and Austria.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32- The Emperor - called his people to fight.
0:03:32 > 0:03:38- He was confident they'd sweep - the Italians out of South Tyrol.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- But his army, fighting elsewhere, - would take time to move.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45- The Italians took advantage of this.
0:03:45 > 0:03:51- They attacked South Tyrol, - destroying village after village.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56- The Austrians were powerless - to stop them.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- This was my village.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03- The Italians destroyed everything.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- That's the best fireworks show - I've seen!
0:04:08 > 0:04:12- Only Italians can make - something beautiful out of war.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- You're stunned, aren't you?
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- The school and my house - were on fire.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24- My home had gone.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- ITALIAN SOLDIERS SING
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- What about my mother and sister?
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- If they didn't escape, - did they hide in time?
0:04:37 > 0:04:42- Were they still alive? - The Italians will pay for this.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45- Where are we going?
0:04:45 > 0:04:47- Onwards!
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- ITALIAN SOLDIERS SING
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- The Italians thought - it would be a swift victory.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10- They would cross the Isonzo River - valley within four weeks...
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- ..and advance towards Vienna.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- But there was a minor obstacle. - The Alps.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- There were no Austrian soldiers - in South Tyrol.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- The Alps were defended - by ordinary Austrians...
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- ..men too old to enlist - and children.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36- Did they think - I'd betray my country?
0:05:36 > 0:05:40- Only Italians would do such a thing.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43- Austrians fight - for their country...
0:05:44 > 0:05:47- ..like my grandfather and brother - in the Col di Lana.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- Where is the boy?
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- Didn't you keep an eye on him?
0:05:56 > 0:05:58- Didn't you keep an eye on him?- - He was here a minute ago!
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- That damned child!
0:06:02 > 0:06:04- I told you we couldn't trust him!
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- We should have got rid of him!
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- The Austrians will be here soon.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- Onwards!
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- We'll have to forget the child. - We don't need a guide.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- We don't need a donkey, either.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31- It's too steep for him.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- No!
0:06:37 > 0:06:39- Leave him alone! He's only a donkey!
0:06:40 > 0:06:45- Alright, but that's - your last chance. Do you hear?!
0:06:45 > 0:06:47- The rope!
0:06:47 > 0:06:49- I wouldn't let my friends down...
0:06:50 > 0:06:51- Unload the donkey.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53- ..whatever the Italians do.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12- From now on, you're staying with me. - Onwards, onwards!
0:07:20 > 0:07:24- Italy's betrayal - angered the Austrians.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- They retreated to the mountains - to defend their lands.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32- They went from mountain - to mountain in small groups.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38- They wanted the Italians - to believe they were surrounded.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- The Austrians - were not trained soldiers.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47- But they had hunting skills - and they knew the mountains well.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53- Experience and knowledge were more - valuable than guns and soldiers.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57- Without a mountain guide, - you'd be lost.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- They tied me up - so I couldn't escape.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09- I'll make sure the Italians - reach their journey's end.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- GUNSHOTS
0:08:16 > 0:08:19- Be quiet! Everyone be quiet!
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- GUNSHOTS
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- They're shooting at us!
0:08:25 > 0:08:27- Quiet, or they'll hear you!
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- We're sitting ducks here!
0:08:31 > 0:08:34- Paolo! Listen to the boy!
0:08:39 > 0:08:43- Our Father, who art in heaven, - hollowed be Thy name.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45- Thy kingdom come.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50- Thy will be done on earth - as it is in heaven.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52- It's stopped.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56- Where's Fabio? Fabio!
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- Fabio! Answer!
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- Sh! They can hear you!
0:09:03 > 0:09:04- He can't disappear into thin air!
0:09:04 > 0:09:05- He can't disappear into thin air!- - Shut up!
0:09:06 > 0:09:10- I had an idea how - to avoid the deadly battles.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12- The mountains would help me.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14- GUNSHOTS
0:09:14 > 0:09:19- The battles took place - thousands of metres above sea level.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- It was difficult for the soldiers.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- There were no provisions - for them.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- Ammunition, food and water - had to be carried up.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36- The enemy did their best - to prevent that.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41- They watched the soldiers' - movements from afar, even at night.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43- EXPLOSION
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- The enemy wasn't the biggest problem - in the mountains.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02- Nature was.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08- The soldiers endured storms - and heavy rainfall for weeks.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- There were often ten metres of snow - to go through.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16- The temperature dropped - to 20 degrees below zero.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24- Of course, I led them - the long, rocky way.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25- How far is it?
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- How far is it?- - I wanted to weaken them...
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- ..and force them to surrender.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- Is that Col di Lana?
0:10:33 > 0:10:39- The soldiers were hungry and cold. - But they had to carry on fighting.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45- The names of the mountains reflected - the brutality of the fighting.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- Mountain Of Death or Damned Saint.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- But the worst - was a mountain in the Dolomites.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54- It was 2,500 metres high.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58- They fought over it for years.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04- This was the Col di Lana, or as the - soldiers called it, Blood Mountain.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- Whoever conquered Col di Lana...
0:11:08 > 0:11:12- ..controlled the main access - into Austria.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- It was only by conquering - this mountain...
0:11:16 > 0:11:19- ..that the Italian army - could advance.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21- Where are the Austrians?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- Where are the Austrians?- - Over there.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- We're on the wrong mountain!
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- You brought us - to the wrong mountain!
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- No! This is the eastern side!
0:11:34 > 0:11:38- You made us climb - all those rocks for nothing!
0:11:38 > 0:11:40- Calm down, Paolo!
0:11:40 > 0:11:44- Col di Lana - is within walking distance!
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- He's right. It's flat here.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50- Brilliant! - That means he's served his purpose.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52- He can help carry things.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53- He can help carry things.- - Quiet!
0:11:53 > 0:11:56- Shut up! You've betrayed us enough!
0:11:56 > 0:11:57- Shut up! You've betrayed us enough!- - Quiet!
0:12:01 > 0:12:02- Landslide!
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- The majority of the soldiers - didn't die in battle...
0:12:10 > 0:12:13- ..or from starvation or cold.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- Avalanches claimed most lives.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21- Thousands of tons of stones - or snow moved without warning...
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- ..triggered by a small sound...
0:12:24 > 0:12:26- ..but mainly if a bomb exploded.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- The avalanches destroyed - everything in their path...
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- ..houses, bridges and streets.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39- They also destroyed - armies, animals and guns.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- They disappeared - in a matter of seconds.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49- In the war in the Alps, thousands - of soldiers died in avalanches.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21- Lorenzo!
0:13:26 > 0:13:27- Mario!
0:13:29 > 0:13:30- Lorenzo!
0:13:38 > 0:13:39- Lorenzo!
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- Lorenzo, can you hear me?
0:13:46 > 0:13:47- Lorenzo.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01- Take care! My leg!
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- I've had it. Leave me here.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30- Lorenzo, - we'll come back after Col di Lana.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- We'll be back.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- We'll be back.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- One wrong move and you're dead meat!
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- I was tied to Paolo.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52- We left Officer Lorenzo on his own.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55- He'd never make it down.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- He would die - of starvation and thirst.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04- To defend themselves - from avalanches and the enemy...
0:15:04 > 0:15:08- ..soldiers hid in caves and tunnels.
0:15:08 > 0:15:14- They dug deeper into the mountains - the longer the war went on.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- They built storerooms - and battle stations.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21- They had all sorts of guns, - even cannons.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27- The most impressive was an entire - city hidden under walls of ice.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32- 700 Austrians lived here, - 40 metres below the surface...
0:15:33 > 0:15:35- ..in a city of ice.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39- The soldiers, - camped in the mountains...
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- ..were difficult to drive out.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- This was especially true - of Col di Lana.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50- If the Italians wanted to - conquer it, they'd need a new plan.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- What's this? Where are you going?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- What's this? Where are you going?- - Shut up!
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- Let's go!
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- Because the Austrians were - hiding deep in the mountain...
0:16:48 > 0:16:52- ..the Italians dug a tunnel - hundreds of metres long...
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- ..straight through the mountain.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- But the Austrians weren't idle, - either.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- They dug under the Germans' tunnel.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06- They could hear where the enemy - was from the digging sounds.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- I don't recognize this tunnel.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Why was it built?
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- What do the Italians intend to do?
0:17:40 > 0:17:45- The Italians put explosives all over - the mountain to kill their enemy.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- Oh, no! They can't do that!
0:17:48 > 0:17:52- My grandfather and brother - could be in a tunnel nearby.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- I have to warn them!
0:18:00 > 0:18:01- Go!
0:18:01 > 0:18:04- You can't bomb this mountain!
0:18:04 > 0:18:06- Oh, we can! Go!
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- Go!
0:18:11 > 0:18:15- The most dangerous time...
0:18:15 > 0:18:19- ..was when the drilling - and hammering stopped.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23- The mountain could explode - at any moment.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- I couldn't allow it to happen.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43- I had to do something.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45- But what?
0:18:46 > 0:18:49- My brother and grandfather - are there!
0:18:49 > 0:18:53- Then they should have surrendered.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- At least warn them.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- At least warn them.- - It's too late!
0:19:07 > 0:19:11- EXPLOSION
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- On April 17, 1916...
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- ..the Italians blew up - Blood Mountain.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- They used 5,000 kilograms - of dynamite.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- Most of the Austrians - escaped in time.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42- The explosion created a landslide. - All of the Italians were buried.
0:19:42 > 0:19:48- Only Paolo and I survived, - still bound together by a rope.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09- I won't let you fall.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11- I won't let you fall.- - Hey, boy. It's OK.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- I have done my duty.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22- You have your whole life - in front of you.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28- SCREAMS
0:20:42 > 0:20:47- Despite many bloody battles and - hundreds of thousands of deaths...
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- ..the Italians failed - to beat the Austrians.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- There was a stalemate on the Alps...
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- ..and on the Western Front - in France.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02- The Mountain War continued - for two more bitter years.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12- Well done, Herman. We're almost - home. I'll bring you some water.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22- We brought Officer Lorenzo - down from the mountain.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- He was the only survivor - of his unit.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37- I'll get water.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- My grandfather - told my brother and I...
0:21:47 > 0:21:52- ..the mountains didn't differentiate - between Austrian and Italian.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57- We were all equal and - we should help one another...
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- ..to survive.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38- S4C Subtitles by Gwead
0:22:38 > 0:22:38- .