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 10-year-old - Russian boy, Misha Petrowski.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36- His village was close - to the Austrian border.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43- The Austrians - have destroyed everything.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47- They killed our neighbours.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- My brothers, my sisters, my parents.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54- They've all gone.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10- Only this was left...
0:01:10 > 0:01:14- ..a picture of Tsar Nicholas - and his son Alexei.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23- Alexei Romanov is only - a few years older than me.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27- He would be the Tsar one day.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31- He'll make sure - that our enemies are defeated...
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- ..and that everything will be fine.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38- THE REVOLUTION
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- Tsar Nicholas and his family...
0:01:45 > 0:01:49- ..lived in a palace - in the capital city, St Petersburg.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53- The Romanov family had ruled Russia - for 300 years.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58- No-one complained, - because the Tsar was chosen by God.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03- That's what the Russians believed. - Religion was important in Russia.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05- The people trusted Father Tsar...
0:02:06 > 0:02:09- ..as Nicholas II - was affectionately called.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- The Tsar had more power - than kings or emperors.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17- He could get rid of any government - and its ministers.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21- The Tsar was - the Russian Church leader...
0:02:21 > 0:02:23- ..and chief of the army.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28- Russia was at war - against Austria-Hungary.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32- But the Russian soldiers - didn't want to fight any more.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38- The Austrian soldiers - in the opposite trenches...
0:02:38 > 0:02:41- ..didn't want to fight, either.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48- Food!
0:02:50 > 0:02:51- Food!
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- What have we got today, then?
0:02:58 > 0:03:00- What have we got today, then?- - Soup and bread.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- Russia entered - the First World War...
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- ..after Austria-Hungary - attacked Serbia.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- Russia and Serbia were allies.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20- That's why the Tsar and his army - supported Serbia.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25- More than a million Russian - soldiers attacked Austria-Hungary.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- The Russian army - was the largest in the world.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33- Their enemies had to fight - on several fronts.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- Even so, - Russia suffered heavy losses.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39- They were gradually pushed back.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42- Russia was a huge country.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- There weren't enough - roads and railroads.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51- Weapons and food - did not reach the soldiers in time.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55- What's going on? Where's the bread?
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- The child fooled you!
0:04:06 > 0:04:08- Was it you?
0:04:09 > 0:04:13- Come here, you little rascal!
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- I'm small and you're a big thief!
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- I'm small and you're a big thief!- - Is that all you've learnt?
0:04:22 > 0:04:27- I was looking for something to eat - and a chance for vengeance.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- So I joined the Tsar's army.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- And even if I was not - welcomed with open arms...
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- ..they could use me because - I wanted to fight the Austrians.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47- There wasn't enough food - for the soldiers.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52- There wasn't enough food - in the cities or villages, either.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00- They searched for food in vain. - The markets were empty.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- Many people starved.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11- The situation made - the Russians more and more angry.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14- They protested.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17- Housewives took to the streets.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20- Workers and students followed suit.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- They looted - and set fire to police stations.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- They set prisoners free - and murdered policemen.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34- Only the Tsar could restore power.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- But Nicholas II was far away, - fighting on the front.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43- The priority for him and - his officers was winning the war.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49- Say it!
0:05:50 > 0:05:55- Corporal Misha Petrowski - at your service, your Highness.
0:05:57 > 0:05:58- Well, well.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03- Kusmin made it for him.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04- What's so funny?
0:06:06 > 0:06:08- It was a joke.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12- The boy really wants to fight.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14- And why is that so funny?
0:06:17 > 0:06:19- Don't you want to fight?
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- No, your Majesty... yes, I mean.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- Then why are you still here? Go!
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- You, stay.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- You want fight against Germany?
0:06:47 > 0:06:51- Yes, and Austria! - I want to kill them all!
0:06:53 > 0:06:54- Hmm.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56- Come closer.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04- Closer!
0:07:09 > 0:07:14- Children joined the army - in Russia and across Europe.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18- They followed their adult heroes - with great enthusiasm.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25- In Russia, - orphans were adopted by the army.
0:07:25 > 0:07:31- These "sons of the army" - were even involved in the fighting.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- GUNFIRE
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- I had never seen sugar candy before.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- The taste was tempting.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56- I would do anything - the officer asked me to do.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- Yes, you have the right.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- The Russian army - needs boys like you.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16- Do you know why?
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- Because not everyone - is as brave as you.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- That is why I have - a secret mission for you.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38- If a soldier - doesn't want to fight...
0:08:38 > 0:08:43- ..or is always complaining - that he's hungry or cold....
0:08:45 > 0:08:49- ..I want to hear about it - straightaway.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01- We understand each other, - Corporal Petrowski?
0:09:08 > 0:09:08- Off you go.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10- Off you go.- - Aye-aye, Sir!
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- The Tsar gave the order - to use violence...
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- ..to restore order in the cities.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- But the soldiers refused - to shoot at the women.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- They joined the protests.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- Nicholas II could do nothing.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- Without his soldiers, - he had no power.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45- On March 15th, 1917, - he did something unbelievable.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48- He has abdicated!
0:09:49 > 0:09:50- The Tsar has abdicated!
0:09:50 > 0:09:52- The Tsar has abdicated!- - Be careful, come down here!
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- The Tsar has abdicated!
0:10:02 > 0:10:06- But the soldiers - will stay loyal to him, I'm sure.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- We took an oath that we would.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15- After three hundred years, we have - finally got rid of the Romanovs!
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- But how? That's impossible!
0:10:24 > 0:10:28- The Workers and Soldiers Deputies - have seized power!
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- We have a new government!
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- But how? That's impossible!
0:10:37 > 0:10:39- It's true, boy.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42- Workers and Soldiers Deputies!
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- It's all lies!
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- A government that will listen to us!
0:10:48 > 0:10:50- But what about Alexei?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52- But what about Alexei?- - What about Alexei?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- If his father - is no longer the Tsar...
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- ..won't Alexei be the new Tsar?
0:11:03 > 0:11:04- Like many...
0:11:04 > 0:11:09- ..Misha couldn't understand - why the Romanovs ignored Russia.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13- After the February Revolution, - the Tsar and his family...
0:11:13 > 0:11:18- ..were sent to Siberia, as far - as possible from Russia's capital.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22- The new leaders said - it was for their own safety.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27- Many people in St Petersburg - wanted to kill the Romanovs.
0:11:27 > 0:11:34- The former Tsar was taken far away - from his palace, to a simpler life.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- His only hope was help from outside.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- He still had loyal supporters - who wanted him back on the throne.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58- Tell me, how is the atmosphere - amongst my men?
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Are they happy with the revolution?
0:12:05 > 0:12:10- Yes, because everyone will - have land when the war ends.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15- The new government promised it. The - death penalty has been abolished.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20- So no-one is unhappy, and there - are only happy men in my army?
0:12:21 > 0:12:22- No.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- What do they complain about?
0:12:28 > 0:12:30- You.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34- Why?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- You're too informal with the men.
0:12:38 > 0:12:44- The new rules order you - to call them "sir".
0:12:52 > 0:12:57- Do I have to say "sir" to them?
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- Not to me.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04- Anything else?
0:13:05 > 0:13:10- Should I give them tea every morning - and hold their hands in an attack?
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- Do they still want to attack?
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- What are they thinking of doing?
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- Eat your soup.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- Fighting continued - on the eastern front.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40- The new Russian government had - promised this to Britain and France.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45- But the revolutionary - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin didn't agree.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- Lenin thought the revolution - hadn't gone far enough.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54- He wanted to dissolve the government - and make Russia Communist.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- Then everyone would be equal.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02- The workers and people would be in - power, once the rich were defeated.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- Lenin said they were the true enemy.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09- That's why he wanted - to end the war immediately.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- Many soldiers agreed.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15- The time has come.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17- Good luck.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30- I can't see the Austrians.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- They will come. - They're farmers like us.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- They don't want to fight either.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- Not fight?
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- They started the war!
0:14:45 > 0:14:50- Imagine if all the soldiers were - friends. The war would soon end!
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- The officers can't do - anything about it.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57- The Austrians are coming!
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- The real enemies are the officers, - businessmen, the rich...
0:15:02 > 0:15:05- ..who profit from the war.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- If we convince the Austrians...
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- ..the revolution will - spread across Europe.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17- What's happening? Won't they fight?
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- No, little boy, - the world revolution has begun...
0:15:24 > 0:15:27- ..just as Lenin predicted!
0:15:32 > 0:15:33- EXPLOSION
0:15:38 > 0:15:40- Run, Bogdan, run!
0:15:42 > 0:15:44- I didn't understand that.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45- Who shot?
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- Why have we fought - for three years against Austria?
0:15:50 > 0:15:54- How can they make peace, - after everything they did to us?
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- The Russians and Austrians - became friends.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- Soldiers from both sides - met in other places too.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06- German and British soldiers - celebrated Christmas together.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- But officers stopped - that immediately.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- Befriending the enemy was treason.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- The punishment was death.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- Looking for this?
0:16:37 > 0:16:38- Bogdan?
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- How? I thought...
0:16:44 > 0:16:46- Those were Russian grenades...
0:16:46 > 0:16:51- ..someone has said we want - to help the Austrian soldiers.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- Do you know what you've done?
0:16:57 > 0:16:59- Yes.
0:17:01 > 0:17:02- Why did you betray us?
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- The Austrians hanged my parents!
0:17:06 > 0:17:10- They burned our barn, where - my brothers and sister were.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- And you want to be - friends with them?!
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- Yes! We want to end this madness!
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- Enough harm has already been done!
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Our enemy isn't the Austrians...
0:17:24 > 0:17:28- ..but the people who want - the war to continue at any price.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- Decide. Which side are you on?
0:17:36 > 0:17:38- Don't let me down, Alexei.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- Make everything - the way it used to be...
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- Usually, I wanted to beg - the Tsar for advice.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- But that didn't make sense any more.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53- I had betrayed my friends, - to take revenge on the Austrians.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- I couldn't undo that.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- But the revolution - couldn't be stopped.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02- In October, 1917...
0:18:03 > 0:18:06- ..Lenin and the Communist - Party came to power.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11- For the second time that year, - revolution broke out.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- Government buildings were occupied.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17- Revolutionaries broke in - to the Tsar's palace...
0:18:17 > 0:18:19- ..to arrest the government.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- Misha was given - an important task as well.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35- Well? Do they still want - to fraternize with the enemy?
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- Or have they learnt their lesson?
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- Tell me, have you heard anything?
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- Tell me, have you heard anything?- - You should say "sir"!
0:18:54 > 0:18:55- What?
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- I'm not your poodle any more.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- Corporal Pe...
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- ..how dare you enter!
0:19:07 > 0:19:08- I'm your Senior Officer!
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- I'm your Senior Officer!- - Those days are over.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13- We don't need officers any more.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16- So who will command you?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- You, Oleg? Or you, Bogdan?
0:19:24 > 0:19:25- Why not?
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- I would never shoot my own men.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- Get out!
0:19:33 > 0:19:35- Out, now!
0:19:38 > 0:19:39- Arrest him.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44- Many senior officers and even - captains were arrested by their men.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- Well done. Now, all will be fine.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- Now, men chose their officers.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59- But many Russian soldiers threw - aside their weapons and headed home.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02- No-one stopped them any more.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07- Lenin kept his promise - to the people and ended the war.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- On March 3, 1918...
0:20:13 > 0:20:18- ..the Russian Communists made - a peace treaty with the Germans.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- Russia lost a lot of territory.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24- Lenin went further.
0:20:25 > 0:20:26- On his command...
0:20:26 > 0:20:32- ..the Tsar, his wife, four daughters - and only son Alexei were killed.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41- No Tsar should ever again - reign over the people of Russia.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- I lost everything, - because of the war.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51- My family, my hope.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- But I learnt who - the real enemy was...
0:20:55 > 0:20:58- ..and that killing - each other had to stop.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- The Tsar is dead. And his son too.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- Excellent.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- That means the war is really over.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- What about Poland? And Ukraine? - Have we lost them forever?
0:21:26 > 0:21:27- Who cares?
0:21:28 > 0:21:31- Back home, I shall have - my own piece of land.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33- That's much more important to me.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41- Russia is big enough!
0:21:47 > 0:21:49- Goodbye.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50- Goodbye.- - Goodbye.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- I have to find my own way.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03- And I will.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- S4C Subtitles by Gwead
0:22:45 > 0:22:45- .