6.2 Consequences

The Great War had wide ranging consequences for the nations involved. The most obvious consequence is that many people were killed or injured. One unforeseen consequence was that France and Belgium were left with a huge clear-up operation to remove the bombs, bullets and trenches left behind by the war. Other consequences had a huge impact on the remainder of the twentieth century. The films on this page show a snapshot of some of these consequences.

EX-KAISER IN EXILE
5 MINS 39 SECS, SILENT, B/W, 1925

In the winter of 1925, Pathé newsreel cameras captured footage of Wilhelm walking in the snow near his house in Doorn, Holland. The film then contrasts his time as Emperor of Germany with his more humble life in exile.

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GRAVEYARD OF GERMANY'S AIR AMBITIONS
0 MINS 56 SECS, SILENT, B/W, 1920

The film shows a vast Berlin scrap yard in which biplanes are broken up.

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CLEARING UP BERLIN
1 MIN 47 SECS, SILENT, B/W, 1918

This film details the clearing up of the rubble and damage caused by the Berlin revolution in 1918 at the close of the First World War.

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GEORGE V SPEAKS AT THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
6 MINS 45 SECS, SOUND, AUDIO ONLY, 1919

This is a recording of a speech made by King George V at the opening of a League of Nations meeting in England in 1919. He expresses his appreciation and interest in the organisation and speaks of his concern about rising unemployment. Parts of his speech are made in French.

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THE BULLION PLANE
1 MIN 35 SECS, SILENT, B/W, 1925

A Junkers G 24 monoplane lands at Croydon Aerodrome, given by Germany to Britain under the Dawes Reparation Scheme, which was an effort to collect compensation from Germany, but under more lenient terms than was first agreed at Versailles. This film was released in cinemas on 29 August 1925.