The Awakening of Giants

Battleships, submarines and aircraft carriers. In the first episode we witness how warships become a major cause of World War I – and how sailors ultimately help put an end to it. We have a front-row seat for the biggest naval battle of the war and feel the horrors of unrestricted submarine warfare. At the end of the 19th century, the world of warships changed radically: steel replaced wood. On board ships of this era, sailors and officers set sail, facing the enemy and hoping for a safe return. The period is between 1864 and 1918. Steam engines replaced sails, technology and tactics were both improved. In the 20th century, ships have become faster, stronger and deadlier. Soon, a war the likes of which the world had never seen before was brewing. The film depicts the largest naval battle of the First World War and the unrestricted submarine warfare.