Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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What Rhineland 45: nebula.tv/videos/real-time-history-1-come-hell-or-high-water-i-rhineland-45?ref=the-great-war&utm_content=the-great-war
In early 1917, the United States was still neutral in the First World War. Meanwhile, German leaders were getting desperate – if they couldn’t find a way to break the war of attrition on the Western Front, the Allies would probably defeat them. The result was multiple gambles that staked everything on a quick victory with the risk of drawing the US into the war.
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Rose Flaglor, Reed Spilmann, Erik Ritter, Cardboard, Ken Brownfield, David Garfinkle, Raymond Martin, Konstantin Bredyuk, Lisa Anderson, Brad Durbin, Jeremy K Jones, Murray Godfrey, John Ozment, Stephen Parker, Mavrides, Kristina Colburn, Stefan Jackowski, Cardboard, William Kincade, William Wallace, Daniel L Garza, Chris Daley, Malcolm Swan, Christoph Wolf, Simen Røste, Jim F Barlow, Taylor Allen, Adam Smith, James Giliberto, Albert B. Knapp MD, Tobias Wildenblanck, Richard L Benkin, Marco Kuhnert, Matt Barnes, Ramon Rijkhoek, Jan, Scott Deederly, gsporie, Kekoa, Bruce G. Hearns, Hans Broberg, Fogeltje
» SOURCES
Abbatiello, John. “Atlantic U-boat Campaign,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2016. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/atlantic-u-boat-campaign
Halpern, Paul G.. “Naval Warfare (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/naval-warfare-usa
Keene, Jennifer D. “United States of America,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/united-states-of-america
Kennedy, Ross. “Governments, Parliaments and Parties (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2017. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/governments-parliaments-and-parties-usa
Lloyd, Nick. The Western Front. Penguin, 2021.
Medlock, Chelsea Autumn. “Lusitania, Sinking of,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2019. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/lusitania-sinking-of-1-1
Neiberg, Michael S. The Path to War : How the First World War Created Modern America. Oxford University Press, 2016.
President Woodrow Wilson’s Message on Neutrality, August 19, 1914. millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-19-1914-message-neutrality
President Woodrow Wilson's address to Congress, April 2, 1917. Proclamation of the President, April 6, 1917. archive.org/details/presidentwoodrow00unit/mode/2up
Rinke, Stefan. “Zimmermann Telegram,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/zimmermann-telegram
U.S. Army War College, “Michael S. Neiberg – Why the US Entered the First World War and Why it Matters,” YouTube, 2018. youtu.be/-F7OAIRlKN0?si=ubRXX1L-wvgCaBBX
Watson, Alexander. Ring of Steel. Germany and Austria-Hungary at War, 1914-1918. Penguin, 2014.
Yockelson, Mitchell. “Pre-war Military Planning (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/pre-war-military-planning-usa
N.N. “The Zimmermann Telegram.” In Cryptologic Quarterly. nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/cryptologic-quarterly/the_zimmermann_telegram.pdf
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»CREDITS
Presented by: Jesse Alexander
Written by: Jesse Alexander
Director: Toni Steller
Editing: Philipp Appelt
Motion Design: Philipp Appelt
Mixing, Mastering & Sound Design: above-zero.com
Research by: Jesse Alexander, Sophie Soulière
Fact checking: Florian Wittig
Executive Producer: Florian Wittig
Channel Design: Yves Thimian
Contains licensed material by getty images, picture alliance and Reuters
Maps: MapTiler/OpenStreetMap Contributors & GEOlayers3
All photos and film in our documentaries are authentic historical footage. We do not use generative AI to create new assets. However, we may use AI tools to upscale or clean up certain assets without distorting or compromising the original image.
All rights reserved - Real Time History GmbH 2025
Support us and get 40% off Nebula: go.nebula.tv/the-great-war
What Rhineland 45: nebula.tv/videos/real-time-history-1-come-hell-or-high-water-i-rhineland-45?ref=the-great-war&utm_content=the-great-war
In early 1917, the United States was still neutral in the First World War. Meanwhile, German leaders were getting desperate – if they couldn’t find a way to break the war of attrition on the Western Front, the Allies would probably defeat them. The result was multiple gambles that staked everything on a quick victory with the risk of drawing the US into the war.
» SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Patreon: patreon.com/realtimehistory
Nebula: nebula.tv/the-great-war
» THANKS TO OUR CO-PRODUCERS
Rose Flaglor, Reed Spilmann, Erik Ritter, Cardboard, Ken Brownfield, David Garfinkle, Raymond Martin, Konstantin Bredyuk, Lisa Anderson, Brad Durbin, Jeremy K Jones, Murray Godfrey, John Ozment, Stephen Parker, Mavrides, Kristina Colburn, Stefan Jackowski, Cardboard, William Kincade, William Wallace, Daniel L Garza, Chris Daley, Malcolm Swan, Christoph Wolf, Simen Røste, Jim F Barlow, Taylor Allen, Adam Smith, James Giliberto, Albert B. Knapp MD, Tobias Wildenblanck, Richard L Benkin, Marco Kuhnert, Matt Barnes, Ramon Rijkhoek, Jan, Scott Deederly, gsporie, Kekoa, Bruce G. Hearns, Hans Broberg, Fogeltje
» SOURCES
Abbatiello, John. “Atlantic U-boat Campaign,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2016. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/atlantic-u-boat-campaign
Halpern, Paul G.. “Naval Warfare (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/naval-warfare-usa
Keene, Jennifer D. “United States of America,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/united-states-of-america
Kennedy, Ross. “Governments, Parliaments and Parties (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2017. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/governments-parliaments-and-parties-usa
Lloyd, Nick. The Western Front. Penguin, 2021.
Medlock, Chelsea Autumn. “Lusitania, Sinking of,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2019. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/lusitania-sinking-of-1-1
Neiberg, Michael S. The Path to War : How the First World War Created Modern America. Oxford University Press, 2016.
President Woodrow Wilson’s Message on Neutrality, August 19, 1914. millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-19-1914-message-neutrality
President Woodrow Wilson's address to Congress, April 2, 1917. Proclamation of the President, April 6, 1917. archive.org/details/presidentwoodrow00unit/mode/2up
Rinke, Stefan. “Zimmermann Telegram,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/zimmermann-telegram
U.S. Army War College, “Michael S. Neiberg – Why the US Entered the First World War and Why it Matters,” YouTube, 2018. youtu.be/-F7OAIRlKN0?si=ubRXX1L-wvgCaBBX
Watson, Alexander. Ring of Steel. Germany and Austria-Hungary at War, 1914-1918. Penguin, 2014.
Yockelson, Mitchell. “Pre-war Military Planning (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/pre-war-military-planning-usa
N.N. “The Zimmermann Telegram.” In Cryptologic Quarterly. nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/cryptologic-quarterly/the_zimmermann_telegram.pdf
» OUR SISTER CHANNEL
youtube.com/realtimehistory
»CREDITS
Presented by: Jesse Alexander
Written by: Jesse Alexander
Director: Toni Steller
Editing: Philipp Appelt
Motion Design: Philipp Appelt
Mixing, Mastering & Sound Design: above-zero.com
Research by: Jesse Alexander, Sophie Soulière
Fact checking: Florian Wittig
Executive Producer: Florian Wittig
Channel Design: Yves Thimian
Contains licensed material by getty images, picture alliance and Reuters
Maps: MapTiler/OpenStreetMap Contributors & GEOlayers3
All photos and film in our documentaries are authentic historical footage. We do not use generative AI to create new assets. However, we may use AI tools to upscale or clean up certain assets without distorting or compromising the original image.
All rights reserved - Real Time History GmbH 2025
