"The Great War: 1918" is an exquisitely created episode, as it crams a TON of material into the time slot for "American Experience"...so much material that I am surprised it wasn't a multi-part episode.
Eric Severeid, the famed journalist and WWII correspondent, narrates this show which takes the United States from neutrality to war and, eventually, to full-fledged fighting by the troops against the Central Powers. To do this, it meant taking a standing army of 130,000 and ballooning it to 4,000,000...and to do so meant a publicity campaign to encourage men to enlist. While it was not mentioned in the documentary, this was NOT enough and a draft had to be instated to make up for the difference.
Much of the show consisted of footage of the war but most importantly, it was made while WWI veterans still lived and could participate and tell their harrowing stories. Some of these might be best seen with some Kleenex handy and small children probably should watch something different. However, older kids should see it and, hopefully, learn from it.
Overall a great encapsulation of 18 months of very turbulent and violent history. Well worth seeing, though it only covers a small portion of this hellish war.