Beyond the trenches: a new take on WW1

Historian Alex Churchill explores lesser-known dimensions of the opening weeks of the First World War, from untold global stories to the myths and misconceptions we have about the conflict

Published: July 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM

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When you think of the First World War, what springs to mind? Is it trench warfare? The myth that troops would be home by Christmas? Or perhaps the idea that the whole thing began because of the assassination of an Austro-Hungarian archduke? In this episode, we’re going beyond these narratives to consider alternative perspectives of the opening weeks of the conflict. Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Alex Churchill – co-author of new book Ring of Fire alongside Nikolai Eberholst – to consider fresh perspectives of the conflict, highlighting the voices of ordinary people caught up in the war, as well as how it unfolded across the globe.

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Alex is the presenter of the new HistoryExtra academy series WW1: Myths and Misconceptions – which is out now and available to watch on the HistoryExtra App. In the series, Alex unpacks some of the most enduring myths about World War One – exploring topics such as the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the complexities of wartime neutrality, why the war didn’t truly end on 11 November 1918, and much more.

Download the HistoryExtra App to watch Alex's new academy series WW1: Myths and Misconceptions.

Alexandra Churchill and Nicolai Eberholst are the authors of Ring of Fire: A New Global History of the Outbreak of the First World War (Bloomsbury, 2025).

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Authors

Rachel DinningDigital editor (engagement and video)

Rachel Dinning is digital editor (engagement and video) at HistoryExtra

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