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WW1 myths and misconceptions, with Alex Churchill

WW1 myths and misconceptions, with Alex Churchill

Explore the most significant misconceptions of the global conflict known as the First World War, guided by historian Alex Churchill

Published: July 8, 2025 at 9:17 AM

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Welcome to our Academy course – WW1 myths and misconceptions.

This six-episode course challenges the most significant misconceptions of the global conflict known as the First World War, guided by historian Alex Churchill.

Below, you'll find our series of video explainers with Alex, as well as supplementary reading and quizzes to test your knowledge.

You'll have an opportunity to put your questions to Alex in a live Q&A taking place in August.

About the expert

Alex Churchill is a historian and presenter who specialises in 20th-century history. Her latest book, co-authored with Nicolai Eberholst, is Ring of Fire: A New Global History of the Outbreak of the First World War (Bloomsbury, 2025)

Showing 1 to 6 of 6 results

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Episode 1Did Franz Ferdinand's death really start World War One?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Most people think of Franz Ferdinand's assassination in June 1914 as being the spark that started World War One. But it was a conflict that had much longer roots. In episode one of her HistoryExtra Academy series 'World War One: Myths and Misconceptions', historian Alex Churchill explains the long and short term causes of the war
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Episode 2Was it possible to be neutral in World War One?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

At the outbreak of World War One, certain countries took the official stance to remain impartial and not participate in the conflict. But was this really possible? In episode two of her HistoryExtra Academy series 'World War One: Myths and Misconceptions', historian Alex Churchill explains why true neutrality was a myth
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Episode 3Beyond the trenches: untold stories of WW1. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Although it's one of the most common images we have of the conflict, World War One wasn't just fought in the trenches. In episode three of her HistoryExtra Academy series 'World War One: Myths and Misconceptions', historian Alex Churchill explores some of the personal experiences of the war you might not have heard about before
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Episode 4Not just the Western Front: why we can't ignore the rest of the world. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

While the Western Front dominates most accounts of World War One, the fighting spanned continents. In episode four of her HistoryExtra Academy series 'World War One: Myths and Misconceptions', historian Alex Churchill spotlights the truly global nature of the conflict
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Episode 5Lions led by donkeys: a World War One myth?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

One of the most persistent myths about World War One is that brave soldiers were led by incompetent generals. In episode five of her HistoryExtra Academy series 'World War One: Myths and Misconceptions', historian Alex Churchill explores how military leadership evolved – and how the war was ultimately won
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Why World War One didn't end when you think it did. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Many people think the First World War ended on 11 November 1918 – but that was just the beginning of a long and messy peace process. In episode six of her HistoryExtra Academy series World War One: Myths and Misconceptions, historian Alex Churchill explores the complicated aftermath of the war and why its legacy still matters today

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