What began as a regional conflict quickly spread beyond control.

In Episode 2 of Moments That Shape Us, the focus shifts from the assassination in Sarajevo to the rapid chain reaction that pulled all of Europe into war. As alliances activated, countries mobilized millions of soldiers, turning a localized dispute into a global conflict within days.

This episode follows the early decisions that defined the war’s direction, including Germany’s Schlieffen Plan, the invasion of Belgium, and Britain’s entry into the war. It also explores the early battles, such as the First Battle of the Marne, where fast-moving warfare came to a halt and a new kind of fighting began.

What many believed would be a short and controlled war was quickly becoming something much larger, more dangerous, and far more difficult to end.