How do you turn ordinary men into soldiers? Find out how some of the armed forces’ newest recruits reacted to military training in 1914 in Podcast 5: Training for war.

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The outbreak of war in August 1914 affected thousands of people across Europe. Listen to the experiences of some of those who found themselves in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

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In August 1914, Britain’s regular army numbered only 250,000. A recruitment campaign was immediately launched.

In this podcast, a range of people describe how and why men enlisted following the outbreak of war.

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After weeks of speculation and mounting tension, Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914.

Find out how people around the world reacted to the news of the outbreak of hostilities.

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Here is the first episode in a series of podcasts that delve into IWM’s sound collection to bring you the voices of those who lived through the First World War. In this first podcast, find out why war broke out in 1914 from those who were there. How did people react to that fateful shot fired in Sarajevo?

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