Series synopsis
The Cost of War is an American documentary television series that premiered on Toute l'Histoire on January 1, 2019.
Wars can be waged at home or thousands of miles away. They can be fought from the air or in the trenches. They can last days or years. But they are never cheap. From the economic and environmental costs, to the social and human impacts, this fascinating six-part documentary takes a forensic look at the mechanics of war to discover the price that must be paid – and who ultimately pays it.
Premise
Wars can be waged at home or thousands of miles away. They can be fought from the air or in the trenches. They can last days or years. But they are never cheap. From the economic and environmental costs, to the social and human impacts, this fascinating six-part documentary takes a forensic look at the mechanics of war to discover the price that must be paid – and who ultimately pays it.
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 6 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 6 | January 1, 2019 | January 1, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
S. 1 EP. 1 - The First World War When WWI began in 1914, few could predict its costs: With around 10 million soldiers and sailors killed and almost as many civilians, the world had never before seen such carnage. The economic costs were even higher: $186 billion was spent directly on war costs (around $2 trillion in today’s money). The human and economic consequences of the war meant that the costs didn’t end in 1918. |
January 1, 2019 |
| 2 |
S. 1 EP. 2 - The Second World War WWII was even more devastating than the WWI. Although we may never establish the precise figures, some 20-25 million servicemen were killed alongside an unimaginable 50 or 60 million civilians. In this episode we account for these devastating figures, looking at the global experience of the war including the Holocaust and Japanese war crimes, and examine the economic cost and its legacies. |
January 1, 2019 |
| 3 |
S. 1 EP. 3 - The Vietnam War The Cold War conflict between capitalism and communism had one key hotspot above all others: the Vietnam War. It cost of up to 4 million lives on both sides and saw a US expediture of around $200 billion in direct and indirect costs. But greater wealth didn’t translate into victory. This episode explores the paradoxes and terrible costs of this war. some of which are still being paid today. |
January 1, 2019 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Toute l'Histoire |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 1, 2019 |
| Last aired | January 1, 2019 |
| Status | continue |