Original subtitles

- (dramatic music) - (thunderclap)

NARRATOR: It is one of the greatest battles of antiquity;

a clash of rare violence between two civilizations.

a clash of rare violence between two civilizations.

YANN RIVIERE:

NARRATOR: In the first century CE,

NARRATOR: In the first century CE,

the Roman legions of Augustus dominated Europe.

ERIC TEYSSIER:

NARRATOR: Their thirst for conquest

NARRATOR: Their thirst for conquest

took them across the Rhine, into Germania.

But deep in the heart of this hostile territory,

But deep in the heart of this hostile territory,

a fearsome people would make their lives hellish.

PASCAL DAVID:

- (battle clamour)

NARRATOR: One conflict above all others

NARRATOR: One conflict above all others

symbolised this unprecedented disaster - the Battle of Teutoburg.

Recorded in ancient accounts and shrouded in mystery,

Recorded in ancient accounts and shrouded in mystery,

it pitched the German commander Arminius...

- Somebody very impressive, charming, intelligent.

- Somebody very impressive, charming, intelligent.

NARRATOR: ..against the Roman general, Varus,

sent by Emperor Augustus to conquer Germania.

sent by Emperor Augustus to conquer Germania.

- (battle clamour)

NARRATOR: But it led to one of Rome's most bitter defeats.

This is the true story of the Battle of Teutoburg.

- (dramatic music)

- (dramatic music)

NARRATOR: For some 30 years now,

NARRATOR: For some 30 years now,

this area of the Lower Saxony region in Germany,

near the village of Kalkriese,

has been the focus of archaeological research.

has been the focus of archaeological research.

The bloody confrontation between the Germanic peoples

and the Roman legions in the first century CE

is ready to yield its secrets.

is ready to yield its secrets.

Secrets dating back 2000 years

to a period when conquering Germania became Rome's prime objective.

to a period when conquering Germania became Rome's prime objective.

After subjugating the peoples of the Mediterranean basin,

the Roman armies turned north towards the vast unknown territory

the Roman armies turned north towards the vast unknown territory

known as Germania.

It was a prospect that aroused a mixture of fear and fantasy.

It was a prospect that aroused a mixture of fear and fantasy.

According to ancient texts,

these fears turned into a rout after a Dantesque battle.

Yet for a long time, scepticism reigned about the battle,

given that the accounts were so vague

and its location impossible to pinpoint.

and its location impossible to pinpoint.

For centuries,

historians assumed that it took place hundreds of miles away,

in the East, in Teutoburg Forest.

in the East, in Teutoburg Forest.

But today all doubts have been dispelled

and hundreds of square meters are being examined

and hundreds of square meters are being examined

with a fine-tooth comb.

- (device beeping)

STEFAN ZEISLER:

NARRATOR: This coin dates from the 19th century.

But the field is full of much older objects and clearly identifies

But the field is full of much older objects and clearly identifies

Kalkriese as the scene of the Battle of Teutoburg.

STEFAN ZEISLER:

NARRATOR: These excavations confirm

NARRATOR: These excavations confirm

what was until now only a hypothesis:

the legions of the Emperor Augustus passed through this area

2000 years ago.

2000 years ago.

NARRATOR: Their microscopic analysis

provides another important piece of information:

these legions fought under the Roman general Varus.

these legions fought under the Roman general Varus.

MARC RAPPE:

YANN RIVIERE:

YANN RIVIERE:

- (commander shouting orders)

PIERRE COSME:

- (men screaming)

- (sombre music)

NARRATOR: It was necessary, then, to protect this border

NARRATOR: It was necessary, then, to protect this border

and ensure the legions' progression into enemy territory.

The Romans began by setting up a line of temporary marching camps

The Romans began by setting up a line of temporary marching camps

along the Rhine and its tributaries, some of which grew into small towns.

The Aliso camp on the banks of the Lippe River

The Aliso camp on the banks of the Lippe River

in North Rhine-Westphalia was one of the most important.

LISA STRATMANN:

- (commander shouting orders)

LISA STRATMANN:

- (soldiers cadence)

NARRATOR: This section of the camp fortifications

has been reconstructed to scale,

using the same materials as the original construction.

using the same materials as the original construction.

LISA STRATMANN:

NARRATOR: Aliso hosted the XVIII'th legion,

NARRATOR: Aliso hosted the XVIII'th legion,

one of three taking part in the battle.

Given the difficulties in conquering Germania,

the camp was designed to be an impregnable fortress.

the camp was designed to be an impregnable fortress.

The Roman Empire's strategy for subduing the province

and its recalcitrant peoples rested on the shoulders of one man.

and its recalcitrant peoples rested on the shoulders of one man.

NARRATOR: In 7 CE,

Augustus appointed one of his trusted generals to Germania

- a close associate with a brilliant military career,

- a close associate with a brilliant military career,

and one of Rome's most influential figures:

Imperial Legatus Publius Quinctilius Varus.

Imperial Legatus Publius Quinctilius Varus.

YANN RIVIERE:

HEIDRUN DERKS: Publius Quinctilius Varus

belonged to the extended circle of the family of the Emperor.

belonged to the extended circle of the family of the Emperor.

PIERRE COSME:

YANN RIVIERE:

- The challenge for him to take the last step on the hierarchal level,

- The challenge for him to take the last step on the hierarchal level,

and then to become a governor of this future province.

NARRATOR: Among the officers on his staff,

Varus was reliant on one in particular:

a man named Arminius.

a man named Arminius.

- Roman officers like Tacitus

describe him as somebody very impressive, charming, intelligent.

describe him as somebody very impressive, charming, intelligent.

So he must have had quite a charisma,

and, of course, quite a competence of leadership.

and, of course, quite a competence of leadership.

NARRATOR: Arminius was a member of the Cheruscan nobility,

one of the tribes on the right bank of the Rhine.

one of the tribes on the right bank of the Rhine.

Like other Germanic peoples, they collaborated with the occupiers.

It was an approach that offered them the protection of an Empire

It was an approach that offered them the protection of an Empire

constantly in search of allies in its quest to Romanize and conquer.

The status of his clan had a major influence on Arminius's destiny.

Like many other boys, he was taken from his family at an early age

and sent to Rome to be educated.

PIERRE COSME:

- He becomes the leader of an auxiliary troop,

he joins several very important military campaigns.

he joins several very important military campaigns.

PIERRE COSME:

NARRATOR: Arminius was at the head of the auxiliary troops

NARRATOR: Arminius was at the head of the auxiliary troops

made up of warriors from the conquered peoples.

They served as intermediaries with the local population,

They served as intermediaries with the local population,

and swelled the ranks of the Roman army, making it even more dominant.

- (thunderclap)

- (thunderclap)

NARRATOR: In Kalkriese,

these legions left behind several military accessories,

one of which is of inestimable historical value.

one of which is of inestimable historical value.

- It is the oldest find of this type.

- It is the oldest find of this type.

There are other masks from the first century,

which shows that this is a very specific place of Roman history.

which shows that this is a very specific place of Roman history.

There have been several thoughts about the question,

"Who might have been the owner?"

"Who might have been the owner?"

There's some evidence that it belongs to somebody the cavalry.

- (horses neighing)

- It's probably not achievable for a normal soldier,

- It's probably not achievable for a normal soldier,

but for an officer of a slightly higher rank -

it mustn't be the highest rank.

it mustn't be the highest rank.

NARRATOR: The premise that this mask belonged to Arminius himself

is actually quite plausible.

- This mask is made fit to measure.

- This mask is made fit to measure.

It's not a mass product and then you just picked a mask,

but it was really adapted to the facial traits of its future owner.

but it was really adapted to the facial traits of its future owner.

That was used in the battle.

At least it is made in a way that it could have been possible to use it

At least it is made in a way that it could have been possible to use it

in a fighting situation.

NARRATOR: Augustus made sweeping changes to the Roman army,

NARRATOR: Augustus made sweeping changes to the Roman army,

turning it into a professional unit.

Made up of several hundred thousand men,

it was notable for its discipline and military techniques.

it was notable for its discipline and military techniques.

The army that Varus led in Germania was an elite force.

- (commander shouting orders) - (soldiers shouting)

ERIC TEYSSIER:

- (commander shouting orders) - (soldiers shouting)

- (commander shouting orders) - (soldiers shouting)

ERIC TEYSSIER:

- (whistle blows)

ERIC TEYSSIER:

NARRATOR: Thus the front line never wavers

when engaging in hand-to-hand combat.

when engaging in hand-to-hand combat.

ERIC TEYSSIER:

NARRATOR: Before battle, the legion first had to be deployed.

- (shouting orders)

- (soldiers chant)

NARRATOR: The approach to the battlefield

was made in several columns,

but the army always adapted to the terrain.

Even in the wet and hilly German countryside.

Even in the wet and hilly German countryside.

ERIC TEYSSIER:

- (commander shouts orders)

ERIC TEYSSIER:

ERIC TEYSSIER:

NARRATOR: Another feature of the Roman army

NARRATOR: Another feature of the Roman army

is that it recruited men of the people.

ERIC TEYSSIER:

ERIC TEYSSIER:

NARRATOR: A major discovery by the archaeologists at Kalkriese

completes this unusual arsenal -

the remains of a legionnaire's armour, embedded in rock

for more than 2000 years.

for more than 2000 years.

Using photogrammetry,

researchers have been able to produce a 3D reconstruction

of the armour, exactly as it was found during its excavation.

of the armour, exactly as it was found during its excavation.

Many hours of work were required to separate the various folded pieces.

REBEKKA KUITER: The plates of the Roman armour that we found

REBEKKA KUITER: The plates of the Roman armour that we found

are made of iron, and the iron is strongly corroded.

This machine is a fine air abrasion machine,

introduces an air jet

which we can use to take off the iron corrosion with abrasion.

which we can use to take off the iron corrosion with abrasion.

Which is good because it means we don't leave residue of chemicals

Which is good because it means we don't leave residue of chemicals

in the object that might harm the object later.

NARRATOR: The mechanical cleaning is refined under the microscope.

NARRATOR: The mechanical cleaning is refined under the microscope.

The clean plates provide researchers with valuable clues

about Roman military engineering

and its tremendous capacity for adaptation.

and its tremendous capacity for adaptation.

- This armour is a very early type.

This sort of plate armour was only established in the Roman military

This sort of plate armour was only established in the Roman military

around the reign of Augustus, so this is the earliest example

of this kind of plate armour

of this kind of plate armour

that we can actually have a complete reconstruction

of the conservation of the armour,

from which we can actually learn how this thing was built,

from which we can actually learn how this thing was built,

how it was constructed and how it was worn.

You can actually see there are some weaknesses,

You can actually see there are some weaknesses,

some gaps at the shoulder parts that seemed to have been corrected

in the later versions.

in the later versions.

NARRATOR: This attention to detail, however,

was not without its disadvantages,

which played a decisive role in the battle.

which played a decisive role in the battle.

REBEKKA KUITER: If you look at the Roman leader,

he did have a lot of heavy equipment.

Not only the armour, but also helmets and shields

and several weapons,

and several weapons,

as well as their packs with supplies,

so there would have been packed very heavily.

so there would have been packed very heavily.

NARRATOR: Faced with this uncompromising colossus,

NARRATOR: Faced with this uncompromising colossus,

most opponents yielded.

But in this unfriendly terrain, Varus found himself tackling

Germanic warriors that were as terrifying as they were mysterious.

Germanic warriors that were as terrifying as they were mysterious.

HEIDRUN DERKS: Germanic doesn't refer to one people,

it is kind of over-hat, just getting-together

it is kind of over-hat, just getting-together

diverse groups of people.

NARRATOR: In a word, Barbarians,

feared in Rome since Caesar's earliest incursions

feared in Rome since Caesar's earliest incursions

several decades earlier.

Especially because among Germanic peoples,

war was a principle of social cohesion.

war was a principle of social cohesion.

NARRATOR: Light and mobile,

NARRATOR: Light and mobile,

the Germanic fighters developed their own mastery

of the art of warfare.

NARRATOR: To make weapons,

the Germans adapted everyday tools to the task at hand.

the Germans adapted everyday tools to the task at hand.

In this case, small forges.

- (thudding)

- (thudding)

NARRATOR: The iron was extracted from the peat bogs

and placed in the fire.

and placed in the fire.

NARRATOR: The anvil was placed on a wooden block

to cushion the impact of the hammer on the iron.

NARRATOR: After three hours of work,

the Germanic warrior had a spear to brandish.

Here, then, were two different worlds,

two civilizations facing off against each other in Germania.

two civilizations facing off against each other in Germania.

And before long, the supposed superiority of the Romans

reinforced German anger.

NARRATOR: Why could Varus,

a man with experience in hostile territories,

a man with experience in hostile territories,

make these mistakes?

What was the role of Arminius, who was meant to act as an intermediary

between his superior officer and his blood brothers?

between his superior officer and his blood brothers?

HEIDRUN DERKS: One can assume that they knew each other

already from Rome. They were both living there.

They were both part of this military apparatus.

They were both part of this military apparatus.

NARRATOR: But the right-hand man was not as loyal as he seemed.

NARRATOR: But the right-hand man was not as loyal as he seemed.

- (tense music)

NARRATOR: Behind this facade of complicity,

Arminius had been conspiring for weeks,

Arminius had been conspiring for weeks,

patiently weaving his web.

- And if he wants to come up with something really big,

then he needs support from all these people who are living here.

then he needs support from all these people who are living here.

That would mean that he had support from other Germanic tribes.

NARRATOR: In the late summer of 9 CE,

while Varus and his three legions

were returning to their winter quarters,

were returning to their winter quarters,

Arminius set his trap,

urging the legatus to make a diversion to quell

a small uprising a few miles away.

a small uprising a few miles away.

- Arminius would suggest, "Well, this is only a small thing.

Leave everything to me. I get that arranged, follow me."

Leave everything to me. I get that arranged, follow me."

NARRATOR: Suspecting nothing,

Varus took an unfamiliar trail,

Varus took an unfamiliar trail,

leading his 20,000 men into a trap

in the heart of the dense and humid Kalkriese forest.

- We're sitting here where you can see this yellow point,

and looking into this direction,

and looking into this direction,

we directly look into the slopy, hilly area.

And behind me would start now the swamp and the bog area.

2,000 years ago, it was difficult to march through,

let's say, from September, to March, April.

let's say, from September, to March, April.

So the soil was already covered with all these leaves and it was boggy

and it was difficult to see where you march along

and it was difficult to see where you march along

and you really had to pay attention for every step you make.

Yes, I would call it a perfect place for an ambush.

Yes, I would call it a perfect place for an ambush.

Of course, the landscape in this battle was a partner

for the Germanic people,

while it was an enemy for the Roman soldiers.

NARRATOR: At the foot of the Kalkriese hill,

the trail narrows.

the trail narrows.

So much so, the column of Varus's three legions, some 15,000 men,

stretched for nearly 12 kilometres.

stretched for nearly 12 kilometres.

- They couldn't march as they were probably used to

side by side in large formations through the forest.

side by side in large formations through the forest.

NARRATOR: This was the moment.

Arminius, riding alongside the officers,

split from the column, ostensibly on a scouting mission.

split from the column, ostensibly on a scouting mission.

He actually went to join his allies camouflaged in the forest.

He actually went to join his allies camouflaged in the forest.

This was the signal:

the German commandos attacked the enemy column.

- (battle clamour)

- (battle clamour)

- (thunderclap)

- (army charging cry)

NARRATOR: Written sources describe

the extreme brutality of the Germanic warriors.

Historians have found skulls at Kalkriese

attesting to the violence of the fighting.

attesting to the violence of the fighting.

- They show clear injuries.

So this one has been cut off here.

So this one has been cut off here.

You see a very flat surface here.

And here you have a cutting mark going into the skull

and the rest has broken off.

These weapons were Germanic swords that left these cutting marks.

The Germans used mainly spears, but also swords,

The Germans used mainly spears, but also swords,

but these cutting marks are too big to be cause by a spear.

There are hints that they were Romans.

The age of the people lying there and the strength of the bones

The age of the people lying there and the strength of the bones

hints on them being Roman legionaries.

So these are clear victims of a battle.

So these are clear victims of a battle.

YANN RIVIERE:

HEIDRUN DERKS: They were very strong in fighting in formation

in a very organized way.

NARRATOR: Drawing on all his experience,

Arminius opted for a strategy of guerrilla warfare:

his warriors launched lightning raids,

confusing the Roman column, splitting it into several groups,

confusing the Roman column, splitting it into several groups,

then returned to the forest to hide when reinforcements arrived.

- The point is that you realise too late

- The point is that you realise too late

that you are in a bottleneck situation.

- (battle clamour)

HEIDRUN DERKS: That makes it a perfect trap for such a plan.

HEIDRUN DERKS: That makes it a perfect trap for such a plan.

NARRATOR: The harassment from the Germanic fighters was relentless

NARRATOR: The harassment from the Germanic fighters was relentless

and unpredictable.

This was one of the keys to the battle.

But how did the Romans protect themselves?

But how did the Romans protect themselves?

Archaeologists may have solved the puzzle of the Roman camp

mentioned by the historian Tacitus in his account of the battle.

mentioned by the historian Tacitus in his account of the battle.

It played a vital role in the way events unfolded.

Some very ancient foundations have been uncovered

Some very ancient foundations have been uncovered

right in the heart of the archaeological site.

NARRATOR: But more recent discoveries have forced historians

to completely revise this scenario.

It seems that the foundations are in fact those of a Roman camp.

It seems that the foundations are in fact those of a Roman camp.

The hypothesis is supported by Tacitus,

who mentions the existence of a legionnaires' camp.

NARRATOR: More recent excavations support the written accounts.

On the evening of the first day,

On the evening of the first day,

it seems that Varus and his men managed to get to safety.

YANN RIVIERE:

YANN RIVIERE:

PIERRE COSME:

NARRATOR: Sheltered in a makeshift fort,

the Romans could only hold out for a short time

against the enemy onslaught,

against the enemy onslaught,

now under the command of Arminius.

All too aware of his predicament,

in the early morning, Varus decided to strike camp

in the early morning, Varus decided to strike camp

in a bid to reach open country.

To no avail.

The harassment resumed, the enemy was as elusive as ever

The harassment resumed, the enemy was as elusive as ever

and their numbers were swelling.

PIERRE COSME:

- (swords clashing)

YANN RIVIERE:

YANN RIVIERE:

NARRATOR: After three days and three nights,

only a handful of exhausted survivors remained.

only a handful of exhausted survivors remained.

- Varus realised that he had lost.

- To commit suicide in the face of such a defeat

- To commit suicide in the face of such a defeat

was something like an honour of a death.

- (cheering)

NARRATOR: The three legions engulfed in this unprecedented disaster

suffered the ultimate ignominy when the Germans grabbed their ensigns.

suffered the ultimate ignominy when the Germans grabbed their ensigns.

News of the defeat left Rome stunned.

YANN RIVIERE:

NARRATOR: But miraculously,

NARRATOR: But miraculously,

a few of the routed troops managed to escape

the exactions of the Germanic warriors,

abandoning the bodies of their companions

and making it back to the fortified camp of Aliso.

and making it back to the fortified camp of Aliso.

LISA STRATMANN:

- (battle horn blares)

LISA STRATMANN:

NARRATOR: While for 30 years,

archaeologists have pieced clues together in an attempt

archaeologists have pieced clues together in an attempt

to reconstruct the details of this battle,

one vitally important discovery has provided irrefutable proof

of its existence - the funeral stele of a fallen soldier from the battle.

of its existence - the funeral stele of a fallen soldier from the battle.

- We see here on the stone his name, Calius,

- We see here on the stone his name, Calius,

and we see he belonged to the 18th legion of the Roman army.

We see as well that the battle where he lost his life

We see as well that the battle where he lost his life

was the Bellovariano, and that is really important

because it's the only evidence, the only epigraphic evidence we do have

that this battle really happened.

that this battle really happened.

NARRATOR: Found in a Roman town in the Rhine Valley,

this gravestone was built by Calius's brother,

this gravestone was built by Calius's brother,

even though his body had not been found.

For Romans, funeral rites were an essential ritual,

on both a social and a spiritual level.

on both a social and a spiritual level.

On the other side of the Rhine, in Strasbourg,

numerous stelae from the same period have been found,

numerous stelae from the same period have been found,

all built on the same model.

SEVERINE BLIN:

SEVERINE BLIN:

NARRATOR: Not only was it unthinkable for Rome

to leave its fallen soldiers in the hell of Germania without a grave,

to leave its fallen soldiers in the hell of Germania without a grave,

it was also a matter of honour and revenge.

After a few years of consolidation, the new Emperor, Tiberius,

After a few years of consolidation, the new Emperor, Tiberius,

launched his retaliation.

HEIDRUN DERKS: Six years later, the Romans are back

with even more legions.

And, of course, the task now to fulfil the drop,

and to get this Germania finally turned into a province

and really militarily conquered and subdued.

and really militarily conquered and subdued.

It is Germanicus who is the head of the expedition.

NARRATOR: Accompanied by a handful of survivors,

Germanicus went to the Kalkriese forest,

Germanicus went to the Kalkriese forest,

to pay his last respects to the dead of the battle of Varus.

YANN RIVIERE:

PIERRE COSME:

PIERRE COSME:

YANN RIVIERE:

- Tacitus describes how they fall into tears

and they tell him that it was here we fought,

and they tell him that it was here we fought,

it was here where we lost him.

So they come up with a very detailed kind of memory.

So they come up with a very detailed kind of memory.

NARRATOR: The bones found on the site

confirm the accounts of Roman historians.

confirm the accounts of Roman historians.

- If you look at it, then you immediately get the impression

it is not a grave,

but you feel that there is a human being acting together

but you feel that there is a human being acting together

in a kind of arrangement.

So far, of course, we haven't found any real proper Roman burials.

So far, of course, we haven't found any real proper Roman burials.

It could be possible that this belongs exactly to this scene,

It could be possible that this belongs exactly to this scene,

because imagine, you are moving in enemy's country,

but you don't have much time and you fear

but you don't have much time and you fear

that you're going to be attacked any other second,

so you take a few of the remains and you arrange them in a way,

and somebody is speaking some words, then it's done.

and somebody is speaking some words, then it's done.

NARRATOR: Having fulfilled his duty as a Roman,

NARRATOR: Having fulfilled his duty as a Roman,

Germanicus faced the new strongman of Germania, Arminius,

on several battlefields.

- (battle clamour)

- (battle clamour)

PIERRE COSME:

YANN RIVIERE:

- He wanted to become something like the king of Germania.

He had seen in Rome what an emperor like Augustus could do,

He had seen in Rome what an emperor like Augustus could do,

what reign means, what power means.

- (battle clamour)

- (battle clamour)

NARRATOR: Arminius offered heroic resistance to Germanicus

and his eight legions,

even managing to quell Rome's ambitions.

even managing to quell Rome's ambitions.

But in the year 21 CE,

12 years after his most brilliant victory,

12 years after his most brilliant victory,

his quest for power suddenly came to an end.

HEIDRUN DERKS: In the end, Arminius was murdered,

HEIDRUN DERKS: In the end, Arminius was murdered,

and it's fairly obvious that he was not murdered by any enemies,

he was murdered by his own people.

he was murdered by his own people.

NARRATOR: Jealousy or revenge?

His death remains a mystery.

But he long remained the embodiment of resistance to the invader -

But he long remained the embodiment of resistance to the invader -

a resistance that dampened Roman ambitions.

For Rome never escaped the quagmire of Germania.

For Rome never escaped the quagmire of Germania.

The defeat at Teutoburg cut deep, and German opposition eventually

overcame the Roman thirst for conquest.

overcame the Roman thirst for conquest.

- That is the time when Romans really say,

"OK, we give up on this poor area in the north,

"OK, we give up on this poor area in the north,

we withdraw and the chapter of conquering Germania is closed."

NARRATOR: Arminius's crazy gamble is etched in legend,

NARRATOR: Arminius's crazy gamble is etched in legend,

and in history,

but the site of Kalkriese has not yet revealed all its secrets.

but the site of Kalkriese has not yet revealed all its secrets.

The enigma of the battle of Teutoburg

is still shrouded in mystery.

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