Welcome to the To Hell and Back Project

The soldiers of the First World War were ordinary young men from every corner of Europe, suddenly caught in a conflict beyond anything they could imagine. To Hell and Back Project is dedicated to recovering, contextualizing, and restoring their surviving visual memory, forgotten frontline films, misidentified reels, and fragments of moments not understood or seen in more than a century. Through global archival research, high-resolution restoration, and collaboration with world-leading historians and restoration experts, the project brings their reality back into focus with authenticity, dignity, and historical precision.

Project Team

Advisory Board & Project Leadership

Founder & Researcher – Storm Alexander Hammer Boysen

Executive Producer – J. David Brandenburg

Historical Advisor – Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hirschfeld

Academic Advisor – Prof. Dr. Marcel Will

Restoration Advisor – Robert A. Harris

Upcoming Event: Closed Research Screening at the Danish Film Institute (DFI)

A private research screening will be held at the Danish Film Institute in early 2026, featuring newly discovered frontline footage and participation from military specialists and historians from Austria, Hungary, and Denmark.

The First Real Frontline Combat Footage of the First World War

Rediscovered 35mm reels reveals what may be the first known examples of real, close-quarters WWI frontline combat.