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Private Notes
In retaliation for devastating Allied bombing raids on German cities, Hitler orders the development of a groundbreaking weapon. This is the story of one of the most ambitious projects of the Third Reich: Hitler's Vengeance weapon, the V1. Though it was ready too late to make a difference to the outcome of the war, its legacy is the cruise missile -- a weapon that changed the face of war forever.
As European countries fall like dominoes to the all-conquering German armies, Hitler becomes convinced of his own military genius. He plans to invade Russia and orders the construction of a huge, heavily protected command complex of bunkers and buildings named the Wolf's Lair. But as he isolates himself in his concrete city, the war begins to slip from his grasp and a conspiracy is hatched to make the secret base his tomb.
As Hitler's power grows within Nazi Germany, so does that of the SS. From its humble beginnings as Hitler's personal body guard, the SS under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler becomes a terrifying cult that engineers Hitler's vision for a new Germany. By the start of the war, the SS holds sway in politics, police and security and is responsible for the creation of the concentration camps. Its power, influence and terror spread with the creation of a military wing: the Waffen SS.
The formidable Seigried line, didn't come into play prior to Nazi Germany's invasion of France so it was substantially disassembled to build the Atlantic Wall. Five years later after D-Day Germany desperately attempted to refortify the decayed, disassembled and somewhat obsolete defenses. Battle focuses on Aachen where the allies employ withering fire power but become stalled leading Germany to squander its remaining military strength in the Battle of the Bulge leaving the Sigfried line open to a rapid crossing by the allies.
In violation of the Treat of Versailles Hitler embarked on a program to build massive battleships but was only able to produce two; Bismarck and Tirpitz. To the frustration of his naval commanders Hiller found the ships far more valuable as propaganda weapons then warships. But they were obsolete almost as soon the they were launched and both succumbed to the emerging dominance of air power.
As American naval forces hand Japan defeat after defeat Japan turns in desperation to the Kamikaze. The tactic proves effective against smaller ships but does not fails to sink a major vessel. Japan turns to an rocket propelled human guided bomb known as the Ohka and a torpedo know as the Kaiten. German considers a Kamikaze version of the V-1 rocket and later employs Kamikaze fighter attacks on Allied bombers.
