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Private Notes
It was a sight and sound that spelt terror from the skies . . . the Stuka was at the very heart of Blitzkreig - Hitler's lightening war. Flown by skilful and highly motivated pilots, the full force of the Fuhrer's premier weapon of the air was felt by soldiers and all civilians all over Europe. The Stuka tells the story of an awesome weapon of war. Featuring very rare colour footage of the Stuka in action, the programme also includes brand new 3D graphics and new footage of the last surviving aircraft, housed at RAF Hendon.
Perhaps the most important victory won by the allies in the West was the triumph over the deadly German U-boat. Once a harbinger of death for merchant shipping and its escorts, by 1943 the British and American fleets had gained the upper hand and the U-boat had become the hunted rather than the hunter. This film features extensive footage from the Battle of the Atlantic, and of U-534 the last surviving U-Boat in Western Europe. She was sunk in the Baltic in 1945 and raised again to the surface intact in 1993. On board U-534 the treasures of World War II were preserved as if in aspic. Now for the first time in over 50 years we can experience again the claustrophobic world of the U-boats.
The Panzer was a vital cog in Hitler's awesome war machine - a decisive weapon at the cutting edge of 'Blitzkrieg'. At Kursk, the tank would have a major influence on the eventual outcome of the war. Made with the co-operation of the Bovington Tank Museum, this film features rare action footage of the Panzers, including the famous Tiger Tank, in action and unique footage of the last surviving Panzers to produce a powerful record of the evolution of massed armoured warfare from 1939 to 1943.
Throughout World War Two, there were many dramatic and spectacular seaborne invasions, some of which would have a major bearing on the course and eventual outcome of the conflict. Much blood was spilt as men attacked beachheads from Tunisia to Normandy. Amphibious Warfare is a remarkable record of seaborne invasions throughout World War Two. The programme features powerful action footage, including extensive images from the decisive Normandy landings and brand new state-of-the-art computer graphics.
The sudden and dramatic appearance of the German Paratrooper - the Fallschirmjager, brought a new and unexpected dimension to the nature of warfare during the second World War. These new warriors of the air were to make critical contributions to some of the most famous battles of the conflict. The indomitable German paratroopers, the Fallschirmjager, established an enduring legend with their dogged defence of Monte Cassino. The allies were quick to imitate their deadly enemy - the Fallschirmjager were the inspiration - the British Paratroop Battalions and American's Screaming Eagles were the result. Airborne Warfare tells the fascinating story of war from the skies and how the combat from the air changed and evolved. The programme features extensive rare archive footage and state-of-the-art illustrative 3D graphics, and visits the silent graves of Monte Cassino today.
It was in the late summer of 1943 that the American Navy launched its operation to drive the Japanese from the Central Pacific. The Aircraft Carrier was to play a crucial role in its success, for not only did the new carriers give the Americans enormous fire-power, the US shipyards were turning them out at the rate of one per month. This programme tells the dramatic story of the desperate struggle for the Pacific. It features rare footage of Aircraft Carriers in action and examines their role in this vital theatre of the war. "Carrier Warfare" also includes informative 3D computer graphics.
In 1944, Hitler ordered the full-scale production of, what he called the Miracle Weapons. A new breed of aircraft designed to change Germany's declining military fortunes. As a result, the first Jet Fighters were unleashed on the world. The potentially devastating ME262 and Arado 234 were underdeveloped and their moderate successes could not prevent the desperate situation which resulted in the introduction of the dangerous ME163 Kommet and the disastrous Heinkel HE162 the Peoples Defender, more dangerous to its pilot than the enemy.Featuring rare archive footage, stunning 3-D computer graphics and rare film of the last surviving jet aircraft, this is a sinister glimpse into what might have been.
HITLER'S TERROR WEAPON: By 1942 the tide of war had finally started to swing in the favour of the Allied forces. As the industrial might and great cities of Germany suffered as never before, Hitler promised revenge. Soon vengeance weapons were developed and deployed, a turning point in the technological history of warfare. The V1, otherwise known as the Doodle Bug would cause havoc in the streets of Britain's capital. However, as the Allied forces closed in on the Third Reich, in a desperate attempt to stop the onslaught - the V2 was launched for the first time. In the dying days of the Third Reich, who would have believed that such a weapon could have been produced. A weapon, if given more time, that could have completely altered the outcome of the war. Featuring rare archive footage, stunning 3-D computer graphics and rare film of the last surviving rockets, this is a privileged glimpse into the world of Hitler's arsenal.
In the late 1800's the father of submarines, Mr John Holland hit upon the idea of powering a submarine with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. For over a hundred years, since the first semi-successful attempts during the American Civil War, submarine warfare had been fraught with difficulties and failure. In 1901 the Holland I was launched as the first Royal Navy Submarine and submarines have been an integral part of the Navy ever since. The Second World War showed the first widespread use of the these under water vessels and their major advantages. Today nuclear submarines roam the waters all over the world for exploration and to keep the peace. Featuring rare archive footage, stunning 3-D computer graphics and rare film of the last surviving submarines, this is a privileged glimpse into the world of submarine warfare.
After the German's defeat in World War I the Allies decreed that the menace of the Luftwaffe would never again be a significant threat. Germany were no longer allowed by international law to possess an airforce. Secretly through the 20s and 30s, Germany began to rebuild her military capabilities, first in Russia and then in Italy. The Luftwaffe was reborn. In 1939 Hitler invaded Poland and the German airforce was at the head of his invasion force. During the course of the war the Luftwaffe was slowly ground down, but lack of resources and poor leadership contributed to a steady decline of this once proud fighting force. Featuring rare archive footage, stunning 3-D computer graphics and rare film of the last surviving planes, this is a privileged glimpse into the world of Hitler's airforce.
DESERT FOX: The famous Desert Fox of legend, the commander of the German Afrika Korps, a soldier loved by his men and respected by his enemies. Rommel is best remembered for his spectacular successes over the British 8th Army and in particular the capture of Tobruk in 1942; he subsequently drove the British back to El-Alamein. He was withdrawn after the defeat by Montgomery and, his health broken, put in charge of the Channel defenses in 1943. Rommel was implicated in the plot to kill Hitler in 1944, and his subsequent suicide did nothing to diminish his reputation as a formidable soldier and leader.
GERMAN HEAVY TANKS: Outnumbered, outgunned and beleaguered on all sides, the German tank forces of the Second World War fought valiantly to the very last. Always too few in numbers, even the superior technology of the Tiger and Panther tanks proved insufficient to defeat the hordes of Shermans and T-34Os, which swamped the Panzer Corps by 1945. Featuring rare archive footage, stunning 3-D computer graphics and rare film of the last surviving Tigers, this is a privileged glimpse into the world of Hitler's tank armies.
HITLER'S BODYGUARD: Caesar had his Pretorian Guard, and Napoleon, the Old Guard. Hitler's equivalent was the Leibstandarte, which grew from a small hand picked battalion, to a complete Panzer Division twenty thousand strong. Naturally, the Leibstandarte received the best and most modern equipment, but they needed it. As the situation deteriorated, the division became a mobile fire brigade, deployed wherever the fighting was fiercest in Russia and France. Even the end of the war brought no respite, as the survivors marched into captivity from which few returned.
EYE DEEP IN HELL: On the Russian Front, there were no rules. No code of honour, decency or humanity. It was a barbaric struggle to the death. It was also the largest, and most brutal war in history. It contained the biggest tank battles ever fought, and recorded the most casualties. Whole armies were swallowed up. Enormous distances boggled the mind and the constantly changing seasons brought either mud and rain, heat and dust, or ice and snow, but misery was always present. Combat on the Russian Front attempts to describe the indescribable. The experience of combat at the sharp end in this most vicious of conflicts.
THE WEAKEST LINK: Without the extra operational range of four-engine aircraft Germany was deprived of the necessary weapon to strike deep into the heart of a well-defended enemy. The short and medium-range bombers necessary for the blitzkrieg tactics were unable to deliver effective, strategic bombing. The Luftwaffe was superbly structured and equipped to fulfil the tasks that Hitler had chosen for it. Unfortunately, it was to prove to be the wrong task. The bombers of the Luftwaffe were unable to prevent the ultimate defeat of the German war machine.
THE FORGOTTEN SERVICE: Adolf Hitler had promised his Naval commanders that there would be no war in Europe before 1942. Accordingly plans were laid for the best Naval force in the world, but when Hitler precipitated the Second World War in 1939, only a fraction of the necessary ships and submarines were ready. At the outbreak of World War Two Germany did not even possess a single aircraft carrier. The battleships Bismark and Tirpitz fought famous actions at sea, but the Kreigsmarine was always on the back foot, crippled by superior opponents and strangled by bureaucratic neglect at home
THE DEFENDERS OF BRITAIN: The Spitfire and Hurricanes of the RAF were the shield of Britain during the dark days of the Battle of Britain. In comparison to the huge diversity of aircraft developed by Germany, the RAF concentrated on constantly improving a few tried and tested machines which served Britain well, throughout the course of the war. This is the story of the fighters which saved a nation.
AIR WAR OVER GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command was responsible for carrying the war to Hitler's Germany when Britain stood alone during the early days of 1940 and 1941. By 1942, losses had grown so heavy, that the RAF adopted a policy of night bombing only. The staggeringly high casualties were borne with stoic resolve by the men who knew they had a job which had to be done. This is the story of the air war over Germany from the British viewpoint.
The forgotten men of the Russian campaign. That is how the long suffering soldiers of Army Group North described their war in Russia. While titanic struggles were being played out in Stalingrad, Kursk and Moscow, Army Group North maintained a long drawn out siege in Leningrad. Then in 1944, the front flared into life and a desperate life or death struggle began, as Army Group North began the dangerous retreat back to the borders of the Reich.
Between 1941 and 1944, Army Group Centre fought a titanic dual with the Red Army, the outcome of which would prove decisive over the course of World War Two. From the halcyon days of the advance into Russia, to the first reverse outside Moscow and on to the terrifying Soviet advances of 1944, this is the gripping saga of the war in the central sector of the Eastern Front.
Many of the critical battles of World War Two were fought out in the sector of operations designated Army Group South. The capture of the Crimea, the disastrous battle for Stalingrad, the false dawn at Kharkov and the failure of Operation Citadel are just some of the titanic engagements to be covered in this gripping survey of the men who served in the southern arm of the gigantic thrust into Russia.
Ground-breaking 3D graphics and state-of-the-art computer animation provide some of the highlights in this authoritative, entertaining look at the great German siege guns of World War Two. The programme features extraordinary archive footage culled from German and Allied sources and all-new footage of surviving examples of German heavy artillery. Among a team of eminent military authorities who help to tell the fascinating.
By the end of World War Two, the once mighty Luftwaffe was a pitiful shadow of its former self - a beaten force shattered by the massive superiority of Allied airpower. This fascinating programme tells how German High Command contributed to its downfall, despite the undoubted skill of German fighter pilots and several innovations in aircraft design. German Fighters features archive footage taken from German and Allied sources and the very latest 3D computer generated animation techniques.
This is the story of the rise and fall of one of the legendary forces of warfare. During its brief existence, the Afrika Korps forced the Allied forces ranged against it into a for war of attrition, thereby cementing its place in the annals of military history. The Afrika Korps will be forever associated with its brilliant commander Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox of legend, whose masterfully-executed battle plans gained the respect of even his enemies. This programme combines superb footage from the German and Allied archives with comment and analysis by some of the UK's leading military authorities to tell the story of a proud force which finally met its match at the Mareth Line in Tunisia in March 1943.
ARMY LOGISTICS: For every one army in the field during World War Two, there were two behind, helping to cloth, feed, house, arm, and supply and organize. It was said to take three men to put one effective man onto the field of battle and, for the High Command all armies, supplying their front line forces presented as big a problem as securing victory over the enemy.It was once famously said that an army marches on its stomach - 'The Sinews Of War' proves that adage to be very true. This episode highlights those whose job it was to 'keep things moving' in theatres of conflict all over the globe during World War Two plus in-depth interviews with military authorities.
This episode provides an intriguing look at the part played by propaganda as Governments struggled to gain the upper hand in the war away from the battlefield. Methods were sometimes less than subtle, or in some cases, non-existent; however, Josef Gobbels honed the art of mass communication until, in the early days at least, it became one of Germany's most effective weapons. Gobbels was the master of advancing the cause of National Socialism to his own people, although the attempts to take the message to his enemies were less successful; the British people treated the rantings of 'Lord Haw-Haw' -the traitor William Joyce - with derision. This episode features rare examples of propaganda posters and leaflets. There are also interviews propaganda and military experts.
In many theatres of operation during World War Two, men did battle from afar. Bombs dropped from the skies, torpedoes fizzed from submarines, long - range artillery rained shells, tanks blasted through cities. Many battles, however, were fought at close quarters and it was here that the infantry looked to the power of small arm fire to gain the upper hand. This episode compares and contrasts some of these weapons, highlighting their development and use by all armies involved in the war. The weapons under review include Mortars, Landmines, Bazookas and Hand Grenades - some of the most feared instruments of war ever invented. 3D graphics and animation is featured to illustrate the workings and capabilities of the weapons and there are interviews with historians and military authorities.
The Allied invasion of Italy began in September 1943 and the operation remains one of the most controversial of all the campaigns of World War Two. It was fought against the background of bitter Anglo-American disagreements over strategy --indeed, had Mussolini not fallen and Sicily not surrendered, the Italian campaign might never have been fought at all. The bloody fighting is epitomised by the events around Monte Cassino as the Germans defended the infamous Gustav Line, which, in some areas, was shored up by rows of turrets from tanks. This episode features illuminating interviews with battle experts, who shed light on the military and political complexities of the campaign. The archive footage includes film of 'Anzio Annie', one of the notorious German heavy guns which caused such devastation during the Anzio landings.
During World War Two, Britain was absolutely reliant on maritime trade for its survival and therefore the protection of its merchant fleet became an issue of paramount importance. After June 1940, however, German U-boats began to operate in the Atlantic and appalling losses were inflicted on allied merchant shipping. Arctic convoys were twice suspended in 1942 as German aircraft and submarines wrought havoc on the waves - the trip to the Russian port of Murmansk, for instance, became known as the 'Death Trip' because so few ships returned. For men aboard, there was little hope of escape should a ship go down; they could expect to survive for only a few minutes in the icy waters. Featuring the filmed memories of convoy veterans this is the story of one of World War Two's most pitiless theatre of operations, where men lived in constant fear of the unseen dangers of the deep. The programme also uses 3D graphics and animation to show the realities of a submarine attack and the mechanics of a ships' defences. Leading maritime and military experts are also featured.
The story of the war behind the lines uncovers the importance of organised civilian groups, partisans, who fought military actions or performed espionage, sabotage, disruption and protests against occupying forces.
