World War II in Colour - Season 1

What were the factors that led to the rise of the militaristic dictatorships in Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan, so soon after WWI, 'the war to end all wars'?

The Blitzkrieg allowed Germany to overrun Poland and France within weeks. How did this radical military tactic catch the Allies totally unprepared?

How close did Britain come to defeat by the Nazis? How did the RAF, code breakers and spies combined to hold the German war machine at bay?

Was Hitler's invasion of Russia the greatest military gamble of all time? A swift attack would ensure victory - Germany had only to avoid a prolonged conflict. This covers Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941 to the Battle of Kursk on 5 July 1943.

On December 7th, 1941, WWII changed dramatically as Japanese planes swooped in for a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor. A conflict that had been fought almost entirely in Europe was now to be fought worldwide. The attack on Pearl Harbour brought the "sleeping giant" of America into the war and saw the emergence of the aircraft carrier as the pre-eminent weapon of the seas. For the next 6 months, Japan continues to have successful attacks. However, by the end of the battle for Guadalcanal in Feb 1943, they were completely on the defensive.

Mussolini wanted to recreate the Roman Empire, but proved to be a poor military strategist. His incompetence contributed to Hitler's defeat.

Nazi submarines tried to cut supply lines across the Atlantic, while the Allies firebombed German cities. But was either action decisive in ending the war?

Russia was Hitler's graveyard. See how his undefeated armies were smashed by the seemingly limitless resources of the Soviet war machine.

How close did D-Day come to failure? Despite meticulous planning, deception plans and specialised equipment its success was always balanced on a knife-edge.

By late summer 1944, the Allied forces in north-west Europe were thrusting towards the German border. Paris and Antwerp were liberated, but then supply problems brought the advance to a halt. Meanwhile, Stalin had halted his main thrust towards Germany. The Battle of the Bulge saw Hitler take his last gamble, throwing his reserve forces against the oncoming Allies in the Ardennes. How successful were his tactics? 

The war in the Pacific against Japan was a savage hand-to-hand, island-to-island struggle, fought by new specialist fighting units like the valiant Chindits. By the spring of 1943, the Pacific war had reached a turning point. The United States had stopped the Japanese advance, now it launched a two-pronged attack to drive it back. To achieve this, the U.S. Navy had to pioneer new forms of warfare.

In Germany, Allied forces uncover the horrors of Belsen and Buchenwald, before pushing towards Berlin, where Hitler clings to power in his last desperate days.

With Germany beaten, the Allies turned their attention to Japan, who made them pay for every inch of gained ground. How was this last, great foe overcome?