Secrets of World War II
Secrets of World War II
TV ShowReturning Series

Secrets of World War II

8.0 / 10
1998
2 seasons
27 episodes
DocumentaryWar & Politics

Rarely has a war produced such clear cut reasons to fight as World War II. Suddenly, ordinary men and women found themselves thrown into fearsome, situations worthy of any Hollywood movie. The only difference in this series is that every story is true. Real people emerge as the Heroes of Telemark. Ordinary GIs and US Airforce and Navy personnel suddenly find themselves flying against the Japanese in China, jungle fighting in Burma and being dropped by submarine on enemy coasts at midnight. These untold stories can now be examined in great detail with the benefit of hindsight, newly-discovered film, maps and graphics. Each fifty-two minute story covers the background to the main action. It will give the viewer a clear view of the historical context, the strategic objective and the tactical effort made by flyers, sailors and foot-soldiers - often in the most oppressive and life-threatening situations - to win victory from the enemy.

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Cast

Seasons

  • The Corpse That Fooled the Axis

    1.The Corpse That Fooled the Axis

    01-01-1998

    Little did the Germans know that the body they discovered on the coast of Spain in 1943 was part of one of the most elaborate hoaxes of World War II.

  • Adolf Hitler's Last Days

    2.Adolf Hitler's Last Days

    08-01-1998

    With access to Eva Braun's personal photograph album, this programme reconstructs the final days in the Dictator's underground lair, and in particular it examines the possibility o...

  • Secret Mission to North Africa

    3.Secret Mission to North Africa

    15-01-1998

    After numerous adventures, a small number of American officers managed to rendezvous with their submarine on the North Africa coast in 1942 and relay back to Eisenhower information...

  • When Hitler Invaded America

    4.When Hitler Invaded America

    22-01-1998

    In June 1942 two German U-Boats landed secret agents on Long Island and at Jacksonville, Florida. Their aim was sabotage, but their methods left a lot to be desired!

  • The Bruneval Raid

    5.The Bruneval Raid

    29-01-1998

    In June 1942 two German U-Boats landed secret agents on Long Island and at Jacksonville, Florida. Their aim was sabotage, but their methods left a lot to be desired.

  • What Really Happened to Rommel

    6.What Really Happened to Rommel

    05-02-1998

    He was nicknamed the 'Desert Fox' and highly decorated by Hitler. However, Rommel was not in sympathy with the Nazi party and may have been involved in the plot to kill Hitler. Did...

  • The Enigma Secret

    7.The Enigma Secret

    12-02-1998

    Know what this is about?

  • Human Torpedoes

    8.Human Torpedoes

    19-02-1998

    In 1941 four Italian frogmen used their two-man underwater 'chariots' to place explosive charges on two British battleships in Alexandria Harbour. They were the first of many brave...

  • The Secrets of the Battle of the Bulge

    9.The Secrets of the Battle of the Bulge

    26-02-1998

    In 1944 as Hitler faced defeat he tried one last gamble of an offensive on the Western Front. The result was the 'Battle of the Bulge'. But what the Germans did not know was the Al...

  • Okinawa: The Greatest Sea/Air Battle in History

    10.Okinawa: The Greatest Sea/Air Battle in History

    05-03-1998

    There have been larger land battles and more protracted air campaigns than Okinawa but this was a combined operation, unparalleled in size, scope and ferocity.

  • Above Us: The Enemy - Secrets of the Submarine War

    11.Above Us: The Enemy - Secrets of the Submarine War

    12-03-1998

    The underwater war saw many innovations and a rapid increase in electronic technology, which eventually enabled the Allies to achieve ultimate victory.

  • Ep 12

    12.The Secrets Behind the Battle of Guadalcanal

    19-03-1998

    Hundreds of sailors, eight ships and two American Admirals were to be lost in actions where valour overcame many mistakes on both sides - leading to the defeat of the Japanese Admi...

  • The Real Heroes of Telemark

    13.The Real Heroes of Telemark

    26-03-1998

    In 1943 as the Germans were producing 'heavy water' to build their atomic bomb, the Norwegian resistance launched a daring raid against the Norsk Hydro plant.

  • Ep 14

    14.They Flew for China

    02-04-1998

    Between 1941 and 1943 some of America's most talented fighter pilots flew for Nationalist China against the Japanese. They became known as the 'Flying Tigers' and with the name a l...

  • How Germany Was Bombed to Defeat

    15.How Germany Was Bombed to Defeat

    09-04-1998

    One thousand bomber raids flown by the US airforce by day and the same by Britain's RAF by night. The result was a firestorm which destroyed German cities, industry and communicati...

  • The End of the Scharnhorst

    16.The End of the Scharnhorst

    16-04-1998

    She was faster than any British battleship, but in what was to become known as 'The Battle of the North Cape', the Scharnhorst was about to meet her destiny at the hands of Admiral...

  • The RAF Versus the V Weapons

    17.The RAF Versus the V Weapons

    23-04-1998
  • Japan's Last Secret Weapon

    18.Japan's Last Secret Weapon

    30-04-1998

    Had it not been winter, North America's vast western forests, farms and cities might have been decimated by a secret weapon sent in thousands across the Pacific by the Japanese in...

  • Ep 19

    19.The Minehunters

    07-05-1998

    One of the most feared weapons of World War II was the mine. Some were laid by ship and submarine, others by aircraft. Of all of these the most lethal was the magnetic mine, and th...

  • Ep 20

    20.The Nazi Plundering of Europe

    14-05-1998

    Throughout occupied Europe the Nazis systematically plundered the continent's museums, galleries, and private collections. At the war's end, a massive effort was mounted by the All...

  • Confusion Was Their Business

    21.Confusion Was Their Business

    21-05-1998

    The exciting story of the emergence of special forces such as the British SAS and the US Rangers.

  • Merrill's Marauders

    22.Merrill's Marauders

    28-05-1998

    America's answer to fighting behind Japanese lines in the jungle was to deploy a highly trained unit called Merrill's Marauders.

  • Ep 23

    23.The Amazing Colonel Doolittle

    04-06-1998

    The citizens of Japan could not believe their eyes when the Americans dared to fly an audacious bombing mission against Tokyo only a few months after Pearl Harbor.

  • Ep 24

    24.Destroying Hitler's Oil Fields

    11-06-1998

    Amazing new footage has become available which shows the raid by the US Air Force against the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania which supplied 60 percent of Hitler's oil in 1943.

  • Ep 25

    25.Home Run from Colditz

    18-06-1998

    The Germans said it was impregnable but the confines of Colditz were to inspire some of the most legendary escapes of all time.

  • Ep 26

    26.The Cruise of the Secret Raiders

    25-06-1998

    The fascinating story of the secret heavily-armed cargo ships deployed by the Germans which were in reality designed to sink Allied merchant ships as well as refuel German U-boats...

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