
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…
Documentary, War & Politics • Series • 1998 • 2 seasons
Starring: Robert Powell, Swaylee Loughnane

S1 E1 - The Corpse That Fooled the Axis
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.
Jan 1, 1998

S1 E2 - Adolf Hitler's Last Days
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 of escape for the selected few.
Jan 8, 1998

S1 E3 - Secret Mission to North Africa
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 which would save thousands of British and American lives.
Jan 15, 1998

S1 E4 - When Hitler Invaded America
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!
Jan 22, 1998

S1 E5 - The Bruneval Raid
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.
Jan 29, 1998

S1 E6 - What Really Happened to Rommel
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 legendary German General commit suicide or was he murdered?
Feb 5, 1998

S1 E7 - The Enigma Secret
Know what this is about?
Feb 12, 1998

S1 E8 - Human Torpedoes
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 men to use these unconventional weapons.
Feb 19, 1998

S1 E9 - The Secrets of the Battle of the Bulge
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 Allies were decoding their radio messages.
Feb 26, 1998

S1 E10 - Okinawa: The Greatest Sea/Air Battle in History
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.
Mar 5, 1998

S1 E11 - Above Us: The Enemy - Secrets of the Submarine War
The underwater war saw many innovations and a rapid increase in electronic technology, which eventually enabled the Allies to achieve ultimate victory.
Mar 12, 1998
S1 E12 - The Secrets Behind the Battle of Guadalcanal
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 Admiral Yamamoto.
Mar 19, 1998

S1 E13 - The Real Heroes of Telemark
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.
Mar 26, 1998
S1 E14 - They Flew for China
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 legend was born.
Apr 2, 1998

S1 E15 - How Germany Was Bombed to Defeat
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 communications; raids which involved much personal bravery and the use of secret technology.
Apr 9, 1998

S1 E16 - The End of the Scharnhorst
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 Fraser in one of the most exciting naval engagements ever.
Apr 16, 1998

S1 E17 - The RAF Versus the V Weapons
Apr 23, 1998

S1 E18 - Japan's Last Secret Weapon
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 1944.
Apr 30, 1998
S1 E19 - The Minehunters
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 the race to counter it was one of the most crucial of the war.
May 7, 1998
S1 E20 - The Nazi Plundering of Europe
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 Allies to locate the missing art treasures and return them to their rightful owners. But even today many great objects are still unlocated.
May 14, 1998

S1 E21 - Confusion Was Their Business
The exciting story of the emergence of special forces such as the British SAS and the US Rangers.
May 21, 1998

S1 E22 - Merrill's Marauders
America's answer to fighting behind Japanese lines in the jungle was to deploy a highly trained unit called Merrill's Marauders.
May 28, 1998
S1 E23 - The Amazing Colonel Doolittle
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.
Jun 4, 1998
S1 E24 - Destroying Hitler's Oil Fields
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.
Jun 11, 1998
S1 E25 - Home Run from Colditz
The Germans said it was impregnable but the confines of Colditz were to inspire some of the most legendary escapes of all time.
Jun 18, 1998
S1 E26 - The Cruise of the Secret Raiders
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 and warships.
Jun 25, 1998
No clips or trailers are available for this title.
Secrets of World War II
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.
Documentary, War & Politics • TV Series • 1998