Secrets of World War II

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.

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.

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.

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!

The Bruneval Raid - In 1942 a reconnaissance Spitfire photographed a strange shaped piece of German apparatus in a Normandy field. It turned out to be a sophisticated German radar system whose secrets had to be discovered.

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?

Cracking the Enigma Secret - By early 1940, British codebreakers at Bletchley Park, working with information from the Poles, had begun to crack the German military codes produced on the Enigma cipher machine. Once this had been achieved, the challenge was how to prevent the Germans from finding out their codes had been broken

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How Germany was Bombed to Defeat - One thousand bomber raids flown by the US air force 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.

The End of 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.

The RAF versus the V-2 - Hitler?s ultimate goal was to produce a rocket capable of carrying an atomic weapon weighing five tons. Fortunately, the Royal Air Force discovered his plan and set about destroying his dream.

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.

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.

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 have yet to be located.

Confusion was their Business - The exciting story of the emergence of special forces such as the British SAS and the US Rangers.

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.

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.

Destroy the German 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.

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.

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 refuelling German U-Boats and warships.

Rarely has a war produced such clear cut reasons to fight as World War II. On the one hand were the totalitarian Dictators ? Tojo, Hitler and Mussolini. On the other were the great democracies of the Western World which were gradually regaining their feet after WWI and the Wall Street Crash. Suddenly, ordinary men and women from all walks of life found themselves thrown into fearsome, nerve-tingling situations worthy of any Hollywood move. The only difference, in this series every story is true. These untold stories can now be examined in great detail with the benefit of hindsight, newly-discovered archive film, maps and computer graphics which can complete the picture for today?s viewer. Each episode covers the background to the main action of a story.

Rarely has a war produced such clear cut reasons to fight as World War II. On the one hand were the totalitarian Dictators - Tojo, Hitler and Mussolini. On the other were the great democracies of the Western World which were gradually regaining their feet after the Great War of 1914-18 and the Wall Street Crash. Suddenly, ordinary men and women from all walks of life found themselves thrown into fearsome, nerve-tingling 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 archive film, maps and computer graphics which can complete the picture for today's viewer. 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 lifethreatening situations - to win victory from the enemy. This is an inspiring series with a giant canvas including much never before seen colour film. Over 300,000 hours of archive material have been searched for its compilation. Specially orchestrated music and compositions from the great composers all contribute to the excitement and drama of some of the world's greatest stories of bravery under fire. It is the largest series of its kind ever produced and with recently released secret footage will give the viewer a new insight into the great untold war stories of World War II. In many cases, this new series gives the true stories for the first time this Century. Series Introduction Documentary 26 x 52 minutes Secrets of World War II