Al Murray's Road To Berlin
Encyclopedia
Al Murray's Road To Berlin is a British
documentary television series about World War II
, presented by Al Murray
. The ten episode series was produced for the Discovery Channel
, and first broadcast in 2004. During the series, Murray travels across the Western Front
in a restored Willys MB
Jeep, covering the timeline from the Invasion of Normandy to the fall of Berlin
, interviewing survivors and showcasing some of the equipment used.
(episode 6), and the Soviet Eastern Front
campaign (episode 8). As the British and Americans were not directly involved in taking Berlin itself, the second half of the last episode covers the Soviet operations.
Jeep. In all episodes, Murray interviews survivors, both civilian and military, and Murray's narrative of the progression of events is supplemented with archive footage. In addition, several episodes feature demonstrations using period equipment, such as tanks, boats and guns. As well as being the presenter and narrator of the series, in episode 1, "D-Day", Murray re-enacts a beach landing, while in episode 5, "Arnhem", he takes part in a 60th anniversary parachute jump. In relevant episodes, Murray also details the tactical situation using maps.
", Murray looks at the opening phase of the Allied invasion of Normandy, and the battles on the crucial east flank by British forces, designed to allow the securing of the critical objective of the town of Caen
, key to controlling Normandy.
The episode looked in detail at Montgomery's
preparations for the invasion, codenamed Operation Overlord
, planned by Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
(SHAEF) at Southwick House
, Portsmouth. It also examines the glider-borne attack on Pegasus Bridge
, a bascule bridge across the Caen Canal; the parachute and glider attack on the Merville Gun Battery
; and the landings at Sword Beach
, the farthest east of the five landing points.
During the episode, Murray re-enacts a beach landing from a landing craft, wading up the beach in period kit and rifle.
People:
Equipment:
", Murray looks at the battles to secure the strategically valuable town of Caen
, the vital port of Cherbourg, and the allied resupply efforts.
The episode looked in detail at the British 22nd Armoured Brigade's involvement in the Battle of Villers-Bocage
, south of Caen, and the German counter-attack by the German tank commander Michael Wittmann
. The episode also examined the Allied artificial Mulberry harbour
installed at Arromanches, the American advance west to obtain the port of Cherbourg, and the Allied aerial bombing of Caen during Operation Charnwood
. Finally, it examined Operation Goodwood
, the Allied advance to Bourguébus
Ridge beyond Caen to the east.
People
Equipment
, leaving the way open to Paris
The episode examined in detail the fighting around Mortain
where the German counter-attack stalled, and the development of the Falaise pocket
, in which the over-extended Germans became trapped in a pincer movement. It then traces the German attempts to escape under bombardment and Hawker Typhoon
air attack through the 'Failaise Gap' between Argentan
and Falaise
into a funnel at Chambois
, nicknamed 'the corridor of death' by the Germans, and ending with the battle at Mont Ormel ridge
and the final closure of the gap.
People
Equipment
The episode looks in detail at the underground V weapons factory at Nordhausen
, and the Mittelbau-Dora
camp which provided the slave labour for assembling the V weapons. It examined the V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket attacks on London, the first V-2 strike in Chiswick
, and the Royal Air Force
attempts to attack the V-2's at their launch sites near The Hague
with the help of the Dutch resistance
.
People
", Murray looks at Operation Market Garden
, the Allied attempt to shorten the war with a bold aerial assault on the road bridge at Arnhem
.
The episode examines in detail the Battle of Arnhem
, the parachute landings some 8 miles from Arnhem, the capture of a railway bridge 3 miles from Arnhem, and the capture of the Arnhem road bridge, the counter-attack by a Panzer unit which had been refitting nearby, and the ultimate retreat and fighting at Oosterbeek
(the 'cauldron'), and their evacuation in Operation Berlin (Arnhem).
During the episode, Murray trained for and participated his first ever parachute jump, as part of a 60th anniversary jump commemorating the operation.
People
by the Royal Air Force
.
The episode examined in detail the RAF's efforts to destroy the German Krupp
armament factories in Essen
in the Ruhr Valley, and the raid of 23 October 1944, described as the largest raid the RAF had ever undertaken. It covered the RAF tactics of using the Oboe navigation
system to guide its heavy bombers, and the use of the de Havilland Mosquito
as Pathfinders
to mark targets with flares, and the German air defences.
People
Equipment
", Murray looks at the German attempted counterattack through the Ardennes
forest.
The episode looks in detail at the German plans for Operation Autumn Mist, their intended counter-attack using the cover of the Ardennes forest, following the Allied liberation of Antwerp in Belgium. It also examines German attempts to confuse Allied forces using Commandos of Panzer Brigade 150
disguised as American units, the battle fought around Bastogne
by the American 101st Airborne Division
, in particular Easy Company of the 502nd Infantry Regiment, and the subsequent Siege of Bastogne.
People
Equipment
", Murray again departs from Allied road to Berlin, to look at the Soviet
advances from the East
It looks at in detail the Soviet offensive toward the Vistula
River in Poland, aiming for the strategic objective of the valuable Silesia
region, while German civilians evacuated en-masse in fear of the Soviet troops. It examines the Soviet encirclement of the city of Breslau and the ensuing 3 month siege, and the parallel advance up the River Oder
towards Berlin.
People
Equipment
It covers in detail the British plan for a large set-piece assault on Wesel
led by Montgomery, with his American rival Patton planning crossings further south. It examines the fortunate discovery and ensuing battle for the Ludendorff Bridge
at Remagen
, by a company of the American 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, it being the only one of 47 crossings not blown up by the Germans. It also examines the other American crossings at Oppenheim
, followed by the British 50 mile wide assault on the Rhine, Operation Plunder
, opening up 6 bridgeheads, followed by Operation Varsity
, a massive airborne assault to prevent a German retaliation from the woods behind Wasel.
People
Equipment
The episode looks in detail at the events of 15 April 1945, when British troops entered the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
to find hundreds of dead and dying prisoners, and the meetup of American and Soviet forces at the River Elbe
on 25 April. It also examines the Battle for Berlin - the final Soviet encriclement and assault, and the Battle in Berlin
, the street fighting phase culminating in the raising a flag over the Reichstag
. It also details Hitler's last public appearance on 20 April, his suicide on 30 April
, and the burning of his body.
People
Equipment
as a 2 disc 230 minutes volume, playable in Region 2
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
documentary television series about World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, presented by Al Murray
Al Murray
Alastair James Hay "Al" Murray , is a British comedian best known for his stand-up persona, The Pub Landlord, a stereotypical xenophobic public house licensee. In 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy...
. The ten episode series was produced for the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, and first broadcast in 2004. During the series, Murray travels across the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
in a restored Willys MB
Willys MB
The Willys MB US Army Jeep and the Ford GPW, were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian...
Jeep, covering the timeline from the Invasion of Normandy to the fall of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, interviewing survivors and showcasing some of the equipment used.
Overview
Seven episodes in the ten episode series deal directly with the land, amphibious, airborne and tactical air force operations involved in the general British and American advance from Normandy to Berlin, while three others look at related topics, with one episode each devoted to the German V-weapons programme (episode 4), the strategic air force bombing of EssenEssen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
(episode 6), and the Soviet Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
campaign (episode 8). As the British and Americans were not directly involved in taking Berlin itself, the second half of the last episode covers the Soviet operations.
Format
During the series, Murray visits the locations dealt with in each episode, mostly travelling in a restored US Army Willys MBWillys MB
The Willys MB US Army Jeep and the Ford GPW, were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian...
Jeep. In all episodes, Murray interviews survivors, both civilian and military, and Murray's narrative of the progression of events is supplemented with archive footage. In addition, several episodes feature demonstrations using period equipment, such as tanks, boats and guns. As well as being the presenter and narrator of the series, in episode 1, "D-Day", Murray re-enacts a beach landing, while in episode 5, "Arnhem", he takes part in a 60th anniversary parachute jump. In relevant episodes, Murray also details the tactical situation using maps.
Episodes
The first series was broadcast over 10 episodes:- D-Day
- The Battle for Normandy
- The Push For Paris
- Hitler's Terror Weapon
- Arnhem
- Air War
- The Battle of the Bulge
- The Eastern Front
- Crossing the Rhine
- The Battle for Berlin
D-Day
In "D-DayD-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
", Murray looks at the opening phase of the Allied invasion of Normandy, and the battles on the crucial east flank by British forces, designed to allow the securing of the critical objective of the town of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, key to controlling Normandy.
The episode looked in detail at Montgomery's
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
preparations for the invasion, codenamed Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, planned by Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force , was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was in command of SHAEF throughout its existence...
(SHAEF) at Southwick House
Southwick House
Southwick House is a manor house of the Southwick Estate located just to the north of Portsmouth in Hampshire, England. The house was built in 1800 in the late Georgian style, to replace Southwick Park house. The house is distinct for its two-story foyer lit from a cupola, and a series of...
, Portsmouth. It also examines the glider-borne attack on Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge , built in 1934, that crossed the Caen Canal, between Caen and Ouistreham, in Normandy, France....
, a bascule bridge across the Caen Canal; the parachute and glider attack on the Merville Gun Battery
Merville Gun Battery
The Merville Gun Battery was a coastal fortification in Normandy, France, in use as part of the Nazis' Atlantic Wall built to defend continental Europe from Allied invasion...
; and the landings at Sword Beach
Sword Beach
Sword, commonly known as Sword Beach, was the code name given to one of the five main landing areas along the Normandy coast during the initial assault phase, Operation Neptune, of Operation Overlord; the Allied invasion of German-occupied France that commenced on 6 June 1944...
, the farthest east of the five landing points.
During the episode, Murray re-enacts a beach landing from a landing craft, wading up the beach in period kit and rifle.
People:
- PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Wally Parr, 22, of the Ox and Bucks Light InfantryOxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light InfantryThe Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army.The regiment was formed as a consequence of Childers reforms, a continuation of the Cardwell reforms, by the amalgamation of the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 52nd Regiment of Foot , forming the 1st...
, part of the attack on Pegasus Bridge - CorporalCorporalCorporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
Len Daniels, 22, of 9 Parachute Squadron RE9 Parachute Squadron RE9 Parachute Squadron RE , is an airborne detachment of the Royal Engineers, part of the British Army. Like other units comprising the Royal Engineers, soldiers in the squadron are called sappers.-Early history:...
, tasked with breaching the Merville battery defences - Private John Roberts, 19, of the East Yorkshire RegimentEast Yorkshire RegimentThe East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
, part of the first wave onto Sword Beach
Equipment:
- Airspeed HorsaAirspeed HorsaThe Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British World War II troop-carrying glider built by Airspeed Limited and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces...
Glider (static) - Mk V LCVPLCVPThe Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in amphibious landings in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins of Louisiana, United States, based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes...
(Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), used in the re-enacment
The Battle for Normandy
In "The Battle for NormandyNormandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
", Murray looks at the battles to secure the strategically valuable town of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, the vital port of Cherbourg, and the allied resupply efforts.
The episode looked in detail at the British 22nd Armoured Brigade's involvement in the Battle of Villers-Bocage
Battle of Villers-Bocage
The Battle of Villers-Bocage took place during the Second World War on 13 June 1944, one week after the Allies landed in Normandy to begin the liberation of German-occupied France. The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position by exploiting a temporary vulnerability in...
, south of Caen, and the German counter-attack by the German tank commander Michael Wittmann
Michael Wittmann
Michael Wittmann was a German Waffen-SS tank commander during the Second World War. Wittmann would rise to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer and was a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross holder....
. The episode also examined the Allied artificial Mulberry harbour
Mulberry harbour
A Mulberry harbour was a British type of temporary harbour developed in World War II to offload cargo on the beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy....
installed at Arromanches, the American advance west to obtain the port of Cherbourg, and the Allied aerial bombing of Caen during Operation Charnwood
Operation Charnwood
Operation Charnwood was a Second World War Anglo-Canadian offensive that took place from 8–9 July 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The operation was intended to at least partially capture the German-occupied French city of Caen , which was an important Allied objective during the opening stages...
. Finally, it examined Operation Goodwood
Operation Goodwood
Operation Goodwood was an attack launched on 18 July 1944, during the Second World War, by the British army to the east of the city of Caen...
, the Allied advance to Bourguébus
Bourguébus
Bourguébus is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
Ridge beyond Caen to the east.
People
- Harold Currie, 19, a Wireless Operator in a Cromwell tankCromwell tankTank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell ,The designation as the eighth Cruiser tank design, its name given for ease of reference and its General Staff specification number respectively and the related Centaur tank, were one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in the Second...
involved in the fighting at Villers-Bocage - SapperSapperA sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
George Batts, 18, involved in building the harbour at Arromanches - PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Ed Manley, 19, of the American 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne DivisionThe 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, involved in the American breakout - Andre Heintz, 24, a member of the French ResistanceFrench ResistanceThe French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
operating in Caen - Gunner Les Dinning, 18, of the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats), involved at Bourguébus
Equipment
- A German wheeled 88mm gun used as an anti-tank weapon at Bourguébus
The Push For Paris
In "The Push For Paris", Murray covers the American breakout in Normandy, and the German failed counterattack Operation LüttichOperation Lüttich
Operation Lüttich was a codename given to a German counterattack during the Battle of Normandy, which took place around the American positions near Mortain from 7 August to 13 August 1944...
, leaving the way open to Paris
The episode examined in detail the fighting around Mortain
Mortain
Mortain is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-Geography:Mortain is situated on a rocky hill rising above the gorge of the Cance, a tributary of the Sélune.-Administration:Mortain is the seat of a canton...
where the German counter-attack stalled, and the development of the Falaise pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
, in which the over-extended Germans became trapped in a pincer movement. It then traces the German attempts to escape under bombardment and Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
air attack through the 'Failaise Gap' between Argentan
Argentan
Argentan is a commune, and the seat of two cantons and of an arrondissement in the Orne department in north-western France.Argentan is located NE of Rennes, ENE of the Mont Saint-Michel, SE of Cherbourg, SSE of Caen, SW of Rouen and N of Le Mans....
and Falaise
Falaise, Calvados
Falaise is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-History:The town was the birthplace of William I the Conqueror, first of the Norman Kings of England. The Château de Falaise , which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of...
into a funnel at Chambois
Chambois
Chambois is a commune in the Orne département in north-western France. The city is remarkable for its Norman keep and was part of the Falaise pocket in 1944.-Norman keep:The Norman keep or Donjon was built in the 12th century...
, nicknamed 'the corridor of death' by the Germans, and ending with the battle at Mont Ormel ridge
Hill 262
Hill 262, or the Mont Ormel ridge , is an area of high ground above the village of Coudehard in Normandy that was the location of a bloody engagement in the final stages of the Normandy Campaign during the Second World War. By late summer 1944, the bulk of two German armies had become surrounded by...
and the final closure of the gap.
People
- Second LieutenantSecond LieutenantSecond lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
Robert Weiss, 21, 2Lt, of the American 30th Infantry Division (United States), a reconnaissanceReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
officer at Hill 317 in Mortain - Gunner Ken Tout, 20, of the 1st NorthantsNorthamptonshire YeomanryThe Northamptonshire Yeomanry was a unit of the British Army formed in 1794 as volunteer cavalry, it later served in an armoured role before being reduced to squadron level in 1956...
tank regiment, involved in the Falaise pocket - Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerA warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Jack Hodges, 21, of No. 174 Squadron RAFNo. 174 Squadron RAFNo. 174 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a fighter-bomber unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed in 2 March 1942 at RAF Manston and equipped with Hurricanes and then rocket armed Typhoons in April 1943. It was involved in attacks on shipping and...
, pilot in the Hawker Typhoon attacks on Falaise and Ormel
Equipment
- M4 ShermanM4 ShermanThe M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
Tank, "Fury"
Hitler's Terror Weapon
In "Hitler's Terror Weapon", Murray departs from the road to Berlin to look at the German V-weapons programme.The episode looks in detail at the underground V weapons factory at Nordhausen
Nordhausen
Nordhausen is a town at the southern edge of the Harz Mountains, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Nordhausen...
, and the Mittelbau-Dora
Mittelbau-Dora
Mittelbau-Dora was a Nazi Germany labour camp that provided workers for the Mittelwerk V-2 rocket factory in the Kohnstein, situated near Nordhausen, Germany....
camp which provided the slave labour for assembling the V weapons. It examined the V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket attacks on London, the first V-2 strike in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, and the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
attempts to attack the V-2's at their launch sites near The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
with the help of the Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized by its prominent non-violence, summitting in over 300,000 people in hiding in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers and tolerated knowingly...
.
People
- John Malin, 15, a London schoolboy who witnessed the first V-2 explosion
- Peter Wolff, 20, a Jewish slave labourer at the Mittelbau-Dora camp
- Michael Francis, 22, a pilot in No. 602 Squadron RAFNo. 602 Squadron RAFNo 602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron....
, involved in the air attacks on V-2 launch sites
Arnhem
In "ArnhemArnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
", Murray looks at Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, the Allied attempt to shorten the war with a bold aerial assault on the road bridge at Arnhem
John Frost Bridge
John Frost Bridge is the road bridge over the Lower Rhine at Arnhem, in the Netherlands.The bridge is named after Major-General John Dutton Frost , who commanded the British forces that reached and defended the bridge during the Battle of Arnhem in September, 1944.-Rijnbrug:There had been a...
.
The episode examines in detail the Battle of Arnhem
Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
, the parachute landings some 8 miles from Arnhem, the capture of a railway bridge 3 miles from Arnhem, and the capture of the Arnhem road bridge, the counter-attack by a Panzer unit which had been refitting nearby, and the ultimate retreat and fighting at Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, about 5 km west of Arnhem.The oldest part of the village of Oosterbeek is the Benedendorp , on the northern bank of the river Rhine...
(the 'cauldron'), and their evacuation in Operation Berlin (Arnhem).
During the episode, Murray trained for and participated his first ever parachute jump, as part of a 60th anniversary jump commemorating the operation.
People
- PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Bruce E Cox, 20, of the British 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment3rd Battalion, The Parachute RegimentThe 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment is a battalion sized formation of the British Army's Parachute Regiment and subordinate unit within 16 Air Assault Brigade....
(3 Para), who also jumped in the 60th anniversary - MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Tony Hibbert, 27, of the British 1st Parachute Brigade, who was with the group of 740 men of 2 Para who reached the road bridge - LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
James "Jimmy" Cleminson, 23, of 3 Para
Air War
In "Air War", in a departure from the road to Berlin, Murray looks at the Bombing of EssenBombing of Essen in World War II
During World War II, the industrial town of Essen, was a target of Allied strategic bombing.The Krupp factory was an inmportant industrial target, Essen was a "primary target" designated for area bombing by the February 1942 British Area bombing directive....
by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
The episode examined in detail the RAF's efforts to destroy the German Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
armament factories in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
in the Ruhr Valley, and the raid of 23 October 1944, described as the largest raid the RAF had ever undertaken. It covered the RAF tactics of using the Oboe navigation
Oboe (navigation)
Oboe was a British aerial blind bombing targeting system in World War II, based on radio transponder technology. Oboe accurately measured the distance to an aircraft, and gave the pilot guidance on whether or not they were flying along a pre-selected circular route. The route was only 35 yards...
system to guide its heavy bombers, and the use of the de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
as Pathfinders
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
to mark targets with flares, and the German air defences.
People
- Charles Harold, 19, a navigator of No. 35 Squadron RAF, flying Mosquitos
- Werner Schaumann, 16, a loader of 826 FlaK Battery, a German 20mm anti-aircraft unit
- Jack Harris, 24, a pilot of No. 550 Squadron RAFNo. 550 Squadron RAFNo. 550 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II.-History:No. 550 squadron was formed at RAF Waltham , Lincolnshire on 25 November 1943 from 'C' Flight of 100 Squadron. Equipped with Avro Lancasters, they began operating in the same month, as part of No. 1...
flying Lancaster bombers
Equipment
- Avro LancasterAvro LancasterThe Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bomber NX611 Just JaneLincolnshire Aviation Heritage CentreLincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, England, was founded in 1988 by Lincolnshire farmers Fred and Harold Panton, as a memorial to their brother Pilot Officer Christopher Panton, who along with 55,000 other aircrew of RAF Bomber Command lost his life during World War II...
, shown taxiingTaxiingTaxiing refers to the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or push-back where the aircraft is moved by a tug...
under engine power - A German wheeled 88mm gun in its anti-aircraft role
The Battle of the Bulge
In "The Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
", Murray looks at the German attempted counterattack through the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
forest.
The episode looks in detail at the German plans for Operation Autumn Mist, their intended counter-attack using the cover of the Ardennes forest, following the Allied liberation of Antwerp in Belgium. It also examines German attempts to confuse Allied forces using Commandos of Panzer Brigade 150
Panzer Brigade 150
Panzer Brigade 150 or SS Panzer Brigade 150 was a formation of the German Army during World War II that was formed to take part in the Ardennes offensive, it was unusual in that it was formed from all parts of the German Armed Forces, the 2.500 men in the brigade were formed from; 1.000 from the...
disguised as American units, the battle fought around Bastogne
Bastogne
Bastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
by the American 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, in particular Easy Company of the 502nd Infantry Regiment, and the subsequent Siege of Bastogne.
People
- CorporalCorporalCorporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
Ludwig Lindemann, 19, of the German 26th Volksgrenadier Division, an infantryman involved in Autumn Mist and at Bastogne - Victor Bouvy-Pesesse, 11, a resident of Bastogne who took refuge in a cellar
Equipment
- The German JagdpantherJagdpantherThe Jagdpanther was a tank destroyer built by Nazi Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. It entered service late in the war and saw service on the Eastern and Western fronts...
tank destroyer - The American M1 carbineM1 CarbineThe M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...
, the infantry weapon used by the 101st Airborne at Bastogne
The Eastern Front
In "The Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
", Murray again departs from Allied road to Berlin, to look at the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
advances from the East
It looks at in detail the Soviet offensive toward the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
River in Poland, aiming for the strategic objective of the valuable Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
region, while German civilians evacuated en-masse in fear of the Soviet troops. It examines the Soviet encirclement of the city of Breslau and the ensuing 3 month siege, and the parallel advance up the River Oder
Oder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
towards Berlin.
People
- Nikolai Yakovlevich Zheleznov, 21, a Soviet tank commander in the 4th Tank Army4th Tank Army (Soviet Union)The 20th Guards Army, , is a field army, since 1991, part of the Russian Ground Forces.-1st Formation :It was first formed within the Stalingrad Front from July 1942 and...
- Klavdia Andreevna Deriabina, 22, a bomber pilot of the Soviet all-female 588th Night Bomber Regiment, nicknamed the Night WitchesNight Witches"Night Witches" is the English translation of Nachthexen, a World War II German nickname , for the female military aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, known later as the 46th "Taman" Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, of the Soviet Air Forces...
by the Germans - Evgeni Ivanovich Bessonov, 21, of the Soviet 4th Tank Army Commander, a tank rider whose role was to advance ahead of the T-34's removing the panzerfaust threat
- Ursula Waage, 16, a civilian of Breslau
- UnteroffizierUnteroffizierUnteroffizier is both a specific military rank as well as a collective term for non-commissioned officers of the German military that has existed since the 19th century. The rank existed as a title as early as the 17th century with the first widespread usage occurring in the Bavarian Army of the...
Karl Huttenrauch, 21, of the German 20th Panzer Division, involved in the fighting along the Oder
Equipment
- The Soviet T-34T-34The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
Tank - The German panzerfaustPanzerfaustThe Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
, a handheld anti-tank weapon
Crossing the Rhine
In "Crossing the Rhine", Murray looks at the Allied advances across the Rhine, 9 months after D-DayIt covers in detail the British plan for a large set-piece assault on Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
led by Montgomery, with his American rival Patton planning crossings further south. It examines the fortunate discovery and ensuing battle for the Ludendorff Bridge
Ludendorff Bridge
The Ludendorff Bridge was a railway bridge across the River Rhine in Germany, connecting the villages of Remagen and Erpel between two ridge lines of hills flanking the river...
at Remagen
Remagen
Remagen is a town in Germany in Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Ahrweiler. It is about a one hour drive from Cologne , just south of Bonn, the former West German capital. It is situated on the River Rhine. There is a ferry across the Rhine from Remagen every 10–15 minutes in the summer...
, by a company of the American 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, it being the only one of 47 crossings not blown up by the Germans. It also examines the other American crossings at Oppenheim
Oppenheim
Oppenheim is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The town is well known as a wine town, the site of the German Winegrowing Museum and particularly for the wines from the Oppenheimer Krötenbrunnen vineyards.- Location :...
, followed by the British 50 mile wide assault on the Rhine, Operation Plunder
Operation Plunder
Commencing on the night of 23 March 1945 during World War II, Operation Plunder was the crossing of the River Rhine at Rees, Wesel, and south of the Lippe River by the British 2nd Army, under Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey , and the U.S. Ninth Army , under Lieutenant General William Simpson...
, opening up 6 bridgeheads, followed by Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
, a massive airborne assault to prevent a German retaliation from the woods behind Wasel.
People
- SergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Ralf Shackelford, 27, of the American 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, involved at the Ludendorff Bridge - Karl Feldens, 7, one of many civilians who had been sent by the Germans to hide in the rail tunnel on the far side of the Ludendorff Bridge
- Sergeant MajorSergeant MajorSergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
Herbert Mallorie, 22, of the British No. 46 (Royal Marine) CommandoNo. 46 (Royal Marine) CommandoNo. 46 Commando was a battalion size formation in the British Commandos, formed in August 1943 during the Second World War. The Commando was assigned to the 4th Special Service Brigade and served North West Europe and took part in the Normandy Landings, operations around Ostend and Antwerp before...
, who crossed the Rhine in a Buffalo (Landing Vehicle TrackedLanding Vehicle TrackedThe Landing Vehicle Tracked was a class of amphibious vehicles introduced by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Army during World War II. Originally intended solely as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations, they rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles as well...
) - Sergeant Ted Eaglen, 20, of the British 6th Airborne Division, involved in the parachute landings in Operation Varsity
Equipment
- A DUKWDUKWThe DUKW is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was designed by a partnership under military auspices of Sparkman & Stephens and General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious...
amphibious vehicle
The Battle for Berlin
In "The Battle for Berlin", Murray looks at the last 300 miles of the British and American advance, and the Soviet advance into Berlin, effectively ending the war.The episode looks in detail at the events of 15 April 1945, when British troops entered the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
to find hundreds of dead and dying prisoners, and the meetup of American and Soviet forces at the River Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
on 25 April. It also examines the Battle for Berlin - the final Soviet encriclement and assault, and the Battle in Berlin
Battle in Berlin
The Battle in Berlin was an end phase of the Battle of Berlin. While the Battle of Berlin encompassed the attack by three Soviet Army Groups to capture not only Berlin but the territory of Germany east of the River Elbe still under German control, the Battle in Berlin details the fighting, and...
, the street fighting phase culminating in the raising a flag over the Reichstag
Raising a flag over the Reichstag
Raising a flag over the Reichstag is a historic World War II photograph taken during the Battle of Berlin on 2 May 1945, by Yevgeny Khaldei. It depicts several Soviet troops raising the flag of the Soviet Union atop the German Reichstag building. The photograph was instantly popular, being...
. It also details Hitler's last public appearance on 20 April, his suicide on 30 April
Death of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler committed suicide by gunshot on Monday, 30 April 1945 in his Führerbunker in Berlin. His wife Eva , committed suicide with him by ingesting cyanide...
, and the burning of his body.
People
- Leslie HardmanLeslie HardmanReverend Leslie Henry Hardman MBE, HCF, , was an Orthodox Rabbi and the first Jewish British Army Chaplain to enter Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, an experience "that made him a public figure, both within his community and outside it".-Early life:Hardman was born in Glynneath, Wales to a Polish...
, a Military Chaplain and the senior Jewish Rabbi of the British 8th Corps, the first chaplain to enter Belsen, conducting the first funeral service over 5,000 person mass grave - Pavel Borisovich Vinnik, 19, a machine gunner of the Soviet 5th Guards Army
- OberscharführerOberscharführerOberscharführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that existed between the years of 1932 and 1945. Translated as “Senior Squad Leader”, Oberscharführer was first used as a rank of the Sturmabteilung and was created due to an expansion of the enlisted positions required by growing SA membership...
Rochus MischRochus MischRochus Misch is a former Oberscharführer in the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler during World War II. He served as a courier, bodyguard and telephone operator for German leader Adolf Hitler from 1940 to 1945...
, part of the staff in Hitler's bunker
Equipment
- The ROKS flamethrowersROKS flamethrowersThe ROKS-2 and ROKS-3 were man-portable flamethrowers used by the USSR in the Second World War. The ROKS-2 was designed not to draw attention so the fuel tank was square and resembled a regular backpack, and the nozzle looked like a service rifle. The propellant tank was a small bottle underneath...
, a portable flame thrower used by Soviet forces
DVD release
The series was made available on DVD for the first time from 6 April 2009. The DVD was released by Revelation FilmsRevelation Films
Revelation Films is a British distributor of entertainment programmes on DVD.It was perhaps most well known as the company through which as of November 2006, the American anime company FUNimation Entertainment has launched its titles in the United Kingdom on region 2 DVD...
as a 2 disc 230 minutes volume, playable in Region 2
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
.