Battlefield

Episode 1

The Battle for the Crimea

Hitler's obsession with the Crimea was the source of fierce disagreements with his General staff. So it was that the German 11th Army under Manstein broke through the Soviet lines in October 1941 - but this was only the beginning of a series of bloody battles that cost the Russians two whole armies. However, the tide turned after the disastrous German defeats at Stalingrad and Kursk. Cut off and isolated in the Crimea, the Germans faced massive Russian attacks and Sevastapol surrendered in May 1944. Twelve German and Rumanian divisions were completely destroyed and 25,000 prisoners were taken.

Episode 2

Scandinavia: The Forgotten Front

Sun, May 9, 2004

The vicious 14-week war between the Finns and the Russians ended in March 1940 when the Finns finally surrendered a large part of its territory to the Soviet invaders. It was a hollow victory, since for much of the war the Russians took a drubbing from the determined and resourceful Finns, who organized the defense of their country brilliantly. It is believed that one million Russians lost their lives during the fighting. Hitler became increasingly aware of the potential threat of Norway and mounted the world's first airborne invasion there in February 1940. At the same time, German Forces invaded Denmark. Over the next few years, the horrors and intrigues of the Quisling government in Norway unfolded amidst determined Norwegian resistance.

Episode 3

The War Against the U-Boats

An in depth look at the World War II Battle of the Atlantic, the people who commanded the fighting, the national leaders, and the equipment used.

Episode 4

Destination Okinawa

Anticipating an excessive commitment of resources to take and hold the island, American war planners abandon an invasion of Formosa and focus directly on the Japanese home islands. They set their sites first on Okinawa to serve as a forward base of attack. Japan, seeking time to build defenses, plans to sacrifice Okinawa by fighting to the last man to delay the Allied advance. The Japanese are well prepared with layered defenses forcing American troops to fight a series of difficult, costly battles while naval forces deal with large, organized kamikaze attacks.

Episode 5

Campaign in the Balkans

105 mins

We examine the course of savage fighting in the Balkans in the latter half of the conflict in World War 2 where after the uprising by the Romanians, the Soviet Army moved swiftly to capture Bucharest.

Episode 6

The Battle for the Mediterranean

We tell the story of the crucial battles for control of the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the irreplaceable oil fields in World War 2 and the story of the war in Greece.