Gladiators of World War II
In this BBC documentary series newly declassified documents are used to examine the strategic roles played in the war by thirteen of the world's regular and resistance land, sea and air forces.
- 2002-2002
- 1 season
- Documentary, Action & Adventure
In this BBC documentary series newly declassified documents are used to examine the strategic roles played in the war by thirteen of the world's regular and resistance land, sea and air forces.
Season 1 Episode Guide
13 Episodes 2002
Episode 1
Waffen-SS
Fri, Feb 8, 2002 48 mins
Originally created as Hitler's personal household troops, the Waffen-SS grew into a formidable fighting force during World War 2. It gained a reputation second to none for its tenacity in combat, but also for brutality, which made it the subject of numerous Allied war crimes investigations.
Episode 2
Special Operations Executive
Fri, Mar 1, 2002
Britain's SOE was a covert force established in 1940 to support the Resistance movement in Nazi-occupied Europe. Trained in radio use, unarmed combat and sabotage, many parachuted or were dropped by submarine behind enemy lines.
Episode 3
SAS
Fri, Feb 1, 2002 48 mins
The brainchild of a junior British officer, the Special Air Service first saw action in North Africa, making daring raids against Axis airfields. Thereafter it continued to specialise in operations behind enemy lines in Italy, the Greek Islands, and North-West Europe. The skills that the SAS acquired during World War 2 enabled it to become one of today's foremost Special Forces throughout the world.
Episode 4
The Desert Rats
Fri, Feb 15, 2002 48 mins
The men of the British Armoured Division gained the nickname Desert Rats during their epic campaign against the Axis forces under Erwin Rommel in the deserts of Egypt and Libya. Thereafter, the Desert Rats fought with great distinction in Sicily, Italy and North-West Europe. Their long road took them from the Suez Canal to the Nazi capital of Berlin.
Episode 5
The Free Polish Forces
Fri, Mar 29, 2002 48 mins
The German overrunning of their country in 1939 did not crush the Polish spirit. Many escaped to the West to carry on the fight. Polish fighter pilots played a major role in the Battle of Britain, while Polish ground forces helped to liberate Western Europe. Another Polish force, held captive by the Russians in Siberia, made an epic trek to the Middle East to fought in Italy, where their courage brought a victorious end to the bitter battle for Monte Cassino.
Episode 6
RAF Fighter Command
Fri, Feb 22, 2002 48 mins
It was the Few of RAF Fighter Command who saved Britain from almost certain defeat in summer 1940. The unique spirit generated by its fighter pilots enabled the Command to overcome the might of the Luftwaffe and to continue to wage a relentless campaign which finally ended in ultimate victory in May 1945.
Episode 7
The Paras and Commandos
Fri, Mar 8, 2002 48 mins
Winston Churchill created the Commandos in summer 1940 as a means of striking at the coasts of Nazi Occupied Europe. Beginning as a mere raiding force, they became the spearhead of the Allied amphibious landings in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Normandy. Out of the Commandos evolved Britain's airborne forces, whose feats ranged from the daring Bruneval raid of 1942 to the epic of Arnhem.
Episode 8
Norwegian Resistance Fighters
48 mins
Norway was strategically important to Hitler and endured five years of Nazi occupation, but it developed one of the most effective resistance movements in the whole of Occupied Europe. Its activities helped the British to contain and then destroy Germany's mightiest warships, as well as to ensure that the Allies won the race to develop the atomic bomb.
Episode 9
The Royal Navy
Fri, May 24, 2002 48 mins
Never before nor since has the Royal Navy been so challenged as it was during 1939-45. In the Atlantic it fought the longest campaign of the war against the German U-boats and surface ships, experiencing tragedy and triumph before the battle was finally won. The Mediterranean witnessed its one major fleet action of the war, and the grim struggle to prevent the crucial island of Malta from falling to the Axis. In the war against Japan the Royal Navy had to overcome early setbacks, but its Pacific Fleet played its part in bringing about ultimate victory.
Episode 10
The Anzacs
Sat, Nov 16, 2002 48 mins
The Australian and New Zealand forces built on the reputation they had earned during World War 1 for being among the finest fighting troops in the world. Australian troops earned the nickname the Rats of Tobruk for their defence of the Libyan port during Rommel's long but ultimately abortive siege of it. New Zealanders fought the length of North Africa and Italy. In the Far East, after suffering disaster in Malaya, Australians became the first Allied ground forces to drive back the Japanese during the grim battles on the Kokoda Trail in the mountainous jungle of New Guinea.
Episode 11
The Kamikazes
Fri, Mar 22, 2002
When American forces began the re-conquest of the Philippine islands in 1944 they faced a terrifying weapon - the Kamikaze suicide attack.
Episode 12
The Chindits
Wed, Nov 13, 2002 48 mins
Born of one man's vision at a time when the Japanese seemed to be sweeping all before them, the Chindits proved an inspiration to the Allied forces in Burma. They showed that it was not only possible to live in the jungle for months on end but also that Western troops could defeat the Japanese.
Episode 13
The Free French Forces
Thu, Nov 14, 2002 48 mins
In June 1940, with France about to collapse, General Charles de Gaulle unfurled his Free French banner in London. His followers were initially few and were regarded as traitors by many of their fellow countrymen, but they grew in number. Free French forces fought with distinction in North Africa and Italy and went on to play a significant part in the liberation of their own country.
