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3 Episodes 0 - 0
Episode 1
45 mins
After the early successes of Operation Barbarossa (the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union), the Germans were surrounded and defeated at Stalingrad. The Soviet army pushed westward, forming the Kursk 'bulge' or salient. Operation Citadel was the 1943 Nazi offensive to pinch off the Kursk bulge. In response to the German buildup, the Soviets prepared defenses in depth. What resulted was a decisive strategic defeat for the Nazis, and they were never able to recover. The Russians continued to press toward the west and eventually captured Berlin.
Episode 2
44 mins
In 1943 and 1944, Hitler built up his defense forces in France to oppose any possible Allied invasion. After his success in Italy, Field Marshal Rommel was assigned to inspect and fortify the German defenses along the French coast. Hitler focused his efforts at the Pas-de-Calais, somewhat to the detriment of the forces in Normandy. Tactical disagreements and a rigid chain of command also hindered Rommel's ability to stop any invasion at the beachhead. The key Allied landing at Omaha Beach on June 6 1944 took the Germans initially by surprise, but the Germans occupied the high ground and their sustained and devastating counter-fire almost repelled the invaders.
Episode 3
45 mins
The Allies pressed eastward through Holland, Belgium, and France during the last half of 1944. Hitler planned a counter-attack through the rugged Ardennes Forest region to the port of Antwerp on the coast, cutting the Allied armies in two. German men from 16 to 60 were drafted to replace those lost in combat. On December 16 1944 the Nazis attacked the lightly-defended American lines and quickly overran the Allied positions, aided by the element of surprise and by the bad weather which prevented air support. But valiant resistance by Allied units blunted and slowed the German drive. Better weather permitted Allied air attacks, but the frozen roads enabled the Germans to renew their armored attacks. The failure to capture Bastogne was one of the key reasons for the ultimate failure of the German offensive.