The War Diaries

In this first film of the series, we follow the prelude to war and consider how the Treaty of Versailles, drawn up after the First World War, failed to keep the peace. Watch the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany and see for yourself the preparations made by the people of Britain as war became an inevitability.

War Diaries, 1940, follows Hitler's Blitzkrieg as it ripped through the Low Countries and France, witnesses the 'Miracle of Dunkirk', when more than 300,000 allied soldiers were safely snatched, quite literally from Hitler's grasp, and then looks to the skies for the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.

War Diaries, 1941, looks at how Adolf Hitler increased the Nazi stranglehold on Europe, while Winston Churchill inspired the people of Britain to stand together as the nightly Luftwaffe bombing raids were extended to include the nation's vital ports, as well as the capital, London. War Diaries, 1941, also looks at Japan's devastating attack on the American Fleet at Pearl Harbour.

War Diaries, 1942, sees how the arrival of the American GIs in Britain brought a new spirit of hope. Watch the war unfold in the Pacific with the fall of Singapore and witness the tide turn after the victory of the US Navy at the Battle of Midway. 1942 began with Hitler and the Axis Powers in the ascendancy but by the end of the year the Allies were ready to take the initiative.

War Diaries, 1943, sees the cracks start to appear in Hitler's plans for world domination. Beginning with the total destruction of the German 6th Army by the Russians, and defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad; the Nazis then let North Africa slip away from them at the Battle of El Alamein.

In this penultimate film of the series, 1944, we chart the progress of the Allies who were constantly regaining ground throughout Italy, while the Russians pushed ever westwards towards Poland, forcing the Nazi occupiers to head for home. However, the most important event of 1944 was the Allied Landings of D Day, June the 6th, on the beaches of Normandy. Despite there still being many miles to go before the Allies reached Berlin, Hitler's days were definitely numbered.

In the final film of the series, 1945, the end of the war was now truly in sight. Yet there were still hurdles to overcome, and with the completion of the battle of the Bulge still to test the allies, the race for Berlin was on. Discover what happened in Hitler's final hours and enjoy the VE Day celebrations with Winston Churchill and the people of Britain as the dream of Victory in Europe became a reality.