The World at War Season 1

(1973) November - May | # of Episodes : 26

Ratings

8.2

9.2

Series Details

Seasons: 1

Total Episodes: 26

Creators:

Networks: ITV1

Status: Ended

First Air Date: Oct 31, 1973

Recent Air Date: May 8, 1974

Run Time: m

In Production: No

Original Language: English

Age Rating: TV-PG

Website: Link

Production Companies: Thames Television , Blakeway Productions

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Synopsis

No Synopsis for this season yet

Main Cast

Laurence Olivier

Narrator

Age : N/A | Popularity : 100%

Episodes

Episode 1

31 October 1973 - A New Germany (1933–1939)

Germany, a nation stricken by humiliating defeat and emerging from crippling economic depression, looks to one man for a resurgence of hope and dignity. That man is Adolf Hitler…

Episode 2

07 November 1973 - Distant War (September 1939–May 1940)

In Eastern Europe, the full force of the Nazi machine rolls on - but in Britain, an uneasy calm settles on the nation. It is the 'phoney' war, with the sound of distant guns thundering ominously on the horizon…

Episode 3

14 November 1973 - France Falls (May–June 1940)

France discovers it is woefully unprepared for modern warfare as the Nazi war machine easily skirts around the Maginot Line. Britain retreats and prepares for invasion.

Episode 4

21 November 1973 - Alone (May 1940–May 1941)

After Dunkirk, Britain faces the German onslaught. Although the Rap wins the Battle of Britain, the cities are blitzed and on the continent the last Allies are conquered. The outlook is grim.

Episode 5

28 November 1973 - Barbarossa (June–December 1941)

Hitler at last turns his tanks towards Russia. After a succession of devastating victories, the Germans delay and the fierce Russian winter takes a grip.

Episode 6

05 December 1973 - Banzai! Japan (1931–1942)

At war since 1931 on the Chinese mainland, the Japanese hope for easy victories over the British and Dutch. And then on December 7th 1941, Japan makes their infamous attack on Pearl Harbour.

Episode 7

12 December 1973 - On Our Way: U.S.A. (1939–1942)

Americans are divided between fighting the Japanese and the Nazis. Hitler solves the problem by declaring war on the U.S.A.

Episode 8

19 December 1973 - The Desert: North Africa (1940–1943)

For 2 years the 8th Army and Rommel's Afrika Corps fight in the wastes of North Africa. Finally the tide turns at El Alamein.

Episode 9

02 January 1974 - Stalingrad (June 1942 - February 1943)

Hitler's early successes in Russia made him reckless and he resolves to capture Stalingrad. The battle lasts six months with the Russians emerging as victors. The Wehrmacht never recovers.

Episode 10

16 January 1974 - Wolfpack: U-Boats in the Atlantic (1939–1943)

In a war of high technology and animal courage, the German U-Boats fight Allied merchantmen, hounding them in packs.

Episode 11

23 January 1974 - Red Star: The Soviet Union (1941–1943)

For two years the Soviet Army fights the Germans almost alone. After one of the greatest land battles in history, the nation survives and triumphs - but with a loss of no less than twenty million of its people.

Episode 12

30 January 1974 - Whirlwind: Bombing Germany (September 1939–April 1944)

Bomber Command begin bombing German cities by night and the Americans reinforce the attacks by day; a whirlwind of terror and destruction that will win the war.

Episode 13

30 January 1974 - Tough Old Gut: Italy (1943 - 1944)

Churchill called Italy the 'soft underbelly of the crocodile' and thought the Allies could cut through it to the heart of Germany. By the soft underbelly turned out to be a 'tough old gut'.

Episode 14

13 February 1974 - It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow: Burma (1942–1943)

Vera Lynn sang of a lovely day tomorrow, but the war in Burma was mud and monsoon. Britain's largest army learned to master the jungle and fought the Japanese to standstill.

Episode 15

20 February 1974 - Home Fires: Britain (1940–1944)

Finding strength in unity at home in Britain during the war, it was a time of gas masks, Winston Churchill, Dig for Victory, evacuation, George Formby, the Land Army, ITMA, the Squander Bug and the Beveridge Report.

Episode 16

27 February 1974 - Inside the Reich: Germany (1940–1944)

Initial victory in Europe turns sour after the defeat at Stalingrad, yet Germany prepares to fight to the end - even after an assassination attempt on the Führer.

Episode 17

06 March 1974 - Morning (June–August 1944)

The Western Allies resolve to invade Europe. England becomes a floating supply dump and the British and Americans assemble the largest invasion fleet in history. It is June 6th 1944 - D Day.

Episode 18

13 March 1974 - Occupation: Holland (1940–1944)

Through a neutral country, Holland is attacked by Germany without warning in 1940. During the next four years, life carries on seemingly without incident, but underneath resistance never dies.

Episode 19

20 March 1974 - Pincers (August 1944–March 1945)

The end of the war appears close at hand with the liberation of Paris in 1944, but the British and Americans disagree on how to advance. Meanwhile, Poland suffers devastating losses to achieve victory.

Episode 20

27 March 1974 - Genocide (1941–1945)

The Nazi's are racist; the Aryans are a master race, others, particularly the Jews are sub-human. Himmler's SS sets about ridding Europe of millions of Jews.

Episode 21

03 April 1974 - Nemesis (February–May 1945)

Hitler retreats to the Fuhrer bunker is Berlin as Germany crumbles around him and his lieutenants abandon him to a fate of suicide. Meanwhile, the Russians raise the red flag in Berlin.

Episode 22

10 April 1974 - Japan (1941–1945)

Initially apprehensive about the outcome of declaring war, the Japanese quickly turn to celebration with early victory. In the end, their worst fears are unimaginably exceeded.

Episode 23

17 April 1974 - Pacific - The Island to Island War (February 1942–July 1945)

The Americans fight their way across the Pacific towards Japan and the Phillipines. Perhaps the bloodiest campaign of all, each island has to be taken by storm and the Japanese fight to the last man.

Episode 24

24 April 1974 - The Atomic Bomb (February–September 1945)

Western scientists have developed a new, immensely powerful weapon - the atomic bomb. On August 6th 1945, the Enola Gay delivers the world's first atomic bomb to Hiroshima. The world would be forever altered.

Episode 25

01 May 1974 - Reckoning (April 1945)

The war ends slowly and messily. Britain is victorious but exhausted and the super-powers confront each other as they decide the fate of Europe.

Episode 26

08 May 1974 - Remember

For many the Second World War was the most significant experience of their lives. Heartbreaking first hand remembrances from a vast array of survivors on both sides of the war.

Crew

Department	Role	Name
Directing	Director	Hugh Ragett Peter Batty
Production	Producer	Jeremy Isaacs
Sound	Original Music Composer	Carl Davis
Department	Role	Name

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