World War II: Secrets from Above

Summer 1940: Fierce dogfights fill the skies over Southern England, as the pilots of the RAF defend the island from ferocious German bombers.

The longest campaign of the war pits the deadly stealth of the Nazi U-boats against the code-breaking genius and long-range bombers of the Allies.

The Allies have taken the beaches of Northern France. Now they face a brutal fight through enemy territory in a bid to liberate Europe. Taken from National geografic Taken from the German translation On September 1, 1939, the German Reich invaded its eastern neighbor Poland without declaring war. Externally justified by an attack staged by the SS by alleged Polish irregulars. Around six million Polish citizens fell victim to the war and the subsequent occupation of Poland, which was divided between Germany and the USSR. “World War II: History from Above” reconstructs, among other things, German blitzkrieg tactics, a successful escape from the Auschwitz extermination camp and the attempts to save Warsaw from complete destruction

D-Day, the successful Allied landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944, heralded the final phase of the Second World War: But even after securing their bridgeheads in France, the American, British and Canadian units faced further enormous sacrifices. Operation Cobra, an offensive near Caen supported by massive bombing, weakened the German lines enough for the Allies to achieve a breakthrough. From August 1944 they were able to consolidate their troops and at the same time advance towards Paris, despite bitter German resistance.

In September 1944, the Allies risked a gamble. The landing in the Dutch provinces of Noord-Brabant and Gelderland is intended to enable a rapid advance into the Ruhr area. But the success of “Operation Market Garden” depends on the perfect interaction of several factors: the dropping of tens of thousands of paratroopers behind enemy lines must be successful, as well as the capture of several fiercely defended bridges. It is also important to neutralize one of the best-equipped German tank divisions. In fact, the risky operation does not turn out as hoped.

In July 1943, Italy left the alliance with Germany. Mussolini is arrested and at the beginning of September the new Italian government concludes a ceasefire with the Allies. But German troops have been advancing in the country since the beginning of August. Then on September 9th, British and American units began the “Avalanche” landing operation near Salerno. Their goal is to liberate Europe from the south. However, they encounter bitter German resistance and well-developed defense lines. The battles that followed were among the bloodiest of the Second World War.

May 1941: The new Nazi battleship Bismarck sets out to destroy Allied convoys in the Atlantic. It is up to the Royal Navy to stop it in its tracks.

April 1940: German battleships attack key Norwegian ports, but the British Navy are on their tail in a fierce fight over control of Norway.

Autumn 1942: After devastating Nazi bombing raids, fierce fighting breaks out in the streets of Soviet Stalingrad in the bloodiest battle of WWII.

July 1943: Nazi panzer divisions come up against Soviet industrial might in one of the biggest tank battles in history.

As WWII reaches its endgame, Allies and Soviets race to seize Berlin, uncovering Nazi secrets that reshape Europe and set the stage for the Cold War.

Autumn 1942: German and Italian forces threaten British-controlled Egypt and the Suez Canal as the war comes to a head in the North African desert.