Secrets of World War II episode 2: With access to Eva Braun’s personal photograph album, this programme reconstructs the final days in the Dictator’s underground lair, and in particular it examines the possibility of escape for the selected few. Even a half century after his violent end, the death of the 20th century’s most sinister evil is still shrouded in mystery. How did Hitler spend his final hours? Did he actually die in his Chancellery bunker, or did Hitler’s doppelganger make one final impersonation? Why was Joseph Stalin obsessed with finding Hitler’s body? Return to the war-torn ruins of Berlin to discover the secrets of “Adolf Hitler’s Last Days.”
Descend into the passageways of the dictator’s underground fortress and see why one SS guard likened it to “being stranded in a cement submarine.” Be a witness to the details of Hitler’s secret wedding to the bunker’s “Angel of Death.” With the help of England’s top code-breakers, hear the Fuhrer’s last desperate orders to his generals. Stand just outside Hitler’s inner sanctum as he prepares for his ultimate escape. Then climb up to the streets of Berlin as the Third Reich makes one final, suicidal stand against the advancing Russian army.
Secrets of World War II episode 2
You probably know the History, now discover the incredible SECRETS OF WORLD WAR II. Rarely has a war produced such clear cut reasons to fight as World War II. On the one hand were the totalitarian Dictators – Tojo, Hitler and Mussolini. On the other were the great democracies of the Western World which were gradually regaining their feet after the Great War of 1914-18 and the Wall Street Crash. Suddenly, ordinary men and women from all walks of life found themselves thrown into fearsome, nerve-tingling situations worthy of any Hollywood movie. The only difference in this series is that every story is true. Real people emerge as the Heroes of Telemark. Ordinary GIs and US Airforce and Navy personnel suddenly find themselves flying against the Japanese in China, jungle fighting in Burma and being dropped by submarine on enemy coasts at midnight.
These untold stories can now be examined in great detail with the benefit of hindsight, newly-discovered archive film, maps and computer graphics which can complete the picture for today’s viewer. Each fifty-two minute story covers the background to the main action. It will give the viewer a clear view of the historical context, the strategic objective and the tactical effort made by flyers, sailors and foot-soldiers – often in the most oppressive and life-threatening situations – to win victory from the enemy.
This is an inspiring series with a giant canvas including much never before seen colour film. Over 300,000 hours of archive material have been searched for its compilation. Specially orchestrated music and compositions from the great composers all contribute to the excitement and drama of some of the world’s greatest stories of bravery under fire.
It is the largest series of its kind ever produced and with recently released secret footage will give the viewer a new insight into the great untold war stories of World War II. In many cases, this series gives the true stories for the first time this Century.
Death of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler, chancellor and dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945, died by suicide via gunshot on 30 April 1945 in the Führerbunker in Berlin after it became clear that Germany would lose the Battle of Berlin, which led to the end of World War II in Europe. Eva Braun, his wife of one day, also died by suicide, taking cyanide. In accordance with Hitler’s prior written and verbal instructions, that afternoon their remains were carried up the stairs and through the bunker’s emergency exit to the Reich Chancellery garden, where they were doused in petrol and burned. The news of Hitler’s death was announced on German radio the next day, 1 May.
Eyewitnesses who saw Hitler’s body immediately after his suicide testified that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot, which has been established to have been a shot to the temple. Otto Günsche, Hitler’s personal adjutant, who handled both bodies, testified that while Braun’s smelled strongly of burnt almonds – an indication of cyanide poisoning – there was no such odour about Hitler’s body, which smelled of gunpowder. Dental remains extracted from the soil in the garden were matched with Hitler’s dental records in May 1945. The dental remains were later confirmed as being Hitler’s.
The Soviet Union restricted the release of information and released many conflicting reports about Hitler’s death. Historians have largely rejected these as part of a deliberate disinformation campaign by Joseph Stalin to sow confusion regarding Hitler’s death, or have attempted to reconcile them. Soviet records allege that the burnt remains of Hitler and Braun were recovered, despite eyewitness accounts that they were almost completely reduced to ashes. In June 1945, the Soviets began seeding two contradictory narratives: that Hitler died by taking cyanide and that he had survived and fled to another country. Following extensive review, West Germany issued a death certificate in 1956. Conspiracy theories about Hitler’s death continue to attract interest.
