Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:05,080
[dramatic music]
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,440
♪
3
00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,600
- The nation of Poland
no longer exists,
4
00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,000
and that enables Adolf Hitler
to attack the West.
5
00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,480
After six months of inactivity,
what is called the Phony War,
6
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,480
Germany
quickly occupies Denmark,
7
00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,040
then invades Norway,
8
00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,120
where they easily defeat
a British and French force,
9
00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,240
triggering a crisis
in the British leadership.
10
00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,200
Now, the question is,
11
00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,400
where will Hitler point
the Wehrmacht next?
12
00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:36,680
And who will be able
to stop him?
13
00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,240
[dramatic music]
14
00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,480
- All wars change the world,
15
00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,440
but none of them
changed the world
16
00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,400
like the Second World War did.
17
00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:48,360
- Japan's on the march,
Germany's on the march.
18
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:49,760
- No one can imagine
19
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,560
the nightmare they're about
to unleash.
20
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,200
The most destructive war
in human history.
21
00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,120
- Suddenly the world
is turned upside down,
22
00:00:58,200 --> 00:00:59,600
and all hell is let loose.
23
00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,800
♪
24
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,440
- The West is stunned
by the speed of the advance.
25
00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,240
- You get the Allies,
led by the big three--
26
00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:11,840
Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin.
27
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:13,840
Men who are dealing
28
00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,000
with immensely complicated
questions.
29
00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,080
- It's the biggest military
operation of human history.
30
00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,240
- The Allies have to come
together,
31
00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:24,680
not just militarily,
32
00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,080
but industrial scale
33
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:27,960
it's a global perspective.
34
00:01:27,960 --> 00:01:29,680
- They have to fight
in every climate,
35
00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,360
from the Arctic
to the jungles of the Pacific
36
00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,560
to the deserts of Africa
and the depths of the ocean.
37
00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,240
♪
38
00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:42,120
- But there was
no certainty of victory.
39
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,200
It was going to be
a horrific bloodbath.
40
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,720
- We see humans
at their absolute worst--
41
00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,240
how they treat
other human beings.
42
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,320
And we see them
at their absolute best--
43
00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,320
willing to give their lives
that others might live.
44
00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,600
- World War II was a struggle
45
00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:01,360
in which there could be
one victor and one vanquished.
46
00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,920
♪
47
00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,680
[explosions,
air-raid sirens wailing]
48
00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:16,040
♪
49
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,880
- May 10, 1940...
50
00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,520
♪
51
00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,040
German forces sweep through
the Netherlands and Belgium...
52
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,920
♪
53
00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,560
Headed for France.
54
00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:46,640
♪
55
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,160
This will be the third time
56
00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,800
that Germany has invaded
France in 70 years.
57
00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,520
Because of this history,
58
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,200
the French have constructed
a 280-mile system of forts...
59
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,840
known as the Maginot Line.
60
00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:04,440
♪
61
00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,160
- The idea is to have a number
of different fortifications
62
00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,840
and infrastructures
and weapons,
63
00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:12,200
underground tunnels.
64
00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,920
- You have extensive batteries
65
00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,760
that can house
entire battalions.
66
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,760
There are even
electric railroads underground
67
00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,360
to funnel soldiers
from blockhouse to blockhouse.
68
00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:29,040
♪
69
00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,720
- Confident that the border
with Germany is secure,
70
00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,160
the French position
their best troops
71
00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,200
along the Belgian-Dutch
border.
72
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,160
♪
73
00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,520
- The French Army of 1940
is regarded as Europe's finest.
74
00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,200
They have a large number
of soldiers.
75
00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,120
- [speaking French]
76
00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,760
- They have some
of the largest and best tanks
77
00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:55,960
in all of the world
at this time.
78
00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,240
♪
79
00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,440
- Nobody else has an army
80
00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,000
standing between
the Allies and Germany.
81
00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:04,760
♪
82
00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,320
It's so deeply assumed
83
00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,360
the French Army
will hold off the Germans,
84
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,600
just as it had
in the First World War.
85
00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,640
♪
86
00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,800
- The French Army
feels more than capable
87
00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:15,960
of meeting any challenge
88
00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:17,760
it might face
in a future conflict.
89
00:04:17,840 --> 00:04:19,480
♪
90
00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,120
- As they did 25 years before,
in the First World War,
91
00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,400
Great Britain
also sends an army
92
00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,360
to stop the German invasion.
93
00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,000
- Reinforcements for the
British Expeditionary Force
94
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:32,320
reach France.
95
00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,600
♪
96
00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,040
- The British Expeditionary
Force has been sent across
97
00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,920
to assist the French in their
defense against the Germans.
98
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,280
You've probably got
about 300,000 men.
99
00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,120
They are the cream
of British ground troops.
100
00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,680
♪
101
00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,120
- British and French forces
surge into Belgium...
102
00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:56,920
♪
103
00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,240
Looking to confront
the Germans
104
00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:00,720
in what they believe will be
105
00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,080
the main effort
of the German attack.
106
00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,040
- They're heading
for the line,
107
00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,400
towards the distant rumble
of gunfire.
108
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,560
- This is precisely
what Hitler wants them to do.
109
00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,680
♪
110
00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,680
One of the Wehrmacht's
best generals,
111
00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,120
Erich von Manstein,
has designed a trap.
112
00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:20,480
♪
113
00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,160
- Manstein--
very ambitious general,
114
00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,760
big advocate
of war-of-movement tactics,
115
00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:27,480
blitzkrieg tactics...
116
00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,920
he says, we're going
to distract them.
117
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,920
We'll still have an army
facing the Maginot Line.
118
00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:33,960
We'll still have an army
sweeping through Belgium,
119
00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:35,520
but we'll do
what they least expect.
120
00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:37,600
We'll cut through
the Ardennes.
121
00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:38,960
♪
122
00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:40,880
- The Ardennes Forest
123
00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,720
straddles the French frontier
with Belgium.
124
00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,080
♪
125
00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,560
Its steep wooded hills
and valleys
126
00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,760
are considered impenetrable.
127
00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:54,160
- Here, there was no reason
to build anything
128
00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,520
because the forest was
so thick and dense.
129
00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,720
- But Manstein's not deterred
by this terrain.
130
00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,520
He sends his armored forces
into France
131
00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,800
from this
unexpected direction,
132
00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,520
which gives Hitler
the opportunity
133
00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,080
to outmaneuver the Allies.
134
00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,200
- And once he's sold on it,
as so often in Hitler's life,
135
00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:16,880
it becomes a kind of mania
for it.
136
00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,400
He says,
this is what I wanted.
137
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,080
Finally,
someone understands me.
138
00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,440
- Hitler now throws
the bulk of his forces
139
00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:26,120
through the Ardennes.
140
00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,120
♪
141
00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,320
That same day...
142
00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,080
British Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain resigns.
143
00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,120
- The Second World War
is going badly for Britain.
144
00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,120
Hitler's troops have swept
through Denmark and Norway.
145
00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,520
And Neville Chamberlain,
the British Prime Minister,
146
00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,120
like leaders do,
takes the blame for that.
147
00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,600
- I sought an audience
of the King this evening
148
00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,280
and tendered to him
my resignation,
149
00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,160
which His Majesty
has been pleased to accept.
150
00:06:58,240 --> 00:06:59,880
♪
151
00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:02,720
- The King asks the
First Lord of the Admiralty,
152
00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,000
the maverick politician
Winston Churchill,
153
00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,320
to become prime minister.
154
00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,520
♪
155
00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,120
- Winston Churchill was born
at a time when Britain was
156
00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,000
at its imperial apex--
157
00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,840
the height
of the Victorian age.
158
00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,880
From the youngest age,
he's brought up
159
00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,640
thinking that he's special,
that fate has predestined
160
00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:25,760
that he would one day save
Britain and its empire.
161
00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,640
♪
162
00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,840
- Churchill has openly been
critical of Hitler,
163
00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,400
very worried about Hitler...
164
00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:35,640
against German rearmament,
165
00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,840
and against
Hitler's obvious plans
166
00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,800
in Europe.
167
00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:42,160
- He was the guy who,
168
00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,080
sounding like a bit
of a crank for years,
169
00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:45,680
had said this was
going to happen.
170
00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:46,920
And then when it does happen
171
00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,960
and you're looking
to turn to somebody,
172
00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,080
it's inevitable
that you turn to the person
173
00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:52,520
that was right all along.
174
00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,160
♪
175
00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,400
- Churchill's
immediate challenge
176
00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:58,520
is to stiffen British resolve
177
00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,240
and to prepare them
for a long struggle.
178
00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,480
♪
179
00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,840
From his first address
to Parliament,
180
00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,960
Churchill demonstrates
his determination
181
00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:11,640
to defeat the Nazis.
182
00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,320
♪
183
00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,600
- Churchill used the wonders
of language
184
00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:16,760
and the oratory skill,
185
00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,200
and the way
he crafted his words--
186
00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,440
well, he's one of the most
quoted people in the world.
187
00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:22,840
♪
188
00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,080
- I would say to the House,
189
00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,880
I have nothing to offer
but blood,
190
00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,960
toil, tears,
191
00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,200
and sweat.
192
00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,520
- Nasty, dirty base words--
blood, sweat, toil.
193
00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,080
He takes you up here, and
he brings you back down here.
194
00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,880
- You ask, what is our aim?
195
00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,760
I can answer in one word...
196
00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:48,480
victory...
197
00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:50,440
victory at all costs,
198
00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,080
for without victory,
there is no survival.
199
00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:54,440
♪
200
00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:56,120
- People that were
there that day said
201
00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:57,720
that you could feel
the opposition
202
00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,760
to Winston Churchill
just draining away.
203
00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,080
♪
204
00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,360
- As the Wehrmacht advances
on France through Belgium
205
00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,160
and the Ardennes Forest...
206
00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:10,480
♪
207
00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:13,080
Adolf Hitler takes a risk.
208
00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,480
♪
209
00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:18,600
- This is a huge gamble
for the simple reason
210
00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,160
that if you try to mass
Panzer divisions
211
00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,720
and motorized infantry
on these little dirt tracks,
212
00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,200
you're going to have
massive traffic jams.
213
00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,520
And they're going to be
a ripe target for the French
214
00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:31,920
and British air forces,
215
00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,880
which could fly over
and just bomb these things
216
00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,000
while they're stuck
in the Ardennes.
217
00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,240
- Hitler is, in some ways,
the ultimate gambler,
218
00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,160
with his notions
that whatever he does,
219
00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,360
if he is strong enough
and if he has the will
220
00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,680
and he's got the German people
behind him, nothing can fail.
221
00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,120
♪
222
00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,040
[birds chirping]
223
00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,600
- Three days
after German tank divisions
224
00:09:56,680 --> 00:09:59,040
enter the Ardennes...
225
00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,680
the French remain unaware
of the Nazi threat.
226
00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:04,760
♪
227
00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,960
- The French are not expecting
a major German assault here.
228
00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,880
So the French troops
along the Meuse are older men,
229
00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,120
reservists who've been called
back to the colors.
230
00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,960
♪
231
00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,720
- At 1500 hours on May 13th...
232
00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,360
the countryside quiet
is shattered
233
00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,520
by the sound of tank engines.
234
00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,000
[distant gunfire,
engines rumbling]
235
00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,920
- So, if you're
a French soldier...
236
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,960
and you look out
through your binoculars
237
00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,720
at what's happening...
238
00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,000
suddenly there's a tank
appearing across the river.
239
00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,120
♪
240
00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:40,800
And then, suddenly,
another one.
241
00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:44,320
And then, suddenly, dozens,
even hundreds more.
242
00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,760
You make a panicky report back
to your superior officer--
243
00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:49,080
I see German tanks.
244
00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:56,320
♪
245
00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:01,760
- German pioneer units throw
bridges across the river.
246
00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,120
- They get their tanks across
247
00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,960
and launch a massive assault
on French defenses.
248
00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,040
♪
249
00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,200
- The surprised French troops
250
00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,920
now face a terrifying
German barrage.
251
00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,880
♪
252
00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:24,960
[dramatic music]
253
00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:25,880
[gunfire]
254
00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,120
♪
255
00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,800
- As German Panzer divisions
race across the border...
256
00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:32,440
♪
257
00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,960
The French Army
is overwhelmed.
258
00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,320
♪
259
00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,520
Now the Wehrmacht
pours through
260
00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,160
a 60-mile-wide hole
in the French lines.
261
00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,920
♪
262
00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,880
- Line after line
after line of tanks
263
00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,400
just crossing the Meuse.
264
00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,600
And at this point,
265
00:11:55,680 --> 00:12:00,000
there is no time
for the French to mobilize
266
00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,200
and to come
and defend that area.
267
00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:04,760
♪
268
00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,840
- One German commander,
Erwin Rommel,
269
00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,040
is particularly aggressive.
270
00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,000
♪
271
00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,960
- He's a daring,
dashing young man.
272
00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,080
He doesn't come
from the traditional
273
00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:21,000
Prussian aristocratic
military background.
274
00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:25,160
He's very aware of doing
smash-and-grab type actions...
275
00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:26,680
♪
276
00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,480
Which will get you noticed.
277
00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:31,000
- Hitler's been
very impressed by him.
278
00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,000
When he crosses the Meuse,
it's full speed ahead.
279
00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,600
♪
280
00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:39,640
People describe the invasion
of the West as Blitzkrieg,
281
00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:41,320
lightning war.
282
00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,080
But, you know, that's really
just a poetic metaphor,
283
00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:45,440
a way to describe something
284
00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,800
that is actually
much more complex.
285
00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,640
The Germans themselves
use a term--
286
00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:52,080
Bewegungskrieg.
287
00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:53,960
It means "the war of movement."
288
00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:55,680
♪
289
00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,960
- [speaking German]
290
00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,160
- The 7th Panzer Division
becomes known
291
00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,600
as the Ghost Division...
292
00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:08,200
because it disappears
from the situation map
293
00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,640
for hours,
sometimes days at a time.
294
00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,240
It's moving faster than
people can keep up with.
295
00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,720
♪
296
00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:18,400
But that's Rommel.
297
00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,320
- The French are
in full retreat.
298
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,120
♪
299
00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,400
After only a few days
of fighting,
300
00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:29,360
northern France
lies largely undefended.
301
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:36,320
♪
302
00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,120
At 7:30 in the morning
on May 15th,
303
00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,440
Winston Churchill
receives a phone call.
304
00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,000
It's French leader
Paul Reynaud, who tells him,
305
00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:49,520
"We are beaten.
The road to Paris is open.
306
00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,760
Send all the planes
and all the troops you can."
307
00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,840
♪
308
00:13:55,920 --> 00:14:00,400
- It cannot be overstated
how surprising
309
00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,560
and out of left field
this German breakthrough is.
310
00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:06,720
♪
311
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,480
The French Army
that had stayed diligently
312
00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:13,280
in the trenches for four years
in the First World War...
313
00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,600
crumbling in a matter of days.
314
00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:17,600
♪
315
00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:21,120
- Churchill immediately flies
to France.
316
00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:25,680
- Churchill takes a tremendous
risk by going over to France.
317
00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:27,080
There's a battle ongoing.
318
00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,120
There's a danger
he's going to be shot down
319
00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,120
at any moment
by hostile German fighters.
320
00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,640
♪
321
00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,160
But he feels he has to do it
322
00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,160
because he wants
to stiffen the French morale.
323
00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,280
♪
324
00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,960
But when he goes
to the Quai d'Orsay,
325
00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,280
which is
the French foreign office,
326
00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,800
they're burning papers.
327
00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,200
- The scene in Paris
is absolute chaos.
328
00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,240
The French government
is trying to figure out
329
00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,680
what they have to do in the
face of this military defeat.
330
00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:57,520
♪
331
00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,640
- Churchill calls the French
lily-livered.
332
00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,640
He says they don't have
the requisite state of mind
333
00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,560
to hold back the Germans.
334
00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,920
♪
335
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,320
- But what happened
has nothing to do
336
00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,200
with fighting qualities
337
00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,680
or one side being more valiant
than the other.
338
00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,560
It has to do with one side
339
00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,920
completely overwhelming
the other
340
00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:21,560
at the point of contact.
341
00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:23,480
And when things
are happening faster
342
00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,440
than you think
they should be happening,
343
00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,480
the reaction can be
kind of a wave of panic.
344
00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:28,960
♪
345
00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:30,920
- With the French
on the brink of collapse
346
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,360
and the British Army
in retreat...
347
00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,000
♪
348
00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,160
Churchill turns
to the United States for help.
349
00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:40,440
♪
350
00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,000
- Churchill had
one key strategy
351
00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:43,880
for winning
the Second World War--
352
00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,080
get America involved.
353
00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:50,040
- He dictates a telegram
to President Roosevelt.
354
00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,360
- He makes the clear warning
to Roosevelt
355
00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,640
that, eventually, Nazism might
come for the Americans as well.
356
00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:56,840
♪
357
00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,000
So he makes an appeal.
358
00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,320
We need destroyers,
naval assistance,
359
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:07,040
but we also need guns,
we need planes, we need steel.
360
00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,360
He's desperate
for military assistance.
361
00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,680
♪
362
00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,960
- Ideally,
Franklin Roosevelt wanted
363
00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,720
to keep German aggression
on the European continent
364
00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:20,520
and, ideally, turn it back.
365
00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,160
♪
366
00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:23,960
And so Roosevelt's great hope
367
00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,840
is that perhaps
by offering supplies,
368
00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,080
we keep the war on that side
of the Atlantic,
369
00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,880
because a Nazified Europe
370
00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,400
was going to be a world threat.
371
00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,240
♪
372
00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,120
- But it's an election year.
373
00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:41,600
Roosevelt is running
374
00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,600
for an unprecedented third term
in office.
375
00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,040
His domestic policies
are propelling him
376
00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,640
back into the White House.
377
00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,640
But the majority of Americans
378
00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:54,840
do not want
to involve themselves
379
00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:56,600
in another global contest.
380
00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:00,760
So Roosevelt's foreign policy
is a political vulnerability.
381
00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,600
♪
382
00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,440
- Roosevelt wants to help
Britain and France,
383
00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,440
but America's
neutrality laws
384
00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:09,760
restrict how much
he can provide.
385
00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:11,440
♪
386
00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,360
His hands are tied.
387
00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:14,840
♪
388
00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,920
If the Germans seize France,
389
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,000
Britain will be left
to face the Nazis alone.
390
00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,920
♪
391
00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:29,000
[dramatic music]
392
00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,040
♪
393
00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:31,000
- In northern France,
394
00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,720
German forces
continue forward,
395
00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,120
attempting to trap
the fleeing Allied armies.
396
00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:45,920
- Now the Germans move
397
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,640
to cut off the Allies
at the English Channel.
398
00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:51,000
- Once they reach it,
399
00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:55,200
all those Allied armies
will be surrounded.
400
00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,120
♪
401
00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,000
- The only chance of survival
for the troops
402
00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,360
is to build some kind
of defensive system
403
00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,840
round the Channel port
closest to them,
404
00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:07,120
and that's Dunkirk...
405
00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:08,440
♪
406
00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,080
And then attempt
an evacuation by sea.
407
00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:12,400
♪
408
00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,440
- The small coastal town
of Dunkirk
409
00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,240
is just 60 miles across
the Channel from Britain,
410
00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,560
but Dunkirk doesn't have
the infrastructure
411
00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,760
to support
a mass naval evacuation.
412
00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:25,840
♪
413
00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:30,240
By May 20th, more than
450,000 French, Belgian,
414
00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,640
and British soldiers
are retreating in desperation
415
00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:35,680
to its wide open beaches.
416
00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:37,400
♪
417
00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:38,600
- The Germans are already
418
00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,440
on the fringes
of the Dunkirk perimeter.
419
00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:43,920
- The Allies are trapped.
420
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,520
- There is
no other British Army.
421
00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,600
That's the best leaders,
the best sergeants
422
00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:54,320
and NCOs in danger
of being absolutely wiped out
423
00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:55,800
by German forces.
424
00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,840
♪
425
00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:03,520
- Then Hitler orders
his Panzers to halt.
426
00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:09,760
♪
427
00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,960
- Hitler travels
to the front lines.
428
00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:13,360
♪
429
00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,720
He's noticed some problems.
430
00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,960
The tanks are far, far ahead
of their follow-up infantry--
431
00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,600
Rommel's Ghost Division,
for example.
432
00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,280
Hitler believes
that the generals at the front
433
00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:28,120
are not reporting back to him
434
00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,520
with the specificity
they should be.
435
00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:32,760
And he's kind of angry
about that.
436
00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:34,280
And so Hitler had decided
437
00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:36,280
to take control
of this operation.
438
00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:37,520
♪
439
00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,120
- Field Marshal
Hermann Goering
440
00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,960
insists the Luftwaffe
can finish off the Allies.
441
00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:44,360
♪
442
00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:45,800
- Goering's like,
you know, Hitler,
443
00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:47,600
Fuehrer, you know,
it's like, come on.
444
00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:49,680
They're on the beach.
They're sitting ducks.
445
00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,600
Why would you want to waste
your precious Panzers?
446
00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,400
I can do this
with Luftwaffe aircraft alone.
447
00:19:55,480 --> 00:20:01,040
♪
448
00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:04,760
For the Brits on the beach,
it's an absolute hellscape.
449
00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,600
[Stuka sirens wailing]
450
00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,720
They're subjected
day and night
451
00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,320
to constant aerial bombardment
by the Luftwaffe--
452
00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,520
strafing...
453
00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,480
♪
454
00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:19,400
Dive bombing...
455
00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,320
♪
456
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,400
Level bombing.
457
00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:24,720
[explosions]
458
00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,640
- The British troops
are just on the sand.
459
00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:29,400
And each time this happens...
460
00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,360
[Stuka siren wailing]
461
00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:32,720
♪
462
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,120
They all take
what cover they can.
463
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:36,560
[Stuka sirens wailing]
464
00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,360
This goes on hour after hour
after hour...
465
00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,360
♪
466
00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,240
As they're waiting
for deliverance.
467
00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,960
- It was a time
of total terror.
468
00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:48,520
[Stuka sirens wailing]
469
00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:50,040
[explosion]
470
00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:51,720
♪
471
00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,880
- As the Luftwaffe
bombs the troops...
472
00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:55,720
♪
473
00:20:55,800 --> 00:21:00,000
The British War Cabinet is
divided over how to save them.
474
00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,280
Prime Minister Churchill wants
to evacuate as many British
475
00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:06,160
and French troops
as possible by sea.
476
00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:07,640
♪
477
00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,720
But his foreign secretary,
Lord Halifax,
478
00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,680
wants to explore
diplomatic options.
479
00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:15,200
♪
480
00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,760
- There are factions
in the United Kingdom,
481
00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:19,720
led by Lord Halifax,
482
00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,880
which believe that the war
with Germany is pointless,
483
00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,920
totally destructive,
and can't be won.
484
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,880
They want to have
some sort of peace treaty
485
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:32,600
with Germany.
486
00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,480
- Halifax is saying,
we have to face facts here.
487
00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:37,120
We have to face reality.
488
00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,000
Adolf Hitler has won
in Europe.
489
00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:40,880
We can still preserve
our independence.
490
00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:42,920
We can still preserve
our empire
491
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:44,480
if we make a deal with Hitler.
492
00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:48,720
And the way to do that
is talk to an intermediary.
493
00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,440
Well, that's
the Italian fascist dictator
494
00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,000
Benito Mussolini.
495
00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:54,520
♪
496
00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,720
He might be a broker
to negotiate a peace
497
00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,160
between Britain and Germany.
498
00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,040
♪
499
00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:04,960
- Halifax tries to get help
from American diplomats.
500
00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,040
♪
501
00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:10,000
- The American ambassador in
Rome and various other people
502
00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:14,680
approach Mussolini to come up
with some sort of peace treaty.
503
00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:18,320
- But Churchill
will not negotiate.
504
00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,320
- He believes that if London
505
00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,760
were to enter into talks
506
00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,600
that British morale
would collapse.
507
00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,720
- Churchill decides to risk
the sea-rescue plan,
508
00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:33,560
code-named Operation Dynamo.
509
00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:34,760
♪
510
00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,520
On May 26th,
511
00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,480
the first Royal Navy ships
set off across the Channel.
512
00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,680
♪
513
00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:44,760
- Dynamo is the only card
the British can play
514
00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:45,840
at this point.
515
00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,400
♪
516
00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,000
In London, they're estimating,
517
00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:54,160
maybe we'll get 20,000, 30,000,
45,000 at the most off.
518
00:22:54,240 --> 00:23:01,120
♪
519
00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,920
- But now Hitler sends
his forces back into action.
520
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,640
♪
521
00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,280
Panzers begin to assault
the defensive line
522
00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:10,960
around Dunkirk.
523
00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,320
♪
524
00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:15,960
On that first day,
525
00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:20,640
the Royal Navy rescues
less than 8,000 men.
526
00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,080
The British need to find
an additional way
527
00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:24,560
to get troops home.
528
00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,960
♪
529
00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,120
- There were
these two breakwaters--
530
00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,560
long stone
and concrete jetties
531
00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,960
that stretched a mile
into the sea.
532
00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:39,200
They're not designed for ships
to come and dock next to them,
533
00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,160
but in an emergency,
this is what they can do.
534
00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,320
♪
535
00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,760
- So you've got the British
troops four abreast,
536
00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,080
walking out
onto this breakwater
537
00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,200
so they can get out
to deep enough water
538
00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,320
and get picked up by ships.
539
00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:57,560
♪
540
00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,400
- But meanwhile, they're
under constant air attack
541
00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,880
by dive bombers and bombers.
542
00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,760
♪
543
00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:08,920
- The British
are running out of time.
544
00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:09,840
♪
545
00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,160
[dramatic music]
546
00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,320
♪
547
00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,120
- With over
400,000 Allied troops
548
00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,400
trapped on the beach
at Dunkirk...
549
00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,120
♪
550
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,560
A desperate call goes out
from British leaders.
551
00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:29,920
♪
552
00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,360
Help us get our soldiers home.
553
00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,440
♪
554
00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,640
The response is immediate.
555
00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,080
For nine days, small vessels,
556
00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,320
all captained and crewed
by volunteers,
557
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,200
cross the Channel.
558
00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,840
Fishing trawlers
and paddle steamers...
559
00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,120
cargo ships and lifeboats...
560
00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,560
barges and yachts...
561
00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:57,160
♪
562
00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:01,720
Each sail into the firestorm
around Dunkirk...
563
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,720
joining the Royal Navy
in the rescue mission.
564
00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:07,520
- There was
every kind of ship
565
00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:09,560
that I saw coming in
this morning,
566
00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:11,440
and every one of them
was crammed full
567
00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:12,960
of tired, battle-stained,
568
00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,160
and bloodstained
British soldiers.
569
00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:20,080
- The BEF leaves everything
behind--all the tanks,
570
00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,640
all the artillery,
all the trucks.
571
00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,760
♪
572
00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:28,280
The idea being that the men
are the most important thing.
573
00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:32,480
We can make new equipment,
but we can't make new men.
574
00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:39,840
♪
575
00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:46,920
- The evacuation at Dunkirk
576
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,760
brings over 300,000 British
and French troops
577
00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:52,160
to Britain...
578
00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:59,280
♪
579
00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,160
Though thousands
are left behind.
580
00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,920
♪
581
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,840
In Britain,
the operation becomes known
582
00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,720
as the Miracle of Dunkirk.
583
00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,840
♪
584
00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,320
On British streets,
there is relief, joy,
585
00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,320
and anxiety
about what's to come.
586
00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:29,000
On June 4th, Churchill
addresses those fears.
587
00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:34,080
- We must be very careful not
to assign to this deliverance
588
00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,160
the attributes of a victory.
589
00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:37,560
♪
590
00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,320
- He reminds people
591
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,640
that things aren't looking
good for Britain at this time.
592
00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:44,680
France is almost
certainly lost,
593
00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:46,640
and there's
a great possibility
594
00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:48,360
in the weeks and months ahead
595
00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,280
that the Germans
are going to launch
596
00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:52,720
a sea and air invasion
of the UK.
597
00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:54,960
And the question is,
will we be able to stop it?
598
00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:59,720
♪
599
00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,080
- Churchill's able
to come out
600
00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:04,600
and issue this clarion call,
601
00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,480
issue this roar of belligerence
602
00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,200
and determination.
603
00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,560
- We shall fight
on the seas and oceans.
604
00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:16,320
We shall fight
with growing confidence
605
00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,320
and growing strength
in the air.
606
00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:24,120
We shall defend our island,
whatever the cost may be.
607
00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,160
- It's the most simple
messaging
608
00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:27,760
in political history.
609
00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:30,520
This is a war
against absolute evil.
610
00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:32,000
It is total war.
611
00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,760
We're going to fight
for every inch and every yard,
612
00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,000
and we're going to win.
613
00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,360
- We shall fight
on the beaches.
614
00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:41,280
♪
615
00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:43,960
We shall fight
on the landing grounds.
616
00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:45,880
♪
617
00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,760
We shall fight in the fields
and in the streets.
618
00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:51,320
♪
619
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:53,360
We shall fight in the hills.
620
00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:54,720
♪
621
00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:56,880
We shall never surrender.
622
00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:01,320
♪
623
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,440
- With this speech,
Churchill ends all discussions
624
00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,360
of a negotiated peace.
625
00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,920
♪
626
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:12,200
In France,
Hitler moves quickly.
627
00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,640
He orders the Wehrmacht
to strike south,
628
00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,120
heading for Paris and beyond.
629
00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:20,840
♪
630
00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:22,560
[gunfire]
631
00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,720
- The Germans are essentially
pursuing anti-trench warfare--
632
00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,760
anything that they can do
to avoid the slog
633
00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,040
that they had
in the First World War.
634
00:28:31,120 --> 00:28:32,880
[gunfire and shouting]
635
00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,560
- As German forces
race to the capital,
636
00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,760
damaging historic cities
in their wake...
637
00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:40,160
♪
638
00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,440
The French population
takes flight.
639
00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:45,800
♪
640
00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,760
- People are terrified,
fearing for their lives,
641
00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:53,160
of the brutality
of the German soldier.
642
00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:55,400
♪
643
00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:59,480
So roads and railways
are soon overflowing
644
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:01,200
with refugees--
645
00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:03,560
men, women, children,
grandparents.
646
00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:05,240
♪
647
00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:06,760
Families are divided.
648
00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,040
Children get separated
from their parents
649
00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:10,680
because there's so much chaos.
650
00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,680
♪
651
00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,760
- There are 8 million
French refugees on the run.
652
00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:24,120
♪
653
00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,120
On June 14th,
654
00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,560
German troops
march into Paris.
655
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,080
♪
656
00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,640
- They are parading
down the Champs-Elysées.
657
00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,760
Things could not be worse
for the French.
658
00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,640
Grown men are crying.
659
00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,800
This is unbelievable,
unimaginable.
660
00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:50,960
[officer shouts]
661
00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,200
♪
662
00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:56,960
- Hitler insists the ceremony
to sign the French armistice
663
00:29:57,040 --> 00:30:00,840
happens in the exact railway
carriage where the Germans
664
00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:04,400
signed their surrender
at the end of World War I.
665
00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:06,120
♪
666
00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,800
- Hitler is like
a giddy schoolboy.
667
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:10,960
He can't believe
this is happening.
668
00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:12,920
He's just jubilant.
669
00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:14,840
♪
670
00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:19,280
- The terms of the armistice
are several.
671
00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:20,680
The French Army is restricted
672
00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:23,000
to a size
of no larger than 100,000.
673
00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:24,840
♪
674
00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:29,080
France itself will be divided
into two parts.
675
00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:33,320
The Germans will occupy
about 3/5.
676
00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:37,360
The remaining 2/5 will be led
by Marshal Philippe Pétain,
677
00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:40,040
and this will become known
as Vichy France,
678
00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:41,760
because
the new French government
679
00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,600
will be seated
in the town of Vichy.
680
00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:47,520
♪
681
00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,880
- For the French, it's the end.
682
00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:54,720
♪
683
00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:00,080
[dramatic music]
684
00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,160
- The fall of France
is a seismic event
685
00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,000
with global ramifications.
686
00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:05,920
- France gave Germany
a blank check today,
687
00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:07,760
signing the terms
of the armistice...
688
00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,520
- German propaganda...
689
00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,480
- Captures iconic images
690
00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:19,840
on Hitler's first and only
trip to conquered Paris.
691
00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:21,680
♪
692
00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:23,800
- When France falls,
693
00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,720
for the vast majority
of Americans,
694
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,360
it's as if the unthinkable
has happened.
695
00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:31,080
♪
696
00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:32,920
- Roosevelt and the people
close to him
697
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,400
recognize immediately
what this means.
698
00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:36,840
♪
699
00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:38,720
All the things
that the United States
700
00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:40,760
didn't have to do
as long as France
701
00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:42,920
was in between us
and the Germans,
702
00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,600
they're now going
to have to do.
703
00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:47,200
It's going to build
a very large army,
704
00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:48,840
it's going to build
a very large navy,
705
00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,800
it's going to think
about a global presence,
706
00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:52,800
and it's never again going
to put its own security
707
00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,400
in the hands
of another country,
708
00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:55,880
even a friendly one
like France.
709
00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:57,600
♪
710
00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,840
- Roosevelt now calls
for America to mobilize.
711
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:03,360
In the coming months,
712
00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:06,280
he'll institute
the first peacetime draft
713
00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,760
and call for the production
of 50,000 warplanes.
714
00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:12,400
♪
715
00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,320
- Overwhelmingly,
we as a nation--
716
00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:20,280
we are convinced
that military and naval victory
717
00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:23,800
for the gods of force and hate
718
00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,680
would endanger the institutions
of democracy
719
00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:28,360
in the Western world.
720
00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,400
[crowd cheering]
721
00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,040
♪
722
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:35,920
[crowd cheering]
723
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,680
- After taking Norway,
Denmark, the Netherlands,
724
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,160
Belgium, and now France...
725
00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:43,360
♪
726
00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:45,280
Hitler is triumphant.
727
00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:47,440
[cheering continues]
728
00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:50,440
- There's a tremendous return
729
00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,360
of Hitler to Berlin.
730
00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,760
The crowds are in the hundreds
of thousands on the streets...
731
00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:58,360
♪
732
00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:00,720
Pushing toward his motorcade.
733
00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:03,880
[crowd cheering,
chanting in German]
734
00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:09,240
♪
735
00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,960
For the Nazis,
these are the glory days.
736
00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,080
[cheers and applause]
737
00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:17,280
♪
738
00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:21,040
This is the height
of Hitler's power.
739
00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,240
For most of the population
of Germany,
740
00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,160
he can do no wrong.
741
00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:26,640
He is their beloved Fuehrer.
742
00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:34,000
♪
743
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:38,000
And Hitler's ego
goes out of control.
744
00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:41,120
That allows Hitler
to convince himself
745
00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,000
of his own propaganda,
746
00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:46,160
convince himself that in a way,
he's almost immortal.
747
00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:53,280
♪
748
00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:59,560
- Now Hitler attempts
to dictate a new peace deal
749
00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:01,400
with Great Britain.
750
00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:11,960
[speaking German]
751
00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:15,960
all:
Heil! Heil! Heil!
752
00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:20,560
♪
753
00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:23,440
- Churchill defies him.
754
00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:26,520
♪
755
00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,880
And so Hitler gives
the go-ahead to an operation
756
00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:33,720
he thinks will force Britain
into submission--
757
00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:37,160
Operation Sea Lion.
758
00:34:37,240 --> 00:34:39,560
- He's now saying, okay, well,
if the Brits aren't going
759
00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:40,880
to come to terms with me,
760
00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:42,720
then I will invade
Great Britain.
761
00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:45,320
♪
762
00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,320
- First, the Luftwaffe
targets the planes
763
00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,840
and infrastructure of
the British Royal Air Force.
764
00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:52,560
♪
765
00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:54,560
- So the initial
German air assaults
766
00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:57,320
were against
British RAF facilities...
767
00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,160
♪
768
00:34:59,240 --> 00:35:02,240
Airfields,
administrative stations,
769
00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:04,040
supply depots, and the like.
770
00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:05,320
♪
771
00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,080
- Goering claims the Luftwaffe
772
00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:09,120
will destroy
the Royal Air Force
773
00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,400
in just three days...
774
00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:13,600
and leave Britain open
to invasion.
775
00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:16,400
♪
776
00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:18,280
[explosion]
777
00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:22,720
♪
778
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,840
British pilots scramble
in defense.
779
00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:29,360
♪
780
00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:33,680
- Can this relatively small
number of British planes--
781
00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:36,880
they've got probably
about 2,950--
782
00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:41,240
fight off what is
an ever-increasing Luftwaffe?
783
00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:43,120
♪
784
00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,280
- The Battle of Britain
is the largest
785
00:35:45,360 --> 00:35:49,920
and most intense aerial combat
the world has yet seen.
786
00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,160
[gunfire]
787
00:35:52,240 --> 00:35:55,840
♪
788
00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,840
If the Luftwaffe wins,
Germany will invade.
789
00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,880
[gunfire]
790
00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:08,720
[dramatic music]
791
00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:10,120
♪
792
00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:12,800
- By the end of August 1940,
793
00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:16,160
the Luftwaffe
is sending 1,000 planes a day
794
00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:18,000
across the English Channel.
795
00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:19,920
♪
796
00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,240
The fate of the British Empire
797
00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,760
is being decided in the skies
above southern England.
798
00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:27,240
♪
799
00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:29,000
[gunfire]
800
00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:33,520
♪
801
00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:37,200
Churchill is acutely aware
that the future of his country
802
00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,040
rests in the expertise
and bravery
803
00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:43,880
of just a small number
of young pilots
804
00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:45,200
not just from Britain,
805
00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:47,240
but from
across the Commonwealth
806
00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:48,800
and conquered Europe as well.
807
00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:52,560
- Never in the field
of human conflict
808
00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:56,960
was so much owed
by so many to so few.
809
00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,240
♪
810
00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:03,440
- He was talking about those
several hundred fighter pilots
811
00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:06,320
who were flying sometimes
six times a day,
812
00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:09,920
taking off, striking
at a German air armada,
813
00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,160
landing, being rearmed,
refueled,
814
00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:13,640
and then taking off again.
815
00:37:13,720 --> 00:37:15,920
- A 109 destroyed,
Freddie, yes.
816
00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:17,600
- Oh, good show.
817
00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:19,680
- But, of course, actually,
there are ground crew.
818
00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:22,280
There are legions of observers
819
00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:24,800
who are using binoculars
to look at the skies above.
820
00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:27,880
- 30 enemy aircraft over
the Channel flying due west.
821
00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:30,920
- There are women
working on plotting tables
822
00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:34,200
to build up this big picture
of German movement.
823
00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:37,240
There is a gigantic,
integrated,
824
00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:40,800
information-rich system
supporting those pilots.
825
00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:42,480
[gunfire]
826
00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:44,920
♪
827
00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:46,960
- The German loss rates
are really high.
828
00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:48,440
♪
829
00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:50,520
And the Germans
aren't succeeding, you know.
830
00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:53,560
They're not able to break them.
831
00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:55,120
- In seven weeks,
832
00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:58,560
the Luftwaffe lose
600 aircraft and their crews.
833
00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:00,160
♪
834
00:38:00,240 --> 00:38:03,160
Germany is losing
the Battle of Britain.
835
00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:05,160
♪
836
00:38:05,240 --> 00:38:08,240
[air-raid siren wailing]
837
00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:10,440
♪
838
00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:12,400
In mid-September,
839
00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:15,480
Hitler approves
a new strategy.
840
00:38:15,560 --> 00:38:19,720
♪
841
00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:23,640
Invading Great Britain
is postponed indefinitely.
842
00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:25,440
The Luftwaffe's new mission
843
00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:29,520
is to destroy the spirit
of the British people
844
00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:30,920
through terror bombing.
845
00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:35,480
♪
846
00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:38,320
- So begins the Blitz...
847
00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:41,760
which is months and months
and months
848
00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:46,160
of almost uninterrupted bombing
of British civilian areas.
849
00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:50,320
♪
850
00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:53,640
- In the fall of 1940,
the German Luftwaffe
851
00:38:53,720 --> 00:38:57,360
bombs London
on 57 successive nights.
852
00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:03,400
♪
853
00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:05,920
- The Blitz was traumatic.
It was horrifying.
854
00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:07,280
♪
855
00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:09,760
There is arbitrary
random death.
856
00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:11,040
♪
857
00:39:11,120 --> 00:39:13,880
Being caught
in collapsing buildings,
858
00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:17,560
burned alive,
gas mains blowing up.
859
00:39:17,640 --> 00:39:20,360
♪
860
00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:22,920
Tens of thousands
of civilians were killed.
861
00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:24,520
♪
862
00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:27,680
- In cities across
the United Kingdom,
863
00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:29,760
families bury their dead...
864
00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:31,160
♪
865
00:39:31,240 --> 00:39:33,160
Some in mass graves.
866
00:39:33,240 --> 00:39:37,120
♪
867
00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:39,560
- Churchill did everything
he could.
868
00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:40,960
♪
869
00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:43,240
He visited the East End.
870
00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:44,720
He actually wept
on one occasion
871
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:46,840
when he saw the bloodshed,
the devastation
872
00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:48,760
that had been rained down
by German bombers.
873
00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:54,600
♪
874
00:39:54,680 --> 00:39:58,040
- America receives
firsthand reports
875
00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:00,440
of Britain's ordeal.
876
00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:02,000
- Hello, America.
877
00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:04,280
This is Edward Murrow
speaking from London.
878
00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:06,640
The noise that you hear
at the moment
879
00:40:06,720 --> 00:40:08,600
is the sound
of the air-raid siren.
880
00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:10,040
[air-raid sirens wailing]
881
00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:12,240
A searchlight off
in the distance
882
00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:14,160
sweeping the sky above me now.
883
00:40:14,240 --> 00:40:15,800
♪
884
00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:18,360
- Edward R. Murrow
was one of those people
885
00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:21,240
who had this attitude
of bringing you to--
886
00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:22,600
You know, "you are there"
887
00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:24,760
was one of the things
he used to say.
888
00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:27,800
- Off to my left,
I can see just that faint red,
889
00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:30,840
of anti-aircraft bursts
890
00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:33,400
against this steel-blue sky.
891
00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:34,440
[gunfire]
892
00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:37,040
There they are.
893
00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:39,160
That hard, stony sound.
894
00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:41,120
♪
895
00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:43,120
- So, all of a sudden,
the American people
896
00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:47,360
had the ability to hear in
their homes from their radios
897
00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:49,920
the sounds of the bombs
falling on London.
898
00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:51,200
[bomb whistles and explodes]
899
00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:53,040
"Live from the Blitz," right?
900
00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:55,280
[explosions]
901
00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:57,280
How could you not
have sympathy
902
00:40:57,360 --> 00:40:58,600
with the people on the ground--
903
00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:00,760
the women, the children,
the noncombatants?
904
00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:04,120
♪
905
00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:05,680
And it made a huge difference
906
00:41:05,760 --> 00:41:08,680
in terms of building
a sea change
907
00:41:08,760 --> 00:41:11,800
in the American attitudes
that laid the groundwork
908
00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:16,000
for the isolationist attitudes
of the United States to change.
909
00:41:16,080 --> 00:41:19,280
[applause]
910
00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:21,360
♪
911
00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:23,720
- At the polls in November,
912
00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:28,520
Franklin D. Roosevelt wins
an unprecedented third term.
913
00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:31,560
[crowd cheering]
914
00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:34,400
Now he has
the political freedom
915
00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:38,960
to offer all aid
to Great Britain short of war.
916
00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:41,240
♪
917
00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:44,480
- Democracy's fight
against world conquest
918
00:41:44,560 --> 00:41:49,120
must be more greatly aided
by sending every ounce
919
00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:52,520
and every ton of munitions
and supplies
920
00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,240
that we can possibly spare
921
00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:59,360
to help the defenders
who are in the front lines.
922
00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:01,040
♪
923
00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:05,240
We must have more ships,
more guns,
924
00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:09,160
more planes,
more of everything.
925
00:42:09,240 --> 00:42:11,080
♪
926
00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:15,800
We must be the great arsenal
of democracy.
927
00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:19,320
♪
928
00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:21,160
- In the autumn of 1940,
929
00:42:21,240 --> 00:42:23,840
northern Europe
is in Nazi hands,
930
00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:27,080
including what had been
the Republic of France.
931
00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:30,000
Great Britain stands alone.
932
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:32,360
Between the Third Reich
and the Soviet Union,
933
00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:35,080
there exists
a territorial peace.
934
00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:39,520
But what does that mean
to a leader like Adolf Hitler?
64873
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.