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The war was wreaking havoc in the East
since 1937,
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00:00:09,220 --> 00:00:11,460
when Japan invaded China.
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00:00:12,780 --> 00:00:15,980
It arrived in Europe
on September 1, 1939,
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00:00:16,180 --> 00:00:18,460
when Germany invaded Poland.
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00:00:19,460 --> 00:00:23,320
It has gained worldwide scope
on December 7, 1941,
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00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:28,460
when the Japanese planes attacked
the US naval base at Pearl Harbor.
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The war affected all continents...
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...and it lasted six years.
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00:00:45,180 --> 00:00:49,780
It ended with a new weapon,
for a new era.
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This is the story of the greatest
event in human history
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and these men
they took part in it.
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They witnessed the shootings
and the tragedies of war
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from wherever battles took place.
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Their testimony is an element
from the history of the formation of our world...
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...by those who could pay...
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...and by those who
they couldn't take it anymore...
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...the price of empire.
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WORLD WAR II:
THE PRICE OF EMPIRE
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00:01:34,679 --> 00:01:40,892
In the last episode, Hitler had gone wild
without stopping the whole of Europe.
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In September 1939,
along with their Russian allies,
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the Germans had destroyed Poland,
an independent nation.
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In 1940, Norway, Denmark,
Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium
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were conquered
and France capitulated.
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Six months after the fall of France,
the Russian foreign minister, Molotov,
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00:02:06,948 --> 00:02:11,377
went to Berlin to negotiate
the division of the world after the victory.
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It was thought that the war was over,
and Britain was already defeated.
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"You said England was defeated"
said Molotov to von Ribbentrop.
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"If that's how things are, why
are we in this bomb shelter?"
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The answer received by Molotov was
that England was not defeated.
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But she was alone.
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EPISODE 4:
ALONE AGAINST ALL
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00:03:09,089 --> 00:03:13,281
After the Spanish Civil War,
both countries of the Iberian Peninsula
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they were under control
some fascist dictators.
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Dictator Mussolini was in power
in Italy for over 15 years,
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and mostly Western Europe,
Central, Eastern and Scandinavia
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they were under Nazi occupation.
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In the east, Stalin's Russia
respect the treaty concluded with Hitler,
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to whom he sent supplies of food
and other raw materials.
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But the greatest empire of the world
he was invincible and even defiant.
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The Prime Minister announced that the Battle
England was about to start.
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But Britain paid dearly
this challenge.
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At the beginning of the 20th century,
England was the banker of the world,
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but, over 50 years, it was the country
the most burdened by debt,
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who were arriving
to 40 billion dollars.
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00:04:12,352 --> 00:04:17,193
Food had begun to be rationed
from January 1940.
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00:04:17,461 --> 00:04:21,657
Germany had begun rationalization
in August 1939,
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with a month
before invading Poland.
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Most of the British,
including over 50% of workers,
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they had their own lands,
gardens or plots.
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00:04:37,433 --> 00:04:42,304
Food imported into the UK
it had almost halved.
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But the morale of the islanders
it wasn't exactly high.
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The poet T.S. Eliot wrote to him
to a friend:
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"We are involved in a disaster
colossal, which also includes war".
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Maybe he was thinking about disinformation
designed to mislead spies,
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which spread terror among the citizens
through numerous invasion alarms,
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due to the disguised paratroopers
in nuns, priests and policemen
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or those with transparent parachutes,
who landed unseen.
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00:05:29,637 --> 00:05:34,758
On May 12, a newspaper asked
if the state had taken into account
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00:05:35,010 --> 00:05:40,748
the idea of training golfers
to shoot stray paratroopers.
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This is how we train our people
to defend Great Britain.
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00:05:51,751 --> 00:05:57,071
A German citizen from London
he was arrested for smoking a cigar
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00:05:57,281 --> 00:06:03,379
and directed the embers towards the night sky:
it was a sign for Nazi aviation.
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00:06:04,396 --> 00:06:10,180
Many stray dogs were killed
because he was suspected of carrying messages.
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00:06:11,664 --> 00:06:18,878
On May 23, Sir Oswald Mosley,
fascist leader of 1930s England,
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00:06:19,088 --> 00:06:22,201
but without electoral results
notable, he was arrested.
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00:06:22,518 --> 00:06:26,797
On May 31, General Ironside,
supreme commander of the army,
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reported suspicious movements
during the night throughout the country.
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On July 2, he reported that they are being issued
signals throughout the country.
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He complained that they could not be found
clear evidence of sabotage
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and no weapons of mass destruction.
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LEND
FOR FREEDOM
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Although there is still talk of rays
mortals and parachuted nuns,
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the evidence to support them
are almost non-existent.
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00:07:11,957 --> 00:07:14,402
Pressed to form a defensive force,
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00:07:14,626 --> 00:07:18,716
the Secretary of War, Anthony Eden,
spoke on the radio on May 14,
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00:07:18,952 --> 00:07:23,938
announcing the formation of LDV,
"Local Defense Volunteers",
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whose efficiency was nil,
according to some.
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We address those who do not work
in factories, nor in the service of the state.
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You have joined
Local Defense Volunteers?
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00:07:44,207 --> 00:07:50,026
LDV forms associated groups
with sports clubs and factories.
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00:07:50,257 --> 00:07:53,376
In July they had already signed up
1,250,000 citizens,
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00:07:53,576 --> 00:07:56,792
but their equipment of weapons left
much to be desired.
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00:07:58,377 --> 00:08:05,624
I joined the LDV from the beginning,
when I was 15 years old.
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00:08:06,415 --> 00:08:10,353
After quite a while,
you got your hands on a rifle.
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00:08:10,553 --> 00:08:15,799
We had Ross kids,
Canadian production.
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00:08:15,999 --> 00:08:18,171
The loader only had five bullets.
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00:08:19,261 --> 00:08:23,807
Churchill insisted that the LDV
to be renamed the British Guard.
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00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:29,314
Eden was enraged, for he had asked
one million "LDV" stickers.
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00:08:30,237 --> 00:08:34,881
I was studying at Dulwich College,
but I did not break with the learned,
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because in the evening I was a courier
for the British Guard
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00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:45,556
and I was learning to smoke, to drink
and all the others.
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00:08:46,959 --> 00:08:52,279
Jack White wanted to join the Guard,
but it was rejected.
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His parents were Russian Jews,
so he was considered a foreigner.
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00:08:57,605 --> 00:09:03,926
In the First War, White had received the "Victory Cross",
the highest award for bravery.
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00:09:04,170 --> 00:09:08,364
He had not been considered an enemy
and he had not been arrested either.
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00:09:08,854 --> 00:09:14,561
2,000 foreigners were arrested,
and many others followed them.
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00:09:14,779 --> 00:09:18,949
Churchill declared
that "we must all be arrested".
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00:09:23,395 --> 00:09:28,841
Despite the post-war image, "Home Guard"
it was a serious reserve army.
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00:09:32,455 --> 00:09:37,657
He fired on enemy planes
and even knocked a few down
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00:09:38,052 --> 00:09:44,288
and the patrols of the guard relieved them
on regular army soldiers.
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00:09:44,528 --> 00:09:47,812
The British Guard had
commando platoons,
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00:09:48,027 --> 00:09:51,862
trained to kill and sow mayhem
in the event of an invasion.
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00:09:55,242 --> 00:09:59,792
The guards also played the role of enemies
at the training exercises.
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More recruits have reported
that they were captured
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of veterans of the First World War,
these being more skilled soldiers.
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We trained in clandestine operations
a few months and I fought the guards.
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The world believed that the British Guard
he was on the ground, but he was wrong.
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they caught me twice
although I thought I was smart. They were on stage.
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00:10:27,024 --> 00:10:32,934
The defensive plan drew a line
from Edinburgh to Medway
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00:10:33,556 --> 00:10:36,515
and another to the west, from London,
as far south as Bristol,
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00:10:36,715 --> 00:10:40,151
an area that was marked
of numerous lines of defense.
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00:10:41,552 --> 00:10:47,075
In these areas they were made
anti-tank trenches and casemates.
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Everyone was waiting.
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00:10:56,699 --> 00:11:00,392
Winston Churchill waited
with unwavering optimism.
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His mother was American,
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he was convinced that the Anglophone countries
are meant to last,
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00:11:08,190 --> 00:11:12,415
and his optimism was not given
of confidence in the British Army,
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but from the conviction that it is inexhaustible
America will come to his aid.
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00:11:22,794 --> 00:11:27,609
Churchill's optimism
was boosted in August,
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at a decisive moment of the war.
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00:11:30,452 --> 00:11:33,705
The US Congress forbade it
violation of neutrality
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by supplying weapons
without obligation to pay.
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00:11:41,912 --> 00:11:47,669
Only 8% of Americans were
for US involvement in the war.
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00:11:48,095 --> 00:11:52,711
Roosevelt found a solution:
"Lending and Leasing Law".
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00:11:53,244 --> 00:11:59,748
England pledged to yield to the US
naval bases in the West Indies
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or pay later,
which lasted 50 years.
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00:12:06,437 --> 00:12:09,353
Churchill called this law
a very significant step
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00:12:09,585 --> 00:12:13,378
in the approach of the US
to join Britain.
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00:12:13,934 --> 00:12:20,726
Two days after the treaty, on August 15,
it was Adlertag, "Day of the Eagle".
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00:12:20,967 --> 00:12:24,263
Göring, the commander
the German air force, he declared
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00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:28,036
as the beginning of the critical stage
in the Battle of Britain.
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00:12:28,329 --> 00:12:32,035
The German air offensive wanted
to control the airspace
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from the south of the country,
after which he would invade England.
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00:12:36,432 --> 00:12:42,097
But the advantage had already passed
on the part of Great Britain.
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00:12:42,507 --> 00:12:48,114
In the early 1940s, England was manufacturing
monthly 256 fighter jets.
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Churchill sensed the need
production improvement
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and appointed Lord Beaverbrook
Minister of Aviation Industry.
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I beg you,
speed up tank production!
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00:13:05,678 --> 00:13:07,936
Hurry up the defense of Great Britain!
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00:13:09,190 --> 00:13:15,675
Under the new management, in July
496 aircraft were produced.
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00:13:15,984 --> 00:13:20,282
In 1940, Time magazine reported
this production record,
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saying that "this is
a war of machines,"
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"which will be won
on the assembly line".
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00:13:29,777 --> 00:13:35,938
England didn't just produce planes
a lot, but also very good.
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Hurricane and Spitfire are airplanes
who made history.
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00:13:49,478 --> 00:13:53,092
England threw in the fight
and other weapons.
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00:13:56,743 --> 00:14:01,832
The cryptologists at Bletchley Park,
near london
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00:14:02,218 --> 00:14:06,353
they were decoding air raid orders
of German aviation.
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00:14:15,981 --> 00:14:18,547
The work of an English meteorologist
in the interwar period
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00:14:18,759 --> 00:14:23,700
contributed to the invention of radar,
which was vital for the defensive.
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00:14:23,948 --> 00:14:27,514
His name was Robert Watson-Watt,
and under his leadership
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"Chain Home" was designed and installed,
enemy aircraft detection system.
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He warned the population
that enemy air raids are coming.
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Not all weapons were sophisticated.
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00:14:43,009 --> 00:14:47,689
England's defense was also focusing on the eyes
you have 30,000 guards,
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00:14:47,892 --> 00:14:52,552
who peered through binoculars
from 1,000 observation posts.
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00:14:56,111 --> 00:15:02,371
And the German planes were excellent,
but they were overcome by the situation.
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00:15:10,878 --> 00:15:14,533
They had been designed
to provide support on the front.
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00:15:14,779 --> 00:15:16,710
The Luftwaffe had no heavy bombers,
160
00:15:16,934 --> 00:15:21,655
and the Fiat Stuka plane had
to prove almost useless.
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00:15:33,858 --> 00:15:38,934
Göring, commander of the Luftwaffe,
he had been a Nazi member from the beginning.
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00:15:39,156 --> 00:15:41,857
He was a decorated pilot
in the First World War
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00:15:42,057 --> 00:15:47,820
and had been wounded in a failed coup,
orchestrated by Hitler.
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After treatment
for the injuries sustained,
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Göring became addicted
of morphine for the rest of his life.
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He had a great influence on
Hitler and the aviation strategy.
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00:16:04,437 --> 00:16:07,958
Between the first raid, on July 10,
and mid-August,
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00:16:08,219 --> 00:16:11,473
Germany's strategy
largely conceived by Göring,
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00:16:11,739 --> 00:16:17,242
aimed at engaging England in battle
by attacking maritime convoys.
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00:16:19,098 --> 00:16:23,939
On 8 August, England lost
16 planes over the English Channel.
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00:16:26,719 --> 00:16:29,121
But he knocked it down
31 enemy planes.
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00:16:31,476 --> 00:16:36,632
In the next three days, the Germans
they suffered much greater losses.
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00:16:39,096 --> 00:16:43,716
On August 12, the focal point
of war has changed.
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In the empire, England would wear
another fight
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which would lead
to the forced evacuation of his troops.
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00:16:58,666 --> 00:17:01,627
On the morning of August 3, 1940,
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00:17:01,963 --> 00:17:08,446
the Italian army crossed the border
to British Somaliland.
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00:17:08,808 --> 00:17:12,037
The Italians were about 24,000 in number.
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00:17:12,288 --> 00:17:18,175
The British opposed them with about 4,000
of soldiers, mostly from India and Africa:
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00:17:19,180 --> 00:17:24,681
soldiers from Somaliland, the battalions
Africans, 15th Punjab Regiment,
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00:17:24,910 --> 00:17:30,679
another Indian regiment and a
Scottish battalion of the Black Watch.
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00:17:31,023 --> 00:17:35,598
The British had no tanks,
armored or anti-tank weapons.
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00:17:39,343 --> 00:17:43,522
They fought in retreat
against the Italians
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00:17:43,769 --> 00:17:48,732
until they were taken over
by the British Navy on August 18.
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00:17:50,928 --> 00:17:57,201
The next day, the Italians continued
the conquest of British Somaliland.
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00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,796
But their stay there
it will be short lived.
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00:18:11,487 --> 00:18:15,096
The month of August was important
and bigger
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00:18:15,296 --> 00:18:19,678
since it was the most famous
Battle of Britain month.
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00:18:21,603 --> 00:18:24,550
The Luftwaffe attacked directly
british air force,
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00:18:24,750 --> 00:18:27,824
targeting airfields
and auxiliary facilities.
191
00:18:29,004 --> 00:18:31,615
Many airfields were located
in the southeast of the country,
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00:18:31,921 --> 00:18:37,231
and the airspace in that region
it was called "Hell's Corner".
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00:18:38,053 --> 00:18:41,566
On that patch of sky
furrowed by planes
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00:18:41,783 --> 00:18:45,599
several pilots died
than in all the rest of England.
195
00:18:48,521 --> 00:18:53,564
Below them, the crowds cheered
every enemy plane shot down.
196
00:18:55,834 --> 00:18:59,868
On the first day of raids,
the Germans destroyed three airfields,
197
00:19:00,078 --> 00:19:02,379
and a radar station
was taken out of service.
198
00:19:02,793 --> 00:19:08,794
The next day, August 13, Luftwaffe
initiated his biggest attack.
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00:19:10,577 --> 00:19:14,043
The 1,485 air missions
undertaken by the Germans
200
00:19:16,546 --> 00:19:21,134
they damaged airfields that were not
actually military airbases
201
00:19:22,726 --> 00:19:26,319
and resulted in double losses
compared to those suffered by the British.
202
00:19:28,429 --> 00:19:30,860
The loss of the Junker 87 planes,
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00:19:31,269 --> 00:19:35,623
also called Stuka,
it weighed a lot.
204
00:19:38,329 --> 00:19:40,799
The Stuka was an effective bomber,
205
00:19:41,770 --> 00:19:47,433
but he was completely overcome
by the nimble British planes.
206
00:19:48,619 --> 00:19:52,768
After other losses, the Stuka plane
was withdrawn from the Battle of Britain.
207
00:19:57,496 --> 00:19:59,422
Thus, on Aquila's Day,
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00:19:59,643 --> 00:20:04,567
declared by Göring as the first day
of the decisive stage of the battle,
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00:20:05,486 --> 00:20:10,688
The Luftwaffe flew 1,786 missions
which targeted British airfields.
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00:20:10,901 --> 00:20:16,029
He lost 76 planes,
while England lost 35.
211
00:20:19,075 --> 00:20:20,876
Statistics can be misleading.
212
00:20:21,587 --> 00:20:27,916
British losses were minimal
because some planes were being repaired.
213
00:20:28,176 --> 00:20:32,572
German planes forced to land
were considered lost.
214
00:20:37,258 --> 00:20:43,477
In addition, the British pilots
they parachuted and fought on,
215
00:20:44,048 --> 00:20:46,628
while the German pilots
they were captured.
216
00:20:46,913 --> 00:20:52,683
Over 900 German pilots landed
in England they were captured.
217
00:20:54,121 --> 00:20:56,627
German planes
they were disadvantaged
218
00:20:56,898 --> 00:21:00,243
and the fact that they had limited time
overflying the targets.
219
00:21:02,072 --> 00:21:08,502
The best, Messerschmitt 109,
it had an autonomy of only 850 km.
220
00:21:08,872 --> 00:21:13,266
A good part of this distance
it was traveled there and back.
221
00:21:14,638 --> 00:21:20,867
It was on the limit, as Wellington said
about the Battle of Waterloo.
222
00:21:21,282 --> 00:21:27,261
On August 18, England was suffering losses
large, but smaller than the Germans.
223
00:21:29,497 --> 00:21:32,939
Over 100 British pilots
they had been killed within a week.
224
00:21:34,771 --> 00:21:37,657
It was a resource that could not be
replaced very quickly.
225
00:21:39,796 --> 00:21:44,923
In one of the whims of fate
as often happens in war,
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00:21:45,217 --> 00:21:49,630
the Germans did not take advantage
obtained on August 18.
227
00:21:49,861 --> 00:21:55,108
The weather and the losses forced them
to take a break for four days.
228
00:21:55,755 --> 00:21:58,366
During this respite,
on August 20,
229
00:21:58,797 --> 00:22:02,614
Churchill held one
of his memorable speeches.
230
00:22:03,549 --> 00:22:05,864
Never in the history of wars
231
00:22:06,181 --> 00:22:10,455
so many did not owe
so much to so few.
232
00:22:14,033 --> 00:22:18,423
Those who had won the Battle of Britain
they were indeed fewer
233
00:22:18,645 --> 00:22:22,529
than those who were grateful to them,
234
00:22:23,261 --> 00:22:28,340
but they were not few in number
the enemies they faced.
235
00:22:28,606 --> 00:22:33,429
The battles in the air of England were done
between balanced forces,
236
00:22:35,542 --> 00:22:39,528
and some of the few
they dominated the battle.
237
00:22:40,529 --> 00:22:44,403
The aces of the air have a large share
for the sake of victory.
238
00:22:45,912 --> 00:22:48,836
3.5% of British pilots
239
00:22:49,281 --> 00:22:53,324
they awarded 30% of the total
planes shot down by the British.
240
00:22:55,971 --> 00:22:58,869
The first stage of the intended battle
maritime convoys,
241
00:23:00,833 --> 00:23:03,090
and the second had aimed
British aviation itself.
242
00:23:05,403 --> 00:23:11,207
On August 24
the decisive stage, the third, began.
243
00:23:12,266 --> 00:23:15,150
that night
a Heinkel bomber
244
00:23:15,352 --> 00:23:19,150
accidentally launched his bombs
on a target he did not aim at.
245
00:23:22,007 --> 00:23:25,523
They were the first bombs
that shook London.
246
00:23:26,219 --> 00:23:29,767
The bombs aimed at military targets
from the suburbs of London,
247
00:23:30,022 --> 00:23:33,756
but they fell in the center of the city
and they did serious damage.
248
00:23:34,890 --> 00:23:38,801
The extent to which this mistake
and England's reaction
249
00:23:39,101 --> 00:23:42,581
decided the future course of the war,
remains open to discussion.
250
00:23:42,860 --> 00:23:47,281
Maybe nothing would have changed
or maybe yes.
251
00:23:48,210 --> 00:23:53,627
But Churchill was convinced
that it was intentional
252
00:23:53,949 --> 00:23:57,336
and ordered an air raid on
Berlin the following evening.
253
00:24:00,946 --> 00:24:06,769
On August 25, the English bombers
caused little damage in Berlin,
254
00:24:07,086 --> 00:24:08,916
but the Germans were shocked.
255
00:24:09,224 --> 00:24:14,841
Göring had assured them that something like that
it won't happen. But it happened.
256
00:24:15,637 --> 00:24:18,520
Another air raid took place
on the night of August 28,
257
00:24:18,796 --> 00:24:21,445
resulting in damaged buildings
and dead civilians.
258
00:24:21,673 --> 00:24:24,820
In two nights
the third raid took place.
259
00:24:27,068 --> 00:24:29,953
In Directive 17,
given by Hitler on August 1,
260
00:24:30,162 --> 00:24:36,417
in which he announced his plans
of fighting against England,
261
00:24:36,673 --> 00:24:39,096
Hitler had specified his targets.
262
00:24:39,366 --> 00:24:45,772
These did not include civilians,
but the fifth clause stipulates:
263
00:24:46,038 --> 00:24:50,599
"I reserve my right
to order terrorist attacks"
264
00:24:50,849 --> 00:24:53,477
"as retaliatory measures".
265
00:24:56,830 --> 00:24:59,298
Hitler was now exercising this right.
266
00:24:59,921 --> 00:25:02,112
On September 4, Hitler promised:
267
00:25:02,696 --> 00:25:08,040
"When the English will launch 2, 3, 4 tons
of bombs on us,"
268
00:25:08,284 --> 00:25:16,802
"we will launch in one night
150, 230, 300 or 400 tons on them."
269
00:25:19,202 --> 00:25:23,109
"When will they say that they will come to their senses
the attacks on our cities,"
270
00:25:23,351 --> 00:25:26,635
"we will make their cities
one with the earth."
271
00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:32,450
"We will stop the pirates of the night,
so help me God!"
272
00:25:34,447 --> 00:25:36,586
the next night
London was attacked.
273
00:25:36,795 --> 00:25:42,234
Beginning on September 7, 1940,
weather for 57 nights in a row,
274
00:25:42,434 --> 00:25:44,830
London was bombed.
275
00:25:46,125 --> 00:25:48,685
This was the last stage
of the Battle of Britain
276
00:25:48,968 --> 00:25:51,897
and was nicknamed
"The Blitz".
277
00:25:55,975 --> 00:25:58,437
Thanks to the Henderson Shelter,
we are teferi.
278
00:25:58,656 --> 00:26:02,223
I think about two bombs
they shook the shelter hard,
279
00:26:02,924 --> 00:26:05,574
but after hearing them
my sons speaking to me,
280
00:26:06,048 --> 00:26:09,937
I breathed a sigh of relief.
281
00:26:10,496 --> 00:26:14,848
Young women in overalls and with headphones on their heads
they patrolled the streets of the capital.
282
00:26:15,094 --> 00:26:18,514
They were blowing whistles and shouting
to people to turn off the lights.
283
00:26:19,243 --> 00:26:20,634
Londoners were going into shelters
284
00:26:20,850 --> 00:26:25,038
and they slept by the thousands
on the platforms of the metro stations.
285
00:26:26,774 --> 00:26:30,522
Although it is hard to believe,
many indulged in theft.
286
00:26:30,730 --> 00:26:36,152
When people go into shelters,
thieves broke into houses and stole.
287
00:26:38,762 --> 00:26:40,604
The searchlights furrowed the night sky.
288
00:26:40,808 --> 00:26:46,332
Anti-aircraft batteries barked furiously
to the bombers in the air.
289
00:26:47,716 --> 00:26:49,881
But mostly it was just bravado.
290
00:26:50,098 --> 00:26:54,753
The reflectors helped the pilots
Germans to spot the targets,
291
00:26:55,791 --> 00:27:00,617
and anti-aircraft batteries it seems
that they were shooting down an enemy plane
292
00:27:00,921 --> 00:27:03,851
once every 30,000 projectiles.
293
00:27:05,962 --> 00:27:09,972
On September 7, at night
the first great attack on London,
294
00:27:10,236 --> 00:27:12,524
the tide was very high
in the English Channel.
295
00:27:12,783 --> 00:27:16,082
This very good opportunity
for a maritime invasion
296
00:27:16,311 --> 00:27:21,114
and probably other information imposed
to give the alarm.
297
00:27:22,228 --> 00:27:27,074
The soldiers from the south of England received
warning code:
298
00:27:27,354 --> 00:27:31,423
England was to be invaded
in the next 24 hours.
299
00:27:32,736 --> 00:27:37,672
Surprisingly, in these moments
dangerous to king and country,
300
00:27:37,983 --> 00:27:42,200
the warning code was "Cromwell",
the name of the famous regicide.
301
00:27:43,541 --> 00:27:47,427
But the alert was in vain,
since the invasion did not take place.
302
00:27:48,468 --> 00:27:50,535
The bombing continued.
303
00:27:55,162 --> 00:28:01,302
15,000 Londoners died,
and 250,000 were left homeless.
304
00:28:01,874 --> 00:28:06,153
Among the damaged buildings were
Wren's churches, Parliament
305
00:28:06,397 --> 00:28:10,043
and Buckingham Palace,
the residence of the king and queen.
306
00:28:14,802 --> 00:28:19,191
On September 30 it took place
the last air raid of the day,
307
00:28:19,391 --> 00:28:22,610
which continued
and during the night.
308
00:28:27,417 --> 00:28:32,137
The British government called for the survey
the population regarding morale
309
00:28:32,838 --> 00:28:37,726
and found that 80% were convinced
that Britain will win.
310
00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:41,315
The raids have decreased.
311
00:28:41,564 --> 00:28:45,912
The end of October marked
and the end of the Battle of Britain,
312
00:28:46,702 --> 00:28:49,641
although London was still suffering enormously.
313
00:28:52,229 --> 00:28:53,744
La 14 noiembrie,
314
00:28:53,961 --> 00:28:57,886
the attack on the city of Coventry was
a new stage of the German offensive.
315
00:28:58,634 --> 00:29:03,719
In that month Bristol was attacked,
Birmingham, Sheffield and Liverpool,
316
00:29:03,968 --> 00:29:08,435
the number of British civilians killed
exceeding 4,500 in November alone.
317
00:29:10,762 --> 00:29:17,133
British bombers were raging
and more the German cities,
318
00:29:17,394 --> 00:29:19,886
as we shall see
in another episode.
319
00:29:25,041 --> 00:29:30,354
The last bombing of England
will take place in May 1941,
320
00:29:30,606 --> 00:29:36,371
when Hitler mobilized all his
the resources for the invasion of Russia.
321
00:29:40,170 --> 00:29:43,874
A world war looms over us
all over the map,
322
00:29:44,081 --> 00:29:47,438
as events occur
both major and minor,
323
00:29:47,667 --> 00:29:50,431
as all these are part
from the same phenomenon.
324
00:29:51,035 --> 00:29:56,318
The fall of 1940 is regarded by history
as the time of the Battle of Britain,
325
00:29:56,819 --> 00:29:59,505
but history requires
and a peripheral perspective.
326
00:30:00,542 --> 00:30:05,939
On September 6, 1940, on the eve
the first great raid on London,
327
00:30:06,247 --> 00:30:10,429
King Carol II of Romania,
a great-grandson of Queen Victoria,
328
00:30:10,631 --> 00:30:16,570
he abdicated, leaving the country in his hands
another fascist, Ion Antonescu.
329
00:30:19,732 --> 00:30:25,714
On September 11, Hitler sent
reinforcements in Romania,
330
00:30:25,997 --> 00:30:31,187
to defend the Ploiesti oil zone,
the only significant one in Europe.
331
00:30:31,441 --> 00:30:38,282
Thus, the Wehrmacht obtained
and an outpost for the invasion of Russia.
332
00:30:38,836 --> 00:30:44,098
But why did Hitler give up?
to the invasion of Great Britain?
333
00:30:45,310 --> 00:30:49,808
In Directive no. 16,
of July 16, 1940,
334
00:30:50,033 --> 00:30:54,331
by which the disembarkation was being prepared
in England, Hitler declared:
335
00:30:56,163 --> 00:31:00,608
"England, although it is
in a desperate military situation,"
336
00:31:00,833 --> 00:31:04,797
"still no signs
that she is willing to capitulate."
337
00:31:05,065 --> 00:31:10,566
"I decided to prepare
and, if necessary, to implement"
338
00:31:10,807 --> 00:31:13,391
"an invasion plan against her."
339
00:31:15,324 --> 00:31:19,974
"As needed."
Why wasn't it needed then?
340
00:31:21,016 --> 00:31:26,690
After only three days, in a speech
in the Reichstag, broadcast around the world,
341
00:31:26,929 --> 00:31:28,163
Hitler said:
342
00:31:28,995 --> 00:31:35,755
"Cries ring out in London,
but they are not of the population,"
343
00:31:35,991 --> 00:31:42,241
"but of the politicians, who know
that the war must go on."
344
00:31:44,341 --> 00:31:45,641
And he also said:
345
00:31:46,428 --> 00:31:53,346
"In these moments, I feel indebted
to invite England to change its position."
346
00:31:58,936 --> 00:32:05,343
Hitler would have preferred peace with England
to devote himself to expansion to the east.
347
00:32:05,909 --> 00:32:08,579
England, defiant,
thwarted these plans.
348
00:32:16,540 --> 00:32:20,425
Hitler was well aware of the risks
invasion of Great Britain.
349
00:32:21,326 --> 00:32:24,122
A failure would be ruined immediately
all the success achieved
350
00:32:24,358 --> 00:32:28,768
following extraordinary victories
reported since 1939.
351
00:32:32,885 --> 00:32:39,244
Air force commanders
and naval had divided opinions
352
00:32:39,447 --> 00:32:42,900
and Hitler himself doubted
of success.
353
00:32:45,013 --> 00:32:49,770
"On land, I'm a hero," he told her
the commander of the naval forces.
354
00:32:54,472 --> 00:32:56,737
"On the water, I'm a coward."
355
00:32:58,117 --> 00:33:02,138
There is evidence that the plan
invasion, Operation "Great Lion",
356
00:33:02,756 --> 00:33:05,562
it was more of a political maneuver
than military,
357
00:33:06,006 --> 00:33:12,242
to force England to sue for peace
and participate in negotiations.
358
00:33:12,504 --> 00:33:15,828
To some extent,
Hitler played the bluff.
359
00:33:17,369 --> 00:33:25,332
On July 31, 1940, Hitler had a
meeting at Berghof in the Bavarian Alps.
360
00:33:25,616 --> 00:33:31,440
He found out about the difficulty of obtaining it
invasion transport ships
361
00:33:31,660 --> 00:33:34,983
and about the problems caused
of combining soldiers and weapons.
362
00:33:35,242 --> 00:33:41,181
The commander of the naval forces wanted
delaying the invasion until May 1941.
363
00:33:43,197 --> 00:33:47,924
Hitler agreed to the postponement,
but only until September 16.
364
00:33:48,236 --> 00:33:51,988
Aviation had time to sink
warships in the channel
365
00:33:52,188 --> 00:33:55,404
and shoot down the British planes
from the south east of England.
366
00:33:55,627 --> 00:33:59,320
He repeated the first condition
of Directive 16,
367
00:33:59,527 --> 00:34:03,490
namely that British aviation
should be abolished
368
00:34:03,691 --> 00:34:09,127
so as not to be able to oppose
the crossing of the channel by the Germans.
369
00:34:11,989 --> 00:34:15,891
As we have seen,
this did not happen.
370
00:34:19,161 --> 00:34:23,031
During the Battle of Britain,
The Luftwaffe executed 21 attacks
371
00:34:23,241 --> 00:34:26,822
against British torpedo boats
who operated in the English Channel.
372
00:34:27,458 --> 00:34:30,760
They failed to sink
not even one.
373
00:34:34,731 --> 00:34:40,972
Germany had no landing craft
and, with only two months to spare,
374
00:34:41,196 --> 00:34:45,163
had to transform
over 2,000 barges.
375
00:34:47,693 --> 00:34:53,229
Only 800 of them had propulsion.
The rest were pulled by tugboats.
376
00:34:56,197 --> 00:34:58,841
When the barges started
to gather in ports,
377
00:34:59,069 --> 00:35:02,431
British pilots received orders
to take them in the collimator.
378
00:35:04,213 --> 00:35:06,887
About 10% of the barges were destroyed
in ports.
379
00:35:09,585 --> 00:35:14,631
When Hitler postponed the invasion
indefinitely,
380
00:35:15,249 --> 00:35:19,136
he mentioned the failure of aviation
to prevail against the British
381
00:35:19,359 --> 00:35:24,183
and poor coordination
among the branches of the German army.
382
00:35:24,593 --> 00:35:29,190
But it is doubtful that he believed
ever in this invasion
383
00:35:29,585 --> 00:35:31,611
or in her chances of winning.
384
00:35:36,444 --> 00:35:38,907
After canceling the invasion,
385
00:35:39,207 --> 00:35:45,416
Britain remained like an aircraft carrier
impregnable on the shores of Western Europe.
386
00:35:46,363 --> 00:35:47,819
On the 11th of November,
387
00:35:48,140 --> 00:35:52,988
for the first time since July,
the sirens no longer wailed in London.
388
00:35:53,774 --> 00:35:57,725
British aviation had lost
915 planes.
389
00:35:58,038 --> 00:36:02,075
German aviation had lost 1,733.
390
00:36:03,316 --> 00:36:08,789
Abandoning the invasion, Hitler hoped
that although she was not defeated,
391
00:36:09,029 --> 00:36:12,436
England will withdraw
behind the barricades
392
00:36:12,695 --> 00:36:16,578
and will not mix
in his future plans.
393
00:36:17,559 --> 00:36:20,953
The danger he missed was,
above all,
394
00:36:21,228 --> 00:36:25,682
that the Battle of Britain perpetuated
resistance against Germany
395
00:36:26,439 --> 00:36:31,852
and that it was not just a little girl who was holding her back
island nation in Europe,
396
00:36:32,922 --> 00:36:35,075
but an entire empire.
397
00:36:38,184 --> 00:36:43,131
The events that had changed
the European political context in 1940
398
00:36:43,334 --> 00:36:47,266
they now had unforeseen consequences
and particularly strategically important
399
00:36:47,468 --> 00:36:51,378
on the other side of the world
namely in Asia.
400
00:36:52,285 --> 00:36:57,600
After the capitulation of France, the government
Pétain's collaborator
401
00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:02,954
he was allowed, by the peace treaty,
to keep their colonies.
402
00:37:03,354 --> 00:37:08,722
One of the "ornaments" of the empire
was French Indochina,
403
00:37:09,066 --> 00:37:13,025
where Vietnam is now,
Laos and Cambodia.
404
00:37:13,625 --> 00:37:18,280
Japan was tempted
to occupy these territories.
405
00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:23,795
Vietnam could only be conquered by
crossing the border with occupied China.
406
00:37:24,037 --> 00:37:28,405
In September 1940,
Japan has done just that.
407
00:37:29,617 --> 00:37:34,773
Japan motivated the operation,
reasonable, given that it was war,
408
00:37:35,090 --> 00:37:38,045
stating that the Chinese Nationalists
they were supplied
409
00:37:38,249 --> 00:37:42,692
through Haiphong port and through the system
Sino-Vietnamese railway.
410
00:37:48,417 --> 00:37:54,280
When the Japanese intentions were clear,
the French government yielded.
411
00:37:54,482 --> 00:37:59,265
On September 22 he signed a treaty
which allowed Japan
412
00:37:59,491 --> 00:38:03,371
to post several thousand soldiers
on the territory of Vietnam.
413
00:38:03,686 --> 00:38:08,529
The Japanese asked for bases in Indochina,
and France agreed.
414
00:38:11,492 --> 00:38:16,869
Air raids continue in China.
The capital of Chongqing is continuously bombed.
415
00:38:18,083 --> 00:38:20,586
In a few hours
after the signing of the treaty,
416
00:38:20,786 --> 00:38:25,251
columns of Japanese soldiers passed
the border in three places
417
00:38:25,494 --> 00:38:28,516
and they advanced towards the railway
near Longzhou.
418
00:38:28,803 --> 00:38:31,145
The next day, on September 23,
419
00:38:31,363 --> 00:38:35,566
France accused Japan
of treaty violation.
420
00:38:37,720 --> 00:38:42,074
In the morning of the 24th, the Japanese planes
they attacked French positions on the coast.
421
00:38:42,274 --> 00:38:48,541
On the 26th, the Japanese landed in the south
of Haiphong and advanced towards the port.
422
00:38:52,076 --> 00:38:55,632
By the evening of the same day,
the fighting had stopped.
423
00:39:00,902 --> 00:39:04,637
Among other concessions, France gave in
Japan has three airfields.
424
00:39:05,392 --> 00:39:12,022
A year later, Japan started
the creation of the sphere of co-prosperity,
425
00:39:12,250 --> 00:39:16,201
and the air bases were vital
for providing air support
426
00:39:16,423 --> 00:39:22,831
in the invasion of the British colonies of Malaya,
Singapore and the Dutch East Indies.
427
00:39:26,267 --> 00:39:30,563
also
the world war intensified
428
00:39:30,763 --> 00:39:32,939
and on another continent: Africa.
429
00:39:34,781 --> 00:39:38,136
On September 23, an army
of free English and French
430
00:39:38,352 --> 00:39:41,796
attacked a government garrison
from Vichy in West Africa.
431
00:39:42,939 --> 00:39:46,825
On the 25th, the approach was proven
already being a resounding failure,
432
00:39:47,067 --> 00:39:49,003
and the forces were withdrawn.
433
00:39:52,090 --> 00:39:56,967
A group of British ships, having it
on board the Charles de Gaulle,
434
00:39:57,209 --> 00:40:02,343
advanced to Dakar,
the capital of Senegal.
435
00:40:02,785 --> 00:40:03,949
Manifestos were also spread.
436
00:40:04,224 --> 00:40:08,929
The Free French have landed,
but they were taken prisoners.
437
00:40:10,285 --> 00:40:13,098
A battle ensued between the ships
and dry batteries,
438
00:40:13,362 --> 00:40:18,880
but de Gaulle declared that he did not want to
to see Frenchmen killing Frenchmen.
439
00:40:19,587 --> 00:40:21,526
The forces retreated.
440
00:40:22,010 --> 00:40:26,792
Operation "Danger" had not taken off
living up to its name.
441
00:40:28,034 --> 00:40:31,275
In September 1940
other operations also started
442
00:40:31,515 --> 00:40:35,823
in the area that would become
the most important theater of war
443
00:40:36,123 --> 00:40:40,016
from the African continent:
the north african coast.
444
00:40:42,382 --> 00:40:44,966
Italo Balbo,
Marshal of the Italian Air Force,
445
00:40:45,205 --> 00:40:47,392
he had been an architect
of Italian fascism
446
00:40:47,645 --> 00:40:52,228
and the only fascist leader who
opposed both anti-Semitic laws,
447
00:40:52,515 --> 00:40:55,042
as well as Mussolini's alliance
with Germany.
448
00:40:55,514 --> 00:40:59,084
He is the one who planned
the invasion of Egypt.
449
00:41:00,484 --> 00:41:04,901
On June 28, 1940,
during the landing at Tobruk,
450
00:41:05,343 --> 00:41:10,966
Balbo and his crew were killed
accidentally by Italian machine gunners.
451
00:41:11,321 --> 00:41:15,864
Italian campaign in Africa
he had started with the left.
452
00:41:17,046 --> 00:41:21,990
On September 13, when it was clear
that Hitler would not invade England,
453
00:41:22,191 --> 00:41:25,046
Mussolini ordered
the invasion of Egypt.
454
00:41:28,054 --> 00:41:33,887
On the 16th, the Italians had advanced approx
100 km beyond the Libyan border.
455
00:41:34,513 --> 00:41:37,150
The number of casualties was rising
to 3,500,
456
00:41:37,565 --> 00:41:44,246
but the British, who withdrew
in the desert, they lost only 150.
457
00:41:45,348 --> 00:41:49,017
British Commander,
General Archibald Wavell,
458
00:41:49,218 --> 00:41:52,164
had the advantage of armor
against the enemy.
459
00:41:53,869 --> 00:41:59,002
He counterattacked and repulsed them
the Italians across the Libyan border,
460
00:41:59,227 --> 00:42:02,998
bringing back the vital port of Tobruk
in the hands of the Allies.
461
00:42:08,212 --> 00:42:12,035
Wavell's 50,000 soldiers
they repelled the Italians from Egypt,
462
00:42:13,387 --> 00:42:19,559
capturing over 138,000 soldiers
and over 200 guns.
463
00:42:20,888 --> 00:42:25,302
A British officer asked him
to another: "How many prisoners did you take?"
464
00:42:25,549 --> 00:42:28,992
"A hectare or so",
was the answer.
465
00:42:30,006 --> 00:42:35,791
Italy's involvement is perceived
as a defeat, a capitulation.
466
00:42:36,488 --> 00:42:38,461
But it's not a fair impression,
467
00:42:38,955 --> 00:42:44,049
since it does not take into account
the inferiority of the Italian army.
468
00:42:45,274 --> 00:42:47,174
One statistic says it all.
469
00:42:49,411 --> 00:42:55,618
In 1938, the war costs of
Italy's were $746 million.
470
00:42:56,643 --> 00:43:01,658
Germany's costs rose
to $7,415,000,000.
471
00:43:04,802 --> 00:43:08,045
Wavell's soldiers embodied
the strength of the British Empire.
472
00:43:08,428 --> 00:43:12,613
The British were fighting side by side
with soldiers from New Zealand,
473
00:43:12,847 --> 00:43:15,755
South Africa and parts of India.
474
00:43:16,076 --> 00:43:20,179
All the Indians who were fighting
for England they were volunteers.
475
00:43:20,390 --> 00:43:23,298
Their reasons were practical:
476
00:43:23,511 --> 00:43:27,033
the army offered them clothes, food
and shelter.
477
00:43:27,614 --> 00:43:32,906
Soldiers from the colonies,
like the New Zealanders, they were patriots.
478
00:43:33,106 --> 00:43:37,069
They were fighting for King George VI
and for the motherland.
479
00:43:37,445 --> 00:43:41,286
War will change mentality
white colonies
480
00:43:41,486 --> 00:43:45,252
and will change loyalties
Indian soldiers.
481
00:43:46,647 --> 00:43:50,211
Mussolini, irritated by the victory
Wavell's motley army,
482
00:43:50,517 --> 00:43:55,864
turned his attention elsewhere
not denying his incompetence.
483
00:43:58,710 --> 00:44:05,669
After the invasion of Albania, which
used it as a springboard,
484
00:44:05,907 --> 00:44:10,882
Mussolini invaded Greece
on October 28.
485
00:44:12,515 --> 00:44:17,705
Il Duce communicated to Hitler
his intentions on the eve of the attack.
486
00:44:19,637 --> 00:44:23,151
He met Hitler that day
in which the army moved.
487
00:44:23,456 --> 00:44:25,906
It was a war of pride.
488
00:44:27,293 --> 00:44:30,974
Greece was neutral and irrelevant
as far as Hitler was concerned,
489
00:44:31,278 --> 00:44:36,343
but Greece and the Balkans, the Duke hoped,
they will increase Italy's prestige
490
00:44:36,587 --> 00:44:39,216
according to reported successes
of Germany.
491
00:44:40,802 --> 00:44:46,629
Although irritated by his recklessness,
Hitler offered to support him,
492
00:44:47,029 --> 00:44:51,977
but Mussolini refused:
the triumph was to belong to Italy.
493
00:44:53,691 --> 00:44:58,532
The Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas,
himself a right-wing dictator,
494
00:44:58,837 --> 00:45:01,418
refused the offer of support
coming from England.
495
00:45:01,641 --> 00:45:03,260
Without any help,
496
00:45:03,460 --> 00:45:08,341
he started to counterattack
the Italians on November 4.
497
00:45:09,596 --> 00:45:14,021
In a few days, the Italians
were repulsed as far as Albania,
498
00:45:14,221 --> 00:45:20,134
because of the conditions, of the winter
and the land in the mountains of Epirus.
499
00:45:24,172 --> 00:45:29,298
The failure had been foreseen by the head of state
Italian major, Marshal Pietro Badoglio,
500
00:45:29,615 --> 00:45:33,617
who resigned after what
Mussolini ignored his advice.
501
00:45:38,061 --> 00:45:42,037
On November 11, on the first day
no air raid alert in london,
502
00:45:42,269 --> 00:45:46,162
the Italians had a share of still
an obstacle, but of a different nature.
503
00:45:47,002 --> 00:45:53,100
The old British Swordfish bombers
taking off from the aircraft carrier Illustrious
504
00:45:53,304 --> 00:45:57,278
they attacked the Italian fleet
which had anchored in the port of Taranto.
505
00:45:58,179 --> 00:46:03,669
The British hailed their first victory
brought back after more than a year.
506
00:46:03,994 --> 00:46:10,086
Three Italian ships were damaged
serious, one of which is irremediable.
507
00:46:10,630 --> 00:46:16,698
The Japanese attaché in Berlin has come
on the spot and documented
508
00:46:16,911 --> 00:46:20,367
the effect of the attack launched from
aircraft carrier on an anchored fleet.
509
00:46:25,238 --> 00:46:28,838
On December 4th, after five weeks
since the invasion of Greece,
510
00:46:29,042 --> 00:46:35,545
the undersecretary of war, Ubaldo
Soddu, recommend a truce.
511
00:46:36,231 --> 00:46:39,159
The war was already difficult
of harsh winter,
512
00:46:39,419 --> 00:46:44,311
and the armies were fighting on a territory
who had previously been Italian.
513
00:46:44,729 --> 00:46:48,970
In January, Hitler announced
that he will support his ally
514
00:46:49,194 --> 00:46:53,410
first in greece
and later in North Africa.
515
00:46:58,398 --> 00:47:03,350
In January, England launched the offensive
against Italy in the Horn of Africa,
516
00:47:03,724 --> 00:47:10,057
Somaliland and Abyssinia, whose
the emperor had been dethroned by the Italians.
517
00:47:14,368 --> 00:47:18,226
But the new year would bring
much more important events.
518
00:47:18,546 --> 00:47:25,071
At the beginning of the year, Roosevelt
addressed the American people.
519
00:47:25,716 --> 00:47:30,332
"Dear friends, this is not
a rant about war,"
520
00:47:30,733 --> 00:47:33,519
"but a discussion
about national security."
521
00:47:34,092 --> 00:47:39,479
He told the whole world,
who listens to the radio:
522
00:47:39,965 --> 00:47:43,641
"We have to be the big arsenal
of democracy."
523
00:47:44,134 --> 00:47:48,271
He concluded: "We have no excuse
for defeatism."
524
00:47:48,485 --> 00:47:52,915
"We have reason to hope
that we will obtain peace,"
525
00:47:53,130 --> 00:47:59,415
"that we will be able to defend our civilization
and we will build a better civilization."
526
00:48:07,945 --> 00:48:11,926
In the next episode
we will present the year 1941,
527
00:48:12,300 --> 00:48:15,948
the year that would transform
both the war and the world
528
00:48:16,199 --> 00:48:21,628
to an extent that rarely
a single year changed history.
529
00:48:22,323 --> 00:48:24,643
Germany will invade Russia,
530
00:48:24,975 --> 00:48:30,734
and Japan will draw the US into the war
after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
531
00:48:33,907 --> 00:48:38,864
Root: Viasat History
Trans-synchro: vonRichthofen
Subs.ro Team @ www.subs.ro