clive's - Rented List
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Gladiators of World War II: Waffen-SS (2002)Gladiators of World War 2: Waffen - SS
The Waffen SS began as Hitler's elite bodyguard and grew into one of the most formidable fighting forces of Nazi Germany. Although part of the infamous SS - and indelibly linked with the excesses of the feared Gestapo, the concentration camps, and the extermination squads, the men of the SS saw themselves as combat soldiers, respected for their courage, feared for their ruthlessness and fanaticism. For these were political soldiers; mature men, recruited for their physical perfection and pure Aryan ancestry. They were drilled in Nazi ideology, indoctrinated to believe in themselves as the master race and their enemies as subhuman. They became the cornerstone of the German defences, who carried on fighting, even when all hope was gone. But they are remembered for their brutality. They killed captured British, Canadian and American soldiers in cold blood, and massacred unarmed French, Belgian and Russian civilians. They were Gladiators on the battlefield, who fought on against impossible odds, but the Waffen SS will forever be tarnished by the atrocities they committed as the willing servants of an evil regime. - Director:
- Charles Messenger
- Cast:
- Léon Degrelle, Robert Powell, Sepp Dietrich
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Gladiators of World War II: The Anzacs (2002)Gladiators of World War 2: The Anzacs
The Anzacs - the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, first saw active service in Libya with the British, when they forced the Italian army to surrender. The real test came when Rommel and his Afrika Korps entered the desert arena. At Tobruk, the largely Australian garrison, known as 'the rats of Tobruk', held out against overwhelming odds to repel the Axis forces. Initial defeats in the Mediterranean in Greece and Crete against the German Blitzkrieg might have disillusioned lesser troops, but not the indomitable Anzacs. The war took on new meaning for them after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese invaded Malaya, and the Anzacs suddenly found their own territory under threat. A typical Anzac victory occurred in the jungle of Papua New Guinea. Half trained Australian troops fought a desperate battle against superior Japanese forces on the 150 mile long Kokoda Trail, both sides suffered from disease and supply line problems, but against all the odds, the Australians emerged triumphant. The contribution made by the Anzacs to ultimate victory in World War II was out of all proportion to the size of the populations of Australia and New Zealand, but the cost had been high. - Director:
- Charles Messenger
- Cast:
- Robert Powell, Claude Auchinleck, Thomas Blamey
- Formats:
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Gladiators of World War II: The SAS (2002)Gladiators of World War 2: The SAS
Captured on camera, on the 5th of May 1980, the British Army's elite Special Air Service stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, where hostages were being held by Iraqi terrorists. Within ten minutes, the terrorists were killed, and the remaining hostages rescued. Who were these black-clad men in balaclavas, who resolved the conflict with such ruthless efficiency? This programme examines the SAS, from its conception as a small, deep-penetration raiding force led by Commando Officer David Stirling in the deserts of Libya and Egypt in World War II, to its work on the modern day battlefields in the Falklands and Gulf wars. Today the SAS is among the best special services in the world. Its men are the toughest of the tough, and those who have served in it over the 60 years since its inception have lived and fought unswervingly under the motto on their cap badges: 'Who Dares Wins'. - Director:
- Charles Messenger
- Cast:
- Robert Powell, Harold Alexander, Claude Auchinleck
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Six classic two-hour episodes from the acclaimed TV series devoted to WW2's most momentous battles.
1. The Battle for North Africa
The long struggle for North Africa provided US forces with invaluable battle experience, paving the way for the eventual re-conquest of Europe.2. The Battle of the Atlantic
For the British the longest and most critical battle of the entire war. The German intention was to sever Britain's trading links with the world, guaranteeing her capitulation.
3. The Battle for Russia
Hitler's plan for the conquest of Russia called for a classic Blitzkrieg offensive, which would be pressed ruthlessly to its conclusion within the course of a single season's campaign.
4. The Battle for Italy
When victory in North Africa seemed assured, Allied Planners turned their attention to Italy. The objective was to seize Rome, knock Italy out of the war and push north towards Austria.
5.The Battle of Leyte Gulf
To restore American prestige in the Pacific, Roosevelt authorised an invasion of the Philippines, a former US territory and the scene of a humiliating defeat at the hands of Japan in 1942.
6. The Battle of the Rhine
During the last months of 1944 the British and Americans pressed steadily through France and Belgium to the western frontiers of the Third Reich.- Director:
- Andy Aitken
- Cast:
- Not Available
- Formats:
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Gladiators of World War II: The Royal Navy (2002)Gladiators of World War 2: The Royal Navy
In World War II the Royal Navy saw action in every one of the world's oceans. At the beginning of the war it was the largest navy in the world, and with Winston Churchill as the First Lord of the Admiralty, it was a fearsome opponent. From the Home Fleet base at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys, and the Mediterranean Fleet base at Alexandria, the sacrifice made by the Royal Navy during World War II was great: 5 capital ships, 10 carriers, 31 cruisers, and 146 destroyers. Over 50,000 of its personnel perished. With archive footage and computer graphic reconstruction, this programme shows a selection of the crucial battles and missions of the Royal Navy in World War II, including the Battle of the Atlantic, the Arctic Convoys, the Battle of the River Plate and the sinking of the Graf Spee. Also featured: the battle between HMS Hood and the Bismarck, and the story of Convoy ONS5, which proved that the Navy-escorted convoys were a match for the U-boat menace. - Director:
- Charles Messenger
- Cast:
- Robert Powell, Winston Churchill, Andrew Cunningham
- Formats:
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Gladiators of World War II: The Paras and Commandos (2002)Gladiators of World War 2: The Paras and Commandos
Occupied Europe endured four long years of Nazi domination in World War II. Angered by the defensive strategy which had brought disaster to Allied forces in 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill demanded an elite raiding force - specially formed to take the fight back to Nazi-occupied countries, and bring hope to the people enslaved there. The result was the Commandos, initially ten units, each of 500 men, recruited from every regiment and corps in the British Army. They were supremely fit, and highly skilled, experts in unarmed combat and trained to use a variety of weapons. They operated behind enemy lines in intense danger - any Commando taken prisoner was to be executed immediately, on Hitler's orders. From the Commandos came the Paras, a troop of men trained to use parachutes to drop them into enemy territory. Archive footage from the Paras' and Commandos' greatest raids, and interviews with former commandos are brought together in this programme to bring their famous exploits back to life: Bruneval, Saint Nazaire, Dieppe, Pegasus Bridge and Operation Market Garden. - Director:
- Charles Messenger
- Cast:
- Robert Powell, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler
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For the first time on television, this series tells the true story of Stalin's encounters with the Nazis and then with Churchill and Roosevelt and, consequently, their enormous impact on World War II and, later, the fate of post-war Europe. An enthralling mix of high politics - including the inside story of the Allies' meetings at Tehran, Yalta and Postdam - and the dramatic personal experiences of those who bore the consequences of the decisions made by the powerful. Astonishing dramatic reconstructions carefully sourced from archive material, reveal how the great leaders decided the future shape of the post-war world. These decisions had immediate and often harrowing effects for those on the ground. Their story is told through documentary footage, dramatic reconstructions and illuminating interviews - including contributions from former Soviet secret policemen, Allied seamen who served on the Arctic convoys and Red Army veterans who experienced hand-to-hand fighting on the Eastern Front. Written and produced by award-winning film-maker Laurence Rees (Auschwitz - The Nazis and the 'Final Solution', War of the Century, Nazis - A Warning from History), this series is a compelling new way of understanding the most secret and dramatic events of the Second World War. - Director:
- Laurence Rees
- Cast:
- Aleksey Petrenko, Bob Gunton, Paul Humpoletz
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This exciting documentary begins with a brief history of Russia and the wars fought on her homeland. Then the program moves into World War II and the invading Nazi forces, using incredible newsreel footage of the actual fighting. The Nazis are victorious at Moscow and Leningrad but, like Napoleon's troops, are utterly defeated at the battle of Stalingrad. - Director:
- Not Available
- Cast:
- Not Available
- Formats:
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The Submarines of World War II (2011)The Submarines of World War II: The Silent Service
This fascinating series from History will explore the world of the U.S. Navy Submariner in World War II. We'll dive deep to periscope depth in the Pacific and hunt a convoy of Japanese freighters, surface in the Atlantic and fire upon a stricken German U-Boat and we'll sneak into Tokyo Bay and wreck havoc upon the Japanese Fleet. We'll learn about the men who lived and hunted under the sea, while discussing the different submarines and their use in war and explore the tactics used to destroy the enemy. Plus we examine how submarines contributed to the final defeat of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. Take a journey beneath the waves and discover the incredible story behind 'The Submarines of World War II: The Silent Service'. - Director:
- Not Available
- Cast:
- Not Available
- Formats:
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The Imperial War Museum Official Collection features rare and fascinating original films preserved in the museum's vaults. Many have never been released before and are presented here, complete and uncut, for the very first time. These films are of great historical importance and are essential viewing for anyone interested in British military history. Produced by the Crown Film Unit for the Ministry of Defence and the Admiralty in 1943, "Close Quarters" is an authentic impression of a routine war time Royal Navy submarine patrol in the North Sea, off the coast of Norway. At first patrol is uneventful until HMS Tyrant comes across a U-boat... This quietly gripping and totally believable story of a routine patrol by a Royal Navy submarine was produced by the Crown Film Unit in the documentary style for which it has become famous. All the roles were performed by serving submarines (led by Lieutenant Commander Gregory) and much of the film was shot on a British submarine which was still in service. In general, writer and director Jack Lee got a fine performance from his amateur cast, and the scenes of humour and comradeship are particularly convincing. Moreover, as one would expect, all the tasks and commands aboard ship are carried out with complete assurance and conviction. The interior shots were filmed at Pinewood in a superb full-size model of the submarine, built by a team of riggers led by the art directors Peggy Gick and Edward Carrick. - Director:
- Jack Lee
- Cast:
- Lieutenant Commander Gregory
- Formats:
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World War II: 1941 and the Man of Steel (2011)World War Two: 1941 and the Man of Steel
Historian David Reynolds examines Josef Stalin's handling of the conflict between the Soviet Union and Germany during the Second World War. First broadcast to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Reynolds reassesses Stalin's role in the life-and-death struggle between the warring superpowers, which he argues was more critical for British survival than 'Our Finest Hour' in the Battle of Britain. He reveals how the dictator's mental frailties nearly caused his country to fall to the Nazis, and examines the compromises Stalin was forced to make to survive - dropping his Communist ideologies in favour of on appeal to the Russian people's nationalist fighting spirit. He also investigates the events that led to Stalin eventually siding with the Allies. The name Stalin means'man of steel' but Reynolds' penetrating account reveals that the man himself was anything but. Travelling to the sites of the main battles, he charts how Russia was almost annihilated within a few months as Stalin lurched from crisis to crisis, edging close to a nervous breakdown. Using original telegrams and official documents, he looks afresh at Winston Churchill's controversial visit to Moscow in 1942 and re-exomines how Britain and America were drawn into alliance with Stalin, a dictator almost as murderous as the Nazi enemy. - Director:
- Russell Barnes
- Cast:
- David Reynolds
- Formats:
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If the prime aim of World War II was to defeat Hitler, why did British and Allied troops spend so much of the conflict battling through North Africa and Italy? Historian David Reynolds reassesses Winston Churchill's conviction that the Mediterranean was the 'soft underbelly' of Hitler's Europe. Travelling to Egyptian and Italian battlefields, including Anzio and Cassino, which suffered some of the worst carnage in Western Europe, he shows how this perceived susceptibility became a dangerous obsession. Reynolds reveals a prime minister far removed from the bullish hero of Britain's 'finest hour' in 1940 - politically vulnerable at home, taking desperate measures to shore up Britain's crumbling empire, losing trust in his generals, and more than ready to deceive his American allies if it meant delaying direct conflict with the Germans in northern France. A startling account of the British Army's unreadiness for war on the ground across the channel, and the human cost of Churchill's greatest misjudgement. - Director:
- Russell Barnes
- Cast:
- David Reynolds
- Formats:
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Six classic two–hour episodes from the acclaimed TV series devoted to WW2's most momentous battles.
1. The Battle of France
Blitzkrieg's most astonishing triumph, establishing Hitler as unassailable within continental Europe.
2. The Battle of BritainThe two mightiest air fleets in the world clashed in tumultuous mortal combat. At issue was Britain's very survival.
3. The Battle of Midway
The stakes were no less dramatic when Americans met Japanese in this enthralling carrier-to-carrier battle of Midway. Both sides knew that the victor would rule the Pacific for years to come.
4. The Battle of Stalingrad
The annihilation of an entire army amidst the charred and frozen ruins of Stalingrad was catastrophe for Nazi arms. Thereafter, the colossus of the Red Army was never to lose the initiative in the East.
5. The Battle of Normandy
D-Day was the biggest amphibious operation in history. But even after the Allied troops had successfully forced a landing in strength, they still had to face a foe whose tenacity and resilience in defence was legendary.
6. The Battle of Berlin
The furious, climatic last battle of Hitler's war. Over half a million lives were lost as the Red Army finally crushed the last Nazi citadel.- Director:
- Not Available
- Cast:
- Not Available
- Formats:
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This blue-chip series explores the events leading up to WWII and the events of the war itself using unparalleled archive footage from one of the world's greatest archives, the British Movietone Library. Major events and rare stories are told through both eyewitness reports and sublime archive footage. The strategies employed and battles waged are compelling. They are explored to reveal the rise and fall of the great world powers.
1. The Gathering Storm
We survey the inter-war years, the rise of dictators, Japan's invasion of China, and the expansion of the Third Reich.
2. The Phony War
The invasion of Poland causes even the most resistant of powers to declare war.
3. Blitzkrieg
War explodes across Western Europe. Blitzkrieg - the German invasion of France.
4. Alone
Germany seeks to neutralise the strength of Britain, the only European country still opposing Hitler, from the air.
5. Barbarossa
The war in Europe is transformed when Hitler unleashes Operation Barbarossa and invades the Soviet Union.
6. A Date in Infamy
While the Germans are invading Russia, Japan continues to pervade the East and changes the war with an attack on Pearl Harbour.
7. Turning Point
Japan has escalated a War in the East, but has roused the might of the United States.
8. The End of the Beginning
The war turns inexorably in favour of the Allies.
9. The Beginning of the End
The momentum behind the allies increases as the Red Army begins its remorseless advance that will end in Berlin.
10. Overlord
The second front opens in Europe with the D-Day landings as the Germans continue to retreat from Russia.
11. Hell is on Us
The Allies continue their eastward liberation push, while an irresistible tide is running against the Japanese.
12. Unconditional Surrender
The Red Army force troops from Soviet territory, while in Japan, Okinawa comes under threat.
13. One Thousand Suns
Berlin falls and the war in Europe ends, Okinawa falls with terrible losses, a new weapon ends the war in the east.- Director:
- Various
- Cast:
- Adolf Hitler, Paul von Hindenburg, Kai-Shek Chiang
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