Schedule Time Slots: Midnight - 4am| 4am - 8am| 8am - Noon| Noon - 4pm| 4pm - 8pm| 8pm - Midnight
| 12 am | 12:30 am | 1 am | 1:30 am | 2 am | 2:30 am | 3 am | 3:30 am | Later | |
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Fri
5/11 |
Nazi Guerrillas.
Nazi Guerrillas.
After the end of WWII, Allied forces faced guerrilla bombings and attacks in occupied Germany--Nazi loyalists tried to derail reconstruction by sabotage and killing collaborators, while Werewolves, an underground organization of die-hard SS officers, boasted of rebirth of the Party. Find out if their bark was worse than their bite in this dogged investigation into how Werewolves terrorized military and civilian targets, and the Allied attempt to purge Germany's past at denazification tribunals. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Nazi POWs in America.
Nazi POWs in America.
Why are Luftwaffe belt buckles and Nazi uniform buttons being discovered today in the dirt of Texas? Buried with them is the story of America's secret Nazi prison camps. German soldiers captured right off the battlefield were shipped to America. Not just a few, but hundreds of thousands flooded in--until there were over 400,000 Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe prisoners in the U.S. We'll meet former Nazi POWs and learn of the resentment many Americans had for Hitler's army imprisoned inside the heartland. TVPG VL | CC |
The Last Days Of WWII: February 25-March 3.
The Last Days Of WWII: February 25-March 3.
In this episode of our series that details, week by week, the last six months of WWII, American daytime bombing and British night raids have devastated Berlin. In the Battle for the Rhineland, an estimated 8.5 million people are on the move in Germany. The backbone of the Luftwaffe, Germany's once mighty Air Force, has been broken. Hitler is now visibly shaken. On the Eastern Front, Allied leaders--British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin Roosevelt, and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin meet at Yalta, in the Russian Crimea. They agree that Germany will be conquered by summer, and begin to divide up post-war Europe. TVPG VL | CC |
The Wehrmacht: 04 - Resistance
The Wehrmacht: 04 - Resistance
During the war, the Wehrmacht was the only force powerful enough to stand up to the Nazi regime. But the opposition did not form when the dictator was celebrating his greatest military triumphs--the core of the conspiracy only consolidated after the war against the Soviet Union made the true, criminal nature of the campaign apparent. The number of Hitler's opponents grew after the defeat outside of Moscow in 1941/42, and even more so after the disaster of Stalingrad. What tipped the balance for many was the horror of the war crimes behind the front lines--crimes against civilians, mostly Jews. But the resistance within the Wehrmacht was backed by only a handful of men. The officers who eventually tried to kill Hitler and end the war on their own were lonely conspirators, who lacked public support and relied on nothing but their own sense of duty. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Sat
5/12 |
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Get an unprecedented look at the most extreme missions of the most extreme job in the world. You have one shot, one scoped sight, one controlled breath, one squeeze of a honed trigger. In a fraction of a second, you will either be a hero who took out an enemy commander, or a lone hunter who has suddenly become the hunted. This special deconstructs and analyzes the most dangerous feats undertaken in the history of military warfare. The legendary snipers who are still alive will share never-before-told stories about their classified missions. What techniques were used by these sharpshooters? What roles did the weather conditions, terrain, weapons systems, and snipers' physiological states play in the success of each operation? Examine the painstaking process perfected by the expert marksmen who live by the credo, "One shot, one kill." TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
Join us for a detailed, week by week survey of the last six months of World War II. As we explore the high and low points of the march to war's end, we paint a comprehensive step-by-step account of the crucial decisions and personalities that culminated in Allied victory. In this episode, Operation Lumberjack, the assault into the Rhineland by General Bradley's US 12th Army Group, is in full swing. In Berlin, Hitler announces that all males born in 1929 must be conscripted for military service. To the south, Patton's lead armored division has progressed over 40 miles, taking 5,000 German prisoners. And Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower now must decide where to make his main crossing of the Rhine. In the Pacific, US firestorms torch Japan's capital city. TVPG VL | CC |
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
Why did millions of combatants sacrifice their lives for a senseless extension of the suffering? What motivated the soldiers to persevere in the face of those massive casualties? Why did experienced commanders who knew better issue orders that sent their subordinates into certain death? What were the answers to the dilemma that the Wehrmacht was facing on all fronts: fight on or retreat? In the light of the most recent research, this final episode tries to find answers by showing a few impressive individual cases and biographies. The result is an up-to-date picture of the Wehrmacht in the final phase of World War II, unclouded by demonizing stereotypes or embellishing myths. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Sun
5/13 |
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
They are the swarthy eagles of the sky, the sleek sharks of the sea, the invisible warriors of the battlefield. Join us for a 3-part look at the stealth aircraft, ships, and soldiers of today, yesterday, and tomorrow. This hour highlights past, present, and future advances in stealth military aircraft. Features footage of the EM F-117 Nighthawk /EM , EM B-2 Spirit Bomber /EM , and the Air Force's newest fighters, the EM F/A-22 Raptor /EM and the EM F-35 Joint Strike Fighter /EM , and talks to test pilots and flight engineers. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
It's one thing to make a 60-foot-long jet aircraft seem invisible, but quite another to hide a 400-foot-long warship from the prying eyes of an enemy. In this hour, we explore the challenging world of stealth technology at sea and how modern engineering can make our largest warships appear to be tugboats or fishing vessels. Features exclusive footage of some of the most advanced warships in the world, including the EM Sea Shadow /EM , DDX Stealth Cruiser/Destroyer, and Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer, plus a glimpse at the future. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Host R. Lee Ermey, dressed in the uniform of a Civil War Marine Corps sergeant, dedicates the entire half-hour to the Civil War, answering a slew of email questions about the guns and gear used in the War between the States. First, the Gunny performs live-fire demonstrations with four different weapons: the Union's Springfield rifle, the Confederacy's Enfield rifle, the 1842 Springfield muzzleloader, which was the last smoothbore musket used by the US military, and last but not least, a powerful cannon. Next, Lee shows viewers cavalry gear, including weapons, tack, and personal gear. In particular, we get a look at the rare 9-shot pistol called "Le Mat"--it also fired a shotgun shell for a lethal blast. Then, the Gunny cooks up some salt port and hardtack, the Civil War version of an MRE. Finally, he dons the fancy pants and embroidered vest of the regiment known as the Zouaves and takes part in their bang-up bayonet training. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Host R. Lee Ermey hits the road to give us an inside look at one of the most secure and super-secret facilities in the world--NORAD. Lee gets through tight security to enter Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, America's eye in the sky where everything that flies is monitored 24/7. During a tour of the Battle Management Center, an incident of concern puts the center on alert and we see how NORAD operates under pressure. We also tour the Missile Command Center and find out what keeps the 800 military personnel inside on their toes. And Brigadier General Jim Hunter unlocks the door for Lee to the most secret part of Cheyenne Mountain--the Command Center, or what a lot of people call the War Room. We see how the men and women who work here monitor planes, missiles, and even space junk to make sure North America stays safe. The General and Lee talk about how NORAD's mission has changed since September 11th and we get a sneak peak at the new command center. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Two hero ships bearing the same great name; the original, CV-5, was a martyred hero of the war's two turning-point battles, the Coral Sea and Midway. Her successor, CV-10 went on to avenge her destroyed namesake through all the rest of WW II in every significant assault on the Japanese-held island fortresses. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Mon
5/14 |
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Sign up at the ultimate survival school, where soldiers learn to kill or be killed, and learn how 21st-century warriors are training today for the battlefields of tomorrow. We follow combat training throughout history, reviewing survival skills and psychological tools--from ancient Rome to World Wars One and Two--and learn how modern training is enhanced by advanced technology and computer simulation. TVPG VL | CC |
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
WWII's D-Day Invasion would be history's largest seaborne assault--over 4,000 ships carrying 170,000 troops. A secret weapon was to lead the way: the Duplex Drive (DD) Tank--Shermans modified to "swim" to shore. Scheduled to hit the beach before foot soldiers, without them the infantry would be sitting ducks. And that's what happened at Omaha Beach--28 out of 30 DD Tanks sank before reaching shore. John Chatterton travels to Normandy and joins French diver Bertrand Sciboz in search of sunken tanks. TVPG VL | CC |
The Russian Navy
The Russian Navy
In the late 1600's, Tsar Peter the Great created a modern Russian navy virtually from scratch. Traditions grew through Russian Naval victories over the Swedes in 1721 and over the Turks in 1788--with the assistance of America's naval hero, John Paul Jones. In the 1960's and 70's, the forceful and innovative leadership of Admiral Sergi Gorshkov created a fleet that threatened the United States and nearly tipped the balance of power in the Cold War. Shot on location, with access to archival footage, we will explore the history of Russia's extraordinary warships and submarines, its remarkable leaders, and the tragic defeats and stunning victories that shaped the Russian Navy. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Tue
5/15 |
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
May, 1941, the German battleship Bismarck, the most powerful warship on earth breaks, out into the North Atlantic. It wields enough firepower to crush vital British convoys! The British unleash every weapon in their arsenal to hunt down this Nazi terror. Join the greatest sea chase in history... fly with Swordfish torpedo-bomber pilots desperately trying to the Bismarck. Rare archival footage and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics and make viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. TVPG VL | CC |
The Color Of War: At Ease.
The Color Of War: At Ease.
It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates. TVPG VL | CC |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
Join us for a detailed, week by week look at the last six months of World War Two. In this episode, we begin in the Pacific Theater where American bombers continue their assault on mainland Japan. The B-29s blitz and the US Air Force's new low-level bombing tactics using incendiary bombs prove deadly for the Japanese. General Curtis LeMay hopes to force a Japanese surrender before American ground forces are scheduled to invade the mainland. Meanwhile in Europe, the Allies are closing in. With the Rhine breached, most Nazis realize their days are numbered and the end is inevitable. Hitler leaves the Reich Chancellery for the last time, and 16-year-old Anne Frank succumbs to typhus in the Belsen concentration camp. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes from Nazi-occupied territory and POW camps. Includes stories of Allied airmen who, after being dropped behind enemy lines, either evaded capture or attempted escapes from POW camps. TVPG VL | CC |
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Wed
5/16 |
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton's blitzkrieg is so successful that his army outruns its own supply lines. Despite being short on fuel and ammunition, he invades the province of Lorraine, hoping to cross into Germany before Christmas. But delays from the fuel shortages have given the Germans time to regroup. Stubborn German defenses at the Moselle River are finally crushed, and the Third Army captures the key city of Nancy. Then Adolph Hitler demands that his generals launch a major counterattack and a furious tank battle erupts near the town of Arracourt. Despite the inferiority of their tanks, the Americans emerge triumphant. But Patton remains stuck in Lorraine, just a few miles closer to Germany than he was at the beginning of the month. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
The slow but brutal slugfest in Lorraine continues as Patton orders his men to take the heavily fortified city of Metz. The thick forts that surround the city and the castle-like walls around Metz prove to be more than a match for American armor, and the siege goes on for weeks. Ammunition supplies run so low that Patton's men resort to using captured German shells. After commencing the largest artillery barrage in Third Army's history, the Americans finally subdue the city's defenders on November 21st. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
Under the command of Generals Montgomery, Bradley, and Devers, Allied forces are poised to make their way across the Rhine and head for Berlin. In the East, German-occupied territories are collapsing under the Red Army. It will be a race of men and egos from the East and West to see who will reach the besieged city of Berlin first. Meanwhile, in occupied Denmark, Mosquito fighter-bombers from the RAF's Number 140 Wing head for the Danish Gestapo headquarters, where many innocent civilians have been killed. In the Pacific, fighting continues and US forces invade the Philippine Island of Panay. Join us for a week by week, detailed look at the last six months of World War II. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Explores the bravery of the French Resistance as its members aided Allied troops and helped escaping POWs flee Nazi capture. TVPG VL | CC |
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Thu
5/17 |
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
In the 1930s, Japanese designers created a range of warplanes, culminating in the legendary Ki-43 Oscar and the A6M Zero. As the war turned against Japan, designers created the rocket-powered Shusui, the Kikka jet fighter, and the experimental R2Y Keiun. We also disclose frantic preparations to assemble a secret airforce of jet and rocket planes to counter an anticipated US invasion in1945, and chronicle post-war aviation and the birth of the Japanese rocket program in the 1950s and '60s. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
History has overlooked the unimaginable hardships Russian designers faced under the paranoid rule of Josef Stalin. Frequent purges represented a constant threat. Yet, in spite of the ever-present danger, Soviet aircraft designers mastered technical hurdles astonishing even by today's standards. This hour features extensive archive images of never-before-seen aircraft and the designers who brought them to life. The innovative aircraft profiled include a swept-wing EM Delta /EM aircraft design; a rocket-powered fighter; a long distance fixed-wing aircraft with features later incorporated in the EM U-2 /EM spyplane; a flying tank prototype; a submarine-bomber combination; and a canard-wing aircraft. And we highlight remarkable aircraft launched after Stalin's death in 1953, like the delta-winged supersonic EM Concordski /EM and the world's largest plane, the EM Antonov 124 Ruslan /EM . TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
Allied troops continue Operation Plunder, their thrust across the Rhine into Germany's heartland. Realizing the situation is hopeless, thousands of German troops surrender. The race to Berlin continues, and disagreement over their strategy plagues the Allies. Hitler is now holed up in his Berlin bunker, totally divorced from reality. In the Pacific, fighting finally comes to a head on Iwo Jima. As US Marines close in around them, 200 Japanese soldiers make a last desperate mass suicide--or banzai--charge at the Americans. The attack on Okinawa begins. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes of World War Two. Episode 3 reconstructs the events of December 7, 1941, when sailors were trapped aboard the USS Oklahoma after it was attacked at Pearl Harbor, and shows how they effected their escape. TVPG VL | CC |
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Fri
5/11 |
The Silent Service: Attack Plans of WWII.
The Silent Service: Attack Plans of WWII.
Examines the evolution of the strategy and tactics used by US submarines in the war against Japan. Conceived as scouts for the surface fleet, the fleet of boats of the "silent service" found their true calling as heirs to the commerce-raiders of the American Revolution and Civil War. By embracing the once-condemned practice of "unrestricted submarine warfare", these stealthy predators of the deep virtually swept the Pacific of Japanese maritime shipping. TVPG VL | CC |
History's Mysteries: Nazi Ghost Train.
History's Mysteries: Nazi Ghost Train.
In 1944 in Brussels, the Gestapo loaded 1,500 prisoners on a train bound for Germany and almost certain death. Among them were Allied invaders and Resistance workers. But the Resistance foiled Nazi plans and prevented the train's departure. We talk to survivors and former Resistance members at a 1999 Comet Line Reunion in Brussels. TVPG VL | CC |
Nazi Guerrillas.
Nazi Guerrillas.
After the end of WWII, Allied forces faced guerrilla bombings and attacks in occupied Germany--Nazi loyalists tried to derail reconstruction by sabotage and killing collaborators, while Werewolves, an underground organization of die-hard SS officers, boasted of rebirth of the Party. Find out if their bark was worse than their bite in this dogged investigation into how Werewolves terrorized military and civilian targets, and the Allied attempt to purge Germany's past at denazification tribunals. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Nazi POWs in America.
Nazi POWs in America.
Why are Luftwaffe belt buckles and Nazi uniform buttons being discovered today in the dirt of Texas? Buried with them is the story of America's secret Nazi prison camps. German soldiers captured right off the battlefield were shipped to America. Not just a few, but hundreds of thousands flooded in--until there were over 400,000 Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe prisoners in the U.S. We'll meet former Nazi POWs and learn of the resentment many Americans had for Hitler's army imprisoned inside the heartland. TVPG VL | CC |
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Sat
5/12 |
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean was the testing ground in the evolution of the submarine from nautical oddity to lethal killing machine. Trace the technical development of submarines and what makes today's most sophisticated submarines function. TVPG VL | CC |
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
The Battle for Fallujah was the ultimate battle zone. We take you back to expose the anatomy of the warriors and high tech weapons. Armored columns of U.S. Marines and Infantrymen push through the city to terminate insurgents armed with an arsenal of weaponry, including AK-47s, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, are planted everywhere. We'll get an up close look at the harrowing and heroic shootouts and we will see the extraordinary weaponry used to take down the enemy combatants including the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the M16 and M249 SAW, the Abrams M1A1 Tank, and man portable satchel charges. TVPG VL | CC |
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Get an unprecedented look at the most extreme missions of the most extreme job in the world. You have one shot, one scoped sight, one controlled breath, one squeeze of a honed trigger. In a fraction of a second, you will either be a hero who took out an enemy commander, or a lone hunter who has suddenly become the hunted. This special deconstructs and analyzes the most dangerous feats undertaken in the history of military warfare. The legendary snipers who are still alive will share never-before-told stories about their classified missions. What techniques were used by these sharpshooters? What roles did the weather conditions, terrain, weapons systems, and snipers' physiological states play in the success of each operation? Examine the painstaking process perfected by the expert marksmen who live by the credo, "One shot, one kill." TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Sun
5/13 |
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
The U.S. Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox, is home of the United States Army and one of the world's most top secret fortresses. Hidden deep inside the vault is an estimated $73 billion dollars in gold. Almost all information about it is classified. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, rare photos and rarely seen films, we will construct a picture of what the building might look like. Hear testimony of those journalists and congressmen who were among the select few invited inside in 1974. Discover the history and secrets behind the Army's tank warfare and the classified military technologies it will use to fight the wars of the future. TVPG VL | CC |
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
They are the swarthy eagles of the sky, the sleek sharks of the sea, the invisible warriors of the battlefield. Join us for a 3-part look at the stealth aircraft, ships, and soldiers of today, yesterday, and tomorrow. This hour highlights past, present, and future advances in stealth military aircraft. Features footage of the EM F-117 Nighthawk /EM , EM B-2 Spirit Bomber /EM , and the Air Force's newest fighters, the EM F/A-22 Raptor /EM and the EM F-35 Joint Strike Fighter /EM , and talks to test pilots and flight engineers. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
It's one thing to make a 60-foot-long jet aircraft seem invisible, but quite another to hide a 400-foot-long warship from the prying eyes of an enemy. In this hour, we explore the challenging world of stealth technology at sea and how modern engineering can make our largest warships appear to be tugboats or fishing vessels. Features exclusive footage of some of the most advanced warships in the world, including the EM Sea Shadow /EM , DDX Stealth Cruiser/Destroyer, and Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer, plus a glimpse at the future. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Mon
5/14 |
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
This 2-hour special recounts the desperate measures taken by Axis forces to stave off defeat in WWII and the mythical origins of the Japanese kamikaze and their Nazi counterparts. Many in leadership were opposed to suicide tactics--the driving forces were often young junior officers who had grown up in a culture of militarism and extreme nationalism. As well as assessing the contribution of myth and propaganda, we reveal the more human stories behind those caught up in the kamikaze phenomenon. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Sign up at the ultimate survival school, where soldiers learn to kill or be killed, and learn how 21st-century warriors are training today for the battlefields of tomorrow. We follow combat training throughout history, reviewing survival skills and psychological tools--from ancient Rome to World Wars One and Two--and learn how modern training is enhanced by advanced technology and computer simulation. TVPG VL | CC |
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
WWII's D-Day Invasion would be history's largest seaborne assault--over 4,000 ships carrying 170,000 troops. A secret weapon was to lead the way: the Duplex Drive (DD) Tank--Shermans modified to "swim" to shore. Scheduled to hit the beach before foot soldiers, without them the infantry would be sitting ducks. And that's what happened at Omaha Beach--28 out of 30 DD Tanks sank before reaching shore. John Chatterton travels to Normandy and joins French diver Bertrand Sciboz in search of sunken tanks. TVPG VL | CC |
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Tue
5/15 |
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
It's 1942--the height of WWII. Bombers have never before taken off from an aircraft carrier, but the moment has come. Daredevil pilot Jimmy Doolittle and his handpicked squadron train for a one-way mission using modified B-25s. They're on a mission to bomb Tokyo, avenge Pearl Harbor, and hopefully bring an end to the war. There is not enough fuel for them to land safely. They know they will either make history, or die trying. In this episode, host Hunter Ellis examines The Man--celebrated pilot Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle; The Machine--the B-25 Bomber; and The Moment--Doolittle's dramatic raid on Japan. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Hunter Ellis looks at crash-survival techniques borrowed by Detroit from the military, and how carmakers are experimenting with automatic collision-avoidance systems, developed to aid pilots, and heads-up displays and night-vision technology. Next, he checks out U.S. defense preparations against a terrorist computer attack, and shows viewers how to protect themselves from cybercrime. And Hunter surveys military tactical surveillance, and how video surveillance has made its way into the everyday world. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
May, 1941, the German battleship Bismarck, the most powerful warship on earth breaks, out into the North Atlantic. It wields enough firepower to crush vital British convoys! The British unleash every weapon in their arsenal to hunt down this Nazi terror. Join the greatest sea chase in history... fly with Swordfish torpedo-bomber pilots desperately trying to the Bismarck. Rare archival footage and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics and make viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. TVPG VL | CC |
The Color Of War: At Ease.
The Color Of War: At Ease.
It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates. TVPG VL | CC |
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Wed
5/16 |
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
It's 1943 and the war is not going well for the Allies. With the Nazis in firm control of Europe and the coastline, the enemy is only approachable by air. Engineer Barnes Wallis thinks he can turn the war around. His idea--wipe out the heart of the Nazi industrial machine by destroying Germany's great dams. His machine--a bouncing bomb--an innovative blend of simple physics and precision flying. It's an idea so simple, yet so far-fetched that only a man supremely confident in his own talent could persuade the Royal Air Force to use it. On May 16, 1943, 19 bomber crews embark on one of the riskiest missions of WWII. Their planes fly under cover of darkness 100 feet off the ground, across the English Channel, over Holland, and into the heart of Germany. If they make it, they'll take out Nazi industry by destroying Germany's dams. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
France, August 1944: As American forces tear through western France, Patton's superiors order him to stop before completely trapping an entire German Army. The Third Army reaches the outskirts of Paris, but Patton is denied the glory of liberating the city when the Free French Army is chosen instead to enter the city first. Patton's men engage in street fighting in the city of Troyes and, by the end of the summer, advance to within 60 miles of the German border. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton's blitzkrieg is so successful that his army outruns its own supply lines. Despite being short on fuel and ammunition, he invades the province of Lorraine, hoping to cross into Germany before Christmas. But delays from the fuel shortages have given the Germans time to regroup. Stubborn German defenses at the Moselle River are finally crushed, and the Third Army captures the key city of Nancy. Then Adolph Hitler demands that his generals launch a major counterattack and a furious tank battle erupts near the town of Arracourt. Despite the inferiority of their tanks, the Americans emerge triumphant. But Patton remains stuck in Lorraine, just a few miles closer to Germany than he was at the beginning of the month. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
The slow but brutal slugfest in Lorraine continues as Patton orders his men to take the heavily fortified city of Metz. The thick forts that surround the city and the castle-like walls around Metz prove to be more than a match for American armor, and the siege goes on for weeks. Ammunition supplies run so low that Patton's men resort to using captured German shells. After commencing the largest artillery barrage in Third Army's history, the Americans finally subdue the city's defenders on November 21st. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Thu
5/17 |
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
In the early morning of June 6, 1944, history's largest amphibious invasion force amassed off the Normandy coast. Hundreds of 36-foot shoebox-shaped boats, known as LCVPs, or Higgins Boats, bob in the waves. These landing craft, which deliver soldiers to the beach, are designed and built largely through the efforts of one man--Andrew Jackson Higgins. We examine Higgins' life and study the boat that could land a platoon of 36 men with equipment, or a jeep and 12 men. By 4 AM on June 6, 1944, the first wave of Higgins Boats is loaded with troops for the 12-mile journey to the Omaha and Utah Beaches. The first wave of landings is close to disastrous, but as wave after wave of Higgins Boats unload, the tide begins to turn. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
German military aircraft designs were decades ahead of their Allied counterparts. To insure Luftwaffe superiority, their designers tested advanced concepts including swept-wing and vertical take-off aircraft and stealth bombers. Using computer-generated images and archival footage, we trace development of Hitler's airborne arsenal. TVPG VL | CC |
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
In the 1930s, Japanese designers created a range of warplanes, culminating in the legendary Ki-43 Oscar and the A6M Zero. As the war turned against Japan, designers created the rocket-powered Shusui, the Kikka jet fighter, and the experimental R2Y Keiun. We also disclose frantic preparations to assemble a secret airforce of jet and rocket planes to counter an anticipated US invasion in1945, and chronicle post-war aviation and the birth of the Japanese rocket program in the 1950s and '60s. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
History has overlooked the unimaginable hardships Russian designers faced under the paranoid rule of Josef Stalin. Frequent purges represented a constant threat. Yet, in spite of the ever-present danger, Soviet aircraft designers mastered technical hurdles astonishing even by today's standards. This hour features extensive archive images of never-before-seen aircraft and the designers who brought them to life. The innovative aircraft profiled include a swept-wing EM Delta /EM aircraft design; a rocket-powered fighter; a long distance fixed-wing aircraft with features later incorporated in the EM U-2 /EM spyplane; a flying tank prototype; a submarine-bomber combination; and a canard-wing aircraft. And we highlight remarkable aircraft launched after Stalin's death in 1953, like the delta-winged supersonic EM Concordski /EM and the world's largest plane, the EM Antonov 124 Ruslan /EM . TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Fri
5/11 |
The Last Days Of WWII: February 25-March 3.
The Last Days Of WWII: February 25-March 3.
In this episode of our series that details, week by week, the last six months of WWII, American daytime bombing and British night raids have devastated Berlin. In the Battle for the Rhineland, an estimated 8.5 million people are on the move in Germany. The backbone of the Luftwaffe, Germany's once mighty Air Force, has been broken. Hitler is now visibly shaken. On the Eastern Front, Allied leaders--British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin Roosevelt, and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin meet at Yalta, in the Russian Crimea. They agree that Germany will be conquered by summer, and begin to divide up post-war Europe. TVPG VL | CC |
The Wehrmacht: 04 - Resistance
The Wehrmacht: 04 - Resistance
During the war, the Wehrmacht was the only force powerful enough to stand up to the Nazi regime. But the opposition did not form when the dictator was celebrating his greatest military triumphs--the core of the conspiracy only consolidated after the war against the Soviet Union made the true, criminal nature of the campaign apparent. The number of Hitler's opponents grew after the defeat outside of Moscow in 1941/42, and even more so after the disaster of Stalingrad. What tipped the balance for many was the horror of the war crimes behind the front lines--crimes against civilians, mostly Jews. But the resistance within the Wehrmacht was backed by only a handful of men. The officers who eventually tried to kill Hitler and end the war on their own were lonely conspirators, who lacked public support and relied on nothing but their own sense of duty. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Silent Service: Attack Plans of WWII.
The Silent Service: Attack Plans of WWII.
Examines the evolution of the strategy and tactics used by US submarines in the war against Japan. Conceived as scouts for the surface fleet, the fleet of boats of the "silent service" found their true calling as heirs to the commerce-raiders of the American Revolution and Civil War. By embracing the once-condemned practice of "unrestricted submarine warfare", these stealthy predators of the deep virtually swept the Pacific of Japanese maritime shipping. TVPG VL | CC |
History's Mysteries: Nazi Ghost Train.
History's Mysteries: Nazi Ghost Train.
In 1944 in Brussels, the Gestapo loaded 1,500 prisoners on a train bound for Germany and almost certain death. Among them were Allied invaders and Resistance workers. But the Resistance foiled Nazi plans and prevented the train's departure. We talk to survivors and former Resistance members at a 1999 Comet Line Reunion in Brussels. TVPG VL | CC |
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Sat
5/12 |
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
Join us for a detailed, week by week survey of the last six months of World War II. As we explore the high and low points of the march to war's end, we paint a comprehensive step-by-step account of the crucial decisions and personalities that culminated in Allied victory. In this episode, Operation Lumberjack, the assault into the Rhineland by General Bradley's US 12th Army Group, is in full swing. In Berlin, Hitler announces that all males born in 1929 must be conscripted for military service. To the south, Patton's lead armored division has progressed over 40 miles, taking 5,000 German prisoners. And Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower now must decide where to make his main crossing of the Rhine. In the Pacific, US firestorms torch Japan's capital city. TVPG VL | CC |
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
Why did millions of combatants sacrifice their lives for a senseless extension of the suffering? What motivated the soldiers to persevere in the face of those massive casualties? Why did experienced commanders who knew better issue orders that sent their subordinates into certain death? What were the answers to the dilemma that the Wehrmacht was facing on all fronts: fight on or retreat? In the light of the most recent research, this final episode tries to find answers by showing a few impressive individual cases and biographies. The result is an up-to-date picture of the Wehrmacht in the final phase of World War II, unclouded by demonizing stereotypes or embellishing myths. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean was the testing ground in the evolution of the submarine from nautical oddity to lethal killing machine. Trace the technical development of submarines and what makes today's most sophisticated submarines function. TVPG VL | CC |
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
The Battle for Fallujah was the ultimate battle zone. We take you back to expose the anatomy of the warriors and high tech weapons. Armored columns of U.S. Marines and Infantrymen push through the city to terminate insurgents armed with an arsenal of weaponry, including AK-47s, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, are planted everywhere. We'll get an up close look at the harrowing and heroic shootouts and we will see the extraordinary weaponry used to take down the enemy combatants including the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the M16 and M249 SAW, the Abrams M1A1 Tank, and man portable satchel charges. TVPG VL | CC |
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Sun
5/13 |
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Host R. Lee Ermey, dressed in the uniform of a Civil War Marine Corps sergeant, dedicates the entire half-hour to the Civil War, answering a slew of email questions about the guns and gear used in the War between the States. First, the Gunny performs live-fire demonstrations with four different weapons: the Union's Springfield rifle, the Confederacy's Enfield rifle, the 1842 Springfield muzzleloader, which was the last smoothbore musket used by the US military, and last but not least, a powerful cannon. Next, Lee shows viewers cavalry gear, including weapons, tack, and personal gear. In particular, we get a look at the rare 9-shot pistol called "Le Mat"--it also fired a shotgun shell for a lethal blast. Then, the Gunny cooks up some salt port and hardtack, the Civil War version of an MRE. Finally, he dons the fancy pants and embroidered vest of the regiment known as the Zouaves and takes part in their bang-up bayonet training. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Host R. Lee Ermey hits the road to give us an inside look at one of the most secure and super-secret facilities in the world--NORAD. Lee gets through tight security to enter Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, America's eye in the sky where everything that flies is monitored 24/7. During a tour of the Battle Management Center, an incident of concern puts the center on alert and we see how NORAD operates under pressure. We also tour the Missile Command Center and find out what keeps the 800 military personnel inside on their toes. And Brigadier General Jim Hunter unlocks the door for Lee to the most secret part of Cheyenne Mountain--the Command Center, or what a lot of people call the War Room. We see how the men and women who work here monitor planes, missiles, and even space junk to make sure North America stays safe. The General and Lee talk about how NORAD's mission has changed since September 11th and we get a sneak peak at the new command center. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Two hero ships bearing the same great name; the original, CV-5, was a martyred hero of the war's two turning-point battles, the Coral Sea and Midway. Her successor, CV-10 went on to avenge her destroyed namesake through all the rest of WW II in every significant assault on the Japanese-held island fortresses. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
The U.S. Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox, is home of the United States Army and one of the world's most top secret fortresses. Hidden deep inside the vault is an estimated $73 billion dollars in gold. Almost all information about it is classified. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, rare photos and rarely seen films, we will construct a picture of what the building might look like. Hear testimony of those journalists and congressmen who were among the select few invited inside in 1974. Discover the history and secrets behind the Army's tank warfare and the classified military technologies it will use to fight the wars of the future. TVPG VL | CC |
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Mon
5/14 |
The Russian Navy
The Russian Navy
In the late 1600's, Tsar Peter the Great created a modern Russian navy virtually from scratch. Traditions grew through Russian Naval victories over the Swedes in 1721 and over the Turks in 1788--with the assistance of America's naval hero, John Paul Jones. In the 1960's and 70's, the forceful and innovative leadership of Admiral Sergi Gorshkov created a fleet that threatened the United States and nearly tipped the balance of power in the Cold War. Shot on location, with access to archival footage, we will explore the history of Russia's extraordinary warships and submarines, its remarkable leaders, and the tragic defeats and stunning victories that shaped the Russian Navy. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
This 2-hour special recounts the desperate measures taken by Axis forces to stave off defeat in WWII and the mythical origins of the Japanese kamikaze and their Nazi counterparts. Many in leadership were opposed to suicide tactics--the driving forces were often young junior officers who had grown up in a culture of militarism and extreme nationalism. As well as assessing the contribution of myth and propaganda, we reveal the more human stories behind those caught up in the kamikaze phenomenon. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Tue
5/15 |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
Join us for a detailed, week by week look at the last six months of World War Two. In this episode, we begin in the Pacific Theater where American bombers continue their assault on mainland Japan. The B-29s blitz and the US Air Force's new low-level bombing tactics using incendiary bombs prove deadly for the Japanese. General Curtis LeMay hopes to force a Japanese surrender before American ground forces are scheduled to invade the mainland. Meanwhile in Europe, the Allies are closing in. With the Rhine breached, most Nazis realize their days are numbered and the end is inevitable. Hitler leaves the Reich Chancellery for the last time, and 16-year-old Anne Frank succumbs to typhus in the Belsen concentration camp. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes from Nazi-occupied territory and POW camps. Includes stories of Allied airmen who, after being dropped behind enemy lines, either evaded capture or attempted escapes from POW camps. TVPG VL | CC |
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
It's 1942--the height of WWII. Bombers have never before taken off from an aircraft carrier, but the moment has come. Daredevil pilot Jimmy Doolittle and his handpicked squadron train for a one-way mission using modified B-25s. They're on a mission to bomb Tokyo, avenge Pearl Harbor, and hopefully bring an end to the war. There is not enough fuel for them to land safely. They know they will either make history, or die trying. In this episode, host Hunter Ellis examines The Man--celebrated pilot Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle; The Machine--the B-25 Bomber; and The Moment--Doolittle's dramatic raid on Japan. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Hunter Ellis looks at crash-survival techniques borrowed by Detroit from the military, and how carmakers are experimenting with automatic collision-avoidance systems, developed to aid pilots, and heads-up displays and night-vision technology. Next, he checks out U.S. defense preparations against a terrorist computer attack, and shows viewers how to protect themselves from cybercrime. And Hunter surveys military tactical surveillance, and how video surveillance has made its way into the everyday world. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Wed
5/16 |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
Under the command of Generals Montgomery, Bradley, and Devers, Allied forces are poised to make their way across the Rhine and head for Berlin. In the East, German-occupied territories are collapsing under the Red Army. It will be a race of men and egos from the East and West to see who will reach the besieged city of Berlin first. Meanwhile, in occupied Denmark, Mosquito fighter-bombers from the RAF's Number 140 Wing head for the Danish Gestapo headquarters, where many innocent civilians have been killed. In the Pacific, fighting continues and US forces invade the Philippine Island of Panay. Join us for a week by week, detailed look at the last six months of World War II. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Explores the bravery of the French Resistance as its members aided Allied troops and helped escaping POWs flee Nazi capture. TVPG VL | CC |
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
It's 1943 and the war is not going well for the Allies. With the Nazis in firm control of Europe and the coastline, the enemy is only approachable by air. Engineer Barnes Wallis thinks he can turn the war around. His idea--wipe out the heart of the Nazi industrial machine by destroying Germany's great dams. His machine--a bouncing bomb--an innovative blend of simple physics and precision flying. It's an idea so simple, yet so far-fetched that only a man supremely confident in his own talent could persuade the Royal Air Force to use it. On May 16, 1943, 19 bomber crews embark on one of the riskiest missions of WWII. Their planes fly under cover of darkness 100 feet off the ground, across the English Channel, over Holland, and into the heart of Germany. If they make it, they'll take out Nazi industry by destroying Germany's dams. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
France, August 1944: As American forces tear through western France, Patton's superiors order him to stop before completely trapping an entire German Army. The Third Army reaches the outskirts of Paris, but Patton is denied the glory of liberating the city when the Free French Army is chosen instead to enter the city first. Patton's men engage in street fighting in the city of Troyes and, by the end of the summer, advance to within 60 miles of the German border. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Thu
5/17 |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
Allied troops continue Operation Plunder, their thrust across the Rhine into Germany's heartland. Realizing the situation is hopeless, thousands of German troops surrender. The race to Berlin continues, and disagreement over their strategy plagues the Allies. Hitler is now holed up in his Berlin bunker, totally divorced from reality. In the Pacific, fighting finally comes to a head on Iwo Jima. As US Marines close in around them, 200 Japanese soldiers make a last desperate mass suicide--or banzai--charge at the Americans. The attack on Okinawa begins. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes of World War Two. Episode 3 reconstructs the events of December 7, 1941, when sailors were trapped aboard the USS Oklahoma after it was attacked at Pearl Harbor, and shows how they effected their escape. TVPG VL | CC |
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
In the early morning of June 6, 1944, history's largest amphibious invasion force amassed off the Normandy coast. Hundreds of 36-foot shoebox-shaped boats, known as LCVPs, or Higgins Boats, bob in the waves. These landing craft, which deliver soldiers to the beach, are designed and built largely through the efforts of one man--Andrew Jackson Higgins. We examine Higgins' life and study the boat that could land a platoon of 36 men with equipment, or a jeep and 12 men. By 4 AM on June 6, 1944, the first wave of Higgins Boats is loaded with troops for the 12-mile journey to the Omaha and Utah Beaches. The first wave of landings is close to disastrous, but as wave after wave of Higgins Boats unload, the tide begins to turn. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
German military aircraft designs were decades ahead of their Allied counterparts. To insure Luftwaffe superiority, their designers tested advanced concepts including swept-wing and vertical take-off aircraft and stealth bombers. Using computer-generated images and archival footage, we trace development of Hitler's airborne arsenal. TVPG VL | CC |
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Fri
5/11 |
Nazi Guerrillas.
Nazi Guerrillas.
After the end of WWII, Allied forces faced guerrilla bombings and attacks in occupied Germany--Nazi loyalists tried to derail reconstruction by sabotage and killing collaborators, while Werewolves, an underground organization of die-hard SS officers, boasted of rebirth of the Party. Find out if their bark was worse than their bite in this dogged investigation into how Werewolves terrorized military and civilian targets, and the Allied attempt to purge Germany's past at denazification tribunals. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Nazi POWs in America.
Nazi POWs in America.
Why are Luftwaffe belt buckles and Nazi uniform buttons being discovered today in the dirt of Texas? Buried with them is the story of America's secret Nazi prison camps. German soldiers captured right off the battlefield were shipped to America. Not just a few, but hundreds of thousands flooded in--until there were over 400,000 Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe prisoners in the U.S. We'll meet former Nazi POWs and learn of the resentment many Americans had for Hitler's army imprisoned inside the heartland. TVPG VL | CC |
The Last Days Of WWII: February 25-March 3.
The Last Days Of WWII: February 25-March 3.
In this episode of our series that details, week by week, the last six months of WWII, American daytime bombing and British night raids have devastated Berlin. In the Battle for the Rhineland, an estimated 8.5 million people are on the move in Germany. The backbone of the Luftwaffe, Germany's once mighty Air Force, has been broken. Hitler is now visibly shaken. On the Eastern Front, Allied leaders--British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin Roosevelt, and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin meet at Yalta, in the Russian Crimea. They agree that Germany will be conquered by summer, and begin to divide up post-war Europe. TVPG VL | CC |
The Wehrmacht: 04 - Resistance
The Wehrmacht: 04 - Resistance
During the war, the Wehrmacht was the only force powerful enough to stand up to the Nazi regime. But the opposition did not form when the dictator was celebrating his greatest military triumphs--the core of the conspiracy only consolidated after the war against the Soviet Union made the true, criminal nature of the campaign apparent. The number of Hitler's opponents grew after the defeat outside of Moscow in 1941/42, and even more so after the disaster of Stalingrad. What tipped the balance for many was the horror of the war crimes behind the front lines--crimes against civilians, mostly Jews. But the resistance within the Wehrmacht was backed by only a handful of men. The officers who eventually tried to kill Hitler and end the war on their own were lonely conspirators, who lacked public support and relied on nothing but their own sense of duty. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Sat
5/12 |
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Get an unprecedented look at the most extreme missions of the most extreme job in the world. You have one shot, one scoped sight, one controlled breath, one squeeze of a honed trigger. In a fraction of a second, you will either be a hero who took out an enemy commander, or a lone hunter who has suddenly become the hunted. This special deconstructs and analyzes the most dangerous feats undertaken in the history of military warfare. The legendary snipers who are still alive will share never-before-told stories about their classified missions. What techniques were used by these sharpshooters? What roles did the weather conditions, terrain, weapons systems, and snipers' physiological states play in the success of each operation? Examine the painstaking process perfected by the expert marksmen who live by the credo, "One shot, one kill." TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
Join us for a detailed, week by week survey of the last six months of World War II. As we explore the high and low points of the march to war's end, we paint a comprehensive step-by-step account of the crucial decisions and personalities that culminated in Allied victory. In this episode, Operation Lumberjack, the assault into the Rhineland by General Bradley's US 12th Army Group, is in full swing. In Berlin, Hitler announces that all males born in 1929 must be conscripted for military service. To the south, Patton's lead armored division has progressed over 40 miles, taking 5,000 German prisoners. And Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower now must decide where to make his main crossing of the Rhine. In the Pacific, US firestorms torch Japan's capital city. TVPG VL | CC |
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
Why did millions of combatants sacrifice their lives for a senseless extension of the suffering? What motivated the soldiers to persevere in the face of those massive casualties? Why did experienced commanders who knew better issue orders that sent their subordinates into certain death? What were the answers to the dilemma that the Wehrmacht was facing on all fronts: fight on or retreat? In the light of the most recent research, this final episode tries to find answers by showing a few impressive individual cases and biographies. The result is an up-to-date picture of the Wehrmacht in the final phase of World War II, unclouded by demonizing stereotypes or embellishing myths. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Sun
5/13 |
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
They are the swarthy eagles of the sky, the sleek sharks of the sea, the invisible warriors of the battlefield. Join us for a 3-part look at the stealth aircraft, ships, and soldiers of today, yesterday, and tomorrow. This hour highlights past, present, and future advances in stealth military aircraft. Features footage of the EM F-117 Nighthawk /EM , EM B-2 Spirit Bomber /EM , and the Air Force's newest fighters, the EM F/A-22 Raptor /EM and the EM F-35 Joint Strike Fighter /EM , and talks to test pilots and flight engineers. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
It's one thing to make a 60-foot-long jet aircraft seem invisible, but quite another to hide a 400-foot-long warship from the prying eyes of an enemy. In this hour, we explore the challenging world of stealth technology at sea and how modern engineering can make our largest warships appear to be tugboats or fishing vessels. Features exclusive footage of some of the most advanced warships in the world, including the EM Sea Shadow /EM , DDX Stealth Cruiser/Destroyer, and Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer, plus a glimpse at the future. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Host R. Lee Ermey, dressed in the uniform of a Civil War Marine Corps sergeant, dedicates the entire half-hour to the Civil War, answering a slew of email questions about the guns and gear used in the War between the States. First, the Gunny performs live-fire demonstrations with four different weapons: the Union's Springfield rifle, the Confederacy's Enfield rifle, the 1842 Springfield muzzleloader, which was the last smoothbore musket used by the US military, and last but not least, a powerful cannon. Next, Lee shows viewers cavalry gear, including weapons, tack, and personal gear. In particular, we get a look at the rare 9-shot pistol called "Le Mat"--it also fired a shotgun shell for a lethal blast. Then, the Gunny cooks up some salt port and hardtack, the Civil War version of an MRE. Finally, he dons the fancy pants and embroidered vest of the regiment known as the Zouaves and takes part in their bang-up bayonet training. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Host R. Lee Ermey hits the road to give us an inside look at one of the most secure and super-secret facilities in the world--NORAD. Lee gets through tight security to enter Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, America's eye in the sky where everything that flies is monitored 24/7. During a tour of the Battle Management Center, an incident of concern puts the center on alert and we see how NORAD operates under pressure. We also tour the Missile Command Center and find out what keeps the 800 military personnel inside on their toes. And Brigadier General Jim Hunter unlocks the door for Lee to the most secret part of Cheyenne Mountain--the Command Center, or what a lot of people call the War Room. We see how the men and women who work here monitor planes, missiles, and even space junk to make sure North America stays safe. The General and Lee talk about how NORAD's mission has changed since September 11th and we get a sneak peak at the new command center. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Two hero ships bearing the same great name; the original, CV-5, was a martyred hero of the war's two turning-point battles, the Coral Sea and Midway. Her successor, CV-10 went on to avenge her destroyed namesake through all the rest of WW II in every significant assault on the Japanese-held island fortresses. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Mon
5/14 |
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Sign up at the ultimate survival school, where soldiers learn to kill or be killed, and learn how 21st-century warriors are training today for the battlefields of tomorrow. We follow combat training throughout history, reviewing survival skills and psychological tools--from ancient Rome to World Wars One and Two--and learn how modern training is enhanced by advanced technology and computer simulation. TVPG VL | CC |
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
WWII's D-Day Invasion would be history's largest seaborne assault--over 4,000 ships carrying 170,000 troops. A secret weapon was to lead the way: the Duplex Drive (DD) Tank--Shermans modified to "swim" to shore. Scheduled to hit the beach before foot soldiers, without them the infantry would be sitting ducks. And that's what happened at Omaha Beach--28 out of 30 DD Tanks sank before reaching shore. John Chatterton travels to Normandy and joins French diver Bertrand Sciboz in search of sunken tanks. TVPG VL | CC |
The Russian Navy
The Russian Navy
In the late 1600's, Tsar Peter the Great created a modern Russian navy virtually from scratch. Traditions grew through Russian Naval victories over the Swedes in 1721 and over the Turks in 1788--with the assistance of America's naval hero, John Paul Jones. In the 1960's and 70's, the forceful and innovative leadership of Admiral Sergi Gorshkov created a fleet that threatened the United States and nearly tipped the balance of power in the Cold War. Shot on location, with access to archival footage, we will explore the history of Russia's extraordinary warships and submarines, its remarkable leaders, and the tragic defeats and stunning victories that shaped the Russian Navy. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Tue
5/15 |
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
May, 1941, the German battleship Bismarck, the most powerful warship on earth breaks, out into the North Atlantic. It wields enough firepower to crush vital British convoys! The British unleash every weapon in their arsenal to hunt down this Nazi terror. Join the greatest sea chase in history... fly with Swordfish torpedo-bomber pilots desperately trying to the Bismarck. Rare archival footage and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics and make viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. TVPG VL | CC |
The Color Of War: At Ease.
The Color Of War: At Ease.
It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates. TVPG VL | CC |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
Join us for a detailed, week by week look at the last six months of World War Two. In this episode, we begin in the Pacific Theater where American bombers continue their assault on mainland Japan. The B-29s blitz and the US Air Force's new low-level bombing tactics using incendiary bombs prove deadly for the Japanese. General Curtis LeMay hopes to force a Japanese surrender before American ground forces are scheduled to invade the mainland. Meanwhile in Europe, the Allies are closing in. With the Rhine breached, most Nazis realize their days are numbered and the end is inevitable. Hitler leaves the Reich Chancellery for the last time, and 16-year-old Anne Frank succumbs to typhus in the Belsen concentration camp. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes from Nazi-occupied territory and POW camps. Includes stories of Allied airmen who, after being dropped behind enemy lines, either evaded capture or attempted escapes from POW camps. TVPG VL | CC |
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Wed
5/16 |
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton's blitzkrieg is so successful that his army outruns its own supply lines. Despite being short on fuel and ammunition, he invades the province of Lorraine, hoping to cross into Germany before Christmas. But delays from the fuel shortages have given the Germans time to regroup. Stubborn German defenses at the Moselle River are finally crushed, and the Third Army captures the key city of Nancy. Then Adolph Hitler demands that his generals launch a major counterattack and a furious tank battle erupts near the town of Arracourt. Despite the inferiority of their tanks, the Americans emerge triumphant. But Patton remains stuck in Lorraine, just a few miles closer to Germany than he was at the beginning of the month. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
The slow but brutal slugfest in Lorraine continues as Patton orders his men to take the heavily fortified city of Metz. The thick forts that surround the city and the castle-like walls around Metz prove to be more than a match for American armor, and the siege goes on for weeks. Ammunition supplies run so low that Patton's men resort to using captured German shells. After commencing the largest artillery barrage in Third Army's history, the Americans finally subdue the city's defenders on November 21st. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
Under the command of Generals Montgomery, Bradley, and Devers, Allied forces are poised to make their way across the Rhine and head for Berlin. In the East, German-occupied territories are collapsing under the Red Army. It will be a race of men and egos from the East and West to see who will reach the besieged city of Berlin first. Meanwhile, in occupied Denmark, Mosquito fighter-bombers from the RAF's Number 140 Wing head for the Danish Gestapo headquarters, where many innocent civilians have been killed. In the Pacific, fighting continues and US forces invade the Philippine Island of Panay. Join us for a week by week, detailed look at the last six months of World War II. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Explores the bravery of the French Resistance as its members aided Allied troops and helped escaping POWs flee Nazi capture. TVPG VL | CC |
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Thu
5/17 |
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
In the 1930s, Japanese designers created a range of warplanes, culminating in the legendary Ki-43 Oscar and the A6M Zero. As the war turned against Japan, designers created the rocket-powered Shusui, the Kikka jet fighter, and the experimental R2Y Keiun. We also disclose frantic preparations to assemble a secret airforce of jet and rocket planes to counter an anticipated US invasion in1945, and chronicle post-war aviation and the birth of the Japanese rocket program in the 1950s and '60s. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
History has overlooked the unimaginable hardships Russian designers faced under the paranoid rule of Josef Stalin. Frequent purges represented a constant threat. Yet, in spite of the ever-present danger, Soviet aircraft designers mastered technical hurdles astonishing even by today's standards. This hour features extensive archive images of never-before-seen aircraft and the designers who brought them to life. The innovative aircraft profiled include a swept-wing EM Delta /EM aircraft design; a rocket-powered fighter; a long distance fixed-wing aircraft with features later incorporated in the EM U-2 /EM spyplane; a flying tank prototype; a submarine-bomber combination; and a canard-wing aircraft. And we highlight remarkable aircraft launched after Stalin's death in 1953, like the delta-winged supersonic EM Concordski /EM and the world's largest plane, the EM Antonov 124 Ruslan /EM . TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
Allied troops continue Operation Plunder, their thrust across the Rhine into Germany's heartland. Realizing the situation is hopeless, thousands of German troops surrender. The race to Berlin continues, and disagreement over their strategy plagues the Allies. Hitler is now holed up in his Berlin bunker, totally divorced from reality. In the Pacific, fighting finally comes to a head on Iwo Jima. As US Marines close in around them, 200 Japanese soldiers make a last desperate mass suicide--or banzai--charge at the Americans. The attack on Okinawa begins. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes of World War Two. Episode 3 reconstructs the events of December 7, 1941, when sailors were trapped aboard the USS Oklahoma after it was attacked at Pearl Harbor, and shows how they effected their escape. TVPG VL | CC |
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Fri
5/11 |
The Silent Service: Attack Plans of WWII.
The Silent Service: Attack Plans of WWII.
Examines the evolution of the strategy and tactics used by US submarines in the war against Japan. Conceived as scouts for the surface fleet, the fleet of boats of the "silent service" found their true calling as heirs to the commerce-raiders of the American Revolution and Civil War. By embracing the once-condemned practice of "unrestricted submarine warfare", these stealthy predators of the deep virtually swept the Pacific of Japanese maritime shipping. TVPG VL | CC |
History's Mysteries: Nazi Ghost Train.
History's Mysteries: Nazi Ghost Train.
In 1944 in Brussels, the Gestapo loaded 1,500 prisoners on a train bound for Germany and almost certain death. Among them were Allied invaders and Resistance workers. But the Resistance foiled Nazi plans and prevented the train's departure. We talk to survivors and former Resistance members at a 1999 Comet Line Reunion in Brussels. TVPG VL | CC |
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean was the testing ground in the evolution of the submarine from nautical oddity to lethal killing machine. Trace the technical development of submarines and what makes today's most sophisticated submarines function. TVPG VL | CC |
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
The Battle for Fallujah was the ultimate battle zone. We take you back to expose the anatomy of the warriors and high tech weapons. Armored columns of U.S. Marines and Infantrymen push through the city to terminate insurgents armed with an arsenal of weaponry, including AK-47s, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, are planted everywhere. We'll get an up close look at the harrowing and heroic shootouts and we will see the extraordinary weaponry used to take down the enemy combatants including the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the M16 and M249 SAW, the Abrams M1A1 Tank, and man portable satchel charges. TVPG VL | CC |
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Sat
5/12 |
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Silent Service: Submarines of the Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean was the testing ground in the evolution of the submarine from nautical oddity to lethal killing machine. Trace the technical development of submarines and what makes today's most sophisticated submarines function. TVPG VL | CC |
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
Shootout: Return to Fallujah
The Battle for Fallujah was the ultimate battle zone. We take you back to expose the anatomy of the warriors and high tech weapons. Armored columns of U.S. Marines and Infantrymen push through the city to terminate insurgents armed with an arsenal of weaponry, including AK-47s, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, are planted everywhere. We'll get an up close look at the harrowing and heroic shootouts and we will see the extraordinary weaponry used to take down the enemy combatants including the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the M16 and M249 SAW, the Abrams M1A1 Tank, and man portable satchel charges. TVPG VL | CC |
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
The U.S. Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox, is home of the United States Army and one of the world's most top secret fortresses. Hidden deep inside the vault is an estimated $73 billion dollars in gold. Almost all information about it is classified. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, rare photos and rarely seen films, we will construct a picture of what the building might look like. Hear testimony of those journalists and congressmen who were among the select few invited inside in 1974. Discover the history and secrets behind the Army's tank warfare and the classified military technologies it will use to fight the wars of the future. TVPG VL | CC |
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Sun
5/13 |
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed
The U.S. Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox, is home of the United States Army and one of the world's most top secret fortresses. Hidden deep inside the vault is an estimated $73 billion dollars in gold. Almost all information about it is classified. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, rare photos and rarely seen films, we will construct a picture of what the building might look like. Hear testimony of those journalists and congressmen who were among the select few invited inside in 1974. Discover the history and secrets behind the Army's tank warfare and the classified military technologies it will use to fight the wars of the future. TVPG VL | CC |
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
This 2-hour special recounts the desperate measures taken by Axis forces to stave off defeat in WWII and the mythical origins of the Japanese kamikaze and their Nazi counterparts. Many in leadership were opposed to suicide tactics--the driving forces were often young junior officers who had grown up in a culture of militarism and extreme nationalism. As well as assessing the contribution of myth and propaganda, we reveal the more human stories behind those caught up in the kamikaze phenomenon. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Mon
5/14 |
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes.
This 2-hour special recounts the desperate measures taken by Axis forces to stave off defeat in WWII and the mythical origins of the Japanese kamikaze and their Nazi counterparts. Many in leadership were opposed to suicide tactics--the driving forces were often young junior officers who had grown up in a culture of militarism and extreme nationalism. As well as assessing the contribution of myth and propaganda, we reveal the more human stories behind those caught up in the kamikaze phenomenon. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
It's 1942--the height of WWII. Bombers have never before taken off from an aircraft carrier, but the moment has come. Daredevil pilot Jimmy Doolittle and his handpicked squadron train for a one-way mission using modified B-25s. They're on a mission to bomb Tokyo, avenge Pearl Harbor, and hopefully bring an end to the war. There is not enough fuel for them to land safely. They know they will either make history, or die trying. In this episode, host Hunter Ellis examines The Man--celebrated pilot Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle; The Machine--the B-25 Bomber; and The Moment--Doolittle's dramatic raid on Japan. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Hunter Ellis looks at crash-survival techniques borrowed by Detroit from the military, and how carmakers are experimenting with automatic collision-avoidance systems, developed to aid pilots, and heads-up displays and night-vision technology. Next, he checks out U.S. defense preparations against a terrorist computer attack, and shows viewers how to protect themselves from cybercrime. And Hunter surveys military tactical surveillance, and how video surveillance has made its way into the everyday world. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Tue
5/15 |
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
Man, Moment, Machine: Doolittle's Daring Raid.
It's 1942--the height of WWII. Bombers have never before taken off from an aircraft carrier, but the moment has come. Daredevil pilot Jimmy Doolittle and his handpicked squadron train for a one-way mission using modified B-25s. They're on a mission to bomb Tokyo, avenge Pearl Harbor, and hopefully bring an end to the war. There is not enough fuel for them to land safely. They know they will either make history, or die trying. In this episode, host Hunter Ellis examines The Man--celebrated pilot Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle; The Machine--the B-25 Bomber; and The Moment--Doolittle's dramatic raid on Japan. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Tactical To Practical: 20 - Crash Survival/Cyberwar/Video Surveillance
Hunter Ellis looks at crash-survival techniques borrowed by Detroit from the military, and how carmakers are experimenting with automatic collision-avoidance systems, developed to aid pilots, and heads-up displays and night-vision technology. Next, he checks out U.S. defense preparations against a terrorist computer attack, and shows viewers how to protect themselves from cybercrime. And Hunter surveys military tactical surveillance, and how video surveillance has made its way into the everyday world. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
It's 1943 and the war is not going well for the Allies. With the Nazis in firm control of Europe and the coastline, the enemy is only approachable by air. Engineer Barnes Wallis thinks he can turn the war around. His idea--wipe out the heart of the Nazi industrial machine by destroying Germany's great dams. His machine--a bouncing bomb--an innovative blend of simple physics and precision flying. It's an idea so simple, yet so far-fetched that only a man supremely confident in his own talent could persuade the Royal Air Force to use it. On May 16, 1943, 19 bomber crews embark on one of the riskiest missions of WWII. Their planes fly under cover of darkness 100 feet off the ground, across the English Channel, over Holland, and into the heart of Germany. If they make it, they'll take out Nazi industry by destroying Germany's dams. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
France, August 1944: As American forces tear through western France, Patton's superiors order him to stop before completely trapping an entire German Army. The Third Army reaches the outskirts of Paris, but Patton is denied the glory of liberating the city when the Free French Army is chosen instead to enter the city first. Patton's men engage in street fighting in the city of Troyes and, by the end of the summer, advance to within 60 miles of the German border. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Wed
5/16 |
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
Man, Moment, Machine: Dam Buster: WWII's Bouncing Bomb.
It's 1943 and the war is not going well for the Allies. With the Nazis in firm control of Europe and the coastline, the enemy is only approachable by air. Engineer Barnes Wallis thinks he can turn the war around. His idea--wipe out the heart of the Nazi industrial machine by destroying Germany's great dams. His machine--a bouncing bomb--an innovative blend of simple physics and precision flying. It's an idea so simple, yet so far-fetched that only a man supremely confident in his own talent could persuade the Royal Air Force to use it. On May 16, 1943, 19 bomber crews embark on one of the riskiest missions of WWII. Their planes fly under cover of darkness 100 feet off the ground, across the English Channel, over Holland, and into the heart of Germany. If they make it, they'll take out Nazi industry by destroying Germany's dams. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
Patton 360: Leading the Charge
France, August 1944: As American forces tear through western France, Patton's superiors order him to stop before completely trapping an entire German Army. The Third Army reaches the outskirts of Paris, but Patton is denied the glory of liberating the city when the Free French Army is chosen instead to enter the city first. Patton's men engage in street fighting in the city of Troyes and, by the end of the summer, advance to within 60 miles of the German border. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
In the early morning of June 6, 1944, history's largest amphibious invasion force amassed off the Normandy coast. Hundreds of 36-foot shoebox-shaped boats, known as LCVPs, or Higgins Boats, bob in the waves. These landing craft, which deliver soldiers to the beach, are designed and built largely through the efforts of one man--Andrew Jackson Higgins. We examine Higgins' life and study the boat that could land a platoon of 36 men with equipment, or a jeep and 12 men. By 4 AM on June 6, 1944, the first wave of Higgins Boats is loaded with troops for the 12-mile journey to the Omaha and Utah Beaches. The first wave of landings is close to disastrous, but as wave after wave of Higgins Boats unload, the tide begins to turn. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
German military aircraft designs were decades ahead of their Allied counterparts. To insure Luftwaffe superiority, their designers tested advanced concepts including swept-wing and vertical take-off aircraft and stealth bombers. Using computer-generated images and archival footage, we trace development of Hitler's airborne arsenal. TVPG VL | CC |
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Thu
5/17 |
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
Man, Moment, Machine: The Higgins Landing Craft.
In the early morning of June 6, 1944, history's largest amphibious invasion force amassed off the Normandy coast. Hundreds of 36-foot shoebox-shaped boats, known as LCVPs, or Higgins Boats, bob in the waves. These landing craft, which deliver soldiers to the beach, are designed and built largely through the efforts of one man--Andrew Jackson Higgins. We examine Higgins' life and study the boat that could land a platoon of 36 men with equipment, or a jeep and 12 men. By 4 AM on June 6, 1944, the first wave of Higgins Boats is loaded with troops for the 12-mile journey to the Omaha and Utah Beaches. The first wave of landings is close to disastrous, but as wave after wave of Higgins Boats unload, the tide begins to turn. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of WWII.
German military aircraft designs were decades ahead of their Allied counterparts. To insure Luftwaffe superiority, their designers tested advanced concepts including swept-wing and vertical take-off aircraft and stealth bombers. Using computer-generated images and archival footage, we trace development of Hitler's airborne arsenal. TVPG VL | CC |
Man, Moment, Machine: Patton and the Desperate Tank Attack.
Man, Moment, Machine: Patton and the Desperate Tank Attack.
The tide has suddenly turned in the war in Europe on December 16, 1944. The hard-hit German Army has secretly assembled a massive force. They slam through woods in Belgium-Luxemburg and hit the Allies with a steel fist. In the middle of one of the coldest winters in history, the front line is buckling. The enormous bulge in Allied lines gives the battle its name. The 101st Airborne Division and elements of Patton's 10th Armored Division are rushed to stop the onslaught. In the town of Bastogne, the Germans surround the Americans and begin to tighten the noose. It looks like no one can relieve them until the Americans send in their most aggressive warrior--George S. Patton--to beat back the enemy assault with the best machine in his arsenal--the M-4 Sherman tank. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
History's Mysteries: Hitler and the Occult.
History's Mysteries: Hitler and the Occult.
Did Hitler's obsession with astrology, numerology, ancient runes, and German mythology enable his early brash moves and ultimately spell the Third Reich's doom? TVPG VL | CC |
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Fri
5/11 |
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Sniper: Deadliest Missions
Get an unprecedented look at the most extreme missions of the most extreme job in the world. You have one shot, one scoped sight, one controlled breath, one squeeze of a honed trigger. In a fraction of a second, you will either be a hero who took out an enemy commander, or a lone hunter who has suddenly become the hunted. This special deconstructs and analyzes the most dangerous feats undertaken in the history of military warfare. The legendary snipers who are still alive will share never-before-told stories about their classified missions. What techniques were used by these sharpshooters? What roles did the weather conditions, terrain, weapons systems, and snipers' physiological states play in the success of each operation? Examine the painstaking process perfected by the expert marksmen who live by the credo, "One shot, one kill." TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
The Last Days of WWII: March 4-10.
Join us for a detailed, week by week survey of the last six months of World War II. As we explore the high and low points of the march to war's end, we paint a comprehensive step-by-step account of the crucial decisions and personalities that culminated in Allied victory. In this episode, Operation Lumberjack, the assault into the Rhineland by General Bradley's US 12th Army Group, is in full swing. In Berlin, Hitler announces that all males born in 1929 must be conscripted for military service. To the south, Patton's lead armored division has progressed over 40 miles, taking 5,000 German prisoners. And Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower now must decide where to make his main crossing of the Rhine. In the Pacific, US firestorms torch Japan's capital city. TVPG VL | CC |
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
The Wehrmacht: 05 - To the Bitter End
Why did millions of combatants sacrifice their lives for a senseless extension of the suffering? What motivated the soldiers to persevere in the face of those massive casualties? Why did experienced commanders who knew better issue orders that sent their subordinates into certain death? What were the answers to the dilemma that the Wehrmacht was facing on all fronts: fight on or retreat? In the light of the most recent research, this final episode tries to find answers by showing a few impressive individual cases and biographies. The result is an up-to-date picture of the Wehrmacht in the final phase of World War II, unclouded by demonizing stereotypes or embellishing myths. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Sat
5/12 |
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Air Stealth.
They are the swarthy eagles of the sky, the sleek sharks of the sea, the invisible warriors of the battlefield. Join us for a 3-part look at the stealth aircraft, ships, and soldiers of today, yesterday, and tomorrow. This hour highlights past, present, and future advances in stealth military aircraft. Features footage of the EM F-117 Nighthawk /EM , EM B-2 Spirit Bomber /EM , and the Air Force's newest fighters, the EM F/A-22 Raptor /EM and the EM F-35 Joint Strike Fighter /EM , and talks to test pilots and flight engineers. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
Stealth and Beyond: Sea Stealth.
It's one thing to make a 60-foot-long jet aircraft seem invisible, but quite another to hide a 400-foot-long warship from the prying eyes of an enemy. In this hour, we explore the challenging world of stealth technology at sea and how modern engineering can make our largest warships appear to be tugboats or fishing vessels. Features exclusive footage of some of the most advanced warships in the world, including the EM Sea Shadow /EM , DDX Stealth Cruiser/Destroyer, and Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer, plus a glimpse at the future. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Mail Call: Civil War Special: #72.
Host R. Lee Ermey, dressed in the uniform of a Civil War Marine Corps sergeant, dedicates the entire half-hour to the Civil War, answering a slew of email questions about the guns and gear used in the War between the States. First, the Gunny performs live-fire demonstrations with four different weapons: the Union's Springfield rifle, the Confederacy's Enfield rifle, the 1842 Springfield muzzleloader, which was the last smoothbore musket used by the US military, and last but not least, a powerful cannon. Next, Lee shows viewers cavalry gear, including weapons, tack, and personal gear. In particular, we get a look at the rare 9-shot pistol called "Le Mat"--it also fired a shotgun shell for a lethal blast. Then, the Gunny cooks up some salt port and hardtack, the Civil War version of an MRE. Finally, he dons the fancy pants and embroidered vest of the regiment known as the Zouaves and takes part in their bang-up bayonet training. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Mail Call: NORAD: #67.
Host R. Lee Ermey hits the road to give us an inside look at one of the most secure and super-secret facilities in the world--NORAD. Lee gets through tight security to enter Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, America's eye in the sky where everything that flies is monitored 24/7. During a tour of the Battle Management Center, an incident of concern puts the center on alert and we see how NORAD operates under pressure. We also tour the Missile Command Center and find out what keeps the 800 military personnel inside on their toes. And Brigadier General Jim Hunter unlocks the door for Lee to the most secret part of Cheyenne Mountain--the Command Center, or what a lot of people call the War Room. We see how the men and women who work here monitor planes, missiles, and even space junk to make sure North America stays safe. The General and Lee talk about how NORAD's mission has changed since September 11th and we get a sneak peak at the new command center. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Hero Ships: USS Yorktown
Two hero ships bearing the same great name; the original, CV-5, was a martyred hero of the war's two turning-point battles, the Coral Sea and Midway. Her successor, CV-10 went on to avenge her destroyed namesake through all the rest of WW II in every significant assault on the Japanese-held island fortresses. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Sun
5/13 |
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Modern Marvels: Combat Training.
Sign up at the ultimate survival school, where soldiers learn to kill or be killed, and learn how 21st-century warriors are training today for the battlefields of tomorrow. We follow combat training throughout history, reviewing survival skills and psychological tools--from ancient Rome to World Wars One and Two--and learn how modern training is enhanced by advanced technology and computer simulation. TVPG VL | CC |
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
Deep Sea Detectives: The Lost Tanks of D-Day.
WWII's D-Day Invasion would be history's largest seaborne assault--over 4,000 ships carrying 170,000 troops. A secret weapon was to lead the way: the Duplex Drive (DD) Tank--Shermans modified to "swim" to shore. Scheduled to hit the beach before foot soldiers, without them the infantry would be sitting ducks. And that's what happened at Omaha Beach--28 out of 30 DD Tanks sank before reaching shore. John Chatterton travels to Normandy and joins French diver Bertrand Sciboz in search of sunken tanks. TVPG VL | CC |
The Russian Navy
The Russian Navy
In the late 1600's, Tsar Peter the Great created a modern Russian navy virtually from scratch. Traditions grew through Russian Naval victories over the Swedes in 1721 and over the Turks in 1788--with the assistance of America's naval hero, John Paul Jones. In the 1960's and 70's, the forceful and innovative leadership of Admiral Sergi Gorshkov created a fleet that threatened the United States and nearly tipped the balance of power in the Cold War. Shot on location, with access to archival footage, we will explore the history of Russia's extraordinary warships and submarines, its remarkable leaders, and the tragic defeats and stunning victories that shaped the Russian Navy. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
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Mon
5/14 |
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
Dogfights: 10 - Hunt for The Bismarck
May, 1941, the German battleship Bismarck, the most powerful warship on earth breaks, out into the North Atlantic. It wields enough firepower to crush vital British convoys! The British unleash every weapon in their arsenal to hunt down this Nazi terror. Join the greatest sea chase in history... fly with Swordfish torpedo-bomber pilots desperately trying to the Bismarck. Rare archival footage and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics and make viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. TVPG VL | CC |
The Color Of War: At Ease.
The Color Of War: At Ease.
It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates. TVPG VL | CC |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 11 - March 17.
Join us for a detailed, week by week look at the last six months of World War Two. In this episode, we begin in the Pacific Theater where American bombers continue their assault on mainland Japan. The B-29s blitz and the US Air Force's new low-level bombing tactics using incendiary bombs prove deadly for the Japanese. General Curtis LeMay hopes to force a Japanese surrender before American ground forces are scheduled to invade the mainland. Meanwhile in Europe, the Allies are closing in. With the Rhine breached, most Nazis realize their days are numbered and the end is inevitable. Hitler leaves the Reich Chancellery for the last time, and 16-year-old Anne Frank succumbs to typhus in the Belsen concentration camp. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 1.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes from Nazi-occupied territory and POW camps. Includes stories of Allied airmen who, after being dropped behind enemy lines, either evaded capture or attempted escapes from POW camps. TVPG VL | CC |
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Tue
5/15 |
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton 360: On Hitler's Doorstep
Patton's blitzkrieg is so successful that his army outruns its own supply lines. Despite being short on fuel and ammunition, he invades the province of Lorraine, hoping to cross into Germany before Christmas. But delays from the fuel shortages have given the Germans time to regroup. Stubborn German defenses at the Moselle River are finally crushed, and the Third Army captures the key city of Nancy. Then Adolph Hitler demands that his generals launch a major counterattack and a furious tank battle erupts near the town of Arracourt. Despite the inferiority of their tanks, the Americans emerge triumphant. But Patton remains stuck in Lorraine, just a few miles closer to Germany than he was at the beginning of the month. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
Patton 360: Siege Warfare
The slow but brutal slugfest in Lorraine continues as Patton orders his men to take the heavily fortified city of Metz. The thick forts that surround the city and the castle-like walls around Metz prove to be more than a match for American armor, and the siege goes on for weeks. Ammunition supplies run so low that Patton's men resort to using captured German shells. After commencing the largest artillery barrage in Third Army's history, the Americans finally subdue the city's defenders on November 21st. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 18-24.
Under the command of Generals Montgomery, Bradley, and Devers, Allied forces are poised to make their way across the Rhine and head for Berlin. In the East, German-occupied territories are collapsing under the Red Army. It will be a race of men and egos from the East and West to see who will reach the besieged city of Berlin first. Meanwhile, in occupied Denmark, Mosquito fighter-bombers from the RAF's Number 140 Wing head for the Danish Gestapo headquarters, where many innocent civilians have been killed. In the Pacific, fighting continues and US forces invade the Philippine Island of Panay. Join us for a week by week, detailed look at the last six months of World War II. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Great Escapes of World War II: Part 2.
Explores the bravery of the French Resistance as its members aided Allied troops and helped escaping POWs flee Nazi capture. TVPG VL | CC |
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Wed
5/16 |
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII.
In the 1930s, Japanese designers created a range of warplanes, culminating in the legendary Ki-43 Oscar and the A6M Zero. As the war turned against Japan, designers created the rocket-powered Shusui, the Kikka jet fighter, and the experimental R2Y Keiun. We also disclose frantic preparations to assemble a secret airforce of jet and rocket planes to counter an anticipated US invasion in1945, and chronicle post-war aviation and the birth of the Japanese rocket program in the 1950s and '60s. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
Secret Russian Aircraft of WWII.
History has overlooked the unimaginable hardships Russian designers faced under the paranoid rule of Josef Stalin. Frequent purges represented a constant threat. Yet, in spite of the ever-present danger, Soviet aircraft designers mastered technical hurdles astonishing even by today's standards. This hour features extensive archive images of never-before-seen aircraft and the designers who brought them to life. The innovative aircraft profiled include a swept-wing EM Delta /EM aircraft design; a rocket-powered fighter; a long distance fixed-wing aircraft with features later incorporated in the EM U-2 /EM spyplane; a flying tank prototype; a submarine-bomber combination; and a canard-wing aircraft. And we highlight remarkable aircraft launched after Stalin's death in 1953, like the delta-winged supersonic EM Concordski /EM and the world's largest plane, the EM Antonov 124 Ruslan /EM . TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
The Last Days Of WWII: March 25-31.
Allied troops continue Operation Plunder, their thrust across the Rhine into Germany's heartland. Realizing the situation is hopeless, thousands of German troops surrender. The race to Berlin continues, and disagreement over their strategy plagues the Allies. Hitler is now holed up in his Berlin bunker, totally divorced from reality. In the Pacific, fighting finally comes to a head on Iwo Jima. As US Marines close in around them, 200 Japanese soldiers make a last desperate mass suicide--or banzai--charge at the Americans. The attack on Okinawa begins. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 3.
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes of World War Two. Episode 3 reconstructs the events of December 7, 1941, when sailors were trapped aboard the USS Oklahoma after it was attacked at Pearl Harbor, and shows how they effected their escape. TVPG VL | CC |
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Thu
5/17 |
History's Mysteries: The Nazi Plan to Bomb New York.
History's Mysteries: The Nazi Plan to Bomb New York.
Aviation historian David Myhra has been investigating secret German aircraft projects for more than 20 years, and has uncovered evidence of a diabolical Nazi plan to deliver a radioactive bomb to New York. In late 1944, the "Amerika Bomber" project was planned, and three aerospace designers--Wernher von Braun, Eugen Sanger, and Reimar Horten--each had a different solution. Through vivid 3D animation, photos, and recreations, these unusual projects are finally revealed! TVPG VL | CC |
Nazi Spies in America.
Nazi Spies in America.
The September 11th attacks weren't the first time foreign nationals were secreted onto American soil. At the height of WWII, eight German saboteurs crossed the Atlantic in a pair of U-boats, surfacing on the eastern shore with plans to attack, destroy, and terrorize. After capture, six were executed, while the ringleader languished in prison. Recently declassified FBI documents paint a new portrait of the doomed mission and offer a surprising account from the spies' point of view. TVPG VL | CC Premiere |
The Last Days Of WWII: April 1-7.
The Last Days Of WWII: April 1-7.
General Eisenhower has decided to halt the Allied advance at the Elbe River--just 60 miles west of Berlin. The Russians, therefore, take Berlin. Other forces head towards the south of Germany--to the Bavarian Alps--where they believe the Nazis will make their last stand. As the Allies advance throughout Europe, the initial stage of one of the largest and most devastating assaults in history begins--Operation Iceberg, the Battle for Okinawa, in which 172,000 soldiers and marines find themselves in a fight to the death against fanatical Japanese troops defending the island. Join us for a blow-by-blow, week-by-week look at the final months, days, and hours of World War Two. TVPG VL | CC |
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 4
Great Escapes of World War II: Pt. 4
Rare archival footage and survivors recount daring escapes of World War Two. The concluding episode covers a daring escape attempted by Allied prisoners in an Italian POW camp. Their goal--to get out before advancing German troops could take over the camp. TVPG VL | CC |
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