Line of Fire - Battle of Berlin

Experience the terrible final battle for Berlin in 1945 from the perspective of the attacking Red Army and the positions of the shattered German forces that made a final desperate defence of the city

Taken from the hugely popular television series Line of Fire, this programme harnesses state-of-the-art computer technology to explore, explain and bring new perspectives to one of the most vital battles of World War Two. It also features rare archive footage, specially treated recreations and authoritative comment by leading military historians from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Line of Fire - Mons

The small British Expeditionary Force, moving up into Belgium on the left flank of the French 5th Army, met with the full weight of the German 1st Army advancing towards Paris under the Schlieffen Plan. A short but intense fire fight - where the British caused heavy casualties to the thick masses of enemy infantry - was followed by a British withdrawal out of the canal salient. This manoeuvre was made more urgent by news that the French Army on the right flank was in retreat.

Hummel: Mobile Heavy Artillery

From 1940 until war's end, German industry produced a plethora of self-propelled weapons for the German Army. Whilst some of these were purposely designed, others were extemporary affairs developed rapidly using available weapons and chassis to serve the immediate need of the German Army in the field. Those covered in this programme fall mainly into the categories of tank destroyers and self-propelled artillery. This unique compilation of combat footage of these vehicles will allow the viewer to gain an insight into the variety and importance of such weapons to the German Army, up to its defeat.

Confidential Films of World War II

During World War II, the United States government produced literally thousands of films. Though many were intended for the average GI, others were considered too sensitive for general viewing. Classified or confidential films covered an enormous range of subjects, and while most concerned the prosecution of the war, other matters, by today's standards trivial and by no means a threat to national security, were also regarded as "confidential". It wasn't until years after the war concluded that many of these films were declassified.

The Blitz On The Midlands

With the capitulation of France in 1940, the German Luftwaffe were gifted a springboard with which to launch short range bomber raids over England. In November of that year, German attention was switched from London to a city in the very heart of England, Coventry.

Seldom had an attack been of such ferocity and intensity, crippling the city in one night's bombing. In this programme, survivors of the blitz give their accounts of the evening which saw the Second World War come to the Midlands.

Line of Fire - Stalingrad

The bitter, bloody and inhuman struggle for Stalingrad was the turning point of the war on the Eastern Front and a pivotal moment of World War Two. Germany's defeat there signalled to the Allies at large that Hitler and the Reich could be beaten.

Taken from the hugely popular television series 'Line of Fire' this programme harnesses state-of-the-art computer technology to explore, explain and bring new perspectives to the story of one of the most appalling battles of World War Two.

Featuring archive footage and specially treated recreations, 'Stalingrad' also includes authoritative comment and analysis by leading military historians from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

Fighter aicraft of WW2. The Messerschmitt Bf 109

By the outbreak of the Second World War, the German Luftwaffe possessed more than 3, 500 frontline aircraft. Over one third of these were single engine fighters and for the next six years one of these fighters would become the flagship of the German fighter force - the Messerschmitt BF 109. This legendary aircraft remained in operational services throughout the war, fighting on all fronts and in doing so was responsible for shooting down twice as many enemy aircraft as any other fighter plane in the annals of military history.

Strike Force: Buccaneer

"In the Gulf War the Buccaneer proved that it could play a significant offensive role both as a target marker for Tornados and as a bomber in its own right. This was no surprise to the Royal Navy and the RAF who considered that the Buccaneer had been one of the world's best low-level strike aircraft of the last 30 years.
Features rare archive footage and exclusive interviews with the people who designed and flew the plane giving a personal insight into the innovations, the testing and service life of this magnificent aircraft."
The mighty Buccaneer was an aircraft apparently forged from solid steel by the gods themselves and though starting out as a rather underpowered beast went on to become the best-loved post-war attack aircraft in the UK . In bygone years 'Buccs' would be found screaming along at hedge-top height (or lower!) leaving behind deafened but happy admirers...

Prapoganda: The War of the Mind

There are many weapons of war; fighter planes, heavy tanks and skilled infantrymen but it could be argued that none is more powerful than the power of suggestion.
Propaganda and the war of words played an undoubtedly vital role in both the successes and failures of World War Two. Governments struggled to gain the upper hand in the war away from the battlefield, but one man proved to have a deft talent for spin. Joseph Goebbels honed the art of mass communication until, in the early days at least, it became one of Germany's most effective weapons.
This DVD features rare examples of propaganda posters and campaigns, and insight from Chris Read and Robin Lenman both of Warwick University into the huge part propaganda had to play within World War Two.

Viking Wars - The Norse Terror

The Vikings in Britain, narrated by Brian Blessed.
During the long years of the Dark Ages, the sight which signalled fear and terror for the inhabitants of coastal Britain was the first glimpse of an unfamiliar sail on the horizon. The sighting of the famous long ships heralded the arrival of Viking raiders; the harbingers of death and destruction. The wolves of Odin were about to be unleashed again. 'The Norse Raiders', provides a glimpse into the extraordinary world of a remarkable people. Featuring dramatised eye-witness accounts filmed on the holy island of Lindesfarne, the video and powerful reconstructions of Dark Age warfare. Combined with state-of-the-art computer graphics and surviving period imagery, 'The Norse Raiders' is a superb record of a savage period in British history.