World War II: The Last Heroes
World War II: The Last Heroes tells the epic story of the campaign that took the Allies from the biggest amphibious assault in history to ultimate victory over Nazi Germany that caused Hitler to commit suicide in his bunker in Berlin.
World War II: The Last Heroes tells the epic story of the campaign that took the Allies from the biggest amphibious assault in history to ultimate victory over Nazi Germany that caused Hitler to commit suicide in his bunker in Berlin. We will learn what it was like to be in the boots of the men that were drafted in to fight for the survival of democracy and who had to face one of the most efficient fighting machines the world had ever seen. This isn’t the fictional Hollywood version – its hard reality – not only are the first hand experiences real, so are the bombs and munitions. This series will tell the personal stories of the men who fought their way across Europe. Theirs is a tale of vulnerability as well as strength, of overcoming fear, pitying the enemy, of loss and regret, but also moments of elation and will power that lead to victory.
Each hour chronologically picks a particular phase of the battle that was significant in the allied advance and zooms in on the details and personal experiences of those on the front line, the critical moments and decisions that epitomise the face of combat during the heat of battle. From Juno Beach on D-Day, the Lost Battalion at Hill 314, Sherman against Tiger tank battles, air attacks by spitfire and hurricane, the Bridge at Remagen, to the Reichstag in Berlin. The narrative of the campaign takes in the key, iconic moments of the fight for Europe.
Within this extra-ordinarily powerful historical backbone narrative, this series goes beyond the bombs of Blitz Street: It explores a huge diversity of experiences and challenges faced daily on the battle field – from clothing, to keeping healthy and clean, common ailments and injuries, food and drink, keeping weapons in working order and fighting in a variety of environments and weather. Using terrifying visualisations of real weapons we will witness real mines, incoming fire from machine guns and mortars, tanks battles and artillery, aerial strafing and bombing, from beachhead to river-crossing to forest to street fighting; it drives the story forward with powerful personal testimony from both sides of the Atlantic .
Executive Producers: Paul Wooding
Distributed By: Cineflix
Broadcast By: Channel 4 & History Television Canada
Duration: 6 x 60′
Release Date: October 2011