Hidden Histories of WWII
Renowned historian and acclaimed broadcaster, James Holland, takes a deep dive into key events from the Second World War, bringing incredible stories to life for a new generation, and offering new research and analysis to enhance our understanding of the most consequential war of the 20th Century. In each episode, Holland teams up with an expert companion to explore iconic battlegrounds and machinery, reawakening history's echoes. Witness Jean Moulin's collapse in Lyon's shadows; feel the ground shake in Rauray's epic tank clash; trace the gruelling road to Rome via Monte Cassino's monumental battle; and chase the legendary P-51 Mustang, paired with an astounding 30-1 combat saga. On location, we gain insight into the unfolding of each narrative as Holland analyses each event alongside his partner, illustrated with archive and documents.
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S1 E4 • 4/22/2024
The Poles at Monte Cassino
May, 1944. This is the story of the Polish fighting force and their unlikely four-year journey to the frontline in Italy from the Siberian gulags, and via much of the middle east and North Africa. The start of the Second World War is famous for the imagery of German forces pouring into Poland from the west in early September 1939. By the middle of that month, the country was also invaded from the east by the Soviet Union. In just a few weeks Poland had been effectively wiped off the map, with millions of people displaced, and many now taken prisoner by either the Nazis or the Soviets. Many were liberated following the Battle of Barbarossa in 1941, where they then made a 2,000-mile journey south, largely on foot, to re-join the Allied war effort. In Monte Cassino, south of Rome, James Holland is on the ground with historian Alexandra Richie. When the Poles finally arrived at the Gustav Line in 1944, they were thrown into one of the bloodiest theatres of the war.
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