The Great Tank Battles: World War II (2001)
The Great Tank Battles: World War II
2001 / NR
In four thrilling segments, this two-disc set tells the thundering story of the most dramatic armored vehicle showdowns in World War II history. Early in the conflict, the seemingly unstoppable Nazi Panzers held the power, but Allied tanks such as the Soviet T-34 and the British Matilda II eventually gained the upper hand. And Gen. George Patton's superior firepower ultimately sealed the fate of the Axis forces.
Seasons & Episode
This first part of the series introduces the first tanks being deployed on the battlefields in northern France during the First World War and describes the devastating effect these steel monsters had on an infantry confronted with them for the very first time. It tracks the development, both technologically and strategically from the Fuller 1919 philosophy through the German attack on Poland.
The second episode starts on the morning of the 22nd of June 1941 when the Germans launched operation Barbarossa, the code name for the invasion of the Soviet Union. 3 million Axis tools faced more than 4.5 million Red Army troops and were outnumbered two to one in tanks, but superior training and strategies gave the Germans the edge.
The third episode opens with Rommel's second offensive in North Africa. The following summer the German offensive at Kharkov and the subsequent push past the River Don towards Volga and Stalingrad, later the scene of Germany's first major defeat - The Battle of Stalingrad. The scene is switched to North Africa following the continuous battle between the British 8th Army, the Desert Rats.
The fourth episode sees the Germans well and truly on the retreat and the Allies are able to successfully implement operation Husky - the landing on Sicily - where General Montgomery and the American General George Smith Patton ousted the Germans in little over five weeks. On the Eastern Front General Zhukov inflicted heavy defeat on the Germans now having the new T - 54 tank available.
In four thrilling segments, this two-disc set tells the thundering story of the most dramatic armored vehicle showdowns in World War II history. Early in the conflict, the seemingly unstoppable Nazi Panzers held the power, but Allied tanks such as the Soviet T-34 and the British Matilda II eventually gained the upper hand. And Gen. George Patton's superior firepower ultimately sealed the fate of the Axis forces.
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