World War II in Colour

S01E04 Hitler Strikes East

As Hitler announced his plans to launch an invasion of the Soviet Union, his generals reacted with stunned silence. The sheer size of the USSR and its unparalleled resources posed a daunting challenge. Hitler's strategy relied on delivering a quick and overwhelming defeat; a protracted conflict would spell disaster for Germany. Confident in his army’s undefeated record, he remained undeterred by the risks involved in such a monumental military gamble. This episode explores the fierce battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, which would become known as the largest tank confrontation in history.