A 26-part documentary series narrated by Laurence Olivier explores the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.
A documentary mini-series, "The World at War", spans the entire history of World War II, covering causes from the 1920s to the aftermath of the Cold War in the 1950s. It also explores inside stories, including life under German and Japanese dictatorships, and the Jewish Holocaust.
Aired: Oct 31, 1973 The rebirth of Germany and growth in power of the Nazi Party leading up to th...
2. Distant War: September 1939-May 1940
Aired: Nov 7, 1973The invasions of Poland, the Winter War, the sinking of the Graf Spee, the "p...
3. France Falls: May-June 1940
Aired: Nov 14, 1973French politics, the Maginot Line, the Saar Offensive, Blitzkrieg warfare and...
Aired: Nov 21, 1973 The Battle of Britain, defeats in Greece and Crete, Tobruk and life in Britai...
5. Barbarossa: June-December 1941
Aired: Nov 28, 1973After dominating southeastern Europe through force or intrigue, Germany begin...
Aired: Dec 5, 1973 The rise of the Japanese Empire, the Sino-Japanese War, the Soviet-Japanese b...
7. On Our Way: U.S.A. 1939-1942
Aired: Dec 12, 1973The opposition to the United States' entry into the war, Lend Lease, U-boat a...
8. The Desert: North Africa - 1940-1943
Aired: Dec 19, 1973The desert war, starting with Italy's invasion of Egypt and the attacks and c...
9. Stalingrad: June 1942-February 1943
Aired: Jan 2, 1974The mid-war German situation in Southern Russia resulting in the German defea...
10. Wolf Pack: U-Boats in the Atlantic - 1939-1944
Aired: Jan 16, 1974The submarine war emphasizing the North Atlantic. Tracks the development of t...
11. Red Star: The Soviet Union - 1941-1943
Aired: Jan 23, 1974The rise of the Red Army, mobilization of Soviet production, the Siege of Len...
12. Whirlwind: Bombing Germany - September 1939-April 1944
Aired: Jan 30, 1974The development of British and American strategic bombing.
13. Tough Old Gut: Italy - November 1942-June 1944
Aired: Jan 30, 1974The difficulties of the Italian Campaign beginning with Operation Torch in No...
14. It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow: Burma - 1942-1944
Aired: Feb 13, 1974The jungle war in Burma and India--what it "lacked in scale was made up in sa...
15. Home Fires: Britain - 1940-1944
Aired: Feb 20, 1974Life and politics in Britain from the post-Battle of Britain period to the fi...
16. Inside the Reich: Germany - 1940-1944
Aired: Feb 27, 1974Changes in German society as the fortunes of war are reversed. Censorship and...
Aired: Mar 6, 1974 Operation Overlord--starting with the failed Dieppe Raid--followed by battles...
18. Occupation: Holland - 1940-1944
Aired: Mar 13, 1974Life in the Netherlands under German occupation--when citizens chose to resis...
19. Pincers: August 1944-March 1945
Aired: Mar 20, 1974Operation Dragoon, the liberation of Paris, the Allied occupation of France, ...
Aired: Mar 27, 1974 Begins with the founding of the SS, follows the development of Nazi racial th...
21. Nemesis: Germany - February-May 1945
Aired: Apr 3, 1974The invasion of Germany by the Allies, the bombing of Dresden, and the events...
Aired: Apr 10, 1974 Japanese society during wartime. How life transformed as the country suffered...
23. Pacific: February 1942-July 1945
Aired: Apr 17, 1974The island hopping strategy of Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur leads fro...
24. The Bomb: February-September 1945
Aired: Apr 24, 1974The atomic bomb, the ascendancy of President Harry Truman, growing splits amo...
25. Reckoning: 1945... and after
Aired: May 1, 1974As wretched survivours suffer deprivations amongst the ruins, half of Germany...
Aired: May 8, 1974 For many the Second World War was the most significant experience of their li...
Main Cast
The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 01.A New Germany (1933–1939)
Current Status: Ended
Network: ITV1
Production Countries: United Kingdom, United States
Genres:War, Documentary, History
