Episode
The World at War: Home Fires: Britain (1940–1944)
Overview
Finding strength in unity at home in Britain during the war, it was a time of gas masks, Winston Churchill, Dig for Victory, evacuation, George Formby, the Land Army, ITMA, the Squander Bug and the Beveridge Report.
Details
- Series
- The World at War
- Season
- Season 1
- Episode
- Episode 15
- Air date
- 1974-02-20
- Runtime
- 55 min
Episode context
Home Fires: Britain (1940–1944) is Episode 15 in Season 1 of The World at War. It aired on 1974-02-20. The runtime is 55 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 14: It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow: Burma (1942–1944)
Vera Lynn sang of a lovely day tomorrow, but the war in Burma was mud and monsoon. Britain's largest army learned to master the jungle and fought the Japanese to standstill.
Episode 16: Inside the Reich: Germany (1940–1944)
Initial victory in Europe turns sour after the defeat at Stalingrad, yet Germany prepares to fight to the end - even after an assassination attempt on the Führer.
More episodes from this season
Episode 13: Tough Old Gut: Italy (November 1942-June 1944)
Churchill called Italy the 'soft underbelly of the crocodile' and thought the Allies could cut through it to the heart of Germany. By the soft underbelly turned out to be a 'tough old gut'.
Episode 17: Morning (June–August 1944)
The Western Allies resolve to invade Europe. England becomes a floating supply dump and the British and Americans assemble the largest invasion fleet in history. It is June 6th 1944 - D Day.
Episode 12: Whirlwind: Bombing Germany (September 1939–April 1944)
Bomber Command begin bombing German cities by night and the Americans reinforce the attacks by day; a whirlwind of terror and destruction that will win the war.
Episode 18: Occupation: Holland (1940–1944)
Through a neutral country, Holland is attacked by Germany without warning in 1940. During the next four years, life carries on seemingly without incident, but underneath resistance never dies.
Episode 11: Red Star: The Soviet Union (1941–1943)
For two years the Soviet Army fights the Germans almost alone. After one of the greatest land battles in history, the nation survives and triumphs - but with a loss of no less than twenty million of its people.
Episode 19: Pincers (August 1944–March 1945)
The end of the war appears close at hand with the liberation of Paris in 1944, but the British and Americans disagree on how to advance. Meanwhile, Poland suffers devastating losses to achieve victory.
Episode 10: Wolfpack: U-Boats in the Atlantic (1939–1944)
In a war of high technology and animal courage, the German U-Boats fight Allied merchantmen, hounding them in packs.
Episode 20: Genocide (1941–1945)
The Nazi's are racist; the Aryans are a master race, others, particularly the Jews are sub-human. Himmler's SS sets about ridding Europe of millions of Jews.
Episode 9: Stalingrad (June 1942-February 1943)
Hitler's early successes in Russia made him reckless and he resolves to capture Stalingrad. The battle lasts six months with the Russians emerging as victors. The Wehrmacht never recovers.
Episode 21: Nemesis (February–May 1945)
Hitler retreats to the Fuhrer bunker is Berlin as Germany crumbles around him and his lieutenants abandon him to a fate of suicide. Meanwhile, the Russians raise the red flag in Berlin.