Episode
The World at War: Pincers (August 1944–March 1945)
Overview
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.
Details
- Series
- The World at War
- Season
- Season 1
- Episode
- Episode 19
- Air date
- 1974-03-20
- Runtime
- 55 min
Episode context
Pincers (August 1944–March 1945) is Episode 19 in Season 1 of The World at War. It aired on 1974-03-20. The runtime is 55 min.
Previous / Next
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 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.
More episodes from this season
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 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.
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.
Episode 22: Japan (1941–1945)
Initially apprehensive about the outcome of declaring war, the Japanese quickly turn to celebration with early victory. In the end, their worst fears are unimaginably exceeded.
Episode 15: Home Fires: Britain (1940–1944)
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.
Episode 23: Pacific - The Island to Island War (February 1942–July 1945)
The Americans fight their way across the Pacific towards Japan and the Phillipines. Perhaps the bloodiest campaign of all, each island has to be taken by storm and the Japanese fight to the last man.
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 24: The Atomic Bomb (February–September 1945)
Western scientists have developed a new, immensely powerful weapon - the atomic bomb. On August 6th 1945, the Enola Gay delivers the world's first atomic bomb to Hiroshima. The world would be forever altered.
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 25: Reckoning (April 1945)
The war ends slowly and messily. Britain is victorious but exhausted and the super-powers confront each other as they decide the fate of Europe.