Scorched Earth

It was a sight and sound that spelt terror from the skies . . . the Stuka was at the very heart of Blitzkreig - Hitler's lightening war. Flown by skilful and highly motivated pilots, the full force of the Fuhrer's premier weapon of the air was felt by soldiers and all civilians all over Europe. The Stuka tells the story of an awesome weapon of war. Featuring very rare colour footage of the Stuka in action, the programme also includes brand new 3D graphics and new footage of the last surviving aircraft, housed at RAF Hendon.

Perhaps the most important victory won by the allies in the West was the triumph over the deadly German U-boat. Once a harbinger of death for merchant shipping and its escorts, by 1943 the British and American fleets had gained the upper hand and the U-boat had become the hunted rather than the hunter. This film features extensive footage from the Battle of the Atlantic, and of U-534 the last surviving U-Boat in Western Europe. She was sunk in the Baltic in 1945 and raised again to the surface intact in 1993. On board U-534 the treasures of World War II were preserved as if in aspic. Now for the first time in over 50 years we can experience again the claustrophobic world of the U-boats.

The Panzer was a vital cog in Hitler's awesome war machine - a decisive weapon at the cutting edge of 'Blitzkrieg'. At Kursk, the tank would have a major influence on the eventual outcome of the war. Made with the co-operation of the Bovington Tank Museum, this film features rare action footage of the Panzers, including the famous Tiger Tank, in action and unique footage of the last surviving Panzers to produce a powerful record of the evolution of massed armoured warfare from 1939 to 1943.

Throughout World War Two, there were many dramatic and spectacular seaborne invasions, some of which would have a major bearing on the course and eventual outcome of the conflict. Much blood was spilt as men attacked beachheads from Tunisia to Normandy. Amphibious Warfare is a remarkable record of seaborne invasions throughout World War Two. The programme features powerful action footage, including extensive images from the decisive Normandy landings and brand new state-of-the-art computer graphics.

The sudden and dramatic appearance of the German Paratrooper - the Fallschirmjager, brought a new and unexpected dimension to the nature of warfare during the second World War. These new warriors of the air were to make critical contributions to some of the most famous battles of the conflict. The indomitable German paratroopers, the Fallschirmjager, established an enduring legend with their dogged defence of Monte Cassino. The allies were quick to imitate their deadly enemy - the Fallschirmjager were the inspiration - the British Paratroop Battalions and American's Screaming Eagles were the result. Airborne Warfare tells the fascinating story of war from the skies and how the combat from the air changed and evolved. The programme features extensive rare archive footage and state-of-the-art illustrative 3D graphics, and visits the silent graves of Monte Cassino today.

It was in the late summer of 1943 that the American Navy launched its operation to drive the Japanese from the Central Pacific. The Aircraft Carrier was to play a crucial role in its success, for not only did the new carriers give the Americans enormous fire-power, the US shipyards were turning them out at the rate of one per month. This programme tells the dramatic story of the desperate struggle for the Pacific. It features rare footage of Aircraft Carriers in action and examines their role in this vital theatre of the war. "Carrier Warfare" also includes informative 3D computer graphics.