The Buildings That Fought Hitler

Rob Bell explores the costal defence network built to defend Britain's beaches against invasion during WWII, including a tower in Essex which controlled mines laid across the estuary.

The physical defence of London was crucial. A ring of steel and concrete was thrown up around the capital as well as utilising natural defences.

Numerous pill boxes, gun emplacements and dragon's teeth were all tactically positioned to slow the Germans trying to get to the major cities.

RAF Kenley is one of the most intact Battle of Britain airfields left standing. Britain was able to resist the German invasion, what gave Britain the edge during WWII was an integrated defence system and RADAR.

Reigate Fort was repurposed in preparation for a Nazi invasion of Britain. It was designed to block the Nazi's from getting to London and was set to become the Resistance headquarters should the capital have fallen.

With the blitz taking its toll, Britain had to find a way to keep it's manufacturing going. Shadow factories were born and were crucial in the production of ammunition and other wartime essentials.

Britain needed to produce vast amounts of ammunition. Chatham Docks on the Medway saw 142 ships set sail, and bomber bases sprung up across the country.

Rob Bell looks at how the greatest invasion in human history was being prepared in Southern England and the buildings that helped with D-Day and Operation Overlord. There were whole villages that were taken over by the MOD, and in the case of Tyneham, never returned.