Plot Synopsis

WORLD WAR II: WITNESS TO WAR is a one-hour documentary series that tells the stories of WWII's major battles through the eyes of those who were there. Fortunately, many servicemen and civilians from all over the world have recorded their memories and recollections over the years and it's these powerful spoken testimonies that form the backbone of every show. This is raw military and social history told from the human angle. The recorded experiences of those who lived through the war are carefully woven around the main narrative to illustrate what is was really like to be there, while some of the world's foremost historians bring their unique insights to each episode. The series opens with the "Fall of France" episode, which takes place during a time when the world had largely ignored the growing threat of Nazism during the late 1930s and the appeasement of Hitler was about to have terrible consequences. After the invasion of Czechoslovakia came the conquest of Poland -- only then were the Allies moved to action. By then it was too late. The series continues with the "Battle of Britain" episode. With the fall of France, only Britain stood between Hitler and complete victory in Europe. But German High Command knew that it first had to have mastery of the skies -- and to achieve that the Luftwaffe would need to defeat the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the RAF.