Operation Margin: The Augsburg Raid
Interviews
•
58m
In April 1942 the Second World War hung in the balance. Nazi Germany had occupied most of Europe and its seemingly unstoppable armed forces were driving deeper and deeper into Russia and North Africa. To add to Allied worries, German U-Boats were threatening to cut off Britain’s supply lines in the Battle of the Atlantic and force Britain out of the war. In a bid to turn the tide against the U-Boat threat, RAF Bomber Command, now armed with the new four engine Avro Lancaster, launched a bold low-level daylight raid to bomb the U-Boat engine factory at Augsburg on 17th April. Augsburg, located deep in the Nazi Reich, would mean the crews of the 12 unescorted Lancaster bombers would face the threat of enemy fighters and groundfire all the way there and back. James Jefferies will tell the story of how this raid played out and use it as an example about why these sort of precision raids are so often forgotten.
Up Next in Interviews
-
Debunking the Myths of Ancient Sparta
"Did 300 Spartans Really Fight at the Battle of Thermopylae?"
Ancient historian Professor Michael Scott sits down with History Hit's Tristan Hughes to dispel some of the myths we continue to believe about Ancient Sparta.
-
Debunking The Myths Of Tutankhamun
Who was Tutankhamun? How did he die? Was Tutankhamun's tomb cursed? In this video we attempt to answer all these questions and more with Prof Joyce Tyldesley from the University of Manchester.
Tutankhamun, 'The Boy King' of Ancient Egypt, is one of history's most famous names. Though his short r...
-
The Art Of Mummification
Ever been Mummy-curious? Egyptologist Chris Naunton joins us to demonstrate the ancient Egyptian art of mummification.
