In this special History Hit film to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Dan Snow meets celebrated military historian Saul David at the National Archives to dig into the top secret documents that tell the story of the incredible planning that went into D-Day.
Hidden in the archives for decades, these papers and photographs reveal meticulous preparations coupled with extraordinary acts of heroism by men and women, researching the Normandy beaches and creating a web of deception that kept German forces guessing where the landings were coming. Using everything from midget submarines to double cross codes, they gave the men assaulting the beaches a fighting chance of success.
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The Hag of Beara
The Hag of Beara, also known as the Hag of Winter, was a mythical figure that predated Christianity in Ireland. She was regarded by people as the mother protector / creator of the landscape. Like many pagan gods and traditions, she did not escape the intolerant wave of Christianity that swept acr...
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HMS Warrior
In the late 1850s, Britain and France were involved in an arms race. Both sides were embracing new technologies like armour plating to try and create the ultimate battleship. In 1860 this produced the revolutionary HMS Warrior, a product of Britain's naval mastery in the 19th century and the Indu...
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Wellington Bomber
Archival footage and interviews with Flt. Lt. Rupert "Tiny" Cooling distinguish this fascinating documentary special on the preeminent British bomber of the Second World War: the Wellington.
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