Rise and Fall: The Turning Points of WWII

In the wake of World War I, Europe is destabilized by the Treaty of Versailles; economic collapse and political unrest pave the way for extremist regimes; Hitler rises in Germany, Spain descends into civil war and Japan and Germany launch invasions in Asia and Europe.

Germany storms across Europe using lightning-fast warfare. Stalin eyes Finland, Italy invades Greece, and Britain resists Germany in the skies during the Battle of Britain. France falls, prompting the Dunkirk evacuation. As Hitler turns on Stalin and invades the USSR, the European war intensifies. This episode tracks the opening years of the war on the continent.

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, drawing the U.S. into the war. Japan pushes through Southeast Asia, while Rommel dominates in North Africa. Britain strikes back at St. Nazaire. We follow major events in the Pacific-the Fall of Singapore, Midway, and Kokoda-while turning west to examine the bombing of Europe and desert battles that define this global struggle.

Momentum begins to shift. U.S. forces seize Guadalcanal in the Pacific. In Europe, Soviet forces halt and defeat the Germans at Stalingrad. British troops push Rommel back at El Alamein. This episode highlights the grinding nature of war, as Axis powers begin to lose ground.

By 1943, the Axis powers are retreating. Mussolini is ousted and later rescued by the Nazis. The Allies meet in Tehran to plan their next move. Across Europe, the tide turns: Leningrad is relieved, Paris is liberated, and D-Day marks a new front. This episode explores the moments when the Allies seize momentum, revealing Nazi horrors as camps are uncovered.

Germany's final gamble at the Battle of the Bulge fails. The Allies push into Berlin, leading to Germany's surrender. In the Pacific, Japan continues fighting until atomic bombs fall on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.