Military Historian Rates Classic World War Two Films

Military historian Dan Snow MBE reviews the evolution of warfare over the course of 250 years depicted in historical movies. Spanning from the late-18th to early-21st Century, Dan charts the development of battle tactics and strategy, as well as the rapid evolution of weapons technology which have transformed the battlefield. In the second episode, starting of with Fury (2014) starring Bard Pitt and Shia LaBoeuf, Dan explains how the concept of a pitched battle was made obsolete by the introduction of armoured vehicles, more specifically, tanks. Although tanks had been introduced in the latter years of the First World War, it was only in the Second World War that they became integral to the strategies of Allied and Axis armies. Two of the most iconic tanks from the conflict are seen in this scene from Fury, the German Tiger Tank and US M4 Sherman. Dan assesses the pro and cons of each tank and analyses how they were used in World War Two. Moving on two decades from the Second World War to the Vietnam War, depicted in Casualties of

Military historian Dan Snow MBE reviews the evolution of warfare over the course of 250 years depicted in historical movies. Spanning from the late-18th to early-21st Century, Dan charts the development of battle tactics and strategy, as well as the rapid evolution of weapons technology which have transformed the battlefield. In the first episode, starting of with The Patriot (2000), Dan comments on the use of columns of infantry advancing slowly toward the enemy musket volleys in the American War of Independence from 1775 to 1783 - a battlefield strategy that seems almost archaic to us now. He also details the early forms of guerilla warfare seen in the American Revolutionary War, that were used to chip away at British morale. Moving on over half a century later in Glory (1989) - a film starring Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick and Samuel L. Jackson depicting the horrors of the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865 - Dan notes how battlefield strategy, such as that seen at the Battle of Antietam in 1862, had barely changed from that seen several decades

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. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

Just how brutal was the Soviet Advance on Berlin? Dan Snow and military historian Sir Antony Beevor present the gripping account of the Battle of Berlin, the final, bloody chapter of World War Two in Europe. The pair discuss Joseph Stalin's secret plan to seize the city and its nuclear secrets while deceiving his Western Allies. From the colossal artillery battle at the Seelow Heights to the brutal street fighting in the city, this is the definitive story of the Third Reich's collapse. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

Was it the mud? Was it the longbow? Or were French battlefield decisions the real reason they lost? Join medieval historian Matt Lewis as he breaks down the battlefield tactics that shaped the legendary Battle of Agincourt. From Henry V’s calculated use of terrain to the deadly efficiency of the English longbow men, Matt reveals how strategy, not just luck, secured one of the most astonishing victories in medieval history. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

Join Historian Dan Snow as he answers the most googled questions about the American War of Independence: You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.