The BBC at War (2015)
An enthralling series exploring how the BBC fought not only Hitler but also the British government to become the institution it is today.
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Episode 1 - The War of Words
Release Date: 2015-06-14Wholly unprepared for what was the world's first broadcast war, the BBC fended off complete government takeover and emerged a trusted global news source, transmitting in 47 languages. Using a wealth of preserved recordings and previously unseen documents, Jonathan Dimbleby uncovers the compelling story of how the BBC went into battle - against Hitler and Whitehall's ministers - and its part in the social revolution the war provoked.
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Episode 2 - Into Battle
Release Date: 2015-06-21The conclusion of the two-part documentary examines the impact the BBC's broadcasts had on the war zone. Jonathan Dimbleby looks at how it provided a counterpoint to Nazi propaganda and a source of coded information for resistance groups. He also discusses how BBC correspondents were embedded with military units during D-Day, and recalls his own father's reporting on the liberation of Belsen and the fall of Berlin.