Neuschwanstein is Louis II of Bavaria's 19th-century fairy-tale castle that inspired Walt Disney. Inside, medieval fantasy hides modern innovation: steel beams, plumbing, and central heating.

We discover how Hitler's master spy Wilhelm Canaris was both a committed Nazi and a double agent who provided secrets to the Allies and helped Jews escape from Germany.

Rudolf Hess is Hitler's most loyal henchman obsessed with loyalty, power, and a mysterious plan to change everything.

War explodes across western Europe; the Germans' mobile armour, airborne troops and airpower on the battlefield makes their assault unstoppable, and France is ready to fall to the Nazis.

War explodes across western Europe; the Germans' mobile armour, airborne troops and airpower on the battlefield makes their assault unstoppable, and France is ready to fall to the Nazis.

Germany seeks to neutralise British strength from the air in the Battle of Britain; the Luftwaffe has been deterred, but the Blitz begins as the Germans move to support their allies in North Africa.

The war in Europe is transformed when Hitler unleashes Operation Barbarossa on the 22nd of June 1941; the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union has begun.

The war in Europe is transformed when Hitler unleashes Operation Barbarossa on the 22nd of June 1941; the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union has begun.

Japanese troops occupy southern Vietnam and Cambodia, but the day that changes the war comes on December 7th when Japanese aircraft attack the American Pacific Fleet at anchor in Pearl Harbor.

Japanese troops occupy southern Vietnam and Cambodia, but the day that changes the war comes on December 7th when Japanese aircraft attack the American Pacific Fleet at anchor in Pearl Harbor.

Japan's escalation of the War in the East is devastatingly effective; despite their success, it is possible to see their inevitable defeat as they have roused the military might of the USA.

Japan's escalation of the War in the East is devastatingly effective; despite their success, it is possible to see their inevitable defeat as they have roused the military might of the USA.

How did Cleopatra die? Where is her tomb located? To get closer to the answers, one must understand ancient Egyptian funerary rites. Leading experts help us decipher the traditions of Cleopatra's era.

Air supremacy has been key to winning a war since the dawn of aerial warfare; from the Sopwith Camel biplane to the F22 Raptor, we identify and rank the most influential aircrafts in history.

Air supremacy has been key to winning a war since the dawn of aerial warfare; from the Sopwith Camel biplane to the F22 Raptor, we identify and rank the most influential aircrafts in history.

20th-century battles have changed the course of history; the Battle of the Somme saw over 60,000 casualties on the first day alone and D-Day marked the beginning of Hitler's ultimate defeat.

20th-century battles have changed the course of history; the Battle of the Somme saw over 60,000 casualties on the first day alone and D-Day marked the beginning of Hitler's ultimate defeat.

Warfare has always driven the development of technology; from penicillin and pioneering plastic surgery to the development of the internet and GPS, we rank the most influential inventions of warfare.

Warfare has always driven the development of technology; from penicillin and pioneering plastic surgery to the development of the internet and GPS, we rank the most influential inventions of warfare.

From the super-dreadnought battleships of the First World War to the stealth submarines of the Cold War, maritime vessels have proved decisive in the fight for naval supremacy.

From the super-dreadnought battleships of the First World War to the stealth submarines of the Cold War, maritime vessels have proved decisive in the fight for naval supremacy.

Weapons win wars; it's been claimed that the human race has spent more time, money, and effort in developing weapons than in any other single field of human endeavour.

Weapons win wars; it's been claimed that the human race has spent more time, money, and effort in developing weapons than in any other single field of human endeavour.

We visit Italy to investigate Benito Mussolini, the brutal dictator whose violent path to power set the template for the rise of Nazi Germany.

Starting in the beerhalls of post-First World War Munich, Adolf Hitler captivated a nation desperate for hope; a movement was sparked that drew a loyal inner circle together driven by ambition, extremism, and blind devotion. This sprawling series unravels how economic turmoil, wounded national pride, and 'charismatic' leadership gave rise to unprecedented brutality shaped by the men and women who stood closest to Hitler; each episode focuses on one Nazi figure and provides insight into their lives. These are the threads that made up Hitler's unleashed nightmare...

Deep sea divers hunt for the wrecks of Hitler's dreaded U-Boat fleet off Ireland's Northwest coast while historians unravel the early stages of WWII's longest campaign.

Deep sea divers hunt for the wrecks of Hitler's dreaded U-Boat fleet off Ireland's Northwest coast while historians unravel the early stages of WWII's longest campaign.

Divers hunt for the wrecks of WWII's longest campaign that lie off Ireland's Northwest coast as historians explore the Allied fight back at sea and the human cost of war.

Divers hunt for the wrecks of WWII's longest campaign that lie off Ireland's Northwest coast as historians explore the Allied fight back at sea and the human cost of war.

Giles Milton visits key D-Day sites along the Normandy coastline - including Omaha Beach and Pegasus Bridge - and we hear the stories of the men and women on both the attacking and defensive lines.

Giles Milton guides us round Normandy - the place where the D-Day invasion proved successful - from the gliders who went behind enemy lines to paratroopers who ambushed vital German generals.

Feb 1945: A quarter of all the US Marines who died in WWII were killed in Iwo Jima. The Leathernecks were forced to re-think their tactics, as one in three of them became a casualty.

Feb 1945: A quarter of all the US Marines who died in WWII were killed in Iwo Jima. The Leathernecks were forced to re-think their tactics, as one in three of them became a casualty.

The remains of 7,000 humans were discovered in the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta's Neolithic temple; could the temple reveal the mystery of who they belonged to and what happened to its owners?

In 1609, in the Basque Country, a local dispute turned into accusations of witchcraft. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, up to 60,000 people were condemned. Historians find out what really happened.

Starting in the beerhalls of post-First World War Munich, Adolf Hitler captivated a nation desperate for hope; a movement was sparked that drew a loyal inner circle together driven by ambition, extremism, and blind devotion. This sprawling series unravels how economic turmoil, wounded national pride, and 'charismatic' leadership gave rise to unprecedented brutality shaped by the men and women who stood closest to Hitler; each episode focuses on one Nazi figure and provides insight into their lives. These are the threads that made up Hitler's unleashed nightmare...

In 1609, in the Basque Country, a local dispute turned into accusations of witchcraft. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, up to 60,000 people were condemned. Historians find out what really happened.

The grave of Bad Dürrenberg revealed not a male warrior, but a powerful and dark-skinned female shaman; misrepresented by the Nazis, her true story still fascinates 9,000 years on.

The grave of Bad Dürrenberg revealed not a male warrior, but a powerful and dark-skinned female shaman; misrepresented by the Nazis, her true story still fascinates 9,000 years on.

Archaeologists hunt for clues to the origins and explosive rise of the mighty Inca Empire - at their height, the largest empire in the world.

Archaeologists hunt for clues to the origins and explosive rise of the mighty Inca Empire - at their height, the largest empire in the world.

Archaeologists hunt for clues to how the mysterious Inca conquered much of South America, and why, when Europeans arrived, the mighty empire crumbled.

April 1945: Stalin's generals compete to raise the Red Flag over the Reichstag. A Panzer Army, two army groups, and the home guard are locked in a desperate battle with the encircling Red Army.

April 1945: Stalin's generals compete to raise the Red Flag over the Reichstag. A Panzer Army, two army groups, and the home guard are locked in a desperate battle with the encircling Red Army.

We discover an intriguing new theory about Göbekli Tepe in southern Turkey; one of the world's oldest mysteries dating back over 12,000 years, we still don't understand who built it or why.

The pockmarked mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses V looks serene, but there's evidence of deliberately inflicted wounds that suggest a sudden violent death... if this was the case, then who was the killer?

The mangled mummy of Pharaoh Seqenenre Taa is a murder mystery that endures to this day; we discover the truth behind his brutal and humiliating death.

The shocking remains of a 3,000-year-old screaming mummy have haunted Egyptologists for decades; what happened to leave him looking like something from a horror film?

In 1609, in the Basque Country, a local dispute turned into accusations of witchcraft. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, up to 60,000 people were condemned. Historians find out what really happened.

The shocking remains of a 3,000-year-old screaming mummy have haunted Egyptologists for decades; what happened to leave him looking like something from a horror film?

In 1609, in the Basque Country, a local dispute turned into accusations of witchcraft. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, up to 60,000 people were condemned. Historians find out what really happened.

Deep sea divers hunt for the wrecks of Hitler's dreaded U-Boat fleet off Ireland's Northwest coast while historians unravel the early stages of WWII's longest campaign.

Deep sea divers hunt for the wrecks of Hitler's dreaded U-Boat fleet off Ireland's Northwest coast while historians unravel the early stages of WWII's longest campaign.

Ancient history knows few rulers like Constantine the Great. This first episode follows archaeologists on the stages of his life from Naissus to Rome.

The disfigured mummy of the Younger Lady has mystified experts since she was first discovered over 100 years ago; investigators find out who she was using modern forensic science.

Could an exhibit from an oddities museum in Niagara Falls be a genuine long-lost pharaoh from Egypt's most iconic dynasty? A team of leading Egyptologists and scientists re-examine the evidence.

Could a shock discovery of a tooth hidden inside a jewellery box lead archaeologists to the lost mummy of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, who is widely considered to be ancient Egypt's greatest queen?

The grave of Bad Dürrenberg revealed not a male warrior, but a powerful and dark-skinned female shaman; misrepresented by the Nazis, her true story still fascinates 9,000 years on.

Could a shock discovery of a tooth hidden inside a jewellery box lead archaeologists to the lost mummy of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, who is widely considered to be ancient Egypt's greatest queen?

The grave of Bad Dürrenberg revealed not a male warrior, but a powerful and dark-skinned female shaman; misrepresented by the Nazis, her true story still fascinates 9,000 years on.

Divers hunt for the wrecks of WWII's longest campaign that lie off Ireland's Northwest coast as historians explore the Allied fight back at sea and the human cost of war.

Divers hunt for the wrecks of WWII's longest campaign that lie off Ireland's Northwest coast as historians explore the Allied fight back at sea and the human cost of war.

Constantine's claim to power knew no bounds. This final episode follows the emperor's archaeological traces to the new Rome, Constantinople.

Ancient history knows few rulers like Constantine the Great. This first episode follows archaeologists on the stages of his life from Naissus to Rome.

Ancient history knows few rulers like Constantine the Great. This first episode follows archaeologists on the stages of his life from Naissus to Rome.

Constantine's claim to power knew no bounds. This final episode follows the emperor's archaeological traces to the new Rome, Constantinople.

Constantine's claim to power knew no bounds. This final episode follows the emperor's archaeological traces to the new Rome, Constantinople.

The economy, trade and commercial power of Rome on the eve of the Empire with the Battle of Alesia, portraits of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and the Pantheon, the temple of all gods.

The economy, trade and commercial power of Rome on the eve of the Empire with the Battle of Alesia, portraits of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and the Pantheon, the temple of all gods.

The aristocracy and the perils of power in the time of a feared emperor with Boudicca's revolt, portraits of Nero and Boudicca, and Nero's incredible palace of the Domus Aurea.

The aristocracy and the perils of power in the time of a feared emperor with Boudicca's revolt, portraits of Nero and Boudicca, and Nero's incredible palace of the Domus Aurea.

This documentary shows a different side of D-Day: not just the famous shots of the beaches at Normandy, but the troops, sailors and civilians on the South Coast of England preparing for battle too.

This documentary shows a different side of D-Day: not just the famous shots of the beaches at Normandy, but the troops, sailors and civilians on the South Coast of England preparing for battle too.

The first empress of Rome, the ruthless Livia Drusilla, carved a corpse-strewn path to putting her own son on the emperor's throne before her golden dynasty descended into an age of terror.

Eva Braun stands in the dictator's shadow - she is invisible to the public, irreplaceable in the inner circle, and loyal to the bitter end.

The war turns in favour of the Allies; Montgomery turns the tables on the Afrika Corps at El Alamein, the Japanese are defeated at Guadalcanal, and the Germans are defeated at Stalingrad.

The war turns in favour of the Allies; Montgomery turns the tables on the Afrika Corps at El Alamein, the Japanese are defeated at Guadalcanal, and the Germans are defeated at Stalingrad.

The Allied leaders meet for their first conference to discuss the coordination of their efforts, a Japanese division is destroyed at sea, and the Red Army begins its advance towards Berlin.

The Allied leaders meet for their first conference to discuss the coordination of their efforts, a Japanese division is destroyed at sea, and the Red Army begins its advance towards Berlin.

The Germans continue their retreat from Russia, but the most significant event at this stage of the war is the second front in Europe with the D-Day landings on June 6th - Operation Overlord.

The Germans continue their retreat from Russia, but the most significant event at this stage of the war is the second front in Europe with the D-Day landings on June 6th - Operation Overlord.

The Allies continue their eastward push from Normandy and close on the German border; in the east, the Soviet Union unleashes Operation Bagration, the greatest offensive of the war.

The Allies continue their eastward push from Normandy and close on the German border; in the east, the Soviet Union unleashes Operation Bagration, the greatest offensive of the war.

The Allies succeed in crossing the Rhine and fight their way through Germany as the Red Army finally forces Axis troops from Soviet territory and closes on the capital, Berlin.

The Allies succeed in crossing the Rhine and fight their way through Germany as the Red Army finally forces Axis troops from Soviet territory and closes on the capital, Berlin.

Livia, the first empress of Rome, came to regret the scheming that put her son Tiberius on the throne as he and his heir Caligula dragged the empire into an age of tyranny and shocking depravity.

What makes a successful war leader? Influential leaders of warfare all share a vision and the ability to inspire others to follow their orders, but how they lead differs hugely.

He is infamous for ordering the murder of all first-born male children in an attempt to prevent the coming of the Son of God Jesus Christ, but Herod may not be as evil as the Bible made out.

What makes a successful war leader? Influential leaders of warfare all share a vision and the ability to inspire others to follow their orders, but how they lead differs hugely.

Secrecy in war can mean the difference between victory and defeat; from spies to sabotage, military commanders often turn to secret plans at the height of war in order to gain a strategic advantage.

Secrecy in war can mean the difference between victory and defeat; from spies to sabotage, military commanders often turn to secret plans at the height of war in order to gain a strategic advantage.

The greatest 20th-century commanders understood warfare at both strategic and tactical level; some instilled loyalty in their troops through fear and intimidation while others inspired confidence.

The greatest 20th-century commanders understood warfare at both strategic and tactical level; some instilled loyalty in their troops through fear and intimidation while others inspired confidence.

What defines a successful fighting force? Warfare has changed radically over the last century, and armed forces have had to adapt to new technologies and tactics.

What defines a successful fighting force? Warfare has changed radically over the last century, and armed forces have had to adapt to new technologies and tactics.

The Mark 1 tank was first used in 1916 to give the Allies an advantage in the trenches; it changed how battles were fought and became the foundation of a century of innovation in armoured vehicles.

The Mark 1 tank was first used in 1916 to give the Allies an advantage in the trenches; it changed how battles were fought and became the foundation of a century of innovation in armoured vehicles.

The first empress of Rome, the ruthless Livia Drusilla, carved a corpse-strewn path to putting her own son on the emperor's throne before her golden dynasty descended into an age of terror.

Livia, the first empress of Rome, came to regret the scheming that put her son Tiberius on the throne as he and his heir Caligula dragged the empire into an age of tyranny and shocking depravity.

Claudius rose to the throne but was poisoned by his wife; after his successor Nero alienated Rome, Livia Drusilla's dynasty ended with brutal power struggles but having changed the course of history.

He is infamous for ordering the murder of all first-born male children in an attempt to prevent the coming of the Son of God Jesus Christ, but Herod may not be as evil as the Bible made out.

This episode traces the war in the West and how the geography of Western Europe provided both the Nazis and the Allies with advantages and disadvantages.

This episode traces the war in the West and how the geography of Western Europe provided both the Nazis and the Allies with advantages and disadvantages.

In this two-part series, we reveal the devastation inflicted on medieval Europe by the 14th-century outbreak of the plague that remains the deadliest recorded pandemic in history.

Catholic conspirators led by Robert Catesby plotted to blow up Parliament and kill King James I; Guy Fawkes was caught guarding the gunpowder, and an anonymous letter foiled the plan.

Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by senators; this episode explores murdered royals, including Danish King Erik IV, Pharaoh Ramesses III, and Persian King Darius III, all betrayed by near-allies.

Gladiator Spartacus led 70,000 slaves in rebellion against Rome in 73 B.C.E. / B.C., ending with 6,000 crucifixions; philosopher Hypatia was murdered in 415 C.E. / A.D. during religious conflict.

Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by senators; this episode explores murdered royals, including Danish King Erik IV, Pharaoh Ramesses III, and Persian King Darius III, all betrayed by near-allies.

Duke Louis d'Orléans was ambushed and killed in 1407 by rival John the Fearless, who claimed tyrannicide; Athenian general Alcibiades switched sides repeatedly before Persian assassins killed him.

Gladiator Spartacus led 70,000 slaves in rebellion against Rome in 73 B.C.E. / B.C., ending with 6,000 crucifixions; philosopher Hypatia was murdered in 415 C.E. / A.D. during religious conflict.

For 2,000 years, whoever controlled the Mediterranean controlled the resources of the known world. In WWII, this area was in control of the British Empire, and Mussolini wanted it back.

Duke Louis d'Orléans was ambushed and killed in 1407 by rival John the Fearless, who claimed tyrannicide; Athenian general Alcibiades switched sides repeatedly before Persian assassins killed him.

For 2,000 years, whoever controlled the Mediterranean controlled the resources of the known world. In WWII, this area was in control of the British Empire, and Mussolini wanted it back.

Albert Speer, Hitler's architect and armaments minister, built the industrial foundations of the Nazi war machine; after the downfall, he crafted a carefully managed myth to escape the gallows.

Lombard King Alboin forced his wife to drink from her father's skull, leading her to conspire in his murder; German King Philip of Swabia was killed in 1208 by Count Otto VIII over marriage disputes.

Starting in the beerhalls of post-First World War Munich, Adolf Hitler captivated a nation desperate for hope; a movement was sparked that drew a loyal inner circle together driven by ambition, extremism, and blind devotion. This sprawling series unravels how economic turmoil, wounded national pride, and 'charismatic' leadership gave rise to unprecedented brutality shaped by the men and women who stood closest to Hitler; each episode focuses on one Nazi figure and provides insight into their lives. These are the threads that made up Hitler's unleashed nightmare...

War hero Gilles de Rais was tried and executed in 1440 for murdering over 100 children; at the 1440 Black Dinner, the young Douglas brothers were invited to dine with the king, then seized and killed.

The Pazzi family attacked the Medicis during Easter Mass in 1478, killing Giuliano; Byzantine Empress Maria of Antioch was strangled in 1182 after her cousin Andronikos incited massacre.

War hero Gilles de Rais was tried and executed in 1440 for murdering over 100 children; at the 1440 Black Dinner, the young Douglas brothers were invited to dine with the king, then seized and killed.

King William Rufus was struck by an arrow while hunting in 1100; Japan's last Minamoto shōgun Sanetomo was assassinated by his nephew outside a shrine in 1219.

The Pazzi family attacked the Medicis during Easter Mass in 1478, killing Giuliano; Byzantine Empress Maria of Antioch was strangled in 1182 after her cousin Andronikos incited massacre.

The Eastern Front saw Hitler's most brutal WWII campaigns, but it is also where the Soviets, with mastery of the ground on which they lived, beat him all the way back to Berlin.

King William Rufus was struck by an arrow while hunting in 1100; Japan's last Minamoto shōgun Sanetomo was assassinated by his nephew outside a shrine in 1219.

The Eastern Front saw Hitler's most brutal WWII campaigns, but it is also where the Soviets, with mastery of the ground on which they lived, beat him all the way back to Berlin.

Starting in the beerhalls of post-First World War Munich, Adolf Hitler captivated a nation desperate for hope; a movement was sparked that drew a loyal inner circle together driven by ambition, extremism, and blind devotion. This sprawling series unravels how economic turmoil, wounded national pride, and 'charismatic' leadership gave rise to unprecedented brutality shaped by the men and women who stood closest to Hitler; each episode focuses on one Nazi figure and provides insight into their lives. These are the threads that made up Hitler's unleashed nightmare...

Scottish King Consort Darnley survived an explosion in 1567 but was then smothered; Cleopatra's sister Arsinoë IV was murdered at the Temple of Artemis by Mark Antony's soldiers, violating sacred law.

Emperor Caracalla was stabbed by conspirators led by Praetorian Prefect Macrinus; King Edward was murdered at Corfe Castle in 978, with suspicion falling on his stepmother Queen Aelfthryth.

Scottish King Consort Darnley survived an explosion in 1567 but was then smothered; Cleopatra's sister Arsinoë IV was murdered at the Temple of Artemis by Mark Antony's soldiers, violating sacred law.

In this two-part series, we reveal the devastation inflicted on medieval Europe by the 14th-century outbreak of the plague that remains the deadliest recorded pandemic in history.

In this two-part series, we reveal the devastation inflicted on medieval Europe by the 14th-century outbreak of the plague that remains the deadliest recorded pandemic in history.

In this two-part series, we reveal the devastation inflicted on medieval Europe by the 14th-century outbreak of the plague that remains the deadliest recorded pandemic in history.

In this two-part series, we reveal the devastation inflicted on medieval Europe by the 14th-century outbreak of the plague that remains the deadliest recorded pandemic in history.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, it won a battle and inherited a geographic problem. How to hold and defend a vast island empire scattered across the largest ocean on earth?

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, it won a battle and inherited a geographic problem. How to hold and defend a vast island empire scattered across the largest ocean on earth?

Albert Speer, Hitler's architect and armaments minister, built the industrial foundations of the Nazi war machine; after the downfall, he crafted a carefully managed myth to escape the gallows.

In the shadows of the Villa Oplontis, slave quarters, amphora, and Villa B recall the lives of the enslaved. The bodies of Vesuvius' victims are reminders of Rome's strict social hierarchy.

In the Bay of Naples, Villa Oplontis - a 2,000-year-old villa - reveals a buried world of luxury. As excavations resume, clues point to the infamous Poppaea Sabina, Nero's second wife.

Hermann Göring, Hitler's designated successor, was one of the regime's most visible leaders; as the war slipped away, so did his influence ending in a final act of defiance at Nuremberg.

In the Bay of Naples, Villa Oplontis - a 2,000-year-old villa - reveals a buried world of luxury. As excavations resume, clues point to the infamous Poppaea Sabina, Nero's second wife.

In the shadows of the Villa Oplontis, slave quarters, amphora, and Villa B recall the lives of the enslaved. The bodies of Vesuvius' victims are reminders of Rome's strict social hierarchy.

In the shadows of the Villa Oplontis, slave quarters, amphora, and Villa B recall the lives of the enslaved. The bodies of Vesuvius' victims are reminders of Rome's strict social hierarchy.

The games and entertainment, plus violence as a political instrument, with the Battle of Laugaricio (modern-day Slovakia), portraits of Commodus and Lucilla, and the legendary Colosseum.

The games and entertainment, plus violence as a political instrument, with the Battle of Laugaricio (modern-day Slovakia), portraits of Commodus and Lucilla, and the legendary Colosseum.

War, loyalty, citizenship and the plots of a changing empire with the massacres of Alexandria, portraits of Caracalla and Julia Domna, and the extraordinary Baths of Caracalla.

War, loyalty, citizenship and the plots of a changing empire with the massacres of Alexandria, portraits of Caracalla and Julia Domna, and the extraordinary Baths of Caracalla.

At the outbreak of World War II, the Nazis had the finest air force in the entire world. James Holland learns how internecine squabbles led the Nazi High Command on the catastrophic road to defeat.

The crucifixion of Jesus changed the world; how much of our understanding of this event is true, and what answers can be found in the Holy Land to back up the Bible's story?

Italian archaeologists begin the biggest dig in a generation at Pompeiil; they find a bakery, a wealthy house, and a fresco of a so-called 'pizza' before making a grisly discovery.

Berlin falls and the war in Europe ends. Okinawa falls with terrible losses on both sides as each prepares for the invasion of the first of the major home islands - but a new weapon is unleashed.

Berlin falls and the war in Europe ends. Okinawa falls with terrible losses on both sides as each prepares for the invasion of the first of the major home islands - but a new weapon is unleashed.

This episode traces the war in the West and how the geography of Western Europe provided both the Nazis and the Allies with advantages and disadvantages.

This episode traces the war in the West and how the geography of Western Europe provided both the Nazis and the Allies with advantages and disadvantages.

For 2,000 years, whoever controlled the Mediterranean controlled the resources of the known world. In WWII, this area was in control of the British Empire, and Mussolini wanted it back.

For 2,000 years, whoever controlled the Mediterranean controlled the resources of the known world. In WWII, this area was in control of the British Empire, and Mussolini wanted it back.

The Eastern Front saw Hitler's most brutal WWII campaigns, but it is also where the Soviets, with mastery of the ground on which they lived, beat him all the way back to Berlin.

The Eastern Front saw Hitler's most brutal WWII campaigns, but it is also where the Soviets, with mastery of the ground on which they lived, beat him all the way back to Berlin.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, it won a battle and inherited a geographic problem. How to hold and defend a vast island empire scattered across the largest ocean on earth?

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, it won a battle and inherited a geographic problem. How to hold and defend a vast island empire scattered across the largest ocean on earth?

Acclaimed classicist Mary Beard explores what it was really like to be emperor of Rome, taking us behind palace walls to reveal the hidden world of the Roman imperial court and lifestyle.

The struggle for victory necessitated development of gun technologies; new inventions would emerge on the battlefields and at times surprise soldiers on both sides of the fight.

World War II fostered the emergence of both iconic and unusual tanks that were each engineered with distinct aims; we explore diverse tank innovations and the overall trajectory of armoured warfare.

World War II fostered the emergence of both iconic and unusual tanks that were each engineered with distinct aims; we explore diverse tank innovations and the overall trajectory of armoured warfare.

World War II ignited a fierce battle for aerial dominance and drove nations to pioneer secret aircraft technologies; this episode explores the development of early jet fighters.

World War II ignited a fierce battle for aerial dominance and drove nations to pioneer secret aircraft technologies; this episode explores the development of early jet fighters.

World War II was a battle for supremacy at sea more than any other conflict before or since; in this episode, we explore how the secret weapons of naval warfare changed the tides of history.

World War II was a battle for supremacy at sea more than any other conflict before or since; in this episode, we explore how the secret weapons of naval warfare changed the tides of history.

WWII facilitated the use of technology to wreak destruction from afar; through success and failure, the bomb was and remains a weapon that can tip the balance in favour of those who wield its power.

The excavation of a wealthy villa, bakery and laundry in Pompeii reaches its climax with chilling revelations about what people were doing in the final terrifying hours in A.D. / C.E. 79.

This episode traces the war in the West and how the geography of Western Europe provided both the Nazis and the Allies with advantages and disadvantages.

This episode traces the war in the West and how the geography of Western Europe provided both the Nazis and the Allies with advantages and disadvantages.

For 2,000 years, whoever controlled the Mediterranean controlled the resources of the known world. In WWII, this area was in control of the British Empire, and Mussolini wanted it back.

For 2,000 years, whoever controlled the Mediterranean controlled the resources of the known world. In WWII, this area was in control of the British Empire, and Mussolini wanted it back.

The Eastern Front saw Hitler's most brutal WWII campaigns, but it is also where the Soviets, with mastery of the ground on which they lived, beat him all the way back to Berlin.

The Eastern Front saw Hitler's most brutal WWII campaigns, but it is also where the Soviets, with mastery of the ground on which they lived, beat him all the way back to Berlin.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, it won a battle and inherited a geographic problem. How to hold and defend a vast island empire scattered across the largest ocean on earth?

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, it won a battle and inherited a geographic problem. How to hold and defend a vast island empire scattered across the largest ocean on earth?

James Holland uncovers the truth behind Hitler's feared Panzer divisions and explores how the German obsession with over-engineering their armoured vehicles brought about their downfall.

James Holland uncovers the truth behind Hitler's feared Panzer divisions and explores how the German obsession with over-engineering their armoured vehicles brought about their downfall.

The onset of a violent storm in Staffordshire in England announced the discovery of the largest Anglo-Saxon hoard ever uncovered, but was the storm an omen of things to come?

Italian archaeologists begin the biggest dig in a generation at Pompeiil; they find a bakery, a wealthy house, and a fresco of a so-called 'pizza' before making a grisly discovery.

Italian archaeologists begin the biggest dig in a generation at Pompeiil; they find a bakery, a wealthy house, and a fresco of a so-called 'pizza' before making a grisly discovery.

A new excavation at Pompeii continues to unearth rich discoveries while a pioneering new investigation finds evidence that some Pompeiians survived the eruption of A.D. / C.E. 79.

A new excavation at Pompeii continues to unearth rich discoveries while a pioneering new investigation finds evidence that some Pompeiians survived the eruption of A.D. / C.E. 79.

The excavation of a wealthy villa, bakery and laundry in Pompeii reaches its climax with chilling revelations about what people were doing in the final terrifying hours in A.D. / C.E. 79.

The excavation of a wealthy villa, bakery and laundry in Pompeii reaches its climax with chilling revelations about what people were doing in the final terrifying hours in A.D. / C.E. 79.

The biggest archaeological dig in Pompeii for a generation reaches its climax as the dig moves focus to a luxurious residence possibly owned by Pompeiian bigwig and politician Aulus Rustius Verus.

The biggest archaeological dig in Pompeii for a generation reaches its climax as the dig moves focus to a luxurious residence possibly owned by Pompeiian bigwig and politician Aulus Rustius Verus.

The economy, trade and commercial power of Rome on the eve of the Empire with the Battle of Alesia, portraits of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and the Pantheon, the temple of all gods.

The economy, trade and commercial power of Rome on the eve of the Empire with the Battle of Alesia, portraits of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and the Pantheon, the temple of all gods.

The economy, trade and commercial power of Rome on the eve of the Empire with the Battle of Alesia, portraits of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and the Pantheon, the temple of all gods.

The aristocracy and the perils of power in the time of a feared emperor with Boudicca's revolt, portraits of Nero and Boudicca, and Nero's incredible palace of the Domus Aurea.

The aristocracy and the perils of power in the time of a feared emperor with Boudicca's revolt, portraits of Nero and Boudicca, and Nero's incredible palace of the Domus Aurea.

The games and entertainment, plus violence as a political instrument, with the Battle of Laugaricio (modern-day Slovakia), portraits of Commodus and Lucilla, and the legendary Colosseum.

The games and entertainment, plus violence as a political instrument, with the Battle of Laugaricio (modern-day Slovakia), portraits of Commodus and Lucilla, and the legendary Colosseum.

War, loyalty, citizenship and the plots of a changing empire with the massacres of Alexandria, portraits of Caracalla and Julia Domna, and the extraordinary Baths of Caracalla.

War, loyalty, citizenship and the plots of a changing empire with the massacres of Alexandria, portraits of Caracalla and Julia Domna, and the extraordinary Baths of Caracalla.

From Lugers to MG42 machine guns and the Pak40 anti-tank gun, James Holland uncovers how the craftsmanship of German weapons engineering was totally unsuited to fighting a long attritional war.

The aristocracy and the perils of power in the time of a feared emperor with Boudicca's revolt, portraits of Nero and Boudicca, and Nero's incredible palace of the Domus Aurea.

The biggest archaeological dig in Pompeii for a generation reaches its climax as the dig moves focus to a luxurious residence possibly owned by Pompeiian bigwig and politician Aulus Rustius Verus.

Pierrefonds looks like a 14th-century fortress, yet it is a 19th-century masterpiece. We uncover how a ruined stronghold became a revolutionary hybrid of Middle Ages and Industrial Age innovation.

Pierrefonds looks like a 14th-century fortress, yet it is a 19th-century masterpiece. We uncover how a ruined stronghold became a revolutionary hybrid of Middle Ages and Industrial Age innovation.

Rising 80 metres above Athens, the Acropolis is a high-speed engineering feat forged in an age of war and political ambition. This episode decodes the logistics behind the Parthenon.

Rising 80 metres above Athens, the Acropolis is a high-speed engineering feat forged in an age of war and political ambition. This episode decodes the logistics behind the Parthenon.

Neuschwanstein is Louis II of Bavaria's 19th-century fairy-tale castle that inspired Walt Disney. Inside, medieval fantasy hides modern innovation: steel beams, plumbing, and central heating.

Neuschwanstein is Louis II of Bavaria's 19th-century fairy-tale castle that inspired Walt Disney. Inside, medieval fantasy hides modern innovation: steel beams, plumbing, and central heating.

Begun in 1882, the Sagrada Família became Gaudí's radical engineering laboratory. In 2026, the church yet to be finished, builders use modern engineering to raise the 170-metre spires above Barcelona.

Begun in 1882, the Sagrada Família became Gaudí's radical engineering laboratory. In 2026, the church yet to be finished, builders use modern engineering to raise the 170-metre spires above Barcelona.

With Nazi Germany's rise to power, an abandoned canal was resurrected; the true purpose of this project came into question with rumours it harboured a secret that could turn the tide of the war.

With Nazi Germany's rise to power, an abandoned canal was resurrected; the true purpose of this project came into question with rumours it harboured a secret that could turn the tide of the war.