You can find some of the best war documentaries on television every Tuesday night on WLRN - TV, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Weapons of World War II: Machine Guns (8:00 pm)
Unlike World War I, the machine gun did not dominate the battlefield of World War II, but it remained a highly potent weapon. Whether incorporated into the wings of fighter planes such as the Spitfire and Messerschmitt, or used by infantry on the battlefield as a submachine, it packed a considerable punch. This program looks at its many forms and its influence on warfare
Weapons of World War II: Fast Attack Boats (8:30 pm)
Fast patrol boats, armed with torpedoes and machine guns, were the marine raiders of World War II. This program looks at some of their most spectacular raids, as well as the incident involving future President of the United States, John Kennedy, in a clash with a Japanese destroyer At the beginning of World War II, battleships were seen as the key weapon at sea, their huge firepower dominated the waves but over the next six years their vulnerability was exposed by the submarine and aircraft. This program looks at the great clashes of the ships such as Bismarck and King George V and the way in which the battleships' role changed to that of shore bombardment and escort work.
Killing Hitler (9:00 pm)
How could British agents have killed Hitler in World War II? If an operation had been launched, would it have actually succeeded in killing the Fuhrer? Or was this really a mission impossible? In an innovative mix of fact and dramatic reconstruction, Killing Hitler unearths the story of Operation Foxley, the top secret plan hatched by the British in June 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
Hitler’s Favorite Royal (10:00 pm)
Hitler’s Favorite Royal is a documentary that tells the extraordinary story of the young English prince, Charles Edward, who became a forgotten footnote in the royal family's history because of his relationship with Germany and, ultimately, Adolf Hitler. The program, narrated by Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton, features exclusive first-ever interviews with the convicted Nazi's granddaughters.
