Storyline

Father-and-son team Peter and Dan Snow embark on an epic journey to describe battles that transformed the 20th century. Known for its extensive use of "sand table" CGI effects to help viewers visualize the battles.

First Aired

2007-06-04
Last Aired

2007-07-23
Creator
Genre

Documentary, War & Politics
Seasons

1
Episodes

8
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

BBC Two

Keywords:

world war ii combat battle strategy 20th century tactical warfare

Stream and watch Twentieth Century Battlefields

Season 1

1. 1918 Western Front

The British army used new tactics to break the Germans and fought the biggest tank battle yet seen to ...More

The British army used new tactics to break the Germans and fought the biggest tank battle yet seen to achieve decisive victory. The Snows visit the scarred terrain of the Western Front in Northern France to tell the story of the 1918 Battle of Amiens.Less

59mins 2007-06-04

2. 1942 Midway

It was the birth of a new type of sea warfare where bombers did all the damage, and enemy ships wouldn...More

It was the birth of a new type of sea warfare where bombers did all the damage, and enemy ships wouldn't even see each other. The Snows fly to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to recount the battle of Midway.Less

59mins 2007-06-11

3. 1942 Stalingrad

While Soviet citizens held on for life in the shattered city, Hitler's army froze to death in the coun...More

While Soviet citizens held on for life in the shattered city, Hitler's army froze to death in the countryside. The Snows travel to Russia to tell the story of Stalingrad - one of the most epic battles of World War II.Less

59mins 2007-06-18

4. 1951 Korea

American landings at Inchon were one of the largest amphibious attacks in history, and a few hundred B...More

American landings at Inchon were one of the largest amphibious attacks in history, and a few hundred British soldiers on the banks of the Imjin river stemmed a tide of thousands of attacking Chinese. The Snows journey to the border between North and South Korea to examine two important engagements of the Korean War - a war between Communist and Nationalist forces that embroiled soldiers from around the world, and remains unsettled more than 50 years on.Less

59mins 2007-06-25

5. 1968 Vietnam

Communist fighters launched major attacks from a claustrophobic network of tunnels, and US marines had...More

Communist fighters launched major attacks from a claustrophobic network of tunnels, and US marines had to flush them out. The Snows explore the Tet Offensive of 1968, the turning point of the Vietnam War.Less

59mins 2007-07-02

6. 1973 Middle East

In Egypt's 1973 surprise attack on Israel, thousands of soldiers and hundreds of tanks crossed the Sue...More

In Egypt's 1973 surprise attack on Israel, thousands of soldiers and hundreds of tanks crossed the Suez Canal and pushed into the Sinai desert, using the latest technology to stop Israeli tanks in their tracks. The Snows travel to Israel to unpack the complex history of conflict in the Middle East that culminated in the Yom Kippur War.Less

59mins 2007-07-09

7. 1982 Falklands

Night-fighting and air support proved crucial when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982 - th...More

Night-fighting and air support proved crucial when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982 - the last battle on British territory. The Snows fly 8,000 miles to the South Atlantic to tell the story of how the British Task Force fought back to regain control.Less

59mins 2007-07-16

8. 1991 Gulf

Allied air forces deployed revolutionary new technology like stealth bombers and precision-guided bomb...More

Allied air forces deployed revolutionary new technology like stealth bombers and precision-guided bombs while ground troops prepared for the possibility of Iraqi gas attacks. The Snows go to Kuwait to tell the story of Operation Desert Storm - a war dominated by cutting-edge technology and ruthless political calculation.Less