Battlefield Mysteries

Anyone else watched it ?

I thought I would start an individual thread on this TV programme as it was so good.

The first episode was on last night and is repeated on several times this month on the Discovery Channel.

The first one being about Whittmann and who killed him. Without going into too much detail so as not to spoil it for anyone wishingto watch the programme it is very good.

The battlefield is walked by several historians including local historians and interviews withs ome locals too. There are several veteran interviews from members of the Sherbrookes and Northhampton Yoemanry who were there.

GPS and various survey equipement is used to place the tanks in 1944 for WW2 arial photographs and there is a healthy smuttering of computer graphics thrown in for good measure.

It's been a while since I've watched a WW2 documentary and this didn't let the side down. There's a French chap in it too that appears to have most of Whittmanns tank in his house too !

A must see documentry in my book and I'm looking forward to episode No.2 about Malta.

Cheers

 

Not heard of this but just found it on Sky and set it to record.

 

Also available on YouTube (confirmed by Andy) with an Americanised narration.

I'll reserve comment on the content for the existing thread on Wittmann's demise in an attempt to keep things tidy...

 

Cheers Drew just V+ it for tonight

 

Very well put together documentary, like Andy I wasnt tempted to flick and watched it all the way through, some surprising findings too...

 

Just caught this after recording it. Surprised to see an old friend, Norm Christie, presenting it. Norm used to work for CWGC back in the 90s.

Thought it was a well made doco with good use of film, actuality and technology.

And worth it just to see an interview with Ken Tout.

 

Greatly enjoyed the programme Drew.

 

Watched it last night and thought it was very good! It reminded me of a similar programme I saw ages ago but I think it was called "Battlefield Detectives" and it was about the 'Little Big Horn'. It used similar techniques to track various US soldiers and Indians around the battlefield.
I will definitely be watching the rest!!

 

I've just noticed that it's on Sky "Anytime TV" until tomorrow.

 

Also available on YouTube (confirmed by Andy) with an Americanised narration.

I'll reserve comment on the content for the existing thread on Wittmann's demise in an attempt to keep things tidy...

Americanised!
Damn, we hate it when that happens.
The host, Norm Christie, is a well known Canadian military historian and author.

 

Americanised!
Damn, we hate it when that happens.
The host, Norm Christie, is a well known Canadian military historian and author.

Narrator*, not presenter!

I've seen Due South and South Park, so I know all aboot the difference, thank you kindly

* Unless the narrator's a Canadian too, in which case: sorry.

 

Andrew,
We may have to call it a draw.
Breakthrough Entertainment is a Canadian company but they obviously partner with the BBC, PBS, Discovery, etc. Although the the version broadcast here had a Canadian narrator, I suspect that they may overlay different narrators to suit the audience. Clearly, France 5 would have a different voice. Quebecois French wouldn't wash over there.

 

Just watched the Wittman episode on youtube. Very interesting indeed!



Jakob

 

Just finished watching the second episode and again it didn't dissapoint !

Some really good 'Then and Now' videos and accounts from vets....I was rather surprised their was no mention of the George Cross though.

Roll on Episode 3 !

 

Out of interest, what was Malta's 'mystery'? Don't spoil the ending, though.

 

There wasn't one really...I mainly focused on the RAF defending the isalnd through 1941 and walked the battlefields with a Canadian Spitfire pilot who came across as a top bloke and was very moved on occasions recollecting on what he did.

There is also a good account on what the RA was doing and again the old emplacements were walked by a RA Major from the time who came across as a great chap.

The Royal Navy and the convoys is covered too.

In general it gives you a good account of what happened in Malta, something which I knew little about.

 

I'll see if that one turns up on YouTube.

Keep your eyes open for The Valour and the Horror which I remember as a very good series about the Canadians in WW2. It came across as very honest and not at all gung-ho.

 

Out of interest, what was Malta's 'mystery'? Don't spoil the ending, though.

I was a bit disappointed there was no mention or even showing the Lascaris War Rooms the most important place during the siege of Malta, "The mystery is trying to find the entrance", I visited the War rooms while on holiday to Malta and found it a great WW2 experience, there is still a lot to see of the war on Malta and would recommended it for WW2 buffs.

 

Another good one tonight about the De Haviland Mosquito and the 'Bandits of the Air'.

Interesting to find out they were used against the V-1's in the air.