World War II: 1941 & The Man Of Steel

Season 1

In this BBC history documentary, David Reynolds reassesses Stalin's role in the life and death struggle between the Nazis and Russia during World War II. Stalin's name means 'man of steel', but the reality of 1941 did not live up to that title. Russia was almost annihilated by Hitler as Stalin lurched from crisis to crisis. How were Churchill and FDR drawn into an alliance with the dictator?

20112 episodes

16+

Special Interest

This video is currently unavailable
to watch in your location

Episode number
Newest episodes
Available to watch

S1 E1 - Part 1
June 12, 2011
46min
TV-PG
In the first part of this critically acclaimed BBC documentary, historian David Reynolds uses original telegrams and documents to revisit Stalin's approach to World War II. The man himself was not considered exceptional: short, tubby, with a ruthless streak and a comical Georgian accent (in the eyes of other Russians). How was he able to put aside his shortcomings and turn the tide of the war?
This video is currently unavailable
S1 E2 - Part 2
June 12, 2011
45min
TV-14
After a series of devastating defeats and military blunders, Stalin managed to learn from his mistakes. Something that Hitler was incapable of doing, as David Reynolds surmises in the second part of this exceptional BBC documentary. But it was Stalin's strained relationship with Churchill that was pivotal to the war's outcome. Did one boozy evening out together cement an alliance between them?
This video is currently unavailable