The Call of Duty

History often turns war into legend, overshadowing its horrors with tales of heroism. From ancient battles to modern films, victors' narratives dominate. Yet, 20th-century photography and film revealed war's true duality-its darkest moments and finest qualities. The Call of Duty chronicles WWII, starting with Episode 1, exploring the tumultuous path to mankind's most devastating conflict.

By autumn 1939, Europe's fragile peace was shattered as Nazi Germany invaded Poland, igniting World War II. Fueled by vengeance from WWI, Hitler's Wehrmacht and Stalin's Red Army advanced relentlessly. Ill-prepared, the Allies faced a fading empire's glory against the rising Third Reich. This episode traces the invasion of Poland and the early strategies that set the stage for the conflict.

In May 1940, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister, vowing "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" as Europe collapsed under Hitler's advance. With France near defeat and Allied soldiers trapped at Dunkirk, Churchill faced a critical challenge. This episode, with stunning colourised footage, captures the drama and resilience that defined his leadership during Britain's darkest hour.

By June 1940, the Nazis had overrun much of Europe, leaving destruction in its wake. With Paris fallen and Allied forces in retreat, Hitler seemed unstoppable. Yet, Great Britain stood firm, refusing to yield. As the Luftwaffe launched its assault, the British people united with unshakable resolve, ready to defend their homeland at any cost. Witness the story of a nation's courage and defiance.

By 1940, WWII reached a turning point. Hitler's blitzkrieg dominated Europe, but Britain's defiance in the Battle of Britain marked his first major defeat. As the Blitz tested London's resolve, the war expanded globally. In North Africa, British forces gained ground, Japan allied with the Nazis, and tensions rose with the USSR. Episode 5 reveals how the war became a global conflict.

As 1940 ended, Britain faced the Blitz-Hitler's brutal aerial assault aimed at breaking morale. This episode captures fiery infernos, heroic firefighters, and civilians sheltering underground. By 1941, battered but unbroken, Britain fought on with resilience. Through vivid colorisation, Liam Dale brings this harrowing chapter to life, honoring the sacrifices of WWII.

By 1941, WWII was at a critical point. With France under Nazi control, Britain stood alone in Western Europe, enduring relentless air raids. Meanwhile, the Allies scored a vital victory at Cape Matapan, but Rommel's campaign in North Africa intensified the conflict. Hitler's Operation Barbarossa aimed at the Soviet Union, changing the war's course. This episode explores 1941's pivotal events.

As the second anniversary of the outbreak of WWII approached in September 1941, Hitler shifted focus eastward, launching Operation Barbarossa on June 22. Confident in a quick victory, he underestimated Soviet resilience. Meanwhile, Japan was too embroiled in China and tensions with the U.S. to help. This episode examines the critical moments of 1941 as Germany's largest invasion faltered.

By late 1941, war had raged across Europe, Asia, and Africa for over two years. Europe lived in fear, while atrocities unfolded in camps. In Africa, the Allies clashed with Axis powers, and Japan's bombings devastated China. Britain, reeling from the blitz, found respite as Hitler turned eastward. In December 1941, pivotal events pushed the U.S. into the heart of WWII.

In early 1942, the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore marked a devastating blow for Britain. The fall of Singapore led to 80,000 POWs, with Churchill calling it Britain's "worst disaster." Japan, facing resource shortages due to U.S. embargoes, attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, crippling the U.S. fleet and ensuring Japan's control of vital resources in the South Pacific.

By 1942, WWII had expanded beyond Europe and North Africa, with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor marking a global shift. The Pacific Theatre escalated, with Japan advancing toward Australia and the U.S. coast. However, from April to June 1942, America countered Japan's dominance with key victories at Midway, the Coral Sea, and the Doolittle Raids, marking a pivotal turning point in the war.

By summer 1942, WWII had raged for nearly three years, with Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland escalating into a global conflict. Axis powers Germany, Italy, and Japan fought across continents. In North Africa, German and Italian forces reached El Alamein, threatening Cairo and the Suez Canal. The outcome of these battles would decide the fate of the Western Desert Offensive and WWII's course.

In 1942, Hitler's forces advanced deep into Russia, battling the Red Army in Stalingrad and pushing toward the Caucasus. In North Africa, the Axis threatened Egypt and Middle Eastern oil fields. Meanwhile, Japan expanded across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Despite widespread horror, by autumn 1942, the tides of war began to shift, offering a glimmer of hope.

By 1943, WWII had become a global conflict, with nations aligned with either the Allies or Axis. Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union ended in disaster at Stalingrad, where German forces suffered a crushing defeat. This marked a turning point as the Red Army began pushing back. Meanwhile, the US and RAF launched strategic bombing raids, weakening the Axis and diminishing Hitler's hold.

1943 was a turning point in WWII. Allied strategies began to show results as Axis powers weakened. In North Africa, Eisenhower's forces defeated German and Italian troops, forcing a retreat. This victory diverted resources from the Eastern Front. The Allies also pressured Germany with bombing campaigns, while in the seas, new technologies helped shift the balance in the Battle of the Atlantic.

By 1943, Germany's war machine was crumbling after the defeat at Stalingrad. The Allies, gaining momentum, began turning the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic by July. Strategies by Churchill and Roosevelt forced German U-Boats to retreat. This success paved the way for Operation Overlord, the historic invasion of Western Europe, a critical step toward liberation.

When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, few could predict the global impact. By winter 1943, the war had spread worldwide, and Nazi and Japanese war crimes-especially against Jews-became clear. The Allies formed the United Nations Commission on War Crimes in October 1943, ensuring accountability. The final months of 1943 marked key campaigns and set the stage for future Allied offensives.

As 1944 dawned, the Allies prepared for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Northern France that would change history. In Germany, Hitler and his commanders braced for the assault, knowing it was imminent but uncertain of its timing or location. With the tide turning against the Axis, Hitler's public appearances grew rare as the Allies advanced on both fronts, tightening their grip on victory.

The serene beaches of Northern France were once the site of the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944-D-Day. Known as the 'Côte de Nacre' or 'Mother of Pearl Coast,' these shores bear the weight of the courageous Allied assault to liberate Western Europe from Nazi control. This episode highlights D-Day's pivotal role in WWII and its lasting legacy in history.

By the summer of 1944, WWII was turning in favor of the Allies. Key victories in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy weakened Germany's hold. In the east, Soviet forces advanced after Stalingrad, while the Pacific saw growing Allied strength against Japan. Operation Overlord, culminating in D-Day on June 6th, was a decisive victory that paved the way for the liberation of Western Europe.

By October 1944, Germany's propaganda could no longer hide the failing Nazi war effort. Once unstoppable, Hitler's forces were now in retreat, especially after the U.S. entered the war. A key turning point came in late 1942, when General Bernard Montgomery's British forces defeated Rommel at El Alamein. With the Allies advancing, the momentum had shifted, bringing the war to its final stages.

As January 1945 began, World War II entered its sixth year. The Allies' hope for a quick victory by Christmas had been shattered by fierce German resistance, logistics issues, and harsh winter. British, American, and Russian forces were closing in on Berlin, while in the Pacific, the push against Japan intensified. The final victory was near, but the cost would be immense, and the fight continued.

By April 1945, WWII's end was near. Allied forces advanced into Nazi Germany, while Hitler, holed up in his Berlin bunker, clung to power as the Third Reich crumbled. In the Pacific, the U.S. pressure on Japan intensified, with overwhelming force and B-29 bombers closing in. Leaders like Winston Churchill ensured that the sacrifices made would not be in vain, as the world awaited the war's end.

As victory in Europe ended Hitler's reign, the Pacific war raged on with Japan refusing to surrender. With mounting Allied casualties and a full-scale U.S. invasion looming, unprecedented decisions emerged. The final stages of WWII not only ended the bloodiest war in history but ushered in a new era of warfare, reshaping global relations and military strategy forever.