WWII Generals at War

We start this series with two of the most charismatic generals of all time. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, and General Bernard Montgomery clash over a barren stretch of rocky desert in Egypt. Each is determined to outwit the other in a bloody battle of minds and men. The outcome of their battle turns Hitler's fortunes in North Africa and gives the British their first win of the war.

1943: Germany and Russia clash near the Soviet city of Kursk as each vies for control of the Eastern Front. The Germans are led by Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, an aristocratic master tactician. Facing him is the Red Army's Marshal Zhukov, a ruthless, opinionated, and dangerous force. The two armies meet in a titanic clash of tanks which would change the course of the war.

1944: Adolf Hitler plays his last trump card, a gigantic offensive in the West, using his last troops and material. Leading the charge is Field Marshal Walther Model. If US General Omar Bradley can't contain the German advance, Adolf Hitler could easily win a victory that may end the Allies' invasion of Germany. How did this pivotal moment in the war play out?

1942: The United States Navy has just been devastated at Pearl Harbor, but the Japanese attackers fail to destroy an important American asset: US aircraft carriers. To wipe out these carriers once and for all, Japanese Admiral Nagumo lays a trap for US Admiral Fletcher. However, what Nagumo doesn't know is that Fletcher has a lethal secret: he has cracked Nagumo's cyphers and knows his plan.

1942: As the Germans storm across the Soviet Union, Hitler becomes obsessed with taking Stalingrad, the city which bears the name of his archenemy, Joseph Stalin. The German army is led by General Paulus, a meticulous war gamer. Facing him across the map table is Soviet General Chuikov, a hardened fighter who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

In 1941, the British underestimated the fighting ability of the Japanese until Japan launched a surprise attack on Singapore. British General Arthur Percival was tasked with defending the wealthy colonies of Malaya and Singapore. General Tomoyuki Yamashita lead the "driving charge" to oust him. The Japanese were outnumbered, but with help, they might just put the British to rout..