The Buildings that Fought Hitler
Discussion
Recently discovered this on the Yesterday channel.
It's presented by Rob Bell, who you may know as a talking head from shows like Abandoned Engineering and Secret Nazi Bunkers, but unlike those shows this is a proper documentary series that does not tease you or string things out.
Despite the title, it doesn't confine itself to just buildings, and is more of a history of WW2 with an emphasis on infrastructure. One episode is entirely dedicated to Radar, for example.
Recommended.
(edited because I simply cannot leave a typo)
It's presented by Rob Bell, who you may know as a talking head from shows like Abandoned Engineering and Secret Nazi Bunkers, but unlike those shows this is a proper documentary series that does not tease you or string things out.
Despite the title, it doesn't confine itself to just buildings, and is more of a history of WW2 with an emphasis on infrastructure. One episode is entirely dedicated to Radar, for example.
Recommended.
(edited because I simply cannot leave a typo)
Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Saturday 12th June 17:31
I was disappointed that it didn't cover the Government Pipeline Storage System. None of these programmes ever cover this. Just as secret as all the others, in some ways even more so.
Though the one about the planning for the auxiliary guerrilla forces in case of invasion was interesting.
As was the approach to the Battle of Britain which very effectively dealt with the narrative that this was all about "The Few" but was actually a huge coordinated operation at all sorts of levels and involved many diverse operational units.
Though the one about the planning for the auxiliary guerrilla forces in case of invasion was interesting.
As was the approach to the Battle of Britain which very effectively dealt with the narrative that this was all about "The Few" but was actually a huge coordinated operation at all sorts of levels and involved many diverse operational units.
FiF said:
I was disappointed that it didn't cover the Government Pipeline Storage System. None of these programmes ever cover this. Just as secret as all the others, in some ways even more so.
Perhaps we will be lucky and get a second series.FiF said:
Though the one about the planning for the auxiliary guerrilla forces in case of invasion was interesting.
As was the approach to the Battle of Britain which very effectively dealt with the narrative that this was all about "The Few" but was actually a huge coordinated operation at all sorts of levels and involved many diverse operational units.
Yes. This is what I liked about it. It acknowledged a more holistic overview than the usual sensationalism.As was the approach to the Battle of Britain which very effectively dealt with the narrative that this was all about "The Few" but was actually a huge coordinated operation at all sorts of levels and involved many diverse operational units.
"The Few.... supported by The Many" was a sound bite that I thought was very germain.
TheRainMaker said:
FiF said:
I was disappointed that it didn't cover the Government Pipeline Storage System. None of these programmes ever cover this. Just as secret as all the others, in some ways even more so.
.
Isn’t it still classified “secret”?.
Until 2015, definitely yes, then it was sold off to a Spanish company. There is still no publicly available accurate map, there's a digital mapping project apparently. No idea at what stage that is currently. The whole route is walked every few years. Freedom of Information requests get a firm Foxtrot Oscar which supports the answer still a secret.
Yet if you own land crossed by the pipeline you are required to not do any work within 3 metres, but in terms of detailed route all you get is entry and exit points. Very helpful.
There was a BBC piece on it but no longer available and there's something on YouTube, fairly short contains a few errors but of interest maybe https://youtu.be/H-I6drGa2pk
coppernorks said:
Unwieldy title, Yesterday believe unless Hitler is in the title no-one will tune in.
The Buildings that Fought Hitler was interesting to me as, during lockdown, I've explored many of the military pillboxes and defences around the Surrey/Hampshire border.
The presenter is perfect, I think, interesting without being sensationalist or 'wacky' as so many seem to be these days (aside from a lot of outdoor jackets - everything seemed to have been filmed in the winter), he resolutely fought the urge to dress up (or as Yesterday would say 'fought the urge to dress up like Hitler or one of Hitler's foes"
)Good series, especially if you're not already deeply familiar with the subjects.
M
Clockwork Cupcake] said:
, but unlike those shows this is a proper documentary series that does not tease you or string things out.
Thanks for I'll give it a go. I saw the trailer and just assumed it would be exactly that, although i did have an amusing chuckle it the idea of a Charlie Chaplin Hitler being in a jinxed house where he keeps standing up and banging his head on shelves and tripping on a rug then falling down the stairs.
Completely coincidentally there's an obituary in today's DAT for a chap called Ian Mower, just died aged 97, one of the last of the auxiliary units tasked with the guerrilla fight to the death in case of invasion. He didn't know until the 1990's that his father also served but in a different unit as they never talked about it.
One of their secret operational bases was discovered by two schoolboys playing truant who had time of their lives surrounded by weapons, ammunition and other devices. Base had to be abandoned, not discovered again until 60 years after war ended.
One of their secret operational bases was discovered by two schoolboys playing truant who had time of their lives surrounded by weapons, ammunition and other devices. Base had to be abandoned, not discovered again until 60 years after war ended.
Watched the Dorset themed episode last night.
Must have been filmed last summer as Weymouth Bay was full of the cruise ships waiting for holidays to restart again.
The D-Day museum on Portland is worth checking out if people are in the area, but is v small so doesn't take long. However they aren't squeamish about you touching exhibits and encourage you to play on the anti-aircraft gun etc.
Ideal to pair with the tank museum perhaps (also Tyneham is a short stones throw from the Tank Museum)
Must have been filmed last summer as Weymouth Bay was full of the cruise ships waiting for holidays to restart again.
The D-Day museum on Portland is worth checking out if people are in the area, but is v small so doesn't take long. However they aren't squeamish about you touching exhibits and encourage you to play on the anti-aircraft gun etc.
Ideal to pair with the tank museum perhaps (also Tyneham is a short stones throw from the Tank Museum)
Truckosaurus said:
Watched the Dorset themed episode last night.
Must have been filmed last summer as Weymouth Bay was full of the cruise ships waiting for holidays to restart again.
It still is full of cruise ships!Must have been filmed last summer as Weymouth Bay was full of the cruise ships waiting for holidays to restart again.
Not quite as many as last year and over the winter months, but there are still half a dozen out there...
M
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