The Second World War has inspired Hollywood since the start of the war itself, with classic films portraying heroic deeds and iconic battles.
The National Archives holds a large number of records about the events featured in six of the most popular war films of all time. In our ‘War on Film’ videocast series William Spencer, one of our military records specialists, explores the true stories behind these films and uses original records to depict actual events.
Published date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT
‘Carve Her Name With Pride’ tells the moving story of Violette Szabo, a young woman living in London during the Second World War. After a whirlwind romance she marries a French army officer stationed in London, who is sent off to fight in Africa and is killed there before he can meet their daughter.
Soon after her daughter’s birth, Violette is recruited as a spy by the British government, working in the Special Operations Executive. Her first mission to France ends in disaster when she is forced to return to England, after a Nazi officer discovers her identity. She is sent back to France on another mission, which results in her capture and eventual execution.
Author: The National Archives Duration: 04:37 File size: 42Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
Published date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:00:00 GMT
The Normandy landings, as depicted in the film ‘The Longest Day’, were among the most significant operations of the Second World War. The combined naval, air and land assault – commonly known as D-Day - signified a major breakthrough for Allied forces.
Author: The National Archives Duration: 05:44 File size: 53Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
Published date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:00:00 GMT
‘The Great Escape’, one of the most popular war films of all, tells the story of a daring group of prisoners of war who tunnel their way to freedom from Stalag Luft III, a Polish prisoner-of-war camp.
Author: The National Archives Duration: 03:00 File size: 20Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
Published date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:00:00 GMT
‘The Man Who Never Was’ tells the fascinating tale of Operation Mincemeat. This elaborate deception aimed to make the Axis powers believe that the Allies would attempt to enter Europe through Greece and Sardinia, rather than the actual target of Sicily.
Author: The National Archives Duration: 03:20 File size: 66Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
Published date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:00:00 GMT
‘The Dam Busters’ tells the story of 617 Squadron and its daring and extremely difficult mission, which went on to become one of the most famous episodes of the Second World War.
Author: The National Archives Duration: 04:22 File size: 87Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
Published date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:00:00 GMT
‘Hope and Glory’ tells the story of a young boy growing up in London during the Second World War. The film explores two themes that greatly affected the Home Front during the war, the Blitz and evacuation.
Author: The National Archives Duration: 04:12 File size: 40Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
Published date: Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT
During the night of 24 March 1944, 76 airmen escaped from the Prisoner of War camp Stalag Luft III. Only three made it home and, of the remainder, 50 were murdered on Hitler's orders. This talk will explain what actually happened in the so-called Great Escape, one of the Second World War's most infamous incidents.
Author: Alan Bowgen Duration: 52:42 File Size: 37Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
Published date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:00:00 GMT
This talk looks at the results and effectiveness of the British Special Operations Executive, or SEO, and the French Resistance in supporting the Second World War D-Day landings.
Author: Neil Cobbett Duration: 1:01:26 File size: 29Mb
Further information, show notes and transcript
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