Part 3 in the eight-part series Grand Strategy of World War II
Presented by Michael Howard

1941. Hitler has abandoned his plans for a cross-Channel invasion, and faces the unpalatable fact that Britain - as stubborn as ever - will fight on, with America openly giving support. So to avoid being ground down in a war of material, Hitler must get the resources he lacks.
On 22 June Germany invades Russia, and the massive Blitzkrieg machine rolls eastwards. By December Hitler's troops are just a few miles from Moscow. But now the German Army is confronted by two underestimated factors - the severe Russian winter, and the Soviet concept of war-in-depth which is backed up by massive industrial centres deep in the Russian interior.
Tonight Michael Howard analyses why Hitler tackled Russia and thought he could win - why the drive on Moscow failed - and how he misjudged the situation of the Soviet leadership. He also presents films of 'Operation Barbarossa' (the code-name for the German drive into Russia) and the vital Battle for Moscow.

(Colour)