Watch Great Raids of World War II

Great Raids of World War II is a documentary series about some of the most daring and dangerous raids carried out by the Allied forces during World War II. Hosted by the well-known British actor Robert Powell, the series explores the ingenuity, courage, and resourcefulness of the soldiers and commanders who risked their lives to achieve their objectives behind enemy lines.

Over the course of six episodes, Great Raids of World War II takes a closer look at some of the most famous and significant raids of the war, ranging from the daring attacks on German airfields in North Africa to the audacious mission to capture a German-held hydroelectric plant in Norway. Each episode combines archive footage, expert analysis, and powerful reenactments to bring the stories of these raids to life.

The first episode, titled "The Guns of Navarone", tells the story of the raid on the German-held island of Navarone in the Aegean Sea. Powell takes viewers through the planning and execution of the raid, which involved a team of British commandos scaling sheer cliffs, blowing up massive German gun emplacements, and escaping under heavy fire. The episode also explores the inspiration behind the raid, which was the subject of the bestselling novel and blockbuster movie of the same name.

In "Desert Raiders", the second episode, Powell turns his attention to the daring raids carried out by the Long Range Desert Group in North Africa. This highly trained and specialized unit of British and Commonwealth soldiers carried out reconnaissance, sabotage, and raids on German airfields and supply lines throughout the harsh desert terrain. Powell examines the tactics and successes of this unit, which played a significant role in the Allied victory in North Africa.

The third episode, "The Cockleshell Heroes", explores the fateful raid on the port of Bordeaux in occupied France. This episode tells the story of a small team of British Royal Marines who were tasked with paddling hundreds of miles up the Gironde estuary and sabotaging German ships with limpet mines. Powell highlights the challenges and perils faced by this team, including treacherous currents, freezing temperatures, and deadly gunfire from the German defenders.

The fourth episode, "The Guns of Merville", tells the story of the mission to capture a heavily fortified and well-armed German battery in Normandy on D-Day. This mission was critical to the success of the larger Allied invasion of France, as the guns at Merville could have wreaked havoc on the invading forces. Powell examines the planning and execution of the mission, which involved a daring airborne assault by British paratroopers under heavy fire.

In "Norway's Heavy Water War", the fifth episode, Powell recounts the gripping story of the mission to sabotage a German-held hydroelectric plant that was producing heavy water, a key component in the production of nuclear bombs. This episode follows the Norwegian resistance fighters and British commandos who carried out the raid, which involved skiing across treacherous mountain terrain and battling German guards in the dead of winter.

Finally, in the sixth episode, "The Raid on St. Nazaire", Powell explores the largest and most complex raid of the war. The target was the port of St. Nazaire on the French Atlantic coast, which was the site of a massive dry dock that could accommodate the largest battleships in the German navy. Powell explains how the raid involved a complex combination of naval and infantry forces, culminating in a daring ramming attack on the dry dock by the British destroyer HMS Campbeltown.

Overall, Great Raids of World War II is a captivating and informative series that sheds light on some of the lesser-known but no less heroic actions of the Allied forces during the war. Powell's narration and the high-quality production values make this an engaging and immersive viewing experience.