Watch Nazi Megastructures

Nazi Megastructures is a documentary television series produced by National Geographic (UK) that premiered in 2013. The show, hosted by military historians James Holland and Tony Pollard, chronicles the construction and impact of some of the most ambitious engineering projects undertaken by the Third Reich during World War II. The series is divided into six episodes, each offering a unique perspective on various Nazi megastructures that played a significant role in Hitler's war effort.

The first episode, titled "Atlantikwall," examines the massive coastal defenses that Hitler ordered to be built in anticipation of an Allied invasion of Western Europe. Through interviews with expert historians and archival footage, the episode details how Hitler's obsession with fortifications led to the construction of a vast network of bunkers, artillery emplacements and minefields stretching thousands of miles from Norway to Spain. The episode also looks at the human cost of building such a massive construction project.

The second episode, "Hitler's Island Megafortress," turns the focus to the Channel Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Normandy that was occupied by the Germans for much of the war. The episode examines the construction of Festung Guernsey, a network of tunnels, bunkers and gun emplacements built on the island of Guernsey to protect against a British invasion. Holland and Pollard tour the fortifications, revealing the ingenious engineering solutions used to build secure fortifications on such a small island.

In the third episode, "Wolf's Lair," the series explores one of Hitler's most infamous headquarters, deep in the forest of East Prussia. The episode chronicles the construction of the bunker complex known as the "Wolf's Lair," investigating the security measures put in place to protect Hitler from assassination attempts. Holland and Pollard journey through the ruins of the Wolf's Lair, highlighting the technical innovations used in the construction of the massive underground bunkers.

The fourth episode, "The Desert Fox's Lair," looks at one of the most surprising examples of Nazi engineering - a bunker complex built in the North African desert by the renowned German general Erwin Rommel. The episode delves into the strategic thinking behind Rommel's decision to build a bunker in the middle of nowhere and explores the technological innovations that made it possible.

In the fifth episode, "Mega Tank," the focus shifts to the engineering of one of the most feared weapons of the war - the German Tiger tank. The episode examines the logistical and engineering challenges involved in creating such a behemoth of a machine, and illustrates how it was used to deadly effect during the war's pivotal tank battles.

The final episode of the series, "U-Boat Base," investigates one of the most important Nazi engineering feats - the construction of a series of massive submarine pens along the coast of France. The episode tells the story of how the Germans used a combination of ingenuity and brute force to build the enormous bunkers, which were designed to protect submarines from Allied attack. Holland and Pollard examine the pens and reveal how they played a crucial role in the German war effort.

Overall, Nazi Megastructures is a compelling and insightful look at the history and engineering behind some of the most ambitious wartime projects ever undertaken. The series offers a unique perspective on the ingenuity and technical prowess of the Nazi war machine, while also revealing the human cost of building such massive structures. Hosted by two expert historians, it is an engrossing exploration of an often-overlooked aspect of World War II history.

Nazi Megastructures is a series that ran for 7 seasons (25 episodes) between July 17, 2017 and on National Geographic (UK)