Ep 1. The Liberation of Ukraine

Soviet Storm: World War II in the East season 2 episode 1 is titled "The Liberation of Ukraine." In this episode, we are taken on a journey through the Eastern Front of World War II as the Soviet Union begins a massive offensive against German forces occupying Ukraine.

We hear from survivors of the brutal fighting as they recount their experiences and the horrors they faced. We learn how the Germans attempted to subjugate the Ukrainian people, using them for forced labor and even deporting them to concentration camps. Despite this, Ukrainian partisans fought back against the occupiers, sabotaging German supply lines and conducting small-scale attacks.

The episode then shifts to the Soviet offensive, which began in January 1944 with a massive artillery barrage. Soviet troops, supported by tanks and aircraft, slowly pushed the German army back, village by village. We see archival footage of Soviet soldiers storming German trenches, firing their weapons and throwing grenades. The fighting was fierce, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

During the course of the episode, we hear from both Ukrainian and Soviet veterans who participated in the fighting. They describe the intense emotions they experienced, from fear and hesitation to courage and camaraderie. One Ukrainian veteran speaks passionately about how he and his fellow partisans fought to defend their homeland, saying that "we fought for our freedom, for our country, for our people."

As the Soviet offensive pushes deeper into Ukraine, we see the devastation wrought by the war. Buildings are reduced to rubble, fields are scorched, and countless civilians are left homeless and hungry. Despite this, the Soviet Union worked to rebuild the infrastructure and support the war-torn population.

The episode concludes with the Soviet Union victorious in Ukraine, having liberated the country from German occupation. We hear from Ukrainian and Soviet veterans who speak proudly of their role in the campaign, saying that they fought for their beliefs and their people. Although the war continued for another year, the liberation of Ukraine marked a turning point in World War II and remains a significant moment in the history of both Ukraine and the Soviet Union.