Ep 5. Red Sun Rampart

As the Allies push towards Berlin, the Red Army prepares to launch one of the most brutal assaults in the history of warfare. The Battle of Stalingrad had decimated the city and left its people and defenders hanging on by a thread. Now, the Soviet Union was ready to fight back and take the offensive. This episode of World War II In Colour focuses on the events leading up to the Soviet attack on the Germans at Kursk, known as Operation Citadel.

As the war entered its fourth year, the Axis powers were struggling to keep up. Nazi Germany had lost the battle of attrition and was slowly being pushed back on all fronts. In the East, the Red Army was on the rise and had successfully repelled the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The Battle of Stalingrad had been a turning point in the war and had given the Soviets the upper hand in the East. But even with their success at Stalingrad, the Soviet Union was not content to sit back and watch as the Germans regrouped and launched another offensive.

In the summer of 1943, Soviet leaders decided it was time to take the fight to the Germans. The plan was to launch a massive offensive along the Eastern Front that would drive the Germans back and force them to fight a defensive war. The target of the offensive was the German salient at Kursk, a major rail junction that would be a key logistical point in the German plan for Operation Citadel.

Operation Citadel was a massive German offensive that would involve over a million troops and thousands of tanks and aircraft. The goal was to encircle and destroy the Soviet forces at Kursk and create a bulge in the Soviet lines that could then be exploited by German forces. The Soviet Union had been planning for the German attack and had built an elaborate defensive system of trenches, mines, and anti-tank obstacles. The stage was set for one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

The episode explores the build-up to the battle, including the planning and preparation by both sides. We see the German forces gather for the assault as they prepare for what they hoped would be a final victory in the East. The Soviet Union, meanwhile, was determined to defend its territory and its people at all costs.

The documentary features interviews with soldiers who fought in the battle, including those from both sides. Their firsthand accounts bring the battle to life and give viewers a sense of the brutality and horror of war. The program also features rare footage from the battle, some of which has never been seen before.

As the documentary progresses, we witness the battle itself. The German attack is brutal and relentless, as they throw everything they have at the Soviet defenses. The Soviets respond with fierce resistance and diehard determination. The battle rages for days, with heavy casualties on both sides.

In the end, the battle of Kursk is seen as a turning point in the war. The Soviet Union successfully repels the German attack and forces them into a defensive posture. The losses suffered by the Germans are staggering, and the war begins to tilt decisively in favor of the Allies.

World War II In Colour: Red Sun Rampart is a gripping and detailed account of one of the most important battles of the war. It offers a unique perspective on the conflict, highlighting the experiences of those who fought on both sides of the front. Through rare and unseen footage, the documentary transports viewers to the front lines of the battle, giving them a sense of the horror and devastation that war can bring. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of the Second World War.