Ep 10. End Game

The episode entitled "End Game" from season 1 of WWII in HD details the pivotal moments leading up to the end of the war in Europe. The episode opens with the Allied forces pushing through Germany towards Berlin. The Soviet Union, with over 2 million soldiers, is closing in on Berlin from the east, while the United States and Great Britain, each with over a million soldiers, press in from the west.

The episode covers the tense military and political maneuvering between the Allies as they vie for control of Berlin and the eventual surrender of Germany. We see footage of high-level meetings between the Allied leaders, including Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin, as they work out their plans for the final push into Germany.

The episode also focuses on the personal experiences of some of the soldiers and civilians caught up in the conflict. We see footage of Allied soldiers engaged in fierce battles with German troops, including the famous fight for the bridge at Remagen. We also see the faces of German civilians, who are dealing with the bombing campaigns that are destroying their towns and cities.

One of the most striking features of this episode is the depth of coverage given to the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. The episode describes the discovery of concentration camps and the horrors that were found there. We see interviews with Allied soldiers who were stunned by the emaciated bodies of the prisoners they liberated, and with survivors who recount their experiences. This section of the episode is difficult to watch, but it is a necessary reminder of the brutality of the war and the importance of fighting for freedom.

As the Allies close in on Berlin and the German army is pushed back, we see glimpses of the chaos and destruction that the retreating Germans left in their wake. The demolition of bridges, highways, and buildings is a desperate attempt to slow the Allied advance, but it only results in further destruction and loss of life.

One of the major turning points of the episode comes with the death of President Roosevelt on April 12, 1945, just weeks before Germany's surrender. We see the reaction of soldiers and civilians to the news, and the uncertainty and fear that follows. With Roosevelt's death, Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes president, and the course of the war takes on a new direction.

The episode ends with a tense, gripping account of the German surrender. The moment is not without drama, as the Germans attempt to negotiate a separate peace with the Western Allies, but ultimately, the unconditional surrender of Germany is signed on May 7, 1945. The footage of the celebrations that follow is a welcome contrast to the devastation that has been shown throughout the episode.

Overall, "End Game" is a well-crafted episode that balances the military and political aspects of the war with the personal experiences of the soldiers and civilians caught up in the conflict. The episode is a fitting conclusion to the first season of WWII in HD, and serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that were made to bring an end to the war.