Watch Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes

TV-14
2014
1 Season

Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes is a gripping and fascinating documentary series that explores one of the most incredible and little-known stories of World War II. Produced by SBS Australia, the program chronicles the remarkable exploits of the Z Special Unit, a small group of elite Australian soldiers who were tasked with carrying out daring and dangerous secret missions behind enemy lines in the Pacific Theater.

The five-part series is a meticulously researched tribute to the men of Z Special, who risked everything to help turn the tide of the war in the Pacific. Through a combination of archival footage, interviews with experts and surviving members of the unit, and recreations of key events, Z Special brings to life the secret world of espionage and sabotage that helped shape the course of the war.

Each episode of the series focuses on a different aspect of Z Special's work, beginning with the unit's origins and training, and moving on to their deployment in the Pacific Theater where they carried out a series of daring raids, assassinations, and sabotage missions. Some of the most thrilling moments of the series come from the reenactments of these operations, which are filmed with a tense sense of realism that puts the viewer right into the heart of the action.

Throughout the series, viewers learn about some of the most remarkable members of the Z Special Unit, including highly skilled operatives like Reginald 'Snowy' Baker, who became one of the most successful spies of the war, and Tom Harrisson, a brilliant anthropologist who used his knowledge of local cultures to help the unit infiltrate enemy territory.

In addition to recounting the incredible exploits of these men, the series also delves into the ethical and strategic issues surrounding the use of covert operations in warfare. Viewers learn about the controversies surrounding Z Special's top-secret missions, including concerns about the use of torture and the risks of blowback that could have had disastrous consequences for the Allies.

Despite the occasional dark moments, however, Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes is ultimately a story of incredible bravery and dedication in the face of overwhelming odds. Through the stories of these men, viewers gain a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices made by the unsung heroes of World War II, and for the vital role that these secret operations played in shaping the course of history.

Overall, Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes is a must-see for anyone interested in military history, espionage, or tales of extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of danger. With its gripping storytelling, vivid recreations, and insightful commentary, this is a series that will leave viewers both entertained and enlightened, and with a new sense of respect for the brave men who fought and died for their country in the most difficult of circumstances.

Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes is a series that ran for 1 seasons (3 episodes) between June 15, 2014 and on SBS (AU)

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Seasons

3. Episode 3

June 29, 2014

Operation Copper was an eight man mission to Mushu Island off New Guinea that went disastrously wrong. Only one man survived to tell the tale, Mick Dennis, who features in this episode, and survived 10 days in the jungle with the Japanese hunting him down. In Pittwater, the modern recruits recreate a similar mission to Operation Copper, leaving Cato alone and cut off from his group. Cato's Great Uncle, Alan Gubbay, was killed on the original mission. Tian and Brenden both travel to Borneo to retrace their grandfather's footsteps. The series finishes with final reflections from the veterans and the modern recruits themselves. The veterans reflect on war and its effect on them, and the recruits reflect on their experiences during the series, many of them feeling a much stronger attachment to their relatives. (Part 3 of 3)

2. Episode 2

June 22, 2014

The modern descendants of the original Z Special operatives are going through similar training to that undertaken by their forefathers on the banks of Pittwater Bay in New South Wales. Now they are given the chance to operate a Sleeping Beauty - a one man motorized submersible kayak - under the watchful eye of surviving Z Special member Norman Wallace, the last veteran from WW2 who trained on the machines. The second episode also features the story of Jim Ellwood, a Z operative sent to Japanese occupied Timor to help form a resistance group. He was captured and tortured by the Japanese and for the first time in public, he talks candidly about his harrowing experience. (Part 2 of 3)

1. Episode 1

June 15, 2014

Australia's Secret Heroes tells the extraordinary story of Z Special unit, a remarkable group of men who were plucked from the Australian military in World War II, trained in explosives, camouflage, silent killing and how to resist torture and then sent on incredibly perilous undercover operations in Asia. For years, the Z Special operatives were sworn to secrecy. But now the veterans relive their incredible wartime exploits. In a unique "living history" approach, Australia's Secret Heroes takes six descendants of the Z Special operatives and places them on training missions to give them a taste of what their forefathers went through. (Part 1 of 3)

Description

Where to Watch Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes

Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes is available for streaming on the SBS (AU) website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Z Special: Australia's Secret Heroes on demand at Amazon Prime, Tubi TV and Pluto TV.