Browse all episodes of When the World Was on Fire: The Chronicle of the Second World War

Blitzkrieg

Operation Barbarossa

Stalingrad

Unconditional capitulation

The Second World War began on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland and ended on May 8, 1945, as a global catastrophe with over 50 million deaths and devastated cities. Hitler’s expansion plans and Japan’s imperial ambitions led to bloody battles such as Stalingrad and Iwo Jima, the bombing of German cities, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

SPIEGEL-TV author Michael Kloft recounts the war’s chronology and presents rare, partly unpublished footage from both the front lines and the home front, beyond propaganda. He is supported by experts Antony Beevor, Jörg Friedrich, and Rolf-Dieter Müller, who provide insights into military strategies and personal stories. Together, they create a comprehensive portrait of the Second World War.

All Episodes of When the World Was on Fire: The Chronicle of the Second World War

Season 1

Blitzkrieg

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 11/15/2008

Operation Barbarossa

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/15/2008

Stalingrad

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/15/2008

Unconditional capitulation

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/15/2008