War on Film series
Videocast series: Military records specialist William Spencer explores the true stories behind popular war films and uses original records to depict actual events.
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Carve Her Name With Pride
This videocast is part of the War on Film series, created by The National Archives to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War. The series recounts the events that went on to inspire popular war films, using extracts ...
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The Longest Day
This videocast is part of the War on Film series, created by The National Archives to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War. The series recounts the events that went on to inspire popular war films, using extracts ...
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The Great Escape
This videocast is part of the War on Film series, created by The National Archives to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War. The series recounts the events that went on to inspire popular war films, using extracts ...
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The Man Who Never Was
‘The Man Who Never Was’ tells the fascinating tale of Operation Mincemeat. This elaborate deception aimed to make the Axis powers believe that the Allies would attempt to enter Europe through Greece and Sardinia, rather than the actual target of ...
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The Dam Busters
‘The Dam Busters’ tells the story of 617 Squadron and its daring and extremely difficult mission, which went on to become one of the most famous episodes of the Second World War. This videocast is part of the War on ...
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Hope and Glory
‘Hope and Glory’ tells the story of a young boy growing up in London during the Second World War. The film explores two themes that greatly affected the Home Front during the war, the Blitz and evacuation. This videocast is ...
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The Great Escape: you’ve seen the film, now hear the truth
During the night of 24 March 1944, 76 airmen escaped from the Prisoner of War camp Stalag Luft III. Only three made it home and, of the remainder, 50 were murdered on Hitler’s orders. This podcast will explain what actually ...
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The Special Operations Executive, the French Resistance and the D-Day landings
This talk looks at the results and effectiveness of the British Special Operations Executive, or SEO, and the French Resistance in supporting the Second World War D-Day landings.











