World War II: Race to Victory

Synopsis

This 6-hour documentary series recalls one of the most thrilling races in history, between three icons, super powers and ideologies that came together to overcome a greater evil and achieve VE Day. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin find themselves in an uneasy alliance, fraught with power-struggles, false promises and deadly suspicions of each other. The series paints an in-depth picture of the race to power and victory during the war, to reach VE Day.

First Air Date: 2020-06-14

Last Air Date: 2020-06-28

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 6

Networks: History

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Dr. Warren Dockter as Dr. Warren Dockter
Dr. Martin Folly as Dr. Martin Folly
Dr. Andrew Priest as Dr. Andrew Priest
Dr. Peter Whitewood as Dr. Andrew Priest
Dr. Harshan Kumarasingham as Dr. Harshan Kumarasingham
Iwan Morgan as Iwan Morgan
Dr. Jonathan Boff as Dr. Jonathan Boff
General Sir Mike Jackson as General Sir Mike Jackson
Liesl Bradner as Liesl Bradner
Dr. Helen Fry as Dr. Helen Fry

Seasons

Season 1 (2020)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Mortal Peril (2020-06-14)

To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, an examination of the race, not only to win WWII, but also to gain power and an ideological stronghold.
Ep. 2: An Unholy Alliance (2020-06-14)

On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor is attacked by the Japanese, who kill more than 2,000 Americans, causing the US to rethink its policy of neutrality in the war.
Ep. 3: Victory at Any Cost (2020-06-21)

An exploration of the tensions at the heart of the Allied war effort, as the dominant powers weigh up the moral ambiguity and actions of their alliance.
Ep. 4: Tehran Sit Down (2020-06-28)

After a year of fraught relations and tension, the big three leaders meet in Tehran. Will they find the unity they need to help the Allies win the war?
Ep. 5: D-Day and Beyond (2020-06-28)

6th June 1944--D Day. More than 156,000 British, American, and Canadian soldiers are transported across the English Channel, in the largest seaborne invasion ever attempted. After years of pressure from Stalin, Churchill has finally agreed to open a second front in Europe and send Allied troops to liberate occupied France. From there, they will fight their way across to Germany and--with the Red Army, advancing from the East--finally bring down Hitler's Fascist Empire. And yet just three months later, the Big Three's optimism will turn to despair. How did the operation that promised to end the war by Christmas, turn into such a huge failure?
Ep. 6: Race to Berlin (2020-06-28)

It is February 1945 and the Allies can almost taste victory. They agree to meet to decide what the future will look like after the war finally comes to an end. And so "The Big Three" come face to face for the second, and last, time in the seaside town of Yalta.