Nazi Mega Weapons

Narrator

A NEW GENERATION OF BATTLESHIPS ORDERED BY HITLER TO DESTROY THE ENEMY AT SEA. THEY'RE HUGE, THEY'RE POWERFUL, THEY'RE DANGEROUS, THEY'RE BAD. MONSTER SHIPS-- LARGER, FASTER AND DEADLIER THAN ANYTHING ELSE AFLOAT.

Man

THIS PIECE IS AMAZING. THIS IS PART OF THE BELT ARMOR OF THE "BISMARCK."

Narrator

RECORD BREAKING VESSELS, ENGINEERED TO BE VIRTUALLY UNSINKABLE. WHAT SORT OF SHIP IS THAT THAT CAN SURVIVE THE BOMB THAT MAKES THAT? IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

YELLING IN GERMAN

Narrator

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE RISE AND FALL OF HITLER'S MEGASHIPS. THE BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF WORLD WAR II, ORDERED BY HITLER TO SECURE WORLD DOMINATION. NOW THEY SURVIVE AS DARK REMINDERS OF THE FUHRER'S FANATICAL MILITARY AMBITIONS. THESE ARE THE SECRETS OF THE NAZI MEGAWEAPONS. NOVEMBER 1944. THE ARCTIC. THE NAZI'S SINGLE LARGEST WEAPON, THE "TIRPITZ," IS UNDER ATTACK.

ALARM BLARES

Narrator

FIRE ANTON, FIRE BRUNO! 28 ALLIED BOMBERS DROP THEIR 6-TON LOADS... ABANDON SHIP! SCHNELL! OUT! THE 1,700 MEN ON BOARD ARE RELYING ON THE ENGINEERING OF THIS ENORMOUS SHIP TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.. THE REMNANTS OF THAT MIGHTY BATTLE STILL LITTER THIS NORWEGIAN FJORD. WOW. NOW THAT IS A HEFTY CHUNK OF METAL. THAT HAS GOT TO HAVE COME FROM THE "TIRPITZ." IT'S QUITE EXCITING TO TOUCH THAT. I'M TOUCHING REALLY A SHIP THAT NO LONGER EXISTS. IT'S LIKE CAST IRON PROOF THAT THAT MYTHICAL BEAST DID EXIST. IT'S QUITE WONDERFUL. BATTLEFIELD ARCHAEOLOGIST DR. TONY POLLARD IS EXPLORING THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF THE "TIRPITZ." AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, DOCUMENTARY CAMERAS WILL REVEAL WHAT REMAINS OF HITLER'S MEGASHIP. THE REMAINS OF THE "TIRPITZ" STILL LIE ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS FJORD. SHE WAS THE LAST OF HITLER'S MEGASHIPS, BUT EVEN AS A SOLITARY VESSEL, SHE POSED A MASSIVE THREAT TO THE BRITISH, AND THE ROYAL NAVY MADE HER THEIR NUMBER ONE TARGET AND WOULD STOP AT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HUNT HER DOWN.

CHEERING

Narrator

THE STORY OF HITLER'S MEGASHIPS BEGINS OVER 4 YEARS BEFORE THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR II. IN 1935, NAZI GERMANY IS ON THE RISE, AND HITLER HAS PLANS FOR WORLD DOMINATION. HE'S BUILDING UP ALL OF HIS ARMED FORCES, BUT THE AREA WHERE HE IS WEAKEST IS AT SEA. HITLER'S NAVY IS JUST A FRACTION OF THE SIZE OF ITS EUROPEAN RIVALS. THE LIMITATIONS ON THE SIZE OF THE GERMAN NAVY GOES BACK TO THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES IN 1919, THE END OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, WHEN GERMANY'S MILITARY MACHINE IS MASSIVELY, MASSIVELY REDUCED. THE WHOLE POINT ABOUT THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT GERMANY CAN NEVER DO IT AGAIN, BUT OF COURSE WHEN HITLER COMES TO POWER IN 1933, HE STARTS TO TEAR THAT AGREEMENT UP, AND THE ALLIES ARE REALLY POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HITLER WANTS TO BUILD A NAVY TO SHOW THE WORLD THE EXTREME POWER OF THE THIRD REICH. BUT TURNING HIS VISION INTO REALITY WILL BE A HERCULEAN TASK.

James Holland

HITLER'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE NAVY IS VERY LIMITED INDEED. HE LIKES TO THINK OF HIMSELF AS THIS GREAT MILITARY LEADER, BUT ACTUALLY HIS MILITARY TRAINING GOES SO FAR AS WHAT HE'S ACHIEVED IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR, WHICH IS RISING TO THE RANK OF CORPORAL. NAVAL MATTERS, NO. THIS IS SOMETHING HE IS NOT TUNED INTO AT ALL.

Narrator

THE MAN HITLER TURNS TO IS ADMIRAL ERICH RAEDER. A VETERAN OF NAVAL BATTLE STRATEGY, HITLER IS RELYING ON HIM TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE GERMAN NAVY.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator for Raeder

SHOW ME WHAT YOU HAVE GOT HERE AND HOW YOU'VE PREPARED IT. RAEDER IMAGINES THAT ANY FUTURE WARFARE IS GONNA BE MUCH LIKE HIS EXPERIENCES OF FIRST WORLD WAR, WHERE LARGE NUMBERS OF HEAVILY ARMED, HEAVILY ARMORED CAPITAL SHIPS, SURFACE SHIPS ARE BANGING 6ROUNDS OUT OF EACH OTHER, HURTLING SHELLS ACROSS LARGE MILEAGE OF OCEAN AND SEEING IF YOU CAN KNOCK ONE OUT OF THE WATER. IT'S NOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

Narrator

RAEDER'S MASTER PLAN REQUIRES THE BIGGEST BATTLESHIPS THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

SPEAKING QUIETLY IN GERMAN

Narrator

BUT IN 1935 THERE ARE LIMITATION ON THE SIZE OF SHIPS THAT CAN PHYSICALLY BE BUILT BY THE NAZIS.

Holland

THEY JUST SIMPLY DON'T HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH NUMBER OF SHIPYARDS. THEY DON'T HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH NUMBER OF DRY DOCKS, WET DOCKS ON THE SCALE THAT THEY NEED. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST MAGIC UP IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. IT TAKES TIME.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Narrator

RAEDER'S SOLUTION IS TO EXPAND THE GERMAN NAVY'S HOME PORT AT WILHELMSHAVEN ON THE NORTH SEA COAST. SHALLOW WATERS LIMIT THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT FLEET. A NEW SYSTEM OF DEEP WATER LOCKS WILL ALLOW THE NAZI'S TO BUILD THEIR MEGASHIPS HERE BEFORE UNLEASHING THEM INTO THE OPEN SEA. EXPLORING THE REMAINS OF RAEDER'S MIGHTY LOCKS IS NAVAL HISTORIAN JAN WITT.

Jan Witt

WOW. THIS IS HUGE. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LARGEST LOCKS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THE RAEDER LOCK, WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE 1930s. IT'S 350 METERS LONG, 60 METERS WIDE, AND ABOUT 14 METERS DEEP. THIS IS SIMPLY OVERWHELMING.

Narrator

OVER A MILLION CUBIC METERS OF CONCRETE IS NEEDED TO BUILD THE LOCKS AT A COST OF $1.7 BILLION IN TODAY'S TERMS. BUT IT WON'T BE FINISHED UNTIL 1942. IN 1936, HITLER'S NOT INTERESTED IN LOCKS; HE WANTS BIG SHIPS. RAEDER DELIVERS THE FIRST PLANS FOR HIS FLEET, TWO ENORMOUS BATTLESHIPS-- "BISMARCK" AND "TIRPITZ."

Raeder

TO KEEP UP WITH OTHER NAVIES, THESE TWO BATTLESHIPS WILL BE 50,000 TONS EACH. THE MERE THREAT OF THESE SHIPS WILL BE ENOUGH TO DETER THE BRITISH... SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.

JAMES HOLLAND

THE "TIRPITZ" AND THE "BISMARCK," WHICH ARE THE TWO BIG BATTLESHIPS THAT GERMANY IS BUILDING IN THE 1930s ARE LARGER, LONGER THAN ANYTHING THE BRITISH HAVE, AND INDEED THE FRENCH.

Narrator

"BISMARCK" AND "TIRPITZ" ARE SO BIG VERY FEW SHIPYARDS HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD THEM. ONE IS BLOHM AND VOSS IN HAMBURG. MILITARY ENGINEERING SPECIALIST MIKE PAVELEC IS EXPLORING THE SITE, WHICH IS STILL AN ACTIVE SHIPYARD TODAY.

Mike Pavelec

ALTHOUGH IT'S COMPLETELY COVERED OVER NOW, THIS IS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE SLIPWAY NUMBER 9 WAS WHERE BLOHM & VOSS BUILT THE "BISMARCK". IMAGINE IF YOU WILL A SLOPING SLIPWAY RUNNING FROM ABOUT HERE TO THE EDGE OF THE WATER, ABOUT 300 METERS WHERE THEY LAID THE KEEL IN 1936. THIS IS SO EXCITING. THIS IS WHERE THEY PHYSICALLY BUILT THE "BISMARCK". A VERITABLE FOREST OF STEEL GIRDERS AND CRANES LINED THE SLIPWAY. THEY ACTED AS SORT OF A SCAFFOLDING AS PARTS AND PIECES WERE BROUGHT IN TO BUILD THE SHIP. IT LOOKED A LOT LIKE AN OPEN HANGER.

Narrator

BOTH SHIPS WILL BE OVER 800 FEET LONG, NEARLY 120 FEET WIDE AND 18 STORIES HIGH. REMNANTS LEFT FROM THEIR CONSTRUCTION CAN STILL BE FOUND TODAY.

Pavelec

THIS PIECE IS AMAZING. THIS IS PART OF THE BELT ARMOR OF THE "BISMARCK", THE ARMOR PLATING THAT WENT OUTSIDE THE HULL TO PROTECT IT IN CRITICAL AREAS. THIS PIECE WAS LEFT OVER, AFTER THE WAR IT WAS FOUND, AND HERE IT SITS TODAY. THAT'S AN ENORMOUS HUNK OF STEEL.

Narrator

THE "BISMARCK'S" ARMORED PLATING IS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE OF 550 POUNDS OF TNT. BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM. THE ARMOR WEIGHS OVER 19,000 TONS-- A STAGGERING 40% OF THE ENTIRE FINAL WEIGHT OF THE SHIP.

Pavelec

ONE OF THE MAIN CONSIDERATIONS IN SHIP BUILDING IS WEIGHT. TO CONSERVE WEIGHT THE GERMAN'S BUILT THE "BISMARCK" IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY. THE ANSWER THAT THEY CAME UP WITH WAS TO WELD THE REST OF THE HULL. WELDING IS A MUCH LIGHTER PROCESS BECAUSE INSTEAD OF USING BOLTS AND RIVETS TO ATTACH METAL TOGETHER, IT ACTUALLY ELECTRICALLY MELTS THE METAL, FUSING THE TWO PARTS TOGETHER, CREATING A NOT ONLY LIGHTER BUT ALSO STRONGER BOND. IT'S INCREDIBLY WELL ARMORED. IT'S THE BEST ARMORED BATTLESHIP THE WORLD'S EVER KNOWN. AND THERE IS CERTAINLY A CASE THAT THE GERMANS OVER-ENGINEERED THEIR BATTLESHIPS, JUST AS THEY OVER-ENGINEER EVERYTHING.

Narrator

ADMIRAL RAEDER WANTS HIS SHIPS TO BE UNSINKABLE. FIRSTLY HIS DESIGNERS CREATE SUPER STRENGTH DOUBLE-LAYERED HULLS. THE DOUBLE-HULL CONSTRUCTION MEANS THAT THERE IS AN OUTER LAYER OF METAL AS WELL AS AN INNER LAYER OF METAL. THE OUTER HULL CAN TAKE DAMAGE AS LONG AS THE INNER HULL REMAINS INTACT. TO SURVIVE TORPEDO ATTACKS, SHELL FIRE, AND AERIAL BOMBARDMENT, THEY EACH BOAST 22 WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENTS TO ISOLATE INTERNAL FLOODING. THE WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENTS ARE DESIGNED SO THAT IF THE SHIP TAKES A HIT THAT PENETRATES, THAT SECTION CAN BE SEALED OFF SO THAT THE REST OF THE SHIP DOESN'T FLOOD, AND IT STILL STAYS AFLOAT AND VIABLE AS A WEAPONS PLATFORM. IN FEBRUARY 1939, JUST AS SOON AS THE FIRST HULL IS FINISHED AND THE SHIP CAN FLOAT, HITLER TAKES THE PR OPPORTUNITY TO LAUNCH IT. 60,000 SPECTATORS TURN UP TO WATCH THE NAMING OF HITLER'S FIRST MEGASHIP.

SPEAKING GERMAN

SPEAKING GERMAN

CHEERING, BAND PLAYING

Holland

THE POINT IS, FOR HITLER, THE "BISMARCK" IS...IT'S ABOUT PRESTIGE, IT'S A STATUS SYMBOL. IT'S SAYING "I'VE GOT THE BIGGEST WARSHIP IN THE WORLD."

Narrator

JUST 6 WEEKS AFTER THE LAUNCH OF THE "BISMARCK," HITLER LAUNCHES HIS SECOND SUPER WEAPON...THE "TIRPITZ."

SPEAKING GERMAN

CHEERING, SINGING, BAND PLAYING

Holland

WHEN HITLER LOOKS AT THE "BISMARCK" AND THE "TIRPITZ," WHAT HE'S SEEING IS AN IMAGE OF HIS PRESTIGE. THEY'RE KIND OF HUGE, THEY'RE POWERFUL, THEY'RE DANGEROUS, THEY'RE BAD. YOU KNOW IT IS A PROJECTION OF HIS OWN POWER AND AUTHORITY.

Narrator

HITLER'S TWO NEW MEGASHIPS ARE AFLOAT AND WILL SOON BE READY FOR WAR. HITLER IS DELIGHTED WITH THE PROGRESS OF HIS NEW NAVAL STRATEGY, BUT "BISMARCK" AND "TIRPITZ" ARE JUST THE BEGINNING OF RAEDER'S PLAN FOR THE GERMAN NAVY, A VISION HE SETS OUT IN A MANIFESTO KNOWN AS "THE Z PLAN."

Man

THE Z PLAN WAS A PLAN TO ENLARGE THE GERMAN NAVY MASSIVELY. RAEDER WAS THINKING ABOUT MAKING THE GERMAN NAVY INTO A MEANS OF WORLD DOMINATION. WELL THE Z PLAN IN TERMS OF BATTLESHIPS IS A SERIES OF EVEN BIGGER, BETTER VERSIONS THAN THE "BISMARCK" AND "TIRPITZ." SO THE FIRST ONE IS THE H39, AND THAT'S AROUND SORT OF 55,000, 60,000 TONS AND AROUND 265 METERS LONG, WITH EVEN BIGGER GUNS.

Narrator

RAISING THE STAKES, THE H42 WEIGHS IN AT OVER 90, 000 TONS AND STRETCHES TO OVER 1,000 FEET IN LENGTH.

Holland

AND THE FINAL ONE IS THE H44, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY GINORMOUS. I MEAN, IT'S 155,000 TONS. IT'S GETTING ON FOR 400 METERS LONG. IT'S GOT GUNS THAT ARE GONNA BE 508 MILLIMETERS IN DIAMETER. TO PUT THAT IN SOME PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW PROBABLY THE BIGGEST FIELD GUN THAT THE ALLIES ARE USING IS 210 MILLIMETERS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, SO YOU KNOW YOU'RE TALKING SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ENORMOUS.

Narrator

THE TOTAL COST IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $22 BILLION IN TODAY'S TERMS. BUT ON COMPLETION, GERMANY WOULD HAVE THE MOST POTENT NAVY IN THE WORLD.

Jan WITT

GERMANY SHOULD BE THE GREATEST POWER ON EARTH, AND THEREFORE IT SIMPLY NEEDED ALSO NOT ONLY THE LARGEST BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO THE BIGGEST BATTLESHIPS AS SYMBOLS OF POWER, OF THE SHEER MIGHT OF GERMANY.

Narrator

BUT NOT EVEN HITLER'S BIGGEST SHIPYARDS HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCOMMODATE VESSELS OF THIS SIZE.

Mike Pavelec

THIS IS THE BIGGEST DRY DOCK I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

Narrator

THE NAZI'S SOLUTION IS TO BUILD ELBE 17, LOCATED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM WHERE THE "BISMARCK" IS BEING FITTED OUT IN HAMBURG. IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST DRY DOCKS EVER BUILT. IT'S 350 METERS LONG, IT'S 60 METERS WIDE, AND IT'S 14.5 METERS DEEP. THE SHIP BEHIND ME IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE SIZE AND SCALE OF THE BATTLESHIPS THAT HITLER WANTED TO BUILD DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. HITLER GRANTS RAEDER UNLIMITED RESOURCES TO ACCELERATE NAVAL EXPANSION,

BUT ON ONE CONDITION

HE WANTS HIS NEW SHIPS FAST.

Raeder

I CAN'T HAVE THEM READY BEFORE 1948. NO EARLIER, MEIN FUHRER.

Hitler

NO! THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH ADMIRAL. I NEED THEM BY 1944. IF I CAN BUILD THE THIRD REICH IN 6 YEARS, THEN THE NAVY CAN SURELY BUILD THESE 6 SHIPS IN 6 YEARS!

Narrator

AND THE REASON FOR HITLER'S IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS IS SOON EVIDENT. IN SEPTEMBER 1939, GERMANY INVADES POLAND. THE RESPONSE FROM THE WEST IS FASTER THAN HITLER ANTICIPATES, AND RAEDER'S PLANS ARE IN TROUBLE.

GUNFIRE

Narrator

BRITAIN AND FRANCE DO DECLARE WAR, AND SUDDENLY THE SECOND WORLD WAR HAS STARTED, AND THIS THROWS ALL THE PLANS FOR THE Z PLAN AND FOR FUTURE REARMAMENT INTO SOME DISARRAY. SO HE PARKS THE Z PLAN FOR A BIT BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT THE MORE IMMEDIATE GOAL IS THE DEFEAT OF FRANCE, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY GOING TO BE DONE BY AIR AND LAND POWER, NOT BY NAVAL POWER. WITH THE Z PLAN ON HOLD, THE PRIORITY FOR RAEDER IS TO GET THE "BISMARCK" AND "TIRPITZ" INTO BATTLE.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

BIG SHIPS NEED BIG GUNS. IF THE BRITISH HAVE 15-INCH GUNS, THEN "BISMARCK" HAS TO HAVE THEM. WE CANNOT HAVE SHIPS THAT ARE SMALLER IN ANY WAY! HITLER'S DEMANDING BIG GUNS FOR A VERY SIMPLE REASON, THAT BIGGER GUNS MEANS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO OUTGUN YOUR ENEMY. SO IF YOUR ENEMY CAN ONLY FIRE A SHELL, SAY, 12 MILES, BUT YOU CAN FIRE A SHELL 14 MILES, THEN YOU'VE GOT A TWO-MILE ADVANTAGE WHERE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO HIT YOU.

Narrator

SUMMER 1940, AND HITLER'S LAND BATTLES ARE A SUCCESS. NAZI GERMANY HAS CONTROL OVER MOST OF WESTERN EUROPE. IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR RAEDER. 10 MONTHS AFTER BEING PUT ON HOLD, HIS Z PLAN CAN BE REVIVED.

Witt

THERE WAS ONLY ONE ENEMY LEFT FOR GERMANY IN EUROPE, AND THAT WAS BRITAIN, AND SINCE BRITAIN WAS A MAJOR NAVAL POWER, THIS WAS THE CHANCE FOR RAEDER TO REVIVE HIS Z PLAN, TO BUILD UP A GREAT, POWERFUL, STRONG GERMAN FLEET TO PRESS BRITAIN INTO DEFEAT.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

WITH OVER 80 BATTLESHIPS AND 500 U-BOATS, WE COULD BEAT ANY NAVY IN THE WORLD. AMERICA, GREAT BRITAIN, JAPAN.

Holland

NO LONGER ARE WE TALKING ABOUT 8 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, WE'RE TALKING 20. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 80 BATTLESHIPS, YOU KNOW THE WORLD SEEMS TO BE AT THEIR FEET, AND THEY'RE KIND OF--THEY'RE CONFIDENT, THEY'RE OVER-EXCITED, THEY'RE BASICALLY LIKE KIDS IN A SWEETSHOP.

Narrator

THE Z PLAN IS BACK ON AS THE FIRST OF HITLER'S MEGASHIPS IS COMPLETED. ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1940, THE "BISMARCK" SETS SAIL FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE BALTIC SEA FOR TRIALS.

Witt

THIS IS THE BANK OF THE KIEL CANAL, AND THIS WAS THE WAY THE "BISMARCK" TOOK ON HER FIRST JOURNEY FROM HAMBURG TO THE BALTIC.

Narrator

61 MILES LONG THE KIEL CANAL CUTS ACROSS LAND FROM HAMBURG TO THE BALTIC SEA. BY TAKING THE CANAL, SHE COULD AVOID TRAVELING AROUND DENMARK, THUS AVOIDING POSSIBLE ATTACKS BY THE BRITISH. IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT TO SEE THIS MASSIVE, THIS GIANT VESSEL TRAVELING THROUGH THIS ARTIFICIAL WATERWAY. AFTER 8 WEEKS OF SEA TRIALS AND INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR THE 2,000 STRONG CREW, THE "BISMARCK" IS DEEMED READY FOR WAR. AND JUST IN TIME.

Holland

THE BATTLE FOR THE ATLANTIC IS STARTING TO REALLY BUILD MOMENTUM, AND FINALLY "BISMARCK" IS READY, THIS HUGE BATTLESHIP, THE WORLD'S LARGEST BATTLESHIP WITH ALL ITS ENORMOUS FIREPOWER, AND THERE IS A REAL SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND ANTICIPATION THAT IT'S GOING TO GO OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC AND REALLY MAKE A HUGE IMPACT.

Narrator

IN MAY 1941, HITLER INSPECTS THE "BISMARCK" AND NEWLY FINISHED "TIRPITZ" WITH FLEET COMMANDER ADMIRAL GUNTHER LUTJENS. THE FUHRER IS UNUSUALLY CONCERNED.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

THE NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY OF THE BRITISH FLEET PRESENTS A GREAT RISK. TRUE, MEIN FUHRER, BUT "BISMARCK" IS BY FAR SUPERIOR TO ANY BRITISH CAPITAL SHIP.

Holland

BY MAY 1941 WHEN HITLER INSPECTS THE "TIRPITZ" AND THE "BISMARCK," HE IS MUCH MORE PERSUADED BY THE VALUE OF U-BOATS, AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A GROWING TENSION BETWEEN RAEDER AND HITLER ON RAEDER'S VISION FOR THE NAVY WHICH STILL INVOLVES SURFACE VESSELS. RAEDER IS VERY KEEN TO GET THE "BISMARCK" OUT INTO ACTION, BECAUSE WHEN IT GOES OUT THERE IT IS GOING TO SHOW HITLER THAT HE WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG, AND SO HE WANTS TO TEST HIS GREATEST WARSHIP.

Narrator

BUT HITLER IS NERVOUS ABOUT SENDING HIS PRIZED BATTLESHIP TO WAR.

Witt

WHILE RAEDER WAS THINKING IN MILITARY TERMS, HITLER WAS MORE THINKING IN TERMS OF PROPAGANDA, OF POLITICS, OF A THE IMAGE OF GERMANY IN THE WORLD.

Narrator

ON MAY 18, 1941, THE "BISMARCK" EMBARKS ON HER MAIDEN MISSION UNDER THE COMMAND OF ADMIRAL LUTJENS. CODENAMED EXERCISE RHINE, HER TASK IS TO ATTACK THE ATLANTIC CONVOYS SUPPLYING BRITAIN WITH THE ESSENTIAL MATERIALS IT NEEDS TO KEEP FIGHTING.

Holland

WHEN THE "BISMARCK" GOES TO SEA, THE BRITISH ARE ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO SINK IT COME WHAT MAY. AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE FEARFUL OF ITS POTENTIAL AS A WEAPON, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT A PRESTIGIOUS SCALP IT WILL BE IF THEY SINK IT.

Narrator

THE "BISMARCK" IS SOON HUNTED DOWN BY SHIPS FROM THE ROYAL NAVY, SPEARHEADED BY HMS "HOOD," THE PRIDE OF THE BRITISH FLEET. THE "BISMARCK" AND HOOD ENGAGE IN HEAVY GUNFIRE. THIS GERMAN FOOTAGE SHOWS THE "BISMARCK'S" MASSIVE 15-INCH GUNS FIRING AT THE HOOD FROM A DISTANCE OF NEARLY 10 MILES. THE "BISMARCK" SINKS THE "HOOD" WITH A DIRECT HIT. HMS "HOOD" IS POSSIBLY THE MOST FAMOUS SHIP IN THE ROYAL NAVY, MORE SO THAN ITS BATTLESHIPS, MORE SO THAN ITS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. IT'S THE ONE SHIP THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IN BRITAIN. SO TO SINK IT WITH ONE SHELL IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE BLOW FOR THE BRITISH AND A GREAT COUP FOR RAEDER. BUT "BISMARCK" IS DAMAGED, TOO. NOW ALL AVAILABLE SHIPS IN THE ROYAL NAVAL FLEET PURSUE THE "BISMARCK," SEEKING REVENGE. AFTER TWO DAYS, PLANES FROM THE BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIER "ARK ROYAL" INTERCEPT HITLER'S MEGASHIP AND TARGET HER WITH 18-INCH TORPEDOES WEIGHING 1,600 POUNDS. ONE FINDS ITS MARK. THE TORPEDO HITS THE "BISMARCK'S" ACHILLES HEEL. IT DETONATED IN THE STEERING ROOM AT THE REAR OF THE VESSEL, FLOODING THE STEERING ROOM, THUS LOCKING THE "BISMARCK'S" RUDDER, AND THIS SEALED THE FATE OF THIS GIANT VESSEL. WITH HER RUDDER LOCKED, THE "BISMARCK" ENTERS A STEEP TURN. WHILE OTHER SHIPS MIGHT NOW ENGAGE THEIR PROPELLERS TO COUNTERACT THE TURN, THE "BISMARCK" HAS A FATAL DESIGN FLAW. THE PROPELLERS ARE GROUPED SO CLOSE TOGETHER THEY'RE COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE AS A MEANS OF STEERING. THE "BISMARCK" IS A SITTING DUCK FOR THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY.

Holland

ITS ONE OF THE GREAT IRONIES THAT RAEDER JUST HASN'T REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH THIS IDEA, I MEAN HE KNOWS THAT AIR CARRIERS ARE NEEDED BUT, HE HASN'T ANTICIPATED THAT ITS GOING TO BE OUT-OF-DATE BIPLANES THAT ARE GOING TO KNOCK OUT HIS MIGHTY WARSHIP.

Narrator

IN GERMANY RAEDER GETS THE NEWS THAT "BISMARCK" IS DOOMED AS LUTJENS ORDERS HIS MEN TO FIGHT TO THE LAST SHELL.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

SEND THIS TO ADMIRAL LUTJENS. ALL OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR SHIP. WE WISH YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR DESPERATE STRUGGLE.

Witt

FACING THE CERTAIN LOSS OF THE "BISMARCK," FOR RAEDER IT WAS THE BEST OPTION FOR THAT VESSEL TO GO DOWN WITH HER FLAG FLYING BECAUSE IT WAS SIMPLY THE ONLY WAY OUT, RATHER THAN TO SURRENDER THE VESSEL TO THE ENEMY.

Narrator

ON MAY 27, 1941, AFTER NEARLY TWO HOURS OF CONTINUOUS BOMBARDMENT, HITLER'S LARGEST BATTLESHIP SINKS ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE. CLOSE TO 2,000 SAILORS ARE LOST. FOR HITLER, IT'S A PR DISASTER, AND HE HOLDS RAEDER, AS HEAD OF THE NAVY, PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE.

HITLER YELLING IN GERMAN

Translator

IT IS POINTLESS HAVING SUCH A SHIP AS "BISMARCK" AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A CAPITAL SHIP LIKE THIS? TELL ME? ARE THEY COMPLETELY USELESS?

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

WE CAN ONLY WIN THE WAR ON THE SEA BY BEING BOLD, MEIN FUHRER. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BOLD? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TALKING TO?

Narrator

HITLER HAS LOST FAITH IN RAEDER AND HIS Z PLAN. THE H CLASS OF SHIPS ARE CANCELLED AND ALL MATERIALS SENT TO BUILD U-BOATS. BUT HITLER STILL HAS ONE MEGA SHIP AT HIS DISPOSAL. HE ORDERS THE "TIRPITZ" TO TAKE UP A KEY STRATEGIC POSITION IN NORWAY.

Pollard

NORWAY'S IMPORTANT TO NAZI GERMANY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. IT'S A POSSIBLE TARGET FOR ALLIED INVASION, AND THAT'S WHY THE GERMAN ATLANTIC WALL STRETCHES ALL THE WAY FROM THE NORTH OF NORWAY DOWN TO THE SPANISH COAST, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY CLOSE TO THE ROUTE OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS WHERE THE ROYAL NAVY ARE ESCORTING SHIPS TO RUSSIA, TAKING VITAL SUPPLIES FOR THE RUSSIAN WAR EFFORT, AND IF THE GERMANS ARE GOING TO DISRUPT THOSE CONVOYS, THEY NEED TO BE IN NORWAY.

Narrator

HITLER'S PLAN FOR THE "TIRPITZ" SOON PAYS OFF.

Pollard

"TIRPITZ" DIDN'T NEED TO LEAVE HARBOR TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE ROYAL NAVY. THE VERY FEAR OF HER PRESENCE WAS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO THROW EXTRA RESOURCES INTO ESCORTING CONVOYS, AND THEY WERE SHIPS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED ELSEWHERE.

Narrator

THIS SUITS HITLER. HE DOESN'T WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THE ALLIES. HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE OF THE FLEET. BUT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 1942, AGAINST HITLER'S ORDERS, A GERMAN NAVAL TASK FORCE ATTACKS AN ALLIED CONVOY OFF NORWAY. HITLER IS FURIOUS. HIS ORDERS HAVE BEEN DISOBEYED.

SPEAKING IN GERMAN

Translator

THE HIGH SEAS FLEET HAS PLAYED NO IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS WAR! FIGHTING POWER IS LYING IDOL WHILE THE ARMY IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGED! THE NAVY LACKS MEN OF ACTION WHO ARE DETERMINED TO FIGHT. YOUR USE OF CAPITAL SHIPS TO ATTACK COMMERCIAL CONVOYS IS STRICTLY AGAINST MY ORDERS. MY ORDERS, ADMIRAL! ALL CAPITAL SHIPS WILL NOW BE SCRAPPED! THEIR GUNS AND CREWS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE SENT TO NORWAY TO SUPPORT COASTAL DEFENSE.

Narrator

HITLER'S OUTBURST IS THE FINAL STRAW FOR RAEDER. HUMILIATED BY THE SCRAPPING OF THE Z PLAN, AND NOW FACED WITH THE DISMANTLING OF HIS NAVAL FLEET, HE RESIGNS. HIS SHIPS ARE DISMANTLED AND THEIR GUNS SENT TO BOLSTER THE ATLANTIC WALL.

BUT ONE SHIP IS MADE AN EXCEPTION

THE "TIRPITZ".

Narrator

HITLER HAS PLANS FOR HIS PRIZED BATTLESHIP. IN MARCH 1943, HE SENDS IT EVEN FURTHER NORTH TO LURK IN AN ARCTIC FJORD.

Pollard

THE "TIRPITZ" SPENT 18 MONTHS ANCHORED IN KAAFJORD JUST BEHIND ME HERE, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT. ONE IS THAT SHE'S A HUGE SHIP AND TAKES A LOT OF FUEL TO MOVE, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THAT GOING AROUND, SO SHE NEEDS TO CONSERVE THAT, SO SHE GETS PARKED UP.

Narrator

A FRESH CREW IS POSTED TO MAN THE ANCHORED MEGA WEAPON. ONE OF THE MORE THAN 2,500 ON BOARD IS 18-YEAR-OLD WILLIBALD VOLSING. A NEWLY TRAINED GUNNERY OFFICER, HE HAS A VITAL ROLE IN PROTECTING THE SHIP.

Pollard

THE ALLIES ARE AFTER HER. THERE ARE NO SAFE HAVENS FURTHER SOUTH. SHE NEEDS SOMEWHERE TO HIDE, AND THIS IS A MAZE, IT'S A WARREN OF FJORDS AND WATERWAYS, AND THE IDEA IS THAT SHE CAN GET LOST IN HERE, BUT LOOK AT THIS PLACE. IT'S A NATURAL FORTRESS. YOU'VE GOT SHEER CLIFFS ON EITHER SIDE. IT'S DEEP WATER. IT'S A SAFE PLACE.

Narrator

BUT NATURAL PROTECTION ISN'T ENOUGH FOR HITLER. THE NAZI'S ORDER A BIGGER DEFENSIVE STRATEGY FOR THE "TIRPITZ." OH, HERE'S SOMETHING. THIS IS A FAIRLY SOLID CONSTRUCTION. CONCRETE BASE, GOOD VIEW OF THE FJORD. THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THIS IS AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN PLATFORM, AND IT DRIVES HOME THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE GOT THIS AMAZING FJORD THAT'S A NATURAL DEFENSE, ITS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO STOP THE ALLIES, WHO ARE HUNTING DOWN THE "TIRPITZ," AND SO A SYSTEM OF DEFENSES ARE REQUIRED, AND THIS ISN'T A SOLITARY INSTALLATION. THEY'RE ALL THE WAY ALONG THE CLIFF LINE HERE, AND THEY'RE ALL THE WAY THROUGHOUT NORWAY. HITLER KNOWS THE BRITISH WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO DESTROY THE "TIRPITZ," SO GUNS ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH. THE "TIRPITZ" ALSO HAD ANOTHER LINE OF DEFENSE-- ANTI-TORPEDO NETS. AND THESE WERE SUSPENDED FROM THE SURFACE BUT DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SEA BED, AND IF A TORPEDO WAS FIRED AT THEM, THE REALLY HEAVY STEEL MESHING WOULD DETONATE THE TORPEDO A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SHIP. THEY WOULDN'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR HER. WE KNOW THEY WERE USING THESE NETS BECAUSE WE HAVE WONDERFUL RAF RECONNAISSANCE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEM, AND THEY COME OUT FROM THE SHORE, AROUND, ALMOST TO THE HEADLAND AND THEN ALL THE WAY BACK AGAIN WITH THE SHIP SAFELY BERTHED INSIDE THEM. IN KAAFJORD "TIRPITZ" NOW LURKS LIKE A DRAGON IN HER LAIR. SHE WAITS TO TAKE ON HER PREDATORS, AND SHE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG. IN THE SUMMER OF 1944, FOLLOWING THE LIBERATION OF LENINGRAD AND THE SUCCESSFUL D DAY INVASIONS, THE MOMENTUM OF THE WAR IS FIRMLY WITH THE ALLIES. UNNERVINGLY FOR THE CREW OF THE "TIRPITZ," THE BRITISH NOW HAVE HER FIRMLY IN THEIR SIGHTS. FOR CHURCHILL THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, THE "TIRPITZ" TAKES ON A SORT OF HUGE IMPORTANCE TO HIM. HE CALLS IT "THE BEAST," AND IT'S NOT JUST A CASE OF KNOCKING IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S A DANGEROUS WEAPON; IT'S A CASE OF KNOCKING IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE PSYCHOLOGICAL VICTORY TO DO SO AS WELL, AND HE BECOMES ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED THAT COME WHAT MAY, LIKE THE "BISMARCK," THE "TIRPITZ" HAS TO BE SUNK. "TIRPITZ" IS SO WELL DEFENDED, THE BEST WAY TO ATTACK IT IS FROM THE AIR. BUT THE NAZI'S COME UP WITH A REVOLUTIONARY DEFENSIVE TACTIC. LOOK AT THESE THINGS, THEY'RE AMAZING. LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT OF PREHISTORIC CAMPSITE. BUT THESE ARE THE BASES OF THE SMOKE GENERATING MACHINES, AND THESE ARE THE CANS IN WHICH THERE'S SOME SORT OF PROPELLANT, ALL THIS WHITE STUFF-- HERE IT'S BURNT-- THAT PUMPS OUT CLOUDS OF VERY THICK WHITE SMOKE, AND THE IDEA IS THAT IT FILLS UP THE VOID OF THE FJORD AND HIDES THE SHIP BENEATH IT FROM ENEMY BOMBERS. AND IT CAN FILL THAT SPACE DOWN THERE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY IMMENSE, IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

Holland

IT'S ALL VERY WELL USING THESE HUGE SMOKE CANISTERS AND SURROUNDING YOURSELF IN A HUGE GREAT CLOUD SO THAT YOUR ENEMY CAN'T SEE YOU, BUT THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT OF COURSE IS THAT YOU THEN CAN'T SEE YOUR ENEMY EITHER.

Narrator

TO AVOID BEING BLINDED BY THEIR OWN SMOKE, THE NAZI'S EXPLOIT THE LOCATION'S RUGGED TERRAIN. SO WHAT THE GERMANS DID WAS TO EMPLACE ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS ON THE TOPS OF THE CLIFFS ABOVE THE SMOKE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE ENEMY AIRCRAFT, AND HERE'S ONE, VERY ROUGHLY MADE OUT OF LOCAL STONE, CIRCULAR WALL, BUT ON TOP YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS CONCRETE. SO THESE GUNS ARE SET INTO A MOUNT, AND THERE'S--LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THAT. THERE'S BEEN SOME SORT OF MOUNTING IN THERE, IN THAT CIRCULAR RECESS. BUT THESE ARE IDEALLY SITUATED. YOU'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE VIEW IN THAT DIRECTION AND IN THAT DIRECTION, SO YOU'D SEE THE ENEMY BOMBERS COMING FROM MILES AWAY. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THESE. THERE'S ONE HERE, THERE'S ONE JUST BACK THERE, AND ONE EVEN FURTHER BACK, SO THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE FORTRESS OF THEM. THIS PLACE IS REALLY HEAVILY DEFENDED, PROTECTING THE SHIP DOWN BELOW. WHILE AT ANCHOR IN KAAFJORD, THE "TIRPITZ" IS SUBJECTED TO WAVE AFTER WAVE OF UNSUCCESSFUL ALLIED ATTACKS. AND THE CREW OF THE "TIRPITZ" ARE SCORING HITS OF THEIR OWN. WELL...GOOD GRIEF. THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN AIRCRAFT WRECK. GOOD GRIEF. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THESE PIECES. LOOKS LIKE A PIECE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THESE ARE THE REMAINS OF A BRITISH GRUMMAN HELLCAT FIGHTER, WHICH WAS SHOT DOWN BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE IN AUGUST 1944.

Pollard

LOOK AT THIS AIRFRAME. ITS STILL GOT THE ORIGINAL GREEN PAINT ON IT. THIS WRECKAGE IS A TERRIBLE REMINDER OF HOW DANGEROUS THE "TIRPITZ" WAS. THE ALLIES WOULD GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY AND DESTROY IT AND SACRIFICE MEN ON THOSE MISSIONS, BUT IT'S ALSO A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW EFFECTIVE GERMAN EFFORTS TO DEFEND THEIR SHIP WERE.

Narrator

IN SEPTEMBER 1944, CHURCHILL ORDERS THE NEXT HEAVY BOMBER ATTACK ON THE "TIRPITZ." TWO SQUADRONS OF LANCASTER BOMBERS, INCLUDING THE ELITE DAM-BUSTERS, FAMOUS FOR THEIR LEGENDARY RAIDS ON GERMANY A YEAR EARLIER, SET OUT FROM A REFUELING BASE IN NORTHWEST RUSSIA. 21 OF THEM ARE ARMED WITH A BRAND-NEW WEAPON. THE TALL BOY WAS A BOMB DESIGNED BY THE BRITISH TO PENETRATE HARDENED TARGETS, LIKE CONCRETE BUNKERS OR SHIPS' DECKS. WHEN IT WAS USED, IT COULD BE DROPPED, AND IT WOULD REACH NEAR-SUPERSONIC SPEEDS BY THE TIME IT IMPACTED ON THE GROUND. THE 12,000-POUND BOMB WAS ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING. IT WAS THE PERFECT WEAPON TO USE AGAINST THE "TIRPITZ." OH, BOY, HA! THERE'S NO MISTAKING THIS. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A BOMB CRATER. VAST. I'M AMAZED AT THE SIZE OF IT. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE BOMB HAS JUST DRIVEN ITSELF INTO THE MOUNTAINSIDE AND THROWN UP THESE MASSIVE SPLINTERS OF ROCK. OH, WOW. OH! OH. THIS IS A BOMB FRAGMENT, AND IT'S BY FAR THE BIGGEST BOMB FRAGMENT I HAVE EVER SEEN, IT'S PHENOMENAL. THAT IS STUNNING. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF IT! SOLID STEEL, LOOK AT IT. IT'S CURVING AWAY UNDER THE ROCK, AND THE THICKNESS OF IT. ITS--IT'S THE LENGTH OF MY FINGERS THICK. THIS IS FROM A TALL BOY. IT TELLS US THAT THIS CRATER WAS CREATED BY A TALL BOY,

AND TALL BOYS WERE ONLY DROPPED ON ONE OCCASION HERE

DURING OPERATION PARAVANE ON THE 15th OF SEPTEMBER, 1944. THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

LAUGHTER

MUSIC PLAYING

ALARM SOUNDS

YELLING IN GERMAN

Narrator

ON THE "TIRPITZ," AIR RAID SIRENS SIGNAL THE APPROACHING BOMBERS. YOUNG OFFICER WILLIBALD VOLSING RECALLED THE MOMENT IN HIS MEMOIRS.

Wllibald Volsing

IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT 25 LANCASTER BOMBERS WERE HEADING DIRECTLY FOR US. WE TOOK AIM WITH OUR 15-INCH GUNS AND WAITED UNTIL THEY WERE IN RANGE. FIRE ANTON! FIRE BRUNO!

Narrator

SMOKE FROM THE DEFENSIVE CANISTERS FILLS THE FJORD AND BEGINS TO COVER THE SHIP. FROM THE DECK OF THE "TIRPITZ," HER GUNS UNLEASH A BARRAGE OF FIRE AS THE FIRST WAVE OF BOMBERS DEPLOY THEIR DEADLY CARGO. ONE OF THE TALL BOY BOMBS MAKES A DIRECT HIT ON THE "TIRPITZ." VOLSING RECALLS THE IMPACT.

Volsing

THE BOMB WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE SHIP, BUT SHE WAS STILL AFLOAT.

Pollard

IMAGINE THE DEVASTATION IT MUST HAVE CAUSED. IT DROVE ITSELF THROUGH THE TOP DECK, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. IT RIPPED A 40-FOOT-WIDE HOLE IN HER SIDE, WATER SPOUTING EVERYWHERE, DEAD MEN EVERYWHERE, BUT THE THING IS, IT DIDN'T SINK HER; IT JUST WOUNDED HER BADLY. WHAT SORT OF SHIP IS THAT THAT CAN SURVIVE THE BOMB THAT MAKES THAT? IT'S SOMETHING ELSE!

Narrator

THE INCREDIBLE ENGINEERING OF THE MEGASHIP SAVES HER. THE WATER TIGHT COMPARTMENTS AND DOUBLE HULL STOP HER SINKING. BUT INTERNALLY, THE DAMAGE IS CATASTROPHIC.

Holland

IT CAN'T BE REPAIRED AGAIN; IT'S NO LONGER SEAWORTHY. ALL IT'S GOOD FOR IS BEING A KIND OF FLOATING GUN PLATFORM AND NOTHING ELSE. ITS SEAFARING DAYS ARE OVER.

Narrator

BUT THE BRITISH DON'T KNOW "TIRPITZ" IS OUT OF ACTION... TO THEM SHE IS STILL A HUGE THREAT. AND FOR THE NAZI'S, THAT MAKES HER WORTH SAVING. ENGINEERS PATCH UP THE GIANT HOLE IN THE HULL... AND WITH THE WAR GOING BADLY FOR THE NAZIS, "TIRPITZ" SAILS SOUTH TO PROTECT THE STRATEGIC PORT OF TROMSO. THE GERMANS, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE SHIP, BUILD UP THE SANDBANK UNDERNEATH THE SHIP TO KEEP IT SAFE SO THAT IF IT IS HIT AGAIN, IT WILL JUST SIMPLY SETTLE RATHER THAN SINK OUTRIGHT. THE "TIRPITZ" BY DEFAULT BECOMES PART OF THE ATLANTIC WALL. THE NAZIS MIGHT THINK THE "TIRPITZ" IS NOW UNSINKABLE, BUT THEY HAVE MADE A CRITICAL ERROR. SHE'S SAILED STRAIGHT INTO RANGE OF THE RAF BOMBERS OPERATING FROM SCOTLAND, AND THE NAZI MEGA-WEAPON IS STILL THEIR NUMBER ONE TARGET. DETERMINED TO FINISH WHAT THEY STARTED, THE BRITISH SQUADRONS SET OFF FOR ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE "TIRPITZ." IN NORWAY, THE INCOMING BOMBERS ARE DETECTED, AND THE CREW OF THE "TIRPITZ" PREPARE TO FIGHT BACK.

ALARM BLARES

Volsing

EVERYONE WAS IN POSITION WHEN THE BOMBERS ARRIVED OVERHEAD, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC FIRING SYSTEM. WE COULDN'T TRACK THE PLANES WITH THE GUNS AND COMPLETELY OVERSHOT. WE DIDN'T SHOOT ONE AIRCRAFT DOWN.

Narrator

THIS IS THE ACTUAL FOOTAGE OF THE TALL BOY RAID ON THE "TIRPITZ." THE FIRST BOMB TO DROP IS A DIRECT HIT. IT ROCKS THE SHIP. WITHIN 90 SECONDS, NINE 6-TON BOMBS EXPLODE ON AND AROUND THE VESSEL.

Volsing

ON BOARD IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS. THERE WERE EXPLOSIONS GOING OFF ALL AROUND US.

Narrator

SHOCKWAVES FROM THE EXPLODING BOMBS IN THE FJORD CAUSE THE "TIRPITZ" TO LURCH TO ONE SIDE, DISLODGING HER OFF FROM THE PROTECTIVE SAND BANK. WATER RUSHES IN, AND THE "TIRPITZ" CAPSIZES WITH 1,700 MEN ON BOARD.

YELLING

Narrator

LIEUTENANT VOLSING IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF SAILORS TRAPPED INSIDE.

Pollard

WE ARE ON THE EXACT SPOT WHERE THE "TIRPITZ" CAPSIZED IN 1944. IF YOU'D BEEN HERE 70 YEARS AGO, YOU'D HAVE SEEN HER HUGE HULL STRETCHING OUT IN FRONT OF US LIKE A MASSIVE WHALE ON THE SURFACE. SO ALL OF THIS IS MATERIAL FROM THE SHIP? YES. ALL OVER HERE. SHE TURNED OVER ONTO HER SIDE AND ONTO HER BACK, SO A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGH UP IN THE SUPERSTRUCTURE WOULD BE--

Man

PUSHED DOWN INTO THE MUD. INTO THE SEA BED.

Narrator

DESPITE A SALVAGE OPERATION IN THE 1950s, CLOSE TO 20% OF THE "TIRPITZ" IS STILL SCATTERED ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE FJORD. NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, DOCUMENTARY CAMERAS WILL REVEAL WHAT REMAINS OF HITLER'S SINGLE BIGGEST WEAPON. THIS TEAM OF HIGHLY EXPERIENCED DIVERS SPECIALIZE IN WRECK EXPLORATION. TODAY NOTHING WILL BE REMOVED FROM WHAT REMAINS OF THE "TIRPITZ."

Pollard

INCREDIBLE.

Diver

THESE MOUNDS OF WRECKAGE ARE REALLY INCREDIBLE. IT'S JUST LIKE SOME GIANT HAS TAKEN THE BATTLESHIP AND SHAKEN IT AND EVERYTHING INSIDE IT HAS FALLEN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FJORD, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW. THERE'S LOADS OF STUFF THERE. VISIBILITY IS PRETTY GOOD ACTUALLY. OK, WHAT'S THAT? I CAN SEE A FRAME OF SOME SORT. YEAH, IT LOOKS ALMOST LIKE A LADDER I'M NEXT TO HERE. THIS IS THE 20 MILLIMETER ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN.

Pollard

THESE ARE SHELLS WITH FUSES ON THEM. LOOK AT IT. AMAZING. THAT'S THE POINTY END OF ONE OF THE PROJECTILES THAT THE BIG GUNS ON THE SHIP WOULD HAVE FIRED. IN THIS CASE 15-INCH GUNS. MASSIVE. THEY COULD FIRE BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MILES. INCREDIBLE WEAPONS. THE SHIP HAD 8 OF THEM. OH, HERE'S CORDITE. LOOK. THESE ARE ALL CORDITE STRIPS. THIS IS EXPLOSIVES FROM THE SHELLS. THIS IS THE WAY IT COMES. IT'S LIKE, ALMOST LIKE BIG, THICK STICKS OF SPAGHETTI, AND IF YOU PULLED THAT OUT OF THE WATER TODAY AND LIT IT, IT WOULD GO OFF. IT WOULD IGNITE. OH, YEAH, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT.

Diver

ARE YOU GETTING THAT THERE? WOW. SEE, THERE'S A BOOT. IT'S VERY CLEAR. SEE THE TOE. IT'S ALL RATHER COLD AND DISTANT, LOOKING AT THE MECHANICS. AS SOON AS YOU SEE SOMETHING RELATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL, IT KIND OF BRINGS IT HOME, THAT THIS WAS, THIS WAS A PERSONAL STORY, AND THAT A LOT OF MEN DIED ON THIS SHIP.

Narrator

IN 1944, THE SITUATION WAS LOOKING BLEAK FOR VOLSING AND THE OTHER SURVIVORS.

Volsing

WE WERE CLINGING ONTO ANYTHING WE COULD FIND JUST TO KEEP ABOVE THE FREEZING WATER, WHICH WAS FLOODING IN THROUGH EVERY GAP. IT WAS SOON UP TO OUR WAISTS, AND WE KNEW THERE WAS NOW LITTLE CHANCE OF ESCAPING THE UPTURNED SHIP WITH OUR LIVES.

Narrator

THE HEAVY ARMOR PLATING AND THICK STEEL HULL THAT MADE THE "TIRPITZ" SO IMPREGNABLE... NOW TRAPS THOSE STILL INSIDE. 30 MINUTES AFTER THE "TIRPITZ" CAPSIZED, ONLY THE UPTURNED HULL NOW REMAINS ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE FJORD, AND THE TIDE IS RISING.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

IT'S NO USE. WE CAN'T GET OUT. WE'VE TRIED EVERYWHERE. MOST OF THE MEN ARE TRAPPED ALIVE ONBOARD, AND A HUGE RESCUE OPERATION GETS UNDERWAY IMMEDIATELY, AND THEY'RE ON THE HULL WITH BLOW TORCHES, TRYING TO GET HOLES, AND THEY CAN HEAR MEN TAPPING ON THE METAL. HELP US! HELP US!

Pollard

I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS THAT MUCH MATERIAL DOWN THERE.

Diver

NO, IT'S ENDLESS. ENDLESS.

Narrator

THE "TIRPITZ" CONTAINED OVER 4,500 TONS OF CABLES, PIPING, AND MACHINERY. MUCH OF IT WAS DISCARDED DURING THE SALVAGE. IT NOW LITTERS THE FJORD ALONG WITH MASSIVE CHUNKS OF HEAVY ARMOR.

Pollard

WOW, IT'S ARMOR PLATING THAT'S BEEN CUT UP IN THE SALVAGE OPERATION, BUT JUST DUMPED ON THE BOTTOM, THEY'VE NOT TAKEN IT AWAY. LOOK AT IT, REALLY THICK STEEL PLATES.

Narrator

CUTTING THOUGH THIS ARMOR PRESENTED THE ONLY CHANCE OF RESCUING THE HUNDREDS TRAPPED INSIDE.

SPEAKING GERMAN

YELLING IN GERMAN

Translator

WE'RE IN HERE! CAN YOU HEAR US? HELP!

Witt

DESPERATELY THEY TRIED TO GIVE SIGNAL TO THEIR COMRADES OUTSIDE. THEY WERE SMASHING, THEY WERE HAMMERING AGAINST THE WALLS OF THE SHIP.

Narrator

OF THE 1,700 CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD THE "TIRPITZ," CLOSE TO A THOUSAND PERISH.

Diver

I'VE JUST FOUND A BOOK.

Pollard

THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

Diver

ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE THIS IS. YOU CAN READ THE WRITING JUST PERFECTLY. IT'S LIKE IT'S BEEN DOWN HERE FOR TWO DAYS. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE WORD "WAR."

Pollard

WAR? HOW FITTING.

Diver

I'VE JUST FOUND WHAT LOOKS LIKE PART OF A BELT OR A MEDAL OR SOMETHING HERE. YOU CAN SEE NOW IT'S ACTUALLY A BUTTON. I CAN SEE THAT. THAT'S AMAZING. OK, PUT IT GENTLY BACK DOWN AND LET'S LEAVE IT THERE. IT'S REALLY MOVING TO SEE SOMETHING THAT'S PERSONAL, AND BRINGS TO LIGHT THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE STORY. I THINK IT'S VERY EASY TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH THE MECHANICS AND THE ENGINEERING AND THE SCALE OF THIS WEAPON, IT'S WHAT THIS SHIP IS, BUT THERE'S A HUMAN SIDE TO THIS STORY. IT'S ABOUT MEN, INDIVIDUALS, ABOUT PEOPLE, AND IT'S ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH, AND IT'S ALL DOWN THERE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO RESPECT THAT. THIS WRECK NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED AND REMEMBERED BECAUSE IT'S A GRAVE, AND IT'S A MEMORIAL.

Narrator

ON NOVEMBER 12, 1944, THE RESCUE MISSION CONTINUED INTO THE NIGHT.

YELLING IN GERMAN

Translator

HURRY! THE WATERS RISING!

RUMBLING

Narrator

LIEUTENANT WILLIBALD VOLSING WAS ONE OF ONLY 87 SAILORS RESCUED FROM WITHIN THE SHIP. THE SINKING OF THE "TIRPITZ" MARKS THE END OF HITLER'S NAVAL ASPIRATIONS FOREVER. BY THE END OF 1944, IN THE WEST, THE ALLIES ARE ADVANCING THROUGH EUROPE. IN THE EAST THE SOVIETS ARE PUSHING TOWARDS BERLIN. AND NOW BOTH OF HITLER'S MEGASHIPS, STATUS SYMBOLS FOR THE THIRD REICH, ARE UNDERWATER. ULTIMATELY HITLER'S MEGASHIPS FAIL BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH OF THEM AND THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTED EITHER BY OTHER WARSHIPS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BY AIR POWER, THERE'S NO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. AND IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, YOU NEED BATTLESHIPS WITH AIR POWER, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE NAZIS NEVER EVER DEVELOP.

Pollard

BIG SHIPS ARE A THING OF THE PAST. WAR HAS BEEN OVERTAKEN BY AIR POWER, BY SUBMARINES, AND IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THAT AIRCRAFT PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE SINKING OF BOTH SHIPS.

Narrator

AFTER THE WAR, GRAND ADMIRAL RAEDER IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT AT THE NUREMBERG TRIALS FOR VIOLATING THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES. RELEASED EARLY ON THE GROUNDS OF ILL HEALTH, HE DIES IN 1960. WILLIBALD VOLSING RETURNS TO CIVILIAN LIFE IN GERMANY. THE SINKING OF THE "TIRPITZ" DRAWS TO A CLOSE THE ERA OF THE NAZI MEGASHIP. NEVER AGAIN WILL SUCH BATTLESHIPS RULE THE SEA. NAZI MEGA WEAPONS, SEASON TWO IS AVAILABLE ON DVD. TO ORDER,

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