Nazi Mega Weapons

Narrator

HIDDEN IN FORESTS ACROSS FRANCE AND GERMANY LIE THE REMAINS OF ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS WEAPONS PROJECTS OF WORLD WAR II.

Man

THIS IS JUST MISSILE.

Narrator

TOP-SECRET NAZI TESTING CENTERS, SUBTERRANEAN MISSILE FACTORIES...

Man

AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THIS AMAZING LARGE TUNNEL. LOOKS LIKE THEY LEFT IN A HURRY.

Narrator

A VAST NETWORK OF DEADLY LAUNCH SITES.

Man

HITLER IS HOPING THAT THIS NEW TERROR WEAPON WILL BRING BRITAIN TO ITS KNEES.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

WE WILL RETALIATE WITH ALL OUR POWER!

Narrator

THIS IS THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE WORLD'S FIRST CRUISE MISSILE...

SPEAKING GERMAN

Narrator

A TERROR BOMB THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FACE OF HISTORY AND LEAD TO A REVOLUTION IN MILITARY HARDWARE.

Man

THAT MACHINE COULD BE FALLING ON YOU WITH A TON OF EXPLOSIVES ON-BOARD.

Narrator

THE V1. THE BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF WORLD WAR II, ORDERED BY HITLER TO SECURE WORLD DOMINATION. NOW THEY SURVIVE AS DARK REMINDERS OF THE FUEHRER'S FANATICAL MILITARY AMBITION. THESE ARE THE SECRETS OF THE NAZI MEGA WEAPONS. IT'S JUNE 13, 1944-- ONE WEEK AFTER D-DAY. COLONEL MAX WACHTEL IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH

THE NAZIS' NEWEST SECRET WEAPON

THE V1 MISSILE. ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE, REGIMENTS ARE PRIMED. AMONG THEM IS 19-YEAR-OLD AIRMAN JOSEPH ESSER. HIS UNIT AND 54 OTHERS LIKE IT ARE READY TO FIRE THE UNMANNED FLYING BOMBS AT LONDON. HITLER IS RELYING ON THEM TO TURN THE TIDE OF WAR FOR NAZI GERMANY. STAND BACK, EVERYONE! TODAY, THE RELICS OF THE V1 PROGRAM STILL LITTER THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE. BATTLEFIELD ARCHAEOLOGIST DR. TONY POLLARD IS EXPLORING THEIR RUINS. IT'S ACROSS IRON RAILS THAT WOULD HAVE SAT ON TOP OF THESE PLINTHS THAT A V1 MISSILE WOULD HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED, KICKING OFF BACK THERE, ITS ENGINE SPUTTERING INTO LIFE. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE THING ROCKETING OVER MY HEAD, CAREERING OFF THIS THING AND SHOOTING OUT OVER THOSE FIELDS DIRECTLY TOWARD LONDON.

Narrator

THE V1 IS THE PROTOTYPE

OF TWO OF THE MOST LETHAL WEAPONS IN TODAY'S ARSENAL

THE CRUISE MISSILE... AND THE UNMANNED DRONE. WHAT WE HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MILITARY HISTORY IS THE ABILITY OF ONE NATION TO LAUNCH MISSILES AT ANOTHER ACROSS A VERY LONG DISTANCE WITHOUT CAUSING THEMSELVES ANY RISK WHATSOEVER.

Narrator

THE STORY OF THE V1 BEGINS BEFORE THE WAR, IN THE SUMMER OF 1939. HITLER HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR 6 YEARS AND IS INTENT ON EXPANDING THE THIRD REICH. A MASSIVE REARMAMENT PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY. PART OF HITLER'S PLANS IS A REVOLUTION IN MILITARY TECHNOLOGY. HE GIVES HIS FORCES FREE REIN TO DEVELOP GROUNDBREAKING WEAPONS. IN BERLIN,

THE LUFTWAFFE TURNED TO THE PIONEERING WORK OF ONE MAN

ECCENTRIC ENGINEER FRITZ GOSSLAU. HE IS WORKING ON THE REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT OF UNMANNED PLANES. WHAT A SUCCESS!

Narrator

HIS REMOTE-CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT PROVIDES THE LUFTWAFFE WITH AN INGENIOUS TRAINING TOOL. THE PLAN IS TO USE THIS DRONE AS TARGET PRACTICE FOR ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNNERS. THEY CAN SHOOT IT DOWN WITH NO RISK TO HUMAN LIFE-- AN IDEA AHEAD OF ITS TIME. IN 1939, FRITZ GOSSLAU IS WORKING ON WHAT WE TODAY WOULD CALL A UAV-- AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE. IT'S A PILOTLESS DRONE-- AN AMAZINGLY HIGHLY ADVANCED IDEA. GERMANY'S STATUS IN WORLD ENGINEERING IS ABSOLUTELY A COMPLETE POWERHOUSE, AND PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF AVIATION, SO THERE WAS AN ENVIRONMENT, AN ATMOSPHERE THERE IN WHICH KIND OF SORT OF MADCAP, OFF-THE-WALL IDEAS ARE ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGED. GOSSLAU'S TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER. WAR IS ON THE HORIZON. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1939, HITLER INVADES POLAND, AND WORLD WAR II BEGINS. GERMAN FORCES SWEEP EASTWARD. THEIR BLITZKRIEG TACTICS ARE WINNING THE WAR. GOSSLAU'S DRONES ARE TRAINING LUFTWAFFE GUNNERS, BUT HE'S EAGER TO PLAY A BIGGER PART IN THE WAR. HE HAS AN IDEA TO TURN HIS TRAINING TOOL INTO A LETHAL WEAPON.

Holland

GOSSLAU IS STARTING TO REALIZE THAT ACTUALLY, HE'S ON TO SOMETHING HERE. HE'S GOT AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT, BUT WHY NOT FILL THAT AIRCRAFT WITH EXPLOSIVES AND ACTUALLY SEND IT OVER AS A WEAPON? SO IT COMPLETELY CHANGES HIS WAY OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE'S GOT.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

MY GENERALS, MANY THANKS FOR COMING.

Narrator

GOSSLAU PITCHES THE IDEA OF A COMBAT DRONE, CODE-NAMED DEEP FIRE.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Narrator

GUIDED BY A CHASE PLANE, THIS UNMANNED AIRCRAFT WOULD TRAVEL DEEP BEHIND ENEMY LINES CARRYING A ONE-TON BOMB.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Narrator

KAPUT. ONCE IT'S DELIVERED ITS PAYLOAD, IT CAN RETURN TO BASE AND LOAD UP AGAIN.

Holland

DEEP FIRE IS VERY ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED BY THE LUFTWAFFE, WHO ARE VERY EXCITED BY PROJECTS SUCH AS THESE THAT ARE SUPERADVANCED AND NO OTHER COMBATANT IN THE WAR HAS.

CROWD CHEERING

Narrator

ON FEBRUARY 9, 1940,

HITLER SENDS OUT A DECREE

ALL EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS MUST BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. THE WAR HAS STARTED WELL FOR THE NAZIS. HITLER BELIEVES IT WON'T LAST LONG, SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR EXPENSIVE, UNPROVEN IDEAS. GOSSLAU'S DESIGN IS OFFICIALLY SCRAPPED BY THE LUFTWAFFE. GOSSLAU MAY HAVE BEEN KNOCKED BACK WITH HIS UNMANNED AIRCRAFT, BUT HE VERY QUICKLY TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO ANOTHER EXCITING PROJECT THE LUFTWAFFE IS KEEN TO BACK, AND THAT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PULSEJET TECHNOLOGY.

Narrator

PLANES ARE VITAL TO THE NAZI WAR MACHINE, BUT THEIR PISTON ENGINES ARE EXPENSIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING TO BUILD. THEY ASK GOSSLAU FOR A CHEAP AND FAST ALTERNATIVE. ON HIS RADAR IS THE PULSEJET. FIGHTER JET EXPERT DR. MIKE PAVELEC IS EXPLORING A NAZI WEAPONS WORKSHOP IN NORTHERN GERMANY. THE REMAINS OF GOSSLAU'S INVENTIONS CAN STILL BE FOUND THERE TODAY. WELL, THIS IS FANTASTIC. THIS IS THE OLD PULSEJET. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH NOW-- IT'S ALL RUSTY AND BROKEN APART-- BUT IN 1939, THIS WAS ACTUALLY VERY, VERY HIGH TECHNOLOGY. THIS PULSEJET WORKS ON VERY SIMPLE PRINCIPLES OF COMBINING FUEL AND AIR TO PRODUCE THRUST. FUEL IS INJECTED INTO A SPHERICAL COMPARTMENT. HERE IT MIXES WITH AIR AND IGNITES. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION CREATES A JET OF HOT GASES. WHEN DIRECTED OUT OF THE EXHAUST TUBE, THIS CREATES THE THRUST NEEDED TO DRIVE AN AIRCRAFT FORWARD, BUT GOSSLAU HAS A PROBLEM. HIS PULSEJET ENGINE KEEPS LOSING POWER. GOSSLAU'S BIG IDEA IS A REVISION OF THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. INSTEAD OF DUMPING FUEL INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, HE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO SPRAY THE FUEL, SO THE FUEL BURNS BETTER. SPRAYING THE FUEL CREATES A MORE STABLE BURN, BUT POWER IS STILL BEING LOST THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. GOSSLAU TURNS TO ANOTHER ENGINEER TO HELP HIM WITH THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM. WHAT THEY DEVELOP IS A SERIES OF SHUTTERS THAT OPEN TO ALLOW AIR INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER BUT THEN CLOSE WHEN THE FUEL IGNITES SO THAT THE THRUST GOES OUT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THE SHUTTERS OPEN AND CLOSE 50 TIMES A SECOND. THIS FAST DELIVERY OF AIR SOLVES THE PROBLEM AND HAS A SURPRISING SIDE EFFECT. THE SOUND OF THE SHUTTERS RAPIDLY OPENING AND CLOSING GIVES THE ENGINE A DISTINCTIVE BUZZING SOUND.

Pavelec

THE ARGUS PULSEJET ENGINE WAS VERY APPEALING FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST OFF, IT WAS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. SECONDLY, IT WAS VERY CHEAP AND EASY TO BUILD. PULSEJET ENGINES REPRESENT A SEA CHANGE IN MILITARY AVIATION TECHNOLOGY.

Narrator

APRIL 1941. GOSSLAU HAS A WORKING PULSEJET ENGINE, BUT IT HAS A MAJOR FLAW. IT SELF-DESTRUCTS AFTER A FEW HOURS, SO IT'S NO USE IN PILOTED AIRCRAFT, BUT GOSSLAU THINKS IT MAY BE PERFECT FOR HIS UNMANNED DRONES.

THE COMBINATION COULD CREATE HIS DREAM

A FLYING BOMB.

Holland

GOSSLAU IS PRIMARILY AN ENGINE DESIGNER AT ARGUS, AND WHAT HE LACKS IS THE KNOW-HOW ON AIRFRAMES. HE NEEDS THAT COMBINATION OF AIRFRAME TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY-- BRING THEM TOGETHER. AND THAT'S HOW HE'S GOING TO REALIZE HIS DREAMS AND AMBITIONS FOR AN UNMANNED FLYING BOMB.

Narrator

FATE WOULD STEP IN IN THE FORM OF FLYING CHAMPION TURNED ENGINEER ROBERT LUSSER.

Holland

ROBERT LUSSER, WHO IS AN AIRFRAME DESIGNER FROM THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER FIESELER, VISITS ARGUS AND BY CHANCE HAPPENS TO COME INTO CONVERSATION WITH GOSSLAU.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Holland

JA. JA. AND GOSSLAU STARTS TELLING HIM ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR THIS UNMANNED FLYING BOMB. DR. LUSSER, THIS IS NEW-- COMPLETELY NEW. GOSSLAU DRAWS HIM THIS LITTLE SKETCH OF HOW HE IMAGINES HIS FLYING BOMB'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE-- WITH TWO ENGINES ON THE WINGS. AND LUSSER LOOKS AT IT AND GOES, "HMM. YEAH, MAYBE, BUT ACTUALLY, WHAT ABOUT THIS?" AND PUTS THE ENGINE STRAIGHT INTO THE FUSELAGE.

Lusser

JUST ONE. WHY NOT TRY THIS?

Holland

AND IT'S THIS MARRIAGE OF THE TWO-- OF THE AIRFRAME DESIGNER WITH THE ENGINE DESIGNER-- THAT REALLY GETS THE V1 PROJECT GOING.

Narrator

THIS CHANCE MEETING RESULTS IN THE DESIGN OF THE V1 AND AN ENGINEERING PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FACE OF WAR FOREVER. WIDER EVENTS IN EUROPE SOON TURN THE IDEA INTO A REALITY. MARCH 28, 1942. THE GERMAN CITY OF LUBECK IS CARPET-BOMBED BY THE ALLIES. THE CITY IS THE FIRST IN GERMANY TO FACE THE FULL FORCE OF THE RAF, WHO SPECIFICALLY TARGET CIVILIAN AREAS. OVER 1,000 GERMANS ARE INJURED OR KILLED.

Holland

THE BOMBING OF LUBECK, AN ANCIENT GERMAN CITY THAT HAS ITS HEART DESTROYED, IS A REAL SHOCK TO BOTH HITLER AND THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND. HITLER IS INCENSED AND DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

Narrator

HITLER ORDERS RETALIATORY STRIKES ON BRITAIN, BUT AFTER A SERIES OF DEFEATS TO THE RAF, THE LUFTWAFFE LACK THE BOMBERS TO GIVE THE FUEHRER THE REVENGE HE DEMANDS.

Holland

THE LUFTWAFFE ARE IMMEDIATELY KIND OF WONDERING WHAT THEY CAN DO, BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE BOMBER FORCE. BUT ACTUALLY, THE ANSWER LIES RIGHT UNDERNEATH THEIR NOSES, AND, OF COURSE, IT'S THIS UNMANNED FLYING BOMB THAT LUSSER AND GOSSLAU HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING.

Narrator

ON JUNE 19, THE WEAPON IS GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY BY THE LUFTWAFFE. THEY ORDER CONSTRUCTION OF A SECRET PROTOTYPE. THE FLYING TERROR BOMB IS ON THE BRINK OF BECOMING A REALITY. AUGUST 1942. TESTING OF THE MISSILE IS OFFICIALLY RELOCATED TO PEENEMUNDE-WEST, THE LUFTWAFFE'S TOP-SECRET RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER. CONCEALED FROM THE ALLIES ON A REMOTE ISLAND IN NORTHERN GERMANY, IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO DEVELOP THE MISSILE.

Pavelec

IN 1942, THE V1 MISSILE PROJECT IS MOVED HERE TO PEENEMUNDE. HITLER'S OTHER VENGEANCE WEAPON--THE V2 ROCKET-- IS ALREADY UNDER DEVELOPMENT, SO THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS ALREADY WORKING HERE UNDER THE STRICTEST SECRECY.

Narrator

GOSSLAU AND LUSSER ARE STILL WORKING ON A PROTOTYPE V1,

BUT THERE'S A GLARING PROBLEM

HOW TO LAUNCH A FLYING MISSILE WITHOUT A PILOT. THE TEAM BEGIN WORK ON A RAMP TO TRY AND CATAPULT THE MISSILE INTO THE AIR.

Pavelec

THIS IS MAGNIFICENT. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST CONCRETE RAIL SYSTEMS USED TO LAUNCH THE V1 MISSILE. THIS CONCRETE PIECE HERE REPRESENTS THE BACK END OF A LONG RAMP, STARTING HERE AT THIS POINT SOMEWHERE AND ENDING AT THE TOP OF THE LITTLE MOUND 50 OR 60 METERS LATER.

Narrator

BEFORE RISKING A V1, THE ENGINEERS METICULOUSLY TEST THE RAMP SYSTEM WITH A REPLICA MISSILE.

Pavelec

I DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE ONE OF THESE HERE. WHAT THIS IS IS A V1 DUMMY THAT THEY USED TO TEST THE CATAPULTS, WITH VERY THICK STEEL AND, OF COURSE, FILLED WITH CONCRETE TO SIMULATE THE SAME WEIGHT AS A REAL V1 MISSILE. THERE'S ONE OF THESE DUMMIES SITTING HERE IN THIS FIELD, BUT I BET THERE'S 20 OR 30 SITTING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

Narrator

THE RAIL SYSTEM USES A ROCKET-POWERED SLED. A BATTERY OF 6 SOLID-FUEL BOOSTERS PROVIDE THE POWER TO PROPEL THE SLED FORWARD AND FIRE THE DUMMY AT SPEEDS OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR.

Pavelec

IT NEEDED THAT SPEED FOR TWO REASONS, SPECIFICALLY-- NUMBER ONE TO CREATE THE AIRFLOW OVER THE VERY, VERY SHORT WINGS TO GET IT FLYING, BUT ALSO TO PUSH AIR INTO THE ENGINE SO IT COULD FEED IT WITH THE FUEL TO GET THE ENGINE RUNNING UP TO EFFICIENCY.

Narrator

BY DECEMBER 1942, GOSSLAU AND LUSSER FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN THE LAUNCH SYSTEM TO TRY THE REAL MISSILE. UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, THE FIRST-EVER V1 SHOOTS UP THE RAMP, BUT IT FLIES FOR ONLY 60 SECONDS BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE BALTIC. THE FLIGHT PROVES THE CONCEPT IS SOUND, BUT THEY NEED TO KEEP THE MISSILE FLYING LONGER. A NEW LAUNCH PLAN IS REQUIRED.

Pavelec

THIS IS THE PLATFORM FOR THE LAUNCH SYSTEM. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THE METAL AND CONCRETE IS STILL HERE FROM 70 YEARS AGO. RIGHT HERE WAS WHERE THE RAMP STARTED.

Narrator

THEY REPLACED THE CONCRETE RAIL WITH A LIGHTER BUT STRONGER STEEL LAUNCH SYSTEM.

Pavelec

OH, HERE'S THE CONCRETE PILINGS WITH THE METAL FIXTURES YOU CAN SEE THAT HELD THE A-FRAME THAT HELD UP THE STEEL LAUNCH RAMP, POINTED OUT IN THAT DIRECTION WHERE THEY WOULD LAUNCH THE V1 OFF ACROSS THE BALTIC.

Narrator

THE FINAL DESIGN USES A STEAM-PROPELLED PISTON. WHEN FIRED, IT WILL SHOOT THROUGH THE RAMP. THE V1 IS ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE PISTON. FINALLY, A STEAM GENERATOR RIGGED TO PRODUCE A HIGH-PRESSURE GAS EXPLOSION IS LOCKED INTO POSITION. THEY'D FLIP THE SWITCH, AND THE STEAM WOULD BE GENERATED. THE CATAPULT PLUG WOULD FORCE THE V1 OFF THE END OF THE RAMP TOWARDS THE BALTIC. IN UNDER A SECOND, THE PISTON ACCELERATES THE V1 TO A STAGGERING 250 MILES PER HOUR. THIS GIVES THE MISSILE THE MOMENTUM IT NEEDS TO FLY LONGER, SOLVING THE LAUNCHING PROBLEM. JANUARY 1943. THE TIDE OF WAR IS TURNING AGAINST NAZI GERMANY. THEY ARE LOSING TO THE ALLIES IN NORTH AFRICA, AND IN THE EAST, THE INVASION OF RUSSIA HAS GROUND TO A HALT. HITLER IS LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE, AND THE V1 MIGHT JUST BE THE ANSWER. GOSSLAU AND LUSSER BELIEVE THEIR NEW INVENTION IS EXACTLY WHAT THE FUEHRER NEEDS. NOW IT'S TIME TO PROVE IT. HURRY UP! IS EVERYTHING OK? YEAH. AIR PRESSURE?

Man

CHECK! GYROSCOPE? CHECK! IGNITION? CHECK! GOOD! PREPARE FOR FIRING!

Holland

HITLER HIMSELF COMES TO PEENEMUNDE TO WATCH ONE OF THE NEXT TESTS. THE TIDE IS JUST BEGINNING TO TURN AGAINST THE GERMANS, AND WHAT HE'S HOPING IS THAT THIS NEW TERROR WEAPON WILL BRING BRITAIN TO ITS KNEES.

Narrator

FOR GOSSLAU AND LUSSER, IT'S A ONE-OFF CHANCE TO SHOW THE FUEHRER THEIR AMAZING INVENTION.

Lusser

3, 2, 1. GO! GO!

EXPLOSION

Narrator

THE V1 LAUNCH IS A DISASTER. THE MISSILE CRASHES IMMEDIATELY. LUSSER AND GOSSLAU'S V1 TEST COULDN'T HAVE GONE WORSE, BUT HITLER DESPERATELY NEEDS NEW TECHNOLOGY TO TURN THE TIDE OF THE WAR. HE GIVES THE MISSILE HIS SEAL OF APPROVAL. THE PRESSURE IS NOW ON GOSSLAU AND LUSSER TO GET THE V1 OPERATIONAL. THAT MEANS MEN NEED TO BE TRAINED TO FIRE IT.

Holland

EVERY WEAPON NEEDS MANPOWER TO LAUNCH IT, AND SO A NEW REGIMENT IS INSTIGATED SPECIFICALLY TO MAN AND OPERATE THE FLYING BOMB.

Narrator

JUNE 1943. TROOPS ARE DRAFTED FROM ACROSS THE LUFTWAFFE TO JOIN A NEW, SECRET REGIMENT. THE MAN CHOSEN TO LEAD THEM IS HARDENED WAR VETERAN COLONEL MAX WACHTEL.

WACHTEL SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

GENTLEMEN, YOU ARE HERE FOR A MISSION OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO THE FATHERLAND.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

AND IT WILL BE AN HONOR FOR US TO CARRY OUT THIS DUTY.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Holland

COLONEL MAX WACHTEL IS A TOUGH, UNCOMPROMISING ARTILLERYMAN FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR. HE'S JOINED THE LUFTWAFFE IN 1936 AND HAS MADE A REAL REPUTATION FOR HIMSELF, SO HE'S THE PERFECT CHOICE. HE'S LOYAL, HE'S UNCOMPROMISING, AND THEY KNOW HE'S GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE.

Pavelec

WACHTEL'S REGIMENT IS DRAWN FROM MEN FROM ALL ACROSS GERMANY-- VETERANS, BRAND-NEW RECRUITS, SOME THAT FOUGHT ON THE WESTERN FRONT, SOME THAT HAVE FOUGHT ON THE EASTERN FRONT.

THEY'RE BROUGHT HERE TO WORK ON THIS TOP-SECRET PROJECT

THE V1 MISSILE.

Narrator

AMONG THEM IS 18-YEAR-OLD AIRMAN JOSEPH ESSER.

WACHTEL SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

LET ME STRESS THAT ANY BREACH OF YOUR OATH TO SECRECY WILL RESULT IN TRANSFER TO A CONCENTRATION CAMP OR DEATH.

Narrator

ESSER'S TEAM ARE AMONG THE FIRST TO SEE THE SECRET FLYING BOMB. HE RECORDS THE MOMENT IN HIS DIARY.

Esser

WE WERE GIVEN SPECIAL SECURITY CLEARANCE TO ENTER THE SECRET RESEARCH STATION. THERE I SAW IT-- THE MACHINE THEY CALLED THE V1. I THOUGHT WE HAD TO FLY IT! BUT THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT IT'S A MISSILE; A SECRET VENGEANCE WEAPON.

Narrator

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PEENEMUNDE, ESSER AND THE TEAM BEGIN AN INTENSE TRAINING SCHEDULE.

Pavelec

IT WAS IN THIS FOREST WHERE WACHTEL'S REGIMENT TRAINED. THE HIGH-TECHNOLOGY WEAPONS SYSTEM NEEDED HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH IT. WITHOUT THE MEN, THE MACHINE WAS NOTHING. THEY BUILT 3 PRACTICE LAUNCH RAMPS IN THE FOREST. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. YOU CAN SEE THE FRONT END WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE WHERE THEY LOADED THE V1 ON.

Narrator

UNDER WACHTEL'S DIRECTION, THE TEAM STEP UP THEIR FIRING TRIALS. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WORK. THEY WERE USING VERY VOLATILE CHEMICALS IN THE LAUNCH PROCESS. THE V1s THEMSELVES TENDED TO EXPLODE ON THE RAMP. ESSER PREPARES THE V1s FOR LAUNCH, BUT THE SYSTEM STILL HAS TEETHING PROBLEMS, AS HE RECALLS IN HIS DIARY.

Esser

AFTER THE BOMB WAS PREPARED, WE RAN AND HID. YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. GET BACK, EVERYONE!

Pavelec

THEY HAVE NO TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES. THEY HAVE TO INVENT HOW THEY PUT THIS THING INTO THE AIR.

Narrator

PRESSURE IS RISING. THE REGIMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.

EXPLOSION

Narrator

HITLER IS DEPENDING ON MAX WACHTEL. THE PROBLEM FOR WACHTEL IS THAT THE V1 ITSELF IS PLAGUED BY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. IT KEEPS FLIPPING OVER AND VEERING OFF COURSE.

Pavelec

AFTER MULTIPLE EXPERIMENTS, THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE MAGNETIC COMPASS IN THE STEERING MECHANISM.

Narrator

THE V1's STATE-OF-THE-ART AUTOPILOT RELIES ON A COMPASS TO KEEP THE MISSILE ON COURSE. IF THE V1 STRAYS OFF ROUTE, THE COMPASS HELPS MOVE THE RUDDER AND ELEVATOR TO CORRECT ITS TRAJECTORY.

Pavelec

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE EARLY V1s IS, THE MAGNETIC COMPASS WAS GETTING DISTURBANCE FROM THE REST OF THE METAL VEHICLE. WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH WAS A WOODEN CRADLE THAT SUSPENDED THE COMPASS WITH RUBBER BANDS, BASICALLY. ALONG WITH ANOTHER HALF ON TOP, IT COMPLETELY ISOLATED THE MAGNETIC COMPASS SO THAT IT WOULD BE STABLE AND PROTECTED FROM THE VIOLENCE OF TAKEOFF BUT ALSO FROM THE MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE OF THE REST OF THE V1. WITH THIS VERY INGENIOUS AND SIMPLE ANSWER, IT ALLOWED THE V1 TO BE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL IN FLIGHT.

Narrator

WHILE WACHTEL AND THE ENGINEERS STRUGGLE TO GET THE V1 CAMPAIGN OPERATIONAL, THE NAZI WAR MACHINE RECEIVES A HUGE SETBACK. IN JULY 1943, THE ALLIES BOMB HAMBURG.

Holland

OVER 3 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS, MORE THAN 3,000 BOMBERS HIT HAMBURG. THIS IS ONE OF GERMANY'S BIGGEST CITIES, NOT TO MENTION PORTS, AND THE ANCIENT HEART OF IT IS ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED.

Narrator

THE RAID KILLS OVER 50,000 GERMANS.

Holland

THIS IS A MASSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW FOR BOTH HITLER AND THE NAZI HIGH COMMAND AS WELL.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

ONLY BY AIR CAN THEY TERRORIZE OUR HOMELAND.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

BUT LET ME ASSURE YOU, GENTLEMEN, WE ARE DEVELOPING WAYS TO END THESE TERROR ATTACKS FOR GOOD.

SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

WE WILL SOON RETALIATE WITH ALL OUR POWER!

Narrator

HITLER IS RELYING ON MAX WACHTEL TO DELIVER A REVENGE STRIKE, BUT THE V1 IS FAR FROM READY. DESPITE THIS, HE ORDERS 5,000 TO BE BUILT BY THE END OF 1943 TO FIRE AT ENGLAND. IN AUGUST, THE WEAPON GOES INTO MASS PRODUCTION. LONDON IS THE TARGET. BUT THE V1 ONLY HAS A RANGE OF 130 MILES. THEY WILL NEED TO BE LAUNCHED FROM NORTHERN FRANCE. IN SEPTEMBER, CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON 100 LAUNCH SITES ACROSS NORMANDY AND THE AREA AROUND CALAIS. ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE IS HAZEBROUCK. ITS HAUNTING RUINS STILL SURVIVE TODAY.

Pollard

THIS IS JUST MISSILE. THIS IS THE BUSINESS END OF THE ENTIRE OPERATION-- THE LAUNCH RAMP-- AND THERE'S NO MISTAKING IT. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE ARE THE BLAST WALLS THAT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED THE RAMP WITHIN, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUPERSTRUCTURE COMING OUT TOWARDS US. THE KEY FACTOR IS THAT THIS HAS TO HAVE THAT LINE OF SIGHT. IT'S LIKE A RIFLE POINTED AT LONDON. IT'S ON A RIDGE, SO IT'S ELEVATED FROM THE GROUND AROUND IT, BUT IT'S SET ASIDE FROM THE FOREST. EVERYTHING ELSE-- ALL THE SUPPORT BUILDINGS ARE HIDDEN AWAY IN THE FOREST.

Narrator

THE LAUNCH SITE CONTAINS EVERYTHING THE V1 REGIMENTS NEED TO FIRE THE WEAPON. THERE ARE NEARLY 20 CONCRETE STRUCTURES, INCLUDING BUILDINGS TO STORE AND ASSEMBLE THE MISSILES, BUNKERS TO HOUSE THE DETONATORS, AND BLOCKHOUSES TO SUPPORT THE 65-STRONG CREW.

Pollard

EVERY BUILDING SERVED A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, AND THIS ONE'S REALLY INTERESTING. IT'S GOT TWO WIDE DOORS. IT'S GOT THESE CONCRETE BEAMS ACROSS THE FLOOR, AND YOU CAN SEE SET WITHIN THEM, THERE ARE IRON RODS WHICH WOULD HAVE HELD RAILS, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SILL WITHIN WHICH THAT RAIL WAS SEATED. THE CATAPULT LAUNCH SYSTEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN HERE. AND THEY WERE PRESSURE-WASHED AFTER USE, BECAUSE THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF NASTY CHEMICALS. THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF DETAIL GONE INTO THE DESIGN OF THESE BUILDINGS. UNLESS THEY'RE FIT FOR PURPOSE, THESE MISSILE LAUNCHES JUST AREN'T GOING TO WORK. LOOK AT THIS. AMAZING. THERE'S A BIG ARCHWAY THAT WOULD HAVE STRETCHED ACROSS BETWEEN THESE TWO WALLS, SO THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY IMPRESSIVE BUILDING AND STRIKINGLY DIFFERENT TO EVERYTHING ELSE. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CATHEDRAL OF THE SITE.

Narrator

THIS BUILDING, CALLED THE RICHTHAUS, IS WHERE THE V1 UNDERGOES CRITICAL LAST-MINUTE CHECKS BEFORE LAUNCH. THE KEY FUNCTION OF THIS ROOM IS TO SET THE COMPASS AND THE GYRO. BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A COMPASS, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY METAL CLOSE BY, BECAUSE IT WILL DISRUPT IT. AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT THIS FANCY ARCHWAY, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE IRON BEAMS SUPPORTING THE DOORWAY OR THE ROOF. AND SO THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF THOUGHT GONE INTO THIS. IF THEY GET THIS BIT WRONG, THE ENTIRE OPERATION WILL BE A FAILURE. THESE SITES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY THE END OF 1943, BUT THERE JUST ISN'T THE MANPOWER OR RESOURCES. HITLER HAS PRIORITIZED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ATLANTIC WALL DEFENSES, SO THE V1 PLANS ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE. MEANWHILE, THE FIRST MASS-PRODUCED V1s ROLL OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE, BUT THE PRESSURE TO DELIVER FAST MEANS THERE'S NO TIME FOR TESTING. THE MISSILES ARE FAULTY.

Pavelec

SO ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAD VERY EARLY WAS, THE WINGS WOULD FALL APART IN FLIGHT OR EVEN FALL OFF WHEN IT WAS LAUNCHED. THE VIOLENCE OF THE LAUNCH AND THE PULSEJET ENGINE WOULD LITERALLY TEAR THIS MACHINE APART.

Narrator

THE FIX IS SIMPLE. USING METAL RIVETS INSTEAD OF SPOT WELDING STRENGTHENS THE FUSELAGE. BUT IT'S TOO LATE FOR THE 2,000 WINGS AND MIDSECTIONS ALREADY PRODUCED. THEY ARE SCRAPPED, SETTING THE PROGRAM BACK BY MONTHS. IN LATE 1943, UNDER PRESSURE TO DELIVER AN OPERATIONAL V1 REGIMENT, COLONEL WACHTEL MOVES HIS MEN INTO THE TOP-SECRET LAUNCH SITES IN NORTHERN FRANCE. IN THEIR RANKS IS JOSEPH ESSER, WHO IS POSTED NEAR LILLE.

Esser

THROUGHOUT THE AUTUMN, MY JOB WAS JUST BORING GUARD DUTY. IT WAS HARDLY WHAT I SIGNED UP TO.

Pollard

IT WAS A SITE LIKE THIS THAT ESSER ARRIVED AT. THE FACILITIES WERE ALL HERE READY, BUT THE FRUSTRATING THING WAS THAT THERE WERE NO MISSILES. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SUPPLY. BUT ONCE THEY STARTED TO ARRIVE, THE PLAN WAS INITIALLY TO STORE THEM IN THIS BUILDING. WOW. THIS IS AN 80-METER-LONG BUNKER, AND ITS FUNCTION WAS TO STORE THE MISSILES. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN HERE NOSE TO TAIL-- 10 OF THEM, ONE END TO THE OTHER-- WITH THEIR WINGS FOLDED UP BEFORE THEY'RE ASSEMBLED. FOR MOST OF THEIR LENGTH, THESE BUILDINGS ARE STRAIGHT AS A DIE, BUT WHEN YOU GET TO ONE END, THEY START TO CURVE AROUND, AND IT'S SAID THAT'S TO PROTECT FROM BOMB BLAST IF BOMBS ARE DROPPED ON THEM. IF YOU SEE THEM FROM ABOVE, THEY LOOK LIKE SKIS LAID ON THEIR SIDE, AND THEY BECOME KNOWN AS SKI STRUCTURES.

Narrator

BY THE END OF 1943, THE LUFTWAFFE HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE SKIES OVER FRANCE. ALL THE LAUNCH SITES ARE NOW VULNERABLE TO ALLIED AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE. IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE RAF TO SPOT THE STRANGE SKI-SHAPED BUILDINGS.

Pollard

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE FOR THE GERMANS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. AND AS SOON AS THE ALLIES SEE THESE STRUCTURES, THEY KNOW THAT SOMETHING UNUSUAL IS HAPPENING AND SOMETHING POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS.

Narrator

THE DISTINCTIVE MISSILE BUNKERS GIVE AWAY THE LAUNCH SITES, BUT THE SECRECY OF THE V1 PROGRAM MEANS THE ALLIES HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE FOR. IT TAKES AN AERIAL RECON PHOTO OF A LAUNCH RAMP AT PEENEMUNDE FOR THEM TO MAKE THE CONNECTION.

Pavelec

THE PLACE WE'RE STANDING AND THIS PHOTOGRAPH ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT IN THE HISTORY OF THE V1, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE ALLIES TOOK A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS THAT ACTUALLY HAD A PICTURE OF THE V1 ON THE LAUNCH RAMP. THEY FINALLY PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER. THE LAUNCH RAMPS WERE FOR V1s AIMED DIRECTLY AT LONDON.

Narrator

ALLIED AIR RAIDS ON THE SITES IN NORTHERN FRANCE BEGIN IN EARNEST. 18-YEAR-OLD AIRMAN JOSEPH ESSER IS NOW IN MORTAL DANGER. INCOMING!

COUGHING

Narrator

THE ALLIES DROP OVER 120,000 TONS OF BOMBS ON THE NAZIS' V-WEAPON SITES. THE IMPACT OF THOSE ALLIED AIR RAIDS IS STILL PLAIN TO SEE IN THE FOREST, WHICH IS POCKMARKED WITH HUGE BOMB CRATERS. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS ONE. AND IT'S--THIS MUST BE A 500-POUND BOMB THAT'S LANDED HERE. ALL OVER THE SITE, THERE ARE LUMPS OF CONCRETE WHERE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN HIT BY BOMBS RAINING DOWN. NEARLY ALL OF THE 100 V1 LAUNCH SITES ARE HEAVILY BOMBED LONG BEFORE THEY BECOME OPERATIONAL. THE V1 PROGRAM IS FACING CATASTROPHE, AND AN ENTIRE RETHINK IS REQUIRED. THE CREWS HAVE TO EVACUATE THESE SITES, AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS REGROUP AND RETHINK AND COME UP WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW STRATEGY. AT HIS HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE, THE PRESSURE IS BUILDING ON REGIMENT COMMANDER MAX WACHTEL. HE HAS NO IDEA HOW THE ALLIES DISCOVERED THE V1 SITES. WACHTEL REALIZES THAT THE SECRET OF THE V1 MISSILE IS OUT, AND HE'S ABSOLUTELY PARANOID THAT THE FRENCH RESISTANCE ARE WATCHING HIS EVERY MOVE, SO HE TAKES SOME EXTREME MEASURES. WACHTEL CHANGES TACTICS, ABANDONING THE ORIGINAL LAUNCHERS AND CONSTRUCTING 130 SMALL, CAREFULLY CONCEALED LAUNCH SITES. THE RELICS OF ONE ARE BURIED IN THE FOREST AT BOIS DE ST. REMY. I COULD DO WITH A MACHETE IN SOME OF THIS STUFF. 1, 2, 3, 4... MAYBE MORE OVER HERE. LOOKS AS THOUGH IT'S LINED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS IS THE END OF THE RAMP. THESE CONCRETE PLINTHS ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT OF THE V1 LAUNCH PAD THAT WAS HERE. THE NEW SITES CONSIST OF TWO OR THREE PERMANENT STRUCTURES HEAVILY CAMOUFLAGED IN DENSE WOODLAND. THIS NEW TYPE OF SITE HAD FEWER BUILDINGS. THEY WERE SMALLER. SOMETIMES THEY WERE MADE OUT OF WOOD-- JUST TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ON CONCRETE BASES-- BUT THERE ARE ESSENTIALS THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN HERE. WE NEED A CONTROL ROOM WHERE THE FIRING MECHANISM WOULD BE. WE'D NEED A DEMAGNETIZATION ROOM. THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS THE LAUNCH RAMP. THE PLAN IS TO DELIVER IT IN PREFABRICATED SECTIONS THAT ARE ONLY ASSEMBLED AT THE LAST MINUTE. THIS KEEPS THE CHANCES OF THE ALLIES DETECTING THE SITE TO A MINIMUM. WE'VE GOT THE ESSENTIAL RAMP, BUT IT'S AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE-- VERY QUICKLY ERECTED IN THE DAYS BEFORE A LAUNCH. THE REST OF THE SITE IS JUST DISPERSED AND SMALL-SCALE. THERE'D NEED TO BE SOME SORT OF STORAGE FOR THE MISSILES, BUT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THESE MASSIVE LONG SHEDS WHERE DOZENS OF THESE THINGS CAN BE KEPT AT ANY ONE TIME. WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT SOMETHING MORE AKIN TO A MOBILE ARTILLERY BATTERY HERE. BUT HIDING THE LAUNCH SITES FROM THE ALLIES ISN'T ENOUGH FOR THE INCREASINGLY PARANOID WACHTEL. CONCERNED THAT THE FRENCH RESISTANCE ARE FOLLOWING HIM AND SPYING ON HIS TOP-SECRET MISSILE PROGRAM, HE GOES UNDERCOVER.

Pollard

FOR ONE THING, HE CHANGES HIS NAME, DITCHES HIS UNIFORM, FEIGNS A FALSE ARM. HE'S DOING ANYTHING HE POSSIBLY CAN TO GET THE PROGRAM BACK ON TRACK.

Narrator

DISGUISING HIS NAME AND APPEARANCE, WACHTEL BECOMES THE ONE-ARMED MARTIN WOLF. AND SO THE GERMANS HERE, I THINK, HAVE PLAYED A BLINDER. THEY'RE WORKING REALLY INTELLIGENTLY WITH WHAT IS REALLY A VERY ADVERSE SITUATION. WITH WACHTEL AND THE LAUNCH SITES UNDERCOVER, NOW ONLY THE V1s THEMSELVES NEED HIDING FROM THE EVER-WATCHFUL ALLIES. STORAGE OF THE MISSILES IS MOVED TO A SERIES OF QUARRIES AND TUNNELS. ACROSS EUROPE, MASS PRODUCTION OF V1s ALSO MOVES UNDERGROUND. IN EASTERN FRANCE, THE NAZIS CONVERT AN IRON MINE INTO A TOP-SECRET V1 CONSTRUCTION PLANT AT TIERCELET. FORTIFICATION SPECIALIST ARTHUR VAN BEVEREN IS EXPLORING THE SUBTERRANEAN FACTORY.

Van Beveren

WOW. LOOK AT THIS PLACE. HUGE TO MAKE ROOM AND SPACE FOR TRAINS. OLD WIRING ON THE WALLS. HUGE STEEL DOORS LEADING INTO THE TUNNEL. THE ORIGINAL MINE WAS 220,000 SQUARE METERS, AND THE GERMANS USED 60,000 FOR THEIR V1 FACTORY. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THIS AMAZING LARGE TUNNEL WHICH LEADS RIGHT INTO THE MOUNTAIN. IT'S ABOUT 7 METERS HIGH, AND IT WAS ENLARGED BY THE GERMANS TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR TRAINS AND TRUCKS AND THE V WEAPON ITSELF.

Narrator

BEFORE V1 PRODUCTION COULD BEGIN, THE NARROW MINE SHAFTS HAVE TO BE WIDENED AND STRENGTHENED. THE WORK IS CARRIED OUT BY PRISONERS.

Van Beveren

FORCED LABORERS FROM EAST AND CENTRAL EUROPE WERE BROUGHT IN BY THE GERMANS TO DO THIS WORK, AND IT WAS HARD WORK, IN A COLD, DAMP ENVIRONMENT. TO WORK HERE FOR MONTHS ON END, IT MUST BE AWFUL. GOT SOME TOOLS HERE WHICH WERE PROBABLY USED BY THE FORCED LABORERS TO CUT THROUGH THESE ROCKS. IF YOU SEE THESE KIND OF TOOLS, IT MAKES THIS TUNNEL HUMAN AGAIN.

Narrator

THE NAZIS INSTALL AN ADVANCED VENTILATION SYSTEM TO KEEP THE AIR CLEAN AND LAY TRACKS FOR A NARROW-GAUGE RAILWAY TO TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS.

Van Beveren

LOOKS LIKE THEY LEFT IN A HURRY.

Narrator

THEY BUILD WORKSHOPS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF V1 PARTS DEEP WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN.

Van Beveren

THESE KIND OF TUNNELS WERE THE ACTUAL PRODUCTION HOLES. WOW. CHECK THIS OUT. THIS LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE LAMPS WHICH USED TO HANG ON THE CEILING RIGHT HERE.

Narrator

DRILLS, PRESSES, AND WELDING STATIONS ARE INSTALLED, AND FULL V1 MANUFACTURING BEGINS.

Van Beveren

PRISONERS WERE CHERRY-PICKED FOR THEIR SPECIAL QUALITIES. THEY WERE SPECIALISTS ON METALWORKING.

Narrator

THE PRISONERS ARE FORCED TO WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO BUILD THE MISSILES HITLER DEMANDS.

Van Beveren

THE AMOUNT OF ENGINEERING THAT WENT INTO THE V1 PROJECT WAS IMPRESSIVE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET THE HUMAN COST. STORIES GO THAT WHEN ABOUT 30 RUSSIAN WOMEN WERE WORKING THERE, THE TUNNEL COLLAPSED, AND THEY ARE STILL BURIED UNDERNEATH THE RUBBLE.

Narrator

BY MAY 1944, HITLER IS FINALLY SATISFIED THAT EVERYTHING IS READY FOR A STRIKE AGAINST BRITAIN. ESSER'S REGIMENT IS IN POSITION AND AWAITING WACHTEL'S ORDER TO FIRE. IT WILL COME UNDER THE CODE NAME POLAR BEAR-- IN GERMAN, EISBAER.

Holland

THE V1s MAY BE READY, BUT THE ALLIES STRIKE FIRST. THEY TAKE HITLER AND THE GERMANS COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE BY LANDING ON THE NORMANDY BEACHES.

Narrator

ON JUNE 6, 1944, 150,000 ALLIED TROOPS LAND ON THE COAST OF FRANCE IN THE D-DAY INVASION. HITLER NEEDS A DECISIVE COUNTERSTRIKE AGAINST THE ALLIES. THE TIME HAS COME FOR WACHTEL TO BREAK COVER. HE CASTS OFF HIS DISGUISE AND MOBILIZES HIS MEN.

WACHTEL SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

ALL UNITS TO PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THE ATTACK. GIVE ME THE STATUS OF ALL THE NORMANDY SITES. LAUNCHERS ARE TO BE MADE READY FOR ACTION. THANKS.

Narrator

ACROSS FRANCE, THE LAUNCH RAMPS BEGIN ARRIVING. MISSILES ARE MOVED FROM THE FACTORIES AND STORAGE DEPOTS, ARMING THE SITES. IN THE HOURS LEADING UP TO THE LAUNCH, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HIVE OF ACTIVITY. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MEN EVERYWHERE. THEY'D HAVE STILL BEEN BUILDING THE LAUNCH RAMP; LAST PIECES BOLTED INTO PLACE. ESSER IS BUSY READYING THE MISSILES FOR LAUNCH. THE MOMENT TO PUT HIS TRAINING INTO ACTION HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. THE MISSILES WOULD BE ARRIVING AT THE RECEPTION CENTER. THERE THEY'D BE PREPARED-- THE WINGS FITTED, THE GYROS WOULD BE FITTED, EVERYTHING CHECKED FOR THAT LAST FINAL LAUNCH. JUNE 12, 1944. JUST 6 DAYS AFTER D-DAY, WACHTEL IS READY.

WACHTEL SPEAKING GERMAN

Translator

AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING, THE HOUR HAS COME FOR US TO OPEN FIRE. THE FUEHRER AND THE FATHERLAND LOOK TO US, AND IT'S NOW DOWN TO US TO ENSURE OUR CRUSADE ENDS WITH VICTORY.

Narrator

IT'S FINALLY TIME TO FIRE HITLER'S VENGEANCE WEAPON. LONG LIVE OUR FUEHRER ADOLF HITLER. SIEG HEIL!

Together

HEIL!

Narrator

ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE, V1 LAUNCH TEAMS SPRING INTO ACTION TO BEGIN THE AERIAL BOMBARDMENT OF LONDON. AIRMAN JOSEPH ESSER IS IN POSITION. HIS JOB-- TO FIRE THE FLYING BOMB.

CLOCK TICKING

Narrator

AT 4 A.M., COLONEL WACHTEL GIVES THE ORDER. EISBAER. EISBAER. EISBAER. EISBAER. GET BACK, EVERYONE! THROUGH THE NIGHT, THE REGIMENT UNLEASH MISSILES AT THE UNSUSPECTING BRITISH PUBLIC.

Pollard

ESSER'S CREW DO PRETTY WELL ON THE NIGHT. THEY GET TWO MISSILES AWAY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT ACROSS THE REGIMENT, THEY ONLY GET 10 MISSILES OFF, AND ONLY 4 OF THOSE MISSILES MAKE IT AS FAR AS THE ENGLISH COAST.

Narrator

A SINGLE V1 STRIKES LONDON. THE EXPLOSION KILLS 6 PEOPLE, INJURING 30. IT'S NOT THE DECISIVE STRIKE HITLER WAS EXPECTING.

Pollard

AFTER THAT FIRST DISAPPOINTING LAUNCH, THE REGIMENT REALLY GETS ITS ACT TOGETHER. AND ON THE 15th AND 16th OF JUNE, JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY GET 244 MISSILES IN THE AIR. 73 OF THOSE LAND ON LONDON TO DEVASTATING EFFECT. THIS IS WHAT HITLER WAS HOPING FOR.

Narrator

THE GROWL OF THE PULSEJET ENGINE SIGNALS THE ARRIVAL OF A V1.

ENGINE GROWLING

Narrator

ON REACHING LONDON, IT STARTS ITS DIVE. THIS CUTS THE FUEL TO THE ENGINE, LEAVING THE MISSILE TO FALL IN HAUNTING SILENCE.

Pollard

BUT IT WAS WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT THAT YOU KNEW THE DANGER HAD REALLY ARRIVED, BECAUSE THAT MACHINE IS, AT THAT POINT, FALLING FROM THE SKY, AND IT COULD BE FALLING ON YOU WITH A TON OF EXPLOSIVES ON-BOARD.

EXPLOSION

Narrator

IN TOTAL, 10,500 MISSILES ARE LAUNCHED AT BRITAIN. IN THE SPACE OF 10 WEEKS, OVER 5,000 LONDONERS ARE KILLED. HITLER IS ECSTATIC ABOUT THE WAY THE V1 PROJECT IS GOING. AS FAR AS HE'S CONCERNED, THIS TERROR WEAPON, THIS RETALIATION WEAPON, IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE HOPED IT WOULD DO. IT'S KILLING LOTS OF PEOPLE, IT'S DESTROYING LOTS OF BUILDINGS, AND IT'S PILING ON HUGE AMOUNTS OF PRESSURE ONTO THE ALLIED LEADERSHIP. BUT IT'S ALL TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. BY MID-AUGUST 1944, TWO MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST V1 ATTACKS, THE ALLIES BREAK OUT OF NORMANDY. THE NAZIS ARE IN RETREAT, INCLUDING WACHTEL AND ESSER. HITLER'S EUPHORIA OVER THOSE SUCCESSFUL V1 LAUNCHES DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG AT ALL. THE ALLIES ARE SWEEPING UP THROUGH NORTHERN FRANCE. THEY'RE MOPPING UP THESE SITES. THE CREWS HAVE NO OPTION. THEY EITHER SURRENDER, OR THEY FLEE. IN A FINAL THROW OF THE DICE, WACHTEL CONTINUES FIRING V1s FROM MAKESHIFT SITES IN HOLLAND AND GERMANY AT CITIES THAT THE ALLIES OCCUPY.

EXPLOSION

Narrator

IN ANTWERP ALONE, NEARLY 4,000 PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY NAZI STRIKES.

Holland

IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TO BE DECISIVE. IT'S ENOUGH TO CREATE CHAOS, TO KILL LOTS OF PEOPLE, TO DESTROY LOTS OF HOMES, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE WAR.

Pollard

THE V1 PROGRAM WAS INCREDIBLY AMBITIOUS. IT DID SUCCEED IN RAINING TERROR DOWN ON LONDON, BUT IT FAILED TO TURN THE TIDE OF THE WAR IN HITLER'S FAVOR. BY THE TIME THE FIRST MISSILES ARE BEING FIRED, THE ALLIES HAD ALREADY LANDED IN FRANCE. IT WAS JUST TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

Narrator

AFTER THE WAR, AIRMAN JOSEPH ESSER RETURNS TO GERMANY TO LIVE A QUIET LIFE IN A TOWN BY THE RHINE. COLONEL MAX WACHTEL BECOMES THE MANAGER OF HAMBURG AIRPORT. LUSSER AND GOSSLAU BOTH CONTINUE CAREERS IN ENGINEERING. GOSSLAU DEVELOPS MOTORBIKES, WHILE LUSSER DESIGNS DOWNHILL SKIS. BUT IT IS THEIR WORK ON THE V1 THAT LEAVES A LASTING LEGACY. THE MISSILE IS THE PROTOTYPE FOR TWO OF THE MOST LETHAL WEAPONS

IN THE CURRENT MILITARY ARSENAL

THE UNMANNED DRONE... AND THE GUIDED CRUISE MISSILE. IN SPITE OF ITS FLAWS, THE V1 MARKS THE DAWN OF MODERN WARFARE. NAZI MEGA WEAPONS SEASON 2 IS AVAILABLE ON DVD. TO ORDER, VISIT shopPBS.ORG OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.