The Secret War (TV series)

Episodes

The first episode documents how British intelligence became aware of Luftwaffe navigation beams, including Knickebein, X Gerät and Y Gerät, and the countermeasures developed against them in the Battle of the Beams. It is largely based on the book Most Secret War by R. V. Jones, who appears in the series, and contains rare footage of The Blitz, including the Coventry Blitz. Interviewees include Albert Speer, Sir Robert Cockburn and Air Vice-Marshal Edward Addison.

The second episode covers the development of radar from its first discovery to the Chain Home system in time for the Battle of Britain and the cavity magnetron. It explains how British intelligence learned of German radar developments such as Freya and Würzburg, and describes Operation Biting (the Bruneval Raid) to capture a Würzburg system. Interviews and demonstrations feature Jones, Arnold Wilkins, John Randall, Harry Boot, Bernard Lovell, Donald Bennett, Richard Philipp and others; Speer also appears discussing the Bombing of Hamburg.

The third episode uncovers the development of Hitler's vengeance weapons, how British authorities became aware of the threat, and actions taken to prevent or delay their use. It features rare footage of the V-1 flying bomb, the V-2 missile, Operation Hydra (the bombing of Peenemünde) and details of Operation Most III. Interviewees include Jones, Duncan Sandys, Albert Speer, Constance Babington Smith, Roland Beamont, Janusz Groszkowski and Raymond Baxter.

The fourth episode examines the magnetic mine and countermeasures including degaussing. It features an interview with Lieutenant Commander John Ouvry from HMS Vernon, who defuzed the first intact German magnetic mine recovered by the Allies on the sands at Shoeburyness in Essex; that mine was used in a re-enactment for the episode. Other interviewees include Commander John Ouvry, Captain Roger Lewis, Sir Charles Goodeve, Sir Edward Bullard and Donald Henley.

"The Battle of the Atlantic" (related documentary - 24 January 1978)

This standalone documentary, aired a year after The Secret War and before a repeat of that series, examines the Battle of the Atlantic in depth. It covers both sides' technical and tactical innovations, including Asdic, Type 271 radar, wolf packs, catapult fighters, the Hedgehog, huff-duff, US blimps, ASV radar, the Leigh light, Metox, naval H2S radar, snorkels, and escort carriers. Contributors include Donald Macintyre, Patrick Beesly, Carl Emmermann, Humphrey de Verd Leigh, and Bernard Lovell. Though sometimes packaged as a seventh episode of The Secret War, it was never part of that series.