How life went on as war raged around. War has never been limited to the battlefield. It destroys cities and kills loved ones; it casts an almost impenetrable shadow over everything it touches … but life somehow finds a way to shine, even in the toughest of times. Using archive materials and expert interviews across three eye-opening episodes, Living in the Shadow of WW2 explores the ups and downs of everyday life - with a focus on Great Britain - while the greatest war in history raged on.
The most fundamental need of any society is a reliable food supply. During World War II, every combatant nation introduced some form of rationing - but that was only the start of the business of keeping the population fed. From substitute ingredients and ersatz recipes to digging-up golf courses and football pitches to increase agricultural output - we see the memories of those who queued, scrounged and dug for victory.
Total war extends the battlefields - in World War II, for the first time, civilian casualties far outnumbered those of military personnel. And a significant proportion of those casualties were victims of the bombing campaigns waged by both sides. What was the effect of living through 'the Blitz', what precautions were taken, what forms of shelter were constructed? We hear and see stories of the evacuation of children and the organisation of home defence.
Every nation involved in World War II recognised that maintaining the morale of the population was vital. Everywhere a great effort was made to offer entertainment, diversion and often to package it with the reassurance that the cause was just and victory certain. Radio and cinema were the great mass communicators of the day and we see examples of some of the performers and productions that helped to lighten the darkness of living in the shadow of war.
Complete episode guide for Living in the Shadow of World War II with detailed information about every season and episode including air dates, summaries, ratings, and streaming availability in United States.
This episode guide is organized by seasons, making it easy to track your viewing progress or find specific episodes. Use the episode information to plan your binge-watching sessions or catch up on missed episodes.