Series — 2008

When the World Was on Fire: The Chronicle of the Second World War (2008)

The Second World War began on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland and ended on May 8, 1945, as a global catastrophe with over 50 million deaths and devastated cities. Hitler’s expansion plans and Japan’s imperial ambitions led to bloody battles such as Stalingrad and Iwo Jima, the bombing of German cities, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. SPIEGEL-TV author Michael Kloft recounts the war’s chronology and presents rare, partly unpublished footage from both the front lines and the home front, beyond propaganda. He is supported by experts Antony Beevor, Jörg Friedrich, and Rolf-Dieter Müller, who provide insights into military strategies and personal stories. Together, they create a comprehensive portrait of the Second World War.