Watch World War Two: 1942 and Hitler's Soft Underbelly

World War Two: 1942 and Hitler's Soft Underbelly is a six-episode British documentary television series that aired in 2011. The show is presented and narrated by historian David Reynolds and explores the pivotal year of 1942, when the tide of the Second World War began to turn against Nazi Germany.

The series covers a range of aspects of the war, including the campaigns in North Africa, the Battle of Stalingrad, the Allied invasion of Sicily, and the Tehran Conference, where Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin met to plan the broad strategy for the remainder of the war. However, the series is particularly interested in the theme of Hitler's "soft underbelly" - the idea that the Axis Powers were vulnerable in the Mediterranean, and that the Allies could use this region as a staging ground for an assault on German-occupied Europe.

The series begins with an overview of the state of the war in early 1942. The Axis Powers were still very much on the offensive, and Nazi Germany had consolidated its control over much of Europe. However, the tide was starting to turn against them. In North Africa, the British were able to gain the upper hand against the German Afrika Korps under General Rommel at the Battle of El Alamein. Meanwhile, in Russia, the Soviet Red Army was mounting a counteroffensive that would culminate in the epic Battle of Stalingrad.

But the real focus of the series is on the Mediterranean campaign. The Allied powers recognized that the Mediterranean was an area of strategic importance, but they disagreed on how best to exploit this. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill believed that the Mediterranean was the "soft underbelly" of the Axis Powers, and that the Allies should concentrate their efforts there. American President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin were initially skeptical of this idea, but they eventually agreed to support a Mediterranean strategy.

The first major Allied offensive in the Mediterranean was the invasion of French North Africa in November 1942. The operation, codenamed "Torch," was a success, but it was not without its challenges. The Allied forces had to contend with French forces loyal to the Vichy government, as well as the Germans who rushed to reinforce their positions in Tunisia. Nevertheless, the Allies were able to establish a foothold in North Africa, which would prove crucial in the eventual defeat of the Axis Powers.

The series also covers the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. This was a massive undertaking, involving over 160,000 troops, 14,000 vehicles, and 600 tanks. The operation was a success, with the Allies able to drive the Germans out of Sicily within six weeks. However, the cost was high - over 20,000 Allied troops were killed, wounded, or missing in action.

The final episode of the series covers the Tehran Conference, which took place in November 1943. This was the first time that the "Big Three" - Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin - had met in person. The conference was a pivotal moment in the war, as the leaders agreed on a broad strategy for the rest of the conflict. They also discussed the possibility of a cross-Channel invasion of Europe, which would eventually take place in June 1944.

Throughout the series, David Reynolds provides insightful analysis and commentary on the events of the war. He is particularly interested in the personalities and motivations of the key players, including Churchill, Roosevelt, and Hitler. He also spends time exploring the experiences of ordinary soldiers and civilians, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.

Overall, World War Two: 1942 and Hitler's Soft Underbelly is an engaging and informative documentary series that provides a fresh perspective on a pivotal year in the Second World War. The series is well-researched and well-presented, and will be of interest to anyone with an interest in military history or the Second World War in general.