Department of History

SECRETS OF THE SUNTake a quided tour to the surface of Earth's life-giving star through computer-generated graphics that re-create the solar flares and storms that rage on its turbulent surface. Witness the sun's birth at the dawn of our solar system and its death billions of years in the future. MARS: THE RED PLANETMars may be the futurte of humanity. Using data collected from probes and robotic rovers. MARS THE RED PLANET takes viewers to the planet's surface to show what life would be like for a human settlement, and speculates what kind of life forms could evolve in its unique stmosphere. THE END OF THE EARTH: DEEP SPACE THREATS TO OUR PLANETScars on the planet's surface and in its fossil record chillingly illustrate the threat posed by memeorites, comets, and asteroids that routinely collide with Earth. Explore the harrowing results that such an impact could have on the environment, and discover the new technologies scientists are developing to protect the planet from these perils.JUPITER: THE GIANT PLANETTwo and a half times the size of all the other planets in the solar system combined, and half a brillion miles from Earth. Jupiter is a colossal riddle whose remote distance and cloudy covering have made it difficult to study. Explore Jupiter and journey into the immense storms just

Volumes 1 and 2, each volume contains 5 episodes: Deja Vu, Riding the Tiger, The River Styx, Resolve, This is What We Do, Things Fall Apart, The veneer of Civilization, The History of the World, A Disrespectful Loyalty The Weight of Memory

The very young men who flew the B24s over Germany in World War II against terrible odds were an exemplary band of brothers. In "The Wild Blue", Stephen Ambrose recounts their extraordinary brand of heroism, skill, daring, and comradeship.Stephen Ambrose describes how the Army Air Forces recruited, trained, and chose those few who would undertake the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the war. These are the boys-turned pilots, bombardiers, navigators, and gunners of the B24s-who suffered over 50 percent casualties.Ambrose carries us along in the crowded, uncomfortable, and dangerous B24s as their crews fought to the death through thick, black, deadly flak to reach their targets and destroy the German war machine or else went down in flames. Twenty-two-year old George McGovern who was to become a United States senator and a presidential candidate, flew thirty-five combat missions (all the Army would allow) and won the the Distinguished Flying Cross. We meet him and his mates, his co-pilot killed in action, and crews of other planes-many of whom did not come back.As "Band of Brothers and Citizen Soldiers" portrayed the bravery and ultimate victory of the American soldier from Normandy on to Germany. "The Wild Blue" makes clear the contribution these young men of the Army Air Forces stationed in Italy made to the Allied victory.

Sean Connery brings his commanding presence and rugged heroism to the lead role of desert chieftain Raisuli in this rousing historical epic filled with eye-dazzling vistas and sweeping batle scenes.In 1904 Morocco, European powers desire a foothold in the Arab world-and Raisuli is determined to stir up tribal fury against them. So he kidnaps an American widow and her children, igniting a chain of events that include President Theodore Roosevelt wielding the big stick of foreign policy and Raisuli matching wits and sharing mutual admiration with his lovely captive. John Milius scripts and directs, bending true-life fact to serve his storytelling craft, shaping history into spirited screen legend.

WORLD WAR II GREAT BLUNDERS OF WORLD WAR II exposes, as never before, the fatal errors, startling miscues, and bungled opportunities that turned the tide of the war and forever changed the course of history. JAPAN'S MISTAKES AT MIDWAY On June 4, 1942, the fanatical and efficient Japanese war machine wanted to finish off the U.S. Pacific Fleet, but their blind arrogance and underestimation of American willpower led them to disaster instead. THE FAILURE OF THE KAMIKAZE Steeped in the ancient code of the Samurai, Kamikaze forces on land, sea, and air sacrificed themselves in battle in a desperate bid for victory that spelled ultimate doom for the Japanese Empire. DEATH AT STALINGRAD In Hitler's quest to take Stalingrad at all costs, he understimated both the Russian winter and the steadfastness of the Russian people in the face of the Nazi threat. OPERATION SEA LION In the wake of the Brish army's flight from France, the British were all but beaten. But a Nazi invasion of England was inexplicably postponed, diverting certain triumph and ultimately leading to the Allied victory.

DOGFIGHTS: THE FIRST DOGFIGHTERS Cinch your goggles and fly with the first grear aces of WWI. Experience a time when, with open cockpits and unaided targeting, aces literally saw the whites of their foes'eyes. In canvas-and-wire biplanes, these dashing warriors engaged in classic duels, inventing tactics "on the fly." MAN, MOMENT, MACHINE: RED BARON & THE WINGS OF DEATH The legendary World War I flying ace, Manfred von Richthofen, managed 80 kills over WWI Europe. Watch this pioneer of the dogfigt as he meets his greatest challenge-a warplane seemiingly designed for the express purpose of bringing him down. WEAPONS AT WAR: AIRSHIPS From bombking runs to the high-flying spy balloons that soared out of the reach of enemy planes and guns, see how airships, dirigibles and zeppelins affected World War I DEEP SEA DETECTIVES: MYSTERY U-BOAT OF WORLD WAR I A veteran of the brutal naval battles of World War I, the German submarine UB-107 was discovered on the floor of the North Sea in 1985. An important find in itself, it harbored a surprise that would force experts to re-examine the records of the epic conflict.

World War II From the beaches of Normandy to the sands of North Africa, relive the drama and the intensity of history's greatest conflict in Europe. THE GREATEST CONFLICT From the German Blitzkrieg to the Allies' bloody battle for Berlin, experience a breathtaking overview of the savage global fighting that marked the war. NORTH AFRICA...THE DESERT WAR This riveting account details the German attack on Kasserine Pass, where the British 1st Army and untested American troops faced the full force of Germany's seasoned Africa Corps. THE BEACHHEAD OF ANZIO Follow the story of the Allied landing, the brutal German counterattack, and the final Allied offensive that would turn the tide of this historic battle. D-DAY...THE NORMANDY INVASION The day the Allies threw the full weight of their forces at Hitler at Normandy remains the largest amphibious assault in world history.

World War II Take a commanding view of the battles and strategy, the men and machines, and the horror and heroism that marked the epic conflict in Europe. PURSUIT OF THE RHINE In a daring offensive move, the Allies boldy thrust forward under tactical air support to break through German lines, and the enemy resistance utimately crumbled. THE BOMBER OFFENSIVE: AIR WAR IN EUROPE The Allies launched this historic penetration raid on a German munitions factory and ultimately paid an extraodinary price in men and machines, but this battle would prove to be a turning point. THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE It was the largest pitched battle in American military history, the last major engagement of the European campaign, and the scene of some of the war's fiercest fighting, leading to a final blow against the Nazis. THE BATTLE OF GERMANY The final campaign of the European theater unfolded in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge with the British and Canadian offensive, the historic crossing of the Rine at Remagen, and Eisenhower's final drive to Berlin.