The Secret War: The Complete Original Series [DVD]

In the long history of Television documentaries , there will always be a production that has stood out, as the pinnacle of achievement--a Landmark to measure other's by. 'The Secret War'--IS such a landmark. An achievement even more striking, seeing as it was made in the late 1970's.I agree fully with all the praise heaped on it by the reviewer's writing here. I not only watched the original series on TV--but bought the VHS issue in the 1980's. Now that release, included the one episode not issued on the DVD set--as shown here. It was titled 'The Battle of the Atlantic', and was shown on TV in 1978, a few months after the first 6 episodes. Why that was--nobody has yet explained. The opening sequence is different, although, that striking music can be heard--mostly. So, anybody who owns the VHS version, and plan to buy the DVD, should keep the last tape and /or get it transferred to disc first--as I have done. Historic brilliance like this, is even more vital today--as I have just read in the newspaper, a report showing that the ignorance of today's young, about their country's history ( especially WW2 ) is both astonishing and disturbing. Many thought that we and the Germans, fought together--against who? they couldn't say. The list of don't know's was appalling. Hopefully, this great DVD --which is so watchable--may stir some interest, because they sure aren't getting it from school. P G Croft. UK.

I am SO GLAD that this has at long last come out on DVD. Perhaps the manky VHS issues can now be retired.This is not a new series, I saw it on the BBC back when I was a student and at the time found the programmes dealing with the "Physical" secrets - such as the work on radar, the defeat of the German "Crooked Leg", the V1 and V2 rockets (not to mention the original of the Dads Army "Great Panjandrum" catherine wheel.....) more interesting than the last, which was on the then gobsmackingly new Ultra/Enigma revelations. Familiar now, it was just off the secret list in the mid 70's....This is a series that rewards repeated viewing. It could not be made now (like Thames' World At War, or the Kevin Brownlow "Hollywood" series) because although there were people to interview then, now they are mostly gone......Buy it and watch it. Prof R V Jones is quite a character, and was deeply involved back in the day. From the opening Mussorgsky to the queer little Radiophonics Workshop piece that covers the closing credits this series will hold your attention. BUY IT I SAY!!!

I watched this as a kid in 1977 and remember it well . Like The World at War made in the 70s it is wonderful to see the actual people interviewed who actually made the history. Glorious to see scientists who made discoveries interviewed and actually reenact there experiments.The chap who actually worked in the van to demonstrate RDF to Dowding in 1935 then shows William Wollard how it was done in a van in 1977 is priceless.Lastly I always remember Prof. R V Jones being interviewed and how he has a watch on both arms.... two watches now that says it all. He was a very bright man and definitely helped win the war and saved many lives with his work on deducting German technology..Ive read books about these Scientific Secrets of WW11 but this TV series brings it to life . The World at War series is the best TV series on this subject but you need to add this Secret War series to get a better picture. Most of the secrets such as Station X at Bletchley park were still top secret and never made it into The World at War so its not complete. Put these two series together and its a much more complete picture of WW11...A fantastic Documentary . Timeless

I first watched this series on TV when it first came out in 1977. I was spellbound by it. For years I have been hoping this would be put on DVD as this is possibly one of the most important series ever done about the 2WW. I complained to the BBC that this series was not on sale at Bletchley over a year or more ago and they wrote back a very negative letter intimating that they had no plans to release it. Thank goodness this is now available at last. We often credit Churchill as the one who led this country to victory over the Nazi, but without the head of intelligence Prof R. V. Jones and Alan Turing, the war could not have been won. Every student of the 2ww should see this series. I also commend to your reading the book "Most Secret War" by Prof; Jones. It is one of the few books that I have read on the war or for that matter any war. There is still much to learn from Jones's work and his book is likely to remain relevant while there are still wars being fought. It was the very first time that I heard of Enigma. We are fortunate that those who were once sworn to secrecy have been allowed to enhance our knowledge of those critical times. If I could give this series ten stars, I would.

Excellent series which gives a different angle to the innumerable History Documentaries you watch (and re-watch) on History and UkGold today. This takes a science and technology angle and still gives plenty of fresh insights even after all these years. I'd never come across several of the featured stories before and the detail was credible and often from first hand witnesses I'd never come across. Mr. Woollard's presentation was peerless. Very enjoyable and watched this with a sherry over Christmas. You will really appreciate the gravitas in the series from the participants and the presentation.