Nazi Attack On America

Nazi Attack on America is a captivating one-hour special aired on PBS in 2015. It features a unique mix of historical fact, suspenseful narratives, and groundbreaking scientific discovery. The title may create an impression of a land invasion or televised warfare, but the event depicted is an often overlooked but significant part of World War II history—a maritime onslaught by German U-boats off the U.S. shoreline.

This hour-long documentary takes the viewer back to the summer of 1942. At this time, World War II had been raging for years in Europe, but the United States was a relatively new entrant. Nevertheless, it was rapidly ramping up its efforts to support its European allies, not just with troops, but also with vast amounts of materials and supplies. The program captures how Nazi Germany perceived this as a prime opportunity to interrupt these efforts by striking at American supply vessels.

The narrative unfolds through vivid illustrations of German U-boats prowling the U.S. and Mexican Gulf coast, with their main target being allied merchant shipping. The documentary presents archival footage, eyewitness interviews, and an analysis of the methods and strategies employed by the German Kriegsmarine. All these elements combine to illuminate the surprisingly aggressive and destructive Nazi assault on American waters, creating a picture of a lurking, unseen enemy, right at America's doorstep.

The core story of Nazi Attack on America pivots around the saga of one particular U-boat, the U-166. Often mentioned in naval warfare history, this submarine had an infamous reputation for wrecking havoc in the Gulf of Mexico before mysteriously disappearing, leaving behind an intriguing mystery.

One of the program's highlights is the extraordinary deep-sea discovery mission led by famed oceanographer and explorer Dr. Robert Ballard, who had previously discovered Titanic's wreckage. Setting out to locate the vanished U-166, Ballard's expedition ventures almost a mile under the sea, pushing the technology and expertise to its limits. By utilizing state-of-the-art tools and technology such as remote-operated vehicles and high-definition cameras, viewers can virtually join this underwater quest.

The program effectively juxtaposes heartfelt human stories, tales of courage and loss amid the shocking revelations of the reach of Nazi operations. Veteran interviews with survivors of these U-boat attacks make the past extraordinarily real and place the viewers in the heart of the shocking reality of the Nazi onslaught.

The footage from modern undersea explorations gives the viewers a near first-hand experience of these vestiges of war lying in the depths of the ocean. These missions to document the wrecks, also significantly contribute to the historical record, enabling scholars and researchers to scrutinize the past through a new lens.

The documentary also examines the war's impact on American soil, the detection failure of the U-boats by the U.S. navy, and the consequential tactical changes. It looks into the factors behind the U.S. response, and the innovations and approaches they adopted to counter this unprecedented challenge. Specific attention is also paid to the role played by technology advancements on both sides and how they influenced the strategy and fate of the maritime warfare.

The documentary exemplifies PBS's commitment to deliver engaging and high-quality content. The enticing narrative style, the stunning visuals, and the scientific intrigue of Nazi Attack on America are bound to leave the viewers engrossed, and edifies them about this lesser-known chapter of World War II.

In essence, it's not just another documentary about World War II; it's a journey that travels time, traverses the ocean, and opens up a unique vista of history, bringing to light the maritime warfare arena of one of humankind's most brutal wars. Whether you are a history buff, a war-film enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates a compelling story deftly told, Nazi Attack on America could offer an immersive, eye-opening experience.