Sherman Tanks
- Episode aired Oct 22, 2002
- TV-PG
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Versatile, Numerous, Vulnerable.
More Sherman M-4s were produced during World War II than any other Allied tank. The US more or less commandeered the automobile factories in Detroit and dedicated them to the production of Shermans. The Sherman was a medium tank of no particular distinction, a kind of generic medium tank. Matched against the heavy German tanks or the awesome 88 mm. anti-tank gun, its only advantage was in numbers.
This episode begins with America's entry into the war, the design and production of the Sherman, D-Day in Normandy, the Falaise pocket, and it ends with the liberation of Paris by the Free French forces.
That climax, the entry into an unoccupied city, deserves an episode of its own. The program doesn't deal with it but the decision about who should be the first to roll into Paris was filled with a bitter irony. Of course, DeGaulle wanted to be first, although another uniformed French general fought him for the honor. And the French resistance claimed the honor belonged to them. At least part of the resistance, because the nationalists and communists were at each other's throat. The American and British generals were also at odd with one another, each clamoring for the honor. I don't know how De Gaulle managed it. Maybe they chose lots.
The program consists mainly of combat footage and stills, several American and British talking heads, occasional reenactments, a few maps, and no CGIs. It's quite well done.
This episode begins with America's entry into the war, the design and production of the Sherman, D-Day in Normandy, the Falaise pocket, and it ends with the liberation of Paris by the Free French forces.
That climax, the entry into an unoccupied city, deserves an episode of its own. The program doesn't deal with it but the decision about who should be the first to roll into Paris was filled with a bitter irony. Of course, DeGaulle wanted to be first, although another uniformed French general fought him for the honor. And the French resistance claimed the honor belonged to them. At least part of the resistance, because the nationalists and communists were at each other's throat. The American and British generals were also at odd with one another, each clamoring for the honor. I don't know how De Gaulle managed it. Maybe they chose lots.
The program consists mainly of combat footage and stills, several American and British talking heads, occasional reenactments, a few maps, and no CGIs. It's quite well done.
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- rmax304823
- May 8, 2015
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