Defending Europe

In Málaga, Historian Onyeka Nubia investigates the Moorish forts, built to protect against attack by the Christians. Spanish Historian, Claudio Lozano, reveals how Cádiz resisted attacks from Queen Elizabeth I and Napoleon. And, pilot and former soldier, Arthur Williams, explores how Nazi warplanes impacted the Spanish Civil War, and discovers the genius behind the civilian shelters of Almería.

Battlefield archaeologist Tony Pollard visits the holy site of Jasna Gora to reveal how a monastery miraculously held out against a brutal siege; Historian Alina Nowobilska explores the epic Modlin Fortress to uncover how Poland took on the Red Army just a year after it’s rebirth. And former soldier Andy Torbet learns how an ‘indefensible’ peninsula resisted Hitler’s might at the outbreak of World War II.

Battlefield archaeologist Tony Pollard explores Rochester Castle and an infamous medieval siege; Military historian Alex Churchill fires a cannon and explores how Britain responded to Napoleon’s invasion threats; and former marine Arthur Williams discovers the World War II underground bunkers of a British resistance force and flies over a series of incredible sea forts.

Professor Danielle George explores star fortress Bourtange to discover how it held out against not one but two brutal sieges in the fight for Dutch independence. Historian Bart Gielen reveals how the Dutch Waterline was engineered to protect a new Dutch Kingdom at Fort Honswijk. And adventurer Andy Torbet discovers how Dutch defences played a pivotal part in WWII and the Cold War.

Professor Tony Pollard travels to Belfort to experience the genius of French fortress construction under Louis XIV. Historian, Alexandra Churchill, discovers the sties of the most brutal fighting in the Battle of Verdun during the First World War. And former soldier, Arthur Williams, discovers why the ambitious Maginot Line ultimately failed to protect France from invasion in the Second World War.

Nautical archaeologist Andy Torbet explores an old sea fort, crucial to Finland’s defence. Historian Mika Kulju investigates how in 1940, Finns defeated the might of the Red Army. Military historian Alex Churchill investigates two unusual weapons: a stolen Soviet tank and the Molotov Cocktail. Former soldier Arthur Williams explores Finland’s extraordinary bunkers and meets Finnish reservists.