Main content

A young poet takes to the skies as bombs rain down on London. In Berlin, one family attempts to flee the country as the persecution of Jewish people intensifies.

It’s 1940, and in London, the threat of invasion by Germany has become very real. Montagu Mansions resident Timothy Corsellis begins training as an RAF pilot, but begins to regret his decision when facing the prospect of bombing innocent civilians. His older sister, Mary, gets involved in supporting victims of the bombing in Stepney, and cinema owner Cecil Bernstein is instructed to show propaganda films on his screens.

Back in Berlin, the persecution of the Jewish population is increasing, and a resident of Pfalzburger Strasse, Elise Rosenfeld, makes the decision to leave Germany to join her son Herbert in the US. Former residents the Sallisohns are also making plans to leave, but as David discovers through a heartbreaking series of family letters, the door is swiftly closing on them. And another Berlin resident, Paul Dittel, is at the heart of the Nazis campaign of persecution, having been promoted by his superiors in the SS. And African language teacher Bonifatius Folli, unable to leave Germany, is now being exploited by the Nazi regime in a chilling new propaganda film.

10 months left to watch

59 minutes

Signed Audio described

Clip

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter David Olusoga
Presenter Sophie von der Tann
Expert Frank McDonough
Expert Rachel Pistol
Expert Christine Schmidt
Expert Deborah Sugg Ryan
Expert Dora Vargha
Director Edmund Moriarty
Series Producer Tim Dunn
Production Company Twenty Twenty TV

Broadcasts