A coproduction of WGBH Boston and Brook Lapping Productions in association with the BBC.

Special DVD features: access to the American experience web site, closed captions for Finest hour and Battle of the Bulge and described video for the visually impaired on Battle of the Bulge.

Executive producer for WGBH, Zvi Dor-Ner.

The Battle of Britain: Account of one of the most critical periods of World War II. In the spring of 1940, Holland, Belgium, and France fell to Hitler's army. The Soviet Union was Germany's ally, and the United States stood on the sidelines. At this time of peril, it was Britain alone that faced the Nazi army. Thanks to Britain's two great assets: its indomitable leader, Winston Churchill, and the courage and resilience of its people--ordinary citizens who accomplished extraordinary things, a nation's darkest hour became its finest. Through months of intense air bombardment, including the "Blitz" of London, and under permanent threat of invasion, the British people exemplified heroism under fire.

Battle of the Bulge: The last German counteroffensive of World War II was the single biggest and bloodiest battle in U.S. military history. When it was over, 80,000 Americans were killed or wounded; German casualties were said to be twice that. Inc: news reels and footage.

Iwo Jima: During World War II, Iwo Jima, a tiny island 660 miles from Tokyo, was defended by 21,000 Japanese soldiers determined to fight to the death. The U.S. campaign, which began on February 19, 1945, was expected to last only a few days. Instead it claimed the lives of nearly 7,000 Marines and lasted for over a month. Features interviews with twenty-one veterans of the 1945 battle and rare combat footage.

Not rated.

Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.