Russia's War: Blood Upon the Snow

Season 11996

Documentary covering Stalin and the Soviet Union's war with Nazi Germany.

10 Episodes

E01 The Darkness Descends

The first episode covers the rise of Josef Stalin, who gained power despite cautionary statements by Lenin before he died. It discusses the violence Stalin dealt to his own people, including the downtrodden peasants, political foes, officers of the Red Army, and anyone else he considered to be an enemy. Henry Kissinger provides narration for the series.

June 20, 1996

E02 The Hour Before Midnight

As the series continues, Stalin is wielding his tyrannical power by ruthlessly eliminating the leaders of his Red Army. In Germany, Hitler is planning to enlarge his territory. Henry Kissinger appears as the host for these programs, which make use of accounts from survivors, photographs not seen outside of Russia, and material once kept secret. Stalin makes a decision to align his forces with those of Hitler, resulting in the swift defeat of Poland.

May 27, 1996

E03 The Goths Ride East

Under Stalin's regime, many Russians have been killed, from common peasants to high-ranking officers in the Soviet Army. When Hitler's troops march into Russia in a blitzkrieg attack, the surprised Russians fall back. Despite Stalin's decree that no cities surrender, Kiev, Minsk, and Smolensk give in. Stalin denounces the captured Russians as traitors, and sends their wives to labor camps. It follows the progress of the Germans as they advance to the gates of Moscow.

June 3, 1996

E04 Between Life and Death

Hitler's forces arrive at Moscow without taking into account the severity of Russian winters. It is October, and the first snows have begun to fall. The inhabitants of Leningrad were under siege, and many were to die from lack of food. The Red Army mounts a counteroffensive, as both Hitler and Stalin display brutality toward their own armies. Stalin orders all deserters shot, in order to keep enough troops at the front to protect Moscow. Seldom-seen footage of events enhances the narrative in this series of programs.

June 10, 1996

E05 The Fight from Within

In the Nazi-captured regions of Russia, the life of villagers went from bad to worse. In this fifth episode of the series, first shown on PBS, the initial optimism of peasants quickly dissipated when Hitler's forces began to display their utter disdain of Soviet citizens. It reveals the role of the Partisan resistance movement, whose first efforts were not sanctioned by Stalin. As their numbers grew, Stalin gave them support, and increased their power, ordering them to kill anyone suspected of disloyalty.

June 17, 1996

E06 The Cauldron Boils

At this point in the war, Hitler is badly in need of supplies, and realizes that the vast oil stores of the Caucasus Mountains would solve some of his fuel problems. He pushes a large faction of his exhausted troops toward this goal, while another heads to Stalingrad for another offensive. Meanwhile, Stalin has told his Red Army that anyone caught retreating will be executed. The use of suicidal Penal Battalions, formed in part from Russia's political prisoners, began, and by the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, over one million Russian soldiers had lost their lives.

June 24, 1996

E07 The Citadel

As the Russians began to make gains against the German army, both sides began to see the importance of the region of Kursk. After the harsh Russian winter, both sides had time to regroup during the spring. Russian factories churned out fresh supplies of war machinery, and Hitler unveiled his new plan, known as the Citadel. The July 5, 1943, meeting of the two opposing forces at Kursk became the biggest tank battle ever fought, utilizing six thousand tanks, four thousand aircraft, and two million soldiers.

July 1, 1996

E08 False Dawn

The siege against Hitlers forces at Leningrad is finally lifted, and the Red Army is finding success against Hitler's forces.

February 6, 1998

E09 The Fall of the Swastikas

February 6, 1998

E10 The Cult of Personality

After World War II, those who hoped for a softening of the Stalin regime policies were disappointed. Instead of easing up on his tyrannical wielding of power, Stalin continued his persecution of Soviet citizens, and imposed his system on other communist nations in Eastern Europe. This episode examines his attitudes toward his own people and his ambition to expand Russian territories. The beginnings of resistance to his policies can be discerned, and, in 1953, Stalin died of a brain hemorrhage.

February 6, 1998

Russia's War: Blood Upon the Snow

E01 The Darkness Descends

E02 The Hour Before Midnight

E03 The Goths Ride East

E04 Between Life and Death

E05 The Fight from Within

E06 The Cauldron Boils

E07 The Citadel

E08 False Dawn

E09 The Fall of the Swastikas

E10 The Cult of Personality

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

Kularb Sorn Klin

The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion: Spin-off

Blood of the Vikings

Приключения Тома Сойера и Гекльберри Финна

The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole

Glitter

Milá Vs Milá

Significant Other

Central Ikegami Police

SPCA Rescue

Man's Best Friend

COVID-19: World in Danger

Forget Me Not

C à vous

3satfestival

E01 The Darkness Descends

E02 The Hour Before Midnight

E03 The Goths Ride East

E04 Between Life and Death

E05 The Fight from Within

E06 The Cauldron Boils

E07 The Citadel

E08 False Dawn

E09 The Fall of the Swastikas

E10 The Cult of Personality