Adolf Hitler's War

As Hitler’s troops push forward, civilians in Ukraine, Belarus and Poland are subjected to the harsh brutality of the occupying forces, facing widespread oppression and violence. In the same timeframe, the initial concentration camps are established, marking a grim escalation in the regime’s repressive measures.

The series episode titled “Moscow Is Behind Us” presents a dramatic vignette set during the Second World War. Classified simply as a programme episode, it focuses on the movement of German forces across Eastern Europe. The narrative is confined to a brief but intense snapshot of the early war period, focusing solely on the immediate events as they unfold. As the German army pushes forward, civilians living in Ukraine, Belarus and Poland find themselves bearing the full weight of the occupiers’ brutality. The episode follows these populations as they endure harsh treatment at the hands of the advancing troops, highlighting the immediate human cost of the invasion. The civilians’ plight is shown in a way that conveys the severity of the oppression. The story underscores the relentless cruelty inflicted upon the local inhabitants, portraying scenes of oppression and fear. By concentrating on the everyday lives of those caught in the conflict, the programme illustrates how ordinary people were suddenly exposed to extreme violence and intimidation as the front lines moved ever closer. The depiction avoids romanticising the conflict, instead offering a glimpse into the terror experienced by the populace. Within this grim setting, the episode also marks the establishment of the first concentration camps. These early detention sites emerge as a direct response to the occupying forces’ policies, signalling a chilling escalation in the systematic persecution that would later define the war’s darkest chapters. These camps serve as an early indicator of the systematic approach that would later expand.