History - Modern Marvels: The Atlantic Wall

See how the Nazis defended 3,000 miles of coastline-and how the Allies broke through the fortifications. In his quest to dominate a continent, Adolf Hitler faced a formidable task-defending 3,000 miles of coastline from an invasion that he knew was coming. To do so, the Nazis erected an incredible string of fortifications that came to be known as the Atlantic Wall. This film uses captured Nazi documents, expert commentary, combat and archival footage and the recollections of the soldiers who lived through D-Day to tell the story of the most extensive defensive edifice erected since the Great Wall. Visit the now-quiet coastlines where the remnants of the massive network remain and details the different defenses and weapons that were supposed to make the European coast impregnable. Then, see how the Allied commanders plotted their attack and hear from the soldiers who were charged with making their strategies work. Journey back to World War II for a fascinating look at the Atlantic Wall and how it was breached.