Apocalypse Hitler   Narrated: Doug Rand Distributor: Spectrum RRP: £17.99 SPE006 5 060192 815610 Certificate: E Release Date: 27 April 2015

Apocalypse Hitler is a two-part documentary that chronicles Hitler's life as a failed painter and far-right activist up to his election as Chancellor of Germany, leading to his relentless rise to power, culminating in the beginning of World War II...

Unlike the majority of documentaries that examine the rise of Adolf Hitler, Apocalypse Hitler examines, in more detail, his early years and the events that would eventually lead him to rise to the position of Führer in Germany.

The only slight downside to this is that it seems to end rather abruptly, as though there's more episodes to follow. It's unusual for a documentary on Hitler to only cover this life up until he becomes Führer. There's no mention of the events that lead up to the war, but then neither should there be. There are numerous other documentaries that deal with that aspect of history.

The DVD contains both episodes:

Episode 1: The Menace

Adolf Hitler wrote in 1924: "A State that refuses racial contamination must eventually rule the Earth." How could Hitler succeed in conquering Germany? Nothing predestines this mediocre student and failed artist to become dictator of Germany - the Führer. The Great War of 1914-1918 turns him into a rabid racist, haunted by a vision and a mission: to save Germany. But the country is not particularly worried Hitler is only considered a crank on the margins of German political life. The 1929 economic crisis will change all that.

Episode 2: Le Führer

1929. Germany, harshly affected by the worldwide economic crisis, is sinking into despair. Bloody street fighting between Nazi and Communists is raging. Fear of the "Red peril" will push millions of voters into Hitler's arms. Democracy is at risk, and no one is left to protect it. In 1933, Hitler is named chancellor. The Nazi dictatorship extends its evil shadow over Germany. Hitler is now the Führer. While saying he wants peace, he prepares for war - the Apocalypse.

It's an interesting series that does raise some interesting topics not generally covered elsewhere. For example, Hitler's grandfather on his father's side is unknown, and so no one knows whether Hitler himself may have been a quarter Jewish (not an unreasonable proposition).

It also explores his passion for Wagner's operas, exposes Henry Ford and Hugo Boss's support for the Nazi party as well as Lufthansa supplying Hitler with a plane so that he could fly around the country on his election rally.

It's an interesting release which opens up a few elements only touched on by other documentaries. The only slight moan that some may have is that the programme relies quite heavily on the use of footage which has been colourised. Also, the opening scenes are incredibly disturbing, showing the corpses of some of the concentration camp victims.

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Darren Rea