New Discovery Channel series about WWII archaeology

Hello,

I work at ITN Factual and am putting together a series for Discovery Channel about WWII archaeology. Each programme will have an archaeological dig/ survey work at its core from which we will piece together veteran's accounts, documentary evidence etc and put them into the wider context of the battles and politics that were happening at the time.

I am looking for sites either in the UK or Europe that tell an interesting story with a British link and wonder whether any of you are about to embark on any projects either this year or next?

It would be great to hear from anyone with any ideas.

Many thanks,

Katie
katie.hirst@itn.co.uk

 

You may want to look at the "new member" greeting posted by staffellied yesterday afternoon (East Coast US time). He has an aviation archaelogy website that may be of interest.

 

Hi Katie,
And welcome to the forum!
Try these groups;
UK Pillbox, Pillboxes, Bunkers, Anti-tank traps and other Anti-Invasion Defences built in World War 2
PILLBOXES, PILLBOX, ANTI-INVASION DEFENCES, WWII, PILLBOX STUDY GROUP,INVASION HISTORY, BUNKERS, MILITARY HISTORY.
British Aviation Archaeology Council
www.fsgfort.com/

There's also the Airfield Research Group, but their website appears to be down at the moment.
The only site I can suggest myself is the Atlantic Wall on Sheriffmuir, near Dunblane-
http://www.ww2f.com/military-history/18371-military-archaeology-4.html#post216778 I posted these pics in a thread here a couple of years ago. It was built by British 3rd Division in 1943 on the Whitestone Ranges as a training area for D-Day. One of our members-Sapper- is a 3rd div vet. The area has a mock coast line, replica German fortifications, trench systems etc. Third Division also built a similar training range near Moffat, containing exact replicas of "Hillman" and "Morris", two German fortifications they actually assaulted on D-Day. Their location is now lost, but I'm betting on them still being there in the Borders. Stirling Field & Archaeology Society did an article on Sherifmuir a few years back in their magazine, and you'll get a better idea of it on CANMORE.
There's also an Atlantic Wall on Hankley Common in Surrey, and at Castlemartin in Wales, but Sheriffmuir is the best preserved and has the widest range of original features.

Are you the same Katie from Time Team, by any chance?

 

Why not try the Universities? More often than not they have invaluable documents regarding specific periods of time (in ancient history they prove invaluable).
Plus, more often than not, archaeologic sites have Universities colaborating with them.



Cheers...

 

Thanks for all your help, you've given me some excellent leads.

Katie

 

In our militaria section we have many posters who show their WWII relics and finds, there are many great stories threre, including a bracelet found in Germany and returned to a widow in the USA after 60 years.