Zero Hour

Zero Hour is a 22-minute 1944 Canadian documentary film, made by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as part of both the wartime Canada Carries On and The World in Action series. The film was produced by Stuart Legg. Zero Hour describes the Axis and Allied invasions that have taken place during the Second World War. Synopsis During the Second World War, the Axis powers employed joint or combined operations to launch invasions in Europe and Asia. In Norway, Nazi Germany launched an amphibious invasion while the island of Crete was overwhelmed by an airborne invasion. Japan also had been successful in its Japanese imperialist wars in Asia. In all instances, the invading forces were able to strike quickly using small lightweight weaponry and use the elements of surprise and combined forces to achieve victory. By 1940, the Allies, who had been reeling from the many defeats, had learned the hard tactical lessons with England being the first to react. After creating the Combined Operations Command, British Commandos, a small, highly mobile raiding and reconnaissance forces began to be used. The commando carried all they needed and operated in the field, to cause disruption and small-scale attacks on communication systems and enemy strongpoints. Larger raids such as the Dieppe Raid in 1942 were preludes to massive invasion operations later. With Nazi Germany bogged down in Operation Barbarossa, an attack on the Soviet Union, a second front was possible, but first, Allied operations in North Africa with the objective of driving the Axis powers from North Africa, was launched. Next was an assault on Axis-held Italy. Fighting on many fronts, the Wehrmacht was under great pressure.