Blueprints for War

Episode image for Blueprints for War

Episode 3 of 5

Duration: 1 hour

The Genius of Design examines the Second World War through the prism of the rival war machines designed and built in Germany, Britain, the USSR and the USA, with each casting a fascinating sidelight on the ideological priorities of the nations and regimes which produced them.

From the desperate improvisation of the Sten gun, turned out in huge numbers by British toy-makers, to the deadly elegance of the all-wood Mosquito fighter-bomber, described as 'the finest piece of furniture ever made', the stories behind these products reveal how definitions of good design shift dramatically when national survival is at stake. Featuring desert war veteran Peter Gudgin and designer Michael Graves.

Last on

Tue 6 Jul 2010 01:05 BBC One except HD, Wales

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  • Photo: Tiger Tank

    Photo: Tiger Tank

    Peter Gudgin stands in front of a Tiger Tank - a German heavy tank used in World War II.

  • Photo: Mosquito fighter-bomber

    Photo: Mosquito fighter-bomber

    Designers Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber next to the Mosquito fighter-bomber, which was used in World War II.

  • Photo: Sten Gun

    Photo: Sten Gun

    A soldier demonstrates a Sten Gun, a weapon known for its simple design and low production cost.

Credits

Narrator
Denis Lawson
Producer
Chris Wilson

Broadcasts

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