1 00:00:01,648 --> 00:00:03,483 ‐ [Narrator] Previously on "The Titans That Built America," 2 00:00:05,276 --> 00:00:08,696 a car rivalry has turned into a skyscraper war. 3 00:00:08,821 --> 00:00:10,406 ‐ So we'll be four feet taller. 4 00:00:10,490 --> 00:00:12,033 Chrysler could stick an umbrella on top 5 00:00:12,116 --> 00:00:13,409 and say he's taller. 6 00:00:13,493 --> 00:00:15,161 ‐ [Narrator] But the Depression has threatened to destroy 7 00:00:15,245 --> 00:00:16,663 their proudest achievements. 8 00:00:16,746 --> 00:00:18,456 ‐ Mr. Morgan, what's happening?! 9 00:00:19,249 --> 00:00:20,166 ‐ The worst is over. 10 00:00:20,291 --> 00:00:21,709 Everything's gonna be okay. 11 00:00:21,834 --> 00:00:23,169 ‐ I'm shutting Ford Aviation down. 12 00:00:23,294 --> 00:00:24,546 ‐ But we have orders! 13 00:00:24,671 --> 00:00:25,171 Could be huge! 14 00:00:25,296 --> 00:00:27,465 ‐ Edsel, it's over. 15 00:00:27,757 --> 00:00:28,925 ‐ [Narrator] President Roosevelt 16 00:00:29,050 --> 00:00:33,304 works to build back the nation, commissioning the Hoover Dam 17 00:00:33,388 --> 00:00:35,682 and systematically attacking the titans. 18 00:00:35,765 --> 00:00:38,768 ‐ Did you manipulate the stock market for your own gains? 19 00:00:38,851 --> 00:00:39,644 ‐ Yes; no. 20 00:00:40,853 --> 00:00:42,522 ‐ William Boeing? ‐ What's this? 21 00:00:42,605 --> 00:00:44,649 ‐ [Narrator] Turning them into bitter enemies. 22 00:00:44,732 --> 00:00:47,026 ‐ You are nothing short of a war profiteer, 23 00:00:47,151 --> 00:00:48,444 a merchant of death. 24 00:00:50,738 --> 00:00:52,031 ‐ [Narrator] But when America is threatened 25 00:00:52,156 --> 00:00:53,741 by German aggression, 26 00:00:53,866 --> 00:00:57,412 FDR needs their help to defend the nation. 27 00:00:57,537 --> 00:01:01,207 ‐ No country in Europe would stand a chance against Germany. 28 00:01:03,251 --> 00:01:04,168 (explosion booming) 29 00:01:04,294 --> 00:01:05,545 Neither would America. 30 00:01:06,713 --> 00:01:08,965 ‐ [Narrator] Now, the titans will have to choose 31 00:01:09,048 --> 00:01:11,134 between their hatred of the president 32 00:01:12,927 --> 00:01:14,262 and saving the world. 33 00:01:15,972 --> 00:01:18,683 (reverent music) 34 00:02:10,026 --> 00:02:12,695 (uneasy music) 35 00:02:19,202 --> 00:02:21,245 (tank rumbling) 36 00:02:21,329 --> 00:02:24,999 (explosions booming) 37 00:02:25,124 --> 00:02:27,627 (plane engines whirring) 38 00:02:27,710 --> 00:02:30,296 (guns firing) 39 00:02:33,383 --> 00:02:35,802 In the fall of 1939, 40 00:02:35,885 --> 00:02:39,305 Adolf Hitler launches an invasion of Poland, 41 00:02:39,389 --> 00:02:41,766 proving to the world just how powerful 42 00:02:41,891 --> 00:02:43,518 his military had become. 43 00:02:47,980 --> 00:02:50,316 ‐ What Hitler's army introduced 44 00:02:50,441 --> 00:02:53,319 was the onset of mechanized warfare. 45 00:02:54,612 --> 00:02:58,282 So, this is tanks supported by infantry, 46 00:02:58,366 --> 00:03:00,451 artillery supporting them. 47 00:03:01,619 --> 00:03:04,872 And then, on top of that, you had tactical air support. 48 00:03:04,997 --> 00:03:08,418 They were all coordinated, synchronized, harmonized, 49 00:03:08,501 --> 00:03:11,504 and moving very, very rapidly. 50 00:03:12,463 --> 00:03:14,424 ‐ [Narrator] The Germans call it blitzkrieg, 51 00:03:14,549 --> 00:03:16,342 or "lightning war." 52 00:03:16,426 --> 00:03:20,054 And in just three weeks, Poland is defeated. 53 00:03:23,266 --> 00:03:26,644 ‐ Everybody's breath kind of stopped because they realized 54 00:03:26,728 --> 00:03:30,440 that now no country in Europe was safe. 55 00:03:33,025 --> 00:03:34,318 ‐ [Narrator] But in the US, 56 00:03:34,402 --> 00:03:37,447 the conflict in Europe couldn't seem more distant. 57 00:03:38,906 --> 00:03:41,159 ‐ The American public was very much against 58 00:03:41,284 --> 00:03:45,037 any repeat of involvement in a European war. 59 00:03:45,121 --> 00:03:47,165 The United States was mentally 60 00:03:47,248 --> 00:03:49,709 and physically unprepared to fight a war. 61 00:03:50,877 --> 00:03:53,463 ‐ Knowing what we know today about Hitler and World War II, 62 00:03:53,546 --> 00:03:56,382 we sometimes forget that nobody in that period 63 00:03:56,507 --> 00:03:58,176 knew what was gonna happen. 64 00:03:58,259 --> 00:03:59,635 So, it shouldn't be surprising 65 00:03:59,719 --> 00:04:02,513 that 80% of Americans hoped to stay outta the fight. 66 00:04:05,349 --> 00:04:06,684 ‐ [Narrator] President Roosevelt sees 67 00:04:06,768 --> 00:04:10,438 the growing threat abroad and knows he needs to act. 68 00:04:11,564 --> 00:04:14,692 But he is also eying an unprecedented third term. 69 00:04:15,485 --> 00:04:17,320 He needs to get himself elected 70 00:04:17,403 --> 00:04:19,989 by telling people we aren't going to war, 71 00:04:23,075 --> 00:04:25,036 while preparing for the opposite. 72 00:04:26,871 --> 00:04:29,791 ‐ FDR was really good at playing both sides. 73 00:04:29,874 --> 00:04:31,375 While he's campaigning and promising 74 00:04:31,501 --> 00:04:33,878 to keep America's boys out of war, 75 00:04:35,421 --> 00:04:37,673 he's also at the same time silently building 76 00:04:37,757 --> 00:04:41,803 America's capacity to make war at a rapid pace. 77 00:04:41,886 --> 00:04:44,430 And there are really only a handful of people in the country 78 00:04:44,514 --> 00:04:45,932 equipped to handle such a task, 79 00:04:46,015 --> 00:04:49,185 and some of them has been his bitterest rivals. 80 00:04:49,227 --> 00:04:52,730 (uneasy orchestral music) 81 00:04:55,441 --> 00:04:56,943 ‐ [Narrator] One man has been tasked 82 00:04:57,026 --> 00:05:00,655 with approaching the titans with FDR's proposal. 83 00:05:00,738 --> 00:05:03,783 He's not a politician or a general. 84 00:05:04,492 --> 00:05:06,327 He's an auto industry executive 85 00:05:06,369 --> 00:05:08,996 who worked at both Ford and General Motors. 86 00:05:10,081 --> 00:05:11,666 ‐ William "Big Bill" Knudsen 87 00:05:11,749 --> 00:05:15,127 was a legend in the automobile industry. 88 00:05:16,587 --> 00:05:19,340 ‐ Not only was he this very famous executive, 89 00:05:19,423 --> 00:05:21,551 but he had all the connections in Detroit. 90 00:05:21,676 --> 00:05:24,637 So, Knudsen was called in to get corporate America 91 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,432 onboard with this program to build military equipment, 92 00:05:28,558 --> 00:05:29,559 which was a tricky thing to do 93 00:05:29,684 --> 00:05:30,852 because most people at the time 94 00:05:30,977 --> 00:05:32,937 believed that we were not gonna enter the war 95 00:05:33,062 --> 00:05:35,022 in the first place. 96 00:05:35,106 --> 00:05:38,484 (soft traffic humming) 97 00:05:40,027 --> 00:05:41,821 ‐ [Narrator] Knudsen thinks there's one titan 98 00:05:41,863 --> 00:05:45,116 that might be easier to get onboard than the rest. 99 00:05:45,199 --> 00:05:48,995 And if he says yes, maybe the others will follow. 100 00:05:53,916 --> 00:05:54,792 ‐ Hey, Bill. 101 00:05:55,793 --> 00:05:57,670 ‐ Forgive me if I skip the pleasantries, Ed, 102 00:05:57,795 --> 00:06:00,006 but I'm gonna jump right into it. 103 00:06:00,089 --> 00:06:03,634 Right now, Germany have over 10,000 warplanes, 104 00:06:03,718 --> 00:06:06,512 and they're not gonna stop producing any time soon. 105 00:06:06,596 --> 00:06:08,347 America is behind the eight ball 106 00:06:08,472 --> 00:06:10,933 and we need to catch up, fast. 107 00:06:13,686 --> 00:06:16,314 I want Ford Motor Company 108 00:06:16,397 --> 00:06:19,066 to start building aircraft engines. 109 00:06:22,111 --> 00:06:22,945 Can you do that? 110 00:06:24,864 --> 00:06:27,450 ‐ We can build anything, but... 111 00:06:28,367 --> 00:06:29,327 Why us? 112 00:06:29,410 --> 00:06:30,661 Why not use the military? 113 00:06:30,745 --> 00:06:32,830 ‐ Well, they have the design and the expertise, 114 00:06:32,914 --> 00:06:35,750 but they just don't have the infrastructure. 115 00:06:35,875 --> 00:06:38,336 Nobody else can produce the scale that we need 116 00:06:38,419 --> 00:06:40,713 and in the timeframe that we need it, 117 00:06:42,965 --> 00:06:44,508 except Ford. 118 00:06:44,592 --> 00:06:46,928 (soft orchestral music) 119 00:06:47,053 --> 00:06:50,681 ‐ Edsel Ford really wanted aviation to be his future. 120 00:06:50,723 --> 00:06:54,143 His dream of being an aviation pioneer 121 00:06:54,226 --> 00:06:55,561 had been taken from him. 122 00:06:55,645 --> 00:06:57,104 This was his chance. 123 00:06:58,064 --> 00:06:59,065 ‐ What do you say? 124 00:07:02,109 --> 00:07:03,110 ‐ I'm in. 125 00:07:05,488 --> 00:07:07,657 ‐ Great. ‐ Great. (laughing) 126 00:07:07,782 --> 00:07:10,993 (soft violin music) 127 00:07:13,913 --> 00:07:16,040 ‐ Now, let me get this straight. 128 00:07:17,041 --> 00:07:19,126 You wanna change our entire factory 129 00:07:19,210 --> 00:07:23,089 to make engines for military planes, hmm? 130 00:07:23,214 --> 00:07:24,548 ‐ Not the entire factory. 131 00:07:24,674 --> 00:07:25,758 ‐ What then? 132 00:07:27,134 --> 00:07:27,927 A quarter? 133 00:07:29,220 --> 00:07:30,012 Half? 134 00:07:30,137 --> 00:07:32,056 ‐ I haven't fully assessed the situation. 135 00:07:32,139 --> 00:07:33,182 ‐ Really?! 136 00:07:33,307 --> 00:07:35,351 ‐ America has nowhere near the planes that Germany has. 137 00:07:35,476 --> 00:07:37,269 ‐ America's not at war with Germany! 138 00:07:39,188 --> 00:07:41,899 ‐ Well, we can't pull out now; I've promised FDR. 139 00:07:43,567 --> 00:07:46,237 ‐ Well, you can tell FDR 140 00:07:46,362 --> 00:07:49,699 that Ford makes cars, not planes. 141 00:07:49,782 --> 00:07:50,950 If he wants planes, 142 00:07:51,033 --> 00:07:53,202 you can tell him to go to a damn plane‐maker! 143 00:07:55,204 --> 00:07:58,457 (pensive orchestral music) 144 00:07:58,541 --> 00:08:00,126 ‐ [Narrator] Henry Ford has never liked 145 00:08:00,209 --> 00:08:01,377 giving up market share, 146 00:08:01,502 --> 00:08:04,588 so he certainly isn't going to change over his factories 147 00:08:04,714 --> 00:08:07,008 if it means making fewer cars. 148 00:08:07,717 --> 00:08:09,677 ‐ Henry was against the war. 149 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:11,762 He was anti‐FDR. 150 00:08:11,846 --> 00:08:13,014 Part of what was so shocking 151 00:08:13,139 --> 00:08:15,349 to these titans of the automobile industry, 152 00:08:15,433 --> 00:08:17,184 it wasn't just that they had to build 153 00:08:17,268 --> 00:08:19,311 this enormous amount of stuff. 154 00:08:19,395 --> 00:08:20,563 It was that they had to put 155 00:08:20,688 --> 00:08:22,898 all of their self‐interests aside. 156 00:08:25,568 --> 00:08:27,069 ‐ Yeah, I know. 157 00:08:29,405 --> 00:08:30,322 I don't know what else to tell you. 158 00:08:30,448 --> 00:08:31,782 The old man says no. 159 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:41,667 ‐ [Narrator] With Ford out, Knudsen turns to another titan, 160 00:08:45,046 --> 00:08:47,965 someone who has experience with the weapons of war. 161 00:08:50,885 --> 00:08:54,597 But he could be even harder to convince than Henry Ford. 162 00:08:57,099 --> 00:09:00,686 ‐ They're outproducing us right now 20 to 1. 163 00:09:00,770 --> 00:09:03,189 We cannot afford to lose this race. 164 00:09:03,314 --> 00:09:04,356 ‐ So, build more factories. 165 00:09:04,482 --> 00:09:05,357 What do you need me for? 166 00:09:05,483 --> 00:09:07,109 ‐ I wish it were that simple. 167 00:09:07,193 --> 00:09:09,904 We have the manpower, we have the finances. 168 00:09:10,029 --> 00:09:13,616 What we need is someone to run the operation efficiently, 169 00:09:13,699 --> 00:09:16,202 someone who knows the business. 170 00:09:16,327 --> 00:09:18,704 ‐ I don't think I'm understanding you correctly. 171 00:09:18,829 --> 00:09:20,748 ‐ [William] I know it's a big ask. 172 00:09:22,083 --> 00:09:22,875 ‐ Yes. 173 00:09:24,126 --> 00:09:26,879 You're asking me to start producing munitions again. 174 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,549 ‐ It's not just me that's asking. 175 00:09:30,674 --> 00:09:32,843 The president is asking as well. 176 00:09:33,969 --> 00:09:36,889 ‐ The same president who labeled me the "merchant of death"? 177 00:09:42,186 --> 00:09:45,564 ‐ Undoubtedly, the du Pont Company and its executives 178 00:09:45,648 --> 00:09:48,234 appreciated a certain sense of irony 179 00:09:48,359 --> 00:09:50,986 that the very government that had been vilifying them 180 00:09:51,028 --> 00:09:54,198 just a few years before were now coming to them 181 00:09:54,323 --> 00:09:55,658 in need of their product. 182 00:09:56,575 --> 00:09:57,868 ‐ [Narrator] For the past five years, 183 00:09:57,952 --> 00:10:00,162 du Pont has done everything in his power 184 00:10:00,287 --> 00:10:01,872 to rebuild his image. 185 00:10:04,375 --> 00:10:08,129 In addition to GM, he's revived his chemical company 186 00:10:08,212 --> 00:10:11,340 and branded it as a way to improve society, 187 00:10:12,424 --> 00:10:14,009 developing consumer products 188 00:10:14,093 --> 00:10:17,805 like nylon stockings and cellophane. 189 00:10:19,390 --> 00:10:22,017 ‐ DuPont was one of the greatest branding experts 190 00:10:22,101 --> 00:10:24,770 of all time because of the shifts they were able to make. 191 00:10:24,895 --> 00:10:26,647 "Whatever it takes, we're gonna do it. 192 00:10:26,730 --> 00:10:28,149 "We're better living through chemistry." 193 00:10:28,274 --> 00:10:30,651 And that's a very, very high perch 194 00:10:30,734 --> 00:10:32,403 and lets you get past some of the things 195 00:10:32,486 --> 00:10:35,197 that consumers can think are negative about you. 196 00:10:36,949 --> 00:10:38,826 ‐ [Narrator] The last thing du Pont wants to do 197 00:10:38,951 --> 00:10:41,162 is return to the business of death. 198 00:10:49,336 --> 00:10:53,215 So far, Knudsen's mission to get America ready for war 199 00:10:53,340 --> 00:10:54,383 has been a failure. 200 00:10:59,471 --> 00:11:02,850 And news from overseas has only gotten worse. 201 00:11:03,893 --> 00:11:07,521 (intense orchestral music) 202 00:11:11,859 --> 00:11:13,652 In the spring of 1940, 203 00:11:13,694 --> 00:11:16,488 Hitler is scoring victory after victory. 204 00:11:18,115 --> 00:11:20,993 Denmark and Norway are occupied. 205 00:11:21,118 --> 00:11:22,870 Then the German Army sweeps across 206 00:11:22,995 --> 00:11:25,164 the Netherlands and Belgium. 207 00:11:25,998 --> 00:11:28,959 Europe makes a desperate stand in France, 208 00:11:29,043 --> 00:11:32,213 but they're no match for German armor and airpower. 209 00:11:34,215 --> 00:11:37,551 And by June, Hitler's in Paris. 210 00:11:40,221 --> 00:11:43,057 The Germans' next target is Britain. 211 00:11:50,522 --> 00:11:53,400 (thunder rumbling) 212 00:11:58,614 --> 00:12:02,159 (somber orchestral music) 213 00:12:07,623 --> 00:12:11,126 ‐ Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name‐ 214 00:12:11,210 --> 00:12:14,588 ‐ [Narrator] As the world gets darker by the day, 215 00:12:14,713 --> 00:12:16,507 at a cemetery in New York, 216 00:12:16,590 --> 00:12:20,427 a group of titans deal with loss on a personal level. 217 00:12:23,222 --> 00:12:27,434 Walter Chrysler is dead, succumbing to a stroke. 218 00:12:29,270 --> 00:12:31,146 Chrysler's burial is a who's‐who 219 00:12:31,230 --> 00:12:33,023 from the automotive industry. 220 00:12:34,191 --> 00:12:38,195 Even his old rival, Pierre du Pont, pays tribute. 221 00:12:41,156 --> 00:12:44,868 For each of these titans, it's a time of reflection. 222 00:12:47,121 --> 00:12:51,875 ‐ I think the summer of 1940 is one of the scariest times. 223 00:12:51,959 --> 00:12:54,420 By that time, Germany has taken control of France. 224 00:12:54,545 --> 00:12:57,339 They pretty much control the western part of Europe, 225 00:12:57,423 --> 00:13:00,092 which is the heartland of the world economy. 226 00:13:00,217 --> 00:13:02,678 Japan is in control, not just of Manchuria 227 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,180 but now large parts of China 228 00:13:05,306 --> 00:13:07,016 and they've built a military machine 229 00:13:07,099 --> 00:13:09,226 that looks invincible in Asia. 230 00:13:09,351 --> 00:13:11,186 This is a very, very scary moment, 231 00:13:11,270 --> 00:13:13,439 and the United States looks very weak. 232 00:13:13,522 --> 00:13:15,316 ‐ [Priest] And forgive us our trespasses 233 00:13:15,399 --> 00:13:18,235 as we forgave those who trespassed against us. 234 00:13:19,695 --> 00:13:21,780 And lead us not into temptation, 235 00:13:21,864 --> 00:13:23,907 but deliver us from evil, amen. 236 00:13:46,263 --> 00:13:48,349 ‐ [Narrator] But Knudsen continues to struggle 237 00:13:48,432 --> 00:13:53,604 with his mission because FDR is still playing both sides 238 00:13:54,730 --> 00:13:58,942 by telling the American public that we'll never go to war. 239 00:13:59,026 --> 00:14:00,986 ‐ I have said this before, 240 00:14:01,987 --> 00:14:06,909 but I shall say it again and again and again. 241 00:14:07,868 --> 00:14:11,997 Your boys are not going to be sent 242 00:14:12,122 --> 00:14:15,501 into any foreign war. (audience cheering) 243 00:14:15,584 --> 00:14:17,836 ‐ [Narrator] But even if America has no interest 244 00:14:17,878 --> 00:14:19,129 in going to war, 245 00:14:19,213 --> 00:14:21,340 (intense orchestral music) 246 00:14:21,465 --> 00:14:24,301 war will soon be coming to America. 247 00:14:39,942 --> 00:14:41,610 (light upbeat big band music) 248 00:14:44,154 --> 00:14:45,614 ‐ [Reporter] Hello, NBC. 249 00:14:45,697 --> 00:14:46,615 Hello, NBC. 250 00:14:47,741 --> 00:14:49,618 I am speaking from the roof 251 00:14:49,701 --> 00:14:52,996 of the Advertiser Publishing Company Building. 252 00:14:53,122 --> 00:14:56,834 There has been fierce fighting going on 253 00:14:56,917 --> 00:15:00,087 in the air and on the sea. 254 00:15:01,713 --> 00:15:02,381 ‐ Pull! 255 00:15:02,506 --> 00:15:04,633 (gun firing) 256 00:15:05,759 --> 00:15:07,386 Pull! 257 00:15:07,511 --> 00:15:09,763 (gun firing) 258 00:15:11,682 --> 00:15:12,516 ‐ Sir? 259 00:15:13,517 --> 00:15:14,351 Sir? 260 00:15:15,477 --> 00:15:16,478 Please come quickly. 261 00:15:18,689 --> 00:15:19,481 ‐ What is it now? 262 00:15:21,567 --> 00:15:23,652 ‐ [Reporter] I am speaking from the roof 263 00:15:23,735 --> 00:15:27,781 of the Advertiser Publishing Company Building. 264 00:15:27,865 --> 00:15:29,658 We have witnessed this morning‐ 265 00:15:30,617 --> 00:15:31,785 ‐ What's happening? 266 00:15:31,869 --> 00:15:33,537 ‐ There's been an attack in Hawaii. 267 00:15:36,039 --> 00:15:37,332 ‐ [Reporter] And the severe bombing 268 00:15:37,416 --> 00:15:40,252 of Pearl Harbor by enemy planes. 269 00:15:42,129 --> 00:15:44,256 ‐ Who's bombing? ‐ Japan. 270 00:15:45,716 --> 00:15:48,135 (rising suspenseful music) 271 00:15:48,218 --> 00:15:51,680 (plane engines roaring) 272 00:15:53,390 --> 00:15:57,019 ‐ [Reporter] The city of Honolulu has also been attacked 273 00:15:57,102 --> 00:15:58,103 (explosions booming) 274 00:15:58,228 --> 00:16:01,190 and considerable damage done. 275 00:16:01,315 --> 00:16:05,777 One of the bombs dropped within 50 feet of KGU Tower. 276 00:16:07,821 --> 00:16:11,158 It is no joke, it is a real war. 277 00:16:16,580 --> 00:16:18,499 ‐ [Narrator] For years, JP Morgan's bank 278 00:16:18,540 --> 00:16:22,294 has provided the Empire of Japan with a lot of money. 279 00:16:23,128 --> 00:16:25,589 Now, it's all too clear: 280 00:16:26,757 --> 00:16:29,510 The loans may have helped revive Japan's economy, 281 00:16:29,551 --> 00:16:32,846 but they also helped build up its military. 282 00:16:32,971 --> 00:16:34,848 ‐ This was not Morgan's intention. 283 00:16:34,973 --> 00:16:37,142 But when you invest in a society, 284 00:16:37,226 --> 00:16:39,478 you cannot always control how that money is used. 285 00:16:39,561 --> 00:16:42,439 In fact, you can never control where that money goes. 286 00:16:46,860 --> 00:16:49,363 (sullen orchestral music) 287 00:16:49,488 --> 00:16:50,405 ‐ Yesterday, 288 00:16:51,865 --> 00:16:53,075 December 7th, 289 00:16:54,493 --> 00:16:56,203 1941, 290 00:16:58,038 --> 00:17:02,084 a date which will live in infamy, 291 00:17:03,794 --> 00:17:05,504 the United States of America 292 00:17:06,380 --> 00:17:08,840 was suddenly and deliberately attacked 293 00:17:09,841 --> 00:17:14,638 by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. 294 00:17:16,473 --> 00:17:19,476 As commander‐in‐chief of the Army and Navy, 295 00:17:20,727 --> 00:17:23,689 I have directed that all measures be taken 296 00:17:23,814 --> 00:17:25,190 for our defense. 297 00:17:25,315 --> 00:17:27,776 Hostilities exist. 298 00:17:29,152 --> 00:17:33,490 There is no blinking at the fact that our people, 299 00:17:33,574 --> 00:17:38,787 our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. 300 00:17:40,205 --> 00:17:41,623 And the Japanese Empire‐ 301 00:17:41,707 --> 00:17:43,166 ‐ [Narrator] President Roosevelt declares 302 00:17:43,292 --> 00:17:47,546 that the United States and Japan are now at war. 303 00:17:48,589 --> 00:17:50,382 And there's worse news to come. 304 00:17:58,932 --> 00:18:00,142 ‐ When Pearl Harbor happened, 305 00:18:00,225 --> 00:18:02,853 it's called the day that will live in infamy by FDR, 306 00:18:02,936 --> 00:18:04,855 and it surely does. 307 00:18:04,980 --> 00:18:06,023 But four days later, 308 00:18:06,106 --> 00:18:08,150 the United States is at war against Germany. 309 00:18:08,233 --> 00:18:09,484 We have a two‐front war 310 00:18:09,610 --> 00:18:12,279 and we're still not out of the Great Depression. 311 00:18:16,158 --> 00:18:18,410 ‐ [Narrator] Where war once felt far away, 312 00:18:20,579 --> 00:18:24,374 conflict on American soil now feels very real. 313 00:18:26,251 --> 00:18:30,714 ‐ There was a real dramatic anxiety in the country. 314 00:18:30,797 --> 00:18:32,257 ‐ [Reporter] From bases in Western Europe, 315 00:18:32,382 --> 00:18:33,508 German long‐range bombers 316 00:18:33,634 --> 00:18:35,886 could fly to our East Coast and return. 317 00:18:36,011 --> 00:18:37,012 ‐ There were serious concerns 318 00:18:37,095 --> 00:18:38,972 about the Japanese invasion of California 319 00:18:39,056 --> 00:18:40,932 or the West Coast of the United States. 320 00:18:41,016 --> 00:18:42,100 ‐ [Reporter] Almost every section 321 00:18:42,225 --> 00:18:44,102 along the entire Pacific coast 322 00:18:44,227 --> 00:18:46,271 is within range of enemy planes. 323 00:18:46,396 --> 00:18:48,649 ‐ Americans sort of grew up as a nation 324 00:18:48,732 --> 00:18:50,359 with the idea that potential enemies 325 00:18:50,484 --> 00:18:53,487 were thousands of miles away across that ocean, 326 00:18:53,612 --> 00:18:55,322 and now this ocean isn't very big. 327 00:18:55,405 --> 00:18:57,366 In fact, instead of being a protective moat, 328 00:18:57,491 --> 00:18:59,284 has become this avenue 329 00:18:59,368 --> 00:19:02,162 for enemies to come right to our shore. 330 00:19:02,245 --> 00:19:05,749 Americans were instructed to put blackout curtains 331 00:19:05,874 --> 00:19:07,876 in their windows at night. 332 00:19:08,001 --> 00:19:10,045 ‐ Air raid precaution services 333 00:19:10,170 --> 00:19:12,839 go into operation when the bombs drop. 334 00:19:13,882 --> 00:19:16,510 ‐ [H. W.] Americans had reason to be worried. 335 00:19:17,511 --> 00:19:19,012 ‐ [Narrator] But in the face of fear, 336 00:19:19,096 --> 00:19:22,015 Americans also feel a sense of duty 337 00:19:23,225 --> 00:19:24,976 and a need to act. 338 00:19:25,602 --> 00:19:26,687 ‐ The bombing of Pearl Harbor 339 00:19:26,770 --> 00:19:30,774 was a inflection point for the United States. 340 00:19:30,857 --> 00:19:32,526 On December 6th, 1941, 341 00:19:32,651 --> 00:19:35,445 the majority of Americans were against war. 342 00:19:35,529 --> 00:19:38,782 On December 8th, 1941, 343 00:19:38,865 --> 00:19:41,493 it was the biggest day in recruiting history. 344 00:19:41,576 --> 00:19:43,787 America suddenly flipped. 345 00:19:44,913 --> 00:19:47,666 ‐ Volunteerism went sky‐high. 346 00:19:47,749 --> 00:19:50,168 Everybody wanted to be part of the war effort 347 00:19:50,252 --> 00:19:52,337 and to sign up and do their duty. 348 00:19:53,714 --> 00:19:57,759 You are joining an effort to save the American way of life. 349 00:19:58,969 --> 00:20:01,054 ‐ [Narrator] Yet it takes more than just patriotism 350 00:20:01,179 --> 00:20:02,389 to wage war. 351 00:20:02,514 --> 00:20:04,141 ‐ That war spirit, 352 00:20:04,224 --> 00:20:07,185 it was burning hot right after Pearl Harbor. 353 00:20:07,269 --> 00:20:08,770 But soldiers were drilling, 354 00:20:08,895 --> 00:20:11,481 in some cases, with fake wooden weapons. 355 00:20:11,606 --> 00:20:15,152 We needed planes and trucks and tanks 356 00:20:15,277 --> 00:20:18,321 and bullets and bandages and boots 357 00:20:18,447 --> 00:20:22,284 and everything that was required to win a war. 358 00:20:22,367 --> 00:20:25,746 ‐ [Narrator] The first thing the US needs is weapons, 359 00:20:25,871 --> 00:20:28,832 and there's one person who can make that happen. 360 00:20:31,543 --> 00:20:35,380 (pensive electronic music) 361 00:20:36,506 --> 00:20:39,968 He got away from munitions and took over GM. 362 00:20:42,554 --> 00:20:45,724 He was vilified as the "Merchant of Death." 363 00:20:53,231 --> 00:20:54,816 But now the war has started, 364 00:20:57,527 --> 00:20:59,696 and du Pont knows what he must do. 365 00:21:07,412 --> 00:21:08,997 ‐ It was clear the explosive business, 366 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,625 the gunpowder business was absolutely crucial 367 00:21:11,708 --> 00:21:16,004 if the United States is going to be engaged 368 00:21:16,129 --> 00:21:17,798 in a two‐front war. 369 00:21:17,881 --> 00:21:20,967 (phone ringing) 370 00:21:21,051 --> 00:21:21,885 ‐ Hello? 371 00:21:23,303 --> 00:21:24,513 ‐ I'll do it. 372 00:21:24,596 --> 00:21:28,475 (intense orchestral music) 373 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:43,573 ‐ [Narrator] DuPont agrees to turn over 374 00:21:43,698 --> 00:21:45,367 all of General Motors 375 00:21:47,536 --> 00:21:50,497 and his chemical labs to the war effort. 376 00:21:52,123 --> 00:21:53,834 Within weeks, he'll break ground 377 00:21:53,875 --> 00:21:56,920 on over 50 new munitions factories. 378 00:21:57,838 --> 00:21:59,756 But the last time du Pont made weapons 379 00:21:59,881 --> 00:22:01,633 was during the First World War. 380 00:22:07,305 --> 00:22:08,640 ‐ We've made lots of advances, 381 00:22:08,723 --> 00:22:10,684 especially in the last few years. 382 00:22:12,727 --> 00:22:15,647 This is the Mk 2, or the "pineapple." 383 00:22:18,441 --> 00:22:20,068 We'll need 40 million of them. 384 00:22:24,865 --> 00:22:27,200 This is your general purpose six‐inch‐caliber shell, 385 00:22:27,325 --> 00:22:29,077 mainly to destroy units. 386 00:22:29,202 --> 00:22:30,495 We'll need five million. 387 00:22:31,246 --> 00:22:32,497 This is an eight‐inch shell. 388 00:22:32,581 --> 00:22:35,375 It's good for concrete demolition and bunkers. 389 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:36,626 And the 18‐inch? 390 00:22:36,710 --> 00:22:38,670 It's mostly for naval purposes, 391 00:22:39,462 --> 00:22:40,964 and that can do a lotta damage. 392 00:22:42,883 --> 00:22:43,675 Here, follow me. 393 00:22:50,056 --> 00:22:53,101 We're testing a new heavyweight bomb, the earthquake. 394 00:23:02,319 --> 00:23:05,196 (explosion booming) 395 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,992 (reverent orchestral music) 396 00:23:15,373 --> 00:23:16,750 Pretty good, huh? 397 00:23:16,875 --> 00:23:19,711 We can take out a whole platoon with just one of these. 398 00:23:23,673 --> 00:23:26,092 ‐ [Narrator] DuPont makes his choice. 399 00:23:26,217 --> 00:23:27,677 To help save the country, 400 00:23:27,802 --> 00:23:31,973 he must once again become the "Merchant of Death." 401 00:23:46,404 --> 00:23:48,990 ‐ [Narrator] FDR knows one of the key paths 402 00:23:49,074 --> 00:23:53,745 to the US and its allies winning the war is airpower. 403 00:23:55,372 --> 00:23:56,748 He wants to build an arsenal 404 00:23:56,873 --> 00:24:01,002 to compete with Germany and Japan's far superior air forces. 405 00:24:02,170 --> 00:24:05,048 He asks for thousands of high‐tech modern fighters 406 00:24:05,131 --> 00:24:05,924 and bombers. 407 00:24:08,593 --> 00:24:10,887 And the plane they're pinning their hopes on 408 00:24:12,806 --> 00:24:14,808 is the B‐24 bomber. 409 00:24:15,684 --> 00:24:17,686 (plane engine roaring) 410 00:24:17,769 --> 00:24:21,856 ‐ FDR saw the bomber aircraft as the key to winning the war, 411 00:24:21,982 --> 00:24:24,985 but not just the fact that it was powerful and destructive. 412 00:24:25,110 --> 00:24:28,363 There had to be a tremendous number of them. 413 00:24:28,488 --> 00:24:32,826 Because if we could launch bomber aircraft over a country, 414 00:24:32,909 --> 00:24:34,160 even if they were all shot down, 415 00:24:34,285 --> 00:24:35,704 there could be a wave behind them 416 00:24:35,787 --> 00:24:37,956 and a wave behind them and a wave behind them, 417 00:24:38,039 --> 00:24:40,709 and that would make the enemy defenseless. 418 00:24:40,834 --> 00:24:43,545 That was how they thought they could win the war. 419 00:24:46,548 --> 00:24:47,465 ‐ No. 420 00:24:47,549 --> 00:24:48,591 Those days are gone. 421 00:24:48,675 --> 00:24:51,094 We need planes, mass‐produced. 422 00:24:51,886 --> 00:24:53,221 I don't know, thousands. 423 00:24:55,181 --> 00:24:56,307 I'm not saying that. 424 00:24:57,475 --> 00:24:59,060 Well, how many can you deliver? 425 00:25:00,895 --> 00:25:03,773 To be frank, 200 is just a drop in the ocean. 426 00:25:05,358 --> 00:25:07,736 The president has asked for thousands. 427 00:25:10,989 --> 00:25:11,823 Okay, thank you. 428 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,829 ‐ [Narrator] Knudsen tried the aviation industry, 429 00:25:17,954 --> 00:25:19,164 but no one has the capacity 430 00:25:19,289 --> 00:25:23,001 to make the 20,000 bombers that FDR wants. 431 00:25:24,794 --> 00:25:27,756 In the end, there's really only one company 432 00:25:27,881 --> 00:25:29,674 who could possibly get it done. 433 00:25:34,637 --> 00:25:36,473 Thanks to Edsel's persistence, 434 00:25:36,556 --> 00:25:41,352 the Fords had already spent $47 million of their own money 435 00:25:41,478 --> 00:25:46,775 to build Willow Run, the largest plane factory in the world, 436 00:25:48,902 --> 00:25:50,862 almost one mile long. 437 00:26:05,919 --> 00:26:07,921 ‐ They come up with this plan 438 00:26:08,046 --> 00:26:09,839 which was about to shock the world. 439 00:26:09,964 --> 00:26:12,425 They decided that the biggest, fastest, 440 00:26:12,509 --> 00:26:14,177 most destructive bomber in our arsenal 441 00:26:14,302 --> 00:26:19,641 they could build at a rate of one an hour, 400 a month. 442 00:26:20,642 --> 00:26:21,518 And the idea is that they would build 443 00:26:21,643 --> 00:26:23,937 the entire thing themselves. 444 00:26:24,938 --> 00:26:26,773 They would have to start from scratch. 445 00:26:26,856 --> 00:26:28,149 They hadn't built an airplane 446 00:26:28,233 --> 00:26:32,070 since the Trimotor in the very early 1930s. 447 00:26:33,196 --> 00:26:36,116 When all of the aviation executives around the country 448 00:26:36,199 --> 00:26:37,700 were saying this couldn't be done, 449 00:26:37,826 --> 00:26:39,327 I think they really believed it, 450 00:26:39,452 --> 00:26:42,997 because no motor car company, no company of any kind 451 00:26:43,123 --> 00:26:46,251 had ever tried to manufacture this kind of product, 452 00:26:46,376 --> 00:26:48,795 something that had about a half a million 453 00:26:48,878 --> 00:26:50,755 different pieces and parts. 454 00:26:51,714 --> 00:26:53,925 ‐ [Narrator] But Edsel runs into a problem. 455 00:26:55,885 --> 00:26:58,513 (clock ticking) 456 00:26:58,596 --> 00:27:02,225 (pensive orchestral music) 457 00:27:08,022 --> 00:27:08,690 ‐ Hi. 458 00:27:08,773 --> 00:27:10,150 Sorry for keeping you waiting. 459 00:27:11,401 --> 00:27:12,193 Okay. 460 00:27:13,194 --> 00:27:14,612 Take a look at this. 461 00:27:14,696 --> 00:27:15,822 ‐ [Soldire] Hmm. 462 00:27:15,947 --> 00:27:18,908 ‐ The biggest problem really was the idea that 463 00:27:19,033 --> 00:27:21,119 as these ships start to get built 464 00:27:21,202 --> 00:27:26,457 the Air Force starts wanting to change the airplane. 465 00:27:26,541 --> 00:27:28,459 ‐ This bay door is too narrow. 466 00:27:28,543 --> 00:27:30,211 You're gonna have to widen that. 467 00:27:31,254 --> 00:27:32,505 And this ball mount should be three‐and‐a‐half, 468 00:27:32,630 --> 00:27:33,965 not three‐and‐a‐quarter. 469 00:27:34,966 --> 00:27:36,301 ‐ [Narrator] With the production of his planes 470 00:27:36,384 --> 00:27:40,972 already underway, any setback could prove costly. 471 00:27:41,723 --> 00:27:44,392 (phone ringing) 472 00:27:45,351 --> 00:27:46,269 ‐ Back in a minute. 473 00:27:50,064 --> 00:27:50,982 Hello? 474 00:27:51,107 --> 00:27:53,151 ‐ Ford Motor Company had come up with this idea 475 00:27:53,276 --> 00:27:56,654 to build this airplane the way they built automobiles, 476 00:27:56,779 --> 00:27:58,656 and key among that was to be able to build one 477 00:27:58,781 --> 00:28:00,033 that was exactly like the one before 478 00:28:00,158 --> 00:28:01,993 and exactly like the one before. 479 00:28:02,076 --> 00:28:03,328 ‐ We're moving as fast as we can, 480 00:28:03,411 --> 00:28:06,122 but every adjustment means a delay in assembly. 481 00:28:07,373 --> 00:28:09,751 Well, we still have to update the line. 482 00:28:10,710 --> 00:28:12,837 ‐ If they wanted to change that part, 483 00:28:12,921 --> 00:28:14,172 the machines and the dies 484 00:28:14,255 --> 00:28:15,882 that they created to build that part 485 00:28:16,007 --> 00:28:18,343 had to be scrapped and started from scratch. 486 00:28:18,426 --> 00:28:19,260 ‐ I know. 487 00:28:20,845 --> 00:28:21,888 I understand. 488 00:28:23,056 --> 00:28:23,973 Got it. 489 00:28:28,895 --> 00:28:29,896 Thanks. 490 00:28:37,737 --> 00:28:40,281 ‐ [Narrator] The design changes keep coming. 491 00:28:41,741 --> 00:28:43,201 ‐ So, where are we at here? 492 00:28:44,327 --> 00:28:47,830 ‐ We should swap out the .30‐caliber Brownings with 50s, 493 00:28:47,914 --> 00:28:51,000 so you'll need to augment the turret opening more. 494 00:28:53,670 --> 00:28:57,006 And these bay doors, they need to retract into the fuselage, 495 00:28:57,048 --> 00:29:00,093 so you'll have to expand the opening more. 496 00:29:06,516 --> 00:29:07,558 You got that? 497 00:29:11,562 --> 00:29:12,313 ‐ Yeah, sure. 498 00:29:13,064 --> 00:29:14,274 We'll make it happen. 499 00:29:24,534 --> 00:29:25,368 Anything else? 500 00:29:26,619 --> 00:29:27,495 ‐ [Man] Not today. 501 00:29:34,502 --> 00:29:37,422 (ominous music) 502 00:29:37,505 --> 00:29:40,300 ‐ [Narrator] FDR isn't just demanding planes. 503 00:29:42,176 --> 00:29:46,180 Control of the seas is just as important to winning the war. 504 00:29:47,140 --> 00:29:48,766 The raid on Pearl Harbor destroyed 505 00:29:48,850 --> 00:29:50,476 the heart of America's Pacific Fleet, 506 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:54,439 so the US was not ready for full‐scale war right away. 507 00:29:54,522 --> 00:29:56,983 The United States still had to build thousands of ships 508 00:29:57,066 --> 00:29:59,485 to really get its navy in a position 509 00:29:59,569 --> 00:30:01,321 where it could project power. 510 00:30:01,446 --> 00:30:02,989 ‐ [Narrator] America's current shipyards 511 00:30:03,072 --> 00:30:06,451 can't churn out anywhere close to the numbers needed, 512 00:30:09,912 --> 00:30:12,332 (pensive electronic music) 513 00:30:12,373 --> 00:30:16,544 so FDR turns to someone who has delivered big things before: 514 00:30:18,546 --> 00:30:19,547 Henry Kaiser. 515 00:30:20,715 --> 00:30:23,092 ‐ Kaiser was FDR's miracle man. 516 00:30:23,217 --> 00:30:26,012 He had built the Hoover Dam, an engineering feat, 517 00:30:26,095 --> 00:30:28,181 on time and under budget. 518 00:30:29,390 --> 00:30:31,517 ‐ [Narrator] There's just one issue. 519 00:30:31,559 --> 00:30:35,980 Henry Kaiser has never done anything like this before. 520 00:30:36,022 --> 00:30:39,942 Now, he's promised to build 500 ships a year 521 00:30:40,026 --> 00:30:43,905 when it typically takes a year to build just one. 522 00:30:44,864 --> 00:30:46,574 ‐ That was Kaiser's bread and butter. 523 00:30:46,699 --> 00:30:47,825 "Tell me how many you need 524 00:30:47,867 --> 00:30:50,578 "and I'll get 'em to you even faster than you imagined." 525 00:30:50,661 --> 00:30:51,454 He loved that. 526 00:30:52,705 --> 00:30:56,167 ‐ I wanna build six shipways here and one over there. 527 00:30:56,250 --> 00:31:00,088 (pensive orchestral music) 528 00:31:02,507 --> 00:31:06,302 ‐ [Narrator] Along a stretch of marshy Pacific coastline, 529 00:31:06,386 --> 00:31:08,930 in the shadow of another Kaiser project, 530 00:31:09,013 --> 00:31:10,515 the Oakland Bay Bridge, 531 00:31:12,683 --> 00:31:14,185 Kaiser builds shipyards 532 00:31:14,268 --> 00:31:18,064 totaling the size of 800 football fields. 533 00:31:21,067 --> 00:31:23,486 Constructing a shipyard is one thing. 534 00:31:28,741 --> 00:31:30,368 But he quickly learns 535 00:31:30,493 --> 00:31:33,830 building ships is a whole different challenge. 536 00:31:33,913 --> 00:31:35,123 ‐ [Henry] What's taking them so long? 537 00:31:35,206 --> 00:31:37,083 ‐ Working as fast as they can. 538 00:31:39,544 --> 00:31:42,296 ‐ I've seen workers down there not doing anything. 539 00:31:42,380 --> 00:31:44,757 ‐ They're waiting for the hull to be locked into place, 540 00:31:44,882 --> 00:31:46,092 then they'll start constructing 541 00:31:46,175 --> 00:31:47,301 the steering columns and the engine room. 542 00:31:47,385 --> 00:31:49,262 ‐ Can't they do something else? 543 00:31:50,179 --> 00:31:51,097 ‐ Not really. 544 00:31:54,767 --> 00:31:55,685 ‐ This isn't working. 545 00:31:57,061 --> 00:31:58,396 We need to move faster. 546 00:32:00,606 --> 00:32:04,152 ‐ The Liberty ships Kaiser is building are gigantic. 547 00:32:04,235 --> 00:32:07,071 If you stood one up, it'd be 50 stories, 548 00:32:07,196 --> 00:32:09,907 almost as tall as the Hoover Dam. 549 00:32:10,032 --> 00:32:11,784 Liberty ships are so big, 550 00:32:11,868 --> 00:32:15,288 they literally have to be built in place from the bottom up; 551 00:32:15,371 --> 00:32:18,749 first the keel, then the frame, then the hull. 552 00:32:18,833 --> 00:32:21,669 And this is how ships have been built for centuries. 553 00:32:26,340 --> 00:32:28,092 ‐ [Narrator] At the rate he's going now, 554 00:32:28,176 --> 00:32:30,219 it will take Kaiser a hundred years 555 00:32:30,303 --> 00:32:33,848 to build the number of ships he's promised FDR. 556 00:32:33,931 --> 00:32:38,060 (rising suspenseful music) 557 00:32:44,942 --> 00:32:47,695 (water splashing) (suspenseful music) 558 00:32:52,700 --> 00:32:55,620 (airplane engines whirring) 559 00:32:55,703 --> 00:32:57,371 ‐ [Narrator] Six months after their attack 560 00:32:57,455 --> 00:33:01,083 on the United States, Japan seems unstoppable. 561 00:33:01,209 --> 00:33:02,251 (bombs explode) 562 00:33:02,335 --> 00:33:04,670 (airplane engines whirring) 563 00:33:04,795 --> 00:33:07,840 ‐ After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese executed a plan 564 00:33:07,965 --> 00:33:11,260 to try to seize a perimeter that they could defend. 565 00:33:11,385 --> 00:33:13,513 And so they tried to push as far out as they could 566 00:33:13,596 --> 00:33:17,266 into islands to include the Philippines, Dutch East Indies. 567 00:33:17,391 --> 00:33:19,894 (suspenseful music continues) 568 00:33:20,019 --> 00:33:22,688 ‐ You saw the advance of the Japanese 569 00:33:22,730 --> 00:33:27,360 on a very rapid and almost terrifying scale. 570 00:33:28,402 --> 00:33:31,239 ‐ [Narrator] Japan now controls half the Pacific Ocean 571 00:33:32,114 --> 00:33:34,242 and gains territory by the day. 572 00:33:35,743 --> 00:33:37,036 Across the Atlantic, 573 00:33:37,161 --> 00:33:40,206 Hitler has landed troops in North Africa, 574 00:33:42,667 --> 00:33:45,878 and pushed deep into the Soviet Union. 575 00:33:46,003 --> 00:33:48,756 (military tank crashes) 576 00:33:48,839 --> 00:33:50,633 ‐ Of course, the Blitzkrieg, 577 00:33:51,842 --> 00:33:55,179 the mechanized forces were able to take them all the way 578 00:33:55,263 --> 00:33:57,765 to the outskirts of Moscow. 579 00:33:59,392 --> 00:34:01,310 ‐ [Narrator] If Hitler conquers the Soviets, 580 00:34:01,394 --> 00:34:04,605 he'll move the full force of his army west 581 00:34:04,689 --> 00:34:05,648 to invade Britain. 582 00:34:07,275 --> 00:34:11,529 And if Britain falls, his next target is America. 583 00:34:17,910 --> 00:34:20,830 (suspenseful music) 584 00:34:21,872 --> 00:34:24,792 Germany and Japan are advancing so quickly, 585 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,337 FDR fears the US will be overtaken 586 00:34:28,462 --> 00:34:30,423 before it gets into the fight. 587 00:34:32,383 --> 00:34:35,261 But war production is moving too slowly. 588 00:34:38,931 --> 00:34:41,976 (telephone ringing) 589 00:34:43,769 --> 00:34:44,604 ‐ Yeah. 590 00:34:46,063 --> 00:34:47,273 Yes put him through. 591 00:34:49,942 --> 00:34:50,818 Yes, Mr. President. 592 00:34:52,737 --> 00:34:53,654 Yes, sir. 593 00:34:53,738 --> 00:34:55,156 We're, we're seeing forward progress 594 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:57,575 just Fords of modifications are, 595 00:34:58,743 --> 00:35:02,330 are requiring an extension on our timetable. 596 00:35:03,497 --> 00:35:07,877 ‐ Willow Run was not living up to its objectives. 597 00:35:08,002 --> 00:35:09,462 What Knudsen was saying was, 598 00:35:09,545 --> 00:35:12,840 "Hey, these planes are in terrible shape." 599 00:35:12,923 --> 00:35:14,342 ‐ They've manufactured two. 600 00:35:15,426 --> 00:35:17,762 No sir, not two planes, Mr. President. 601 00:35:19,096 --> 00:35:19,889 Two parts. 602 00:35:21,891 --> 00:35:24,477 ‐ Things are going extraordinarily wrong 603 00:35:25,603 --> 00:35:28,272 and the same press that had been so high in this idea 604 00:35:28,356 --> 00:35:30,608 of building the largest airplane factory in the world 605 00:35:30,691 --> 00:35:33,653 as a means of defeating Japan and defeating Hitler, 606 00:35:33,778 --> 00:35:37,448 were now really down on the Fords and the whole project. 607 00:35:37,531 --> 00:35:41,369 And Willow Run became known in the press as "will‐it‐run?". 608 00:35:42,995 --> 00:35:45,915 (suspenseful music) 609 00:35:50,544 --> 00:35:52,421 ‐ [Narrator] But then, Knudsen and FDR 610 00:35:52,505 --> 00:35:54,674 finally get some good news. 611 00:35:55,841 --> 00:35:58,094 ‐ [du Pont] How much time do we need to make this happen? 612 00:35:58,219 --> 00:36:00,888 ‐ Eight weeks, nine max. 613 00:36:01,889 --> 00:36:03,974 ‐ [Narrator] du Pont has wasted no time 614 00:36:04,058 --> 00:36:05,393 converting his factories. 615 00:36:05,518 --> 00:36:08,270 (upbeat music) 616 00:36:10,189 --> 00:36:11,482 ‐ In just a matter of weeks, 617 00:36:11,565 --> 00:36:13,901 du Pont has changed over production lines 618 00:36:14,026 --> 00:36:15,653 and is cranking out explosives 619 00:36:15,736 --> 00:36:17,655 and shells for the war effort. 620 00:36:19,532 --> 00:36:22,284 ‐ [Narrator] And then there's another breakthrough. 621 00:36:22,368 --> 00:36:24,912 (engine revving) 622 00:36:25,037 --> 00:36:28,040 (suspenseful music) 623 00:36:29,834 --> 00:36:31,961 ‐ Bill, should be ready any minute. 624 00:36:33,587 --> 00:36:37,550 (suspenseful music continues) 625 00:36:41,637 --> 00:36:43,723 ‐ This better be worth the trip. 626 00:36:43,848 --> 00:36:44,557 ‐ It will be. 627 00:36:50,271 --> 00:36:51,689 ‐ What's taking so long? 628 00:36:51,814 --> 00:36:52,565 ‐ Just a minute. 629 00:36:56,318 --> 00:36:59,572 (engine sputtering) 630 00:37:02,867 --> 00:37:04,410 ‐ [Narrator] Even though Chrysler no longer 631 00:37:04,535 --> 00:37:06,537 has its founder, 632 00:37:06,662 --> 00:37:09,874 the company has figured out how to make a tank. 633 00:37:09,999 --> 00:37:12,710 (engine roaring) 634 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:17,506 ‐ Knudsen turned to Chrysler to build tanks, 635 00:37:17,590 --> 00:37:20,009 even though Chrysler never built tanks before, 636 00:37:21,051 --> 00:37:23,637 almost no one had ever built tanks before. 637 00:37:23,721 --> 00:37:27,558 And Chrysler was known for its manufacturing excellence 638 00:37:27,683 --> 00:37:29,769 and its engineering excellence. 639 00:37:30,561 --> 00:37:31,312 ‐ [Announcer] Here in the world's 640 00:37:31,395 --> 00:37:32,772 first great tank arsenal, 641 00:37:32,897 --> 00:37:35,691 devoted entirely to the mass production of the tank, 642 00:37:35,816 --> 00:37:38,110 we forge the armaments of victory. 643 00:37:39,904 --> 00:37:42,490 ‐ [Narrator] Chrysler's new tank is the M3. 644 00:37:46,202 --> 00:37:48,037 ‐ I'm upping the order. 645 00:37:48,162 --> 00:37:49,371 Get me 3000. 646 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:51,874 ‐ Done. 647 00:37:53,667 --> 00:37:57,046 (upbeat dramatic music) 648 00:38:01,300 --> 00:38:02,843 (metal grinds) 649 00:38:02,968 --> 00:38:04,804 ‐ [Narrator] To build his ships faster, 650 00:38:04,887 --> 00:38:06,430 ‐ We don't need to have a ceremony 651 00:38:06,555 --> 00:38:08,224 every time we're launching a ship, we've got... 652 00:38:08,349 --> 00:38:11,352 ‐ [Narrator] Kaiser has workers going three shifts a day, 653 00:38:11,393 --> 00:38:12,812 ‐ Do what you can. 654 00:38:13,896 --> 00:38:15,648 ‐ [Narrator] seven days a week. 655 00:38:19,401 --> 00:38:21,570 By the fall of 1942, 656 00:38:21,695 --> 00:38:24,782 Henry Kaiser has not only launched his first ship, 657 00:38:28,035 --> 00:38:29,411 but dozens more. 658 00:38:30,162 --> 00:38:33,541 (spirited upbeat music) 659 00:38:38,045 --> 00:38:41,507 Kaiser is a far cry from the 500 he promised, 660 00:38:42,591 --> 00:38:45,678 but the nation can't wait any longer. 661 00:38:45,761 --> 00:38:49,181 (spirited upbeat music) 662 00:38:50,516 --> 00:38:53,686 Kaiser's ships are loaded with Chrysler's tanks 663 00:38:53,811 --> 00:38:55,563 and du Pont's munitions. 664 00:38:56,689 --> 00:38:58,482 Along with thousands of soldiers 665 00:38:58,607 --> 00:39:00,651 who have been waiting for this moment 666 00:39:02,403 --> 00:39:04,822 to take the fight to Hitler. 667 00:39:04,905 --> 00:39:09,451 ‐ The Americans in 1942, wanted to invade Western Europe. 668 00:39:09,535 --> 00:39:12,246 Go into France and let's get it over with, 669 00:39:12,371 --> 00:39:14,456 but that wasn't feasible militarily 670 00:39:14,540 --> 00:39:17,710 so they compromised on North Africa. 671 00:39:19,003 --> 00:39:21,338 ‐ The decision to invade North Africa 672 00:39:21,463 --> 00:39:25,759 is largely a matter of "Look we just have to show the world 673 00:39:25,885 --> 00:39:28,137 that the United States is in this war." 674 00:39:29,722 --> 00:39:32,266 ‐ [Narrator] The United States is finally on the ground 675 00:39:32,391 --> 00:39:35,144 and ready to show the Germans what they're made of. 676 00:39:39,148 --> 00:39:41,942 (birds chirping) 677 00:39:45,863 --> 00:39:47,615 ‐ The President's waiting for you. 678 00:39:57,374 --> 00:39:58,751 ‐ Glad you could join us. 679 00:40:00,669 --> 00:40:02,838 ‐ We have a problem with the M3, 680 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:04,632 they're a complete disaster. 681 00:40:09,678 --> 00:40:12,181 (suspenseful music) 682 00:40:12,264 --> 00:40:15,851 The 75 millimeter gun must be forced into position 683 00:40:15,976 --> 00:40:17,728 and it's getting out maneuvered. 684 00:40:17,853 --> 00:40:19,563 (dramatic music) (gun fires) 685 00:40:19,647 --> 00:40:22,191 The height of the tank leaves it vulnerable. 686 00:40:22,316 --> 00:40:24,485 (dramatic music) 687 00:40:24,568 --> 00:40:27,237 The armor is proving to be too thin. 688 00:40:27,363 --> 00:40:30,157 (dramatic music) 689 00:40:34,453 --> 00:40:38,874 ‐ The M3 had very severe design defects. 690 00:40:38,999 --> 00:40:43,462 The main gun could be moved up and down, 691 00:40:43,545 --> 00:40:44,880 but not horizontally. 692 00:40:45,005 --> 00:40:47,925 So in order to aim at a moving target, 693 00:40:48,050 --> 00:40:50,678 you had to move the entire tank around. 694 00:40:51,470 --> 00:40:53,722 ‐ It had a very tall silhouette. 695 00:40:53,847 --> 00:40:55,182 It was easy to hit. 696 00:40:55,307 --> 00:40:58,686 It was not that great off‐road and it was a flawed vehicle. 697 00:41:00,020 --> 00:41:02,898 ‐ [Narrator] The M3 was rushed into the field, 698 00:41:03,023 --> 00:41:04,817 but it wasn't ready for battle. 699 00:41:07,069 --> 00:41:09,655 ‐ What Americans learned in the North African campaign 700 00:41:09,780 --> 00:41:12,825 was that the Germans were pretty tough customers. 701 00:41:14,368 --> 00:41:16,203 ‐ [Narrator] The United States 702 00:41:16,328 --> 00:41:17,913 with all its industrial might, 703 00:41:18,872 --> 00:41:21,792 faces a German army that is far superior, 704 00:41:21,875 --> 00:41:24,670 better trained, and with better weapons. 705 00:41:24,795 --> 00:41:27,965 (suspenseful music) 706 00:41:33,762 --> 00:41:38,058 Knudsen realizes, even with the titans doing their part, 707 00:41:38,183 --> 00:41:41,145 it will take something bigger to win this war. 708 00:41:56,285 --> 00:41:58,996 (waves crashing) 709 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:13,802 While the allies struggle in North Africa, 710 00:42:13,886 --> 00:42:16,722 Hitler brings terror to the seas. 711 00:42:16,847 --> 00:42:19,308 (sonar pings) 712 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:27,649 (dramatic music) 713 00:42:27,733 --> 00:42:32,780 (torpedo explodes) (dramatic music) 714 00:42:33,405 --> 00:42:38,660 In 1942, U‐boats sink more than 230 American vessels, 715 00:42:39,536 --> 00:42:41,914 over 10,000 souls lost. 716 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:46,001 ‐ When the U‐boats popped up in these convoys 717 00:42:46,126 --> 00:42:50,923 largely made up of Liberty ships, they were sitting ducks. 718 00:43:00,349 --> 00:43:02,392 ‐ [Narrator] Hitler is destroying Kaiser's ships 719 00:43:02,476 --> 00:43:05,479 and Chrysler's tanks faster than they can build them. 720 00:43:06,814 --> 00:43:09,650 But Kaiser can't figure out how to speed up production. 721 00:43:10,359 --> 00:43:13,195 (telephone rings) 722 00:43:14,738 --> 00:43:18,075 ‐ Yeah. (suspenseful music) 723 00:43:19,535 --> 00:43:20,619 Yeah. 724 00:43:20,702 --> 00:43:21,954 Yeah. I did say that. 725 00:43:24,414 --> 00:43:28,710 Well we've had some uh, material shortages and... 726 00:43:29,586 --> 00:43:32,297 (suspenseful music) 727 00:43:32,381 --> 00:43:33,966 No, I understand. 728 00:43:35,551 --> 00:43:36,969 Yeah, I will. 729 00:43:37,052 --> 00:43:38,804 ‐ Okay. Thank you. ‐ [Kaiser] Yeah. 730 00:43:41,098 --> 00:43:42,182 ‐ [Narrator] Knudsen has assembled 731 00:43:42,307 --> 00:43:44,309 the greatest industrial leaders in the nation 732 00:43:44,393 --> 00:43:48,689 to build his war machine but it's not working. 733 00:43:49,940 --> 00:43:52,067 Something is still missing. 734 00:43:53,485 --> 00:43:56,029 (dramatic music) 735 00:43:56,113 --> 00:44:01,243 ‐ [Kaiser] Well we've had some material shortages and... 736 00:44:01,910 --> 00:44:04,746 (suspenseful music) 737 00:44:15,883 --> 00:44:18,510 (phone clicks) 738 00:44:20,762 --> 00:44:23,015 ‐ Knudsen had the idea to get companies 739 00:44:23,098 --> 00:44:24,933 that usually were at each other's throats 740 00:44:25,058 --> 00:44:28,020 to share plans, to share designs, 741 00:44:28,145 --> 00:44:30,063 to share intellectual property, 742 00:44:30,189 --> 00:44:33,358 in order to produce what was necessary 743 00:44:33,483 --> 00:44:35,652 in order to win this war. 744 00:44:35,736 --> 00:44:36,737 ‐ Ford. 745 00:44:39,114 --> 00:44:42,201 ‐ In many ways, when there is a common threat, 746 00:44:42,326 --> 00:44:45,162 there is no choice but to act together. 747 00:44:45,245 --> 00:44:48,624 A crisis brings together people in ways that 748 00:44:48,707 --> 00:44:51,335 you can't even imagine would be possible. 749 00:44:51,460 --> 00:44:54,296 (telephone rings) 750 00:44:56,840 --> 00:44:57,925 ‐ It's Bill. 751 00:44:59,134 --> 00:45:01,220 Listen, change of plan. 752 00:45:03,263 --> 00:45:05,057 How soon can he get on a plane? 753 00:45:07,059 --> 00:45:08,185 Detroit. 754 00:45:08,310 --> 00:45:13,440 (plane engine roaring) (bright music) 755 00:45:23,200 --> 00:45:25,494 ‐ [Narrator] Knudsen sends Kaiser to Ford, 756 00:45:26,870 --> 00:45:29,081 to learn the secret of mass production. 757 00:45:34,711 --> 00:45:37,965 (typewriter clicks) 758 00:45:45,681 --> 00:45:46,974 ‐ Is that him? ‐ It is. 759 00:45:55,232 --> 00:45:56,316 ‐ Are you coming? 760 00:45:58,652 --> 00:46:01,238 (upbeat music) 761 00:46:03,031 --> 00:46:05,951 (gears turning) 762 00:46:08,161 --> 00:46:09,955 So this is the pre‐production. 763 00:46:11,790 --> 00:46:13,041 Working on suspensions. 764 00:46:13,125 --> 00:46:15,961 ‐ [Narrator] Ford gives Kaiser unprecedented access 765 00:46:16,044 --> 00:46:17,254 to his operations 766 00:46:18,630 --> 00:46:22,009 where army Jeeps are now assembled by the thousands. 767 00:46:24,052 --> 00:46:25,679 ‐ So you make the plates further up the line, 768 00:46:25,804 --> 00:46:27,347 and then you weld them here? 769 00:46:27,431 --> 00:46:28,390 ‐ No, no, no. 770 00:46:28,515 --> 00:46:30,642 All the pieces are made in factories offsite. 771 00:46:30,726 --> 00:46:32,019 All we do here is put them together 772 00:46:32,102 --> 00:46:34,062 and roll off the finished product. 773 00:46:35,355 --> 00:46:38,692 ‐ [Narrator] For Kaiser, the factory tour is a revelation. 774 00:46:40,694 --> 00:46:43,280 (upbeat music) 775 00:46:43,363 --> 00:46:46,908 Ford's secret to mass production is prefabrication. 776 00:46:48,201 --> 00:46:50,662 Rather than build each car part‐by‐part, 777 00:46:50,787 --> 00:46:55,208 he pre‐assembles components and then puts them together. 778 00:46:56,460 --> 00:46:59,379 ‐ Kaiser never had any kind of experience with 779 00:46:59,504 --> 00:47:02,132 or working in the automobile industry. 780 00:47:02,215 --> 00:47:05,344 He didn't know about how Henry Ford built 781 00:47:05,427 --> 00:47:07,637 assembly line production for automobiles. 782 00:47:08,764 --> 00:47:10,223 ‐ Let me show you something else. 783 00:47:12,517 --> 00:47:15,145 (upbeat music) 784 00:47:16,313 --> 00:47:18,357 ‐ [Narrator] Kaiser realizes that what Ford had been doing 785 00:47:18,482 --> 00:47:22,361 with cars, can be translated to ships. 786 00:47:24,196 --> 00:47:26,823 ‐ The big change that Kaiser brought to shipbuilding 787 00:47:26,948 --> 00:47:29,576 was you could assemble all these parts, 788 00:47:29,701 --> 00:47:32,829 not just at the dock where you're building the ship, 789 00:47:32,913 --> 00:47:34,206 but do it on land first 790 00:47:34,331 --> 00:47:39,378 and then move big sections of the ship in, one by one, 791 00:47:40,379 --> 00:47:42,089 and then assembling them like big Lego. 792 00:47:43,799 --> 00:47:44,925 ‐ [Narrator] From construction areas 793 00:47:45,050 --> 00:47:47,052 spread across the entire shipyard, 794 00:47:47,177 --> 00:47:49,137 prefabricated sections are hoisted 795 00:47:49,221 --> 00:47:51,348 by massive Worley cranes, 796 00:47:51,473 --> 00:47:56,144 running on railroad tracks and able to spin 360 degrees. 797 00:47:57,229 --> 00:47:58,688 ‐ Everything was carefully marked, you know, 798 00:47:58,814 --> 00:48:00,440 tab A into slot A, 799 00:48:00,524 --> 00:48:02,692 and so it was simply a question then of assembling, 800 00:48:02,818 --> 00:48:06,279 welding everything together and moving onto the next stage. 801 00:48:07,531 --> 00:48:09,908 ‐ [Narrator] Thanks in part to Ford's insights, 802 00:48:10,033 --> 00:48:13,328 Kaiser can now build a Liberty ship every month. 803 00:48:13,453 --> 00:48:16,289 And by operating a total of seven shipyards, 804 00:48:16,373 --> 00:48:19,501 he's launching a ship every two to three days. 805 00:48:20,710 --> 00:48:23,338 ‐ You were able to get a ship built and out onto the water 806 00:48:23,463 --> 00:48:26,925 in ways that no one who was a conventional ship builder, 807 00:48:27,008 --> 00:48:28,844 could ever have imagined possible. 808 00:48:28,927 --> 00:48:31,596 (upbeat music) 809 00:48:34,141 --> 00:48:35,392 I think you can safely say, 810 00:48:35,517 --> 00:48:40,689 that Henry Kaiser was the father of modern ship building. 811 00:48:41,189 --> 00:48:43,567 (dramatic music) 812 00:48:52,993 --> 00:48:54,035 ‐ [Narrator] While Kaiser finds success 813 00:48:54,161 --> 00:48:55,662 with his Liberty ships, 814 00:48:55,787 --> 00:49:00,041 Chrysler has made significant improvements to their tanks. 815 00:49:02,836 --> 00:49:08,341 ‐ The M3 tank was discontinued, and was replaced by the M4. 816 00:49:10,218 --> 00:49:13,346 ‐ The M4 was easy to produce, it wasn't very expensive, 817 00:49:13,430 --> 00:49:16,683 had a good gun to it, initially, a 75 millimeter. 818 00:49:17,642 --> 00:49:20,187 ‐ [Narrator] Weighing in at nearly 35 tons, 819 00:49:20,270 --> 00:49:22,731 it's a major improvement over the M3, 820 00:49:23,690 --> 00:49:27,277 but this big new tank requires a much more powerful engine. 821 00:49:28,445 --> 00:49:32,324 ‐ [Knudsen] So effectively it's five, six cylinder engines 822 00:49:32,407 --> 00:49:34,326 arranged around a central shaft? 823 00:49:34,451 --> 00:49:35,744 ‐ [Engineer] Correct, sir. 824 00:49:37,245 --> 00:49:38,497 ‐ No, it's too big. 825 00:49:39,289 --> 00:49:41,416 Where are all the crew gonna go? 826 00:49:41,541 --> 00:49:43,335 I mean if we can't fit a five man crew 827 00:49:43,460 --> 00:49:46,338 and enough munitions inside then what is the point? 828 00:49:46,421 --> 00:49:49,508 ‐ Chrysler's engineers took an existing motor, 829 00:49:49,591 --> 00:49:52,177 that Chrysler had used in its automobiles, 830 00:49:52,302 --> 00:49:55,931 and they devised a way of arranging five of those 831 00:49:56,056 --> 00:49:57,349 around in a circle. 832 00:49:57,432 --> 00:49:59,976 And that's why it got the name the quint‐engine 833 00:50:00,060 --> 00:50:01,228 or the egg‐beater. 834 00:50:05,148 --> 00:50:07,317 ‐ [Narrator] Knudsen needs to find a smaller engine 835 00:50:07,359 --> 00:50:10,403 that's still robust enough to power the M4. 836 00:50:14,032 --> 00:50:19,120 (anticipatory music) (paper crunches) 837 00:50:23,208 --> 00:50:26,086 (telephone dial turns) 838 00:50:26,211 --> 00:50:29,172 ‐ Hello. I'd like to speak to Mr. Ford, 839 00:50:30,590 --> 00:50:31,716 Mr. Henry Ford. 840 00:50:31,841 --> 00:50:34,427 (gentle music) 841 00:50:38,473 --> 00:50:39,307 ‐ So, V8? 842 00:50:40,559 --> 00:50:41,434 Right? 843 00:50:42,227 --> 00:50:43,436 Who's it for? 844 00:50:46,189 --> 00:50:47,399 Who did you say? 845 00:50:50,402 --> 00:50:51,903 ‐ [Narrator] Giving advice to a shipbuilder 846 00:50:52,028 --> 00:50:53,738 like Kaiser is one thing, 847 00:50:53,863 --> 00:50:56,741 but sharing trade secrets, like engine designs, 848 00:50:56,866 --> 00:51:00,287 with a rival automaker, is completely different. 849 00:51:01,746 --> 00:51:03,999 ‐ Sometimes when we work with others, 850 00:51:04,124 --> 00:51:06,918 even people we think we intensely dislike, 851 00:51:07,002 --> 00:51:09,671 and these titans intensely disliked each other, 852 00:51:09,754 --> 00:51:11,673 when we can somehow set that aside 853 00:51:11,756 --> 00:51:14,175 for a purpose larger than themselves, 854 00:51:14,259 --> 00:51:17,137 truly great things can happen. 855 00:51:17,220 --> 00:51:20,223 (dramatic music) 856 00:51:22,726 --> 00:51:25,478 (wood creaking) 857 00:51:30,525 --> 00:51:33,278 ‐ [Narrator] Ford agrees to give Chrysler the designs 858 00:51:33,361 --> 00:51:35,614 for his 500 horsepower V8. 859 00:51:36,781 --> 00:51:37,616 ‐ Okay. 860 00:51:41,036 --> 00:51:44,205 ‐ [Narrator] One of the most powerful engines ever built. 861 00:51:45,165 --> 00:51:47,167 ‐ It's a great example how companies 862 00:51:47,250 --> 00:51:50,337 who once were competitors worked together 863 00:51:50,462 --> 00:51:52,881 to help us save the United States of America. 864 00:51:54,090 --> 00:51:57,010 You know, and that's one of the beauties of this nation. 865 00:51:58,219 --> 00:52:01,264 ‐ [Narrator] The M4 will be better known by its nickname, 866 00:52:01,389 --> 00:52:02,641 the Sherman tank. 867 00:52:04,684 --> 00:52:07,520 Now 400 Shermans are quickly assembled 868 00:52:07,604 --> 00:52:09,230 and sent to North Africa. 869 00:52:10,732 --> 00:52:13,943 The allies now, have a formidable new weapon, 870 00:52:14,027 --> 00:52:15,654 in the fight against Hitler. 871 00:52:21,826 --> 00:52:26,331 (ominous music) 872 00:52:26,456 --> 00:52:30,418 (dramatic orchestral music) 873 00:52:30,543 --> 00:52:31,670 ‐ [Newsreel Reporter] After early defeat, 874 00:52:31,795 --> 00:52:34,214 America's back in the fight in North Africa. 875 00:52:34,339 --> 00:52:36,299 And they've got the Nazis on the run. 876 00:52:36,383 --> 00:52:38,385 ‐ Most heartening of all is the news 877 00:52:38,510 --> 00:52:40,512 from Egypt and North Africa. 878 00:52:40,595 --> 00:52:43,515 Some of them Nazis beaten off in their first real battle 879 00:52:43,598 --> 00:52:45,600 with American troops, surrender. 880 00:52:45,725 --> 00:52:47,519 ‐ [Announcer 3] The Yank tracer bullets go up, 881 00:52:47,560 --> 00:52:49,312 and Nazi planes come down. 882 00:52:49,396 --> 00:52:50,855 (dramatic music) 883 00:52:50,980 --> 00:52:53,316 ‐ [Newsreel Announcer 2] First blow falls on the Japanese, 884 00:52:53,441 --> 00:52:55,360 in the strategically important Solomon Islands, 885 00:52:55,485 --> 00:52:57,404 in the South Pacific. 886 00:52:58,321 --> 00:52:59,656 Here for the first time, 887 00:52:59,698 --> 00:53:02,450 the weight of of American production makes itself felt. 888 00:53:03,326 --> 00:53:06,287 (cannon explosions) 889 00:53:07,789 --> 00:53:08,998 ‐ [Narrator] A little more than a year 890 00:53:09,124 --> 00:53:11,334 after the US joins the war, 891 00:53:13,378 --> 00:53:15,922 there is finally some positive news, 892 00:53:16,047 --> 00:53:19,175 as America's military gets stronger by the day. 893 00:53:19,259 --> 00:53:21,886 (upbeat music) 894 00:53:23,388 --> 00:53:27,267 At home, it seems like everyone has the same goal, 895 00:53:27,392 --> 00:53:30,478 to build the greatest war machine in history. 896 00:53:31,688 --> 00:53:33,523 ‐ It's true the borrowing is unprecedented, 897 00:53:33,648 --> 00:53:34,858 but I wouldn't worry. 898 00:53:34,983 --> 00:53:37,694 Massive spending will stimulate the economy. 899 00:53:37,819 --> 00:53:40,363 So by the end of the war, economic growth 900 00:53:40,488 --> 00:53:44,075 together with inflation will all but wipe out the debt. 901 00:53:45,034 --> 00:53:47,787 ‐ [Narrator] Morgan now holds weekly meetings with FDR, 902 00:53:47,871 --> 00:53:50,999 to make sure the war gets the financing it needs. 903 00:53:54,377 --> 00:53:55,503 ‐ This is very good. 904 00:53:56,546 --> 00:53:57,839 ‐ One of the most surprising elements 905 00:53:57,881 --> 00:54:00,133 of the whole story of World War II, 906 00:54:00,216 --> 00:54:02,635 was the degree to which these rivals 907 00:54:02,719 --> 00:54:04,512 successfully came together 908 00:54:04,596 --> 00:54:06,556 to build the arsenal of democracy. 909 00:54:06,681 --> 00:54:09,017 ‐ Right, that's good in theory but in practice 910 00:54:09,100 --> 00:54:11,561 just one bottleneck will halt the whole production line. 911 00:54:11,686 --> 00:54:12,645 ‐ [du Pont] I understand. 912 00:54:13,980 --> 00:54:17,776 So what if we pre‐assemble parts in different factories? 913 00:54:18,526 --> 00:54:19,778 Do you think that would help? 914 00:54:19,861 --> 00:54:21,196 ‐ They were rivals before the war, 915 00:54:21,321 --> 00:54:22,822 now they're working together. 916 00:54:22,947 --> 00:54:24,991 There was a writer at the time who said it was almost 917 00:54:25,116 --> 00:54:28,369 as if players of the New York Yankees took a few days off 918 00:54:28,495 --> 00:54:31,080 to win some games for the Dodgers. 919 00:54:31,206 --> 00:54:32,332 ‐ [Announcer] American industry 920 00:54:32,457 --> 00:54:34,667 has met the challenge of war. 921 00:54:34,751 --> 00:54:36,753 In hundreds of peaceful towns, 922 00:54:36,878 --> 00:54:38,671 thousands of small industries were fitted 923 00:54:38,755 --> 00:54:40,840 into the national war production plan. 924 00:54:40,965 --> 00:54:43,968 (suspenseful music) 925 00:54:44,928 --> 00:54:47,180 ‐ [Narrator] Now nearly every factory in the country 926 00:54:47,222 --> 00:54:51,684 has become part of one giant, coordinated war machine. 927 00:54:51,768 --> 00:54:53,520 ‐ The way these companies came together 928 00:54:53,603 --> 00:54:56,648 in our country's time of need was extraordinary. 929 00:54:56,731 --> 00:54:58,608 They put their business competitiveness 930 00:54:58,691 --> 00:55:00,318 and their own needs aside, 931 00:55:00,360 --> 00:55:03,321 and said we've gotta step up for our country. 932 00:55:03,404 --> 00:55:06,407 ‐ Companies big and small all over the country 933 00:55:06,533 --> 00:55:08,493 were doing things that none of those people 934 00:55:08,618 --> 00:55:09,702 who worked at those companies, 935 00:55:09,828 --> 00:55:11,830 ever dreamed would be possible. 936 00:55:11,913 --> 00:55:13,414 General Electric was building 937 00:55:13,540 --> 00:55:16,376 30,000 horsepower naval turbines. 938 00:55:16,501 --> 00:55:18,920 Westinghouse Electric was building radar equipment. 939 00:55:19,045 --> 00:55:21,214 The Kleenex tissue company was building 940 00:55:21,339 --> 00:55:23,258 50 caliber machine gun mounts. 941 00:55:23,383 --> 00:55:25,134 (dramatic music) 942 00:55:25,218 --> 00:55:27,720 ‐ [Narrator] FDR even embarks on a secret tour 943 00:55:27,804 --> 00:55:30,598 to see the military production firsthand. 944 00:55:31,516 --> 00:55:34,561 He visits Henry Kaiser's shipyards, 945 00:55:34,686 --> 00:55:37,856 and gets a close up look at Chrysler's Sherman tank. 946 00:55:38,690 --> 00:55:40,191 (gentle apprehensive music) 947 00:55:40,316 --> 00:55:44,320 But when he checks on the progress of Ford's B24 bombers, 948 00:55:44,404 --> 00:55:46,114 the news isn't good. 949 00:55:47,156 --> 00:55:48,366 ‐ At the time, 950 00:55:48,491 --> 00:55:51,828 Willow Run was not living up to its objectives. 951 00:55:51,953 --> 00:55:55,456 Only one bomber ship had been built 952 00:55:55,540 --> 00:55:57,250 at the time of FDR's visit. 953 00:55:57,375 --> 00:55:58,626 This was a disaster. 954 00:56:02,130 --> 00:56:05,008 ‐ We can redesign it with a single tail fin. 955 00:56:05,091 --> 00:56:08,636 (tense suspenseful music) 956 00:56:09,554 --> 00:56:11,514 Hold on, we, we've discussed this. 957 00:56:16,227 --> 00:56:17,770 Yeah, but that won't fix it. 958 00:56:19,689 --> 00:56:21,816 Look, I understand what you're asking, 959 00:56:21,941 --> 00:56:24,152 but we're talking about two different... 960 00:56:26,195 --> 00:56:27,030 I don't. 961 00:56:28,865 --> 00:56:29,741 Hold on. 962 00:56:32,702 --> 00:56:34,913 Military is still trying to make changes. 963 00:56:39,292 --> 00:56:42,211 Understood. We'll talk later. 964 00:56:42,337 --> 00:56:45,757 (gentle brooding music) 965 00:56:49,886 --> 00:56:51,721 I wanna show you something. 966 00:56:51,846 --> 00:56:55,224 (upbeat dramatic music) 967 00:57:06,110 --> 00:57:08,529 ‐ Willow Run was falling desperately behind 968 00:57:09,697 --> 00:57:11,366 and one of the ways that Edsel Ford 969 00:57:11,491 --> 00:57:12,825 managed to fix this problem 970 00:57:12,867 --> 00:57:15,787 was to come up with something called modification centers, 971 00:57:15,870 --> 00:57:17,830 where changes could be made. 972 00:57:20,875 --> 00:57:25,588 ‐ We manufacturer one standard model, one. 973 00:57:25,672 --> 00:57:26,714 As soon as they roll out the door, 974 00:57:26,839 --> 00:57:28,383 they fly off to a modification center 975 00:57:28,508 --> 00:57:32,595 and this will save time. 976 00:57:33,429 --> 00:57:35,056 That's what I'm telling you. 977 00:57:35,181 --> 00:57:37,266 (bright music) 978 00:57:37,392 --> 00:57:38,267 Sounds good? 979 00:57:42,855 --> 00:57:46,234 ‐ Every time the military ordered a new design tweak 980 00:57:46,359 --> 00:57:48,277 or a new change to the aircraft, 981 00:57:48,361 --> 00:57:52,031 the modification center would handle that particular change, 982 00:57:52,156 --> 00:57:55,576 without having to retool the entire assembly line. 983 00:57:58,454 --> 00:57:59,247 ‐ Come on. 984 00:58:01,708 --> 00:58:02,750 This should be it. 985 00:58:04,377 --> 00:58:08,172 (airplane engine turning over) 986 00:58:08,256 --> 00:58:11,467 ‐ [Narrator] Modification centers are a game changer. 987 00:58:11,551 --> 00:58:14,887 (gentle upbeat music) 988 00:58:18,057 --> 00:58:19,684 By early 1943, 989 00:58:19,809 --> 00:58:24,022 Willow Run is cranking out B‐24s at record speed. 990 00:58:26,190 --> 00:58:28,943 ‐ These planes are coming out of the factory so fast 991 00:58:29,027 --> 00:58:31,112 that the test pilots, their test flight 992 00:58:31,195 --> 00:58:33,698 was actually to be delivering it to the military. 993 00:58:33,823 --> 00:58:35,241 And it was really Ford's effort 994 00:58:35,366 --> 00:58:38,244 I think that made the B‐24 what it still is today, 995 00:58:38,369 --> 00:58:42,040 which is the most mass‐produced American military aircraft 996 00:58:42,123 --> 00:58:46,419 of all time. (plane engine roaring) 997 00:58:46,544 --> 00:58:49,797 (gentle piano music) 998 00:58:56,846 --> 00:59:00,933 (gentle piano music continues) 999 00:59:07,690 --> 00:59:08,649 ‐ Good work. 1000 00:59:12,236 --> 00:59:13,071 Good. 1001 00:59:28,252 --> 00:59:29,378 (tense music playing) 1002 00:59:33,966 --> 00:59:35,927 ‐ [Narrator] Edsel Ford has finally figured out 1003 00:59:36,010 --> 00:59:38,721 how to do something that's never been done before; 1004 00:59:40,723 --> 00:59:42,391 Mass Produce Bombers 1005 00:59:46,145 --> 00:59:48,231 But now, he has a new problem. 1006 00:59:49,982 --> 00:59:51,818 ‐ We are moving as fast as we can. 1007 00:59:54,028 --> 00:59:54,821 I know. 1008 00:59:55,988 --> 00:59:58,908 ‐ Edsel Ford realized that the labor force 1009 00:59:58,991 --> 01:00:00,535 was gonna be a major issue. 1010 01:00:00,660 --> 01:00:02,161 When Willow Run was conceived, 1011 01:00:02,286 --> 01:00:03,913 it was thought that a hundred thousand 1012 01:00:04,038 --> 01:00:05,581 people were going to work there. 1013 01:00:05,665 --> 01:00:09,252 But so many young men were being drafted into the military. 1014 01:00:11,087 --> 01:00:12,755 ‐ [Narrator] Every factory in America 1015 01:00:12,880 --> 01:00:14,882 faces the same challenge. 1016 01:00:16,008 --> 01:00:18,761 But then, a surprising group comes to the rescue. 1017 01:00:20,179 --> 01:00:20,930 Women. 1018 01:00:21,013 --> 01:00:22,515 (bright upbeat music) 1019 01:00:22,598 --> 01:00:23,891 ‐ Before that of course, there were 1020 01:00:24,016 --> 01:00:26,144 acceptable professions for women. 1021 01:00:26,227 --> 01:00:28,437 We could be teachers or we could be nurses. 1022 01:00:28,563 --> 01:00:32,817 Although the most important one was mother and wife. 1023 01:00:32,942 --> 01:00:35,069 Then you get to World War II. 1024 01:00:35,194 --> 01:00:38,739 And for the first time, we are needed in factories. 1025 01:00:39,782 --> 01:00:43,494 ‐ And so women came out in droves 1026 01:00:43,578 --> 01:00:46,873 to work in those factories and said 1027 01:00:46,998 --> 01:00:51,460 we want a chance to demonstrate what we can do. 1028 01:00:55,882 --> 01:00:59,010 ‐ [Narrator] 19 million women take jobs in factories, 1029 01:00:59,093 --> 01:01:01,804 shipyards and military bases. 1030 01:01:02,889 --> 01:01:06,475 Making up nearly 40% of the US workforce. 1031 01:01:08,811 --> 01:01:10,980 One of Willow Runs Factory hands will go 1032 01:01:11,022 --> 01:01:12,899 on to inspire the nation. 1033 01:01:14,025 --> 01:01:17,069 Her name is Rose Will Monroe. 1034 01:01:18,321 --> 01:01:21,449 But she'll become immortalized with another name. 1035 01:01:22,742 --> 01:01:25,995 ‐ Rosie the Riveter was actually a real woman 1036 01:01:26,120 --> 01:01:29,165 who moved to Willow Run from Kentucky 1037 01:01:29,207 --> 01:01:32,251 and they were first going to give her a secretary's job 1038 01:01:32,335 --> 01:01:34,879 but she figured out that if she was a riveter 1039 01:01:34,962 --> 01:01:36,297 she'd make twice as much money. 1040 01:01:36,380 --> 01:01:38,007 They asked her if she had experienced 1041 01:01:38,132 --> 01:01:40,718 and she said, yes, she lied, she didn't. 1042 01:01:40,843 --> 01:01:43,095 But she got a job as a riveter. 1043 01:01:44,388 --> 01:01:46,182 ‐ [Narrator] Rose becomes part of a government campaign 1044 01:01:46,265 --> 01:01:50,519 to boost morale and turns in to an icon. 1045 01:01:52,146 --> 01:01:53,856 ‐ Rosie the Riveter mattered so much 1046 01:01:53,981 --> 01:01:55,566 at that point in history. 1047 01:01:55,691 --> 01:01:57,401 She was in a man's world. 1048 01:01:57,485 --> 01:02:00,446 It took away this brand that we could only be the woman 1049 01:02:00,529 --> 01:02:02,865 behind the man or the damsel in distress. 1050 01:02:02,990 --> 01:02:05,493 She could survive and thrive in a man's world. 1051 01:02:11,207 --> 01:02:13,793 ‐ [Narrator] Out west, groundbreaking changes 1052 01:02:13,876 --> 01:02:17,046 are also taking place at Kaiser Shipyards. 1053 01:02:17,171 --> 01:02:18,506 (serene music playing) 1054 01:02:18,547 --> 01:02:21,968 ‐ Kaiser had absolutely no sense that there was a need 1055 01:02:22,051 --> 01:02:24,053 to discriminate in the jobs that men could do 1056 01:02:24,178 --> 01:02:28,683 and women can do or African‐Americans as well. 1057 01:02:28,724 --> 01:02:29,934 And when you look at, for example 1058 01:02:30,017 --> 01:02:33,688 photographs of shipyard teams working together, 1059 01:02:33,813 --> 01:02:36,941 what you see is a diversity of Americans 1060 01:02:37,024 --> 01:02:39,277 which is really extraordinary at the time. 1061 01:02:41,362 --> 01:02:43,072 ‐ There extremely limited opportunities 1062 01:02:43,155 --> 01:02:45,533 for African‐Americans to have prominent roles 1063 01:02:45,616 --> 01:02:46,993 during the second world war. 1064 01:02:47,076 --> 01:02:49,328 They also are fighting two wars. 1065 01:02:49,412 --> 01:02:52,081 The war to support the effort against what's happening 1066 01:02:52,164 --> 01:02:55,376 in Europe, and the struggle for quality home. 1067 01:02:55,459 --> 01:02:58,004 But African‐American labor is essential 1068 01:02:58,045 --> 01:03:01,424 in helping to build the arsenal of democracy. 1069 01:03:01,549 --> 01:03:04,593 (tense music playing) 1070 01:03:06,053 --> 01:03:07,179 ‐ [Narrator] Now with America's factories 1071 01:03:07,263 --> 01:03:10,224 at peak production, FDR can finally 1072 01:03:10,308 --> 01:03:12,601 make plans for what's next. 1073 01:03:13,519 --> 01:03:15,354 ‐ What Roosevelt realized right away, 1074 01:03:15,438 --> 01:03:18,024 is that the United States is at war in two theaters. 1075 01:03:18,149 --> 01:03:20,526 In the Pacific and in the Atlantic. 1076 01:03:20,651 --> 01:03:22,153 And the Atlantic theater Europe 1077 01:03:22,278 --> 01:03:25,031 is the one that takes precedence in his mind. 1078 01:03:26,032 --> 01:03:28,743 All the why Americans were thinking, 1079 01:03:28,868 --> 01:03:31,829 okay, we're going to invade France one day, 1080 01:03:31,871 --> 01:03:35,583 to prepare for the kind of final blow against Germany. 1081 01:03:37,209 --> 01:03:40,504 ‐ The amount of things, armaments that we would need 1082 01:03:40,629 --> 01:03:43,507 was staggering, 5,000 ships, 1083 01:03:43,591 --> 01:03:47,178 thousands and thousands of bombers and tanks 1084 01:03:47,219 --> 01:03:49,347 and the country leaned into it. 1085 01:03:53,017 --> 01:03:54,185 ‐ [Narrator] But as American industries 1086 01:03:54,268 --> 01:03:57,897 race towards invasion, (plane engine roaring) 1087 01:03:57,980 --> 01:04:01,067 allied intelligence learns alarming news. 1088 01:04:02,610 --> 01:04:06,989 Hitler is secretly developing a devastating new weapon. 1089 01:04:07,073 --> 01:04:09,325 One that could instantly end the war, 1090 01:04:09,408 --> 01:04:11,952 (bomb explosion) the atomic bomb. 1091 01:04:14,205 --> 01:04:18,125 And FDR must once again, turn to du Pont. 1092 01:04:31,389 --> 01:04:35,559 (car engine revving) (ominous music) 1093 01:05:01,544 --> 01:05:04,547 (footsteps clacking) 1094 01:05:12,346 --> 01:05:14,056 ‐ [Soldier] Haigerloch, Germany. 1095 01:05:15,933 --> 01:05:18,060 This could be the site of the laboratory. 1096 01:05:20,229 --> 01:05:23,274 We're waiting for intelligence confirmation on that. 1097 01:05:24,483 --> 01:05:27,445 Our field agent reports that this man 1098 01:05:28,529 --> 01:05:31,323 is a regular visitor, Heisenberg. 1099 01:05:34,535 --> 01:05:35,661 (serene music) 1100 01:05:35,703 --> 01:05:38,998 Our understanding is that he has been working 1101 01:05:39,081 --> 01:05:41,667 with Germans for the last two months. 1102 01:05:41,709 --> 01:05:47,089 Designing what we believe is a nuclear device. 1103 01:05:51,552 --> 01:05:53,679 ‐ [Showden] At the time there was research happening 1104 01:05:53,762 --> 01:05:55,222 around nuclear fission. 1105 01:05:56,390 --> 01:06:01,145 ‐ [Soldier] Uranverein translates as Uranium Club. 1106 01:06:01,729 --> 01:06:07,026 ‐ This emerging technology could result in a bomb 1107 01:06:07,151 --> 01:06:10,738 of the size and scale that we had never seen. 1108 01:06:10,863 --> 01:06:14,533 ‐ Their goal is to create a sustained nuclear chain 1109 01:06:14,658 --> 01:06:17,661 reaction capable of delivering a large impact. 1110 01:06:17,703 --> 01:06:20,915 ‐ There was a serious fear that Nazi Germany 1111 01:06:21,040 --> 01:06:23,250 would acquire this weapons technology 1112 01:06:23,375 --> 01:06:24,460 before the United States. 1113 01:06:24,543 --> 01:06:26,921 And that all bets would be off. 1114 01:06:27,046 --> 01:06:29,798 ‐ So far, they haven't succeeded, 1115 01:06:30,549 --> 01:06:34,553 but it's only a matter of time. 1116 01:06:37,806 --> 01:06:42,228 ‐ Whoever figured this out first was gonna win the war. 1117 01:06:42,353 --> 01:06:45,523 (tense music playing) 1118 01:07:00,371 --> 01:07:03,541 ‐ [Narrator] Code named the Manhattan Project. 1119 01:07:03,666 --> 01:07:06,460 America's attempt to build an atomic bomb 1120 01:07:07,545 --> 01:07:11,340 is led by theoretical physicist, Robert Oppenheimer. 1121 01:07:13,842 --> 01:07:16,303 Oppenheimer has figured out the science 1122 01:07:16,387 --> 01:07:18,472 but now he needs the fuel. 1123 01:07:21,058 --> 01:07:22,977 du Pont is being asked to do something 1124 01:07:23,060 --> 01:07:24,770 that's never been done before. 1125 01:07:26,689 --> 01:07:30,609 Build a nuclear reactor to produce plutonium. 1126 01:07:32,069 --> 01:07:34,363 ‐ Nobody even really knew what that meant, 1127 01:07:34,446 --> 01:07:36,949 but what the government saw was that 1128 01:07:37,032 --> 01:07:39,702 the DuPont company was extraordinarily well managed. 1129 01:07:39,827 --> 01:07:43,497 And if anybody could figure this out, 1130 01:07:44,331 --> 01:07:46,333 it was going to be DuPont. 1131 01:07:47,668 --> 01:07:49,128 ‐ [Narrator] After working so hard 1132 01:07:49,211 --> 01:07:51,213 to leave munitions behind, 1133 01:07:52,256 --> 01:07:53,841 du Pont now holds in his hands' plans 1134 01:07:53,924 --> 01:07:57,386 for the most destructive weapon on earth. 1135 01:08:00,723 --> 01:08:03,267 (serene music) 1136 01:08:05,394 --> 01:08:07,730 (car engine roars) 1137 01:08:07,855 --> 01:08:10,482 As du Pont tackles an impossible task, 1138 01:08:11,817 --> 01:08:14,653 he finds out some devastating news. 1139 01:08:16,864 --> 01:08:19,658 (birds chirping) 1140 01:08:21,076 --> 01:08:22,036 (door knocking) 1141 01:08:22,161 --> 01:08:24,788 ‐ Mr. Morgan, Mr. Morgan. 1142 01:08:27,374 --> 01:08:30,544 (door creaks open) 1143 01:08:37,259 --> 01:08:40,304 (curtain rattling) 1144 01:08:41,347 --> 01:08:42,306 Mr. Morgan. 1145 01:08:45,934 --> 01:08:49,355 (solemn music plays) 1146 01:08:49,480 --> 01:08:54,318 ‐ [Narrator] In the spring of 1943, JP Morgan Jr. 1147 01:08:54,443 --> 01:08:56,695 dies in his sleep from a stroke. 1148 01:08:59,531 --> 01:09:01,492 Word of Morgan's death is withheld 1149 01:09:01,533 --> 01:09:04,244 until after the stock market closes. 1150 01:09:04,370 --> 01:09:07,956 So as not to cause a crash in share prices. 1151 01:09:08,040 --> 01:09:10,167 (dramatic music playing) 1152 01:09:10,250 --> 01:09:12,169 Morgan's influence could be felt in 1153 01:09:12,294 --> 01:09:14,755 every corner of American society. 1154 01:09:15,881 --> 01:09:19,635 He bankrolled the country's largest industry, cars. 1155 01:09:20,636 --> 01:09:23,097 Fueled the wild spending of the roaring twenties 1156 01:09:24,056 --> 01:09:28,394 and then was targeted when the depression hit. 1157 01:09:28,519 --> 01:09:29,770 ‐ Are you familiar with defense bonds? 1158 01:09:29,895 --> 01:09:31,730 ‐ [Narrator] But in the end, Morgan was able 1159 01:09:31,855 --> 01:09:34,525 to do something good for the country. 1160 01:09:34,650 --> 01:09:38,612 And now his banking empire continues on. 1161 01:09:38,696 --> 01:09:42,366 ‐ The legacy at JP Morgan Jr, is JP Morgan chase today. 1162 01:09:42,491 --> 01:09:44,410 Back then it was only a couple hundred people. 1163 01:09:44,535 --> 01:09:45,786 It was a smaller institution, 1164 01:09:45,869 --> 01:09:48,122 is now basically two or three thousand 1165 01:09:48,205 --> 01:09:49,415 companies a part of it. 1166 01:09:49,498 --> 01:09:50,958 So it's quite the company they started. 1167 01:09:51,041 --> 01:09:53,877 They'd be, hopefully, they'd be very proud of it. 1168 01:09:56,505 --> 01:09:58,549 ‐ [Narrator] Then just two months later, 1169 01:09:58,632 --> 01:10:01,301 another Titan dies. 1170 01:10:01,677 --> 01:10:05,055 (solemn music playing) 1171 01:10:15,733 --> 01:10:18,610 Henry Ford's only son, Edsel. 1172 01:10:23,490 --> 01:10:26,326 In order to concentrate on his bomber factory, 1173 01:10:26,410 --> 01:10:28,454 Edsel didn't tell his family that he's been 1174 01:10:28,537 --> 01:10:31,665 suffering from stomach cancer for over a year. 1175 01:10:35,043 --> 01:10:37,921 ‐ Henry was heartbroken by Edsel's death. 1176 01:10:39,214 --> 01:10:40,591 He would talk about how he had this 1177 01:10:40,716 --> 01:10:43,093 lump in his throat that couldn't go away. 1178 01:10:47,598 --> 01:10:48,348 ‐ [Edsel] Get your coat, 1179 01:10:48,474 --> 01:10:49,933 I want to take you somewhere. 1180 01:10:51,435 --> 01:10:56,398 ‐ We should get into this. (plane engine roaring) 1181 01:11:12,289 --> 01:11:16,084 (tense upbeat music playing) 1182 01:11:20,756 --> 01:11:22,424 ‐ [Narrator] Edsel may be gone, 1183 01:11:23,967 --> 01:11:26,595 but he leaves behind his greatest achievement. 1184 01:11:30,098 --> 01:11:34,478 His factory is now rolling out a new bomber every hour. 1185 01:11:37,689 --> 01:11:41,777 B‐24s leave Willow Run by the thousands, 1186 01:11:41,860 --> 01:11:44,905 heading directly for Europe to take part 1187 01:11:45,030 --> 01:11:49,993 in the biggest invasion the world has ever seen, D‐Day. 1188 01:11:56,875 --> 01:11:58,919 (radio static) 1189 01:11:59,044 --> 01:12:00,337 ‐ [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, 1190 01:12:00,462 --> 01:12:02,631 The President of the United States. 1191 01:12:03,882 --> 01:12:06,844 ‐ [FDR] My fellow Americans last night, 1192 01:12:06,969 --> 01:12:11,890 when I spoke with you I knew at that moment, 1193 01:12:12,808 --> 01:12:14,601 the troops of the United States 1194 01:12:14,726 --> 01:12:17,521 and our allies were crossing the channel. 1195 01:12:18,397 --> 01:12:20,148 In this poignant hour, 1196 01:12:21,942 --> 01:12:25,487 I asked you to join with me in prayer. 1197 01:12:28,282 --> 01:12:31,159 (tense music playing) 1198 01:12:31,285 --> 01:12:36,623 Our Mighty God, our son's pride of our Nation, 1199 01:12:37,833 --> 01:12:41,044 this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, 1200 01:12:42,045 --> 01:12:44,506 a struggle to preserve our republic, 1201 01:12:45,465 --> 01:12:48,218 our religion, and our civilization, 1202 01:12:50,012 --> 01:12:52,931 and to set free a suffering humanity. 1203 01:13:11,825 --> 01:13:15,203 (plane engine roaring) 1204 01:13:17,372 --> 01:13:20,083 (bomb exploding) 1205 01:13:23,378 --> 01:13:27,758 ‐ Allied invasion of Europe D‐Day as they call it, 1206 01:13:27,841 --> 01:13:31,094 was the biggest amphibious operation in history. 1207 01:13:32,179 --> 01:13:36,350 5,000 ships, thousands and thousands of men 1208 01:13:36,433 --> 01:13:41,605 from landing craft and then the paratroopers then bombers. 1209 01:13:42,189 --> 01:13:44,816 Logistics, that it's hard to describe. 1210 01:13:49,529 --> 01:13:52,324 But then you bring it down to the soldier. 1211 01:13:52,407 --> 01:13:54,034 (bomb explodes) 1212 01:13:54,159 --> 01:13:56,828 The people landing on any of the beaches 1213 01:13:56,954 --> 01:13:58,538 in the first waves that morning 1214 01:13:58,664 --> 01:14:02,167 we're going into this incredibly difficult fight. 1215 01:14:02,250 --> 01:14:06,004 (gunshots and bombs blaring) 1216 01:14:10,884 --> 01:14:11,885 (bright soft music playing) 1217 01:14:11,969 --> 01:14:13,971 ‐ [Narrator] The invasion succeeds. 1218 01:14:14,054 --> 01:14:18,475 Thanks in part to Kaiser's Ships, Chrysler's tanks 1219 01:14:18,558 --> 01:14:22,020 Ford's bombers, and du Pont's firepower. 1220 01:14:23,689 --> 01:14:28,068 The allies have a small toehold into Hitler's Europe, 1221 01:14:28,193 --> 01:14:29,111 (tense music) 1222 01:14:29,194 --> 01:14:32,531 which allows a vast unbroken supply line 1223 01:14:32,656 --> 01:14:35,951 between American Factories and the Front. 1224 01:14:36,034 --> 01:14:38,912 ‐ The war really did ultimately become 1225 01:14:38,996 --> 01:14:41,081 a contest of mass production. 1226 01:14:41,206 --> 01:14:44,793 The speed with which each side can build tanks, 1227 01:14:44,876 --> 01:14:46,920 airplanes and hurl them into war. 1228 01:14:50,674 --> 01:14:54,219 ‐ We were very slow to be mechanized. 1229 01:14:54,344 --> 01:14:57,055 And then we exploded. 1230 01:14:58,015 --> 01:14:59,349 There was no one who could make more 1231 01:14:59,474 --> 01:15:01,893 planes and ships than we could. 1232 01:15:02,019 --> 01:15:03,270 I mean, it's shocking. 1233 01:15:03,353 --> 01:15:05,647 There was nobody who could beat United States. 1234 01:15:07,899 --> 01:15:09,735 ‐ [Announcer] Today we slogged across the flooded fields 1235 01:15:09,860 --> 01:15:11,903 of France, American, British and Canadian 1236 01:15:12,029 --> 01:15:14,573 in eight weeks came the big breakthrough 1237 01:15:14,656 --> 01:15:17,034 and suddenly Paris was free. 1238 01:15:17,159 --> 01:15:19,327 Six great allied armies pushed the 1239 01:15:19,453 --> 01:15:21,872 Western Front into Germany itself. 1240 01:15:21,997 --> 01:15:25,208 Against fanatical resistance, we reached the River Rhine. 1241 01:15:27,836 --> 01:15:29,671 ‐ [Announcer] And to the east Moscow radio 1242 01:15:29,755 --> 01:15:31,006 tonight three Savage fighting‐ 1243 01:15:31,089 --> 01:15:33,050 ‐ [Narrator] Despite the good news from Europe, 1244 01:15:33,175 --> 01:15:35,844 a stunning loss is felt at home. 1245 01:15:36,887 --> 01:15:37,929 ‐ [Announcer] The one good heave all 1246 01:15:38,055 --> 01:15:39,848 together to end the war in Europe. 1247 01:15:41,141 --> 01:15:44,978 We take you now to NBC in warm Springs, Georgia. 1248 01:15:46,229 --> 01:15:47,272 ‐ [Announcer] Late this afternoon, 1249 01:15:47,355 --> 01:15:48,982 the representatives of the press and radio 1250 01:15:49,024 --> 01:15:51,485 were called in and given the shocking news 1251 01:15:51,610 --> 01:15:54,237 of the president's passing at 3:35 PM. 1252 01:15:55,489 --> 01:15:58,784 Mr. Roosevelt is said died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage. 1253 01:15:58,867 --> 01:16:00,994 Mr. Roosevelt while Warm Springs was to go 1254 01:16:01,078 --> 01:16:03,121 on all American radio networks tomorrow night 1255 01:16:03,205 --> 01:16:05,874 at about 9:50 PM, Eastern wartime, 1256 01:16:05,999 --> 01:16:08,460 and a special Jefferson day message to the American people. 1257 01:16:08,543 --> 01:16:10,253 (solemn music) 1258 01:16:10,378 --> 01:16:11,797 Warm Springs as the rest 1259 01:16:11,880 --> 01:16:14,633 of the nation is now in deepest mourning. 1260 01:16:14,716 --> 01:16:16,676 They're our greatest friend and benefactor 1261 01:16:16,760 --> 01:16:19,262 has passed from their midst. 1262 01:16:20,972 --> 01:16:22,349 ‐ [Narrator] No matter where they stood 1263 01:16:22,432 --> 01:16:26,853 before the war, Americans stand together now 1264 01:16:26,895 --> 01:16:28,730 in mourning their president. 1265 01:16:31,233 --> 01:16:33,860 ‐ You go back and you look at all these industrialists 1266 01:16:33,985 --> 01:16:34,986 all these great Titans. 1267 01:16:35,070 --> 01:16:36,905 Then you look at FDR, and they hated FDR. 1268 01:16:37,906 --> 01:16:40,826 Yet all those guys ended up getting behind him 1269 01:16:40,909 --> 01:16:43,328 because at the end of the day, 1270 01:16:44,287 --> 01:16:47,707 they were smart enough to know they needed to. 1271 01:16:47,833 --> 01:16:49,584 If I had to use one word to describe FDR 1272 01:16:49,709 --> 01:16:50,836 I would say, savior. 1273 01:16:50,919 --> 01:16:52,003 I mean, he really saved our country 1274 01:16:52,087 --> 01:16:53,839 and brought the pieces together. 1275 01:16:53,964 --> 01:16:55,423 He was the man for the moment 1276 01:16:57,759 --> 01:17:02,973 (plane engine roaring) (tense music playing) 1277 01:17:03,890 --> 01:17:06,351 ‐ [Narrator] America presses on without FDR. 1278 01:17:09,187 --> 01:17:13,775 And just two weeks later, Hitler realizes he's lost. 1279 01:17:18,446 --> 01:17:23,577 On April 30th, 1945, Adolf Hitler commits suicide 1280 01:17:23,702 --> 01:17:25,078 in his Berlin bunker. 1281 01:17:26,872 --> 01:17:30,333 Allied troops soon discover the full horror 1282 01:17:30,417 --> 01:17:32,794 of Hitler's reign. 1283 01:17:35,463 --> 01:17:37,465 Death camps. 1284 01:17:39,301 --> 01:17:42,971 Where the Nazis mass murdered 11 million people 1285 01:17:43,638 --> 01:17:46,183 6 million are Jewish. 1286 01:17:46,308 --> 01:17:49,895 ‐ Anybody alive in the 1930s started hearing 1287 01:17:49,978 --> 01:17:51,897 about Hitler's antisemitism. 1288 01:17:51,980 --> 01:17:54,941 And then they heard about the round‐up of Jews. 1289 01:17:55,901 --> 01:17:57,903 The world didn't know quite how bad it was 1290 01:17:57,986 --> 01:18:00,822 till we really got the visual evidence 1291 01:18:02,407 --> 01:18:06,244 ‐ [Narrator] On May 7th, Germany surrenders unconditionally. 1292 01:18:07,996 --> 01:18:10,790 And the war in Europe is over. 1293 01:18:10,874 --> 01:18:16,129 (crowd cheering) (serene music) 1294 01:18:24,638 --> 01:18:26,264 ‐ VE day is amazing. 1295 01:18:27,390 --> 01:18:32,562 Everybody's parties, screams, kisses, hugs. 1296 01:18:34,439 --> 01:18:36,858 It was just the euphoria, 1297 01:18:38,985 --> 01:18:41,404 the idea that Europe had been liberated. 1298 01:18:44,658 --> 01:18:46,534 That Hitler had fallen. 1299 01:18:50,163 --> 01:18:52,415 This meant everything to people. 1300 01:18:53,166 --> 01:18:54,334 ‐ [Announcer] Victory in Europe brought 1301 01:18:54,417 --> 01:18:56,086 wild rejoicing throughout the allied world, 1302 01:18:56,169 --> 01:18:59,297 as the Big‐three announced the downfall of Nazi Germany. 1303 01:18:59,381 --> 01:19:02,008 New York celebration is typical of the Nation of joy. 1304 01:19:02,092 --> 01:19:04,678 At the end of nearly six years of war in Europe. 1305 01:19:04,761 --> 01:19:06,179 It's a great day. 1306 01:19:06,263 --> 01:19:09,307 As a thankful people let loose their pent up emotion. 1307 01:19:10,225 --> 01:19:12,018 ‐ For Americans this was great. 1308 01:19:12,060 --> 01:19:15,897 The mission accomplished in Europe 1309 01:19:16,690 --> 01:19:18,275 but that was only halfway there. 1310 01:19:19,484 --> 01:19:21,069 Japan was still fighting. 1311 01:19:21,194 --> 01:19:24,364 And so many of the units that fought in Europe 1312 01:19:24,489 --> 01:19:26,992 were then brought back to the United States 1313 01:19:27,033 --> 01:19:29,577 and put on trains to the Pacific coast 1314 01:19:30,745 --> 01:19:31,830 and they would head out and prepare 1315 01:19:31,913 --> 01:19:33,123 for the invasion of Japan. 1316 01:19:33,206 --> 01:19:35,667 (tense upbeat music) 1317 01:19:35,750 --> 01:19:38,837 ‐ [Narrator] The Titans know they cannot rest. 1318 01:19:38,920 --> 01:19:39,754 Kaiser, 1319 01:19:39,879 --> 01:19:40,964 Ford, 1320 01:19:41,047 --> 01:19:43,883 and du Pont's efforts, 1321 01:19:43,967 --> 01:19:46,636 now turn squarely on defeating Japan. 1322 01:19:47,846 --> 01:19:50,098 A task they and the entire country 1323 01:19:50,223 --> 01:19:52,642 realize will not be easy. 1324 01:20:01,609 --> 01:20:04,612 (tense music) 1325 01:20:04,696 --> 01:20:07,532 ‐ [Narrator] With the war still raging against Japan, 1326 01:20:07,657 --> 01:20:10,410 the DuPont company has secretly built the world's 1327 01:20:10,535 --> 01:20:13,621 first full‐scale nuclear reactor. 1328 01:20:23,590 --> 01:20:26,593 ‐ The DuPont Hanford reactor, was the first reactor 1329 01:20:26,718 --> 01:20:29,679 to be built at that size, at that scale. 1330 01:20:31,806 --> 01:20:33,558 The nuclear reactor was critical 1331 01:20:33,641 --> 01:20:36,436 to the Manhattan Project because they were 1332 01:20:36,519 --> 01:20:38,980 after the production of plutonium, 1333 01:20:39,022 --> 01:20:40,440 the nuclear fuel, right? 1334 01:20:40,523 --> 01:20:42,942 And plutonium is a radioactive element 1335 01:20:43,026 --> 01:20:46,905 that is not present on earth in vast quantities. 1336 01:20:46,988 --> 01:20:48,948 So they needed to generate this material 1337 01:20:49,032 --> 01:20:51,117 to develop a nuclear bomb. 1338 01:20:54,120 --> 01:20:57,957 ‐ [Narrator] The enormous complex requires 50,000 workers. 1339 01:20:58,041 --> 01:21:00,543 (tense music) 1340 01:21:06,216 --> 01:21:07,550 ‐ The DuPont company, of course, 1341 01:21:07,675 --> 01:21:10,720 when they're approached about the Manhattan Project, 1342 01:21:11,888 --> 01:21:14,015 the outcome of this was uncertain. 1343 01:21:14,140 --> 01:21:16,976 The risks were great. 1344 01:21:17,060 --> 01:21:19,187 Nobody knew if this was even possible. 1345 01:21:20,188 --> 01:21:21,648 (bright upbeat music) 1346 01:21:21,689 --> 01:21:24,692 ‐ [Narrator] Now du Pont's reactor is up and running. 1347 01:21:26,403 --> 01:21:28,988 In the morning, he'll send the first shipment 1348 01:21:29,072 --> 01:21:32,450 of enriched plutonium to Los Alamos New Mexico. 1349 01:21:35,370 --> 01:21:37,497 Where Robert Oppenheimer will use it 1350 01:21:37,539 --> 01:21:40,458 to test the world's first atomic bomb. 1351 01:21:45,463 --> 01:21:48,216 (bomb explosion) 1352 01:21:51,970 --> 01:21:54,222 The test is a success. 1353 01:21:55,515 --> 01:21:58,435 Justice du Pont's plutonium and Oppenheimer's bomb 1354 01:21:58,560 --> 01:22:00,770 have unleashed the power of the universe. 1355 01:22:00,895 --> 01:22:02,939 (tense music playing) 1356 01:22:03,022 --> 01:22:05,525 The new president, Harry S Truman 1357 01:22:05,650 --> 01:22:09,946 is finalizing plans to defeat Japan and end the war. 1358 01:22:10,029 --> 01:22:11,698 ‐ Much remains to be done. 1359 01:22:11,823 --> 01:22:14,367 The power of our people to defend themselves, 1360 01:22:15,285 --> 01:22:18,163 against all enemies will be proved 1361 01:22:18,204 --> 01:22:22,167 in the Pacific war, as it was proved in Europe. 1362 01:22:22,208 --> 01:22:24,043 (solders stomping) 1363 01:22:24,169 --> 01:22:25,920 ‐ American leaders were thinking about 1364 01:22:26,045 --> 01:22:28,047 the invasion of Japan. 1365 01:22:28,173 --> 01:22:30,341 They were thinking that they might take 1366 01:22:30,425 --> 01:22:33,678 a hundred thousand or even a million casualties 1367 01:22:33,761 --> 01:22:37,390 killed and wounded to try to subjugate all of Japan. 1368 01:22:38,391 --> 01:22:40,935 ‐ Having experienced the earlier casualties 1369 01:22:41,060 --> 01:22:42,437 in the island hopping campaign 1370 01:22:42,520 --> 01:22:45,148 knowing that the Japanese soldiers 1371 01:22:45,231 --> 01:22:48,109 and aviators are going to fight to the death. 1372 01:22:49,694 --> 01:22:52,363 All of this is weighing on Truman. 1373 01:22:54,073 --> 01:22:56,117 ‐ Franklin Roosevelt never informed Truman 1374 01:22:56,201 --> 01:22:58,995 about the Manhattan Project. 1375 01:22:59,120 --> 01:23:01,331 So he was quite stunned to find out 1376 01:23:01,414 --> 01:23:03,458 that we had this atomic bomb program 1377 01:23:03,541 --> 01:23:07,212 and the last one had been tested in New Mexico and it worked. 1378 01:23:07,295 --> 01:23:10,256 And now this became the secret weapon. 1379 01:23:10,381 --> 01:23:11,633 (plane engines rumbling) 1380 01:23:11,716 --> 01:23:14,177 ‐ [Narrator] And to carry this weapon, America has a new 1381 01:23:14,260 --> 01:23:18,181 Ultra‐Long Range Bomber able to reach Japan. 1382 01:23:18,264 --> 01:23:21,309 The Boeing B‐29 superfortress. 1383 01:23:23,102 --> 01:23:25,855 William Boeing has come out of retirement 1384 01:23:25,897 --> 01:23:27,398 to help design and build it. 1385 01:23:30,860 --> 01:23:32,654 ‐ This was on a new scale. 1386 01:23:32,695 --> 01:23:36,074 We had this weapon that could change history forever. 1387 01:23:36,199 --> 01:23:37,575 And president Truman had to go 1388 01:23:37,700 --> 01:23:39,827 through that decision‐making process. 1389 01:23:42,080 --> 01:23:43,623 There was a moral part to it. (solemn music) 1390 01:23:43,706 --> 01:23:47,168 Nobody quite knew what the atomic weapon would do. 1391 01:23:48,378 --> 01:23:51,381 ‐ The gambit of Truman was to save American lives. 1392 01:23:51,464 --> 01:23:54,342 So he wanted to show Japan that we've got this weapon 1393 01:23:54,467 --> 01:23:55,843 and we're willing to use it in. 1394 01:23:55,885 --> 01:23:59,472 And Japan didn't know how many of these bombs we have. 1395 01:24:01,558 --> 01:24:03,476 ‐ There are only two of them however. 1396 01:24:03,560 --> 01:24:06,688 And you don't necessarily want to have a test run 1397 01:24:06,813 --> 01:24:08,856 if you're not sure it's going to work. 1398 01:24:11,859 --> 01:24:16,406 He ultimately makes that very, very difficult decision 1399 01:24:16,531 --> 01:24:21,494 to use the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 1400 01:24:22,745 --> 01:24:25,873 (solemn music playing) 1401 01:24:34,048 --> 01:24:36,926 (telephone rings) 1402 01:24:39,554 --> 01:24:40,388 ‐ Yes. 1403 01:24:44,726 --> 01:24:45,518 I see. 1404 01:24:47,937 --> 01:24:48,813 Thank you. 1405 01:25:00,908 --> 01:25:03,661 (sighs heavily) 1406 01:25:19,177 --> 01:25:21,596 ‐ [Narrator] The war is over. 1407 01:25:21,721 --> 01:25:24,932 Bringing an end to the deadliest conflict in human history. 1408 01:25:25,058 --> 01:25:27,977 (bright soft music) 1409 01:25:30,605 --> 01:25:34,817 ‐ We about Normandy, we talk about Iwo Jima and Okinawa, 1410 01:25:36,527 --> 01:25:39,113 the war was also won inside the 1411 01:25:39,197 --> 01:25:41,949 United States by factories and industry. 1412 01:25:42,033 --> 01:25:44,827 (bright music playing) 1413 01:25:47,497 --> 01:25:50,375 So in the end World War II was a triumph 1414 01:25:50,500 --> 01:25:55,254 of Ford and Kaiser, Boeing and du Pont 1415 01:25:55,380 --> 01:25:58,841 as well as FDR and the Soldiers of Democracy. 1416 01:26:00,218 --> 01:26:04,138 (orchestral music playing) 1417 01:26:04,222 --> 01:26:08,017 ‐ Ford shutdown Bomber production in 1945 1418 01:26:08,142 --> 01:26:09,894 and never built an airplane again. 1419 01:26:10,937 --> 01:26:14,982 The giant Willow Run Factory was put up for sale 1420 01:26:15,108 --> 01:26:17,318 and bought by Henry Kaiser. 1421 01:26:20,530 --> 01:26:22,907 Kaiser close to Shipyards, to once again 1422 01:26:23,032 --> 01:26:27,453 jump into something he'd never done before, cars. 1423 01:26:30,415 --> 01:26:33,960 William Boeing returned to retirement after the war. 1424 01:26:34,043 --> 01:26:36,254 Today his company's planes carry 1425 01:26:36,337 --> 01:26:39,340 over 2 billion passengers each year. 1426 01:26:41,384 --> 01:26:42,468 (bright music playing) 1427 01:26:42,552 --> 01:26:44,762 du Pont vowed to get out of nuclear weapons, 1428 01:26:44,887 --> 01:26:47,140 and gave all the patents to the government. 1429 01:26:47,890 --> 01:26:51,477 But during the cold war, du Pont was called on once again 1430 01:26:51,561 --> 01:26:55,314 and helped build the world's first hydrogen bomb. 1431 01:26:55,356 --> 01:26:58,484 (orchestral music) 1432 01:26:58,609 --> 01:27:01,821 ‐ Before the war, the country was politically divided 1433 01:27:01,904 --> 01:27:05,158 economically divided mired in depression, 1434 01:27:05,283 --> 01:27:07,994 the industrialist loathed the president. 1435 01:27:08,077 --> 01:27:09,328 And yet when the war came, 1436 01:27:09,454 --> 01:27:11,998 all of these people came together, work together, 1437 01:27:12,123 --> 01:27:15,668 and won the biggest war in the history of mankind. 1438 01:27:18,421 --> 01:27:20,673 ‐ It's a great lesson. 1439 01:27:20,757 --> 01:27:23,885 These fierce competitors are now United 1440 01:27:24,010 --> 01:27:26,429 in order to try to achieve a common goal. 1441 01:27:28,890 --> 01:27:30,057 ‐ So, why is that? 1442 01:27:30,183 --> 01:27:33,227 Is it that we're all basically common good underneath it, 1443 01:27:33,352 --> 01:27:34,771 we can work for a greater cause? 1444 01:27:34,896 --> 01:27:37,982 Or were they necessarily inherently great Patriots? 1445 01:27:38,065 --> 01:27:38,983 I don't know. 1446 01:27:39,025 --> 01:27:40,902 But what I do know is I believe in the 1447 01:27:41,027 --> 01:27:43,446 goodness of people and I believe that 1448 01:27:43,529 --> 01:27:46,157 it found the best in them and they were able 1449 01:27:46,282 --> 01:27:47,950 to put their competition aside. 1450 01:27:49,744 --> 01:27:51,746 ‐ If we're not coming together to do all 1451 01:27:51,871 --> 01:27:54,540 those things that we needed to do to win, 1452 01:27:56,083 --> 01:27:57,543 how would we define ourselves? 1453 01:27:57,668 --> 01:28:00,379 What would the name of this country be? 1454 01:28:00,505 --> 01:28:02,840 Would it be the United States of America? 1455 01:28:03,633 --> 01:28:06,719 We come together during our greatest times of need 1456 01:28:07,887 --> 01:28:10,848 and that's when amazing things happen.