Historians Max Hastings and Onyeka Nubia give context to the veterans' stories and explain the slow German response, with tank units only to be released on Hitler's orders and, on that fateful day, he slept late and no one dared disturb him.

The programme begins with veterans and the family of soldiers involved describe their experiences from midnight until 7.30am, with expert commentary from historians Max Hastings and Onyeka Nubia.