Hidden Histories of WWII — Season 1, Episode 2: Who Betrayed Jean Moulin?
60 min • 1 season, 4 episodes
Episode synopsis
Lyon, France, 1943. In an unassuming house in a quiet street, factional leaders of the French Resistance arranged to meet in secret, in a room above a doctor’s surgery. Ten minutes after the meeting had started, the Gestapo stormed the building and rounded up everybody inside. They did not know it immediately, but the Germans had caught the biggest fish of them all: Jean Moulin, the leader of the Resistance. He is eventually given up, and brutally tortured to death. James Holland is on the ground with historian, Clare Mulley, where they follow the trail of Moulin’s activity leading up to his arrest, imprisonment, and ultimate demise. They visit key sites such as the doctor’s house, Mont Luc prison, and the Traboules; a network of secret passageways used by resistors to avoid detection. It is likely more than luck that the Gestapo were able to catch so many resistance leaders in a single swoop.
About Hidden Histories of WWII
Renowned historian and acclaimed broadcaster, James Holland, takes a deep dive into key events from the Second World War, bringing incredible stories to life for a new generation, and offering new research and analysis to enhance our understanding of the most consequential war of the 20th Century. In each episode, Holland teams up with an expert companion to explore iconic battlegrounds and machinery, reawakening history's echoes. Witness Jean Moulin's collapse in Lyon's shadows; feel the ground shake in Rauray's epic tank clash; trace the gruelling road to Rome via Monte Cassino's monumental battle; and chase the legendary P-51 Mustang, paired with an astounding 30-1 combat saga. On location, we gain insight into the unfolding of each narrative as Holland analyses each event alongside his partner, illustrated with archive and documents.