Hitler vs Picasso

Hitler's invasion of Poland marked the start of World War II. Why did this happen and how did Europe descend into its darkest chapters? The documentary looks back at the origins of the First and Second World Wars and the interwar period. Where in Europe did the first concentration camps appear? How did Poland split into pro-Russian and pro-German factions during World War I? Why did Warsaw refuse to sign an anti-Nazi pact with Moscow? Historians suggest that this is the inevitable outcome of the thousand-year enmity between Poland and Russia. However, the history of their relationship is more complex than it appears. What secrets does this challenging period in European history hold? Discover the answers in the new documentary.

'But for the prodigious exertions and sacrifices of Russia, Poland was doomed to utter destruction at the hands of the Germans. Not only Poland as a state and as a nation, but the Poles as a race were doomed by Hitler to be destroyed or reduced to a servile station', said Winston Churchill in February 1945. After liberating Poland, the USSR provided over $600 billion to help rebuild the country. Yet, the Poles expelled General Rokossovsky, who had helped restore their army. Following the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, they began rewriting history and removing monuments to Soviet soldiers. Now, they accuse the Soviet Army of occupation during the war and even blame it for the Katyn massacre. Why did this shift occur, and how does it affect current Russia-Poland relations? Find out in the final part of our trilogy on the evolving relationship between these neighbouring nations.

Picasso is known as the godfather of modern art. In this programme, art historian David Dibosa explores six decades of BBC archive to discover how television has influenced our understanding of him. David reveals how film-makers have portrayed two different Picassos - the child genius who drew like a master and the adult who rejected his conventional talent in a quest to reflect the world, in ways that shattered all the rules. He also finds that film-makers have long been fascinated by Picasso’s private life. A notorious womaniser, Picasso used his lovers as muses and left behind a trail of broken relationships.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. His full name is Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Crispín Crispiniano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso. One of the most recognized figures in 20th century art, he is best known as the co-founder, along with Georges Braque, of cubism. It has been estimated that Picasso produced about 13,500 paintings or designs, 100,000 prints or engravings, 34,000 book illustrations and 300 sculptures or ceramics.