The DKM Bismarck was a ship rumored to be unsinkable, but its downfall remains a mystery. Was it the British or the crew themselves who caused its demise? Our team set out to solve this enigma. With the help of Discovery Channel as our sponsor, we embarked on a challenging expedition. We documented our findings in a groundbreaking film, shot at a depth of 16,000 feet with advanced ROV technologies and a unique HD, 3D camera system. The journey to uncover the truth was anything but easy. But it led to a fascinating story that captivates to this day.
The Bismarck is One of the Greatest Mysteries of WWII
During World War II, a mighty German ship struck fear in the hearts of all who opposed it. Its power was so great that it took down the pride of the British fleet with just one shot. The news of this ship’s prowess was so alarming that Winston Churchill was forced to send out the entire Royal Navy to take it down. But little is known about what actually happened to this infamous vessel. Was it destroyed in battle or was it purposely scuttled?
Making the Documentary
We were determined to find the truth. Joining us on this dangerous mission were explorers, historians, and even Bismarck survivors. Making a film about how the Bismarck was sunk was no easy feat. It required diving 16,000 feet underwater (3 miles) and using pioneering bot technologies and an unparalleled HD, 3D camera system (which was the only one in the world at the time). But despite the challenges, the documentary was one of the best we created.
And part of the reason for its success was the incredible archival footage discovered by one of the team members (hint: it wasn’t an easy task). 40% of the film was archival footage, nearly half!
The documentary even went on to receive five Emmy nominations and one win. But even without the accolades, Discovery Channel recognized the fantastic work put into the archival research. It’s not every day that someone gets called the best and most thorough researcher the channel has ever seen.
Historical Footage
We had a large crew for the expedition footage. The archival footage mission (40% of the film) had a crew of one.
Me.
For days on end, I lost myself in the vast world of the National Archives in Washington DC. My eyes barely left the screen as I scanned through reel after reel of dusty and unmarked films, all bearing the ominous War Dept WWW II markings. It was a daunting task, trying to find something specific amongst endless hours of seized war footage. Unlike what you might expect at the National Archives, not everything is labeled. Some film canisters hadn’t been opened in decades. But then, like a glimmer of hope, I stumbled upon an unmarked reel with something truly remarkable hidden inside. It was a propaganda film about Hitler Youth, and it showed the young boys carrying a replica of the Bismarck on their shoulders. I couldn’t believe my eyes!
I dove even deeper, researching 15-inch guns and their ballistics tests at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Virginia. My search even led me to the Imperial War Museum in the UK, the Bundesarchiv in Germany, and even the Moscow Archives. Each discovery was like a puzzle piece, slowly fitting together to form a bigger picture that I couldn’t wait to uncover. In the end, 224 archival shots were used out of the many I found. It made up nearly half of the film.
In Conclusion
After months of research and investigation, the team was successful in uncovering information about the demise of DKM Bismarck. By utilizing advanced bot technology and 3D HD cameras and by enlisting help from seasoned explorers, historians, and even Bismarck survivors, Discovery Channel brought such a mysterious event to life in an exciting way. The archival research involved in the project was deemed a magical feat as it made up 40% of the documentary.
In conclusion, we can say that unwrapping this WWII mystery through miles of cold deep sea water is no small mission. But with a talented and dedicated team at hand, it proved to be possible – unlocking mysteries that had gone undiscovered for years.
No spoilers here. I’m not going to give away what we found. You’ll have to explore that on your own. Here’s the link to the film. James Camerons Expedition Bismarck.
Read more about my adventures for more insight into human curiosity, our ability to ask difficult questions, and our human tenacity to find answers.
