Silver Spring, MD — From the producers of the popular documentaries Hitler’s Bodyguard and The Century of Warfare and broadcast continually on Discovery’s Military Channel, Weapons Races makes its North American DVD debut from Athena on June 21, 2011. Discover the technology that drives military conflicts – from the muddy battlefields of the First World War to the 21st century’s state-of-the-art fighter planes. This eight-part series offers a complete history of these high-stakes contests with informative expert commentaries by renowned military analysts, archival footage, and illuminating graphics (DVD 3-vol., $59.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

On land, at sea, and in the air, the story of modern warfare is the story of weapons races. This series looks at eight of these high-stakes contests and shows how technological advances have transformed warfare in today’s world.

Follow the weapons races as they pass through the two world wars, Korea and Vietnam, the Cold War, and the various conflicts of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, right up to the 21st century. Trace the stages of each race, from original concept and early breakthroughs to enemy countermeasures and current state of the art. Finally, learn how innovators have pushed the technological limits—of speed, endurance, manoeuvrability, range, accuracy, and firepower—to produce the killing machines of today.

Since 1990, the British team of Philip Nugus and Jonathan Martin has created popular, critically acclaimed historical documentaries, including Hitler’s Bodyguard and The Century of Warfare.

Episode 1: The Race for the Jet Fighter
Episode 2: The Race for the Battle Tank
Episode 3: The Race for Radar and Stealth
Episode 4: The Race for the Nuclear Bomb
Episode 5: The Race for the Strategic Bomber
Episode 6: The Race for the Strategic Ballistic Missile
Episode 7: The Race for the Nuclear Submarine
Episode 8: The Race for the Aircraft Carrier

BONUS FEATURES:

• 16-page viewer’s guide with articles on the Bletchley Park decryption center, the history of dog-fighting, antinuclear movements in Europe, Reagan’s Star Wars program, and the Skunk Works advanced development facility.
• Biographies of notable weapons innovators; plus a timeline and discussion questions at AthenaLearning.com

Athena releases provide an authoritative and entertaining learning experience through high quality, informative, non-fiction programming. Athena’s releases include 20th Century with Mike Wallace: America at War, Genius of Britain, The Making of the President, Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers, Bill Moyers: Language of Life and God & Politics, Cosmos-A Beginners Guide, The Genius of Design, Discovering Hamlet, Playing Shakespeare, The Story of Math, World War I in Color, Testament, and Six Centuries of Verse. Clips are available at www.athenalearning.com. Athena’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.