In the documentary WORLD WAR TWO: 1941 AND THE MAN OF STEEL, professor David Reynolds chronicles Joseph Stalin's humble origins, his ruthless rise to power, and the numerous wartime crises that nearly annihilated his regime. Utilizing visits to Russian battlefields, historical footage, original telegrams and official documents, this two-part film examines the factors that drew Britain and America into an alliance with a murderous dictator and reassesses Stalin's significance to the Allied victory in World War II.