Before Normandy and D-Day, there was fear, fascism, and a world unraveling. In this episode, we trace the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe and Asia, the blitzkrieg that stunned the West, and the slow but steady shift in American sentiment—from isolationism to war. We spotlight FDR’s strategy, Pearl Harbor, women on the front lines of industry, and the dark legacy of Japanese internment. A gripping prelude to the storm ahead.