Svoboda | Graniru | BBC Russia | Golosameriki | Facebook

A unique British WW2 evacuation plan

On Friday 1st September 1939, Hitler's Nazi forces invaded Poland. By Sunday morning, Britain had declared war. In Countdown to War, presenter Raksha Dave investigates how ordinary Brits reacted to the three days leading up to the Second World War.

Raksha meets historian Christy Campbell to discuss the 'intense' preparations made by the London Zoo staff, revealing an 'extraordinary document' that details an escape plan for their animal evacuees.

Watch the full documentary on BBC Select

Follow BBC Reel on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube