Watch World War II Collection

Name: World War II Collection
Genre: History
Released: 2011-11-07
Cast: Jeremy Llewellyn-Jones

2011
1 Season
8.5 (149)

The World War II Collection is a docu-series produced by History Channel in 2011 that explores various aspects of World War II, one of the largest and most devastating wars in the history of mankind. The series is packed with a wealth of archival footage, rare photographs, and interviews of the people involved or affected by the war, including soldiers, veterans, historians, and survivors.

Over the course of fourteen episodes, which collectively run for over 11 hours, the series covers every aspect of the war, from its origins and the rise of Hitler to the epic battles and the aftermath that shaped the world as we know it today. Each episode focuses on a particular theme or subject, such as the role of women in the war, the impact of the war on the economy and technology, or the strategies and tactics used in different theaters of the war.

The first episode sets the tone for the series by examining the causes and triggers of the war, from the Treaty of Versailles to the invasion of Poland. It also explores the ideologies of the major powers involved, such as fascism, communism, and democracy, and how they clashed with each other. The following episodes delve deeper into the events that shaped the war, such as the Battle of Britain, the invasion of Normandy, and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

One of the unique aspects of the series is its focus on lesser-known or forgotten events and individuals that played a significant role in the war. For example, episode five sheds light on the African theater of the war, where soldiers from various African countries fought for their freedom and independence, often in unfavorable conditions and with little recognition. Similarly, episode seven examines the Navajo Code Talkers, a group of Native American soldiers who used their native language to create an unbreakable code that baffled the enemy.

The series also pays tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the soldiers, civilians, and resistance fighters who fought against overwhelming odds and atrocities. Episode six is devoted to the Holocaust, one of the darkest chapters in human history, and features interviews with survivors and liberators of the concentration camps. Episode ten focuses on the role of women in the war effort, from Rosie the Riveter to the female spies who risked their lives to gather information for the Allies.

The series also takes a critical look at the ethical and moral dilemmas of the war, such as the use of atomic bombs on Japan, the treatment of prisoners of war, and the internment of Japanese Americans in the US. It shows how these decisions were debated, justified, and condemned by different sides and how they continue to resonate today.

Overall, the World War II Collection is a comprehensive and riveting portrayal of one of the defining moments of the 20th century. It offers a wealth of information, perspectives, and insights that will appeal to anyone interested in history, war, or human nature. While the series does not shy away from the brutal and tragic aspects of the war, it also celebrates the human spirit and the triumph of good over evil, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, hope and courage can prevail.

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Seasons

5. The Bielski Brothers

During the darkest hours of World War II, three Russian brothers achieved the impossible: they transformed persecution and violence into an incredible tale of affirmation and survival. While living in the Soviet Republic of Belorussia, brothers Tuvia, Asael and Zus Bielski fled to the woods to escape the Nazis. There they built an elaborate village for rescued Jews, a forest safe haven that included a bakery, communal bath, synagogue, and even a theater company. Although they mounted guerrilla attacks against the enemy, their priority was saving their people, often stating that they'd rather save one old Jewish woman than kill ten Nazis. The Bielskis saved 1,200 men, women, and children easily the largest rescue of Jews by Jews during World War II but until now their story has gone largely untold. HISTORY unveils in The Bielski Brothers this amazing tale of Jewish resistance and through interviews with Bielski Brigade survivors in the United States, Israel, and Great Britain, recognizes three of the greatest heroes of the Holocaust.

4. Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor

America's myth makers don't like to look into defeats for their heroes. The disaster at Pearl Harbor was such a national humiliation that its chroniclers didn't care to remind the home front of its dead and ravaged. And never mind how hard and how well many of them had fought back, mostly unseen and unhonored. This program repays a debt long outstanding. The special shows that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was so overwhelming in its surprise and force that almost every United States soldier, sailor or Marine that rallied himself to resist it made himself part of a doomed and heroic last stand. It describes how badly these unsung heroes were let down by luck, fate and bureaucracy, shining even brighter light on their valor. The gripping special takes the viewer to the actual locations where unsung heroes fought and died, with live blow-by-blow accounts of the tragedy. The viewer visits the ambushed airfields where a whole air force died on the ground, the string of mooring quays still in place holding the ghosts of sunken battleships, the greatest of the American memorials above the annihilated Arizona ... and the forgotten memorial where the Utah and her crew died with honor. The thundering details of the doomed and epic run for the sea of the Nevada, and the horrific entombment and rescue of sailors in the capsized Oklahoma come out of the mouths of the men who lived that terrible day.

3. Third Reich: Third Fall

December 15, 2010

How did the Germans experience the Allied victory in WWII? Rarely-and never-before-seen amateur films recount the catastrophic downfall of the Third Reich through the eyes of the people who lived it: the Germans themselves.

2. Third Reich: The Rise

December 10, 2010

A unique perspective on the rise of Nazi Germany and how millions of people were so vulnerable to fascism, told through rare and never-before-seen amateur films shot by the Germans who were there.

1. WWII: The Air War

November 7, 2011

The untold story of the American 8th Air Force's bloody battle to defeat the German Luftwaffe in the months leading up to D-Day. Told through the gripping, first person accounts of three American airmen and Stars & Stripes reporter Andy Rooney, this special showcases breathtaking aerial combat--original, color footage, never before seen by most Americans--of the B-17s Flying Fortresses, P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs on missions such as Regensburg, Schweinfurt and Berlin. Never-before-seen 8mm footage of the airmen on the bases, the devastation in Germany, and the Luftwaffe perspective is also highlighted. Flying 25,000 feet above the earth in oxygen-devoid air, and temperatures as low as 50 below zero, the 8th Air Force fought a war unlike anything ever before experienced. By the end, they would suffer more than 26,000 combat deaths--more than the US Marines lost in all of World War II. Narrated by EmmyÂ® nominated actor, Rob Lowe.

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