Ep 3. A Deadly Calling: November 1943 - June 1944

The War: A Ken Burns Film is a documentary series that explores World War II through the perspective of everyday Americans who lived through it. Season 1 episode 3, titled "A Deadly Calling: November 1943 - June 1944," examines a pivotal period in the war when the Allies began to gain momentum and turn the tide against the Axis powers.

The episode opens with the Allies' successful invasion of Italy in November 1943, which was the first step in their plan to open up a second front against Germany. However, the victory was short-lived as the Germans put up fierce resistance and the Allies found themselves bogged down in a prolonged and bloody campaign. Viewers see firsthand the grueling conditions that soldiers faced as they fought their way through Italy's mountainous terrain, facing not only enemy fire but also harsh weather conditions and disease.

The focus then shifts to the Pacific theater, where American servicemen are engaged in brutal island-hopping battles against Japanese forces. The episode explores the psychological toll of war on these soldiers, as they confront the reality of killing and being killed in a seemingly endless cycle of violence. Viewers see the devastating impact of the Battle of Tarawa, which claimed the lives of more than 1,000 Americans in just three days.

Back in Europe, the Allies are planning their next major offensive: the invasion of Normandy. Viewers get a sense of the enormous logistical challenges involved in this operation, including the need to build an entirely new port in just a matter of months. The episode also highlights the critical role played by intelligence gathering, as Allied spies and codebreakers worked tirelessly to uncover German weaknesses and feed crucial information to military leaders.

As D-Day approaches, tensions run high among the troops and their leaders. Viewers see the preparations for the massive invasion, including the training of paratroopers and the deployment of hundreds of thousands of men and machines across the English Channel. The episode builds to a gripping climax as the invasion gets underway, with soldiers fighting for their lives on the beaches of Normandy and in the French countryside.

Throughout "A Deadly Calling," viewers are reminded of the human cost of war, both for the soldiers on the front lines and for the civilians caught in the crossfire. We see heartbreaking scenes of families mourning their loved ones, and soldiers struggling to come to terms with the violence they have witnessed and perpetrated. Despite the hardships and horrors of war, however, the episode also reveals moments of courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice that give hope for a brighter future.

Overall, "A Deadly Calling" is a powerful and poignant episode that sheds light on a critical period in WWII history. Through powerful archival footage, expert commentary, and firsthand accounts from those who lived through the war, it brings to life the experiences of soldiers and civilians alike, and reminds us that the true cost of war cannot be measured in dollars or body counts.