Watch The World Wars

The World Wars, a six-part documentary series from History Channel, takes a deep and comprehensive look into the events that led to the two greatest wars in world history - World War I and World War II. The show features interviews with historians and military experts, as well as dramatic reenactments, to bring to life the key figures and events that shaped the world as we know it today.

Narrated by Jeremy Renner, The World Wars uncovers the complex historical forces that led to the rise of fascism and the clash between Allied and Axis powers. The series follows the lives of key individuals throughout both wars, such as Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Benito Mussolini, and Josef Stalin.

The show explores the military strategy and tactics on both sides of the conflict, the development of new technologies that would change the face of warfare, and the devastating consequences for those families and communities affected by the wars. The audience gets to experience the human cost of these conflicts through accounts from survivors and witnesses.

The first episode, 'Trial By Fire,' provides a fascinating look into the political and social upheaval that preceded World War I. The episode begins with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 and the subsequent aggressive alliances that quickly formed among the European powers. The episode also examines the importance of new technologies such as machine guns, poison gas, and tanks that would turn the war into a brutal and bloody stalemate. Interviews with military experts and historians provide insight into the tactic and strategy of warfare in this period.

The second episode, 'A Rising Threat,' looks at the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany during the interwar period. It explores the economic and political conditions that led to the rise of fascism, and the aggressive territorial expansion of the Nazis that led to the invasion of Poland in 1939. In this episode, we see how the world powers reacted to this aggression, with Britain and France declaring war on Germany, leading to the beginning of World War II.

The third episode, 'Never Surrender,' rewinds back to the fall of France in 1940, and the rise of Winston Churchill as the Prime Minister of Britain. The episode examines the role of strategic decision-making on both sides, with the German Blitzkrieg making significant progress throughout Europe, and the British attempting to stem the tide of the onslaught. The episode highlights Churchill's famous speech that rallied the British people and the Allies against the Nazi threat.

The fourth episode, 'The Price of War,' looks at the US entry into World War II after the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The episode examines the role of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the massive industrial and military mobilization that was required to turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. The episode explores the devastating consequences of the war on civilians, particularly the Holocaust and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The fifth and sixth episodes, 'A New Beginning' and 'The Changing Face of War,' highlight the post-war period, including the Nuremberg Trials, the rebuilding of Europe, the start of the Cold War, and the impact of new technologies that would come to define modern warfare, such as drones and stealth bombers. The episodes delve into the psychological impact of the war on the soldiers and civilians who lived through it.

Overall, The World Wars is a gripping and informative documentary series that gives an in-depth overview of the events that would come to shape the 20th century. With dramatic reenactments, expert interviews, and insightful analysis, the series provides an easy-to-follow narrative of the political, economic, and military forces that led to the destruction and devastation of two World Wars.

The World Wars is a series that is currently running and has 7 seasons (47 episodes). The series first aired on May 26, 2014.