This is a 6 part documentary on WWII, and it is very well done and very watchable.
The star of the series is the digitally restored and colorized footage. Some of it is better than others, but parts of are amazing. Seeing the Wehrmacht in the early stages of Barbarossa in a few clips of this restored footage was nothing I had seen this clearly before. Narration is minimal, and when there is narration, it is done very well. Most of the speaking is done from those who were actually involved.
You rarely see them (but sometimes you do), you just hear their voices. Some of these interviews are decades old, the sound quality had been restored and it sounds new. You hear their stories against restored footage and it holds your attention thoughout.
The first 3 parts were my favorite, before the U.S. involvement begins. All that Eastern Front footage was amazing to see. After the U.S. involvement the focus shifts to North Africa, Italy, and then France, as well as the fighting in the Pacific. I was disappinted the war in the East was barely covered after this, but also understandable, based on the timeline of events.
Also included are stories from noncombatants, civilians being bombed, collaborators, resistance fighters, POW's, kamikaze pilots who survive, and every combatant involved. One German man is interviewed, and you see him in this interview. He speaks of being ordered to shoot a Soviet officer prisoner. He marches him into the woods and says "Do not be afraid, I am not an animal, I am a human being." The Soviet officer thanks him, sticks out his hand and they shake hands, the Russian says "Peace be with you" and turns around to get shot. The old German man shows he is still broken by this.
4.5 stars
The star of the series is the digitally restored and colorized footage. Some of it is better than others, but parts of are amazing. Seeing the Wehrmacht in the early stages of Barbarossa in a few clips of this restored footage was nothing I had seen this clearly before. Narration is minimal, and when there is narration, it is done very well. Most of the speaking is done from those who were actually involved.
You rarely see them (but sometimes you do), you just hear their voices. Some of these interviews are decades old, the sound quality had been restored and it sounds new. You hear their stories against restored footage and it holds your attention thoughout.
The first 3 parts were my favorite, before the U.S. involvement begins. All that Eastern Front footage was amazing to see. After the U.S. involvement the focus shifts to North Africa, Italy, and then France, as well as the fighting in the Pacific. I was disappinted the war in the East was barely covered after this, but also understandable, based on the timeline of events.
Also included are stories from noncombatants, civilians being bombed, collaborators, resistance fighters, POW's, kamikaze pilots who survive, and every combatant involved. One German man is interviewed, and you see him in this interview. He speaks of being ordered to shoot a Soviet officer prisoner. He marches him into the woods and says "Do not be afraid, I am not an animal, I am a human being." The Soviet officer thanks him, sticks out his hand and they shake hands, the Russian says "Peace be with you" and turns around to get shot. The old German man shows he is still broken by this.
4.5 stars
