A Must See for WWII history students
359371
Great Series - truthfully depicts the realities of war - cast did a fantastic job. Highly recommend.
4070267
These two documentaries are a pictorial record of the WWII European and Pacific theaters, with footage that will astound anyone interested in history.
"The World at War" states "nothing has been staged, everything is authentic", and goes back to the roots of WWII, from the Japanese in China, Mussolini in Ethiopia, German involvement in Spain, and Hitler in Munich.
There is President Roosevelt  with his "a day that will live in infamy" speech to Congress, but mostly, it has film captured from the enemy, with amazing footage taken from Luftwaffe bombing flights, and the rapid invasion of country after country by Hitler leaving devastation in its wake; it also has a segment of the Soviet army, but what this film really makes one realize, is that if the US had not joined and lost so many of its finest for freedom, the world would have turned into a horror. Total running time is 44 minutes.

"Appointment in Tokyo" is unforgettable. This is a "must see" documentary for everyone but children and the squeamish, as it shows much of the carnage of battle very close-up, in the jungle as well as in the city of Manila.
Very well written (though not politically correct), there is a gripping intensity to this film, and the footage of the young men who fought so bravely is extremely moving.
The incredible scene of the signing of the surrender of Japan on the USS Missouri is shown, with Gen. Douglas MacArthur looking and sounding like a god, as he says "a free people had come to triumph over the lords of war".
Total running time is 55 minutes.
The sound is a little "old" as one would expect for these films, though "Appointment in Tokyo" has a rousing soundtrack.
DVD extras include a very brief film reel of women and children in Nazi concentration camps.
God bless the brave souls who went through this hell for our freedom.
2121083
If you're a history buff (or not) - -  this is a great documentary to view.  I used to show it to my drafting students on the high school level on a 16 mm projector.
2697620
One of the best documentaries ever made.  Gives an up close and personal feeling for what life was like in Nazi-occupied France.  Excellent admonitory lesson for America's youth regarding how a fascist state builds its foundations in supposedly foreign soil. I highly recommend it to teachers who can spare four hours of class time or have an extracurricular film studies club.
595931
Project Twenty: Not So Long Ago, narrated by Bob Hope, takes an excellent, informative look at the five years of peace between the end of World War Two and the beginning of the war in Korea. The film moves along very well and packs in a lot without ever feeling rushed; I like that! The quality of the footage is excellent and the musical score enhances the documentary.

Although this film runs less than one hour there's so much covered here that I scarcely know where to begin. We see war planes being told to cease fire and turn around at the end of the Second World War in mid-August, 1945; and there's great footage about how these planes were broken down or sometimes melted down to make things like new cars which gradually became more and more available just as food rationing cards faded away. There's still more coverage of the Red Scare including its effect on Hollywood stars; we see motion picture stars flying into Washington, D.C. to take sides before The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) when a young Congressman named Richard Nixon was just becoming known.

In addition, there is footage of the economic upswing thanks partly to the G.I. Bill and so many young people wanting to start their own family with a home and kids. There was a big housing shortage at the end of World War Two; builders raced to produce new homes and this helped the economy quite a bit. Other highlights include the development of television; the country's fascination with "flying saucers" and how so many political analysts were absolutely confident that Dewey would beat Truman in the presidential race of 1948.

It may seem as if I've given it all away; but I assure you that I haven't. There's still more here!

Overall, Project XX: Not So Long Ago is great viewing for anyone studying American history in the mid-20th century; it's very nostalgic as well. I highly recommend this documentary.
1233383
I am an amateur historian and this is one of the best documentaries made on the Nazi's Final Solution.  You know exactly what the German cameraman were told to do and why.  The outtakes are priceless.  If you are interested in this period of history, this film is a must see.
4371979
Quite possibly the best footage created of WWII re-enactments.  The documentary style openings lend a feeling of connection to the characters that you will find in no other movie, including "Saving Private Ryan".  Also the extra material that comes with the DVD's is extremely informative in a simple intuitive timeline menu.  Highly recommended for anyone interested in WWII history.
4590925
I've been a military history buff all my life and I own dozens of documentaries, and this one has the best combat footage from WW2 (at least from the American point-of-view). The footage was all shot by U.S. combat cameramen who risked their lives (and gave their lives) so that we could have a permanent record of what our brave soldiers experienced during the war. From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima, from the invasion of Italy to the concentration camps in Germany, this unflinching documentary has amazing footage of some of the war's bloodiest battles. Some of the footage is well-known, taken from award-winning documentaries by John Ford and John Huston. But a lot of the footage I had never seen before. The most shocking footage comes from the brutal "island-hopping" battles in the Pacific, where cameramen recorded Japanese soldiers being burned out of caves, or shot while trying to flee the U.S. Marines. You can read about these bloody battles for years, but seeing the footage makes it clear just how chaotic and bloody the battles were. For any history buffs this documentary is a must!
3628426
I watched this quite awhile ago alone. I am a war veteran. I started watching this with my 11 year old son as we are homechooling and studying about WWII. It is a great insight into that period and what people thought and acted and makes WWII come to life for him. A good time for bonding as well.
2245016
This movie should be watched by anyone wishing to learn what combat on the Eastern front was like. The battle scenes are extremely well done and accurate, and this is years before Saving Private Ryan. The movie focuses on the German side of the battle, so the horrible conditions also experienced by the Soviet army are not portrayed much, which if this movie has a major failing is its only major failing. It would have been even more amazing had the film focused on both sides of the battle.
In addition to the superb battle scenes, the movie also takes on the horrible war crimes comitted by the German army such as shooting civilians and looting and burning their homes. The fact that it is a German film makes this accurate portrayal even more important.
The anti-war moralizing scenes also at times grow weary. In reality, the vast majority of historical studies, such as those done by Omer Bartov, suggest most German soldiers on the Eastern front believed in their Nazi inspired cause and used as much propaganda as they could to reinforce this belief throughout the war. Most German soldiers on the Eastern front were not like the fictional ones portrayed in this movie and knew their cause was worthless.
3271782
Well done!!  This made-for-HBO documentary of Easy Company's trek across Europe - starting at D-Day and fighting off Nazi attacks and counter-attacks allows a peek into the common and extraordinary soldiers of WW2.  The plots mirror those of the real-life heroes of our greatest generation and the character plots are brilliantly crafted.  This is a must see!!
3070545
One of the very best mini-series that I've ever watched.  I especially enjoyed seeing the actual soldiers that the actors were were playing and hearing their own explanations and narratives and hearing how they remembered this part of their life and associations with their comrades in this fantastic depiction of our heroes during this historic world wide war.  Let no one ever forget how much that these men men and women sacrificed for the entire planet.  Breathtaking views of locations, fantastic story, superb acting, and all of the extra added touches make this an absolute MUST see for all young or old.
4709745
I think this movie series should be required viewing in history classes for students at the age of 13. Children of the current generation don't know, don't understand, and don't care what happened in history prior to their entitlement years. They need to understand at what price that "entitlement" cost many Americans. This movie doesn't sugar coat anything about WW II, it shows the war in graphic detail. From the opening scenes it welcomes you in and then holds on to you until the finale. The movie is a five star production.
168542
If you're a WW II buff and enjoy different points of view, this is a good one to watch.  It demonstrates the history that the average German soldier was more than an unknowing participant in the horrors of the Nazi regime. The facts are presented, viewpoints expressed and you are free to make an informed decision what history actually shows.
1736223
I teach multiple sections of and honors level history of Holocaust high school class and this movie is essential to helping my students understand the ghettos and helps introduce my unit on rescuers. Outstanding performances.
801883
This movie was an excellent recreation of the events that took place days leading up to Hitler's end and VE day.
The acting was flawless.  There were no excessive exagerations, just superbe performances by the actors portraying the most evil men in history.
The actor who played Goebells was spot on, physically and the way he captured his vile personality.
Bruno Ganz did a superb performance as the doomed dictator. Capturing his typical rages to his distance from reality.
You saw the grity reality of the war's impact on those trapped in Berlin before the Russians entered.
The innocent and the fanatical.
I STRONGLY recommend this movie to WWII history buffs and those interested in one of the darkest and most fascinating chapters in human history.
3689716
This is an extraordinary film, a must see for anyone who wants to know what World War II in Europe was like.  The film was shot by John Houston's Signal Corps unit.  When the powers that be in the Army saw the film, they  moved to prevent its release.  It was just to vivid in showing what the war  in Italy was like.  And of course, it was completely different than the war  movies Hollywood was churning out.  So the story goes, Houston appealed to  Gen. Geo. Marshall, who ordered it released.  The film covers one battle in  Italy.  All elements are covered, from planning to fighting.  There is none  of the Huns-on-the-run-how-chased-the-Germans-away mentality of many war  movies.  It is a documentary in the finest sense. This shows the gritty  details of war, including the only scenes I have ever seen of the stacking  of dead GIs on to trucks, sewing them into shrouds and burying them, right  on the battlefield.  Houston had his cameramen right up at the front with  the GIs as they advanced.  Houston also shows the battle's effect on the  village of San Pietro.  All through the film, Houston's brilliance as a  director comes out.  While I have not seen the particular video offered  here, if it is the standard version you won't want to miss it.