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ORIGINAL: Warfare1

However, when I read up on it, mention was made that it is biased: ie more attention is placed on British actions vs American ones. So that Patton is never mentioned and that the Pacific war is given short treatment. Is this a fair assessment?

ORIGINAL: Hertston

ORIGINAL: Warfare1

However, when I read up on it, mention was made that it is biased: ie more attention is placed on British actions vs American ones. So that Patton is never mentioned and that the Pacific war is given short treatment. Is this a fair assessment?

With regard to bias I'm tempted to say "that would be a refreshing change". [;)]

I can't remember that much about it, although it is certainly a British produced series and you wouldn't expect under-representation. The war did start a little earlier for the Brits, though! There was a whole episode on Burma, for example, which you wouldn't have got in a US version, but I don't recall the Pacific being given 'short treatment' (the Brits fought the Japanese too, amazingly enough). There were at least a couple of episodes on the Pacific, the Burma one apart, and there was one on the Japan/China war, too.

I don't remember about Patton's inclusion or otherwise, I'm afraid. It would certainly seem a bit odd if he was left out.

ORIGINAL: jamesm

World at War is the best WWII documentary ever made. It gives a balanced view that was and is quite refreshing.

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

The "Battlefield" series is pretty good. As a matter of fact, the Guadalcanal episode can be seen on You Tube: start here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOXHiFi5 ... ed&search=

For Pacific-themed documentaries, I also recommend "Heroes of Iwo Jima", which is included in the Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima box set. This is narrated by Marine vet Gene Hackman, and it gives a full accounting of the two flag raisings on Feb. 23. See http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Flags-Fat ... B000P1XITE

Another I have is "The Bloody Hills of Peleliu", an excellent History Channel documentary which is also available thru Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Our-Century-Blood ... B000E371V4

Another video online is the USMC documentary "With The Marines At Tarawa". See http://www.archive.org/details/WiththeMarinesatTarawa

ORIGINAL: Adam Parker

Hi Warfare 1,

The boxed version is superb value. This is a series that you'll watch over and again.

Professionally made and edited (no King Tigers here breaking across France in 1940), there are 5 full episodes covering the war with Japan alone. Importantly. there's no waffle or repetition used my many latter series to fill time. World at War sets the benchmark till this day just as Ken Burns would later do with the 19th Century.

I'd say the series' strength is its well spread focus across all combatants. There are episodes exploring the war experience and rise of Germany, Britain, USSR, Japan and the USA.

It's focus on the East Front is as gripping as the Desert, the Atalntic, the Bombing Campaign, the West and the Pacific.

Further, the boxed set is chock full of extra documentaries, if that was at all possible.

First time around, I'd recommend watching each episode in order as its wholistic impact is astounding. The series then becomes a comfortable friend for re-watches of areas wishing to be studied. As for the Pacific, it's where I learned the cry "Banzai!".

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

Is this the series that was narrated by Laurence Olivier back in the early 70s? Yeah, it's OK, but subsequent research has made the more recent docs more worthwhile. I have several of those episodes on VHS.

ORIGINAL: Warfare1

Ken Burns is doing a 15 hour series on WWII that will be aired on PBS in September 2007.

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

Is this the series that was narrated by Laurence Olivier back in the early 70s? Yeah, it's OK, but subsequent research has made the more recent docs more worthwhile. I have several of those episodes on VHS.

ORIGINAL: Neilster



... Given that the vast majority of American-made WW2 documentaries are outrageously ethnocentric...

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

ORIGINAL: Neilster



... Given that the vast majority of American-made WW2 documentaries are outrageously ethnocentric...

Here we go with the inevitable American bashing. Thanks, Neilster, you'll undoubtedly succeed in getting this thread locked soon.

BTW, you're welcome for we Yanks keeping the rump of the British Empire alive during the WWII years. [8|]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

The World at War is the only WWII documentary.

Seriously though, it is awesome. I'm trying to think back and remember if there was any bias, and I'm tempted to say there may well have been, from what I can recollect.

It's hard to say if it's bias though from what I recollect.

ORIGINAL: Ironclad

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

The World at War is the only WWII documentary.

Seriously though, it is awesome. I'm trying to think back and remember if there was any bias, and I'm tempted to say there may well have been, from what I can recollect.

It's hard to say if it's bias though from what I recollect.

I wasn't that impressed with the World at War series, mainly because of its failure to give sufficient coverage to the eastern front.

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin
BTW, you're welcome for we Yanks keeping the rump of the British Empire alive during the WWII years. [8|]