Great Battles of WWII

his Academy Award-winning British documentary follows the titanic conflict between the opposing forces of German General Erwin Rommel and British General Bernard Montgomery, from the defeat of the British at El Alamein to their ultimate quid pro quo victory at Tripoli. Four Allied cameramen were killed and thirteen others were wounded or captured during the filming of this documentary that also included captured German newsreel footage.

9. Divide and Conquer

Utilizing visceral newsreel footage and maps, the documentary chronicles Hitler's stunning sweep across Europe. We watch as the Nazis overcome Denmark and Norway, repel the British Army, and force France into a humiliating surrender. We discover how ground-breaking Nazi military tactics and the duplicity of traitors lead to the fall of the majority of Central Europe. (Directed by Frank Capra & Anatole Litvak)

10. Great Battle of the Volga, The

This documentary depicts the Russian forces heroic battle to stop the invading German army from taking Leningrad. The Nazi battle plan, codenamed "Operation Barbarrosa", was to take the vital city in their efforts to conquer all of Russia. The documentary shows the resolve of the Russian troops as they battle against the well-organized and outfitted German forces, the rally of the Russians against impossible odds and the horrific results of this battle.

11. Marines at Tarawa-Return to Guam

The documentary covers two of the Marine Corps' most savage battles. Tarawa was characteristic of the vicious island fighting that was the hallmark of the war in the Pacific. Fought within an area the size of the Pentagon, three days of fighting claimed almost 10,000 lives. The second part of the documentary portrays the return of the Marine Corps to their recaptured base on the island of Guam.

12. Nazis Strike, The

This tough-minded documentary masterfully assembles newsreel footage to trace the ascent of Adolf Hitler and his ravening hunger for global domination. After forcefully wresting the German government from more moderate politicians, Hitler installs himself as dictator. Having suppressed the Jewish people in Germany, Der Fuhrer invades the Rhineland and Austria, and subsequently calls for the annexation of Czechoslovakia. In spite of assuring the world of "peace in our time," he marches on Poland, leading to the conflict that became World War II.

13. Payoff in the Pacific

This fascinating documentary gives a firsthand view of the critical battles of World War II fought near Japanese territory, around the Central Pacific islands, especially New Guinea and Guadalcanal. It chronicles most of the major battles fought in that large ocean; from the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor to the ultimate surrender of Japan.

14. Prelude to War

Prelude to War, the Oscar-winning documentary, shows the viewer how diplomatic and political snafus made in the wake of World War I planted the seeds of World War II. Blame is pointed squarely at the American populace, who had come to believe that the problems of the rest of the world would never affect them. While America slumbered, Japan and Germany inexorably built their armies and launched their plans for world domination.

15. To The Shores of Iwo JimaThis Academy Award-nominated documentary graphically depicts the American assault on the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima and the massive battle that raged on that key island in the Allied advance on Japan. The five marines and one sailor who raised the American flag on Mt. Suribachi are shown. Product Description