If anyone is interested in WW2 films /documentaries I have a couple of recommendations.

From my own experience the most realistic battle scenes and often the best films are Russian.

I am currently watching the Liberation film series on You Tube.

It was made in the late sixties/early seventies and although some of the music is a bit 60's twee and obviously has subtitles with a Russian overdub on German/British segments, but overall it is an excellent watch with what I can only assume is actually original equipment inclding Panzas and T34's in the battle scenes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_(film_series)

In relation to English speaking movies apart from the obvious excellent, Saving Private Ryan and Band Of Brothers my other favourite is A Bridge Too Far.

Often derided as an over budget flop, some of the battle scenes and the story telling of Market Garden is excellent. Admittedly the film does zig zag trying to fit in as many cameos of famous actors as possible but overall a very good watch. Again the fan's cut is on You Tube.

In relation to documentaries, I watch the excellent World War 2 channel on You Tube.

They have compiled a day by day in real time review and expalnations of the whole war from different perspectives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b7GY4B ... orldWarTwo

I now have You Tube Premium through a VPN so no adverts which makes it a much better watching experience without annoying ads.

Any other recommendations much appreciated.

I can't recommend it because I've never had the time to listen but Al Murray (the comedian who does the pub landlord character) has a WWII podcast called, "We Have Ways of Making You Talk".

It's got good reviews and he's a really interesting guy out of character so thought I'd shout this out here.

Thanks for the YouTube link. I'll check it out.

I use paid for software (https://www.winxdvd.com/winxvideo-ai/) to download some YouTube videos and put them on an hard drive. In this way there are no adverts. It's worth it for long videos (such as in-cab train rides that I like) and may be worthwhile for a big series like the WW2 one.

What aspects of WW2 interest you? Just the military side or other stuff like the Final Solution, politics, specific technology?

I’ve watched WW2 in colour on Netflix. Each episode is a key battle in the war. Eg, Battle of Britain, Midway, Pearl Harbour. Used to be a really good one on Discovery years back that went from start to finish over a load of episodes.

The film 'Enemy at the Gates' is excellent.
The story of two snipers, one German, one Russian.
Keep and eye out for the series 'Soviet Storm', YouTube link below, the Great Patriotic War, as they refer to WW2, from a Russian perspective.

https://youtu.be/6CerdjvePsg?feature=shared

The Darkest Hour as well.

From a movie perspective never really got into Saving Private Ryan.

I would recommend Unbroken as an underrated film that doesn't get the adulation it deserves.

For documentaries, a 10 part series, Hitler's Inner Circle on Netflix is a good watch.

Of course " Band of Brothers " is excellent, a ten part mini-series but also the accompanying documentary, " We stand alone together " is just superb. Much more from the veterans themselves, moving beyond words at times .... Some years ago, Jeremy Clarkson made two excellent documentaries, " The Greatest Raid of all " ( about the Commando raid on the St Nazaire dry dock in 1942 ), and " The Victoria Cross - For Valour ", ( history of the VC ) ..

All available on " You Tube " ...

The film 'Downfall' on YouTube (might be on Prime as well) - in German with English subtitles.

Focuses on Hitler and his inner circles last days in the Fuhrerbunker in Berlin.

Interesting watch and a different take on Hitlers descent into madness and defeat.

If you're into Russian war films, there's an excellent one called "Panfilovs 28", about a small band of Red Army soldiers defending their ground against a division of Panzers during the defence of Russia in WW2.

It was thought to be based on an actual battle, but that has been disproved over the years, but the action and battle scenes are still awesome and indicative of their desperate struggle against the Nazis.

Available on YouTube with English soundtrack.
Well worth watching.

Stalingrad

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108211/

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 6:57 pm

Stalingrad

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108211/

That's excellent, harrowing watch.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 7:01 pm

That's excellent, harrowing watch.

Yes it is. Such a powerful film.

billyhamilton82 wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 1:18 pm

In relation to English speaking movies apart from the obvious excellent, Saving Private Ryan and Band Of Brothers my other favourite is A Bridge Too Far.

Genuinely my top3 of all time , BoB is the best TV show ever made imo.

Not World War 2, but I recently watched Generation Kill about US Marines in Iraq and that was a really good series.

I would highly recommend Peter Jackson's, They Will Not Grow Old if you haven't seen it. Although that's WW1, not 2.

All Quiet On The Western Front, is a Netflix adaption of the novel from a german perspective. I've had that also highly recommended but I've not had chance to watch it yet myself.

The most harrowing war film I've watched is Come and See.

I normally watch World at War during the Xmas holidays, it's still a classic

The World At War narrated by Laurence Olivier deserves a mention here.

whiffa wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 7:08 pm

All Quiet On The Western Front, is a Netflix adaption of the novel from a german perspective. I've had that also highly recommended but I've not had chance to watch it yet myself.

You need a strong stomach to watch that, some horrific battle scenes.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 7:16 pm

You need a strong stomach to watch that, some horrific battle scenes.

I've watched Burnley for years, so that should be no problem!

Das Boot

Watch it in German with English subtitles, it's superior to the English dubbed version

One of the absolutely greatest war films ever made

The World At War tv documentary series is one of the best about WW2.
Films
is Paris Burning? (1966)
The Train, (has probably the best train crash ever screened)
Durkirk - (Nolan)
Dambusters.

I would strongly recommend searching for Mark Felton on YouTube.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 6:52 pm

If you're into Russian war films, there's an excellent one called "Panfilovs 28", about a small band of Red Army soldiers defending their ground against a division of Panzers during the defence of Russia in WW2.

It was thought to be based on an actual battle, but that has been disproved over the years, but the action and battle scenes are still awesome and indicative of their desperate struggle against the Nazis.

Available on YouTube with English soundtrack.
Well worth watching.

Totally agree. Top film.

ceborame wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 7:13 pm

The World At War narrated by Laurence Olivier deserves a mention here.

That will never be bettered.

Disappointing lack of mentions for Escape to Victory

The Longest Day (D Day)

Shame its black and white, some great stars of the time including Richard Todd who was a soldier on D Day.

I'd like to think one day there will be new film made like Dunkirk, but its such a bigger scale.

Unauthorised history of the pacific war is a great watch/listen on YouTube

Thanks everyone

some great info there.

One from way back. The Cruel Sea.

mikeS wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 7:55 am

The World At War tv documentary series is one of the best about WW2.
Films
is Paris Burning? (1966)
The Train, (has probably the best train crash ever screened)
Durkirk - (Nolan)
Dambusters.

" Is Paris Burning ? " is a great film, based on the German General in charge of Paris towards the end of the War, holding out against Hitler's order's to raise one of the World's great Cities to the ground .. particularly appropriate, in the week we've seen Notre Dame Cathedral re-open after the fire 5 years ago ...

Dawlishclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 06, 2024 7:15 pm

One from way back. The Cruel Sea.

It's on BBC Two at 1pm this afternoon.

Warning - old thread.

Accidentally found this from 2022:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001nj0c

I don't recall any documentary on the Arctic wars. It looks pretty good and well explained although a bit too much with looking for graves in a snowy Finnish forest.

The first episode which I've just seen covers the Finland - Russia war, starting briefly with the Versailles Treaty post WW1, and also explains the interest in Sweden and Norway - principally iron ore. Much of it is in English but there are subtitles where necessary.

The second looks like it starts with the invasions of Norway and Denmark in April 1940.

White Light - Black Rain

A excellent documentary about the effects of the atomic bomb drops in Japan.

The train with burt lancaster.
Not ww2 related but the black hawk down documentary series on Netflix is good - has the mogadishan (?) perspective within it.
Also watched one about the SAS most daring operations that’s pretty good - Tom hardy narrates but I can’t recall what platform it was on

ChrisG wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 4:40 pm

Disappointing lack of mentions for Escape to Victory

I’ll raise you with Escape to Athena. The cinematography when Stephanie powers comes into shot is breathtaking. Elliot Gould too playing … well Elliot Gould.

I love old war films. Of course, they cannot compare with modern films made with all sorts of technology. But there were many made back in the day with excellent screenplays, direction and acting.

The Way Ahead
We Dive at Dawn
49th Parallel
Sink the Bismarck

Slightly off topic with WW1 but I would highly recommend - They shall not grow old.

Brilliantly directed by Peter Jackson. Colourised footage of WW1 layered with old interviews with veterans. Some truly heartbreaking stories, but definitely worth a watch.

ecc wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 16, 2025 8:07 pm

I love old war films. Of course, they cannot compare with modern films made with all sorts of technology. But there were many made back in the day with excellent screenplays, direction and acting.

The Way Ahead
We Dive at Dawn
49th Parallel
Sink the Bismarck

Ice Cold in Alex.