The World at War - sobering footage

[Halb]

Oh bugger, it only starts at ep 9 on the player.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Derek Smith said:

Denying the Holocaust is a political decision. Nothing to do with the facts.

To quote Ricky Gervais, "if you want to deny something, don't pick the holocaust or evolution. There's way to much evidence, and you'll end up looking like a complete tt."

[Halb]

Gargamel said:

I am reading Beevor's seminal the Second World War.

It seems the Red Army weren't the only ones.

A terrible period

Who else?

[Patrick Bateman]

Bit of a revival as it's been showing on Yesterday, however, it's all available on youtube too-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R3NhLHLKO0&li...

Absolutely haunting, the way the music opens up after lines like this is just perfect-

https://youtu.be/9Umlu-bcuIY?t=51

[Europa1]

mcelliott said:

rupert the dog said:

nicanary said:

The opening scenes are shot at the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane. It's near Limoges - if you're ever passing through the area it is something which you need to visit. There's an awfulness about it which is difficult to convey on these pages. When I was there I realised that I couldn't hear any birds singing or notice any wildlife - it was almost as if they knew, and had fled for ever.

Sorry if that sounds a bit melodramatic. It's not a place to take small children.

We went there last year, a truly sobering and moving experience. I know I may be naive, but it's still hard to believe that so-called civilised people can do these things.

I love the World at War series - seemed to have watched it on and off for most of my life. I can't remember which episode but it featured Hitler's personal secretary - absolutely fascinating stuff.

On the subject of Oradour - went there in the Spring - a very thought provoking place indeed. Couldn't disagree more about not taking children. Took mine (10 and 13) and couldn't believe how intrigued they were and not at all overcome by the visit. They still ask questions now. I would say it's a very good place to take children.

I finally made time to visit Oradour on my way back from holiday last summer. Unbelievably sobering experience. Things like the opening sequence of The World at War and the first half hour of Saving Private Ryan ought to be on the national curriculum.

[TR4man]

I remember the series first time around and have also been watching the reruns on Yesterday.

I can also remember that when originally shown, there was also a series of paperback books published to accompany the series. My brother and I must have had at least 20 of them and there was probably 50 odd available.

[Halb]

Patrick Bateman said:

Bit of a revival as it's been showing on Yesterday, however, it's all available on youtube too-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R3NhLHLKO0&li...

Absolutely haunting, the way the music opens up after lines like this is just perfect-

https://youtu.be/9Umlu-bcuIY?t=51

Ta man!
PLussed.

[Gargamel]

Halb said:

Who else?

The Japanese and the Comfort Women stands out.

The Germans also had a similar system of military brothels including at concentration camps.

[Butter Face]

Just stared watching this thanks to this thread. It's a great series and really shows the brutality of war

Very sobering and something everyone should see.

[dieselgrunt]

I could barely get through Night Will Fall. The footage they have of Belsen was deemed to graphic for public consumption.

[Boring_Chris]

Been watching this on Youtube all day. Thanks for the heads up!

Easy to take what happened for granted when you grow up with these images. As a kid you just kind of accept that it happened and that's how the world is, or was... but as an adult, I think I can more easily relate to what happened and imagine myself in those times. Bloody terrifying!

[PZR]

Gargamel said:

Halb said:

Who else?

The Japanese and the Comfort Women stands out.

The Germans also had a similar system of military brothels including at concentration camps.

The Japanese "Comfort Station" system had many similarities with the 'Chaklas' set up in India under British Colonial rule, which were still in use well into the 1930s.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

OP (or others) is this the one discussed?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-World-At-War-Blu-ray...

Shall buy if so, think we'll enjoy - for want of a better word.

[essayer]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

OP (or others) is this the one discussed?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-World-At-War-Blu-ray...

Shall buy if so, think we'll enjoy - for want of a better word.

Yes that's it.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

essayer said:

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

OP (or others) is this the one discussed?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-World-At-War-Blu-ray...

Shall buy if so, think we'll enjoy - for want of a better word.

Yes that's it.

Thank you, bid on it. The next cheapest one on the bay is £65!

[Lucas Ayde]

Was the show 'mastered' onto film or are the 'Restored Edition' discs taken from (studio) videotape masters? Just asking, as if they were taken from a videotape then I might be tempted to just spend £15 on the DVD version vs over £50 on the BDs.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

Lucas Ayde said:

Was the show 'mastered' onto film or are the 'Restored Edition' discs taken from (studio) videotape masters? Just asking, as if they were taken from a videotape then I might be tempted to just spend £15 on the DVD version vs over £50 on the BDs.

I think, from what I saw on the ebay ad, they're re-mastered. I struggle with DVD now, like I hate watching SD when I can put it on HD.

[BryanC]

Seen the WaW series many times over and it still must be the most valuable recordings of modern history seen on television. Its strange to listen how the ordinary man in the street dealt with their own reaction to war, and I suppose most eye witnesses have gone to the battlefield in the sky. Many were just ordinary blokes.

My bedside reading is currently the WaW book by Richard Holmes ( in my mind was a great military historian ), and the book adds many more interviews which were edited out of the TV series.

I was particularly impressed with some of the insights given by Albert Speer who gave his view into the strategic response. His comment was that losing 3 fighters and crew who might have come down in friendly territory was an acceptable loss when taking one bomber out and a crew of 7. Even the scrap was useful for recycling and planes were capable of being replaced quickly. Simple manpower logistics.
He also mentioned Shweinfurt (sp?) and the ball bearing factories. Germany was receiving bearings direct from Sweden and some equipment was redesigned to replace ball with shell bearings so made less of an impression on their war effort than we might have assumed.
It all makes you think.

[Dog Star]

BryanC said:

I was particularly impressed with some of the insights given by Albert Speer

I find Speer fascinating, somebody I'd really like to have met in real life.
I've been waiting for Inside the Third Reich to appear on Amazon for so long now, still no sign.

ETA: oh - it is!

Edited by Dog Star on Wednesday 11th January 13:42

[anonymous-user]

Just watched the world at war final solution ep 20 again. I remember watching it with my friends at school and finding it utterly horrific. Seeing it again after having children of my own made it even worse.