safari tv world war 2

The 20 Best TV Shows About World War 2

I’m a firm believer that we should all have at least a cursory understanding of important international events in history so we learn from them – whether good or bad. This is especially true when it comes to probably one of the most important events on the international stage during the last century: World War 2.

The thing is, history isn’t always the easiest thing to study because of all the names and dates. But who ever said that history lessons have to be boring? There are so many films and TV shows out there that are rooted in historical events!

Of course, they’re fictionalized and by no means should be taken as an absolute source of historical accuracy, but they’re still a great place to start – at the very least to spark an interest!

In that vein, we’re bringing a list of the best TV shows about World War 2 to introduce at least some aspects of this huge part of world history.

Each series is told from a different perspective and hopefully will provide a view of the war that encompasses all aspects, even the ones we don’t normally learn about in school.

Again, the information and events portrayed in these shows shouldn’t be taken at face value as facts because as we know, creative license is heavily applied in any TV series. Still, the entertainment factor is what’ll draw you in and keep you!

Catch-22, Hulu (2019)

Hulu’s six-episode miniseries is a satirical, dark comedy adaptation of Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel of the same name, Catch-22 .

The term originated from the novel and is now common parlance used to describe a circuitous, lose-lose situation because of inherently conflicting conditions.

The series follows John Yossarian, a US Air Force bombardier who hates risking his life and the constantly rising number of missions he’s required to fly.

Yossarian is caught in a catch-22 himself: his continuing to fly these missions is considered insane, but requesting dismissal is viewed as a rational action and thus, makes him not insane and unqualified for dismissal.

So instead, he does whatever he can to avoid his missions – including faking illness and sabotaging equipment!

The Halcyon, ITV (2017)

The Halcyon is a period drama from ITV that is primarily set in at a glamorous five-star hotel right in the heart of London.

Despite the war raging around it, the hotel stands strong and houses the who’s who of the British society’s elite.

Where most shows about the 1940s and the war will tell their stories through those directly involved like world leaders and soldiers, The Halcyon shows what life in London was like through the eyes of its wealthiest citizens.

In particular, the series portrays the war “through the prism of war and the impact it has on families, politics, relationships and work across every social strata.”

Bomb Girls, Global/Univision Canada (2012 – 2013)

Originally envisioned as a six-part miniseries, the Canadian period drama Bomb Girls expanded into two full seasons with 19 episodes in total.

Told from the female perspective, Bomb Girls follows the lives of several women working at a Canadian munitions factory during the war.

With the men off at war, they’ve been tasked to fill up the labor shortage by building bombs – risking their lives in the process but thriving in the freedom from the social restrictions they previously had to abide by.

Each woman brings her own story to the table, from escaping suffocating homes, husbands, and fathers to a young woman just seeking connection with her newfound sisterhood.

SAS: Rogue Heroes, BBC/Epix (2022)

Next on our list is an upcoming six-part limited series, from Kudos and Nebulastar for BBC and Epix in the United States.

Based on the book of the same name written by Ben Macintyre, SAS: Rogue Heroes has been adapted for TV by Steven Knight, creator of period drama Peaky Blinders – so you know it’s bound to be great!

The series is set to portray how the British Special Forces unit, the titular Special Air Service, came to fruition. In particular, how it began with the young officer David Stirling when he was hospitalized after a training exercise had gone awry.

The show has a stellar cast already in the works, too (including Game of Thrones Alfie Allen)!

The Liberator, Netflix (2020)

Now, Netflix’s The Liberator is an absolutely fascinating series for several reasons.

First of all, even as a miniseries it’s shorter than most we’re used to, clocking in at only four episodes of less than an hour each.

Second of all, it’s an adult animated series and the type of animation still evokes a sense of realism, unlike your typical kind of cartoon.

And finally, it tells of one group of combat soldiers that many of us outside of the US (and maybe even within) don’t hear enough about.

US Army infantry commander Felix “Shotgun” Sparks led the 157th Infantry regiment – a group of white cowboys, Native Americans , and Mexican Americans – for over 500 days from Italy to France, fighting alongside the Allied forces and eventually leading to the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp in Germany.

Das Boot, Sky One (2018 – present)

Sky One brings us the Germany-produced Das Boot , based on Lother-Günther Buchheim’s 1973 book of the same as well as its 1995 sequel, Die Festung.

The series also serves as a sequel to the same-titled 1981 film, but takes place nine months after the events in the movie, in 1942.

Now on its third season, Das Boot starts out along two distinct narratives: the first is on land at the portt of La Rochelle and revolves around the upcoming French Resistance – alongside a woman’s story of torn loyalty and forbidden love.

The second narrative takes place at sea aboard the U-612 military submarine , following its young submarine crew as it prepares for its maiden voyage: a highly dangerous surveillance mission.

Atlantic Crossing, NRK/PBS (2020)

We move from the international stage to a smaller setting, though one that’s still constantly under scrutiny from the public: the American government and specifically, the Presidential family.

Atlantic Crossing homes in on both America and Norway, notably the interactions between President Franklin Roosevelt and Norway’s Crown Princess Märtha.

During the Second World War, she and her three children fled from the Nazis’ invasion of Norway and received protection from Roosevelt.

We witness how their relationship played out against the backdrop of the war – though any romance portrayed in the series has been largely criticized as having no basis in historical evidence.

World on Fire, BBC One (2019 – present)

This BBC One historical drama is aptly titled, as it really portrays the way the world was in flames and the impact it had on these ordinary citizens’ daily lives.

World on Fire takes us to various locations including France (Paris and Dunkirk), Britain (Manchester), Poland (Warsaw) and Germany (Berlin), all while unfolding the lives of civilians whose lives have been completely upended by the war.

While some of these characters are war vets themselves, we also watch the stories of a factory worker and singer, bus conductor, language interpreter, nurse, waitress, doctor, and even a petty criminal.

World on Fire shows that no matter the background or place in society, a war never chooses its casualties.

The Forgotten Army, Amazon Prime Video (2020)

The full title of this Prime Video limited series is The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye and is told from the perspective of the soldiers in the Indian National Army as they fought alongside Japanese soldiers for independence from British colonial rule during the Second World War.

These men and women (the first women’s infantry regiment since 1918) marched towards the capital on a grueling journey full of sacrifices. However, their story was lost amidst the events of the war, thus becoming the ‘forgotten army’.

The true events portrayed in The Forgotten Army tackles identity, independence, and the cost of keeping freedom alive.

Band of Brothers, HBO (2001)

HBO’s Band of Brothers is a “visceral, intense look at the horrors of war”; it’s a ten-episode drama miniseries based on the 1992 book of the same name from historian Stephen E. Ambrose.

The series follows “Easy Company”, an elite team of paratroopers part of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, from their jump training to their exploits across Europe (including US airborne landings in Normandy and operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany) and through to the end of the war.

Though creative license is used, Band of Brothers are based on true events and is based not only on extensive research, but actual interviews with veterans in Easy Company.

The Pacific, HBO (2010)

After Band of Brothers and its success, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks team up once again for its companion piece, The Pacific .

Whereas the former focused on the airborne division of the army through Europe, The Pacific tells the story of three US Marines and the roles they played against the backdrop of the greater Asia-Pacific theater of World War 2 – one significant event being the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The series is based on the memoirs of the marines at the forefront of the characters, and each episode is split to follow their storyline – all three being from different regiments – to form a full picture of the war.

Home Fires, ITV (2015 – 2016)

Set between 1939 and early 1940, ITV’s Home Fires is similar to the aforementioned Canadian series Bomb Girls in one major regard: it focuses on the lives of a group of women and how the war changed their lives forever.

In a rural community in Cheshire, England called Great Paxford, normal civilians are increasingly becoming active in the Home Front, doing whatever they can to contribute to the war efforts.

For the women in the community, this included the Women’s Institute, an organization founded to give them a space to participate in campaigns and activities that not only address their role in the war but also women’s rights in society in general.

Land Girls, BBC One (2009 – 2011)

Yet another similar to Home Fires is BBC One’s Land Girls , a three-season drama that follows four women’s journeys as their lives are forever changed by the war.

Nancy Morrell, Joyce Fisher, Annie Barratt, and Bea Holloway – the titular Land Girls – may have joined the Women’s Land Army from different walks of life and for different reasons, but they all have one intention: to do what they can from the home front to help Britain win the war.

They cross paths at Pasture Farm on the Hoxley Estate, where they balance the laborious work they do on the farm with the extravagant lifestyle up at the Hoxley Manor.

Spies of Warsaw, BBC Four (2013)

BBC Four itself calls Spies of Warsaw a “classic tale of spying, intrigue and romance”.

The series is based on the book of the same name by Alan Furstt, a spy novel published in 2008.

Though there are only four episodes, Spies of Warsaw tells a gripping story of espionage and love during what is the most difficult period in a person’s life during that era.

Jean-François Mercier is a military attaché at the French embassy in Warsaw… or so it seems. In reality, he’s there as a spy for the Deuxième Bureau – the French intelligence agency.

While undercover, he falls into the world of abduction and deceit, and also falls in love in the process.

Foyle’s War, ITV (2002 – 2015)

Foyle’s War is a detective drama that takes place both during and shortly after the Second World War, and it really focuses more on the exploits of the eponymous Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle as he attempts to stop the criminals who are taking advantage of the chaos left by the war.

While his son fights as an RAF pilot, Foyle fights on the ground and uses his skills and intuition to help the war efforts in his own way, investigating cases involving profiteering and the black market.

After the war, he even became a senior intelligence officer to continue his assistance to the British government.

Generation War, ZDF (2013)

Our first foreign-language series on the list is ZDF’s Generation War , a German miniseries where each of its three episodes ran for roughly 90 minutes.

The series follows a group of five friends in their early 20s: Wilhelm, Charlotte, Great, Viktor, and Friedhelm, and their separate journeys throughout the war.

It starts with their last night together before parting ways with the promise to meet up again the next year.

However, one year turns into four as the war continues and their paths never diverge until it ends – and even then, their lives have already been changed forever.

My Mother and Other Strangers, BBC Northern Ireland (2017)

My Mother and Other Strangers is another series that shows how the lives of even ordinary citizens were completely upended while the war raged on, even when they and their families were not directly involved.

In the fictional town of Moybeg along Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland , the Coyne family and their neighbors have lived away from the chaos of war, but this soon changes when 4000 American USAAF servicemen arrive and set up a base within their rural community.

The Coynes are put under further strain when their matriarch Rose, the parish school teacher, finds herself in a love triangle between her husband and USAAF soldier, Captain Dreyfuss.

X Company, CBC Television (2015 – 2017)

The plotline of X Company may sound like something fictional out of an action movie, but the premise is actually based on a real-life place.

The Canadian/Hungarian spy thriller series follows a group of five highly-skilled individuals from America, Canada, and England who have been recruited to train as agents at the super-secret facility called Camp X (actually a real training camp for covert agents during the war!).

Once their training was done, they’d be sent out into the field on dangerous missions that would put them at risk of capture, torture, and even death.

X Company is a series about the origins of espionage, based on true stories.

Above and Beyond, CBC (2006)

As we said, there are so many aspects to war beyond the fighting on the front lines, many of which we probably have no idea about. 

CBC’s historical miniseries Above and Beyond covers one such example: the Atlantic Ferry Organization.

Never heard of it? Well, the unit was born out of a need to transport necessary aircraft from Canada and the United States to the United Kingdom, Europe, and other areas at the front lines of the war.

In its two episodes, Above and Beyond chronicles how the organization (eventually becoming the RAF Ferry Command) became instrumental in the development of transatlantic flight.

Island at War, ITV (2004)

Finally, ITV brings to the table Island at War , a six-episode miniseries that documents the German occupation of the Channel Islands that began in June 1940.

Though the fictional setting is called St. Gregory, this serves as a combination of the Guernsey and Jersey islands; the events in Island at War are also based on real-life events from both islands.

Island at War focuses on three families from different social classes and their interactions with four German officers, and how their lives intertwined against a local community that continued to clash amidst the ongoing war.

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Shows we all loved watching on safari tv.

Kerala’s very own SAFARI TV has definitely set the benchmark high for Malayalam television. From mind-boggling concepts to a string of riveting shows, SAFARI TV is way more than just being Kerala’s TLC or National Geographic . 

SAFARI TV is an exploration channel, a genius conceived by the brilliant Santhosh George Kulangara. The channel was launched on 1st November 2013 and is exclusively ad-free. 

Also Read: Santosh George Kulangara To Be India’s First Space Tourist

SAFARI TV is a treasure box that has a burst of brilliant shows across various genres. It is a package that cannot be missed by any age group, owing to the range of programmes the channel offers. Some of our favourite show from the channel that you should not miss are:

This show, hands down, is one of the best travel shows in the world. It is shot and presented in a manner in which we viewers feel like we’ve walked through alien places with the narrator. 

Santhosh George Kulangara rose to prominence with his show Sancharam – the first visual travelogue in Malayalam. The show was widely received by Malayalis around the globe. It was recognised for its unique format and delivery, including the remarkable first-person narration by Anish Punnen Peter. 

Also Read: Treehouse Resorts In Kerala That’s Worth Your Money

• Movies On The Road

An extraordinary show dedicated only to movies that are travel/exploration based. The show offers a brilliant summary of each movie and highlights important scenes from the movie. Most of the time, it makes you want to pack your bags and hit the road! 

Also Read: 7 Books That Will Take You On A Mental Vacation

• Oru Sanchariyude Diarykuruppukal

One of my favourite shows on T.V, it showcases Mr Santhosh George as he takes us through the whirlwind of experiences he has had while journeying through unknown lands. His insights on various cultures of the different places he has visited, the creative ideas he has for our state to implement for its betterment in the tourism industry are one for the textbooks. A must-watch indeed! 

World War I I

For every High School/Degree student, struggling to mug up the dates of the tumultuous events of the World War , this show has you all covered.  It covers almost every part of the biggest war in history, with rare visuals and an exceptional narration. The show will make you relive the whole experience and is a good reminder of why learning our history and the events that shaped the world are so incredibly important. 

Also Read: Chernobyl Was Not The Only Soviet Tragedy

• Around The World In 30 Minutes

30 minutes of beautiful glimpses around different destinations of the world. The show, presented by Rahul Easwar, showcases museums, islands, markets and every other destination of tourist or historical interest. 

Aa Yathrayil

A travelogue, narrated by different hodophiles from our state, who have made travel an essence of their souls. Some of their stories are unforgettable and makes us look deeper into our luxuries and problems. A genuine, beautiful one of its kind show.

Also Read: Workcation Destinations In Kerala With Stunning WFH Views

Picking out favourites from this channel is indeed a task as all of SAFARI TV’s shows deserve special mention. In a time where the standards of entertainment are widely degressive, the importance of channels like SAFARI TV is larger than ever.

“ You are what you see” might seem like a generalised saying, but it is an aphorism we cannot ignore. Channels like SAFARI TV that aim at wholesome entertainment, that is inclusive of great exposure and learning, are the need of the hour. Being exposed to the different sides and ways of the world will only help us to look beyond our shells and comfort zones.

Also Read: 5 Things That Malayalis Are Slowly Unlearning

The Malayali retort of ‘We are number one!’ might not always be the best way to shadow the shortcomings of our state. This little state is indeed a melting pot of limitless possibilities. It’s time we all started looking over and above our little worlds and for that, Santhosh George’s SAFARI TV might be the perfect little start.

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8 best world war 2 tv shows ever, ranked.

The Second World War has acted as the setting or primary influence for some of the most incredible television series ever produced.

• The TV shows based on World War II offered a variety of genres, from light-hearted sitcoms to intense dramas, captivating audiences worldwide.
• McHale's Navy, Catch-22, Hogan's Heroes - each unique in its portrayal of the war, resonated with viewers and left lasting impacts on television history.
• The Man in the High Castle, Das Boot, Band of Brothers - these powerful series provided alternate perspectives on WWII, shedding light on untold stories.

The Second World War was one of the most significant conflicts that the world has ever seen and has been depicted on screen countless times in many acclaimed television series. With so many different countries caught up in this global conflict that involved all the great powers of the world, World War II has acted as the setting for dramas, sitcoms, and even alternative histories that represented the themes and ideas that war conjured up. A devastating conflict full of unspeakable tragedy, the TV shows based around World War II ranked among some of the best series ever produced.

From light-hearted sitcoms about Navy men on a Pacific Island, like McHale’s Navy, to intense and realistic dramas that explored the shocking nature of battle , like The Pacific , the TV shows based around World War II were mostly categorized by their sheer variety. As a topic that got to the very heart of human nature and the seeming inevitability of war and conflict, it’s no surprise that, almost 80 years since the war ended, it still had the power to fascinate viewers. There were plenty of incredible TV shows based around World War II .

8 McHale’s Navy (1962 – 1966)

Mchale’s navy ran for four seasons.

McHale’s Navy presented a light-hearted look at life in the U.S. Navy during World War II that focused on Quinton McHale (Ernest Borgnine), the commanding officer of the U.S. Navy PT boat PT-73, who was stationed at the fictional Pacific Island base of Taratupa. After the base was heavily bombed by the Japanese, just 18 out of 50 naval officers survived and McHale’s Navy followed the misadventures of those left behind . A highly beloved series, McHale’s Navy spawned three feature films and even a 1997 feature remake of the original series.

With a highly optimistic tone, many viewers may be surprised to learn that McHale’s Navy started off as a one-hour drama rather than a 30-minute sitcom . Although the tone of the first episode of McHale’s Navy was completely different from everything that came after it, it remained the official pilot for the beloved World War II series. McHale’s Navy ran for four seasons between 1963 and 1966.

7 Catch-22 (2019)

Catch-22 was a six-episode miniseries.

The 1961 novel Catch-22 by Joseph Heller was one of the most significant books of the 20th century and was known for its unconventional structure that played with the chronology of the series. Catch-22 was adapted for television in 2019 in a highly acclaimed miniseries that captured the novel’s presentation of the horrors of war while maintaining its satirical bite. Catch-22 had previously received a 1970 film adaptation by Mike Nicholas, but the longer form of television allowed for much more of the essence of the book to be captured.

Focused on the United States Army Air Forces bombardier Capt. John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) and his airmen during the Second World War, Catch-22 explored the contractionary bureaucracy of the Air Force, which meant that any requests to abort a mission on the grounds of fear were to be dismissed. Beautifully shot, thoughtfully written, and highly engrossing, Catch-22 had an incredible cast that made this a worthy adaptation of its source material.

6 Hogan’s Heroes (1965 – 1971)

Hogan’s heroes ran for six seasons.

As an American sitcom that focused set in a prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany during the Second World War, Hogan’s Heroes had a highly dark premise for a light-hearted comedy series . However, despite this innate contradiction, Hogan’s Heroes worked well as the prisoners conducted espionage and sabotage campaigns right under the noses of their enemy captors. With 168 episodes, Hogan’s Heroes was the longest-running American series for a show based on World War II.

While it may seem in poor taste to make a series based on those living in a German prisoner-of-war camp, Hogan’s Heroes was a spoof of World War II movies and media, rather than the actual events themselves. A commentary on films like The Great Escape and The Longest Day , almost 70 years since it was first released, Hogan’s Heroes may be slightly removed from its original context. A major success at the time of its release, Hogan’s Heroes deserved to be remembered among the best World War II TV shows.

5 The Man In The High Castle (2015 – 2019)

The man in the high castle ran for four seasons, the man in the high castle.

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The Man in the High Castle is a tv adaptation of the alternate historical thriller book written by Phillip K. Dick. The show follows multiple perspectives in a world where the Nazis and Japan won World War II and have now taken over the world and split the united states into East and West sections. When several characters discover that the current reality isn't supposed to be based on prophetic newsreels, it becomes a race between the ruling powers and the rebellion to find the figure that knows the truth behind it all. 

Based on the dystopian novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle was an alternative history story that depicted a parallel universe where the Axis powers of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan won World War II. Set in a version of America where the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Washington D.C. by the Germans, The Man in the High Castle was an interesting commentary on the nature of war and its long-lasting consequences. While many things were changed from the original novel, The Man in the High Castle forced its own identity and stood as a unique conflict-based television series.

As the most watched original Amazon series at the time of its release (via Deadline ), The Man in the High Castle was unlike anything else on TV as it fleshed out its dystopian landscape over four seasons. With plenty of twists and turns, The Man in the High Castle was an outstanding drama that was a scary projection of what was possible when abhorrent political beliefs were allowed to take over society. An alternative reflection of history but also a warning for the future, The Man in the High Castle was an excellent series inspired by World War II .

4 ‘Allo ‘Allo! (1982 – 1992)

‘allo ‘allo ran for nine seasons.

‘Allo ‘Allo! was a British sitcom that focused on a French café owner in the town of Nouvion during the German occupation of France in World War II. Initially created as a parody of wartime dramas, ‘Allo ‘Allo! featured stories that involved a dishonest German officer, French resistencance fighters, trapped British airmen, and the café owner concealing his affair with a waitress from his wife. Full of over-the-top farce, memorable catchphrases, and cultural clichés , ‘Allo ‘Allo! was a major success and ran for nine seasons.

‘Allo ‘Allo! differed from many sitcoms from its era as it featured an overarching storyline rather than simple stand-alone stories. A satirical sitcom that poked fun at everything and everyone, ‘Allo ‘Allo! had no issues leaning into cultural stereotypes as characters had theatrically over-the-top foreign accents to distinguish the many nationalities who encountered one another. A true spoof of the more absurd aspects of war-based media, ‘Allo ‘Allo! even returned in 2007 for a one-off special that featured many of its characters reprising their roles.

3 Das Boot (2018 – Present)

Das boot has had four seasons.

The German series Das Boot acted as a sequel to the acclaimed 1981 film , which followed the German submarine crew of the U-96 as they set out on a hazardous patrol during the Second World War. This follow-up series focused on an inexperienced U-boat crew trying to survive a secret mission, the torn allegiance of those caught up in the war, and the difficulties of growing opposition to Adolf Hitler across Europe. With themes of mutiny, claustrophobia, and the idea of the hunter becoming the hunted, Das Boot was a gripping series that lived up to its acclaimed predecessor.

Das Boot has received widespread acclaim from critics internationally but received some pushback in Germany due to a perception that it was not a wholly accurate presentation of the Second World War (via The Times .) Through its strong cast and well-acted storylines, Das Boot was a tense thriller period series that explored life both on and off the U-boat. While the series often paid homage to the original 1981 film, Das Boot also forged its own identity over several seasons .

2 The Pacific (2010)

The pacific was a 10-episode miniseries, the pacific.

A companion piece to the WWII miniseries Band of Brother, The Pacific chronicles the lives of three Marines in the 1st Marine Division and their actions in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War. Based on the lives of real men who fought in the war, The Pacific focuses on some of the war's most well-known battles, such as Guadalcanal and the Battle of Iwo Jima. James Badge Dale, Jon Seda, and Joseph Mazzello star as the three main focuses of the series. 

As a companion series to Band of Brothers that focused on the Marine Corps’ actions in the Pacific War, The Pacific followed three Marines in different regiments and showcased the difficulties of conflict through their eyes. Telling the stories of the real Marines Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone, The Pacific was an acclaimed series produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman for HBO. Costing over $200 million to make, The Pacific was the most expensive miniseries ever produced at the time (via HR .)

Simultaneously visually stunning and truly horrifying, The Pacific was not for the faint of heart as it vividly presented World War II through focused and individual stories . With a brilliant cast of impeccable talent, The Pacific did not overtake its companion series in terms of quality but stood as an incredible achievement in and of itself. An unflinching glimpse of the Pacific War, which saw the Americans pitted against the Japanese, The Pacific was a powerful representation of a side to the Second World War that had been depicted far less frequently than conflicts with Nazi Germany.

1 Band of Brothers (2001)

Band of brothers was a 10-episode miniseries, band of brothers.

Band of Brothers tells the dramatized story of World War II's "Easy" company, as they go through training together, participate in major wartime events in Europe, all the way until the end of the war.

The greatest TV show that focused on World War II was Band of Brothers , a highly acclaimed series that has consistently ranked among the best television shows ever produced. Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who had previously collaborated on Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers dramatized the history of the "Easy" Company, 2nd Battalion , 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. By utilizing well-written and three-dimensional characters, Band of Brothers depicted the horror and struggles of war like no series before it.

Band of Brothers was full of scenes that were basically perfect as it depicted soldiers' experiences in boot camp, the Normandy landings on D-Day, right up to the end of the war. With a legacy as one of the most acclaimed shows of all time, the achievement of Band of Brothers has yet to be replicated when it came to the depiction of World War II on television. As each episode began with interviews with real survivors of the war, Band of Brothers was only made more effective by the way it blended its dramatization with true accounts .

Sources: Deadline , The Times , Hollywood Reporter

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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebVideo/WorldWarTwo

Web Video / World War II

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Main ongoing series

• World War Two: Week by Week : The main weekly series that covers what happened in World War 2 on that particular week 79 years ago. Hosted by Indy Neidell
• War Against Humanity : Covers the various war crimes and human rights' abuses committed in the conflict. Hosted by Spartacus Olsson.
• Spies & Ties : Covers the various espionage efforts and intelligence-related operations of the conflict. Hosted by Astrid Deinhard.
• On The Homefront : A series devoted to covering the effects of the war on the domestic side. Hosted by Anna Deinhard.
• WW2 Portrait Gallery : A spinoff of the above where an individual episode will cover a variety of figures that fall under the same topic of the episode (ex. SS Commandants of Concentration Camps).
• WW2 Special Episodes Covers a diverse and miscellaneous range of topics, such as noteworthy military units/tactics, technological advancements, the status of particular nations, and social developments.
• Across the Airwaves : A related spinoff of the above where Indy shares and responds to amusing/controversial comments from the audience.
• Hardware of WW2 : A series focusing on the tanks, aircraft, and other vehicles of World War Two.

Mini/Limited Series

• Pearl Harbor: Minute by Minute : A minute-by-minute break down of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Covering the full six hours of the attack.

The team also runs a sister channel called TimeGhost History where it's Between 2 Wars series, that covers topics in the Interwar years , acts an Interquel to both this and The Great War .

This show contains examples of:

• Achilles' Heel : In a special episode, David Willey of The Tank Museum outlines the weaknesses of the Soviet T-26 tank which were exploited by their Finnish opponents in the Winter War of 1940. In particular, one of the air intakes for the engine on the back of the tank was especially vulnerable to the Molotov Cocktail .
• Adventurer Outfit : Featured as part of the set dressing, a safari hat and brown coat can be seen draped over the Chair of Infinite Knowledge in the background behind Indy in Episode 42 - "Britain Votes to Leave".
• Alternate Company Equivalent : As this series is effectively a sequel to The Great War with the same format and host but a different production company TimeGhost has had to rename some of the reused concepts such as "Out of the Trenches", a series about answering viewer questions, becoming "Out of the Foxholes" and Indy's Chair of Wisdom being replaced by the Chair of Infinite Knowledge.
• …And That Little Girl Was Me : In Episode 22 - "The Enigma of Germany's Wartime Economy" covering the week of January 26, 1940, Indy tells the story of Basil Reay, an Englishman working in the Egyptian Ministry of Education. On the 26th, Basil welcomes a daughter, Joy, into the world. That girl will go on to be Indy's mother.
• April Fools' Day : On April 1st, 2022, the channel released a video discussing the rise and fall of Hydra during World War II, covering it like they would any real conflict during the war.
• Author Catchphrase : Episode 40 - "Brexit at Dunkirk" sees the return of the Catchphrase "This is modern war" from The Great War . Indy: Until May, 1940, they thought they knew what modern war involved, but this , this is modern war.
• Bait-and-Switch : Indy does this a few times including in the first episode when he begins by saying that Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 began... The Polish-German War of 1939 ("What? What did you think I was going to say?"). Later, after months of Hitler planning to invade France, in May of 1940, an invasion happens... to Iceland, by the British.
• Black-and-Gray Morality : The Allies are not above strategic bombing of civilian targets and other warcrimes, as covered in the "War Against Humanity" series, but their enemies are the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan who each have massive laundry lists of crimes against humanity.
• Black Comedy : The journey of French general Maxime Weygand in May 1940 to organize a counterattack against the German invasion is described by Indy as descending into the realm of farce. A complicated shuffle around France and Belgium, involving Belgian King Leopold III, a stop at a country inn for an omelet, a perceived snub by a fellow commander, and a major army group left without anyone in charge in this time of major crisis needs a sidebar graphic to be made sense of.
• Black Shirt : Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists, molded after the Italians following Mussolini. The Right Club was an assembly of fascist sympathizers formed by British Member of Parliment Archibald Ramsay. Some of their members were arrested for spying on the Allies.
• Blitz Evacuees : Britain, fearing the German Luftwaffe, evacuated some people, particularly children, from some of her cities shortly after declaring war on Germany in 1939, but as the inactivity of the "Phoney War" set in they returned to their regular lives, only for the Blitz and Battle of Britain to take hold starting in 1940.
• Bomb Whistle : One of the sound effects laid over (originally silent) Stock Footage , such as when discussing Luftwaffe bombing in Poland.
• Breeding Cult : The German Lebsenborn program centered around procreation with men of the Nazi SS to forge and propagate their ideological Master Race .
• Capital Offensive : In their 1939 invasion, the German 14th Army under Wilhelm List was directed to capture the Polish capital of Kracow.
• Censored Title : Episode 39 - "The Allied Clusterf**k in France" covering the week of May 25, 1940.
• Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys : Deconstructed as the Real Life situation of the War was much more complex than the "only dropped once" stereotypes and parodies. The Beleaguered Bureaucrat nature of the overlapping Allied command structure, the French doctrine of "methodical battle" contrasted with the German panzer divisions' rapid improvisation, and the French high command preferring hand-delivered orders to telephone or radio communication, are among many of the details the show tackles to illustrate the reasons for the Fall of France and combat post-war misconceptions about the effectiveness of the Maginot Line and French response to the invasion.
• Cold Ham : Indy's usual style of presenting is reserved, as befits the subject of the war, but sharply and clearly enunciated, almost like a sober, yet enthusiastic news broadcast. The Talking Heads segments are punctuated by flourishes and gesticulation. It might have developed from his background in advertising and performing as a musician.
• World War Two: Week by Week - Red
• War Against Humanity - Brown
• World War Two Biography Special - Green
• Hardware of World War Two - Gold
• Out of the Foxholes - Orange
• On The Homefront - Blue
• Spies and Ties - Beige
• Cool Chair : The Chair of Infinite Knowledge from which Indy answers viewer questions, continuing a tradition from The Great War of giving an impressive name to what is, as far as we know, just a comfortable chair.
• Special episodes featuring the curators of the Tank Museum have been produced. Nicholas "The Chieftain" Moran has done several special episodes on the development of armored warfare doctrine and the tanks of the belligerents, as well as a segment in "Out of the Foxholes" where he answered a viewer question about anti-tank weapons.
• The "Pearl Harbor: Minute By Minute" series was done in collaboration with World of Warships
• Day of the Jackboot : Episode 42 - "Britain Votes to Leave" covers the fall of Paris. After being declared an "open city" that will not resist the oncoming German forces in order to avoid destruction, on June 14, 1940, the Nazi swastika flys over the Arc de Triomphe followed by a military parade and a curfew imposed on the remaining citizenry of the city.
• Death from Above : Air forces deployed against ground targets is a critical aspect of the war. Scores of soldiers and civilians alike will die over the course of the conflict from bombs and strafing runs by aircraft machineguns and cannon.
• Decisive Battle : Several of these happen on the European, Mediterranean, and Pacific Theaters from 1942-43, with the most notable being Midway, Stalingrad, El Alamein, and Kursk.
• Delaying Action : Fought by the French and British Expeditionary Force to buy time for the evacuation of British and French forces at Dunkirk while surrounded by the German invasion of France.
• Doctor von Turncoat : Discussed in "The Allied Hunt for Nazi Superweapons" special episode. By 1944, both the Western Allies and the Soviets were on the hunt for anything related to advanced weapon and technological development on the German side, among which included the various scientists and doctors of various fields that worked for the Nazi regime during the war. Unsurprisingly, the most notable of these is Dr. Werner von Braun, the man responsible for the Nazi rocket program and who would go on to play a huge part in the US Space Program.
• Dr. Feelgood : The special episode "High Hitler! - Nazis on Crystal Meth Part 1" covers the history of Dr. Theodor Morell, Hitler's personal physician, who prescribed him daily cocktails of methamphetamine, cocaine, barbiturates, and more.
• Even Evil Has Standards : Hitler spares Warsaw from a specific request by Luftwaffe Field Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen *  Cousin to Manfred von Richthofen , The Red Baron . for a large scale experiment in terror bombing the city into complete annihilation. However, bombing continues and Hitler orders that no civilians be allowed to leave the city in order to speed its capitulation.
• Every regular episode concludes with Indy thanking their supporters, asking for more support, and pointing at the camera, finishing with " See ya next time. "
• Spartacus ends every War Against Humanity episode with " Never forget. "
• Exactly What It Says on the Tin : It's a documentary series about World War 2, named World War Two .
• Exposition Diagram : One is overlaid as a sidebar to illustrate while Indy explains the journey of French general Maxime Weygand in May 1940.
• The episode on the simultaneous German invasion of The Netherlands, Belgium, and France was twice as long as a regular episode, slightly over twenty minutes instead of the usual ten.
• The start of the German invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece was another episode with a doubled-time length.
• The start of Operation: Barbarossa was a two-parter with each part being longer than the average episode length.
• The weekend of June 5 took up three episodes, one on the Battle of Midway a second on the aftermath of the battle, and a third dealing with everything else that happened that week.
• Eyepatch of Power : British Major-General Carton de Wiart, a veteran Old Soldier with incredible exploits sports one of these.
• The Soviet Union shells the Russian village of Mainila near the border with Finland, claiming the artillery fire to have come from across the nearby Finnish border, despite Finland having withdrawn its artillery to preempt such an accusation.
• Fascists' Bed Time : June, 14, 1940, as German forces occupy Paris, an 8:00 p.m. curfew is imposed on the city.
• Final Solution : The Holocaust and other atrocities are covered in "War Against Humanity" episodes.
• Foregone Conclusion : As the series is covering a very well known historical event that occurred more than seventy years ago, most viewers will be familiar with who will ultimately win and lose the war.
• Government in Exile : These are formed from numerous Allied and neutral nations as they are invaded and occupied by the belligerent powers of the war. The Polish cooperate with their British allies, offering them operational control over the remaining Polish navy. French general Charles de Gaulle declares one of these from Britain, broadcasting as the Voice of the Resistance while Phillipe Petain's government moved to armistice with Germany.
• The Gloves Come Off : France, Britain, and Germany initially agree in 1939, at the behest of United States President Franklin Roosevelt, to avoid bombing campaigns on civilian targets. After the German bombing of Rotterdam, the Allies rescind this restriction and launch retaliatory raids on German cities and towns.
• Gratuitous Laboratory Flasks : The set is redressed with these for the "Nazis on Crystal Meth" special.
• Great Escape : In September 1939, the Polish submarine ORP Orzeł was interned after taking port in neutral Estonia. Her crew stealthily sawed through the ropes holding the ship, disabled searchlights, overpowered guards and slipped away into the sea while under artillery fire.
• Played by, of all people, the United States Marines during the attack on Pearl Harbor episode. During the aerial attack on the fleet, a group of marines without weapons decided to break into an ice cream truck and spectate the Japanese attack, making commentary of hits, misses, and plane crashes like they were announcers at a baseball game.
• Grievous Bottley Harm : A bit of black humor by Winston Churchill after the Dunkirk evacuation and his famous "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech. Churchill : And we'll fight them with the butt ends of broken beer bottles because that's bloody well all we've got!
• Innocent Bystander : The millions of civilians who are caught up in the largest and deadliest global conflict in human history.
• Jungle Warfare : Once the War in the Pacific starts, various battles taking place in jungle conditions are covered, with the most notable example thus far being the Guadalcanal campaign.
• Labcoat of Science and Medicine : Indy dons one of these for the special series about Nazi drug use.
• A Million Is a Statistic : The episodes emphasize constantly the massive toll in human lives the war extracts. Spartacus takes time in the "War Against Humanity" to remind the viewer that every single person dead was a full, complex human being who cannot be written off as a statistic and their loss was mourned by someone.
• Molotov Cocktail : Employed by the Finnish against the Soviet Union, particularly effective against T-26 tanks due to vulnerable air intakes.
• Spartacus uses Indy's nicknames for some of the German officers in his War Against Humanity segments.
• Newhart Phonecall : The nature of the phone calls that open the episodes, usually foreshadowing the events of the week.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero : As the Allies continue to struggle in the Italian campaign, Indy points out that the controversial decision to bomb the Monte Casino monastery doesn't just destroy a priceless historical building filled with local refugees, but the Germans now decide that the rubble can be occupied by their forces without breaking their pledge to Italian civilians not to occupy it, since technically the Allied forces turned it into a battleground.
• No-Sell : As pointed out in a dedicated special, American submarines are able to harass Japanese merchant ships right after the war started, but the Japanese barely notice the attacks because American torpedoes are widely defective- they often fail to explode even after making a direct hit. Bureaucratic bungling and manufacturing defects lead to a special investigation, and the officer in charge demanded that if the Navy refused to fix the manufacturing defects, then they should supply a boat hook that the submariners can use to try and rip holes in the Japanese ships instead. The Navy chose to fix the torpedoes and after 1943, Japan's merchant fleet began to sink with worse loss rates than the Allies' ever suffered in the Battle of the Atlantic.
• "Not Making This Up" Disclaimer : At the start of Episode 39 - "The Allied Clusterf**k in France" Indy has to make one of these over the phone, presumably over the Fall of France and the almost farcical shuffle in the Allied command while the Germans keep pushing into France and Belgium.
• Once per Episode : Every episode except the first one begins with Indy in conversation at the phone on his desk, usually saying a few lines that foreshadow the content of the episode before hanging up.
• Overnight Conquest : The German 1940 invasion of Denmark is successful, with the Danes capitulating within six hours. The invasion of France in the same year sees German troops parading through the streets of Paris less than two months later, compared to more than four years of conflict with France in the First World War.
• Phone Call from the Dead : In Episode 68 - "Britain shows Japan how to Attack Pearl Harbor", Indy's introductory phone call is from a Luigi, implied to be Italian Marshal Luigi Cadorna who shared Butt-Monkey General Failure status with Conrad von Hötzendorf during The Great War . Indy : Yes, Luigi, it's happening again. No, Luigi, I don't think you could do better. Yes, Luigi, I am aware that you're dead.
• Please Subscribe to Our Channel : At the end of every episode, Indy asks the viewers to join the TimeGhost Army by subscribing and supporting them on their crowdfunding campaigns.
• Prank Call : Episodes 48 and 49 form a pair of this type of joke. In the introduction to Episode 48 - "No Deal... Herr Hitler!" Indy does his best Winston Churchill impression and orders a pizza to be delivered to the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. In the followup, "The Hippo vs. the Bulldog, Göring’s War" he puts on another accent and feigns he has no idea about any call for pizza.
• The German justification for their invasion of Poland stemmed from, among other causes, False Flag Operations by German operatives designed to look like Polish aggression against Germany.
• Belgian King Leopold III tries to avoid giving Germany a reason to invade by refusing to allow British and French forces to take positions inside neutral Belgium during the "Phoney War".
• The Soviet-Finnish Winter War begins on the pretext of an artillery attack by Finns against the Russian village of Mainila despite Finland having withdrawn its artillery from the border to prevent such an incident.
• The Quisling : Vidkun Quisling attempts to establish a fascist government in Norway, only to be brushed aside by Germany dealing with the legitimate government it has overthrown.
• Ramming Always Works : Episode 33 - "The Invasion of Norway and Denmark" tells the story of HMS Glowworm which rammed the German Admiral Hipper . The Glowworm burst into flames and sank shortly after.
• The format of the show, as with The Great War , reports on the events of the war weekly to give the viewer an appreciation for the scale of six years of global conflict.
• The special for the attack on Pearl Harbor chronicled the events minute-by-minute with a series of videos premiering over the course of the "Day of Infamy"'s anniversary in 2020.
• Re-Cut : In June 2020, remade versions of the original 14 episodes of the series with updated production quality were released.
• Red Scare : Episode 10 - "Molotov's Heel on Finland and Nobody to Fight in the West" mentions Communist members of French Parliament being detained in 1939 over concerns about national security along with thousands of Communist activists.
• Riddle Me This : The Introduction to Episode 12 - "The Mysterious Threat to the Royal Navy" takes this form, with Indy hamming it up into two phones at once: Indy : Riddle me this, mister Chamberlain ! Riddle me this, Messieur Daladier! What is it that flies through the skies, dives through the sea, lives in the mud, and needles you mercilessly? Well, whatever it is, it isn't yours. It's all mine !
• Sea Mine : Britain littered the seas with naval minefields to blockade Germany. British shipping early in the war took heavy casualties from new, mysterious German mines. They were discovered to be magnetic when one of them was recovered and a countermeasure was developed.
• Separated by a Common Language : Episode 46 - "The Dictator of France" features an introduction joke and a whole segment about the aluminum/aluminium divide and the etymology of the metal's name. Indy, an American living in Stockholm, Sweden, says aluminum, for what it's worth.
• Episode 12 - "The Mysterious Threat to the Royal Navy" opens with Indy giving the date, November 17, 1939, in his usual style before a swirling transition cuts to him giving a campy impression of The Riddler directed at the leaders of Britain and France in the style of the Batman (1966) version of the character.
• Episode 54 - "Burn London, Burn it's the Blitz" begins with Indy saying on the phone, "No, no. Not the ballroom kind ."
• Slain in Their Sleep : Indie notes in part 3 of the Pearl Harbor special that part of the reason Yamamoto wanted the declaration of war presented to the Americans before bombs started falling in Pearl is that it would be akin to killing a man asleep in his bed, which would be against samurai ethos. You wake him up, then kill him in his bed.

• Stock Footage : Forms the portion of the visuals that isn't comprised of in studio footage of the host at a desk or a map. Usually accompanied by edited in sound effects where appropriate.
• Talking Heads : The primary style of the show is the host, usually Indy (Spartacus hosts the "War Against Humanity" series, and Astrid the "Spies and Ties" episodes on espionage), sitting at a desk narrating about the events of the week with occasional cuts to Stock Footage and maps and photographs.
• Those Wacky Nazis : They're not wacky at all and their crimes and motivations are laid out with stark brutality in the series "War Against Humanity".
• Uranus Is Showing : The episodes covering the Stalingrad encirclement naturally feature quite a few jokes about Operation Uranus' name.
• Urban Warfare : Numerous battles throughout Europe take place in bombed-out towns and cities, with the most notable example being the Battle of Stalingrad, which sees the Germans obliterating the city and the Soviets fortifying the ruins and denying every inch of ground to the invasion force.
• Voice of the Resistance : French general Charles de Gaulle broadcasts from London in June 1940 urging the continued resistance of the French despite the successes of the German invasion.
• Waistcoat of Style : Indy's costume for the series is a dark one of these worn over a white shirt with a red and black tie.
• Exaggerated with the War Against Humanity subseries where Spartacus Olsson takes a closer, more personal look at the suffering directly or indirectly caused by the war.
• War Refugees : Polish Refugees fleeing east from the September 1939 invasion by Germany are caught in a pincer by the simultaneous invasion from the east by the Soviet Union. In 1940 roads are clogged by French and Belgian civilians caught up in the German invasion of their countries. Eight million people are displaced in May 1940 by the war.
• The War Room : The set is dressed to look like one with Indy's desk littered with telephones and books and a map pinned to the wall.
• Winter Warfare : The appropriately named Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union was fought in snowdrifts, as was the invasion of Norway in 1940.
• Would Hurt a Child : Episode 3 of the "War Against Humanity" - "The Strategy of Terror Bombing" *  The episode was originally titled "Bomb the Children". discusses the deaths of civilians to strategic bombing campaigns, particularly the German Luftwaffe's destruction of schools and hospitals in Polish villages and towns and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
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Greatest Events of WWII in Colour

• TV Mini Series

A series of colorized archive footage of important events during World War II. A series of colorized archive footage of important events during World War II. A series of colorized archive footage of important events during World War II.

• Derek Jacobi
• Geoffrey Wawro
• James Holland
• 130 User reviews
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• See the Top 250 TV shows as rated by IMDb users

Episodes 10

• Self - Professor of Military History, University of North Texas

• Self - Author, The War in the West …

• Self - Professor of Military History, University of Buckingham

• Self - Professor of War Studies, University of Potsdam

• Self - Professor of Strategic Studies, University of St. Andrews …

• Self - Author, Inferno: The World at War …

• Self - Royal United Services Institute, London

• Self - Historian, Potsdam, Germany …

• Self - Professor of Maritime History, U.S. Naval War College

• Self - Professor of History, Rutgers University

• Self - Co-Author, Never Call Me a Hero

• Self - University of Leicester

• Self - Author, Rhetoric and Reality in Air Warfare …

• Self - Associate Professor of Military History, Old Dominion University, U.S.

• Self - Co-Author, Shattered Sword …

• Self - Author, Operation Fortitude: The Greatest Hoax of the Second World War …

• Self - Military Historian …
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List of World War 2 Themed Mini-Series and Television Series

List with all known World War 2 themed mini-series and television series which were produced. Click on a series title to find more information and media about that particular series.

Disclaimer : We still have to add various World War 2 mini-series and television series, so the list is still incomplete. Also we’re looking for reviews, synopsis, press releases, stills, trailers (free to use) and other interesting information or facts about any of the below series, if you can help, please contact us . Small update, I’ve decided to create a new World War 1 themed list, so this will be exclusive to World War 2 themed series. 

• NEW: 16 Movies & Series about D-Day, Normandy during World War 2

Last updated: May 31, 2019

12 O’Clock High also known as Twelve O’Clock High (1964) War, Drama TV-Series – 3 Seasons (1964-1967)

This series chronicled the adventures, in the air and on the ground, of the men of the 918th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Eighth Air Force. First commanded by irascible General Frank Savage, and later by Colonel Joe Gallagher, the son of a Pentagon General. The group is stationed in England, and flies long-range bombing missions into German-held Europe.

‘Allo ‘Allo (1982) War, Comedy TV-Series – 9 Seasons (1982-1992)

A Family At War (1970) War, Drama TV-Series – 3 Seasons (1970-1972)

The lower middle class Ashton family of the city of Liverpool deal with life on the home front during the Second World War.

A Town Like Alice (1981) War, Drama, Romance Mini-Series – 1 Season – (1981)

Set against the brutal chaos of World War II, a love story begins that will take two lovers through a living nightmare of captivity, across three continents and two decades. From the steamy jungles of Malaya to the dusty and desolate outback of Australia. Based on Nevil Shute’s international bestselling novel A TOWN LIKE ALICE follows the lives of Jean Paget and Joe Harman. Meeting in Malaya – she an attractive young English captive and he a cheerful Australian POW tortured for a simple act of kindness. Separated first by their captors then by the distance of passing years, the two are finally reunited in the rugged outback of Australia-to face a challenge every bit as demanding as their wartime trials.

Above and Beyond (2006) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2006)

True Story about the Atlantic Ferry Operation during World War II.

Angels of War also known as Angely voyny (2012) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2012)

World War II. Nazi-occupied Ukraine. Germans set up a camp called “Hope”, a site of medical experiments on children. Twins are designated as experimental subjects. So when one of the twins, Petya, escapes from the camp, the Germans raise an alarm, trying to find the runaway. The life of the entire village turns to hell: partisans need to consider their hide-outs with extreme prudence, locals are suffering from inspections and local police are doing their best to find the escapee.

The plot reveals Petya’s life as well as a love story of a young couple. Under the constant threat of death, deceived and desperate, the characters will display an immense capacity for resistance.

Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001) War, Drama, Biography Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2001)

The life of Anne Frank and her family from 1939 to 1945: pre-war fears, invasion of Netherlands by German troops, hiding in Amsterdam, deportation to the camps, return of Anne’s father.

Band of Brothers (2001) War, Drama, Action Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2001)

The story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord, through V-J Day.

Bez prava na vybor also known as Kasym (2013) War, Adventure Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2013)

Based on the true story of Kasym Kaysenov, a famous Soviet scout and officer of special reconnaissance, a national hero of Kazakhstan and a man of exceptional bravey, who fought on the grounds of Ukraine during World War II.

It’s summer of 1942. The Germans are planning a massive operations against the Soviet lands, and Kasym is tasked with destroying enemy fuel storage depots. As his entire subversion group is demised, Kasym filnds himself alone behind the enemy lines. In this life and death situation Kasym manages to complete his mission with the help of local civilians.

Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976) War, Drama, Action TV-Series – 2 Seasons – (1976-1978)

The dramatized World War II adventures of U.S. Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington and his U.S. Marine Attack Squadron 214. (The Black Sheep Squadron).

Blut und Ehre: Jugend unter Hitler also known as Blood and Honor: Youth under Hitler (1982) Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (1982)

This series follows a German boys involvement in the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) during the pre World War 2 years.

Bomb Girls (2012) War, Drama TV-Series – 2 Seasons – (2012-2014)

Set in the 1940s, Bomb Girls tells the remarkable stories of the women who risked their lives in a munitions factory building bombs for the Allied forces fighting on the European front. The series delves into the lives of these exceptional women from all walks of life – peers, friends and rivals – who find themselves thrust into new worlds and changed profoundly as they are liberated from their home and social restrictions.

Broadside (1964) Comedy TV-Series – 1 Season – (1964-1965)

Lt. Anne Morgan and her fellow Waves are posted to the backwater station on Ranakai, much to the displeasure of Commander Adrian. So his South Seas idyll, including gourmet cook, isn’t disrupted has Adrian scheming to transfer the women.

Cambridge Spies (2003) Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2003)

The true story of a group of Cambridge University Students who are recruited to spy for the Soviet Union in the early 1930s. The group was known as the Cambridge Spy Rin, Cambridge Four, Cambridge Five and Magnificent Five.

Casablanca (1983) War, Drama TV-Series – 1 Season – (1983)

Pre-quel to Casablanca (1942)

Changi (2001) Drama, Music, Romance Mini-series – 1 Season – (2001)

Changi follows the story of six young Australian mates who go to war. They land in Singapore in 1942, just in time for the surrender. They are marched off to Changi prison camp along with 15,000 others. Together, the six boys struggle to survive three and a half years of incarceration.

Close to the Enemy (2016) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2016)

Set in a bomb damaged London hotel during the aftermath of World War II “Close to the Enemy” is a thriller that follows British intelligence officer Captain Callum Ferguson. His last task for the Army is to ensure that Dieter, a captured German Scientist develops cutting edge jet engine technology for the British. Such expertise is becoming vital to Britain as they try to maintain any kind of superiority in the emerging Cold War. Callum employs unorthodox methods in his attempt to convince Dieter to work for the British, eventually developing a friendship with him. A friendship which becomes threatened as those around him believe that Dieter may have stood by as innocents in labour camps perished under the rule of the Nazi party.

Colditz (1972) War, Drama TV-Series – 2 Seasons – (1972-1974)

The prisoners in Colditz Castle make many attempts to escape captivity from the arrival of the first British prisoners after Dunkirk in 1940 until the liberation of the castle by the Americans in 1945. Colditz was a “special” camp, designed by the Nazis to hold high-risk and politically important prisoners.

Come in Spinner (1990) Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (1990)

Sydney’s social upheaval in 1944 includes the effects of the war and the influx of American soldiers. In this world of chance three women play for the highest stakes – survival, security and love.

Coming Home also known as Heimkehr (1998) Drama, Romance – 1 Season – (1998)

Drama series about the Dunbar and Carey-Lewis families, before, during and after World War 2.

Czterej pancerni i pies (1966) War, Adventure TV-Series – 3 Seasons – (1966-1970)

Crossings (1986) War, Drama, Romance Mini-Series – 1 Season – (1986)

An industrialist meets the wife of a French ambassador on a transatlantic voyage to Europe. As time and the war progresses, she returns to America when Paris becomes occupied by the Nazis and again encounters the industrialist. An affair ensues. Meanwhile, her husband is rumored to be a Nazi collaborator, but whose side is he really working for?

Danger UXB (1979) Drama, Action – 1 Season – (1979)

Brian Ash is a young lieutenant who is assigned to a UXB unit in the early days of World War II. UXB (UneXploded Bomb) is the signal that an aerial bomb has not exploded. Ash’s job is to deactivate German bombs, some of which have fuses specifically designed to kill him.

Das Boot (1985) War, Drama, Thriller Mini-Series – 1 Season – (1985-1987)

“Das Boot” is based on the 1973 novel by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim and depicts the story of the German U-96 submarine and its u-boat crew during the early days of World War 2. As the new Lieutenant Werner discovers the life at sea, he discovers the harsh reality of the u-boat crew’s life, to be constantly watching and avoiding enemy ships whilst on a terrifying patrol mission. Das Boot is told from the German perspective, the crew aboard U-96 are portrayed in a hopeless life-and-death struggle coping with endless hours of loneliness and desperation, giving way to terror when confronted by the enemy.

Das Boot (2018) War, Drama, Thriller – 2 Seasons – (2018-2019)

Dieppe (1993) War, Docudrama – 1 Season – (1993)

Dunkirk (2004) War, Docudrama – 1 Season – (2004)

A dramatized documentary about the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in May 1940.

Edderkoppen also known as The Spider (2000) Drama, Crime Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2000)

A reporter, Bjarn Madsen, is drawn into the dark side of post-war Copenhagen, filled with corrupt police, as he attempts to uncover a crime syndicate on an unprecedented level.

Eien no 0 also known as The Eternal Zero  (2015) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2015)

Enemy at the Door (1978) War, Drama TV-Series – 2 Seasons – (1978-1980)

A compelling drama series about life in the British Channel Islands under German occupation during World War II; passionate battles against restraint, pragmatic struggles with principle and internal conflicts rage as fiercely as those on the battlefield. Ultimately, both sides find they are compromised as much by the actions of their compatriots as they are by the enemy that is always at the door.

Eyes of Dawn also known as Yeo-myoung-eui Noon-dong-ja  & Years of Upheaval (1991)

During the Japanese control of Korea during WWII and before, they used Korea women as prostitutes for their Military Officers and Korean men as grunt soldiers to fight in the trenches during the war with the USA.

Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (2014) Drama, Romance, Biography – 1 Season – (2014)

A look at the 007 creator, Ian Fleming, and his early life set against the permissive society of World War II-torn London. London, 1939, Ian Fleming is an irresponsible playboy living in the shadow of his dead war hero father, his successful author brother and his domineering mother. When the Second World War breaks out, Ian suddenly finds himself with a job in Naval Intelligence.

Fortunes of War (1987)

Guy Pringle and his new wife, Harriet, are members of the English community in Bucharest, Romania on the eve of World War II. After the war begins, they cross paths with diplomats, literary types, spies, penniless royals, gays and lesbians, as they flee before the advancing Germany armies to Athens and then to Cairo.

Foyle’s War (2002) Crime, Drama TV-Series – 8 Seasons – (2002-2015)

From Here to Eternity (1979)

Generation War also known as Unsere Mütter, Unsere Väter (2003) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2003)

Heimat – Eine deutsche Chronik (1984)

The village of Schabbach experiences the shifting fortunes of Germany from 1919 to 1982.

Hidden Children also known as La fuga degli innocenti (2004)

Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003) War, Drama, Biography Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2003)

Holocaust (1978)

Home also known as Hui Jia (2012) War, Drama TV-Series – 1 Season – (2012)

Vic Zhou plays a Taiwanese medic in World War II who was deployed to China as a Japanese military doctor. He endured much internal turmoil as his allegiance was split between his Japanese ruler and his Chinese ancestry. At the end of the war, a Chinese general saved him from being executed with the rest of Japanese soldiers. Ever since his rescue, he had been searching for a way to get back home. Back to Taiwan.

Home Fires (2015) War, Drama TV-Series- 2 Seasons – (2015-2016)

Drama following a group of inspirational women in a rural Cheshire community with the shadow of World War II casting a dark cloud over their lives.

How I Unleashed World War II also known as Jak rozpetalem druga wojne swiatowa  (1970)

Hunting the Gauleiter also known as Okhota na gaulyaytera (2012) War, Drama TV-Series – 1 Season – (2012)

Minsk, 1970. A formal meeting takes place to discuss awarding The Young Communist League of the Byelorussian SSR with the special Order. Maria Arkhipova, now an elderly woman, occupies an honourable seat on the panel, young and over-confident Galina Pomazan, whose heroic and impressive wartime record means she has the privilege of opening the meeting. The officer of the State Security Service who is chairing the meeting wants to prevent an encounter between Maria and Galina, which he believes could stir up the past with serious ramifications.

Indeed, during Galina’s dramatic recounting of the execution of the Byelorussian people by German hangman, Gauleiter Wilhelm Kraube (based on the Nazi Wilhelm Kube), Maria can no longer suppress her anger and challenges Galina. She believes that there must be another version of events that explains Kraube’s death from the official account on record. These two women and sisters in arms, must put their differences aside if they are to find out the truth. But its secrets are closely guarded, and exposing a cover-up will not be eas

Ike: The War Years (1979)

During World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower serves as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. On a personal level, he has an extramarital affair with his driver Kay Summersby.

Island at War (2004) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2004)

Set during the occupation of the Channel Islands,  on the fictional St. Gregory Island, during World War II. The story shows how Island life changed overnight after a German invasion. Islanders were restricted to walking and cycling, town names were changed to German names, clocks were set to continental time, and no society could meet without the permission of German High Command. The focus is on three families, the Dorrs, the Jonases and the Mahys, as they struggle on with day to day life under the restrictive new system.

Jenny’s War (1985)

This fact-based story follows a woman who launches a rescue of her Royal Air Force pilot son, who was shot down over Germany in 1941. Getting no help from the underground, she sets up her own rescue mission.

Karol, un uomo diventato Papa also known as Karol: A Man Who Became Pope (2005) 

The life of the pope John-Paul II, from his youth as a writer, actor, and athlete in war-torn occupied Poland to his election as Pope at the age of 58.

Kessler (1981)

In the years after World War II, the tables have turned: ambitious, cruel Gestapo-officer Ludwig Kessler, the most implacable hunter of every opponent to the Third Reich, can no longer deny its rule is militarily annihilated by the Allies. He must now flee himself as he is a war criminal accused of the torture and execution of numerous victims. He manages to get away with a fortune and starts a new life as a businessman, still hoping for another rise of the master race to power, in which his part should be even more prominent, from a (neo-)fascist colony in Paraguay. Meanwhile, Albert Foiret and some of his former Lifeline colleagues play a part in the hunt for the former master-hunter.

Konvoy PQ-17 (2004) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2004)

June 27, 1942. From Reykjavik to Arkhangelsk went convoy which has received the code name: PQ-17. The way for the ships with cargoes for Russia laid through northern Atlantic where they were awaited by a chilling wind, storming sea and fatal attacks of German submarines and bombers. But the main threat represented German battleship Tirpitz, according to one of the messages which occurrence has forced English Admiralty to give an order on tap of the ships of covering, and to carriers – to disperse and to break on one by one, relying only on the success, courage and bravery of the seamen.

Krasnaya kapella (2004) War TV-Series – 1 Season – (2004)

World War II, Paris. The head of a large trading company with branches throughout Europe is Jean Gilbert (pseudonym of Leopold Trepper) – Scout No. 1, organizer and leader of the Soviet intelligence network in Western Europe during World War II, known as the “Red Chapel”. The unofficial title of Leopold Trepper “Scout No. 1” is recognized by all the special services of the world. The spy network created by him is to this day considered the most effective, and its whole story is a ready-made screenplay, where numerous radio operators actually called themselves “pianists”, and their boss “conductor.” The materials of the Gestapo network called “Red Chapel”. Of the 1,500 radiograms transmitted, the Nazis managed to intercept only two hundred. The data obtained in the Soviet Union from Leopold Trepper, influenced the outcome of key battles, including the Battle of Stalingrad.

The German detective Karl Giering doesn’t suppose that the man he has been searching for for many years is his neighbor. Gilbert and Giering are not only neighbors, they are even friends, and walking their dogs together on the banks of the Seine. Giering is mortally ill. Doctors gave him half a year. He has already lived three times and is well aware that in this world he is only because the “conductor” has not yet been caught …

Ladoga (2014) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2014)

Winter of 1941 in the besieged city of Leningrad, Soviet counterintelligence learns that the Germans are preparing a diversion on the “Road of Life” – the only way in which food and other goods are delivered to the city. Most likely, the saboteur is one of the drivers of the “lorry” working on the frozen Lake Ladoga. Find and stop the enemy should the captain of the NKVD Sergienko …”

Land Girls (2009) Drama TV-Series – 3 Seasons – (2009-2011)

Follow the lives, loves and highs and lows of four members of the Women’s Land Army who are working at the Hoxley Estate during World War II.

Leningrad (2007)

The series is dedicated to one of the most tragic pages of the Second World War – the 900-day blockade of Leningrad, which lasted from September 8, 1941 to January 27, 1944. The time of action is November 1941. Monuments and majestic domes of cathedrals besieged by the Germans of Leningrad are tightened with a camouflage net, buildings are destroyed, trams are thrown. The supply of food to the city is almost interrupted. The only connection with the Great Land is the road through Lake Ladoga, on which the lives of 2,887,000 people depend.

Lili & Marleen (1994)

Line of Separation also known as Tannbach & Tannbach II (2015) Drama TV-Series – 2 Seasons – (2015-2018)

Spring 1945, just before Germany’s zero hour. In Tannbach, a fanatical band of Nazi soldiers stages one last murderous attack on their fellow citizens before the arrival of the Americans, who finally end the war. It is an uneasy peace, however, that collapses when the Russian troops arrive. Both superpowers claim Tannbach for themselves in this miniature version of the dawn of the Cold War.

The war generation gradually begins shifting into the postwar generation. And the town of Tannbach awaits its great moment on the world’s stage. Spanning approx. 10 years, from the end of the war to the building of the Wall, this story relates the fate of Tannbach, a town cut in two by democracy and communism.

Everybody has something to hide, change or forget here. Everybody wants to reshape their biography. Everybody – except, perhaps, 16-year-old Baroness Anna von Striesow, who is revolted by the horrors committed by the Nazis and who now wants to give a new world order a chance: Communism, at the side of the young man she loves, the refugee Friedrich.

Over the years, Anna and Friedrich begin to lose their footing among the swirling maze of incorrigible and denazified Nazis, idealistic socialists and revanchist communists, humanity and inhumanity –all crowned by the ultimate absurdity of a carelessly drawn border between East and West Germany running through the middle of the town.

Inspired by the true events spanning the years 1945 to 1961, “Line of Separation” brings into play a range of destinies – perpetrators, victims, opportunists, winners and losers – who emerged from Generation War only to find themselves trapped in a new and potentially more devastating conflict, the Cold War…

Matador (1978)

Men and Beast also known as Lyudi i zveri (1962)

The plot is based on the dramatic fate of the Soviet officer Alexei Pavlov. Once captured during World War II and among the displaced persons, the hero did not immediately decide to return to the USSR. Having traveled in a foreign land, Alexey returned to his homeland and, not finding sympathy and understanding among his relatives, hunted down by fear for their destinies, went to Zaporizhia, where he met with random fellow travelers who were traveling from Moscow to the south. Doctor Anna Andreevna and her daughter Tanya were the first to whom Alexey Pavlov told about his ordeals.

Monsignor Renard (2000)

Mussolini: The Untold Story (1985)

Mussolini and I (1985)

A compelling drama and documentary chronicling the life and death of Il Duce (Bob Hoskins), from his days as a terrorist, to his alliance with Hitler, to the betrayal of his son-in-law, and untimely demise.

My Mother and Other Strangers (2016) War, Drama, Romance Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2016-2017)

In 1943, the Coyne family and their neighbours struggle to maintain a normal life after a US Army Air Force base is set up in the middle of their rural parish.

Nancy Wake (1987) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (1987)

The remarkable true story of Australia’s wartime legend the ‘White Mouse’

Någonstans i Sverige (1973)

In the end of 1939 the Soviet Union attacks Finland. In Sweden 100,000 men are quickly drafted to guard the northeastern border. Men, who have almost no military training, are suddenly expected to behave as full-fledged soldiers. In one of the units we find 107 Andersson, 111 ‘Loffe’ and a bunch of men with nicknames as ‘Morsgrisen’ and Stora Norrland. After some months the war in Finland is over, but World War II continues and the unit moves to the western border of Sweden, where the men have to stay for many years to come. Sweden is not at war, but some of the men are frightened that the Nazis will one day attack also this country.

The years passes by without much drama. There are some confrontations with German soldiers on the other side of the border, but the problems the men in the unit encounter are mainly of a more social nature. The young staff sergeant develops a liaison with a woman in a nearby village although he is already engaged with a girl back home, and in Stockholm ‘Loffe’s’ wife gets entangled in a sexual affair with a rich black-marketeer. When the war ends in May 1945 the men in the unit have been together for more than five years, but they never meet again.

Ne pokiday menya (“Don’t Leave Me”) (2014) War Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2014)

To accomplish a particularly important task, the veteran reconnaissance officer Captain Mikhasyov receives a special reconnaissance group of four fighters under his command. Only these fighters are … young girls. These yesterday’s schoolgirls have to penetrate the communications center of the enemy army and paralyze its work, ensuring the success of the offensive operation of the Soviet troops.

Nochnye lastochki also known as Night Swallows (2012) War, Drama TV-Series – 1 Season – (2012)

On 8th October 1941, Stalin issued a secret order forming a female aviation unit. Known later as the 46th “Taman” Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, a unit like this had never existed before. Their operational record began at the Salsk Steppes and the Don battles and ended in Nazi Germany. Flying PO-2 night bombers or ‘mules’, these brave female pilots flew harassment bombing and precision bombing missions, which successfully destroyed the enemy’s river crossings, fortifications, machinery and manpower. The regiment flew over 23,000 sorties and is said to have dropped 3,000 tons of bombs. The most highly decorated female unit in the Soviet Air Force, each pilot had flown over 1000 missions by the end of the war with twenty-three pilots awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union. Fighting with equal bravery and skill as their male counterparts earned them the name ‘Night Swallows’ by the Germans.

Ofitserskie zheny (“Officers’Wives”) (2015) Drama TV-Series – 1 Season – (2015)

Once an Eagle (1976)

The story of two Army officers, one a ruthless, career-obsessed schemer, the other his exact opposite, and their personal and professional lives from the end of World War I to the beginning of Vietnam.

Oppenheimer (1980)

Biography of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, only to find himself suspected as a security risk in the 1950s because of his increasing ambivalence about the effect of his life’s work.

Orde Wingate (1976)

The story of Major-General Orde Wingate, creator of the British Army’s Chindits.

Parshivye ovtsy (2010)

The story is set during the World War II. Seven prisoners manage to escape from the penitentiary and hide in a small village forsaken of God and men. Soon after they respire, they face a new hardship – a German subversive group appears near the village. And as the fate decree, the former ‘enemies’ of the Motherland turn into its fierce defenders. War mutilates lives of millions of people, but sometimes it is the war that makes even the most thorough scoundrel in the world to remember that he is also a man.

Perlasca, un eroe italiano (2002) also known as Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man

Piece of Cake (1988)

Stories of the men of the RAF Hornet Squadron during the early days of World War II.

Private Schulz (1981) Drama, Crime, Comedy -TV-Series – 1 Season – (1981)

World War II, Germany. The Germans have a plan to destroy the British economy by flooding the country with forged £5 notes. Private Schult is coerced into organizing a gang of unwilling volunteers.

Privet ot Katyushi (2013)

Russian mini-series, translated as “Greetings from Katyusha”

Pursuit also known as Twist of Fate (1989)

SS-Lieutenant Colonel Helmut Von Schreader conceives an unusual plan to escape the aftermath of the Second World War by disguising himself as a Jewish Concentration Camp victim. Under the alias of Ben Grossman, Von Schreader is liberated from the camps and immigrates to Palestine where he joins the Zionist movement. Twenty five years later, living as a hero of Israel and a General in the Israeli Army, the underground SS organization ODESSA locates Von Schreader and orders to him to again serve the cause of the Third Reich.

Résistance (2014) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2014)

Restless (2012)

A young woman finds out that her mother worked as a spy for the British Secret Service during World War II and has been on the run ever since.

Röd snö (1985)

November 1942. Young Norwegian Anne Eriksen returns to a small boarding-house in Dalsland, Sweden near the Norwegian border, where she has spent the summers during her childhood. The boarding-house is run by Ruth Lind and her helpful but unfortunate son Evert. It is very close to the German occupied Norway and the surroundings are far from peaceful and quiet. Who should you trust, who should you distrust?

Secret Agent X-9 (1945)

American, Chinese and Australian agents join forces to stop the Nazis from obtaining the formula for synthetic fuel.

Secret Army (1977)

During World War II, a Belgian resistance movement called Lifeline, based in Brussels, organises the return of Allied airmen who have been shot down by the Luftwaffe to the United Kingdom.

Seventeen Moments of Spring also known as Semnadtsat mgnoveniy vesny (1973)

A 1973 Soviet twelve-part television series, directed by Tatyana Lioznova and based on the novel of the same title by Yulian Semyonov. The series portrays the exploits of Maxim Isaev, a Soviet spy operating in Nazi Germany under the name Max Otto von Stierlitz, depicted by Vyacheslav Tikhonov. Stierlitz is tasked with disrupting the negotiations between Karl Wolff and Allen Dulles taking place in Switzerland, aimed at forging a separate peace between Germany and the Western Allies. The series is considered the most successful Soviet espionage thriller ever made, and is one of the most popular television series in Russian history.

Schicksalsjahre also known as Shades of Happiness (2011)

Sibiriada also known as Siberiade (1979)

The story about a very small god-forgotten village in Siberia reflects the history of Russia from the beginning of the century till early 80s. Three generations try to find the land of happiness and to give it to the people. One builds the road through taiga to the star over horizon, the second ‘build communism’ and the third searches for oil. The oil is found but the destruction of the old cemetry and everything the people of the village cared for followed to get the ‘black treasure’ of Siberia.

Small Island (2009)

Sneg i pepel (2015)

The Soviet Union, 1942. The Germans are about to mount an attack on the Russians, but at the same time there is a saboteur among the Russian Camp and it’s up to a KGB Major and his team to stop him/her before it’s too late.

Soldaty svobody (1977)

Tens of images of historical characters are shown. People who have taken part in fighting against Nazi Germany as well as the activity of the leaders of the communist parties of the USSR, Rumania, Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Germany during the World War II.

Speer und er also known as Speer & Hitler (2005) War, Biography, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2005)

A reassessment of the role Albert Speer played in the Third Reich. Speer, who was ultimately convicted at the Nuremburg trials and served a 20-year prison sentence, was known for designing many of the Third Reich’s buildings and for being Hitler’s minister for war production.

Spies also known as Razvedchitsy (2013)

In 1941 Russia, Arina and Zoya are hired by NKVD to become secrets agents and infiltrate enemy lines. They have to fight adversaries and enemies but also their own fear and convictions.

Spies of Warsaw (2013)

A military attaché at the French embassy is drawn into a world of abduction, betrayal and intrigue in the diplomatic salons and back alleys of Warsaw.

Smert shpionam! also known as Spies Must Die (2013)

August 1944. The Soviet Department of Military Counterespionage is trying to identify an enemy secret agent. Dramatic events unfold as it becomes clear that the spy is one of the Soviet army’s own men.

SS-GB (2017) Drama, Sci-Fi Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2017)

A British homicide detective investigates a murder in a German-occupied England in a parallel universe where the Nazis won World War II.

Stalingrad (1989)

Stawka wieksza niz zycie (1968) also known as More Than Life at Stake

Stanislaw Kolicki is a spy who operates as Hans Kloss in the Nazi Abwehr during the second World War.

Sunset at Chaopraya also known as Khu Gam (1995)

Tanamera – Lion of Singapore (1989)

Set in Singapore and begins before World War 2 and just just after. Follows the lives of John Dexter, an Englishman and Julie Soong, who are from prominent families. They would fall in love but their families would object to their union. Julie’s family would send her to America while John would go to England and while still reeling from losing Julie would get involved with someone who would get pregnant so he has to marry her. They would later reunite when she returns. They would still be in love but the war would keep them apart when John signs on to help the military.

Tears of the Yang Tse also known as Yījiāng Chūnshuǐ Xiàng Dōng Liú (1947)

1930’s China. The village of a poor family is taken over by the occupying Japanese army. One son, Zhongliang, leaves his wife and young son to join a medic group for the Chinese Army. The other son, Zhangmin goes into hiding to protect his family. The focus shifts back and forth from the brothers’ parents and Zhongliang’s wife and son to Zhongliang’s newfound life of luxury in a town not too far away. The plight of Zhongliang’s mother, his wife, Sufan and her son, Kongeson is contrasted with Zhongliang’s rise in a flourishing company.

Tenko (1981)

After the Japanese invasion of Singapore in February 1942, a group of British, Dutch and Australian women are held in a Japanese internment camp on a Japanese-occupied island between Singapore and Australia.

The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (1943)

Just before World War II, the Chinese and American governments mount a joint operation to prevent the Germans and Japanese from taking over the strategic island of Mandon.

The Alive and The Dead also known as Zhivye i myortvye (1964)

Journalist Ivan Sintsov news of the treacherous attack by Nazi Germany during the catches of southern vacation. As a war correspondent , he becomes a w (2008)itness to the difficult events of the first months of the war – many departures in 1941.

The Apostel also known as Apostol (2008)

The Attackers also known as Istrebiteli (2013)

Follows the lives of a Soviet fighter squadron on Eastern Front. They fly Yaks out of a remote airfield against air and ground targets. Rather than being an all-out action movie, it looks at the relationships between the individual pilots, their commanders and ground crew. In WWII Soviet both men and women were pilots. The series is well made with good production values and the air battles are realistic and believable. It also does a good job of showing the realities of war, the dilemmas faced at times by those who fought and surprisingly, for a Russian-made series, it doesn’t demonize the Germans to any great extent.

The Attackers 2 – Last Flight also known as Istrebiteli 2 – Poslednij Boj (2015)

Col Bestuzhev is back to form a regiment with the newest YAK-3 fighters. He gathers his old comrades to form the most powerful regiment of fighter pilots. Their challenge – uncover German defense plans code named “Pandora’s box”.

The Bletchley Circle (2012)

In 1952, four women who worked at the wartime code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park, reunite to track down a serial killer.

The Blue Bicycle also known as La bicyclette bleue (2000)

Léa, the daughter of a wealthy Bordeaux family, is spending happy days at the Montillac family estate at the end of the 1930s. Radiant with youth, she charms all the men who meet her on the blue bicycle offered to her by her father. She is in deep love with Laurent, when she tells him, he lets her down. He is in love with Camille, Lea’s best friend. The war sounds the death knell of her carelessness. She takes refuge in Paris. There, she finds Laurent, his secret love, who has just married Camille. During a party given him, she meets mysterious François -a friend of Laurent who works for the government. He goes right on and starts to win Lea’s heart, but she is not interested. Laurent has to go to the front-line. He asks Lea to stay with Camille in Paris, to look after her and the unborn baby. But the German troops are progressing, and Léa and Camille are forced to leave the capital.

The Bomb also known as Bomba (2013)

The Cadets also known as Kursanty (2004)

The Camomile Lawn (1992)

In 1939, young Oliver, Calypso, Polly and Walter visit friends and family in Cornwall. Spanish Civil War is over and WW2 has begun, so they enjoy their love life while they can. Decades later, they gather again, this time for a funeral.

The Cazalets (2001)

Drama series about the life of a large privileged family in the years 1937 to 1947.

The Cowra Breakout (1984)

In August 1944, 1104 Japanese prisoners of war at the Australian POW camp at Cowra stage a mass breakout. Four guards are killed in the escape, and 231 prisoners die by wounds sustained or suicide, while 334 prisoners are recaptured over the subsequent nine days.

The Dirty Dozen (1988) The show follows the World War II exploits of a group of military prisoners turned soldiers. The soldiers were led by the tough as nails Lt. Danko who assigned each squad member a place based on their abilities.

The Halcyon (2017)

The story of a bustling and glamorous five star hotel at the center of London society and a world at war.

The Heavy Water War also known as The Saboteurs & Kampen om Tungtvannet (2015) War, Drama Mini-Series – 1 Season – (2015-2016)

The Last Armoured Train also kown as Posledniy bronepoezd (2006)

The Last Bastion (1984)

The Last Convertible (1979)

A World War II coming-of-age drama about five men who meet in the fall of 1940 at Harvard. The war affects all of them, each in different ways. A green 1939 Packard convertible is at the center of the story, as is Chris Farris, a beautiful Radcliffe girl.

The Man in the High Castle (2015) Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller TV-Series – 4 Seasons – (2015-2019)

What would it be like if the Allied Powers had lost World War II, and Japan and Germany ruled the United States of America?

The Nightmare Years (1989)

Based on the historical work “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, “The Nightmare Years” tells the story of William Shirer, American journalist who, during his days of correspondence as a foreign press in report in 1930s Germany, had to deal with the growing oppression of the Nazi regime, the increasing censorship of the press, and finally the prospect of World War. In the last days of peace, Shirer also struggles to have his German wife and child escape to the United States.

The Pacific (2010)

The Pacific Theatre of World War II, as seen through the eyes of several young Marines.

The Penal Battalion also known as Shtrafbat (2004)

The authors of the television series studied archival materials and military chronicles. The last series ends with a demonstration of the list of penalty parts, which from 1942 to 1945 fought on the Soviet fronts.

The Rat Patrol (1966)

The Saboteur also known as Diversant (2004)

The Saboteur 2 also known as Diversant 2: Konets voyny (2007)

The Shield and The Sword also known as Shchit i mech (1968)

The Sinking of the Laconia (2010)

Drama series telling the true story of the sinking of the liner Laconia by a German U-boat in 1942 through the eyes of six survivors.

The Winds of War (1983)

The trials of the Henry and Jastrow families in the early years of World War II.

Three Days in the Life of Lt. Kravtsov also known as Tri dnya leytenanta Kravtsova (2012)

Platoon commander Lt. Kravtsov reports for active duty. Military ‘fate’ allocates for such lieutenants only three days of life, on average. During this time, Kravtsov should become the commander of his troops and lead them in a hopeless attack, to save the regiment coming to the rescue. The question is, can he survive in these three days?

Till We Meet Again (1989)

Made for TV movie revolving around the lives of three young women as they deal with the incidents around them. Along the way they find romance and become swept up in family intrigue. Events from 1913- 1956 are included in this adaptation of Judith Krantz’s bestseller.

Time of Honor also known as Czas Honoru (2008)

Follows a group of young officers parachuted back into Poland to help the resistance movement during World War 2.

Time of Honor: Uprising also known as Czas Honoru: Powstanie (2014)

Season 4.5 of the acclaimed Telewizja Polska TV series illustrates in great detail the romance, fallacy and tragedy of the Warsaw Uprising (AKA Powstanie) of August 1944.

To Kill Stalin also known as Ubit Stalina (2013)

Fictional mini-series set in late 1941 when the Nazi forces are at the outskirts of Moscow only to find themselves thwarted by the Soviet soldiers and an early winter. To compliment the invasion the Reich seeks to kill Joseph Stalin in the hope of striking a shattering blow to the Soviet people. This operation is the mission of a special forces unit of Abwehr officers and aided by a Nazi agent planted within the Soviet Army. But brave and resourceful officers of the USSR’s Ministry of State Security stand in their way.

Tokyo Air Raid also known as Tôkyô daikûshû (2008)

Tokyo Trial (2016)

A historical drama that focuses on a decade-long investigation into events in the Pacific during and after WWII.

Under a Deluge of Bullets also known as Pod livnem pul (2006)

Crimea, Ukraine, ca 1942. WWII. An elite squad of “razvedchiks” – army scouts – is sent deep behind German lines on a series of dangerous, but vital, reconnaissance missions for the Red Army.

War and Remembrance (1988)

The trials of the Henry and the Jastrow families amidst the events after the U.S.’s entry into World War II.

We’ll Meet Again (1982)

It’s 1943 and the American Air Force has come to Market Weatherby, a small East Anglian town. The war weary British and the brash American GIs sometimes clash, but friendships are also forged.

Wish Me Luck (1987)

1 thought on “List of World War 2 Themed Mini-Series and Television Series”

I suggest you read Gold Warriors by Sterling Seagrave. I just finished filming a documentary with The History Channel about this.

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