Reviews and recommendations on films, documentaries and other DVD releases on European History.
While the historical importance of the Western Front is still debated (did it defeat the Nazis or save western Europe from Stalin instead?), filmmakers haven't hesitated in reproducing the battles in hundreds of films and tv shows. None are 100% perfect, but this list concentrates on those that combine entertainment with realism and accuracy, although I do allow some fun in at the end.
Nazi Germany was beaten on the Eastern Front but, perhaps inevitably, films involving the Western Front are far more popular in the West. There are several obvious reasons why, but quality isn't one of them: many strong, powerful pieces of cinema have been made about the battles, and these are ten of the best.
There was much more to World War Two in Europe than the Western and Eastern Fronts (and there's a huge amount outside the continent too, but you'll need to ask one of my fellow Guides about that!) and these are films based elsewhere: at sea, in Germany and in numerous other regions.
Thanks to the valiant efforts of television producers the world over (and a few dubious cable channels), you don't have to learn about the past through books. Instead, you can sit back, relax and have your history accompanied by genuine footage from the time. This is my list of the best you can buy: some great series haven’t been released.
Although there are far more films and documentaries about the second World War than the first, viewers can still enjoy a range of quality movies and historical programs. Of course, it's probably no co-incidence that many of the best films predate WW2, when 'The War to End All Wars' still dominated the minds and lives of Europeans.
