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.
1. Schindler's List
If you’ve never heard of Schindler's List, a story about Oscar Schindler and the Holocaust, you’ve no excuse for not buying and watching this now. Yes, it is easy to criticise, yes, there are factual flaws, but who cares: the content and message is of the most monumental importance and we have already forgotten the lessons contained within. Luckily for viewers, it's well shot, well paced and, ultimately, full of hope, although Come and See is arguably a better film about WW2 atrocity.
2. Das Boot
Long, claustrophobic and often incredibly tense, Das Boot is the story of life and death on a German U-Boat in 1941. The film regularly features on Top 100 lists of every genre and it's a tour de force in emotion, psychology, fear and suspense. Of course, it is set almost entirely at sea, so it's not one for tank addicts!3. Bent
The Nazi genocide encompassed many groups and among the first were homosexuals. Bent, originally a stage play staring Richard Gere in America and Ian McKellen (now Gandalf) in the UK, is a story of love and identity based largely in Dachau. The film is strong and important, reminding us of some of the Holocausts oft-forgotten victims…of course, just like the Jews, homosexuals are still persecuted around the world, frequently suffering intolerance in supposedly enlightened regions like the US.4. The White Rose
There was resistance to the Nazi regime within Germany, and this film shows the true story of 'The White Rose', otherwise known as the Scholl group after their leader, Sophie Scholl, a union of young people with a professor who campaigned against Hitler. They were executed for their opinions.5. Europa Europa
This superb black comedy-drama – there is humour, despite the horror of the conflict shown – is a generally autobiographical account of Solomon Perel, a teenage Jew who survives Nazi occupation by becoming a member of the Hitler Youth, who falls in love with an 'Aryan' and who finds himself torn between the genuine comradeship of his Youth brothers and the reality of their hatred. Engaging, thought provoking, often absurd and, we must trust, real.6. The Pianist
I've not seen this, but Roman Polanski's tale of survival in the Warsaw ghetto won numerous Oscars and has been greatly lauded by critics and viewers alike. Of course, there has been equal negativity: boring, done better elsewhere etc.7. The Wannsee Conference
A recent film called 'Conspiracy' re-enacted the calmly held meeting at which the Nazis decided upon the Final Solution, a conference at Wannsee. While that was good, this earlier version is supposed to be even better. Why watch it? Well, the decision was not taken after ranting by hysterical lunatics, but a business like discussion involving facts and figures. Dehumanisation is an oft-used word, but this it a perfect illustration.8. War and Remembrance Vol. 1
30 hours long, an all-star cast, the second half of World War 2 as its subject, a broad canvas coupled with a family story; could War and Remembrance be any grander in scope? Well, actually, yes, because this is a sequel to 'The Winds of War', an equally expansive mini-series which, inexplicably, hasn't been released yet! If you're happy to start mid-way through both the war and the overall story, this is a flawed but epic story with plenty of history and a global scope.9. War and Remembrance Vol. 2
The second half of pick 8.