I’ve seen one or three series, shows, and films from the vast (and ever growing) Netflix library of goodies but recently stumbled into one while sipping on my morning coffee. Not wanting to update myself with the trials and tribulations of topical news, I decided to wander down and well trodden path of history and, uh… watch the trials and tribulations of World War 2.
In 2012, the History Channel released a poorly titled documentary, WWII from Space. Different from your standard historical perspective, this particular series details World War II from a geographical perspective, showing borders, tactics, lines of engagement, and points of interest. The geography is mixed with obligatory historians commenting about critical decisions made during the conflict — decisions which went on to shape the very history of the planet. Examples include the United States decision to support the last bastion of hope, England, instead of turning their full attention to Japan. Another fascinating moment was the United States choosing to “blood” their troops in North Africa before attempting an invasion of Europe despite Churchill’s repeated pleas for immediate assistance.
The documentary goes on to illuminate the power of military intelligence as it related to battlefield decisions, the deft hand of deceit, and the successes of those plans. But not all is blooming in the garden of Allied victories and with war comes pain, suffering and absolute horror. During this almost two-hour presentation, we’re exposed to the brutality of war, the staggering human cost, leading all the way to the use of both the plutonium and uranium atomic bombs which ended the war with Japan.
With high production value, exceptional commentary, and laced with fascinating nuggets of information I was unaware of, this is one of History Channel’s best productions in recent memory. If you’re not a Netflix subscriber, no worries, the documentary is available for free on YouTube and is definitely worth your time. Enjoy!