WWII: The Lost Color Archives #1

Released 2000

Until today, our collective memories of World War II have lived almost exclusively in black and white. However, recently re-discovered archival materials of this remarkable series are about to permanently alter the way we view this epic conflict. Assembled after years of research, "World War II: The Lost Color Archives" combines rare color film footage with dramatic first person accounts and diaries to reveal a graphic and extraordinary new perspective on the greatest military struggle the world has ever endured and millions of individuals who lived through it. From the earliest days of the Blitz to D-Day and Hiroshima--this is World War II, quite literally, as you've never seen it before.

Summary from www.netflix.com

This is a documentary created by The History Channel. It's a high-level overview of the events of World War II, and I think it would be a good introduction for kids. A lot of the footage is graphic, so it wouldn't be for young kids, but it would be a good intro for preteens. First, they'd see there actually was color back then, and secondly they'd get a feeling for the timeline. It's good for adults as well, as long you know it's going be at such a high level. I was a little disappointed, because the color footage isn't as interesting as I expected. Maybe it's because the colors are washed, but I did find the color footage against the Japanese interesting because it looked just like Vietnam. The footage is narrated with letters and diary entries from people from all sides of the war, and this device works well. It personalizes the footage, and it's most effective when the letters are from soldiers, many of whom died shortly after writing their letters. One of the points the documentary makes is how each country demonized their enemy. You really get a feeling for the racist state of the world in the 1930's and 40's. The Germans, of course, felt the Jews were a subhuman infestation of their nation. They felt the Gypsies and the Slavs were also subhuman, and they needed to be eradicated before they destroyed the German culture. Americans thought the Japanese were subhuman monkeys, and the Japanese thought we were barbarous monsters. It's only natural for governments to demonize their enemies, especially when they have been attacked. Germany used it as a preparatory tool, however, throughout the 1930's to instill deep-rooted hatred in its people and troops. This comes across in the letters, and you hear get a clear sense of how it makes it easier to kill. --Bill Alward, June 2, 2002