15 Essential War Documentaries

The bridges of the River Kwai, popularized by the 1957 film, represent a largely misunderstood historical event. Unlike the romanticized movie, these structures stand as a symbol of terror, desperation, and death for over 16,000 prisoners of war and 100,000…

Produced for the 40th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation, this essential documentary features unedited, never-before-seen film footage of the camp captured by Soviet military forces between January 27th and February 28th, 1945. The film includes an interview with Alexander Voronsov, the…

VIETNAM: AMERICAN HOLOCAUST details a history of the Vietnam War, revealing a case of extensive mass killing orchestrated by leaders across both political parties. American soldiers and leaders, acting with varying degrees of awareness, were responsible for the deaths of…

Naval historians examine the events that unfolded before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

As the Vietnam War ends, the North Vietnamese Army advances on Saigon, causing widespread panic among the South Vietnamese population trying to flee. American soldiers and diplomats on the ground face a difficult choice: follow White House instructions to evacuate…

Japan's War In Colour presents a new perspective on World War II, using newly discovered color film alongside letters and diaries from Japanese people. The film explores the war's history from all sides: leaders and civilians, those in power and…

This film reveals previously undocumented aspects of the Holocaust. Through the work of the Washington D.C. Holocaust Museum, it presents new documentation and photographs depicting life within the Auschwitz death camp. The film contrasts two sets of images: one illustrating…

In October 1993, 120 Delta Force Commandos and Army Rangers were deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, on a daylight mission to capture Mohammed Farrah Aidid, a terrorist leader who was disrupting U.N. Food deliveries to the starving population in his effort…

Vietnam in HD is a six-part series offering an unprecedented look at the Vietnam War, featuring thousands of hours of unfiltered footage – much of it captured by soldiers on the ground. The series details every major event of the…

The horrors of the Auschwitz death camp were fiercely hidden by the Nazi regime. Attempts to escape were met with immediate and brutal death, intended as a warning to other prisoners. Few who tried succeeded. Escape From Auschwitz recounts the…

This two-part documentary explores Japan's conduct during World War II, focusing on the treatment of Allied prisoners of war. Using Japanese archival footage and interviews with both prisoners and their captors, the film examines the dramatic shift in attitudes towards…

This film chronicles the ascent and decline of the Nazi regime's notorious secret police, spanning the years 1933 to 1945.

D-Day recounts the monumental Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944, the largest military operation in history. It details the Allied assault on the Western Front and the fierce defense mounted by the German Empire, alongside the clandestine war…

This documentary focuses on a crucial section of Omaha Beach on D-Day – the Vierville-sur-Mer exit. By analyzing detailed data from laser scans, 3D models, and firsthand accounts, the film reconstructs the events of that day, revealing how the outcome…

On June 6, 1944, the largest Allied operation of World War II commenced in Normandy, France. From late 1943 to August 1944, this region became pivotal globally, yet the specifics of why and how remain largely unknown. "D-Day: Normandy 1944"…