The battle of Iwo Jima started on February 19, 1945 with the invasion of a Japanese island stronghold in the north Pacific. What had been envisioned as a five-day "walk-over" became a 36 day descent into hell for 70,000 US Marines and 21,000 fanatical Japanese defenders. In Iwo Jima: RED BLOOD, BLACK SAND, 21 veterans of the 1945 battle are interviewed and tell the horrifying saga of the conquest of the strategic enemy island stronghold 650 miles from Tokyo. Called "The best documentary of WW II," by the film critic of the Washington Post, this film strips away the jingoism of propaganda and reveals the raw underbelly of total war on an island less than eight miles long. Rare combat footage enhances the history of Iwo Jima where 27,000 American and Japanese soldiers died. Iwo Jima: RED BLOOD, BLACK SAND is a timeless military documentary about one of the Marine Corps' toughest battles.
Islands Of Death: The Bloody War In The Pacific
Experience firsthand the war in the Pacific - tremendous in scale, costly in life, forever imprinted on the minds and hearts of those who were there. Witness the story of the U.S. Marines, through their eyes and the lenses of Marine combat cameramen, in this stunning and unforgettable collection of historical footage. Never before had the world seen such heroism and self-sacrifice as was exhibited by the Marines in these pivotal battles of World War II. From bloody beaches and dense jungles to barren hilltops, you are there with the Marines at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima and many more. Relive it mow, with this tribute to the United States Marine Corps.
Why We Fight
In December 1941, a hestitant America was forced into World War II by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This award winning series, created by legendary director Frank Capra, was sponsored by the U.S. Government to help explain its "official war policy." These films were required viewing for the armed forces and were also widely shown in civilian theaters. Considered classic examples of wartime propaganda, they feature masterful editing, classical music and skillful narration all blended together to hammer home their patriotic message.
World War II In Color
When war came to America in December of 1941, the film industry went to war along with the rest of the United States. These award winning documentaries are the work of some of Hollywood's finest producers and directors. Among them are John Ford's classic "The Battle of Midway," "Report from the Aleutians" by John Huston and William Wyler's "Memphis Belle." Shot at the front, with the filmmakers facing the same dangers as the fighting men, you'll also see some of the war's most memorable war correspondents, Ernest Hemingway and the GIs favorite, Ernie Pyle. These films, bursting with patriotism, are the filmmakers definitve legacy to the American servicemen and women who fought in history's greatest conflict.
Strike & Counterstrike
As World War II engulfs the globe, the vast Pacific Ocean becomes the flash point for the struggle between the Empire of Japan and the United States of America. The first year of this titanic struggle will see the Japanese succeed beyond their wildest dreams. As a resurgent United States strikes back, the fortunes of war will change in favor of America. These documentaries are the story of those initial attacks and how fortune turned on the Japanese.
Attack On Fortress Europe: From D-Day to V.E. Day
For four years, the Germans had prepared to defend the coast of Europe and deny the Allies a landing on the continent. Hitler had proclaimed that Nazi conquered Europe was an impenetrable fortress. On the 6th of June 1944, the Allies launched the largest combined land, air and sea operation ever. This invasion, designed to begin the liberation of Europe, would forever be known as D-Day.
Geronimo: The U.S. Airborne In WWII
The United States Airborne played a major role in the success of Allied operations throughout World War II. From their first jumps in North Africa and Sicily, to the massive drops in Normandy and Holland, the Airborne was an important part of Allied military strategy. Initially conceived as an assault force able to parachute behind enemy lines, to seize and hold strategic areas until ground forces could link up with them, the Airborne unites were used in many different ways. From dropping in to capture key positions behind enemy lines in Normandy and Holland, to fighting as tough ground forces at Anzio and the Battle of the Bulge, the Airborne was ready for anything. Elite, confident, and ready for action, the men of the United States Airborne were the best trained and best conditioned fighting force of the war. These men represented the finest combat troops America had to offer and they proved it in the face of unbelievable odds and under the most extreme conditions. This Documentary is THEIR story. Told entirely through veteran and historian interviews and supported by rare archival footage, this DVD features the stories and experiences of the paratroopers in their own words, creating a uniquely personal perspective of the United States Airborne forces during World War II.
D-Day – Codename: Overlord
It is first light on the 6th of June, 1944, D-Day. On this day, the Allies launched the largest combined land, air and sea operation ever from Southern England to liberate Europe from Hitler and Nazi oppression. Code named Overlord, the entire operation was a tremendous gamble. The element of surprise was paramount and through a tangle of intrigue, the German high command was led to believe the invasion would occur not at Normandy, but at Calais, only twenty miles from England across the narrow strait of Dover. This DVD documentary tells the compelling story of the Normandy Invasion and includes rare color footage from the George Stevens Collections at the Library of Congress.
Civil War Battles
Episode List: The Battle Cry Of Freedom Gettysburg - The Second Day The Citizen Armies Gettysburg - The Third Day First Manassas Grant Takes Command The Drive To Henry Hill House The Wilderness Stonewall Spotsylvania The Battle Of Shiloh Yellow Tavern to Cold Harbor Cedar Mountain Petersburg Second Manassas The Atlanta Campaign South Mountain Johnston Falls Back Antietam To The Kennesaw Line Chancellorsville Atlanta End Game The Road To Gettysburg Sayler's Creek Gettysburg - The First Day Appomattox Extras Include:The Peculiar InstitutionCivil War EspionageCavalry in the Civil WarPrisoners Of WarReconstruction and the KKK 4 Hours Running TimeFeaturing Extensive Color Reenactment FootageMakes An Excellent GiftCompatible With NTSC and PAL Formats – Playable Worldwide