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
Korea: The Forgotten War
In June of 1950, the North Korean Army initiated a massive attack on its neighbor to the south, beginning a see-saw war that would engulf the entire Korean peninsula. For the next three years, the United Nations and the Communists would wage a bloody and brutal war. Though the Korean conflict is often referred to as the "Forgotton War," those who fought and sacrificed for freedom will never forget.
Episode List: The First Forty Days The Air War The Pusan Perimeter Back To The 38th The Inchon Landing & Recpaturing Seoul MacArthur Is Dismissed On To The Yalu The Last Battle For Seoul The Chosin Reservoir The First Ceasefire Talks The Evacuation Of Hungnam The Hill Fights The United Nations In Retreat The Ceasefire and Aftermath Operation Killer Contains Combat Veteran Interviews 3 Hours Running Time Color and Black/White Footage Makes An Excellent Gift Compatible With NTSC and PAL Formats – Playable Worldwide
Pearl Harbor: A Documentary
In the chaotic aftermath of the First World War, the vast Pacific Ocean becomes the flash point for a new crisis, a struggle between militaristic Japan and isolationist America. Japan, eager for raw materials to feed her fledgling industries, invades Manchuria and later China. The fighting in Asia sets Japan on a collision course with the United States, a course that will ultimately lead to Hiroshima and Nagaski. On December 7, 1941, the uneasy peace is shattered as the Japanese carrier fleet launches a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oahu. Within thirty minutes, the power of the United States Pacific Fleet is devastated. By the end of the attack, seven battleships are damaged or sunk, half the aircraft on the island are wiped out and 2,400 American lives are lost. The story told here is one of global forces, of fascism and imperialism. It is the story of one of the most momentous events in American history and of a crucial turning point in the 20th Century. Most importantly, it is the story of the people who were there, told through the eyewitness accounts of both American and Japanese veterans, some whose stories have never been told. This is a story of courage, heroism and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. This is the story of Pearl Harbor.
Guadalcanal: Island Of Death
In the summer of 1942, America was still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor and the humiliating victories of the Japanese throughout the Far East. Then came the battles of the Coral Sea and the pivotal Battle for Midway. Japan had been effectively countered and it was time to launch an attack. The first landing of American forces on a Japanese held island would occur on Guadalcanal, August 7, 1942. This was the opening of a six month campaign to wrestle control of the lower Solomon Islands from the Japanese Empire. From this story of mistakes and heroism would rise the genesis of American strategy for the rest of the war in the Pacific.
World War II: A World In Conflict
Never before had the world seen such devastation, such cruelty and bloodshed as the fighting in World War II. This film contains amazing footage of actual ground, sea and air battles from 1933 through 1945. Our film starts with the Japanese invading and annexing Manchuria, the response from the League of Nations and the bombing of an American gunboat, The USS Panay. The leaders of the major countries sign the Munich Pact and Hitler's invasion of Poland follows as the world witnesses the first act of World War II in Europe. See first hand the destruction of some of the world's major cities. March along with American soldiers as they walk the 65 miles in the "Bataan Death March." Watch as the leaders meet in different countries to find a way to stop the tyranny of Germany, Italy, and Japan. See the "Day of Infamy," when the Japanese fighters and bombers attack an unsuspecting Pearl Harbor. Hear the speech by President Roosevelt that asks Congress to declare war, then see America's response to the dastardly act by Japan, as the last of the industrial nations enters the war. Witness the defeat of Italy, Germany and Japan as America drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the historic surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri. Watch as the most destructive war in history is played out to its final conclusion.
Great Battles of WW II: Epic Marine Victories
Experience first hand these epic Marine victories of World War II and glimpse relentless combat action against a tenacious and determined enemy. Follow America's elite from the first grim campaign at Guadalcanal, the Island of Death, to ultimate victory in the final battle on Okinawa. This was total war, fought in an island hopping campaign from the dense jungles and over fire swept, barren hilltops. Never before, or since, has the world witnessed such heroism and self-sacrifice as was exhibited by the Marines who fought across the vast reaches of the Pacific in these pivotal battles of World War II.
Tigers Of The Sea: The Story Of The US Navy In WWII
This captivating DVD recounts the history of the Allies and the Axis naval and land operations during WWII. Featuring the heroic men and the mighty war ships of the day, we will bring you Battleships, Destroyers, Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Submarines, PT-Boats, Convoys and the relentless Army and Navy Air Power. Witness how the Tigers of the Sea, our naval fleet, helped win the greatest conflict in the history of mankind.
"The way to victory is long. The going will be hard. We will do what we can with what we've got. We must have more planes and ships - at once. Then it will be our turn to strike. Then we will win!" - Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander in Chief United States Fleet... January, 1942 Contains Combat Veteran Interviews Approximately 3 Hours Running Time Color and Black/White Footage Makes An Excellent Gift Compatible With NTSC and PAL Formats – Playable Worldwide