Summary

While there are pot of World War II moviesthat extend dramatic and moving depictions of the event , there are also great documentary that go beyond the screen with real facts , footage , and stories audiences may have never heard otherwise . Among thebest documentaries powerful noware stories join to World War II , from depictions of certain engagement to story about person whose life were massively affected by the battle . Although there is a variety of title to pick from , some stand out in terms of storytelling and grade of enquiry .

For any docudrama to make a name for itself , it must succeed in a few central areas . First and foremost , it must obviously be historically exact . Audiences move around to documentaries for facts , and therefore , thebest World War II epicsare truthful and informational . This ranking also get into consideration when a documentary tells a rightful story that is surprising or has rarely been heard before . If the projection sheds igniter on a specific aspect of the state of war that is rarely covered , that is also important . Finally , the quality of the storytelling can push a documentary over the sharpness .

There are many great movies depicting the events of World War II , including some external productions that are not in the English oral communication .

Non-English World War 2 movie collage of images from The 12th Man, Shoah, and Children of Hiroshima

10Five Came Back (2017)

1 Season, 3 Episodes

Some of the best World War II documentaries center on a specific , lesser - be intimate topic . Perhaps the best example of this isFive Came Back . The 2017 documentary follow five fertile directors- Paul Greengrass , Steven Spielberg , Francis Ford Coppola , Guillermo del Toro , and Lawrence Kasdan- asthey examine the body of work of five movie directors who enlisted in World War II to document the upshot .

What makesFive total Backa strong contender among World War II documentary is its laser focus . Although WWII is the ground , this serial publication analyzes the more special experience of establish a warfare picture during the warfare itself . Five Came Backis also critically acclaimed , with a 98 % Rotten Tomatoes score and a Primetime Emmy Awardfor Outstanding Narrator , Meryl Streep . at long last , Five Came Backis a exhaustive geographic expedition of a pocket-size yet interesting part of World War II .

Five Came Backis useable to stream on Netflix .

Saving Private Ryan - It Took Over Three Weeks To Capture The 25-Minute Opening Sequence

9Soviet Storm: World War II In The East (2010)

2 Seasons, 17 Episodes

An crucial constituent when it comes to anygreat infotainment seriesis position . When it amount toSoviet Storm : World War II in the East , theviewpoint is everything . The Russian docuseries isan expansive geographic expedition of World War II ’s most important moments and character from the perspective of the Eastern front .

While most Americans are conversant with the Western version of World War II , Soviet Stormtakes a unlike attitude , focusing on the issues that affected Russia and Eastern Europethe most . episode include " Operation Barbarossa , " " The Battle of Moscow , " and " The Siege of Leningrad . " WhatSoviet Stormdoes well is it covers a huge amount of history from a specific angle , but rarely comes across as biased or inaccurate . It is a deep diva into World War II through Russia ’s eyes , which makes it unequaled and deserving a watch .

Soviet Storm : World War II in the Eastis available to stream on Tubi and Amazon Prime Video .

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

8The Last Days (1998)

1 Hour 27 minutes

Although a major aspect of World War II was the fight that take place over six year , another particularly important subject is the Holocaust . The Last Daystackles this case with goodwill and verity . Released in 1998 , the documentary film tellsthe story of five Magyar Jews in the final year of World War II , as the Nazis busy Hungary and began sending Judaic people to concentration camps , including Auschwitz .

The Last Dayswon the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1998 .

This labor not only delves into the history and reality of the Holocaust but also play up the bravery and perseverance show by the docudrama ’s subject . at last , this is what makesThe Last Daysso notable . Where other documentaries may offer a more distanced view of the Holocaust , The Last Daysis incredibly intimate . Audiences follow along nearly on the five characters ' journeysand see an unfiltered scene of the high and lows of their liveliness .

Custom image of World War 2 documentaries

Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury

The Last Daysis available to stream on Netflix .

7Battlefield (1994)

6 Seasons, 30 episodes

For those who want a cryptic prima donna into World War II ’s most notable battles , Battlefieldis the ideal infotainment . From 1994 to 2002,Battlefieldexplored the most narrow detail of various World War II conflicts . The serial focuses on big , famous fights , such asD - Day ( often portray in movies ) , Pearl Harbor , and The Battle of Midway , but also include lesser - know brush such as The Battle for Crimea , Operation Market Garden , and El Alamein .

The best affair audiences will get fromBattlefieldis item . Unlike other World War II documentaries , this series does not seek to pass over every vista of the conflict . alternatively , it leans into the mechanism of specific battles to give audiences the most in - depth lesson possible . WhileBattlefieldwill not teach TV audience everything they ask to know about World War II , it succeeds in its chosen niche .

Battlefieldis available to pour on PLEX .

Battlefield Documentary Covers

6Auschwitz: The Nazis And The Final Solution (2005)

1 Season, 6 Episodes

Another famous documentary about the Holocaust is 2005’sAuschwitz : The Nazis and the Final Solution . Throughout six sequence , the docudrama explain the history of the Auschwitz absorption camp from its concept in 1940 to the aftermath of its discovery post - war . With rarely - see footage of the refugee camp and survivor interviews , this docudrama offers an unflinching look at one of WWII ’s most persistent place .

The grounds whyAuschwitz : The Nazis and the Final Solutionis worth watching is because it let in a variety of sources and visuals . When it comes to interview , thedocumentarians speak to both Judaic concentration camp survivors and German Nazi officeholder . Along with fact and reconstructions , the serial publication also includes historically accurate dramatizations and modern footage . Overall , this amalgamation of pattern helps makeAuschwitzmore informative , more interesting , and more accurate .

Auschwitz : The Nazis And The Final Solutionis available to stream on Roku and Amazon Prime Video .

Movies

5World War II In Color (2009)

1 Season, 13 Episodes

ThoughWorld War II in Colordoesn’t have a specific angle or story to severalise , its specialty is still notable . The 2009 docuseries showcases the basic elements of World War II from the Western Front to the Pacific War , with the help of colorized footage . As the title suggest , World War II in Color’svisuals stand out among the typical dim and white WWII documentaries .

bring through Private Ryan ’s D - Day landing place sequence is iconic and unforgettable . However , despite what many witness recall , it ’s not the opening scene .

Overall , World War II in Coloris a self-coloured watch for those try a cosmopolitan knowledge of the conflict and unique visuals . Where other documentaries may be bogged down by their never - convert black - and - white footage , this docuseries remains vivid through a detailed , complex process of effigy discussion . Furthermore , the colorization ofWorld War II footage may also change the hearing ’s perspective . By visualise the war in colour , the fight may palpate more real than it would have in black and white .

World War II In Coloris available to stream on Sling , Roku , and Amazon Prime Video .

4WWII In HD (2009)

1 Season, 10 Episodes

alike toWorld War II in Color , WWII in HDbrings footage of the Second World War onto an entirely new floor via color and quality . The 2009 docuseries , released by the History Channel , severalise the story of World War II through the accounts of various men and women who experienced it at first hand . The serial is sound by Gary Sinise .

The documentary film ’s title insinuates that the visuals are this series ' best point , however , this is n’t incisively true . WWII in HDis good because it pair amazing footage with genuine , in - depth stories . The documentary explores many dissimilar parts of World War II just via the personal experiencesof genuine mass . Nowadays , there are few and fewer people live who have first - hand accounts of World War II , thereforeWWII in HDis a project that must continue to be abide by .

WWII In HDis available to rain cats and dogs on the History Channel , Hulu , and Amazon Prime Video .

3Apocalypse: The Second World War (2005)

One in particular popular World War II documentary isApocalypse : The Second World War . This French docuseries includessix parts whichcover World War II from the beginnings of Nazism in 1933 to the war ’s final moments in 1945 . All the footage include inApocalypse : The Second World Waris primary source material that came directly from war correspondents , soldiers , and citizens . Most of it is colorized .

The French title ofApocalypse : The Second World WarisApocalypse , la 2e Guerre mondiale .

What in the beginning putApocalypse : The Second World Warahead of other World War II documentaries was its colorized footage . free four years ahead ofWorld War II in Color , this docuseries brought the conflict to life in a means that had rarely been done before . today though , Apocalypseis a meaning watch because of its accuracy and detail . The series portray multiple aspect of World War II from start to end in just six prominent episodes .

Book of Revelation : The Second World Waris available to charter on YouTube , Roku , and Amazon Prime Video .

2The War (2007)

1 Season, 7 Episodes

As one of the most notable documentarians of American history , it ’s no surprise that Ken Burns is at the top of this list . narrate by Keith David , The Warnavigates World War II through the experiences of American individuals . Their stories start in their small hometown but quickly move into the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II . The series flow for 14 hours and has seven parts .

The Waris unique because it does n’t attempt to report every small item . Instead , it has a firmly American and human focal point . The series starts in Luverne , Mobile , Sacramento , and Waterbury becauseit ’s interested with the effects the war had on American families and communities . Ultimately , the execution of this construct lick fabulously well . The Warincludes key physique from World War II , along with celebrities like Tom Hanks do dramatized readings that are grip and entertaining . Because of this , The Waris an challenging and enjoyable ticker .

The Waris available to rent on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video .

1The World At War (1973)

1 Season, 16 Episodes

last , the most pop and lauded World War II docudrama is 1973’sThe World at War . This 26 - part epic may be on the former side , but it persist one of the most respected World War II docudrama of all time . In finical , The World at Warlooks at how such a large struggle affects the individuals ask . The serial turn over into the lives of military , civilian , concentration clique survivor , and other victims of the warfare .

Of all the World War II docudrama on this list , The World at Warlikely has the most interview with key players from World War II , and that is what makes it so significant . Where other infotainment must tell the story of World War II via documents and 2nd - hand explanation , The World at Warhad veridical mass at its fingertips . Plus , the narration by Laurence Olivier is captivating and iconic . Therefore , The World at Waris the best World War II documentary film to particular date .

The World at Waris usable to stream on Apple TV .