Product Details

• Actors: none
• Directors: Alexander Kluge
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: ACORN MEDIA
• DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010
• Run Time: 611 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002TY78PK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,205 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

How history’s most evil tyrant survived 25 years of terror

How did Adolf Hitler manage to survive more than 40 assassination attempts--some by his own generals? Using captured SS documents and eyewitness interviews, this documentary series reveals the secrets of the elite bodyguards who swore loyalty oaths to the Führer himself. It explains how Hitler cultivated rivalries among his security services to ensure his safety, and how his purposefully unpredictable behavior saved his life several times.

Carefully assembled archival footage offers rare glimpses inside Hitler’s infamous strongholds--the Berghof, the Wolf’s Lair, and the Berlin bunker. Computer-generated graphics detail the security measures used in his trains, planes, and touring cars. And meticulous re-enactments bring lost incidents to life. In 13 riveting episodes, this Military Channel favorite brings fresh, fascinating context to the 20th century’s most evil and destructive tyrant.

Since 1990, the British team of Philip Nugus and Jonathan Martin has created popular, critically acclaimed historical documentaries, including Churchill’s Bodyguard and The Century of Warfare.

BONUS FEATURES
-- 20-page viewer’s guide with highlights, questions to consider, avenues for further learning, Who’s Who among Hitler’s Bodyguard, and a guide to Hitler’s security units.
-- Killing Hitler in the Movies filmography
-- Photo galleries
-- SDH subtitles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EDUCATIONAL-HISTORICAL-VINTAGE FOOTAGE-GRIPPING NARRATION, January 5, 2010

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hitler's Bodyguard (DVD)

NEW FACTS will be learned, emotions will be churned. WWII buffs and historians will be delighted even upward to 5-stars and beyond with the inside information of what took place beside the ruthless Nazi Hitler. For viewers who thrive on continual education, this will enlighten you about the enemy of WWII, not just the "bodyguard" element. It you seek 'light' entertainment, keep in mind this Athena DVD is a documentary, a very good one, and sometimes graphic.

This 13 episode DVD set contains astonishing historical photos and film in sienna, B&W, and color. Some film segments or portraits are used repeatedly in different episodes as the footage is used to visualize the expert commentary continually being presented by the narrator, Robert Powell (also on the SUBTITLE option.) The repetition suggests the DVD could have been shorter in length, but because it was initially presented as segments on TV, the repeated views were important for each episodes' portion of the story that was being highlighted on that day.

This series is not just about the many bodyguards. But it is the story of the man, Adolf Hitler, his rise to political fame, his ruthless pursuit to conquer Europe, his eventual fall, and his need for protecting himself. It's a combined series of Hitler AND the teams of bodyguards including the escort command, Gestapo, headquarters guard, RSD, internal security, SA, SD, and the fierce SS. The series tells of their beginning to end, leaders to traitors, and members closest to Hitler. Details previously undisclosed. There are live eyewitness interviews with some of the German survivors of these groups.

Although Hitler was a ruthless and ugly ruler, part of the history of the 1930s and 1940s Germany is told in an extensively detailed and accurate way as part of the German Political and War story that has seen little prior attention. Hitler's life and evil humanity history survived because of a unique system of personal guards, no regular schedule, frequent last minute changes, unpredictability, rivalry among guards and leaders, layered protection and, ultimately, chance.

Included in episodes are photos, film, diagrams, and commentary in detail about the cars (Episode #8), planes (#9), and trains (#10) used by Hitler and the adaptations created for his protection. It tells of the key personnel who operated them. Great nostalgic views of old transportation.

Over 40 attempts on Hitlers life over 25 years. Why were none successful? This documentary series tries to answer that question. It also leads the viewer to consider 'What would the world be like if Hitler's Bodyguard had NOT been successful?' Or on occasions when the bodyguards were instigators, "What would have happened had they killed Hitler, the man and institution?"

It's a thought provoking, and emotional series. A "Churchill's Bodyguard" companion.
Extras include "A Viewer's Guide" booklet filled with episode highlights, questions to ponder, photos, bibliography, Bodyguard Who's Who, and a description of each unit. A list and description of films made about Hitler assassination attempts. Photo galleries on each disc and...
SUBTITLES, extremely helpful with the German names and locations.

Episodes:
How Hitler's Bodyguard Worked
Early Attempts on Hitler's Life
Kill the New Chancellor!
Night of the Long knives
Jewish and Emigre Attempts to Kill Hitler
Kill Hitler Before War Starts
Bombs and Paranoia
Dangerous Car Journeys
Flights Into Danger
Hitler's Dangerous Train Journeys
Attempts to Kill Hitler at the Wolf's Lair
Nearly Assassinated at the Berghof
Poison Gas Plot in the Bunker

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Combining archival footage, period photography, captured SS documents, and eyewitness interviews, and more, January 16, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hitler's Bodyguard (DVD)

The memory Adolf Hitler leaves exists in infamy for most, and hero worship for a few. He was the principle architect for the horror resulting in the deaths of more than 16 millions people throughout Europe and which was only concluded by his suicide in 1945 as the nation he led fell into the ruin and devastation of World War II. What is not so well known is that Hitler was also the target of numerous assassination attempts, more than 40 of them, over the 25 years that he led the Nazi party. To protect his personal safety an ever expanding network of bodyguards developed. This is the story documented and illustrated by the thirteen episode DVD boxed set "Hitler's Bodyguards" now available from the Acorn Media Group. Combining archival footage, period photography, captured SS documents, and eyewitness interviews, and computer generated illustrations, this 661 minute documentary provides a wealth of insider information into the rise of Hitler's security services, how his unpredictable patterns of movement, his diverse strongholds, and his transport security measures aided in his physical survival. Of special note is the detailed background into the suitcase bomb smuggled into a high command meeting in the Wolf's Lair that came closet to ending his life and which did result in serious and enduring physical wounding. Enhanced with the inclusion of a 20-page viewer's guide, a 'Killing Hitler in the Movies' filmography, photo galleries, and SDH subtitles, "Hitler's Bodyguard" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library World War II reference collections and supplemental viewing lists.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars STARTLING AND CHILLING -- HOW EVIL SURVIVES!, March 4, 2010

By 

Robin Simmons (Palm Springs area, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hitler's Bodyguard (DVD)

How did Hitler manage to survive more than 40 assassination attempts? -- some by his own generals!

Using captured SS documents and eyewitness interviews, this detailed documentary reveals the secrets of Hitler's elite bodyguards who swore loyalty oaths to the Fuhrer himself. It shows how Hitler created rivalries among his closest guards to ensure his own safety, and how his unpredictable behavior - by design and chance - saved his life numerous times.

Episodes include: How Hitler's Bodyguard Worked, Early Attempts on Hitler's Life, Jewish...Attempts to Kill Hitler, Dangerous Car Journeys, Attempts to Kill Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, Poison Gas Plot in the Bunker and more.

Carefully assembled obscure historical footage from many archives, much of it never seen by the general public, reveals rare glimpses inside Hitler's infamous strongholds - including the Berghof, the Wolf's Lair and the Berlin Bunker. Effective computer generated graphics make plain the unusual security measures used on Hitler's trains, planes and cars. I liked the meticulous re-enactments that bring to vivid life many of the lost incidents documented here.

This exceptional historical record, first broadcast on Discovery's Military Channel, is a truly riveting look at how one of the 20th century's more evil tyrants (there were others like Mao and Stalin) managed to survive as long as he did.

This amazing production is from the same British team of Philip Nugus and Jonathan Martin, who are also responsible for the acclaimed historical documentaries CHURCHHILL'S BODYGUARD and THE CENTURY OF WARFARE.