Customer Reviews

Why We Fight - World War II Story [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This series of films was created by the US War Department to appeal to Americans' commitment to the War. These are not documentaries, and it's not fair to rate them as such. Successful War propaganda has to vilify the Enemy, ennoble the Allies, evoke compassion for the victims, arouse patriotic zeal, and exhort to battle and sacrifice. This series accomplished all of that, thus it earns my five star rating for achieving its primary purpose. "Why We Fight" has modern historical value in its archival black-and-white film footage. Some of this is rarely seen elsewhere! Particularly fascinating are the segments on the rise of the Reich in Germany, the invasion and defence of Russia, and the bombing of London. Also enjoyable is the quaint, fervid narrative style, so remniscent of 1940's newsreels. Films such as these helped convince the American public we had to get involved in another terrible war. The freedom of the world depended on it!

When the U.S. government undertook this project, it obtained the services of top director Frank Capra, who delivered a series of top-quality documentary films. Although a bit dated (and somewhat heavy on the propaganda), the series is nonetheless fascinating, and well worth watching again and again.

This video brings to mind my first days in training during
WWII. In basic training in 1944,we were marched weekly to a base theater where these films were shown to us to explain why we were there. I never got to see all of them, because I was shipped from one branch of the Army to another and each time I got just so far into the series and was transferred to another base. I remember there was some opposition from mothers that we were too young to see such violence and blood-shed and I recall that I thought,"How stupid. If we get sent to the front, we'll see a lot more than these black & white films.". I was very glad
to pick up a set last year. I am trying to find another.

World War II in the eyes of the 1940's as Frank Capra directs these films about How the war started between Japan and China & Nazi Germany and the United Nations and the events leading to conquaring most of Europe and falled attempt to get The Soviet Union. This is a very good video series.

This is a marvelous set, not to be missed by anyone interested in the WWII period. It's as good as a time machine. Want to understand your grandparents better? Watch these. The last tape (War Comes to America) especially gives one a sense of the mindset of the times; I've seen it again and again, and it STILL makes me want to run out and enlist. Very powerful stuff.

This video is the only one you will need if you want to know all of the most notable facts of WWII. Each volume reveals in historical detail, every major aspect of the war. An excellent choice for history professors.