World War II: The War Chronicles (1983– ) User Reviews

Very well-done WW2 documentary

[bombad_jedi · 10/10 · 25 December 2004]

When I picked up this set I wasn't expecting much.

It turned out that this is one of the best WW2 documentaries ever done.

With great commentary by Patrick O'Neal, and some of the most complete war footage I've ever seen, this is a must-see set for anyone interested in WW2.

This miniseries is currently being sold in two separate 2-disc sets.

World War II: The War in Europe

World War II: The War in the Pacific

If you have any interest at all in vintage WW2 footage, you will want to check this miniseries out.

I agree

[bcolquho · 10/10 · 30 November 2005]

I agree. This is one of the best, if not THE best, World War II documentaries. Although I never saw it when it was originally on back in 1983, I have seen it on DVD. The first reviewer is right. War Chronicles is about the American troops in both Europe and the Pacific. It's amazing how different the two theaters of operation were. The ETO, (European Theater of Operation), which included the Mediterranean and North Africa, was Army-centric. The Army was the primary force in Europe and North Africa. In the European Theater, it was the Army which led the invasions of French North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France, D-Day and Operation Anvil, also known as the Champagne Campaign, were operations led by the Army. In the Pacific, due to the vast distances, the Army played second fiddle to the Marines. It was the Marines who led every island invasion from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, and if the Bomb hadn't been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, then it probably would have been the Marines, followed by the Army, who led the invasion of Japan in November 1945. The late Patrick O'Neal was a good narrator and explained things concisely, and with maps. The artwork, all done by military artists, are good. The footage was from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines.