Product Description

24 COMPLETE DVDS Since 1935, the National Archives has been responsible for the acquisition, preservation, and public dissemination of the permanent records of the United States government. Now, for the first time, select materials from this national resource have been assembled to bring you the largest collection of WWII history in one complete box set featuring everything from historical newsreel footage to documentary featurettes lensed and narrated by some of Hollywood's greatest names. From America to Europe, from the air to the sea, experience a war that spanned the globe: Set #1: War in Europe Explores the Nazi ambition for world conquest, featuring historical pre-cursors, artillery and infantry attacks, the invasion Poland, and the horrific concentration camps. Set #2: War on the Homefront Takes you stateside to a time when gas rationing, food conservation, and the wartime efforts of civilian men and women occupied a nation. Features narration by James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, and Humphrey Bogart, as wells as the acting talents of Susan Hayward, Alan Ladd, James Cagney, Margaret O'Brien and more. Set #3: War in the Pacific Dramatic footage of U.S. Navy, Marine, and Army forces as they combat the Japanese military. Features amphibious landings, Kamikaze air attacks, post-war events, the surrender of Japan, and the Academy Award®-winning documentary from acclaimed Hollywood director John Ford. Set #4: Why We Fight A thought-provoking collection exploring the wartime involvement of Russia, China, Italy, the United States, and Germany. Featuring the Oscar®-nominated documentary narrated by Walter Huston and footage featuring Edward R. Murrow and President Roosevelt. TOTAL RUN TIME: APPROXIMATELY 26 HOURS

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45318 in DVD
• Brand: TOPICS ENT.
• Released on: 2008-10-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 24
• Dimensions: 5.00 pounds
• Running time: 1500 minutes

Features

• 24 COMPLETE DVDS Since 1935, the National Archives has been responsible for the acquisition, preservation, and public dissemination of the permanent records of the United States government. Now, for the first time, select materials from this national resource have been assembled to bring you the largest collection of WWII history in one complete box set featuring everything from historical newsree

Review
Many milestones in our history are recalled only through the written word, the still image, or an interpretation long after the events occurred. The classic documentary films in this set provide more than what we think happened or a stylized movie treatment of the war they are the war. These chronicles of World War II were created through the efforts of cameramen who risked their lives to capture history. They tell the story of the Japanese buildup in the Pacific; the rise of Adolf Hitler; the horror of the concentration camps; the bombs and destruction; the Allied wins and losses; the peace; and the cost of war. Many of these documentaries chosen by our film archivists are the work of Hollywood s most gifted film-makers Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, Garson Kanin, and William Wyler enlisted to create films for military and civilian audiences. Their work inspired the war effort at home and trained and motivated our nation s war effort abroad. They brought the war into perspective for Americans, leaving little doubt about our allies, our enemies, and our objectives. Whether these films appeal to your interest in history, film, political science, or sociology, they will provide a first hand examination of the events of World War II. --Les Waffen, Chief, Motion Picture, Sound and Video Branch, National Archives and Records Administration

About the Actor
WWII: War in Europe DVD 1 D-Day (1944) Here is Germany (1945) Invasion of Poland by the German Army (1943) DVD 2 Know Your Ally: Britain (1943) Two Down and One to Go (1945) The Liberation of Rome (1944) DVD 3 Target for Today (1944) DVD 4 The True Glory (1945) DVD 5 Operation Carpetbagger (1951) Nazi Concentration Camps (1945) DVD 6 Target for Tonight (1941) San Pietro (aka The Battle of San Pietro) (1945) The controversial short shot by Hollywood director John Huston, depicting the price paid for troop advancement in death and destruction. Comprising an artful blend of footage both documentary and manipulated, and one of the most memorable voiceover narrations ever committed to film, Huston's cut was decried by army brass and edited before exhibition.

About the Director
About the National Archives Created by Federal statute in 1934, the National Archives of the United States is the nation's record keeper. Its mission is unique to serve American democracy by preserving and making available to the people the permanently valuable records of the U.S. Government. These include famous documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, as well as billions of pages of textual materials; more than 20 million still pictures, among them photographs by Mathew Brady and Ansel Adams; thousands of World War I and II posters; 365,000 reels of motion picture film reaching back to the inauguration of President William McKinley in 1897; 235,000 sound recordings, including congressional hearings, Tokyo Rose s radio propaganda, and the Nuremburg trials; 110,000 video recordings of television documentaries, news broadcasts, and other programming; 30 million maps, charts, architectural drawings, and aerial photographs; and 350,000 artifacts.

Customer Reviews

Nice item, just wish everything I get from Amazon didn't arrive beat up!
This is a really nice set for WW II buffs. It has a lot of great footage. The only drawback is that when it arrived it looked as though the box it came in had been through the war. I am getting so tired of ordering things from Amazon (specifically books, and DVD sets) only to have them arrive with torn or ripped corners. If I had ordered this set for a gift, I would have sent it back for replacement. The edges of the box looked like it had been dropped, and the top of the box was torn. Oh well.

WWII History
This was a present for my son-in-law who is into WWII history. Great collection!

WWII 24-pack DVD collection
Excellent! A must have for anyone ineterested in the history of the 2nd World War.
24 complete DVDs, divided into 4 categories:
-War in Europe
-War on the Homefront
-War in the Pacific
-Why We Fight
Tons of original footage, from both the US Archives and overseas newsreels.