Voices From Hitler's Army 2 Disc Set - Blitzkrieg, Luftwaffe, Waffen SS, U Boats, Russia - The Unholy War, Defending Berlin
List Price:
Our Price: $53.99
You Save: $6.00 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $31.19 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Voices from Hitlers ArmyDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 300 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-04-24
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Kultur Video
DVD Reviews of Voices From Hitler's Army 2 Disc Set - Blitzkrieg, Luftwaffe, Waffen SS, U Boats, Russia - The Unholy War, Defending Berlin
DVD Review: Outstanding Documentary; worth a high price
Summary: 5 Stars
1. This is not a bargain-priced set of two DVD's, by any means. Nevertheless, video and audio quality are first rate, as is content. Altogether, running time is about 300 minutes, or five hours of viewing. Hailed as a last chance to hear from defeated soldiers who fought for Germany in World War II, it is a must-see for anyone interested in the period.
2. There is an expected bias, since interviews are only done with Germans who fought in World War II. Most of them talk disgustedly about what happened under the Nazis and their feelings seem genuine. One can't help but sympathize with Germans who fought so bravely, but the point must be made: they were the aggressors. Several even admit they deserved their fate. None seemed bitter about having lost the war. Maybe they now realize they were better off losing?
3. Although this set is announced as new it carries production dates of 2000 and 2001. Therefore, one must assume it was produced first for a European audience and lately distributed in the U. S. Production firms listed on the outside box include Kultur, Cromwell, and Eagle Media. Eagle has also been involved in other World War II videos, including Hitler's War, Waffen SS-Hitler's Elite Fighting Force, Gestapo-Hitler's Secret Police, and Hitler's Secret Weapons.
4. With few exceptions, documentary footage was surpisingly new to me. Most is black-and-white and must have been recently discovered in archives and private collections. High quality suggests that films have been re-mastered for this production. Video imaging also employs modern technology, with still photographs and graphics mixed in with films from the 1940's. It's quite effectively done. There's little of the grainy character to the video which can be a disappointment with other WW-II sets. Sound quality, as noted above, is topnotch throughout.
5. Although some horror scenes appear, mainly from the Eastern Front, they do not overwhelm the viewer. Similarly, not much is shown from death camps which probably fits with the overall theme of the DVD's. All persons interviewed denied knowledge of the camps and say their friends and relatives were in the dark, too. This might indeed be true since the interview subjects come from middle and lower ranks of the German military.
6. How any of the German survivors lasted 60 years to tell their story is amazing. A number became Russian prisoners and had to serve 20 years hard labor in Siberia before release. Physically and psychologically these are very tough individuals.
7. Of the six titles, two that impressed me most were "The Luftwaffe--Messengers of Death" and "U-Boats--Iron Coffins." Both offer examples of human endurance and heroism on either side of the conflict. Both videos also recount horrendous losses to the Germans who served at the time--70,000 air crew and 30,000 submariners. Leaders of the Luftwaffe and the U-boats, Hermann Goering and Karl Donitz, respectively, are featured. Donitz was almost too good for the Allies to beat; Goering, with his many blunders and vainglorious personality, may have been indispensable to Allied victory.
8. In addition to the toll taken by the Russian and Anglo-American armies, Hitler's forces had to cope with increasing supply problems as the war progressed. Especially scarce were food, fuel, and ammunition. Allied air raids reduced the German capacity to produce supplies, including synthetic fuel for its war machine; thus airplanes, tanks, and other vehicles became almost useless toward the end. Where Hitler had earlier tried to starve the British with his U-boat blockade, the Allies and Russians later achieved a similar result with airborne bombing.
9. The Waffen SS is depicted as not quite the elite, fanatical force shown elsewhere. As the final months of the war approached regular army soldiers were drafted into the SS making them subject to special revenge from the Allies. Such SS draftees may not have deserved their fate.
10. Still unanswered are questions of how the Germans could have followed someone like Hitler; also, how Hitler thought he could defeat the British, the Americans, and the Russians all at the same time. Couldn't he count? Did he have a death wish? We'll probably never know the answers but pursuit of them is endlessly fascinating and important. This is not only for what happened 60 years ago, but for today, as well. The rise of Islamo-fascism in the Middle East carries parallels we overlook to our peril.
DVD Review: OUTSTANDING LOOK FROM THE OTHERSIDE
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great series that looks at all areas of the German military and gets prespectives from surviving members of the prospective services. These veterns are thining out daily, so this is great stuff for the period enthusiast.
Description of Voices From Hitler's Army 2 Disc Set - Blitzkrieg, Luftwaffe, Waffen SS, U Boats, Russia - The Unholy War, Defending Berlin
Like old soldiers everywhere, they are fading away, but these German veterans of World War Two have an incredible and sometimes shocking story to tell. This is a unique opportunity to see and hear the last testimonies of Hitler's armies.BLITZKRIEG - Unleashing the Nightmare
During the early months of World War Two, the world was introduced to a new and terrifying military concept - the tactic of Blitzkrieg. Country after country fell as a result of this new 'lightning war', until the seemingly unstoppable armies of the Third Reich stood on the coastline of Northern France.
THE LUFTWAFFE - Messengers of Death
The Luftwaffe was at the cutting edge of Blitzkrieg and it was instrumental in bringing the war to the great cities of Europe, most notably during the 'Blitz' on London during 1940. As the war progressed, however, the pilots were forced to fly more in defence of their country, often in inferior and outdated aircraft..
THE WAFFEN SS - The Alibi for History
The Waffen SS - the SS army - was not always looked upon favorably by the German army. With some 900,000 non-Germans in its ranks, it was the performance of crack divisions such as the SS Panzer Leibstandarte and the Hitler Jugund that persuaded the Fuhrer to use them as an elite force.
U-BOATS - Iron Coffins
Britain finally won the war against the deadly German U-Boats that lurked in the freezing waters of the Atlantic ocean. But what was life really like in the cramped and claustrophobic conditions aboard the vessels that became known as Iron Coffins?
RUSSIA -The Unholy War
The Russian Front saw some of the most bitter and bloody fighting of World War Two. Places such as Stalingrad and Leningrad are now synonymous with the human suffering of that terrible conflict, which threw the people and armies of Russia against the invading German forces in the teeth of a savage winter.
DEFENDING BERLIN - The Last Battles
In April 1945, the Red Army stood at the gates of Berlin; inside the shattered city, only the pathetic remnants of the Home Guard, the Hitler youth and the SS Wehrmacht stood against them. Berlin and its population lay at the mercy of the Russians, who exacted a terrible revenge
General DVDs
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in General DVDs
Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los AngelesRelease date: 2008-07-01; DVD
Best price: $11.05
Price in other shops:
Live at Montreux 1991-1992Release date: 2008-09-30; DVD
Best price: $8.87
Price in other shops:
Sordid LivesRelease date: 2003-03-18; DVD
Best price: $4.06
Price in other shops:
CSNY / Deja VuRelease date: 2008-09-30; DVD
Best price: $7.80
Price in other shops:
Best of Both Worlds Concert: The 3-D Movie: Extended EditionBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2008-08-19; DVD
Best price: $8.50
Price in other shops:
Indescribable (DVD+CD)DVD
Best price: $14.29
One Live KissRelease date: 2008-10-21; DVD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Shine a LightSHINE A LIGHT (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-07-29; DVD
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops:
How Great Is Our God (DVD+CD)DVD
Best price: $14.29
Celtic Thunder: The ShowRelease date: 2008-03-18; DVD
Best price: $10.37
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Hitler - The Rise of EvilRelease date: 2007-10-09; DVD
Best price: $12.39
Price in other shops:
Order Castles of the Third ReichRelease date: 2007-04-10; DVD
Best price: $19.95
DresdenKoch International; Release date: 2008-02-05; DVD
Best price: $13.62
Price in other shops:
Scorched Earth Series 3: The Leibstandarte DivisionRelease date: 2008-06-05; DVD
Best price: $16.95
Gestapo: Hitler's Secret PoliceRelease date: 2005-08-23; DVD
Best price: $4.18
Price in other shops:
Hitler's WarRelease date: 2005-07-12; DVD
Best price: $3.61
Price in other shops:
The Goebbels ExperimentRelease date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $17.33
Price in other shops:
Ruins of the ReichRelease date: 2007-04-02; DVD
Best price: $29.95
How Hitler Lost the WarRelease date: 2005-04-05; DVD
Best price: $2.98
Price in other shops:
Hitler's WarKoch International; Release date: 2007-12-04; DVD
Best price: $29.36
Price in other shops: