This series is old. Since its production we've learned a lot more about the history of WWII, and we can point at many things in WAW that we now know are not accurate or are missing. If you want all the details of WWII, go read some books. There's a lot of them, some about the most ridiculous details. However, if you want to learn about us, watch this series. It will change you forever. On the background of all the facts, all the military operations, all the suffering, defeats and victories, the authors have succeeded in creating an account of humanity at its worst and at its best and the most powerful anti-war statement I've ever seen. Our great-grandfathers have dearly paid for the peace they have given us, and we should be ashamed if we ever take it for granted.

I remember watching this series with my Dad (RIP) back in the 1970s when it was being shown on television on PBS channel 57 (Springfield, Massachusetts). I was only seven or so, but, I remember how well it was organized into chapters; how crystal-clear most of the footage was; and, how well it was narrated and presented.Then...it disappeared from television as quickly as it appeared!?!? As an adult, I began searching for it on television, but, without any luck. So, I found and bought the entire series on Ebay. WOW! It was 'almost' exactly as I remembered it...only 'better' because I now have a better understanding of World War II.This "The World At War" DVD set is a MUST-OWN for all World War II buffs! It explains (what I didn't know before, and, never would have known) how painstakingly the research team plowed through thousands of old footage reels to find and choose what they needed to make each chapter as concise as possible; how the production team, frame-by-frame, cleaned-up and remastered this series back in the 1970s to look new; and, how every conceivable detail was paid attention to so that this World War II documentary was compiled, produced, and, presented in a State-of-the-Art, Class-A, Top-Shelf, unique, and, one-of-a-kind (even today) manner.I was so amazed at how I remembered this series as a child...since, it's just as good or better than it ever was; and, to me, no other World War II documentary series even comes close in depth or detail.I very easily give "The World At War" 10 stars! Thank you, Dad! :)

Viewing this magnificent piece of TV art, the World at War, narrated by the famous thespian of all thespians Sir Laurence Olivier, this show provides in 26 episodes over ten years worth of war and conflict, fleshing out in each episode the pivotal moments and battles that shaped the greatest event in human history, Sir Laurence's narration adding an authority of authenticity, acclaim, and awe unmatched by before and since its inauguration, the presentation of each episode and the series as a whole layered with fair and even attention to all details, and presented with greater resonance with the inclusion of varying participants, irrespective of their major or minor rank and importance to the conflict as a whole.

I am a World War 2 history fanatic and any series that show what life was like during the war I have to watch. This documentary produced by the BBC is in a class by itself. Narrated by the great British actor Sir Laurence Olivier he talks like your favorite college professor whose class you never wanted to miss. This 26 part series shows everything from the causes of the conflict to the celebration of the war's end. Using actual footage filmed in numerous nations we are living in that time. The interviews with actual military and political leaders give an incite into the thinking of why battles happened the way they did.Even though the series is 40 years old it still is the best of any WW2 documentary. I am so glad the military channel still shows episodes and I watch whenever I can.