World Wars on History Channel -- Three thumbs up!

[Mac!Gettothechoppa'!]

Also try: Battleline. That show had soldiers from opposing militaries-who told things from their points of views. Its available on DVD.

Natgeotv aired my 3-hour film 'Inside WWII' on Memorial Day (it is also on Youtube). A little side note, during the making of the film one of the little girl VP's yelled at me "who the hell is this James Doolittle and why are we wasting time talking about him?!" I told her to get the hell out of my office and go study some history. Pathetic...

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Natgeotv aired my 3-hour film 'Inside WWII' on Memorial Day (it is also on Youtube). A little side note, during the making of the film one of the little girl VP's yelled at me "who the hell is this James Doolittle and why are we wasting time talking about him?!" I told her to get the hell out of my office and go study some history. Pathetic...

That was always one of my father-in-law's brag stories. He met Jimmy Doolittle over in Africa when Jimmy was on his way home after the raid.

 

[the ringo kid]

Updated post page 1.

 

[acco40]

There was a Renault some years ago at the Cole Palen Aerodrome in NY, and Hayes Otoupalic drives one around Missouls Montana. Probably others are around too. There's at least one operational one at the Musée des Blindées at Saumur, in France. The Musée has a display each year, some weekend in July,where they drive their Renault 35s, Somuas and B1Bis. It's been on late night TV (very late night TV) at least once.

Here's a Renault from the Musée des Blindées on display at Eurosatory 2010. The second picture shows the driver's position with pedals and brakes. The third is shot straight back from the driver's position The chain drive for the cam is visible. The tank was upgraded with the Mle 31 Reibel MG; the round things are magazines for the Reiblel.

Lock N Load did a story on tanks that included a functional Renault here in the US. You can see clips of it here:

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu2afDi10tg"

 

[jtcarm]

Humph. I'm watching WWII right now and am not impressed. Especially when I saw a GI marching with Patton carrying an SMLE.

IMO, it's way too generous to FDR and MacCarthur. The victory at Midway belonged to Chester Nimitz, Ray Spruins, and Naval Intelligence, not FDR.

The analysis of the leaders, political and military, is very shallow and presuming.

Too bad Stephen Ambrose isn't here to set the record straight.

 

[the ringo kid]

Natgeotv aired my 3-hour film 'Inside WWII' on Memorial Day (it is also on Youtube). A little side note, during the making of the film one of the little girl VP's yelled at me "who the hell is this James Doolittle and why are we wasting time talking about him?!" I told her to get the hell out of my office and go study some history. Pathetic...

A good friend of mine is a Highschool Principal at a school somewhere in Michigan. About 15 years ago, he sent me one of the new ''history books'' they just got in. It was absolutely pathetic. I'm not down-playing anything but---their coverage of WWII, was six pages. Half was only on one subject.

 

[cowart]

That was always one of my father-in-law's brag stories. He met Jimmy Doolittle over in Africa when Jimmy was on his way home after the raid.

There was a rule back then that when an American service man married a local national, he had to get a form filled out and then signed by his CO. We still have my Dad's form, signed by Jimmy Doolittle.

 

[raljr1]

The biggest think that stood out to me was how many soldiers were shooting left handed. I assume that they reversed the film for some reason.

 

[NYlakesider]

The biggest think that stood out to me was how many soldiers were shooting left handed. I assume that they reversed the film for some reason.

Yes they also had a few left handed SMLEs also. If I could get one of those it would be the center piece of my military rifle
collection!

 

[labworm]

I keep seeing Larry Hovis, am I the only one?

 

[PR24]

The 1st show was good but their weapons & equipment person need to be sacked!

*1916 stahlhelm & Israeli gas masks in 1914? Feldmutze & pickelhaubes were the order of the day. The Israeli masks are 'similar' looking to the German version however.

*German troops with SMLE's & some '03 Springfields, Brits with Springfields, Doughboys with SMLE's??? Did anyone else notice the drill rifles with chrome steel?

*Winston Churchill wearing a Webley Mk.V holster whilst sporting a quasi 1911?

*Lt. Patton while wearing LTC rank? MacArthur's bright brass hat device on his cover: they were darkened during that period in the US Army. European theater wool tunics on the US/Mex border? No, they wore shirts, not wool tunics... Half of Pershing's men would have croaked from heat stroke.

*M3 Stuart tank in 1918? I get it that French FT-17 tanks aren't exactly cruising around, but how about some CGI?

I haven't even watched episode 2 yet. Obviously the US & UK soldiers should have the right weapons but the Germans should have been armed with some Mauser variant! Turk, Swede...whatever, at least it's a Mauser. A 98K would look better than what they had, anachronistic or not. The SMLE's in German hands were glaringly wrong.

The History Channel folks have to know that a series like this isn't only watched by daft teenagers for school. It's history buffs that will notice the very wrong accoutrements.

 

[Texas Star]

Humph. I'm watching WWII right now and am not impressed. Especially when I saw a GI marching with Patton carrying an SMLE.

IMO, it's way too generous to FDR and MacCarthur. The victory at Midway belonged to Chester Nimitz, Ray Spruins, and Naval Intelligence, not FDR.

The analysis of the leaders, political and military, is very shallow and presuming.

Too bad Stephen Ambrose isn't here to set the record straight.

I was under the impression that Admiral Spruance spelled his name that way. One of us needs to be sure. But I otherwise like your post.

 

[Texas Star]

There was a rule back then that when an American service man married a local national, he had to get a form filled out and then signed by his CO. We still have my Dad's form, signed by Jimmy Doolittle.

So, where was your mom from? Doolittle later commanded the 8th AF, so maybe the UK?

 

[cowart]

So, where was your mom from? Doolittle later commanded the 8th AF, so maybe the UK?

Exactly - she was from High Wycombe, which is where the 8th AF headquarters was located. My dad was on Doolittle's staff there.

 

[jtcarm]

I was under the impression that Admiral Spruance spelled his name that way. One of us needs to be sure. But I otherwise like your post.

My bad. I hate taking time to check spelling in the middle of a post.
Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[jlrhiner]

Well boys, (and girls), I finally finished it yesterday. Let me summarize by saying Don't get your history from this show. A very poor interpretation of the facts.

 

[PR24]

Like jlrhiner said is spot on! Japanese Aegis Destroyer footage from the late 20th century to represent WW2 Imperial Navy power?? The ONLY thing on that vessel that is from WW2 is the naval ensign! With all the archival footage & CGI, couldn't they have done a bit better?? That was really bad & blatantly obvious laziness on he producers part. Good hell, they used to do 'Dodfights' and 'Battle 360' which were CGI. I also saw a lot of omissions of various facts too.

 

[vigil617]

Er, as the OP of this thread, now having read all of your comments about it, I feel a bit embarrassed that I gave it high marks after episode one. Maybe I should have waited til the whole thing was over and done with.

I liked it, but I seem to be in the minority around here....

 

[smokindog]

There is no need for you to apologize for your opinion. We all watch things for different reasons. Always express your opinion on this forum. If someone can't accept it, ignore it.

PS - I'm one who thought it wasn't so great !!!!!

Er, as the OP of this thread, now having read all of your comments about it, I feel a bit embarrassed that I gave it high marks after episode one. Maybe I should have waited til the whole thing was over and done with.

I liked it, but I seem to be in the minority around here....

 

[MTS Cop]

I thought it was garbage, pop history. Besides all the weapons and uniform mistakes (MacArthur with 5 stars in the 1930s made me scream) they depicted a lot of major events flat out wrong. Hitler never shot it out in the streets when he was up and coming. They made Stalin look like Lenin's right hand man from the very beginning. And they basically said Patton was kept on the bench until the Battle of the Bulge. It angers me because many people will take this trash as gospel. Read a book, or at least watch a GOOD movie on the subject.