WW2 - Docudrama, Hidden Gems, Battle History

[SeaYa]

Hi everyone,

Wanted to provide a spot for sharing some great WW2 content. Hope this can add some contextual flavor to the games we love to play, or at least provide some enjoyment to the community.

While we’ve likely all watched the classic or blockbuster renderings of WW2 (think all of the Memorial Day weekend marathon movies), lesser known gems offer nuanced views into niche aspects of the war.

Off the silver screen, the wealth of historical docudramas provide a looking glass into specific moments and actions, providing tactical learnings and preserving the memories of those who served us all.

Kicking things off with a double feature at sea!

“The Fighting Lady” - Come face to face with the crew of the USS Yorktown, and experience life on a carrier in WW2. Notable insight: crew would fully wash themselves before planned combat operations to reduce the risk of infection if wounded.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P1OmUKRdPVI&pp=0gcJCY4Bo7VqN5tD

“The Western Approaches” - filmed with actual members of the British merchant marine and auxillaries, join a convoy crossing the Atlantic. Notable insight: the briefing before setting sail provides a glimspe into the planning, support, and command structure needed. Think of that when you buy those transports for a shuck-shuck!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SYNICPKLJlA

[SeaYa]

Why do the strategic bombers and interceptors only hit on a roll of 1 during SBR? Check out this period training film for some clues!

“Position Firing - B-17 Gunner Training”
A period training film that breaks down primarily waist gunnery.
Notable gem: The speed at which aim points change during a fighters approach - and keeping collected enough during combat to perform - well done air crews!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aoHOVUKOc0M&pp=0gcJCY4Bo7VqN5tD

[SeaYa]

“Battle of Savo Island” - a battle history episode focusing on the opening stages of the Guadalcanal campaign. The high quality battle analysis is supported by many works cited, worth reading on their own.

Notable insight: How contextual factors and battle mantra paradigms play as significant, if not more, of a role in decision making than force disposition alone.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lICRQPIduFc

[SeaYa]

As the 86th anniversary of Denmark being invaded by Germany approaches, here is a double feature of that opening and aftermath:

“April 9th” - Join a Danish bicycle platoon the days before and day of the invasion.
Notable gem: Captures the vital impact communications, or lack thereof plays in decision making within the fog of war.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V7t17Y7uPwE

“Land of Mine” - the oft forgotten aftermath of the war - the cleanup of 2.2 million mines laid on the Danish coast. A gritty view of the bonds of humanity fighting to heal against the wounds of war that tore them apart. A Danish officer supervises former German Army youth as they are used to clear mines on a section of beach.
Notable gem: Forgiveness.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sewmsP3biAc
English dub: https://m.ok.ru/video/2120526137883

[SeaYa]

“Berehnshtein” - Based on a true story, a glimpse into Soviet led partisan forces in occupied Ukraine and Poland that located some of Germany’s biggest war secrets.
Notable gems: The opening scene gives a harrowing view of what it may have been like to be on the receiving end of a “combined arms” blitz style attack.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MEhNB6TkKq4

[SeaYa]

Double sub feature for the weekend:

“Operation Raspberry” - a very well done docudrama on how the Royal Navy, specifically a team of the Women’s Royal Navy Service, contributed to shifting tactics in the War of the Atlantic.
Notable insight: As this is a war boardgame community, was intriguing to see how an actual war game was constructed to simulate and prove ouy tactics, and train new officers.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KxTb-bVG1RY&pp=0gcJCZoBo7VqN5tD

“Close Quarters” - Join a Royal Navy submarine on patrol in the North Sea. Filmed during the war in 1943.
Hidden Gem: The film used actual su mariners for the filming, in which the balance between acting, and seeing their truer personalities come out ebbs and flows, giving some insight into how the men coped in their circumstamces.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8lKRZp4NDSo&pp=0gcJCYcKAYcqIYzv

[SuperbattleshipYamato]

@SeaYa

I’ll check these films out when I have time (probably when I’m retired).

Some World War 2 related reads I mentioned here in the past:

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/41385/great-leyte-gulf-alternate-timeline-article

https://www.axisandallies.org/forums/topic/37506/an-interesting-book-i-read

[SeaYa]

Japanese Surrender - This is a series of restored photage of the Japanese surrender. With little commentary and multiple angles of overlapping photage, become immersed in the actual surrender ceremony, including the buildup and logistics.
Hidden gem: Find out why the Japanese initially refused to acknowledge the signed surrender terms.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pgI3A1USql8

[barnee]

@SeaYa

Thank You for doing these

[SeaYa]

@barnee - Welcome! Will try to keep them varied on topics and balance movies vs. shorter historical segments.

[barnee]

@SeaYa

Right Arm

I like the ones where JPN and SSR get killed the most.

Thanks again

[SeaYa]

“Hiroshima” - This is one of the most unique cut togethers of historical photage with dubbed sound effects and vocals, acted scenes filmed to mirror the historcial film textures, and intermittant eye witness excerpts I’ve seen on this topic. The various formats are woven together to paint a contextual backdrop to the final months of the atomic bomb developmemt and it’s deployment.

Notable insights: Both US and Japanese political cabinets are depicted, establishing a personal connection behind the classic WW2 newsreals we’ve all seen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bYUPuZM5SMQ

[SeaYa]

“The True Glory” - an absolutely gripping tribute to the millions of people that pulled together to liberate Europe. From the poetic narration that leaves Shakespeare taking notes to the overwhelming examples of the various details, coordination, and logistics involved (the wire netting to reinforce the Normandy beaches after the landings… the wire netting!) this 1946 film rivals modern war dramas for its breadth, depth, and spirit to tell the story from the people who lived in the layers. Fun bonus: catch the map during the first few minutes and see which A&A version comes to mind!

Hidden Gem - a street level view in England of the mixed multitude of nations and organizations prepping for the invasion.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=axaLUySlSyA&pp=0gcJCZoBo7VqN5tD

[SeaYa]

“The Outsider” - Decades before ‘Flags of our Fathers’ this 1961 film follows Ira Hayes from basic training, to Iwo Jima, and the years following the war. Gain an appreciation of Ira’s demise as survivor’s guilt is thrust into the hero’s spotlight.
Hidden Gem: One of the best accounts of just how happenstance the second flag raising was.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=22yCJWawEr0