World War Two: Behind Closed Doors (2008– ) User Reviews

Good re-enactment's w/excellent little known history.

[TheEmulator23 · 9/10 · 23 May 2009]

I know WWII pretty well although I am no Ian Kershaw or Stephen Ambrose. (R.I.P) I am a wannabe historian that knew very little to none of these going-on's behind closed doors. I won't give anything away as this should be seen to understand even more about how the Europe was divided up by the allied powers. Granted by the time most of these events happened it was pretty much sewn up that the Nazi's were going to lose it was just a matter of time. It surprised me although I knew already how very arrogant all of these men (FDR, Churchill, & Stalin) were being while millions were dying. I knew how Poland suffered so much and even knew some of the Katyn massacre, although the extent of the cover-up truly was disgusting & repulsive that which Stalin & Soviets did. Although there is propaganda now, I didn't think I've ever seen it used more or as effectively as it was during WWII on all sides of the conflict. Back to Poland. Poland was so mis-treated that I don't really think people know just how bad it was for them. This documentary although focusing much on the leaders should have been subtitled something about the abuse Poland received by everyone especially the Nazis, & the Bolsheviks. This is a much watch for all those interested in the truth especially wannabe historians (like myself) & real historians alike as this is information that is very new & seems to cover someone unfortunate & terrible truths to go w/those we already knew.

Just what I've been waiting for

[gring0 · 8/10 · 10 September 2010]

This is another outstanding effort by the BBC, from the same producers of Nazis: A Warning From History, Auschwitz, Between the Wars, War of the Century et cet. Many of those interviewed in those earlier efforts are shown here. The actors performing the roles of these historic men are almost perfect, right down to Voroshilov and Beria. The first episode provides what should be the bombshell- the USSR and Nazis working together as partners to conquer Europe. However, I was dismayed to find absolutely nothing at all about Russia's aggression outside of Poland's borders; nothing at all about the so-called Winter War against an helpless Finland for which FDR in a speech in Feb. 1940 complained that Russia was no different to Germany; nothing about the invasion and annexation of the Baltic states. Nothing about Soviet action in Bessarabia which helped in no small part to convince Hitler once and for all to attack. As terrible as Russian atrocities are presented here, they get off lightly. No doubt Rees's book would cover this (I haven't picked up a copy yet) but thought, with four episodes, the first could have at least mentioned more. This is in the end a minor issue in comparison to the overall quality of the series. Nevertheless, overall I was dismayed by the total lack of mention of the Dieppe fiasco which had served as the preliminary to the second front. By omitting this event, the series fails to provide a balanced view of how Britain had in fact tried to carry it out before it was feasible. The war between the USSR and Japan was completely jettisoned; as Max Hastings pointed out in his outstanding book Retribution, the USSR fought its own war completely outside the US; it didn't end its war when the series states the war ended on August 15. By failing to mention the Soviet army's sacrifice, again we only see half the story. I feel too that the Poles, who were the the most aggressive of all European nations in attacking Vilnius, Teschen, Melma, Silesia, Russia, the Czechs again at Munich etc, were made out to be martyrs when the land that was taken from them by the Soviets had, after all, been stolen through acts of wantan aggression only the decade before. Finally, despite the title, the last episode goes beyond a discussion of the alliance against the Nazis, but far too little on the origins of the Cold War to justify such a diversion. No mention, at all, was made of the Fulton Speech of March 5, 1946. Nothing at all about the Marshall Plan or a real discussion of the Truman Doctrine before it. Berlin Blockade? NATO? Korea? Lacking such crucial events, I honestly can't understand why an episode was devoted post May 8 1945. Having six episodes with which to describe an alliance lasting less than four years, I was rather dismayed by how much was left out. One small quibble I also have is to the use of the 1960 US flag of 50 stars on the cover and in the titles; so much attention to detail is shown in these series that it seems glaring to me (and lazy and the part of the makers) that the flag of the United States is incorrect. One wouldn't use the current German flag to represent Nazi Germany... www.tracesofevil.com

Binge Watching For History Buffs

[verbusen · 9/10 · 20 October 2017]

Since the 1990's (PBS's Battlefield) I have been a history video buff but after a couple of decades the sources of new material have been released at longer and longer intervals for USA viewers. Some of the new material has come from Russia or France (repackaged for English speaking consumption), but the vast majority of new videos I have seen on American television has come from England. This production immediately stood out from the standard releases which I appreciate as being better then military documentaries from the past, but still do not have very expensive production values. With this series, it seems like a significant budget was used for a TV documentary. There are several location shots inside Russia (if not Russia, they were convincing) with convincing actors playing the three heads of state. The only one missing was Hitler but the focus is on Stalin so that would have been a distraction. Once I started watching the first episode and saw the money spent and the information it revealed I was hooked and in a short space of time had finished the series. I was really surprised about the German raider Komet's Arctic sailing in 1940 with significant help from the Russians with ice breakers (named Lenin and Joseph Stalin!), while the USSR was a "neutral". Germany paid Russia over $150,000 USD for this, and had negotiated for two dozen more ships but those plans were not pursued. The Komet, by the way, managed to get back to Germany after being at sea for over 500 days! Whew, I'm glad I wasn't a sailor on that ship! I had not known about this history before so it was a revelation to me. Other revelations this series informed me of, Harry White, a Soviet spy within the US Treasury Department, and English contingency plans called Operation Unthinkable of war between England and Russia alone. Of course, if you are a Pole you will be very interested in this series since the Polish dilemma is the main point for most of the series. I never really pieced together that Poland's sovereignty was the main reason why WW2 started and that England tried to restore it as it was before the war, that theme was stated a few times in the episodes. My only minor criticism is that this is an English production and they invariably show a bias toward the English view of events and eventually always treat the Americans as naive and incompetent. Mentioning things like Soviet spies in the American government but ignoring the same thing happening with the British (Cambridge Spy Ring). One time in my life this would have raise my temper, but I'm used to it now and just chalk it up to that's the way life is. Highly recommended binge watching for military history buffs! 9 out of 10.

Briliand, fresh, and surprising.

[koniev · 10/10 · 26 June 2013]

It's astonish production. It reveals, classified up till not long ago, historical facts about Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt, theirs talks, relations, and actions. Finally, it expose Poland's perspective on II World War, which was falsified by Stalin, and those lies, live in minds of many people around the world, up to this day.

It's just astonish documentary. You have to see that, not only to get familiar with real history of WW2, but also to have balanced view on todays policies of superpowers and motivations behind it (where it come from).

Joseph Stalin was a tyrant responsible for the death of millions, yet he was also a vital ally of Britain and America during the Second World War.

How was it possible for Churchill and Roosevelt to deal with one communist tyrant, Joseph Stalin, in order to help beat another, national-socialist Adolf Hitler? That's one of the key questions at the heart of this six-part BBC's landmark history TV series.

The series uses dramatic reconstructions, based on extensive fresh research in Russian and Western archives, and extraordinary testimony from witnesses of the time, including former Soviet secret policemen who have not spoken before on camera, in order to tell a 'behind closed doors' history.

In other words, you just have to see this documentary. It's not just another WW2 documentary.

An almost never given 10/10 for me. That good.

[LegioXEquestris · 10/10 · 21 July 2021]

I have over a 1000 books on military history. Especially WW2. Yet here I found so much that is so new. Astonishing new information. My congratulations to the researchers.

The only thing badly missing (I suspect because the Govt is not yet ready) is the story about how when he knew he was being bugged Churchill shouted to the chandelier that he has enigma and knows that Japan will not invade. The next day Stalin becomes friends with Churchill.

Later when Stalin realizes how naive the Americans are he sides with them only to find he despises their weakness. By comparison he comes to respect and like Churchill.

However Samuel West steals the series with his impeccable narration. He sounds like Lawrence Olivier in World at War and it works. This is a cracker.