Apocalypse: The Second World War
This was not the stock, newsreel or propaganda footage that the world had become all too familiar with seeing. This was provocative footage filmed by those who witnessed the war first-hand. This was the footage deemed ‘unfit’ for civilians to see. Until now. This Veterans Day, Smithsonian Channel premieres an epic presentation that will forever change the way we look at the Second World War, APOCALYPSE: THE SECOND WORLD WAR, a six-part, six -hour series narrated by acting icon Martin Sheen. Comprised of extraordinary footage that has been restored, colorized and transferred to stunning high definition, the series will air over six consecutive nights beginning Wednesday, November 11 at 8pm ET/PT.
As the French evacuated Paris in June 1940, amateur filmmakers documented the exodus as thousands of soon to be refugees lined the roads with their families and possessions. As the British sifted through the rubble, ordinary citizens grabbed cameras to capture first-hand what it meant to stand up to Hitler during the Blitz. When the Nazi army slogged through the mud and snow of Soviet Russia on the way to Moscow, soldiers used 8mm cameras to film war as they experienced it.
At the end of the war, this and other “Top Secret” footage of the war’s devastation was stashed away and forgotten. Now, thanks to the efforts of a few private collectors and archivists, these forgotten films have been rediscovered, restored and featured in Apocalypse: The Second World War.
Apocalypse: The Second World War recounts the battles and atrocities of the most destructive war in history, one that took the lives of millions. The restoration of the footage and its colorization were supervised by historical consultants to ensure accuracy. Researchers pulled and edited over 600 hours of footage from archives throughout the world.
“Smithsonian Channel is proud to be the exclusive U.S. home to this groundbreaking depiction of World War II,” said David Royle, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production, Smithsonian Channel. “The filmmakers’ remarkable discovery of unseen footage, the vivid storytelling and attention to historical detail is exactly the type of programming that we are looking to bring to our audience.”
Apocalypse: The Second World War executive producer for Smithsonian Channel is Joy Galane. The series was directed by Isabelle Clarke, Jean-Louis Guillaud, and Henri de Turenne. It is written by the historian Daniel Costelle and produced by CC&C Louis Vaudeville and France 2 in association with Smithsonian Channel.
andrew e christensen
November 13th, 2009 at 6:43 pmI would love to purchase this series, so inspirational, a must for all to see. I will not download this series. I am looking for a place to buy it but can only find places to illegaly download it. Such work cannot be mistreated. Is it for sale? If not, it should be. It represents WWII in a way I have never seen. PLease, ¿where can I buy it? thank you.
siomai sam
November 16th, 2009 at 7:39 am..SEIG HEIL ! ! !
Keir
December 12th, 2009 at 1:15 amBy the fourth episode, the overwhelming French focus was too much. The series was made by the French, and so spends considerable time on the French over others. By 1940 they surrendered after 6 weeks into the Blitzkrieg and left the fighting to others, before jumping on the Anglo-American liberation bandwagon. Here it’s not the French collaborating, but the Vichy French (as if there was any other real kind). Not he French firing on us in Morocco, but the Vichy French. Meanwhile the French flag is superimposed over the British and US flags to show that they were part of a liberation force against, ummm, countries like France. At least National Geographic could have edited this out and made it more historically relevant to its viewers.
Marc
December 26th, 2009 at 10:41 pmThe french were among the first to try and stand to the Nazi’s when they invaded Poland at the start of the war and suffered the consequences. They made the best of the situation and continued to fight the Nazis throughout the war… Even if they sponsored this and hi-lighted their involvement it is still a great series. My hats off to the producers! I would gladly purchase this for my Father who lived in Poland during these historic events. Where is it for sale in BluRay?