"The Wehrmacht" on the History Channel

[Willi Z.]

I just noticed today that the History Channel featured five 1-hour shows on the Wehrmacht. I only caught the last 1.5 hours and thought is was extremely objective. Plenty of live footage with alot of it in color. I saw some great color shots of various pieces of armor, equipment and uniforms.

Who else saw it and when will be be on again?

Willi,
Didn't see it, unfortunately their schedule only has it listed for today.
Regards,
Fred

[Steven Baumgartner]

Darn, I was watching football all day! Could have Tivo'd it if I had realized it was on! And looking on the History Channel website, today was the only time it was on for the near future.

Steve

[Willi Z.]

Darn. I was outside cutting some trees and only saw it when I came inside. It was really good! German produced (by ZDF I think) and I think they already have a DVD out. Though I didn't always agree with some of the historians, there were alot of German veterans presenting their experiences. The 5th episode featured the last 5 months of the war and it was extremely sobering. The second half of the 4th was about the resistance to Hitler.

[Mike Davis]

Is this it Willi?

http://www.muft.tv/watch/Video,Item,1487717700.html

[Willi Z.]

Is this it Willi?

http://www.muft.tv/watch/Video,Item,1487717700.html

Yes Mike, those are the 5 episodes.

[stonemint]

I caught 3/5 episodes, and it was well-done. It was produced by ZDF and Guido Knopp. The basic thesis of the series is that the Wehrmacht was aware of, and acquiesced to, the actions of the SS and the Einsatzgruppen. It also deals with Wehrmacht resistance (and the lack thereof) to Hitler, and the responsibility of Generals like Schorner, who continued to sacrifice their men, only to flee in civilian clothes at the last possible moment. Much of it seems to be based on secret recordings of captured German generals at Trent Park in England (there is a book on this called "Tapping Hitler's Generals). Atrocities by the Grossdeutschland division and the Hermann Goering division are recounted. Hopefully it will be re-run again, but will probably be available on youtube in no time.

[stahlhelm47]

Caught about 3 of the one hour episodes. Well done and hope to catch them again. There appears to have been no advanced notices of its showing.. It sure beat the hell out of gangland, tree cutter and other non historical shows that are better off in the crapper. Just my 2 cents....

[BPA-Paul]

Im sure i have this series on dvd, copied of our local channel SBS 5x1hr episodes...The Werhrmacht.......will check and get back to you !

[chippler]

eBay item number 160303636254 ?

- Chris

[Steven Baumgartner]

eBay item number 160303636254 ?

- Chris

Looks like he probably copied it off the TV and is selling it that way. Also see he is selling copies of different books on dvd. Not sure if that is legal or not. But a heck of a price around $10 for all 5 episodes + Cross of Iron!

Steve

[zachb]

Caught about 3 of the one hour episodes. Well done and hope to catch them again. There appears to have been no advanced notices of its showing.. It sure beat the hell out of gangland, tree cutter and other non historical shows that are better off in the crapper. Just my 2 cents....

I saw parts of the series, it was pretty good. I had to check several times to make sure I was really on the History Channel.

[LuckyStrike23]

sorry but i have to disagree. I did not like it and none of the german veterans i talked to did like this series.

Guido Knopp, the historien of ZDF started his WWII/Hitler-TV in the beginning 90´s ("Der verdammte Krieg", "Hitlers Helfer", "Hitlers Generale", "Hitlers.......). The more he produce the more worse his results were in my opinion (the last produkt: this series, in german: Die Wehrmacht - eine Bilanz, was indeed a little bit better i think, but not really good). He always tells the same story (nothing new, even not in this series) in his manner. And his manner is very questionable (that is the reason, why his reputation under historians is very low). In the last years he had also problems to get time participants. Most of the veterans do not talk to him or his assistans.
The only reason for watching it, is the really good original film material.

[Mike Davis]

"The only reason for watching it, is the really good original film material."

Touché. But then that's the way it always is.