The Official True Story of World War II

[ozzy72]

I agree Doug, the older flicks inspite of truely terrible special effects are worth watching.
Real planes, actors who were mostly real veterans of the war and could actually march and salute properly....
Good ones to see are Dambusters, Battle of Britain, The Colditz Story (I think might be called Escape From Colditz, I always muddle up the book and the film titles), and a fictional favourite of mine Ice Cold in Alex.
Bridge on The River Kwai is also a damn good film

[Bombardier101]

It's silly to make a subject like this. If you did a whole true story of WW2 you would need huge posting space and a person like me, lol!

Britain and France did what they could! It would probably be too costly to ship heaps of soldiers to Poland. But they invaded just like they should have. Not all Germans were Nazis, just bear that in mind when you say the Nazi Germans invaded. Sure the guys who told them to go to Poland were Nazi, but

Not all Germans were Nazis

. Ozzy, I've seen some of those movies!

U-571, anyone? (It's a movie).

[ozzy72]

It is amazing how few of the German soldiers/sailors/airmen were in fact dyed in the wool Nazis. Most of them were trying to uphold the honour of their service and do their job as best they could.
I think most soldiers the world over are apolitical...

[ATI_7500]

It is amazing how few of the German soldiers/sailors/airmen were in fact dyed in the wool Nazis. Most of them were trying to uphold the honour of their service and do their job as best they could.
I think most soldiers the world over are apolitical...

Damn right.

U-571, anyone? (It's a movie).

...and it sucks arse.

[ozzy72]

I have to agree with you Bj

[Hagar]

It's silly to make a subject like this. If you did a whole true story of WW2 you would need huge posting space and a person like me, lol!

I think you're missing the point Bomber old chap.

U-571, anyone? (It's a movie).

Pure fiction presented as fact. The sort of rubbish

[ozzy72]

I didn't like Memphis Belle that much but Cruel Sea (based on the book by Nicholas Monsarrat, available from Penguin) is excellent. There was a BBC 2 part drama a few years back called Over Here which was excellent (as well as rather amusing) about a US bomber gunner and a Spitfire pilot. Good aerial footage

[Hagar]

What stands out in all those old classics is the lack of special effects & graphic violence. Those old film-makers could portray the horror of war & every other emotion without that being necessary. You could also understand every word without turning the volume up full-blast or learning to lipread. I think some of the modern film-makers could benefit from watching them too.

[ozzy72]

I do believe you have a point there Doug.
Ice Cold in Alex, not much in the way of action but nevertheless the tension between the characters draws you in. Maybe we should revive B&W movies and ban big computerised special effects?
I know the warbird industry and re-enactment groups would be over the moon

[ATI_7500]

I also thought the more recent 'Memphis Belle' was very well done.

Except the point that the gunners were destroying at least 2183248956 german aircraft in that movie.
Unrealistic.

[Hagar]

Except the point that the gunners were destroying at least 2183248956 german aircraft in that movie.
Unrealistic.

Artistic licence I'm afraid. Reality is no longer horrific enough for your average audience.

[wealthysoup]

The Brits fought back with everything they could, but at least they held the line.  

I'd say Britain did a lot more than "hold the line" in WW2 considering the size of the country compared to Germany and might even go as far to say that they probably did more to defeat the Germans in WW2 than the Americans did.

[Hagar]

I'd say Britain did a lot more than "hold the line" in WW2 considering the size of the country compared to Germany

Please don't forget the contribution of the British Empire. Thousands of Australians, New Zealanders & Canadians (not to mention volunteers from all over the Empire) came to serve Britain in her hour of need. I'm ashamed to say that in many cases their help was abused & they were sent on impossible missions. Without them it would have been a very different story.

Just an example.

About 10,000 Australian airmen served with RAF Bomber Command, making up approximately 9 per cent of its strength.

Of the 125,000 aircrew, an estimated 73,741 became casualties, including 55,500 killed. In Bomber Command, 3486 Australians were killed, which accounted for almost 20 per cent of combat deaths of Australians who enlisted during World War II.

[denishc]

[quote]Modern culture seems to have some sort of sick, abnormal fascination with Nazis or anything with a Swastika, so I'd imagine such a film would sell well.

[ozzy72]

That is because Japan is a major trading partner
I have to agree with Doug about the efforts of soldiers from across the Empire who helped in the fight, men from S.Africa, Rhodesia, India, heck pretty much everywhere.
Not many people know of the contributions and sacrifices made by the Indian troops for example (nowadays India and Pakistan). They fought with incredible courage in N.Africa and served with the highest standards of professionalism. Many troops came from places like the West Indies and also did incredibly brave things.
There were also non-Empire personnel who were superb as well, Ireland supplied many soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought with distinction.
Other surprising countries including Iceland (1 Spitfire pilot, Tony Jonsson read his excellent autobiography Dancing In The Skies, Grub Street), Denmark (Andres Lassen, the SASs only VC during WWII, there are two biographies on him one in Danish by his mother and the other in English by Mike Langley), and even Switzerland (Arturo Fanconi, who died on Utah beech trying to reach a trapped comrade after rescuing two. He had his feet blown off and bled to death, the only known Swiss to have fought in WWII).