List Price: $29.99Price:
$26.99You Save: $3 (10%)Frontline: Bush's War
Actor: .
ASIN : B00169E5J6
Sales Rank : 12346
Director : Michael Kirk
Studio : PBS (Direct)
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0841887009447
UPC : 841887009447
Release Date : December 27, 2008
Publisher : PBS (Direct)
Manufacturer : PBS (Direct)
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : PBS (Direct)
Running Time : 270
Product Description
9/11 and Al Qaeda, Afghanistan and Iraq, WMD and the Insurgency, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, Fallujah and the Surge. For six years, FRONTLINE has been revealing those stories in meticulous detail, and the political dramas played out at the highest levels. Now, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, the full saga will unfold in this special definitive documentary analysis of one of the most challenging periods in the nation's history.
List Price: $24.95Price:
$14.99You Save: $9.96 (40%)The Atomic Cafe
Actors: Lloyd Bentsen, W.H.P. Blandy, Owen Brewster, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Frank Gallop
ASIN : B000060MW1
Sales Rank : 6447
Director : Jayne Loader, Kevin Rafferty, Pierce Rafferty
Studio : New Video Group
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780767043373
ISBN : 0767043375
UPC : 767685949634
Release Date : December 26, 2002
Publisher : New Video Group
Manufacturer : New Video Group
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : New Video Group
Running Time : 86
Description
On its 20-year anniversary, and not a moment too soon, THE ATOMIC CAFE is back to provide us with a much-needed release of comic energy. A dark comedy in the truest sense, this timeless classic took the nation by storm when it first debuted in 1982. The
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The atomic bomb changed the world forever, and this wonderful film shows how Americans expressed wonder over atomic weapons and then suffered from the pervasive fear that America would be on the receiving end of a Soviet nuclear attack. Atomic Cafe is a brilliant compilation of archival film clips beginning with the first atomic bomb detonation in the New Mexico desert. The footage, much of it produced as government propaganda, follows the story of the bomb through the two atomic attacks on Japan that ended World War II to the bomb's central role in the cold war. Shown along with the famous "duck and cover" Civil Defense films are lesser-known clips, many of which possess a bizarre black humor when seen today, and it's easy to see why this film, which was produced in the early 1980s, became a cult classic sometimes referred to as the "nuclear Reefer Madness." Bellicose congressmen are shown advocating a freewheeling policy of nuclear strikes against China during the Korean War, suburban families are shown enjoying the comforts of their bomb shelters, and footage of a boy trying to bicycle to a bomb shelter in a "bomb survival suit" his father designed is priceless. Atomic Cafe is at once clever and poignant, a canny and offbeat look at a significant period in American history. --Robert J. McNamara
List Price: $39.95Price:
$23.99You Save: $15.96 (40%)Founding Fathers
Actors: Keith Arbour, Carol Berkin, Beau Bridges, Richard Brookhiser, Peter Coyote
ASIN : B00004ZETI
Sales Rank : 16407
Director : Mark Hufnail, Melissa Jo Peltier
Brand : A&E
Studio : A&E Home Video
Region Code : 1
Format : Box set, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780767030939
ISBN : 0767030931
UPC : 733961710038
Release Date : December 30, 2001
Publisher : A&E Home Video
Manufacturer : A&E Home Video
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : A&E Home Video
Running Time : 200
Product Description
Studio: A&e Home Video Release Date: 12/16/2008 Run time: 200 minutes Rating: Nr
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The four programs from the History Channel in this set profile America's Founding Fathers, noting right at the outset they were a "mismatched group of quarrelsome aristocrats, merchants, and lawyers." The story of how these disparate characters fomented rebellion in the colonies, formed the Continental Congress, fought the Revolutionary War, and wrote the Constitution is told by noted historians, and the production is enhanced with beautifully photographed reenactments as well as intelligent use of period paintings and engravings. The story begins with Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Boston, whose protests against British taxation led to the Boston Tea Party. Moving on to the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, the brilliant delegates from the South, particularly George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, appear on the scene, and the story is told of how an improbable cohesion between the colonies began. Other main characters, including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, appear in turn, and each of the major participants is portrayed in a biographical profile. How these men all came to act together, despite the stark differences in their backgrounds and temperaments, becomes the main thread of the story. They were all quite human, as the historians who appear in interviews remind us. Some of them drank too much, some had illegitimate children, some owned slaves, and some could hardly get along with anyone. Yet these men with complicated private lives worked together and performed heroically. This is an intelligently rendered and captivating look at the men who formed the American nation. --Robert J. McNamara
List Price: $19.95Price:
$10.99You Save: $8.96 (45%)The True Story of Alexander the Great (History Channel)
Actor: Peter Woodward
ASIN : B0006L7UFG
Sales Rank : 20824
Studio : A&E Home Video
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, Letterboxed, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780767077095
ISBN : 0767077091
UPC : 733961717389
Release Date : December 25, 2005
Publisher : A&E Home Video
Manufacturer : A&E Home Video
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : A&E Home Video
Running Time : 150
Description
Tutored by Aristotle, helpless witness to his father's assassination, and a brilliant, pioneering tactician, Alexander the Great had conquered the known world--and sealed his legacy as one of history's most remarkable rulers--by the age of 25. In the year 334 B.C., 20-year-old King Alexander of Macedonia decided to bring the farthest reaches of the world under one domain. Over the next 12 years, he led a grand army across more than 20,000 miles and eventually brought all of Asia under his control, only to perish from battle wounds at the age of 32. Incorporating dramatic onsite reenactments with high-end computer graphics and the expertise of renowned scholars, THE TRUE STORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT is special presentation from THE HISTORY CHANNEL®, examining the life and career of this military genius, impassioned lover, and fearless leader. Hosted by Peter Woodward (Conquest), this definitive program is available on DVD for the first time. DVD Features: The Making of The True Story of Alexander The Great Featurette; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection
List Price: $13.98Price:
$12.49You Save: $1.49 (11%)The Battlefield: The Battle of Kursk
Actor: War File
ASIN : B0013XSC8K
Sales Rank : 18474
Studio : Cromwell Productions
Region Code : 0
Format : Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0723721226664
UPC : 723721226664
Release Date : December 11, 2008
Publisher : Cromwell Productions
Manufacturer : Cromwell Productions
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Cromwell Productions
Running Time : 96
Description
In the summer of 1943 more than 2,000,000 men and 6,000 tanks of the German and Soviet Armies faced each other near the Soviet city of Kursk. The ensuing battle was, to this day, the largest tank battle ever fought in history. It marked the last major offensive operation of German forces in the East and, combined with the Soviet victory at Stalingrad, was the decisive turning point on the Eastern Front.
This episode is from the landmark television series Battlefield. Featuring fascinating archive footage from all over the world, the program includes a review of the political and military situation before the battle, portraits of leaders and commanders, an explanation of weapons and tactics, and the story of the battle itself. Vivid graphics place the battle into the context of the war as a whole.
List Price: $29.95Price:
$17.49You Save: $12.46 (42%)The Last Days of World War II (History Channel)
Actor: Last Days of Wwii
ASIN : B0001XARMW
Sales Rank : 33537
Brand : A&E
Studio : A&E Home Video
Region Code : 1
Format : Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780767061803
ISBN : 0767061802
UPC : 733961711912
Release Date : December 25, 2004
Publisher : A&E Home Video
Manufacturer : A&E Home Video
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : A&E Home Video
Running Time : 279
Description
The Last Days of WWII
The Last Days of WWII chronicles the unrelenting Allied advance through Europe that finally crushed Hitler’s Third Reich. First-hand footage and expert commentary follow the decisive ground battles and strategic bombing missions from D-Day through the capture of Berlin. It also examines the after-effects of the war, from the wrenching drama of the Nuremberg Trials to the revelations of the Nazis’ last, desperate acts, including their attempts to hide looted treasures and develop secret weapons.
The Last Days of WWII would be useful for classes on European History, American History, Geography, Military History and Ethics. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.
Death of the Reich
In ten days of bloody fighting in the Ardennes forest, the fate of the war in Europe was sealed. The Battle of the Bulge left the Wehrmacht in tatters and the road to Berlin clear for the advancing British and American forces. For six months, the Germans staved off the inevitable, despite incessant bombing and the surrender of over a quarter of a million soldiers. But, by May of 1945, the Soviet flag flew over Berlin, Hitler was dead, and the war was over.
Vocabulary• autopsy
• capitulation
• debacle
• decimated
• exploit
• fanatical
• goose step
• guerilla
• incendiary
• Luftwaffe
• paranoid
• Reich
• retrospect
• sabotage
• sniper
• vagabond
Discussion Questions 1. In war, “to the victor belong the spoils.” What are the spoils of war? What does this phrase mean?
2. In December 1944, Hitler moved the bulk of his forces from the eastern front to the western front. Why did Hitler do this? What did he hope to achieve?
3. The Battle of the Bulge was one of the decisive battles of WWII. Why did the Germans lose this battle? How did this loss contribute to the final outcome of WWII?
4. As the Red Army invaded Germany, it went on a rampage of destruction and looting. Why did the Red Army feel justified in the plunder of Germany?
5. Allied forces destroyed the city of Dresden, causing the death of over 100,000 civilians. Why did the Allied forces do this? What did they accomplish by killing civilians? Are there any rules in war about the conduct of armies?
6. When Berlin and Germany were about to fall to the Allied forces, Hitler insisted to the people of Germany that victory was in sight. Why did Hitler say this when it was obviously not true?
7. Every nation uses propaganda during wartime. What is propaganda? How do you recognize propaganda? What is the role of propaganda in wartime?
8. Hitler’s death camps killed over 10 million people. How was it possible that these camps were secret?
9. General Eisenhower insisted that the liberation of the death camps be photographed and witnessed. Why did he think this was so important? How did Eisenhower’s predictions come true?
10. Why did Hitler commit suicide?
Extended Activities 1. Imagine that you are a soldier during WWII. Write a letter home to your family describing the war and your experiences.
2. On a map of Europe, trace the path of the Allied invasion from Normandy to Berlin.
3. Create a timeline that chronicles the major events of WWII.
Justice at Nuremberg
In the months that followed the end of WWII, many horrific revelations came to light, but it was not until the Nuremberg trials that the full breadth of Nazi atrocities was revealed. Through 200 days of gripping testimony, the world watched as the inner workings of the Third Reich were exposed in the final accounting of Hitler's crimes against humanity.
Vocabulary• apathetic
• ascertain
• atrocities
• communiqué
• concessions
• dais
• degradation
• delegation
• eloquent
• fiasco
• genocide
• gregarious
• incongruous
• indictment
• jurisdiction
• malignant
• precarious
• refute
• succumb
Discussion Questions 1. The Allied forces insisted that Germany surrender unconditionally. What is meant by an unconditional surrender? Why did the Allied forces insist on an unconditional surrender?
2. WWII has been called both a war and a crime. Why was WWII a crime? How was it different than other wars?
3. The war crimes trials were held in Nuremberg. Why were they held there?
4. Twelve Nazi leaders were sentenced to death by hanging at the Nuremberg trials. The Nazi leaders pleaded for death by firing squad. Why did the method of execution matter so much to both the Nazis and their accusers?
5. Hermann Goering defied the Nuremberg judgement by committing suicide. How was he able to do this even though he was imprisoned and under constant surveillance?
6. Why did Goering's suicide embarrass the United States Army?
7. The most obvious reason for the Nuremberg trials was to punish the men responsible for WWII atrocities. But the trials served another purpose. What was it? Why, in the scope of history, was this purpose more important than the fate of the accused men?
8. Was it just to execute the Nazi leaders? If so, why? If not, why not?
Extended Activities 1. Create a poster that celebrates the end of WWII.
2. Imagine that you are a journalist and you witness the liberation of a Nazi death camp. Write an article for your readers that conveys the impact of what you witnessed.
3. There are some people today who are trying to prove that the Holocaust never happened. How would you prove to these people that it did happen?
The Spoils of War
The German Army systematically looted every town it overcame in its sweep across Europe. By the end of the war, countless treasures had been hidden underground as a protection against air raids. The U.S. Army in its massive drive to collect and return stolen items recovered some riches, such as the Austrian crown jewels. But others were spirited away by the Russians as reparation for war damages. The German army also left behind valuable high-tech war machinery. From the V-2 missiles, the precursor to the rocket that would eventually take man to the moon, to the world's first operational jet aircraft, the technology and scientists of the Third Reich would benefit the Allies for years to come.
Vocabulary• Aerodynamics
• appropriations
• Chateau
• confiscate
• curator
• elation
• expedite
• Icons
• incredulous
• obviate
• Pillage
• portend
• propulsion
• reparations
• sporadic
• totalitarian
Discussion Questions 1. At the end of the war, General Eisenhower issued an order for American soldiers to protect historical monuments and cultural items. Why was this important to the U.S. Army and General Eisenhower?
2. Nazi leaders had a passion for collecting paintings and objects of art. How can this be reconciled with the Nazis' heinous disregard for human life?
3. What was the job of the American Monuments, Fine Arts & Archives team?
4. The site of the recovered German gold reserves and art collections were in Russian occupied territory. Why did the U.S. remove these items under the cloak of secrecy?
5. The Nazi art collection consisted of art treasures from all over Europe. How did the Nazis acquire these treasures?
6. Art is a subjective medium. What makes an object or a painting art? How do you determine its value? Why are some creations deemed as art and others just as paintings, etc.?
7. The U.S. Army confiscated German planes at the end of the war. Why was the U.S. so interested in these planes?
8. How did the end of WWII portend the beginning of the Cold War?
Extended Activities 1. Divide the class in two and monitor a debate on the question of whether or not the U.S. was correct in returning confiscated art to Germany.
Amazon.com
The Last Days of World War II is actually three separate and outstanding History Channel documentaries about the horrifying, surreal violence that marked the decisive months of the war in Europe. The first film begins with Hitler's declaration that the Third Reich would last 1,000 years, yet by 1945 Germany was losing on every major battlefront. Still, tens of thousands of civilian and military lives would be lost before fighting ceased: in the Battle of the Bulge, pitting 600,000 Allied troops against a Nazi surge in Belgium; in Dresden, where Allied bombers spent days fire-bombing women and children; in the subway tunnels of Berlin, where refugees were drowned when a paranoid, sleepless Hitler ordered them flooded to stave off Russian soldiers. Plentiful interviews with former officers on all sides of the war, commentary by historians, and remarkable footage of battles, concentration camps, and the Nuremberg trials make this a compelling narrative rich with enlightening details.
A second disc includes a superb piece about the destruction of a U.S. Navy submarine-chaser off the coast of Maine, and a strategic cover-up that denied, for more than 60 years, that the ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. Finally, the story of the German-Japanese alliance, and the role of a geography professor named Karl Haushofer (who coined the phrase "geopolitics") in a number of key wartime events, make a fascinating subject for the final production. --Tom Keogh
Price:
$6.98Hitler's War
Actor: War Zone
ASIN : B0009UVBRC
Sales Rank : 15925
Studio : Eagle Vision Media
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0801213505692
UPC : 801213505692
Release Date : December 12, 2005
Publisher : Eagle Vision Media
Manufacturer : Eagle Vision Media
Availability : Usually ships in 9 to 13 days
Label : Eagle Vision Media
Running Time : 115
Description
A historical documentary production company owning more 5,000 hours of footage and 800 hours of finished programs. Eagle Media is well known for their work with A&E Network, the History Channel, PBS, The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and others. As an Emmy Award winning Production Company, Eagle Media has a reputation for excellence in historical productions of all kinds. The company offers some truly unique resources as the foremost producer of historical reenactment and a pioneer in the use of 3D graphics to animate historical locations.
Rare footage illustrates the chilling account of Hitler’s ruthless aspirations and savage victories as his armies blitz their way through Northern Europe and fatefully invaded the Soviet Union. We examine the disappointment and defeat that followed the collapse of his "Russian Adventure" and the Allies’ closing in on the German capital of Berlin.
List Price: $34.98Price:
$26.99You Save: $7.99 (23%)Auschwitz - Inside the Nazi State
Actors: Samuel West, Gordon Newell (II)
ASIN : B000777JH8
Sales Rank : 7453
Studio : BBC Warner
Region Code : 1
Format : Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780790715513
ISBN : 0790715511
UPC : 794051211323
Release Date : December 29, 2005
Publisher : BBC Warner
Manufacturer : BBC Warner
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : BBC Warner
Running Time : 300
Amazon.com
More than any previous documentary about the Holocaust, Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State reveals the inner workings of the Nazi implementation of Hitler's infamous "final solution." Drawing on the latest academic discoveries, this remarkable BBC series presents a wide-ranging, meticulously researched biography of the titular "killing factory" and its evolution into a highly efficient location for industrialized extermination of well over one million Jews, gypsies, and other so-called "mongrel races" between 1940 and 1945. From "Surprising Beginnings" to "Liberation & Revenge," the six-chapter program chronicles the gradual process that escalated into the Holocaust, focusing its expansive European timeline on the detailed movements of preeminent (and highly corruptible) Holocaust engineers like Heinrich Himmler, Rudolf Höss, and "death doctor" Josef Mengele. Through painstakingly authentic reenactments of crucial meetings including the Wannsee Conference (where the "final solution" was secretly devised), we see and hear the Nazi thought processes, built on virulent hatred and bigotry, that "justified" mass murder on an unprecedented scale.
Subtle but exacting use of computer-animated effects allows three-dimensional exploration of newly discovered architectural plans and buildings long-ago destroyed, revealing the transformation of Auschwitz as World War II progressed. Along with rare archival footage, thorough documentation, and frank testimony from Holocaust survivors and Nazi perpetrators (not all of them penitent about their crimes), these programs make expert use of commanding narration by Oscar®-winning actress Linda Hunt, who brings depth and gravitas to a grim litany of sobering facts and figures. The result is an all-encompassing portrait of Auschwitz unlike anything seen before, masterfully written and produced by Laurence Rees with equal parts tenacity, intelligence, and integrity, informed by an overriding sense of moral outrage that is entirely appropriate to the history being examined. It's a remarkable achievement, as important as Shoah as a definitive exploration of one of the darkest chapters in human history. --Jeff Shannon
