Kokoda - the Counterattack

Genre:.....................WWII Documentary
Language:.................English - No Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................56Mins
Size:........................439Mb

The series follows in the footsteps of Australia's ill-equipped and poorly trained
conscripts, the 'chocolate soldiers' and the battled hardened troops of the Australian Imperial Forces, walking the treacherous 98-kilometre jungle trail from Port Moresby to Kokoda, then on to the blood-stained battlegrounds of Gona, Buna and Sanananda.The documentary includes interviews with Australian and Japanese veterans and historians, letters to loved ones, previously unpublished documents, archival footage, footage from the track and dramatisations in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The diaries of embedded war correspondents Okada Seizo and Chester Wilmot paint an intimate portrait of how soldiers on both sides felt during the battles.

Kokoda - the Invasion

Genre:.....................WWII Documentary
Language:.................English - No Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................55Mins
Size:........................439Mb

This two-part documentary tells the story of the brutal World War II campaign fought between Australia and Japan in the green hell of the mountains of Papua New Guinea.Told from both the Japanese and Australian perspectives the series also explores the impact of the decisions of high command on the soldiers at the front line.Kokoda delves behind the myths of war to tell the story from both sides of the conflict, giving an authentic and comprehensive account of the desperate confusion of war, the intricate connections between the frontline soldiers and military high command, and the political agendas that influenced the campaign and continue to percolate through contemporary Australian society.
To tell the story with authenticity, the Kokoda film crew walked and filmed the length of the Kokoda Track, capturing for the first time the visceral nature of the terrain and the Owen Stanley Mountains.

Oswobozhdenije - Liberation 05

Genre:.....................WWII Drama
Language:.................Russian - No Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................1Hr11Mins
Size:........................1.36Gb

the Fifth film follows the Battle of Berlin up through the raising of the Russian flag on the Reichstag.There's one small attempt at a love story, but luckily it doesn't get in the way of things and only is barely hinted at as the movie goes on. This is a lot like "Winds of War", with more straight history and less personal drama. I am a little irked at the idiotic portrayal of the German soldiers though, who don't
seem to be able to shoot straight or that their bullets have any affect on the always charging brave Russian soldiers. But then again, this is typical of Russian war movies. A good prequel to this is the film THE HOT SNOW which covers much of the events leading up to this film, and makes use of a lot of the same prop tanks.

Oswobozhdenije - Liberation 04

Genre:.....................WWII Drama
Language:.................Russian - No Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................1Hr19Mins
Size:........................1.36Gb

The Fourth film is about the Russian advance into Germany.This soviet whitewashing of history is the film's biggest weakness (apart from a lot of poor editing during the battles). The Russian soldiers are shown to be good-natured and generous even to the German civilians (which we know was not the case).
There's even a few scenes of German turncoats serving under the communists and helping them storm a zoo (so the General can have a pet monkey) in a fairly surreal scene in Part 4. This film has a heavy East-German connection so it's easy to see where that came from.

Oswobozhdenije - Liberation 03

Genre:.....................WWII Drama
Language:.................Russian - No Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................2Hr02Mins
Size:........................1.62Gb

The Third movie covers Operation Bagration and the destruction of Army Group Center.The film doesn't just recreate the battles, but everything else surrounding them. We get scenes with Joseph Stalin meeting with Zhukov and his generals, attending the Yalta and Tehran conferences, etc. We also get the Mussolini
rescue mission by the SS commandos, the Hitler assassination attempt, and then the last days of Hitler in the Fuhrerbunker. The actors all look and sound a lot like their historical counterparts, even Zhukov who looks like a Russian version of James Caan. The guy who plays Hitler is astounding and even gets the accent and mannerisms right, but of course the Russians play him up to be extremely villainous, and present him as outright murdering his less-than-enthusiastic spouse.

Oswobozhdenije - Liberation 02

Genre:.....................WWII Drama
Language:.................Russian - No Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................1Hr25Mins
Size:........................1.36Gb

The second movie covers the crossing of either the Don or Dnieper river, and the liberation of either Kharkov or Kiev (would have helped to speak Russian). The Third covers Operation Bagration and the destruction of Army Group Center. The Fourth is the Russian advance into Germany, and the Fifth follows the Battle of Berlin up through the raising of the Russian flag on the Reichstag.

Oswobozhdenije - Liberation 01

Genre:.....................WWII Drama
Language:.................Russian - No Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................1Hr28Mins
Size:........................1.36Gb

LIBERATION was released pretty much everywhere except North America back in the 70's as at least two separate films. It's actually not so much a film but more or less either a miniseries or five distinct films, each covering a different battle. While it WAS dubbed into English like most other Russian films, I don't think that's out on DVD or VHS in any country, so I had to watch this in Russian without even subtitles. I therefore didn't understand what was going on during the dialog, but luckily there's plenty of battle scenes and stuff that's easy to follow even if you don't speak the language.

The first movie covers the build-up of forces around the Kursk salient of July 1943 up to the massive battle of Prokhorovka (this is the only movie I know of to depict this huge battle). Lots of mock-up Tigers (and some not so-well made up Panthers) participate, eons above what we did around the same time in BATTLE OF THE BULGE with M48's pathetically filling in for Tiger tanks. Of course, since this movie had the backing of the Soviet government, there's plenty of vintage T-34's, T-34/85's, SU-122's, and IS-2's (briefly) on display. That, plus lots of extras and aircraft equal a pretty stunning battle just a notch below what Sergei Bondarchuk would put together. Impressive, but lacking any real dramatic punch.

The Pacific 10of10 Home

Genre:.....................WWII Action-Series
Language:.................English - English Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................1Hr04Mins
Size:........................550Mb

The Japanese have finally surrendered. Leckie adjusts to a normal life back at his old job after healing from his wounds at the hospital. Sledge returns home and is reunited once againd with his good friend Phillips. Basilone is visited by Lena and an emotional reunion follows.

The Pacific 9of10 Okinawa

Genre:.....................WWII Action-Series
Language:.................English - English Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................56Mins
Size:........................550Mb

Sledge and the 1st Marine division battle in Okinawa for over a month when they are ordered to relieve another company to battle an extremely heavily defended Japanese position on the island. Civilians on the island cause many moral dilemmas and make things much more difficult for the marines.

The Pacific 8of10 Iwo Jima

Genre:.....................WWII Action-Series
Language:.................English - English Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................56Mins
Size:........................550Mb

Basilone persuades the Marines to allow him back into the ranks after becoming increasingly tired of selling war bonds. He enjoys a romance while stationed at Camp Pendleton with a female Marine called Lena Riggi. The two Marines know their time together will be short, as Basilone will soon ship out to Iwo Jima.

The Pacific - 7of10 Peleliu Hills

Genre:.....................WWII Action-Series
Language:.................English - English Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................50Mins
Size:........................549Mb

The battle continues against the extremely determined Japanese. Terrible acts of barbarism are conducted by both sides and Sledge questions his own moral compass after the loss of a leader. The Marines eventually secure Peleliu with the help of their newly christened 'Sledgehammer' and return to Pavuvu, changed men forever.

The Pacific - 6of10 Peleliu Airfield

Genre:.....................WWII Action-Series
Language:.................English - English Subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................49Mins
Size:........................549Mb

The Marines battle against heat and unclean water and try to take Peleliu airfield. They are met with heavy opposition. Leckie sees many of his comrades killed or injured.Leckie, injured himself is then evacuated off the island, contemplating the notion of retreating to fight another day.

Spitfire at War

Genre:.....................WWII Documentary
Language:.................English - no subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................1Hr02Mins
Size:........................821Mb

Documentary providing an insight into the Spitfire. Features rare archived film footage, as well as a simulated dogfight between a Spitfire and a Messerschmitt Me 109.

Hurricane at War

Genre:.....................WWII Documentary
Language:.................English - no subs
Picture:...................Colour/B&W
Runtime:..................54Mins
Size:........................737Mb

Documentary providing an insight into the Hawker Hurricane. Features rare combat footage of the aircraft in action.

der Stern von Afrika

Genre:.....................WWII Drama
Language:.................German - no subs
Picture:...................B&W
Runtime:..................1Hr40Mins
Size:........................1.29Gb

Released in 1957, Der Stern von Afrika is a fictionalized account of the life of Hans-Joachim Marseille, who is generally regarded as the leading Luftwaffe ace prior to his death in 1942. It depicts his notorious lack of discipline, his carefree lifestyle, and the rock star-like status he attained during his lifetime. Not surprisingly, given the era in which the film was made, political discussion is largely limited to the tragedy of war. Only swastikas on uniforms and planes serve as stark reminders of National Socialism.
He is noted for his aerial battles during the North African Campaign and his bohemian lifestyle. Arguably one of the best fighter pilots of World War II, he was nicknamed the "Star of Africa". Marseille claimed all but seven of his "official" 158 victories against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force over North Africa, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter for his entire combat career. No other pilot claimed as many Western Allied aircraft as Marseille.

Crusade in the Pacific - EP4

Genre:.....................WWII Documentary
Language:.................English - no subs
Picture:...................B&W
Runtime:..................2Hr29Mins
Size:........................999Mb