Narrow Escapes of World War II

This 13-episode British documentary series—broadcast in the U.S. on the Military Channel—offers invigorating insights into some of the most audacious raids and escapes that occurred during World War II. A few of the historic events depicted here will be very familiar to those versed in wartime history, most notably Col. Jimmy Doolittle's astonishing raid on Tokyo and the heroic defense of Tobruk by Australian Gen. Leslie Morshead. However, most of the episodes here examine incidents that rarely receive attention in American documentaries. Among these relatively little-known events are the March 1944 battle in the Himalayan Indian village of Kohima against a Japanese invasion, and the September 1944 Allied push to expel Nazi forces from the Netherlands. This series is also unusual in that it offers examples of German victories, including the extraordinary evacuation of hundreds of thousands of German civilians from the Baltic ports ahead of the oncoming Soviet juggernaut. Combining newsreel footage, dramatic re-creations, and interviews with veterans who survived these dangerous missions, the series is bundled with a viewer's guide that offers a helpful overview of the war in Europe and Asia. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)