Page 95 - History of War - Issue 05-14

D-DAY: BREACHING ENEMY LINES

Dir: N/A History RRP £19.99 REVIEWS
★★★★★
n 6 June 1944, nearly through its top-secret build-up, to Where this DVD set really
160,000 Allied troops the bloody struggle for the beaches excels, however, is in the often-
came together from across – including the carnage at Omaha incredibly-moving interviews with
the globe, crossed the and the US Rangers’ audacious the now-old men who fought on
English Channel in a mighty assault on the 100-metre cliff face both sides and witnessed their
O armada of ships and at Pointe du Hoc – and the equally young comrades slaughtered next
invaded Nazi Germany’s so-called daring airborne operation that to them. Their testimonies are
Fortress Europe at Normandy. occurred inland. The documentary filled with startling insight into
It’s an often-told tale and this year then goes on to explain, in pretty the mindset of the men with the
– the 70th anniversary of D-Day, visceral fashion, the costly and rifles and the bayonets, who faced
of course – an abundance of spiteful battle of the bocage – and survived mortal combat.
material is being released to or war of the hedgerows – that so One former paratrooper with
commemorate what is arguably ensnared the allies and strangled the 82nd Airborne Division recalls
history’s most astonishing military their advanced through Normandy flying in with the first wave, seeing
feat. The History channel’s for weeks, costing in the region of
contribution to this important 425,000 casualties on both sides The testimonies are lled with startling
and poignant anniversary is well (to read more, see our feature on insight into the mindset of the men who
researched and dramatically told, page 32 of this issue).
although – as a US-produced As one might expect from faced and survived mortal combat
documentary – it’s predictably the History channel, D-Day:
slanted towards the American Breaching Enemy Lines is a the sky above Normandy filled with overview of what the commander
version of events. somewhat populist re-telling of aircraft, the darkness sliced apart of Operation Overlord, General
D-Day: Breaching Enemy Lines one of humanity’s truly epic tales by searchlights and exploding flak, Dwight Eisenhower, baptised
is a smart-looking and neatly – but it’s no less powerful for and suddenly, in all that confusion, “The Great Crusade”. It’s one
packaged three-disc DVD box set, that. It combines archive footage having an epiphany. “I can so that will no doubt satisfy those
and manages to pack in – through of the brutal fighting, alongside vividly remember,” he says, visibly who are already familiar with
slick and judicious editing – just a thoroughly heroic voiceover still haunted, “how surprised I was the heroes and deeds of this
about everything that happened narrative with a sprinkling of that there were people down there staggering saga, but that will also
over that fateful period in history. expert opinion from best-selling on the ground trying to kill me.” serve as a powerful introduction
You get everything from the historians such as the late Stephen All in all, D-Day: Breaching Enemy to those lucky enough not to
invasion’s strategic planning, E Ambrose and John Keegan. Lines provides a comprehensive have heard the story. Nick Soldinger

THE GREAT WAR THE EMPIRE’S SHIELD

Dir: N/A Eagle Media RRP £4.25 Dir: N/A Strikeforce Entertainment
★★★★★ RRP £16.99
★★★★★
To mark the centenary of the This documentary charting the
start of the First World War (which Royal Navy’s contribution during
you’ve no doubt heard a thing the First World War was made in
or two about), Eagle Media has 1919 and, with the exception of
jumped on the bandwagon and the occasional flashcard, is told
released not one but five DVDs entirely without words. We get to
about the conflict, under the experience it much as its original
heading “World War One: The audience would have done nearly
Centenary Collection”. Four of a hundred years ago, complete
those are concerned with specific with period Pianola soundtrack.
operations during the conflict and, At around two and a half hours
while undoubtedly fascinating, are long, its subject matter is as
probably for serious enthusiasts comprehensive as it is intriguing,
only. The problem is that the with the narrative broken up into
one covering the entirety of the year conflict into the space of 100 11 digestible “chapters”. The Chapters on the nascent Royal
war – titled, predictably, The minutes, you want to be getting first deals with the training of Navy Air Service follow, with
Great War – is a little too shallow down to the nitty-gritty – ie the Navy cadets, revealing, among footage of the earliest carriers, and
to really grab your attention. scenes of battle – as soon as other things, that the Hornpipe seaplanes. The film then concludes
For a start, whoever was possible. Because, sadly, the horror dance was essentially an aerobics with chapters on the Grand Fleet,
responsible for sourcing the archive of life in the trenches is what really class aimed at improving sailors’ and includes footage of a Royal
footage appears to have had only characterised this tragic chapter. fitness. The second focuses on the visit by George V, delighted-looking
one eye on the job – some of the That’s not to say that The Great industrial might behind Britain’s seadogs receiving their rum ration,
clips herein seem rather random War is a complete waste of a shipbuilding industry, while the third before climaxing with a live gun-
and don’t really tie in with what the space in your DVD cabinet. It’s finally takes us out to sea with the and-torpedo exercise at sea.
narrator is saying. Also, I found dirt cheap, is nicely packaged and transatlantic convoys. Clearly filmed as propaganda
that the commentary seemed to does have its share of interesting Next, we are shown the terrifying back in 1919, The Empire’s Shield
go off the beaten track quite early clips (even if there could have power of the Edwardian battleship, today is fascinating stuff that
doors, and I ended up confused been a few more). But if you’re a with the bombardment of Zeebrugge will not only enthral Royal Navy
after about ten minutes of the serious-ish history fan, I feel that as filmed from the deck of one, enthusiasts, but also have proper
programme. At the end of the day, there are much better offerings before getting an insight into the history nerds enthusiastically
if you really have to cram a five- on the market. Ed Sealey complex role of mine-sweepers. stroking their chins. Nick Soldinger
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