General George C. Marshall: Soldier and Statesman

Biography Channel

General George C. Marshall, the subject of this Biography program, was instrumental in the Allied victory in World War II. In 1948, as Secretary of State in the Truman administration, Marshall initiated a program of economic and technical assistance to speed rebuilding of the postwar European economy. (45 minutes)

General Omar Bradley

Biography Channel

Five-star General Omar Bradley was one of the main American field commanders in Europe and North Africa during World War II. This episode of Biography follows his distinguished military career from West Point, to the invasion of Normandy, to the Battle of the Bulge, and on to victory. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

At Ease (The Color of War)

History Education

Allied servicemen of World War II spent the majority of their time in what normally would be called “everyday activities.” In this program, former soldiers recall the interludes between the interminable marching and the periods of deadly fighting. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Color of War. (45 minutes)

Silent and Deep (The Color of War)

History Education

This program takes a look at submarine warfare during World War II. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Color of War. (45 minutes)

Victory (The Color of War)

A&E

This program spotlights the final year of the Second World War—for Allied servicemen, the most difficult of all. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Color of War.

Dressed to Kill (The Color of War)

History Education

This program takes a close look at the World War II combat soldier: the uniform that protected him from the elements, the weapons he used to attack the enemy, and the insignia and medals that distinguished him from his comrades. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Color of War. (45 minutes)

General Howe: Conqueror of New York

Biography Channel

The British General William Howe came to America to fight during the Revolutionary War. Although he was sympathetic to the Colonists, he brilliantly led his troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill. This episode of The Conquerors goes on to explore Howe’s battles against General George Washington at New York, Fort Lee, New Jersey, and in Pennsylvania at the Battle of the Brandywine. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Viet Cong (Declassified)

History Education

Piecing together recently disclosed stories from allied and enemy sources, this program analyzes why U.S. commanders in Vietnam made the mistake of fighting the Battle of Hamburger Hill as they had fought the battles of World War II. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

History's Mysteries: The Greensboro Massacre

History Education

This episode of History’s Mysteries exposes the gripping, inside account of one of the most shocking crimes in modern American history: the Greensboro Massacre. On November 3, 1979, members of the Communist Worker's Party held a “Death to the Klan” rally in Greensboro, North Carolina. A caravan of Ku Klux Klansmen and American Nazis drove into the center of the protesters. Screamed insults from both sides escalated into physical confrontation. The Klansmen and Nazis removed an arsenal of weapons from their cars and began firing into the terrified crowd, killing five and wounding eleven. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (48 minutes)

Samurai Warrior (In Search of History)

History Education

This program, a study of the samurai code of honor, sheds light on the history of Japan while helping to explain how the samurai mentality left an enduring imprint on the psyche of future generations. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Bitter Standoff (The Korean War)

History Education

As American casualties mounted, U.S. policy shifted from liberation of Korea to containment of Communism. In this program, General Matthew Ridgway replaces an insubordinate MacArthur and turns back the enemy tide during two years of the war’s bloodiest fighting. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Korean War. (45 minutes)

Army Corps of Engineers (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

Throughout the 19th century, the defense of America was the main task of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It eventually took on the closely related duty of civil works. Because of the incredible diversity of projects the Army Corps of Engineers has taken on, it continues to remain on the cutting edge of science and technology. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Nuclear Tech (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

Nuclear energy gained notoriety from the atomic bomb, but weapons are not the only way to utilize nuclear technology. From powering spacecraft to providing clean energy, the amazing power of nuclear technology has yet to be fully realized. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Spartacus (Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire)

History Education

This program profiles Spartacus, a gladiator with a gift for leadership who conducted a tremendous slave revolt against the Roman Republic. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire. (45 minutes)

Julius Caesar (Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire)

History Education

This program provides a study of Julius Caesar—general, statesman, absolute ruler of Rome. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire. (45 minutes)

Missiles of the Cold War (Rockets!)

History Education

This episode of Rockets! looks at post-WW II rocketry and the creation of the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The U.S. military developed the science and technology that would explore the outer reaches of the earth's atmosphere. This effort was redirected during the Cold War, fueled by a desperate race with the U.S.S.R. to deploy nuclear-tipped ICBMs, and later to orbit the first satellite. National security and national prestige coalesce in the dawn of the Space Age. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (48 minutes)

The Day the Towers Fell

History Education

The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center was documented by hundreds of photographers. Some were professionals who were already working in the area; others were amateurs who felt compelled to head toward the scene of destruction and photograph it. This A&E Special looks at the World Trade Center tragedy through the eyes of the people who risked their lives to capture it on film. Interviews with some of these photographers combine with a sobering array of their unforgettable images—many not previously available to the public—to paint an intensely intimate portrait of an outrage that changed the world. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

1939 (Year by Year: 1929-1967)

History Education

1939 brought momentous events that changed the course of history. Year by Year looks at the beginnings of World War II and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s pledge of neutrality. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

1943 (Year by Year: 1929-1967)

History Education

Year by Year takes us to 1943 to explore Hollywood’s influence on World War II and the movie stars who went to war. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

1957 (Year by Year: 1929-1967)

History Education

John Glenn's 1957 Project Bullet completes the first supersoic transcontinental flight from California to New York, breaking a speed record, as covered in this episode of Year by Year. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Alan Paton: A Profile

RDF Media Group

After years of apartheid, open elections were finally held in South Africa in the 1980s. Alan Paton, anti-apartheid activist and author of the internationally acclaimed novel, Cry the Beloved Country, played a major role in freeing his nation from the yoke of institutionalized prejudice. Here, the author discusses the influences which inspired him to write the novel, and uses passages from it and other works to trace his path from apartheid supporter to anti-apartheid crusader. Paton's own words and those of family and friends reveal the personality of the man who helped launch South Africa's Liberal Party. (55 minutes)

No Turning Back: Part 2—The Gulf War

Electric Sky

This program covers the fascinating behind-the-scenes diplomacy that took place as war became inevitable. Former Secretary of State James Baker describes how Saudi Arabia, at the request of the U.S., offered economic aid to the Soviets in return for their support. Baker and an American embassy official describe how the U.S. punished Yemen for not supporting the war by withholding aid, and rewarded Syria for allying itself with pro-war Arab nations. Jordanian Prime Minister Mudar Badran describes his country’s problems in dealing with the huge influx of refugees fleeing the impending conflict. Atrocities committed against Kuwaiti nationals by Iraqis are described by a survivor. (50 minutes)

Part 3: "Mother of All Battles"

Electric Sky

In this program, battlefield footage captures the intensity of the war, the bombing of Iraqi military sites, and Scud missile attacks on Tel Aviv. Iraqi Prime Minister Tariq Aziz describes events leading up to the truce brokered by the Soviets. U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf discusses his frustration with Washington’s decision not to continue the war despite Iraqi atrocities in Kuwait and Saddam Hussein’s brutal repression of the Kurds. (50 minutes)

Colombia: Cocaine's Battleground

Journeyman Pictures

This documentary reveals just how divisive the 40-year Colombian civil war has become. It ventures behind government spin and FARC guerilla secrecy to interview army commanders, public officials, Colombian journalists, drug cartel paramilitaries, and ordinary citizens who are literally caught in a crossfire. Testimonials from impoverished farmers—who have essentially no other options than to grow coca—clearly show that in a country producing 80 percent of the world’s cocaine, peace will come only after radical social change and a major reduction in global consumption of the drug. (60 minutes)

La Disgregacion del Islam Andalusi y el Avance Cristiano-in Spanish

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

From the death of Almanzor and the breakup of Moorish al-Andalus into taifas to Christian victory at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, this program depicts the continuous transformation of the Iberian Peninsula as rival powers shaped the land's destiny. The alliances and struggles among Christians, Moors, Almoravides, and Almohads are captured through numerous dramatizations and maps. Key figures, including Alfonso VI and El Cid, are featured.

La Disgregacion del Islam Andalusi y el Avance Cristiano-in Spanish with English Subtitles

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

From the death of Almanzor and the breakup of Moorish al-Andalus into taifas to Christian victory at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, this program depicts the continuous transformation of the Iberian Peninsula as rival powers shaped the land's destiny. The alliances and struggles among Christians, Moors, Almoravides, and Almohads are captured through numerous dramatizations and maps. Key figures, including Alfonso VI and El Cid, are featured.

The UN Security Council: Keeping the Peace

United Nations

A cornerstone of the United Nations, the Security Council takes on some of the organization's most difficult duties. This program highlights the Council's role in preventing conflicts, resolving disputes, and occasionally initiating military action against an aggressor. Beginning in the era of the original "P-5" membership-the U.S., the U.S.S.R., China, France, and Great Britain-the video explores the history of the Council, examining dramatic moments in the Korean conflict, the Cuban missile crisis, the prelude to the invasion of Iraq, and other cases in which members have struggled to balance their own interests with those of the world body. A United Nations Production. (16 minutes)

The Stuarts

Eagle Rock Entertainment

The death of Queen Elizabeth foreshadowed a power struggle between parliament and the monarchy. This program begins with the crowning of James I-whose policies made the confrontation inevitable-and documents five generations of tumultuous Stuart governance. Sifting through the complex mixture of financial crisis and mounting religious factionalism that characterized Jacobean England, the program describes the eruption of the Civil War, the execution of Charles I, the heavy-handed authority of Cromwell, and the legacy of the prolonged conflict: an enthusiastic return to monarchy and a general distaste among the English for political extremism. (46 minutes)

Return to the Heart of Darkness

Nightline

The world largely ignored Rwanda's descent into genocide and civil war. With tensions continuing along the Congo-Rwanda border, will history repeat itself? This ABC News program examines new challenges in central and eastern Africa, reporting on the instability created by Hutu guerillas known as the FDLR. The program also analyzes successes and failures that have occurred as Rwanda tries to heal. Revisiting the shores of Lake Kivu, where vast numbers of refugees died during the violence of the mid-1990s, the program studies the efforts of the International Crisis Group to address vestiges of the tragedy and remove the FDLR-giving the world a second chance to pay attention. (23 minutes)

Abu Ghraib: A Torturer's Tale

Journeyman Pictures

Javal Davis was imprisoned for assaulting inmates at Abu Ghraib, but insists he is not a torturer. His fellow MP Ken Davis was never implicated, having reported the abuse to superiors. This program presents in-depth interviews with both men, detailing their side of the story and conveying their disillusionment with Pentagon officials who wanted interrogations pushed “up a notch.” Featuring nightmarish descriptions and images from inside the prison—highlighting deplorable conditions endured by inmates and guards alike—the program also includes insight into the mentality of reservist Charles Graner, currently serving a 10-year sentence for Abu Ghraib torture. Some content may be objectionable. (25 minutes)

Eugene J. McCarthy: Muses and Mementos

South Hill Films

Congressman, senator, presidential candidate, and author-Eugene McCarthy was all of these, and one of the most progressive public figures of the twentieth century as well. This program offers a fascinating glimpse into the Senator's life, personality, and thinking. In interviews recorded during the last decade of his life, McCarthy muses on a wide range of subjects-from his early years in Minnesota to his experiences as the most prominent antiwar leader of the Vietnam era. The program blends rarely seen archival footage with McCarthy's wry observations, revealing the wit and intellect that set him apart from so many of his fellow politicians. (44 minutes)

AIDS Warriors: Confronting Africa's Health Crisis

Wide Angle

In sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS is not only a vast humanitarian tragedy, but also a dire threat to regional stability. This Wide Angle documentary explores the role of Angola's military, the only functioning arm of the state, in a nationwide effort to combat the AIDS pandemic. The program identifies what may be the only benefit of Angola's long civil war-specifically, one of the lowest HIV infection rates in southern Africa-although this advantage is now endangered as refugees and soldiers reenter civilian life. Uncompromising in its social and political analysis, this program offers an arresting portrait of a nation and continent ill-equipped to defend against an exploding health crisis. In addition, Stephen Lewis discusses Africa's AIDS crisis with anchor Mishal Husain. (57 minutes)

Kosovo: Of Blood and History

Journeyman Pictures

To fully understand the recent bloodshed in Kosovo, one must go back 600 years and trace the causes of the undying hatreds that permeate Serbia and the surrounding region. Using eyewitness accounts, maps, and footage both of historic events and of Serbian life, this program examines the ethnic nationalism and religious extremism that have resulted in the long-standing hatred between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians-a hatred that continued to destabilize the Balkans during the Milosevic regime. (41 minutes)

News from the Holy Land: Theory and Practice of Reporting Conflict

Mercury Media International

Is Western media coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict hindering the peace process? This hard-hitting program says yes, arguing that news reports focusing on violence without sufficiently addressing the causes promote bias and polarize public opinion. Examples of TV news stories that could provide a more accurate reflection of what is taking place in Israel and the West Bank—and, by extension, anywhere a vicious cycle of violence exists—are featured. An excellent jumping-off point for a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of TV journalism and the ongoing violence in the Holy Land. Viewable/printable instructor’s notes are available online. (51 minutes)

Spirits of the State: Japan's Yasukuni Shrine

John Nelson

Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine honors and venerates the spirits of Japanese soldiers and officers—including convicted and executed war criminals. This program explores the history of the Shinto shrine, the complexity of its functions, and the controversies generated when political leaders appear there. Interviews with visitors, an inside look at the shrine’s adjacent museum of war memorabilia, and a discussion of what has become known as “state Shinto” create a context in which reverence for the enshrined may be understood. A rare view of Japanese nationalism and the political use of religious traditions, Spirits of the State offers valuable insight into the continuing and contested legacies of World War II. (28 minutes)

Terrorism: BioAttack-A Fred Friendly Seminar

Fred Friendly Seminars

One of the most dreaded weapons in the terrorist's arsenal can be delivered in a paper envelope. Vividly exploring situations that public officials, health care workers, and law enforcement personnel would have to confront in the event of a biological attack, a panel of experts wrestles with questions that have gone largely unanswered in the public record: Who among America's leadership is in charge of the response? Who gets medical treatment, and who decides? Must the affected city be quarantined? Will people be prohibited from leaving? Moderated by ABC News Chief Legal Correspondent Cynthia McFadden, this Fred Friendly Seminar lays bare the central issues of homeland security and the possibility that a biological attack would turn America into a much different place overnight. Additional resources are located online at www.pbs.org/inthebalance/terrorism. (57 minutes)

Por la Senda Liberal-in Spanish

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

With the Pragmatic Sanction, the Spanish rule passed to Ferdinand VII's young daughter, Isabella, upon his death-and touched off the Carlist Wars, with Ferdinand's brother Don Carlos pitting himself against Queen Regent Maria Cristina. This program employs dramatizations, artwork, maps, film clips, and footage of palaces and other landmarks to make sense of the complex political and social forces at work during the years of the First and Second Carlist Wars. Battles and reprisals as well as reforms and socioeconomic progress all have a place in this story of Spain's turn toward liberalismo.

Espana, Espana-in Spanish with English Subtitles

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

The dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera. Spain's Second Republic. The Spanish Civil War. This program, composed almost entirely of period footage and photographs, seeks to understand the tortuous sociopolitical forces at work in Spain between the two world wars. Profiles of public figures and popular movements combined with background on liberal reforms and horrific atrocities evoke an image of a people torn between hope and despair.

Vivan las Caenas!-in Spanish with English Subtitles

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

Beginning with the Battle of Bailén, this program charts the erratic course of politics in Spain that saw Ferdinand VII deposed by Napoleon and replaced by the emperor’s brother, Joseph; reinstated at the end of the Peninsular War by the victorious allied forces; constrained by a coup in 1820 to abide by the liberal Constitution of 1812; and unbound by a second coup to resume his authoritarian reign—an era known as the Decada Ominosa. Wars for independence in Spain’s American possessions are also chronicled. Dramatizations and film clips capture the harshness of the period. Viewer discretion is advised.

On the Attack: Expectations for a Cancer Cure

Point du Jour International

In 1971, President Nixon declared war on cancer, envisioning a cure within five years. What mechanisms-financial, political, and medical-did his announcement set in motion? Are we any closer to winning the war? This program takes on those questions, examining milestones in cancer research and studying forces outside the scientific world that have driven or hindered anti-cancer efforts. Interviews with renowned medical pioneers-including Dr. Steven Rosenberg of the National Cancer Institute, Prof. Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois School of Health, and Dominique Stehelin, the scientist who paved the way for gene therapy-provide in-depth analysis.

Hindu vs. Hindu: Caste Violence in India

Danish Broadcasting Corporation

Every year, thousands die in India through caste-related violence, as untouchables and upper-castes alike stoop as low as they need to go to gain their aims. Seen through the lens of a veteran photojournalist, this program looks at both sides of the struggle between the upper-caste Ranvir militia and Dalit supporters of the Marxist-Leninists in Bihar. Professor Kanchia Eliah, of the University of Hyderabad, provides background on the state of caste tensions while interviews with fighters on both sides express their views. A possible solution? Adequate food, shelter, and education for all Dalits—and until then, weapons at the ready. Some content may be objectionable. (30 minutes)

New York Divided: Slavery, the Civil War, and King Cotton

NewsHour Productions

Although slavery was abolished in New York State on July 4th, 1827, America's slave-based cotton trade was not, as bales from the South continued to enter New York City for transshipment to Europe. In this program, James Oliver Horton, historian emeritus at the Smithsonian, talks with NewsHour correspondent Gwen Ifill about slavery's impact on New York City during the first half of the 19th century. Economically dependent on King Cotton, it was a place divided between abolitionism and African-American civil rights on the one hand, and immense commercial profits on the other. The proposed secession of New York City from the United States is addressed. (11 minutes)

Juan Rulfo

EDITRAMA S.L.

Unlike the reputations of many of his more prolific contemporaries, Juan Rulfo's is based on only two works: Pedro Paramo, one of the few Latin American novels of that time to successfully lay bare the inner lives of country people, and El llano en llamas, a collection of short stories. In this program, the late author-a leading exponent of magic realism-analyzes both of those works. He describes his tragic childhood as well, including the Cristero revolt, his family's financial ruin, the death of his father and mother, and his life in an orphanage in Guadalajara. (Spanish, 47 minutes, b&w)

Private Yankee Doodle

Maryland Public Television

This program was designed to help viewers understand the commitment and everyday sacrifice of Americans during the Revolutionary War. To show the daily routine of the common soldier, an entire Continental Army camp was recreated and 250 soldiers-all authentically dressed and equipped-were recruited from several of the nation's leading military reenactment groups. Historian Burt Kummerow walks across the camp and among the soldiers to explain the background and the purpose of camp activities. (28 minutes)

Goya: His Life and Art

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

An introduction, not only to Goya's work, but to the critical period in Spanish history which he recorded. In a period largely bereft of major literary masterpieces, it is to Goya that we look to find out what Spain was like in the period spanning the decline of neoclassicism, the devastation of the Napoleonic Wars, and the rise of Romanticism and Impressionism. An RTVE production. (44 minutes)

The Golden Land

KERA TV

Here is the saga of Manifest Destiny, the banner under which Americans surged westward in the mid-19th century. It is the story of the Texas Revolution, the Mexican War that doubled the size of the young United States, the gold strikes that doubled its wealth, and the pioneer spirit that made the Oregon Trail into Main Street. (57 minutes)

Constance of Rabastens

David Wesley

An illiterate common woman, Constance of Rabastens' visions of the apocalypse and prophecies of the coming of the Antichrist resulted in her imprisonment at the hands of the Inquisition and the Archbishop of Toulouse. In this program, McMaster University's Madeleine Jeay places Constance of Rabastens in the historical context of the tumultuous 15th century, including the Hundred Years' War, the French Civil War, the struggle between the Avignon Pope and the Pope in Rome, and frequent famines that decimated the common people. (24 minutes)

Colombia's Guerrilla War: A Sundered Nation

Journeyman Pictures

In Colombia, government and paramilitary forces are terrorizing the populace to deprive the FARC and NLF guerrillas of civil support. But far from stamping out the war, this policy has led to an escalation that threatens to destroy the country. This program combines newsreel and documentary footage of life and death in Colombia's rural districts, cities, and guerrilla camps with interviews to explore the roots and the results of the 20th century's longest guerrilla war. Members of Bogota's Institute of Political Studies, the Red Cross, and the Church; army officers; guerrillas; politicians; and some of the 1.5 million refugees air their views on the terror and the tragedy of a nation divided. (53 minutes)

Regaining Control: Days Seven and Eight

Nightline

At the peak of the terrorist anthrax attack, more than 500 people per hour were dying, hospitals were filled to capacity, basic services were breaking down, looting had begun, and space to store the dead was running out. In this program-part two of a hypothetical scenario-ABC News anchor Ted Koppel presents two successive reports, plotting out the progress of the fictional biological attack on days seven and eight as it was finally brought under control. The price for unpreparedness? Over 50,000 dead. (40 minutes)

Daniel Libeskind: Welcome to the 21st Century

Deutsche Grammophon GmbH

Possessed of a genius for designing buildings that are as expressive as abstract sculptures, Daniel Libeskind-called "the respectable face of radicalism"-is no stranger to controversy. In this program, Libeskind, structural engineer Cecil Balmond, architectural writer Charles Jencks, the Kensington Society's Sir Ronald Arculus, and other supporters and skeptics air their views on the Jewish Museum Berlin; The Spiral, the visionary addition to London's Victoria and Albert Museum; the Imperial War Museum-North; and the Felix Nussbaum House. Are Daniel Libeskind's sensational aesthetics setting the standards for 21st-century architecture? (50 minutes)

Rape: An Act of Hate

WBZ-TV

FBI statistics show that a woman is raped every seven minutes in the United States. These are reported rapes; probably ten times as many rapes go unreported. Hosted by actress Veronica Hamel, this program seeks to determine why people rape and to help people protect themselves against this crime. It examines the history and mythology of rape, and explains who are its most likely victims. The program contains interviews with experts in the fields of media, law enforcement, and sociology. (30 minutes)

Corridos de la Revolucion Mexicana

Protele, Inc.

In this spirited program, one of Mexico's most beloved actors, Ignacio Lopez Tarso, tells in song of the struggles and triumphs of the Mexican Revolution. The songs tell the stories of battles fought and lives lost, and of the men who changed the course of Mexican history. In Spanish. (56 minutes)

French Troops , ca. 1910

British Pathe

French troops fire cannon, one shell after the other, in precise repetition; artillery; World War I. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

French Sailors, ca. 1910

British Pathe

World War I: Sailors onboard French submarine. Loading torpedo; U-boat at sea. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Portuguese Revolution, 1910

British Pathe

Portuguese Revolution: Scenes in Lisbon. Barricading streets of capital; crowds milling around; soldiers; cannons; armed men and soldiers. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

British Suffragettes Protest, ca. 1910

British Pathe

British Suffragist march. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Irish Protest Conscription, ca. 1914

British Pathe

Ireland - Protest demonstration against Conscription. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Russian Army in World War I, 1914

British Pathe

Mobilization of Russian Army for World War I. Huge rally in Palace Square in St. Petersburg. Czar Nicholas II; Czarina Alexandra. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

French Troops in World War I, ca. 1915

British Pathe

French troops march, build fire, prepare a meal. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

British Troops in World War I, ca. 1915

British Pathe

British Army Soldiers play silly games: obstacle courses, steeplechase and cricket match against women. R&R. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

US Military Equipment, 1916

British Pathe

Testing of Lewis machine guns by US Army; before the USA's entry into World War One. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The Easter Uprising Part I, ca. 1916

British Pathe

Dublin destruction after Easter Rising. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

French Military Armor, 1917

British Pathe

Early armored vehicle (tank) demonstrated. In field and woods, knocking over small trees. French, World War I. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Military Equipment, ca. 1917

British Pathe

Demonstration of “liquid fire” (flamethrower). English title refers to beating the "huns" (Germans) at their own game. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

French Leaders Visit Britain, 1918

British Pathe

State visit to Britain by France's premier Georges Clemenceau and Marshal Ferdinand Foch; in December 1918 Copyright The WPA Film Library.

British Infantry Advance, ca. 1918

British Pathe

Smoke bombs hide British infantry advance. Great visuals. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

World War I - Armistice, 1918

The WPA Film Library

WWI - American celebration of Armistice Copyright The WPA Film Library.

US Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , 1919

The WPA Film Library

Consecration of Tomb of Unknown Soldier, USA: Woodrow Wilson and Marshal Foch present. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Treaty of Versailles Negotiations, 1919

British Pathe

Delegates at the Versailles Treaty. Group includes Australian PM Hughes; Serbian, Greek, Japanese leaders; Berthelot of France. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The Big Picture: Germany Today

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

In this classic episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series, the program checks in with the status of citizens in West Germany. This documentary from the National Archives and Records Administration shows how West Germany remains democratic after the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces defeated the German war machine. The video points out that no other force in military history has done so much to put a conquered nation back on its feet as the United States Army. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Christmas in Korea, 1953

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

In this classic episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series, viewers will witness Christmastime in Korea, the “land of the morning calm,” as our soldiers brave a troubled year there. This video from the National Archives and Records Administration shows soldiers singing Christmas carols around a campfire, at leisure activities, and receiving a Christmas dinner. In addition, soldiers are interviewed and send Christmas greetings to their families back home. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: The Work Horse of the Western Front

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

In this classic episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series, viewers will take a personal tour of the unit affectionately referred to as “The Work Horse of the Western Front,” the 30th Infantry Division. This combat infantry division of the National Guard is shown in North Carolina, Tennessee, and in combat. This video from the National Archives and Records Administration features Colonel Quinn, who explains the clothing, equipment, and food available to the combat infantryman. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Tools for a Modern Army

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

This classic episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series reviews the latest in Army weapons and machines, including atomic artillery, the jet helicopter, and increased mobility through multi-airdrops—vividly showing why this branch of the Armed Forces is the strongest fighting team in the world. This informative video from the National Archives and Records Administration also portrays the Army’s greatest asset, the solider, who is a highly specialized individual whose tools now are the finest electronic advancements in addition to the conventional weapons used in World War II. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: U.S. 6th Corps

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

Produced by the U.S. Army, this compelling film from The Big Picture television series chronicles the struggle of the U.S. 6th Corps, who fought their way up the “Italian boot” in World War II. Through the footage from the National Archives and Records Administration, we follow the courageous men who won the bloody battle of San Pietro and then took Casino by storm. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Missiles on Target

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

Most television viewers have seen the drama of the launching pad when a long-range missile is fired into the air. This episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series goes beyond the launch to show how missiles streak through the air to strike unerringly even a small target a long distance away. The film, from the National Archives and Records Administration, starts a few miles from New Mexico’s White Sands Proving Ground where an elaborate, all-out testing and development effort is being pushed. These efforts include launching long-range missiles vast distances and using them to cause maximum destruction by squarely hitting their targets. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: The Soldier Patient

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

This episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series shows the physical “medicine” needed for the men being cared for at the Walter Reed Medical Center. From the National Archives and Records Administration, this video shows the many “outside” activities of United States Army medical patients. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Okinawa -- Bastion in the Pacific

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

This episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture is a dramatic pictorial report of Okinawa’s history over the last half century. Called “a major bastion in the Far East” by President Eisenhower, this island is a key Pacific base in the free world’s defense program because of its close proximity from Communist China. At the time that this National Archives and Records Administration video was filmed, the United States had invested over a billion dollars in the formerly bleak island. Prior to American occupation, Okinawa’s economy was almost nonexistent and its capital city was in shambles. With the combined efforts of the U.S. and Okinawa’s inhabitants, the island was reconstructed and now has democratic elections, schools, churches, and a high standard of living. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Soldier in Austria

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

This episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series focuses on the men whose job it was to prevent Austria from being drawn into communism. Communists turned the question of Austrian independence, like the unification of Germany, into a political football. This video from the National Archives and Records Administration looks at how the spread of communism caused people to lose sight of the Soviet government’s other targets. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Fire Power -- Artillery

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

This episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series viewers will receive a firsthand account of how American artillery is employed in Korea. This video includes a study of the Army’s atomic cannon, the 280mm gun. Also shown in this film from the National Archives and Records Administration is how American artillerymen fire ten shells for every one the Communists launch at our troops. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Armed Forces Assistance to Korea

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

This episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series depicts American soldiers lending a helping hand to war-torn Korea. America’s informal gesture to assist Korea is shown as mushrooming into a big, organized program for the rehabilitation of certain areas of Korean life, known as Armed Forces Assistance to Korea or AFAK. In this video from the National Archives and Records Administration American soldiers are shown helping Korea in the aftermath of war, demonstrating how willingness and cooperation can overcome obstacles in helping a country make a comeback. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: King of Battle

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

Produced by the U.S. Army, this educational episode of the Big Picture television series portrays the dramatic development of artillery in the Army from 1776 to 1957. Viewers will see the cannon that fought with George Washington and learn how artillery played a decisive part in winning the Battle of Gettysburg. Fascinating footage from the National Archives and Records Administration follows a battery commander and his unit as they move from one position to another 20 miles away by means of helicopter in a matter of minutes. (28 minutes)

M60 Tank, 1960

British Pathe

M60 tank testing Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Wounded Soldiers Evacuated and Treated ca. 1960

The WPA Film Library

Vietnam War. Footage of medical teams evacuating and treating wounded GIs. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

NORAD Part III, ca. 1960

The WPA Film Library

NORAD Film. Explanation of how NORAD works (part 3) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

American Jets on Display, 1960

British Pathe

Jets on display at American Armed Forces Day show. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Gary Powers on Trial in The Soviet Union, 1960

The WPA Film Library

U-2 Spy Trial Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Civil War in Vietnam, 1961

British Pathe

South Vietnamese troops near Saigon fighting guerrillas Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Kennedy and DeGaulle Meet in Paris, 1961

British Pathe

President John F. Kennedy meets President Charles de Gaulle in Paris Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Eichmann Indicted in Israel, 1961

British Pathe

Adolf Eichmann indicted by Israeli court for his role in the Holocaust. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Anti- Korean Government Protests in Japan, 1961

The WPA Film Library

Japanese student protests over the new Korean government Copyright The WPA Film Library.

NATO Military Exercises, 1961

British Pathe

NATO exercises, including Honest John missile Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Adolf Eichmann Convicted, 1962

British Pathe

Adolf Eichmann is found guilty by court in Israel for his role in the Holocaust Copyright The WPA Film Library.

West Germans Protest at the Berlin Wall, 1962

The WPA Film Library

Demonstrators in free Berlin march along the wall in protest against the barrier one year after it was built. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Riots at The Berlin Wall, 1963

The WPA Film Library

Riots at the Berlin Wall on the second anniversary of its construction Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Johnson Speaks on the Gulf of Tonkin Incident Part II, 1964

British Pathe

Vietnam War. President Johnson speech after Gulf of Tonkin incident (part 2) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Johnson Speaks on the Gulf of Tonkin Incident Part III, 1964

British Pathe

Vietnam War. President Johnson speech after Gulf of Tonkin incident (part 3) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Brezhnev Replaces Khrushchev, 1964

The WPA Film Library

Khrushchev replaced by Brezhnev Copyright The WPA Film Library.

China Detonates Atomic Bomb, 1964

The WPA Film Library

China detonates its first atomic bomb Copyright The WPA Film Library.

US Embassy in Saigon Attacked, 1965

British Pathe

Vietnam War. U.S. Embassy In Saigon Attacked Copyright The WPA Film Library.

US Government Pro-War Film Part III, 1965

The WPA Film Library

Vietnam War. US government Pro-War propaganda film showing Marines in Vietnam (part 3) Copyright The WPA Film Library.