10 September(1997-09-10)– 15 October 1997(1997-10-15)
The Nazis: A Warning from History is a 1997 BBCdocumentary film series that examines Adolf Hitler and the Nazis' rise to power in Germany, their zenith, their decline and fall, and the consequences of their reign. It featured archive footage and interviews with eyewitnesses and was shown in six episodes.[1]
In the United States, the series premiered on the by A&E Networks owned The History Channel, and was aired from 8 February until 12 February 1998.[2]
Production
The series was written and produced by Laurence Rees. The historical and script consultant was Prof. Sir Ian Kershaw, who also appears briefly in the "Chaos and Consent" episode. The series was narrated by actor Samuel West. The music used over the opening credits is "Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras", the second movement of Brahms' A German Requiem.
Acclaim
The documentary earned the BBC and producer Reese a 1997 Peabody Award, its jurors calling it a "superbly documented six-part series, The Nazis: A Warning from History is a chillingly thorough account of the Third Reich’s rise and fall."[3] The Peabody Award was a year later followed by two others; an IDA (International Documentary Association) Award in the "Limited Series" category,[4] and a BAFTA Award in the category "Best Factual Series".
The documentary was for home viewing first released in the UK as a two-tape VHS set on 2 February 1998 by BBC Worldwide Ltd. ( UPC5014503626327), which was only six years later followed by a UK two-disc DVD set release on 24 May 2004 ( UPC5014503142728).
In North American the first home video release was the 26 October 1999 VHS The Nazis- The Acclaimed BBC Documentary six-tape box set from A&E Home Video ( ISBN0767008871), the History Channel's regular home video format publisher which had been licensed to air the series internationally, including the UK for its reruns.[2] This was followed by the 18 July 2006 four-disc DVD set ( ISBN1419809032) from BBC Home Entertainment for which the BBC commissioned Time-Life (whose book division had actually already released the precursory The Third Reich book series that dealt with the same subject matter) for the retail distribution and promotional services, which included at least one television commercial.[5] An American reissue has followed suit on 25 August 2015 ( UPC883929514649).
Spain saw the "Nazis: un aviso de la historia" two-disc DVD set release by Divisa Red, S.A.U. in May 2005 ( UPC8421394520660), which the company reissued on 29 October 2008 ( UPC8421394527874). A three-disc Benelux DVD version was released twice in 2006 by Just Entertainment ( UPC8717344720762, 8717344725965), while France had its two-disc set released by Koba Films on 4 June 2014 as "Nazis, un avertissement de l'histoire" ( UPC5051889476009). The documentary had not seen a home video format in Germany itself, though the companion book was published in translation, which it had not been in the other European countries.
The UK and Benelux DVD sets all featured a band mentioning "Best Factual Series", the category which had earned the documentary its 1998 BAFTA Award, whereas the French release had the fact mentioned on the back cover of the set. Neither Spanish release had the fact mentioned though.
Rees, Laurence (11 September 1997). The Nazis: A Warning from History (original US hardbacked.). New York City: MJF Books. p.256. ISBN1567319130.
Rees, Laurence; Ströle (tr.), Wolfram; Dierlamm (tr.), Helmut (1997). Die Nazis: Eine Warnung der Geschichte (German-language paperbacked.). Munich: Diana Verlag. p.296. ISBN3828450040.
Rees, Laurence (15 April 1998). The Nazis: A Warning from History (2nd US hardbacked.). New York City: The New Press. p.256. ISBN1565844459.
Rees, Laurence (1 April 1999). The Nazis: A Warning from History (3rd US hardbacked.). New York City: The New Press. p.256. ISBN156584551X.
Rees, Laurence; Ströle (tr.), Wolfram; Dierlamm (tr.), Helmut (1 January 2001). Die Nazis: Eine Warnung der Geschichte (2nd German-language paperbacked.). Munich: Heyne Verlag. p.320. ISBN345318095X.
Rees, Laurence (2 March 2006). The Nazis: A Warning from History (revised UK paperbacked.). London: BBC Books & Penguin Books (releases under both imprints). p.424. ISBN056349333X.
Rees, Laurence (31 August 2012). The Nazis: A Warning from History (eBooked.). London: BBC Digital & Penguin Digital (releases under both imprints). p.256. ISBN9781448140541.
Rees, Laurence (1 April 2020). The Nazis: A Warning from History (Chinese-language hardbacked.). Nanjing: Yilin Press. p.328. ISBN9787544781114.
How the Nazi party was formed and Adolf Hitler was able to rise to power. Interviewees include former Nazi party members and their opponents.
2
"Chaos and Consent"
17September1997(1997-09-17)
Examines how the Nazis consolidated power and how extreme and radical policies were formed and implemented, using the example of the euthanasia policy of Philipp Bouhler. The help given to the Gestapo by ordinary citizens is also explored and other events covered include Kristallnacht and remilitarisation. Interviewees include former Nazi officials, an army officer, a Jewish man and an inmate of an early concentration camp.
3
"The Wrong War"
24September1997(1997-09-24)
Traces the path to war with Great Britain and the alliance with the Soviet Union. Interviewees include former Nazi officials and diplomats.
An account of mass killings in occupied territories after the invasion of the Soviet Union. Interviewees include a former member of an execution squad and a survivor of Treblinka extermination camp.
6
"Fighting to the End"
15October1997(1997-10-15)
Explores why Germany fought on when military defeat was inevitable. Interviewees include German soldiers and civilians.
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