While I won't dispute with anyone the propaganda nature of this series, I do have to say it doesn't disturb me that there's little mention of what was occurring elsewhere in 1941-45. After all, this is "The Unknown War" about the fighting between the Soviet Union and Germany and its allies on the Eastern Front.
I own numerous WWII documentaries and have watched these documentaries since I was a child in the '50s (The Big Picture; The 20th Century) and was delighted when I found this available on DVD. I'll admit I also found it disturbing that there was so much pro-Soviet propaganda in it, considering it was first aired in 1978, but I accept it in the same manner I accept the propaganda of the 1940's "Why We Fight" series. The films of Russian fighting, most of which I've never seen, definitely overcome the narration problems.
My only complaints about the series and DVD collection: 1. No subtitles; 2. The sound isn't the best. The sfx and music are pretty loud (and too much of it) while the narration (w/o subtitles) is sometimes very difficult to understand, especially when giving Russian names and locations; 3. (blame the series, I guess) those damn bells ringing at what must have originally been station/commercial breaks. Please, can't those be edited out.
The entire series is now available on YouTube.
I own numerous WWII documentaries and have watched these documentaries since I was a child in the '50s (The Big Picture; The 20th Century) and was delighted when I found this available on DVD. I'll admit I also found it disturbing that there was so much pro-Soviet propaganda in it, considering it was first aired in 1978, but I accept it in the same manner I accept the propaganda of the 1940's "Why We Fight" series. The films of Russian fighting, most of which I've never seen, definitely overcome the narration problems.
My only complaints about the series and DVD collection: 1. No subtitles; 2. The sound isn't the best. The sfx and music are pretty loud (and too much of it) while the narration (w/o subtitles) is sometimes very difficult to understand, especially when giving Russian names and locations; 3. (blame the series, I guess) those damn bells ringing at what must have originally been station/commercial breaks. Please, can't those be edited out.
The entire series is now available on YouTube.