Five out of every six men serving in WWII never saw combat, serving instead in the vast support services. But the men who were at the front lived through some of the greatest horrors of the human experience. For them, survival was all--surviving getting to the front, surviving attack, surviving combat. This episode reveals their constant struggle to stay alive. Peter Coyote narrates this compelling journey into WWII through the eyes of those who lived it, completely in color.

World War Two was truly a global conflict. Allied soldiers fought in all theaters of war, exposing them to an extraordinary diversity of terrain and climate--from the Arctic Circle to desert sands and fetid jungles. An infantryman was engaged in combat for an hour each day on average, but he fought the environment around the clock. The war comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, and color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading, and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

As WWII raged across Europe and the Pacific, one branch of the U.S. military went quietly about its business, moving with such secrecy that it was dubbed the "Silent Service." The elite submarine sailors endured an unique type of battle--with little chance of escape if disaster struck, the submarine itself often became a steel coffin. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

Even as WWII raged on, another, more desperate, battle was being waged just behind the front lines...a battle to save lives. The victories and losses of this crusade are the stories of the price of war. The fact that so many servicemen lived to tell the tale is a testament to the brave medical personnel who fought daily against death. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

For Allied servicemen, the last year of WWII proved the most difficult. Though victory was nearly assured, some of the roughest battles lay ahead. These men desperately wanted to return to home and loved ones. If they survived, what would the peace bring? WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

After the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945, the U.S. emerged as leader of the free world. In the aftermath of the war, U.S. servicemen faced daunting new responsibilities and perhaps a greater challenge than waging war--that of keeping the peace. We examine this monumental undertaking known simply as occupation. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

WWII was the first fully mechanized war--with soldiers in tanks and other armored vehicles pounding across a lethal, modern battlefield. But the very importance of these vehicles to the new tactics of battle also made them vulnerable magnets for enemy fire, often exposing their crews to even greater risks than those faced by infantry soldiers. In this episode of our award-winning, all-color series, we bring to life the experiences of soldiers who manned the machines of war. Narrated by Peter Coyote.

Five out of every six men serving in WWII never saw combat, serving instead in the vast support services. But the men who were at the front lived through some of the greatest horrors of the human experience. For them, survival was all--surviving getting to the front, surviving attack, surviving combat. This episode reveals their constant struggle to stay alive. Peter Coyote narrates this compelling journey into WWII through the eyes of those who lived it, completely in color.

World War Two was truly a global conflict. Allied soldiers fought in all theaters of war, exposing them to an extraordinary diversity of terrain and climate--from the Arctic Circle to desert sands and fetid jungles. An infantryman was engaged in combat for an hour each day on average, but he fought the environment around the clock. The war comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, and color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading, and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

As WWII raged across Europe and the Pacific, one branch of the U.S. military went quietly about its business, moving with such secrecy that it was dubbed the "Silent Service." The elite submarine sailors endured an unique type of battle--with little chance of escape if disaster struck, the submarine itself often became a steel coffin. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

Even as WWII raged on, another, more desperate, battle was being waged just behind the front lines...a battle to save lives. The victories and losses of this crusade are the stories of the price of war. The fact that so many servicemen lived to tell the tale is a testament to the brave medical personnel who fought daily against death. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

For Allied servicemen, the last year of WWII proved the most difficult. Though victory was nearly assured, some of the roughest battles lay ahead. These men desperately wanted to return to home and loved ones. If they survived, what would the peace bring? WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

After the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945, the U.S. emerged as leader of the free world. In the aftermath of the war, U.S. servicemen faced daunting new responsibilities and perhaps a greater challenge than waging war--that of keeping the peace. We examine this monumental undertaking known simply as occupation. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

WWII was the first fully mechanized war--with soldiers in tanks and other armored vehicles pounding across a lethal, modern battlefield. But the very importance of these vehicles to the new tactics of battle also made them vulnerable magnets for enemy fire, often exposing their crews to even greater risks than those faced by infantry soldiers. In this episode of our award-winning, all-color series, we bring to life the experiences of soldiers who manned the machines of war. Narrated by Peter Coyote.

Five out of every six men serving in WWII never saw combat, serving instead in the vast support services. But the men who were at the front lived through some of the greatest horrors of the human experience. For them, survival was all--surviving getting to the front, surviving attack, surviving combat. This episode reveals their constant struggle to stay alive. Peter Coyote narrates this compelling journey into WWII through the eyes of those who lived it, completely in color.

World War Two was truly a global conflict. Allied soldiers fought in all theaters of war, exposing them to an extraordinary diversity of terrain and climate--from the Arctic Circle to desert sands and fetid jungles. An infantryman was engaged in combat for an hour each day on average, but he fought the environment around the clock. The war comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, and color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading, and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

As WWII raged across Europe and the Pacific, one branch of the U.S. military went quietly about its business, moving with such secrecy that it was dubbed the "Silent Service." The elite submarine sailors endured an unique type of battle--with little chance of escape if disaster struck, the submarine itself often became a steel coffin. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

Even as WWII raged on, another, more desperate, battle was being waged just behind the front lines...a battle to save lives. The victories and losses of this crusade are the stories of the price of war. The fact that so many servicemen lived to tell the tale is a testament to the brave medical personnel who fought daily against death. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

For Allied servicemen, the last year of WWII proved the most difficult. Though victory was nearly assured, some of the roughest battles lay ahead. These men desperately wanted to return to home and loved ones. If they survived, what would the peace bring? WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

After the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945, the U.S. emerged as leader of the free world. In the aftermath of the war, U.S. servicemen faced daunting new responsibilities and perhaps a greater challenge than waging war--that of keeping the peace. We examine this monumental undertaking known simply as occupation. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film, and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

WWII was the first fully mechanized war--with soldiers in tanks and other armored vehicles pounding across a lethal, modern battlefield. But the very importance of these vehicles to the new tactics of battle also made them vulnerable magnets for enemy fire, often exposing their crews to even greater risks than those faced by infantry soldiers. In this episode of our award-winning, all-color series, we bring to life the experiences of soldiers who manned the machines of war. Narrated by Peter Coyote.