Rating: 
Summary: Keep the receipt
Review: While I echo the other reviews as regards the quality of the series, my box set had production errors in it. Disc 2 side 2 was the same as Disc 1 side 2. I don't know if this was a widespread manufacturing error, or whether it is unique to the set I purchased. This is an egregious error for the price of the set, and is why I rank this only 1 star. Apart from the erratum in my box set, the series itself is great, albeit with a British perspective.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent narration and images - truly an epic achievement!
Review: I have watched these 26 episodes several times and the two bonus episodes are also a wonderfully informative and insightful addition, particularly the intensely expressive (albeit short) interview with Traudl Junge, Hitler's secretary. The voice and powerful acting talent of Laurence Olivier truly enhances the emotional impact of these series. The facts are numerous, but, I gave these series only 4 out of 5 stars because, having read "A World At Arms", by Gerhard Weinberg (a 920-page epic account of the War), I found that some precious footage was wasted on showing too much of nothing (e.g. an entire episode was dedicated to Holland, hardly a major power in the war, even though it was a very fascinating episode indeed). There were not enough details mentioned, for example about the Desert War in Africa, nor were enough episodes dedicated to the war in the Pacific. There also should have been a much more in-depth coverage of major battles like The Battle of The Bulge, more expanded coverage of the final 9 months or so of the War in the Pacific where many things went wrong for Japan and why they went wrong. There is hardly any mention of the weak coordination of the Japanese navy and army and their constant disagreements and quarrels which resulted in a practical "turkey shoot" for the Americans in the Pacific, of Japanese supply ships sailing with no convoy protection and Japan being forced to even use their submarines to transport food out of desperation.There is also hardly any mention of Chiang-Kai-Shek of China and his dialogue with the allies in trying to stop enemies on two fronts - the communists of Mao-Tse-Tung and the Japanese barbars who delighted in cutting off the fingers and ears and hands and feet of Chinese civilians in places like Nanking (the Nanking massacre).
But there are some excellent episodes like the one on Burma and that horrendous mud!... And everyone will remember Avadour-Sur-Glane (?), the French town where about 600 citizens, men, women and children were rounded up in 1944 when the Nazi's were in retreat after operation Overlord (Normandy) ... and shot...and the town was destroyed and stands in ruins, never re-built to this day as a dedication to the unspeakable monstrosities of the Nazis. You will come out of these series never seeing humans the same way and thinking how animals are such "angels" compared to humans. That old and mindless expression of calling someone an "animal" does not apply after you see this documentary, for animals never kill each other the way humans have done so many times in their history... The quality of the footage is fine and the poetic voice of Laurence Olivier permeates ceaselessly throughout the series. The episodes on the Soviet Union, with Russian songs and one particular poem is enough to make one's heart wrench (and teeth clench) and cry... Remember... This is not an academic documentary series but still is the best one made so far on World War II. You won't be disappointed by it.
Rating: 
Summary: Without doubt the definitive history of World War 2
Review: The World at War was made back in 1973 and to this date stands alone untouched by any other contender. The sheer scale of the project alone defies belief, archive footage (many of which was un-seen since WW2) was collated from over 12 countries.
The musical score and narration by Sir Laurence Olivier is second to none.
The few complaints from American viewers about the lack of American involvement are totally unfounded. Every country is covered and since this is a British production you would expect there to be a saturation of the British involvement, this is not the case. Yes the island hopping in the Pacific is covered in one episode but so is the massive British campaign in the Western dessert. Had this been an American production the viewer would have had 26 episodes telling us that America won the war single handed and Britain and Allies "helped out a bit".
And NO America did not win the Battle of Britain.
The inclusion of James Stewart on the "Whirlwind" episode was quite apt, Mr Stewart flew 25 daylight missions with the 8th Airforce.
All round we have a stable telling of events from a world-wide background and not from just one point of view.
The interviews add a face to the outstanding combat footage and "Remember" is as moving as any hollywood production.
Quite simply no other production comes close to the horror and compassion. Unmissable viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable.
Review: This series has remained a marked point in my personal development for over thirty years (I refer to its original screening in the UK in the 1960s/1970s). I first witnessed what seemed to be a surreal set of images to the eyes of a boy on the verge to adolescence, when life was all about 'crash, bang, your dead, no I'm not'. It took a great step into a realm of incredulity to believe that, first, these events all took place within the space of a few years - then only twenty some odd years earlier and a very vivid part of my father's youth (Royal Navy, North Atlantic/Mediterranean 1943-1945), and that the images were real, not the product of Hollywood. The collected images and tone of this series makes for an essential component of any reference to the period. I challenge anyone to remain unmoved by this work. The ominous strains of the theme music have stayed with me along with the effect this series had on my learning process and education.
Rating:
Summary: The World At War
Review: Undoubtedly the very best documentary on World War II. It includes an unbiased report from all points of view. Praise being given where due regardless of warring faction. This series leads the viewer chronologically through this enormous conflict with the most engaging narration. I think that there exists no better general overview than The World At War.
Rating:
Summary: A sixth star is needed!
Review: I could not emphasize enough the quality and quantity of this DVD selection since many other reviewers have done so much more eloquently in their many rave reviews. My sui generis point is that Amazon should reserve a rare sixth star for works like this! Also, I must state that having looked for this DVD series for years (I wisely passed up the early 1990's clunky VHS version), I wondered why has there been a haitus of three years between the first announcements of a DVD version and its final pub date? I can only assume that re-mastered films and the many wonderful extra features must have taken time to assemble as value-added bonuses -- which indeed they are. Twenty-six hours of the finest that television has ever produced! It should be the first DVD purchased by anyone interested in history. It should also get a rare Amazon sixth star.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning.
Review: If only all documentaries were of this quality! If you've never seen the series before, prepare yourself for a roller-coaster ride of emotions and a visual / audio treat. If you have seen it, then buy it anyway - it can be watched over and over again it's that rich and detailed. Unbiased, factual and brilliantly put together - it's a breath of fresh air when compared to Hollywoods recent historic perversions. I will never, as long as I live, forget the US marines descriptions of Iwo Jima and his account of the fellow marine having a piece of his enemy land in his lap - sad, funny, awful, comical, all at the same time - like I said - stunning!
Rating:
Summary: A must see
Review: Quite simply the best war documentary ever put together. The narration might be mistaken for cold and unfeeling, but it is intentionally unbiased. It is not about who was right or wrong, who was good or bad, just a stark recounting of the facts, with a wealth of behind the scenes information.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding! What more can I say?
Review: Some of the other reviewers have gone into more detail about the series - I just want to add my voice and say this series is absolutely outstanding. Well worth the hundred bucks!
Rating:
Summary: The DEFINITIVE history of WWII
Review: Don't call yourself a history buff until you've seen this-preferably more than once. This is a stunning example of documentary filmaking. I can't even begin to explain the amount of archival footage, newsreels, and interviews that are included in the twenty-six hours of the set. Countless *millions* of feet of Imperial War Museum footage could not be included due to time constraints. This set shoots for completeness and comes quite close. Watching the whole set is like taking a whirlwind tour of the years 1933-1946. Immense and worth every penny. Of particular importance is a one hour discussion with producer Jeremy Isaacs about the processes that brought us THE WORLD AT WAR. In an age when revisionist history threatens to overshadow truth, Isaacs goes to great pains to describe the strict criteria used when his team examined historical film and when they went into the editing room to edit interviews. I very much appreciated the fact that they threw out some (obvious) propaganda film and the fact that the production utilized many foley artists to record sound effects for what were usually silent films. This knowledge makes the series all the more trustworthy as a historical document. Another nice extra not included on the VHS version is the 45 minute "The Two Deaths of Adolph Hitler" -discussing in detail the circumstances surrounding the suicide of this most hated man. I'll put it this way, I know more about Hitler's teeth and how fire shrinks the human body than I ever thought I would. The interviews are amazing. Nazi officials, housewives, camp survivors, businessmen, clergy etc. all contribute riveting stories to the overarching narrative. Many are heartbreaking. Some are funny. All are informative. The European theater and the Pacific theater are covered in great detail with interviews, archival footage, graphics, sound recordings etc. Perhaps the most creepy thing is how the film starts with Olivier's full, brooding voice "Down this road the soldiers came." So begins the best film series in the history of celluloid. And at the end of it we come back to that single solitary French road where the series began some thirty hours earlier. In between we've been to hell and back. Essential.
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