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The story of the Second World War, told via personal accounts from four American towns. Now streaming.
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The War Logo
Discover what life was like for the 16 million American men and women who served during the war.

Watch 'The War' | Full Documentary Now Streaming

A Necessary War
The tranquil lives of the citizens of Mobile, AL; Sacramento, CA; Waterbury,CT; and Luverne,MN are shattered on December 7, 1941, as they, along with the rest of America are thrust into the greatest cataclysm in history.
Full Length 144m 51s
A Necessary War
Full Length
A Necessary War
144m 51s
The tranquil lives of the citizens of Mobile, AL; Sacramento, CA; Waterbury,CT; and Luverne,MN are shattered on December 7
When Things Get Tough
Full Length
When Things Get Tough
117m 14s
Americans mobilize for total war at home and overseas. Factories hum around the clock, while North Africa and then Italy,
A Deadly Calling
Full Length
A Deadly Calling
112m 42s
Americans are shocked by terrible losses on the Pacific atoll of Tarawa, while in Italy Allied forces are stalled for mont
Pride of our Nation
Full Length
Pride of our Nation
139m 15s
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, 1.5 million Allied troops take part in the greatest invasion in history, but then bog down in Norm
FUBAR
Full Length
FUBAR
126m 58s
Victory in Europe seems imminent, but Holland, the Vosges Mountains, and the Hurtgen Forest, GIs learn painful lessons as
The Ghost Front
Full Length
The Ghost Front
119m 26s
Americans are shocked by Hitler's massive counterattack in the Ardennes Forest - but by mid March, 1945, they are across t
A World Without War
Full Length
A World Without War
127m 27s
A few weeks after the death of President Roosevelt shocks the country, Germany surrenders. Meanwhile, American sailors, so
PBS Previews | The War
Preview
PBS Previews | The War
26m 49s
Go behind the camera with filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick to learn more about The War.
Intro
Clip
Intro
5m 35s
Watch the first few minutes of The War.
Making Of | Wynton Marsalis On Music
Preview
Making Of | Wynton Marsalis On Music
1m 22s
Wynton Marsalis talks about composing original music for “The War.”
Joseph Medicine Crow
Clip
Joseph Medicine Crow
8m 41s
Joe Medicine Crow, the last war chief of the Crow Tribe of Montana is profiled in The War, a film by Ken Burns and Lynn No
Making Of | An Intimidating Project
Preview
Making Of | An Intimidating Project
2m 21s
Filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick talk about why “The War” was such an intimidating project and how they made the film.
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About the Film

The War is the story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four American towns. The war touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America and demonstrated that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.

Premiered on PBS: September 23, 2007

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Read first-hand accounts of soldiers who experienced the battles fought in foreign countries and on the open seas during WWII.

Available on UNUM

S4087 Original | UNUM
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Ken Burns curates a new way to explore The War.

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