HistoryTV18 is set to bring a detailed look at one of the most important events in modern history with World War II With Tom Hanks. The 20 part documentary series will premiere on Tuesday, September 1, at 9 PM. The premiere coincides with the anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War in 1939.
Presented and narrated by two time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, the series looks at World War II from a modern perspective. Across 20 one hour episodes, it explores how the global conflict changed countries, families and the world we live in today. Following the premiere, new episodes will be broadcast every Monday and Tuesday at 9 PM on HistoryTV18.
World War II remains one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. More than eight decades after it ended, its impact can still be seen across the world. World War II With Tom Hanks aims to tell the story not only through major battles and political decisions but also through the experiences of ordinary people who lived through the war.
The documentary follows the conflict from Germany’s invasion of Poland and the beginning of the war to the eventual defeat of the Axis powers. It covers major battles across Europe, Africa and the Pacific, including Stalingrad, Normandy and the fighting in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.
The series also looks beyond the battlefield. It explores the Holocaust, civilian resistance and what life was like for people living on the home front. Stories of espionage, code breaking and the huge industrial effort behind the war are also included, showing how many different factors contributed to the final outcome.
Some of the most important leaders of the period are featured, including Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Erwin Rommel, Joseph Stalin, Hideki Tojo and Adolf Hitler. However, the documentary also focuses on soldiers and civilians from different parts of the world, giving viewers a more personal understanding of the conflict.
The story eventually reaches the development and use of the atomic bomb, marking the beginning of the atomic age. It also examines what happened after the war, when former allies became rivals and the world entered the tense period of the Cold War.
Tom Hanks has long been known for his interest in history, particularly the events surrounding World War II. He has previously been involved in several major projects about the conflict. For this documentary, he serves as one of the executive producers alongside Gary Goetzman and Pulitzer Prize winning historian Jon Meacham.
World War II With Tom Hanks combines archival footage, historical research and personal stories to present the war in a way that is accessible to modern audiences. Rather than focusing only on dates and military victories, the series aims to show the human cost of a conflict that changed the world forever.
World War II With Tom Hanks premieres Tuesday, September 1, at 9 PM on HistoryTV18. New episodes will air every Monday and Tuesday at 9 PM.
