Large Fierce Mammal

Click the image to enlarge. Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/26/d-day-photos-canada-anniversary_n_5393983.html

“I was born in 1957, and for Canadians of my generation, World Wars 1 and 2 can be compared to what can be said today of cancer, in that it would have been a difficult task during our formative years to swing the proverbial dead cat without hitting a member of a family that had been touched to its very marrow by war. Someone near and dear had died or been indelibly changed for the worst by it.” ~ My Poppy is Red

On this day in the year 1944, events unfolded that were the culmination of efforts I personally believe few now living could bring to pass. It is not for frivolous reasons that those who lived and died by these actions are referred to as “the Greatest Generation”, and I live in hope that their example will never be forgotten, nor “rebranded” into meaningless obscurity.

The World at War (1973–74) is a 26-episode British television documentary series chronicling the events of the Second World War. At the time of its completion in 1973 it was the most expensive series ever made, costing £900,000. It was produced by Jeremy Isaacs, was narrated by Laurence Olivier, and includes a score composed by Carl Davis. A book, The World at War, was written by Mark Arnold-Forster and released in 1973, to accompany the TV series.

Since production was completed, The World at War has attracted acclaim and is now regarded as a landmark in British television history. The producer Jeremy Isaacs was considered ahead of his time in resurrecting studies of military history. The series focused on, among other things, portrayal of the devastating human experiences of the conflict; how life and death throughout the war years affected soldiers, sailors and airmen, civilians, concentration camp inmates and the tragic victims of tyranny. ~ Wikipedia

I was in my last years of high school when I first watched The World at War, and it remains to my mind the most raw non-fictional portrayal of the realities of total war ever cast in film. On this day, I invite you all to watch the episode titled Morning, after which you should immediately watch all the other twenty-five episodes.

For the remainder of this excellent series, I offer this for your convenience. View the entire series selection here. Watch it through Goode Reader, think on how it reflects on today’s world, and NEVER forget.