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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.

Watch • 8:41
The War
Joseph Medicine Crow
Joe Medicine Crow, the last war chief of the Crow Tribe of Montana is profiled in The War.
Clip: S1 | 8:41
Watch • 2:07:27
The War
A World Without War
Germany and the Japanese surrender too and millions try to learn to live without war.
Episode: S1 E7 | 2:07:27
Watch • 1:59:26
The War
The Ghost Front
By mid March, 1945, they are across the Rhine, while Russians are 50 miles from Berlin.
Episode: S1 E6 | 1:59:26
Corporate funding is provided by General Motors, Anheuser-Busch, and Bank of America. Major funding is provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.;PBS; National Endowment for the Humanities; CPB; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; The Longaberger Foundation; and Park Foundation, Inc.
Episodes
Watch • 2:24:51
The War
A Necessary War
The lives of Americans are changed forever on Dec. 7, 1941.
Episode: S1 E1 | 2:24:51
Watch • 1:57:13
The War
When Things Get Tough
Americans mobilize for total war at home and overseas
Episode: S1 E2 | 1:57:13
Watch • 1:52:42
The War
A Deadly Calling
Americans are shocked by losses on the Pacific and Allied forces are stalled.
Episode: S1 E3 | 1:52:42
Watch • 2:19:15
The War
Pride of our Nation
On D-Day, 1.5 million Allied troops take part in the greatest invasion in history.
Episode: S1 E4 | 2:19:15
Watch • 2:06:58
The War
FUBAR
Victory in Europe seems imminent.
Episode: S1 E5 | 2:06:58
Extras
Watch • 26:49
The War
PBS Previews: The War
Go behind the camera with filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick to learn more about The War.
Preview: 26:49
Watch • 9:56
The War
Mobile Shipyards
On Tuesday morning, May 25, 1943, tensions explode at the Alabama Dry Dock shipyard.
Clip: S1 | 9:56
Watch • 1:24
The War
The War Comes Home to Luverne
Al McIntosh writes of personal losses the war brought to those in Luverne.
Clip: S1 | 1:24
Watch • 5:52
The War
Babe Ciarlo in Anzio
Babe Ciarlo never revealed his experiences in his letters home.
Clip: S1 | 5:52
Watch • 1:26
The War
That's War
Young soldier Daniel Inouye comes face-to-face with the enemy.
Clip: S1 | 1:26
Watch • 1:29
The War
FDR: Day of Infamy
FDR speaks to the country following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Clip: S1 | 1:29
Watch • 5:35
The War
Intro
Watch the first few minutes of The War.
Clip: S1 | 5:35
Watch • 4:39
The War
Why We Fight
Burnett Miller, Ray Leopold and Sam Hynes talk about why they fought.
Clip: S1 | 4:39
Watch • 1:50
The War
Chocolate Roast Beef
Ray Leopold discusses the mixture of food available at meal times.
Clip: S1 | 1:50
Watch • 4:39
The War
Joining Up
Burnett Miller, Ray Leopold and Sam Hynes talk about joining up during the war.
Clip: S1 | 4:39