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Tom Hanks is revisiting World War II with an ambitious 20-part documentary series that traces the conflict from Germany’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 through its aftermath and conclusion on Sept. 2, 1945.
Three episodes of WWII with Tom Hanks premiered on Memorial Day, highlighting the enormous human cost of the war. Subsequent installments have been released two at a time on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.
The series examines every major theater of the conflict from a global perspective. Hanks, whose previous World War II projects include Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, narrates the production and also serves as an executive producer.
Created in collaboration with the HISTORY Channel and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, the documentary draws on archival footage, primary-source documents, period audio and interviews with veterans. It uses no actors or historical reenactments.
Historians provide additional context about the war and the decisions made by those who fought it. Contributors include executive producer Jon Meacham and Robert Citino, a senior historian at the National WWII Museum.
The result is an expansive account designed to offer both history enthusiasts and general audiences a detailed look at the Second World War and its consequences.