New Video is releasing a DVD set of the History Channel series, “The Century of Warfare.” I honestly don’t think I know where to begin in describing this incredible box set. It’s seven discs and twenty-six episodes of as complete a history of war imaginable. Not that war is anything to celebrate necessarily, but it is a history buff’s dream. “The Century Of Warfare” originally aired on the History Channel back in the early 1990’s, and though nearly a decade has passed, it is no less informative and educational. The series utilizes one of the most complete archival libraries of photographs and films to trace, not only the events that led up to some of the biggest battles of the last hundred years, but also takes time out to look at how technology advanced the ‘art’ of war. Actor Robert Powell, of “Jesus of Nazareth” fame, narrates the series.

I like the approach his narration takes, as it remains simple and to the point. There is little need to give too much information, but just enough to understand what’s going on.

The first episode, “The Violent Century” acts as an overview for the series, filling the viewer with historical bits and pieces. It touches on almost every major military engagement from World War I to the liberation of Kuwait. Each of the following episodes narrows it presentation to focus on either a particular period in history or subject.

As of this writing, I’m still making my way through all of the discs and episodes, as it is quite an undertaking with set this large. I’ve always been kind of a history nut, and though I am not necessarily well versed in all things historic, I have enough of a working knowledge as to keep a conversation going. Most of what I’ve learned came from school (though that was many…MANY…years ago), and it’s helpful to have a bit of a refresher course every now and then. So on a personal note, this series has been very helpful in re-teaching me a lot that I’ve forgotten.

The amount of film footage available on this series is what especially blew me away. Much of it I had not seen before on any other series. To see what went on really helped me to appreciate the reality and the horror of war. And where photographs of dictators and tyrants simply put faces to names, the footage included here turns the monsters into men.

I really feel that watching a series like this should be mandatory in History classes in school. I know it has been said before by writers far more intellectual than I, but what we can learn from a series like this is priceless. Learning about the past, and the mistakes and atrocities we are capable of, should keep us from letting them happen again. Unfortunately, according to what we see and hear on the news every day, it either isn’t working, or we’re not learning.

That said, no matter where your interest lies, there’s something here for everyone. Whether you have a simple fascination with the past, or a true yearning for knowledge, “The Century of Warfare” is well worth your time and a must watch.

Episodes and Descriptions:

Disc 1:
The Violent Century: “The Century of Warfare”opens with a look at the defining characteristics of modern war and the development of the weapons that revolutionized combat.
The World Goes to War: Explore the factors that led to the outbreak of World War I and see why efforts to prevent the coming conflict failed.
Blood and Mud: Harrowing photos and rare footage show the grim reality of trench warfare on the Western Front.
War of the Eagles: Three empires clash on the Eastern Front, until the Russian Revolution topples the Czar and the nation withdraws from the fight.

Disc 2:
Battle Fleets and U-Boats: Naval warfare in World War I, from submarine attacks and supporting forces on land to the Battle of Jutland.
Aces High: See how the plane became a weapon, fly with the pioneers of military aviation, and relive the exploits of legendary pilots like the Red Baron.
War to End All War?: The entry of the United States helped bring World War I to a close, but the harsh conditions of the Versailles Treaty paved the way for a greater conflict to come.
Enter the Dictators: The years between the World Wars were marked by the rise of totalitarian states in Europe and a growing militancy in the Far East.

Disc 3:
The War Clouds Gather: Conflicts in China, Spain and Africa presaged the horrors to come, while Hitler cemented his power and prepared for his bloody campaign of aggression.
Blitzkrieg: Germany's invasion of Poland introduced the world to a new brand of warfare. Less than a year later, the fall of France left Britain to face Hitler essentially alone.
Britain Stands Alone: The extraordinary heroism demonstrated by British citizens and soldiers and a vital lifeline from across the Atlantic kept England from falling into Nazi clutches.
Sand and Sea War: In and around the Mediterranean, Monty battled Rommel, American doughboys got their first real combat experience, and the Italian campaign gave the Allies a foothold in Europe.

Disc 4:
Hitler Turns East: Operation Barbarossa--the largest land invasion ever mounted--sent 3 million German troops and 3,300 tanks into the Soviet Union.
The Long Road Back: Defeated at Stalingrad and denied entry to Moscow, the Wehrmacht embarked on a two-year delaying action as it retreated to Germany.
Normandy to the Rhine: Follow the preparations for D-Day and the course of the war in Europe after the successful invasion.
The End in Europe: As Germany was squeezed in the vice of the Allied advance, the Big Three met at Yalta to plan for the aftermath of war.

Disc 5:
Oriental Blitzkrieg: Analyze the forces that drove Japan to war and relive the initial victories that gave the Imperial forces an air of invincibility.
Jungle and Ocean: The American island-hopping campaign drove the Japanese from their Pacific strongholds, but it would take a weapon of a different order bring the war to an end.
The War at Sea: This sweeping overview of World War II's naval engagements includes footage from Atlantic convoys, major Pacific battles and the amphibious landing at Normandy.
Air War: Fly in a B-17 on a harrowing daylight bombing raid, see how British aviators staved off the Luftwaffe, and watch as carrier-based fighters battle Zeros in the skies over Midway.

Disc 6:
Iron Curtain: Divided at the end of World War II, Europe was a potential flashpoint for 40 years as the superpowers maintained an uneasy peace built on deterrence.
Oriental Communism: From the withdrawal of the old Colonial powers to the conflict in Korea, instability, regional conflicts and the boiling over of Cold War tensions marked much of the 20th century in Asia.
Wars in Peace: The perennial problems of civil war, terrorism and bilateral wars have taken on a new urgency in the years since the end of the Cold War, and the international community is struggling to deal with them.

Disc 7:
Vietnam : It was a war that proved that might and money do not lead inevitably to victory, and its harsh lessons forced America to rethink its role in the world.
War in the Middle East: From Israel's continual battles to defend itself to inter-Arab squabbles and the role of oil, trace the many conflicts that have shaken this tumultuous region.
Gulf War and the Future: The Allied victory over Iraq showed showcased a new generation of weapons and tactics, but evolving threats--particularly from weapons of mass destruction--require a new approach to deterrence.

Specifications: Color and Black & White
Studio: New Video
Release Date: 6/24/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Century of Warfare an A.