i remember watch this a a child in the uk and mesmerize by the story and laurence olivier narration . we would talk about nothing else at school the next day . i imagine the rating for the first showing be huge . this be quite simply the best most comprehensive documentary series despite the fact they have to cut the story down to the bone they manage to capture so much . what be interest be that the battle of britain and north africa be pivotal yet be widely unrecognized a such by american . the series capture the rivalry between mountbatten and the american general and the suffering of german troop on the eastern front and the maltreatment of japanese prisoner of war by american troop . the image of the holocaust make me and a non jewish european and feel forever guilty about the treatment of the jewish people . i do not know why this be not number one in the imdb ranking . perhaps they be show their bias against documentary . spoiler we win .