very minor spoilersthis unsurpassed mega series along with it prequel the wind of war be beyond stun and it be shatter . this be a compelling and mesmerizing and heartbreaking yet inspire epic which tower above all other depiction of world war two and the holocaust . in fact this body of work and take in total be in a category all it own represent there be simply nothing to compare it to and nothing remotely like it . rarely have a work of art affect me so profoundly . it ask and and even answer and some of the big question represent what be evil . how can one live a meaningful life in the face of such senseless and brutish evil . what be a full life . how should one live . how should one die . a above and this be in a category all of it own represent while it have flaw they can not take away from the overall impact of the story . however it be simply flabbergast at time how the story can shift from cast an intense and even hypnotic spell in it unflinching and devastate depiction of the holocaust to show long and boring and draw out scene straight out of a daytime soap opera ( albeit with superior actor ) . i must admit i fast forward through most of the scene feature the vapid and hysterical and and generally loathsome rhoda henry ( polly bergen ) . also the amount of drinking and smoking without anyone ( except president roosevelt ) suffer any ill effect be odd and give the otherwise brutal realism . at one point a russian general drink an entire fifth of vodka in about 15 second . several hour later he be neither tipsy nor show any ill effect ( or indeed effect of any kind ) whatsoever . the amount of drinking in this film be simply astounding and but may be historically accurate and i do not know . one thing that absolutely take away from the overall greatness of the film be it one dimensional depiction of anyone non white . any black or asian ( even the japanese general ) be utter flat cartoon and this be trouble especially in the context of an otherwise powerful anti racist message . perhaps if this have be make today such an error would not have be make . one other odd aspect of this series and which people find jar to various degree be that different actor fill major role in the first and second series . while both set of actor who play natalie and aaron jastrow be excellent and soon seem natural and i find the switch from jan michael vincent to hart bochner a byron henry totally distract from begin to end . mr. bochner and while talented and simply could not fill the inspired and natural reading of the role by jan michael vincent . i also find the switch in actor play adolph hitler distracting and but to a much less degree . in the wind of war and gunter meisner give a chilling and serious reading of the evil genius and but in war and remembrance and i find steven berkoff over the top and even clownish and reading of the fuher to be unfortunate . an excellent companion piece to this would be downfall ( der utergang ) and the film about hitler last day in the bunker feature an astonishing and courageous performance by the swiss actor bruno ganz a hitler . robert mitchum and despite be old than the character the role originally call for and be simply perfect a captain ( later admiral ) pug henry represent i be not overly familiar with him and be please to have find a new favorite . one other minor quibble be that some of the nazi have ridiculous colonel klinkish accent while others speak like oxford educate american and depend on how evil they be . this be silly and but easy to overlook give the overall greatness of the piece . i be a student of history and the historical accuracy in this piece be far beyond anything i have ever see in a work of fiction . there be a time commitment in watch this represent over 30 hour and all tell and but it be more than worth it . in fact and i plan to revisit this monumental and tour de force and this unbelievably touching and yet oddly uneven masterwork more than once . rent it . see it . love it . warn represent this be not for the innocent . unless you be ready to let your child start to let go of childhood and begin to ask very deep and very troubling and and very adult question do not let them watch it . this be absolutely guarantee to give young child nightmare and and very likely to seriously traumatize them .