The Unknown War (1979)

Immerse yourself in the riveting 20-episode documentary, The Unknown War, a raw and unfiltered exploration of the World War II conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. This detailed historical narrative is born from the companion book written by esteemed New York Times reporter, Harrison Salisbury. Each episode, crafted in a format reminiscent of The World at War, runs for approximately 52 minutes, promising an in-depth journey into the heart of battle. The Unknown War is a woven tapestry of over 3.5 million feet of film footage, diligently captured by Soviet camera crews from the war's inception on June 22, 1941, to the climactic Soviet march into Berlin in May 1945. A majority of these gripping visuals have remained unseen outside of this documentary, making it an extraordinary viewing experience. Guided by the captivating narration of Burt Lancaster, the series embarks on a historical journey through chapters including "June 22, 1941," "The Battle for Moscow," "The Siege of Leningrad," and "To the East." It courageously ventures through the chilling "Defense of Stalingrad," the breath-taking "World's Greatest Tank Battle-Kursk," the harsh "War in the Arctic," and the high-stakes "War in the Air." The series also delves into the underground "Partisans: The Guerilla War," the naval "Battle of the Seas," the strategic "Battle of the Caucasus," and the victorious "Liberation of Ukraine" and "Byelorussia." From the "Balkans to Vienna," "The Liberation of Poland," to the alliance with "The Allies," each chapter further unravels the intricacies of the war. The series builds up to its climax with "The Battle of Berlin," and "The Last Battle of the Unknown War," before finally paying tribute to "A Soldier of the Unknown War." This engaging documentary promises to be an enlightening journey, unveiling a side of World War II seldom witnessed before.

The Unknown War is a documentary show featuring Burt Lancaster.

The Unknown War is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV.

It is also possible to buy The Unknown War on Amazon Video and Google Play Movies.