Honest to God, I never really liked history lessons back in school. Although there actually might be some interesting stories which shaped the world today, learning through text books is definitely not the way to make students appreciate what had happened. I just can't stand those long texts and dull pictures, it's just....yuckk, I'll pass. If it wasn't for the secret notes prepared during the exam, I would have miserably flunked. My perception of history have then changed, right this moment.
I have just finished watching a 6-part documentary called Apocalypse: The Second World War. As you've guessed it, it's about the happenings surround WWII, from up rise of the great Nazi under the command of the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, the clash of titans between Germany and USSR (Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, basically all the famous names you've heard but could not care less), how the Allied troops get tangled in the war, as well as the conquest of the Pacific by the Japanese. The documentary was made using actual footage gathered during the war, colourised to add the extra ummph effect (which I think is just brilliant), add up an awesome score and top notch commentary and you got yourselves one hell of a story, way better than any depicted Hollywood flicks. It's just raw, uncensored, original, just the way history should be presented.
A few things left me thinking after watching it. One, how massive the scale of the war is. To think that a typical Hollywood war movie would cost easily 200-300 millions of dollars, which last for like 2 hours tops, compared to the actual war which lasted tenths of years, with ten times the scale, the cost is just unimaginable to the human brain. Two, the human cost of this great war. At least 50 million people have died, many of which are civillians, cities got annihilated just like some toy model construction project, tonnes of firepower used (which I have to admit, is so damn cool, I so like one those they called Stalin's Organ, basically a rocket launcher). Third, the brutality of the Nazis in realising its disposition of the Jews. I mean, you've heard about how brutal the Holocaust is but you can't just really digest on how bad it is? Watch this documentary and you'll truly understand the savage, the mindlessness, the brutality they have caused under the name of ideology. Fourth, to see how great leaders influence their followers until their fanaticism of the ideology is established. Lastly, how basic necessities can turn people into desperation. Just look at Japan's struggle for survival, which led to the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the conquest of the Pacific. Desperation is written all over the face of the Japanese back then.
How I wished my history lessons were taught just like this. You can't help but to appreciate your life better, and how it's important to put peace as the top priority. In the end in this kind of warfare, no party actually wins, and that I think is the most important lesson of all. Brilliant documentary, I even have recommended my colleagues to watch it.
Apocalypse: The Second World War airs on the National Geographic Channel (Astro channel 553), if I'm not mistaken at 2200hrs, Monday.
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