Best history documentaries?

[Mr. Republican]

What are the best history documentaries? I've heard the one about the Cuban missile crisis "Thirteen days" is supposed to be good. Anyone know of any other good documentaries?

 

[Kafka2]

Absolutely no contest.

"The world at war". The definitive TV history of WW2 narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier, featuring original interviews with Speer, Donitz and many other key protagonists.

 

[Mr. Republican]

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Stapel]

@Kafka2,

Is that a serial? or just one piece? Can I get it somewhere? I've never heard of it, but it seems VERY interesting!

 

[Kafka2]

It's a monster. I've got it on DVD- 4 double-disc sets totally covering the 24-hour serial. Amazon stock it and it's a big-seller.

 

[Mr. Republican]

My order is being processed as we speak! Sounds great from the descriptions I've read of it.

 

[Lefty Scaevola]

You want to see a documentary re-eactment more chilling than any horror movie? "The Wansee conference" (made by BBC, IIRC) The dputy chiefs, staff, and bureaucrats of some Third Reich departments plaaning the nuts and bolts of the Holocaust.

 

[Pangur Bán]

"Byzantium: a Lost Civilization", by the appropriately named John Romer - very beautiful, if it charms you

"Rise and Fall of the Spartans", more than 3 hours long - brilliant; the historians interviewed, like Cartledge and Kagan, are the best about

"History Of World War II", episode 1 is very penetrating

"The Day The Universe Changed", by James Burke

"War and Civilization", a must see

 

[MrPresident]

"The Wansee conference"

That was called Conspiracy over here.

I would recommend History of Britain by Simon Schama, if only so you could understand a brilliant parody of it by Dead Ringers. Also Nazis - Warning from History is excellent.

 

[Mr. Republican]

Thanks for the great recommendations everyone!