Which WWII in Europe movie should I show 8th graders?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 12:58:50 -0400

First post on the site:

During the unit I teach on World War 2, I show my students some movies on WW2. While I teach South Carolina history to 8th graders, and therefore only focus on the impact of WW2 on the state and vice versa, I try to show some of the war to the students. I show them 5 movies, one on the war at sea in the Pacific (Midway), on land in the Pacific (Hacksaw Ridge, edited), at sea in Europe (U-571), on land in Europe (formerly The Longest Day), and on the Holocaust (Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place).

As black and white films rarely interest them (I forced them to watch Sergeant York for WWI), and The Longest Day is more of several stories than one for them to follow, I'm considering changing it out. It has to fit inside of 3 hours.

Ideas?

The Longest Day
Pros-multiple viewpoints, enemy viewpoints, historically accurate (to the highest degree available), important date in history.
Cons-loooong, multiple stories to follow.

To Hell and Back
Pros-actor plays himself, story of a sharecropper (important in SC history), short, good "hard work" values
Cons-doesnt show a "big picture" or WW2, squad-level view

Patton
Pros-overview of African, Italian, and western Europe theaters
Cons-long

So, Patton, To Hell and Back, or The Longest Day?

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Mar 20 at 2019 1:15 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:15:13 -0400

Welcome to RP. I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions from the community. I'm not sure what is school appropriate in your district but I saw Saving Private Ryan in the theater when I was exactly that age and it had a profound impact on me. First the magnitude and ferocity of the operation was well illustrated for me at that age, as was the concept of selfless service and sacrifice. While not a "movie" an episode or two from Band of Brothers might be good. Personally I think Longest Day and Patton are both long and dated.
Of the choices you provided I'd go with Hell and Back. Audie Murphy playing himself makes the movie a little more tangible and I think the squad level view is actually a Pro because an 8th grader may not grasp the big picture dynamics of WWII but they'll certainly understand a small group of soldiers fighting together.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 20 at 2019 1:21 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:21:46 -0400

The Longest Day

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 1:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:31:51 -0400

I would go with A Bridge too Far. It's impossible to find one movie that covers WW2 because it was so immense, covered so many theaters, and there were so many perspectives from different countries. Most of the ones we think of only focus on fighting Germany in Europe and the entire Pacific, Africa, Naval, Italy, and Japan and Indochina scope is excluded.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 20 at 2019 1:32 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:32:16 -0400

I'm a big fan of Patton and it has enough action to keep the kids interested. Audie Murphy is one of my Heroes, but first part of the movie about his early life is slow at best. I like the Longest Day, but it's black and white and very long. A Band of Brothers deserves consideration and I think you could break it down if you didn't want to show it all. D-Day, Market Garden, Bastogne, or Bastogne to VE day could be separated easily.
If you are interested in the War from the other side, I suggest Cross of Iron with James Coburn.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Mar 20 at 2019 2:00 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:00:00 -0400

Big Red One

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 2:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:28:46 -0400

First episode of Band of Brothers.
This was shown at Fort Knox during my Captain's career course.

https://youtu.be/amJ7IpZgOmg

MSL201 Lesson 07a Video Easy Companys Assault on an Artillery Battery

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 2:31 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:31:53 -0400

To hell and back is too campy. What he actually did to earn the Medal of Honor was way more than what the movie shows.

https://youtu.be/MWIcVfl5g60

Audie Murphy Tank Scene

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 2:32 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:32:10 -0400

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member The best WWII movie under three hours is Saving Private Ryan. Have you considered asking veterans to come speak to the class? It might be hard to find WWII veterans, but you could have veterans from other wars talk when you cover other wars.
Welcome to RallyPoint.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 2:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:33:54 -0400

Patton is great but I don't know about the attention span and the vulgarity and with people being so politically correct you will have the ACLU and extreme leftists try to sue you saying you are trying to brainwash kids to be ROTC graduates.LOL

https://youtu.be/CCA6uxQE-bw

George C. Scott Best Actor for " Patton "

Scott's greatest Role as General George S. Patton. Never to be duplicated.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 2:40 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:40:20 -0400

I would try to buy the used Band of Brothers DVD set or new for under $40 online and maybe show parts of the episode. I think this would be better than just a movie that could not be as realistic as this one. Here is more of the same scene that I was mentioning earlier without the ROTC comments in the video.
These episodes are about 50 minutes long so it'd be perfect and not be too boring for the class. Just my opinion

https://youtu.be/aCo6Dh08ayQ

Band of Brothersthe first battle

BOB

Response by PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM made Mar 20 at 2019 4:07 PM

PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:07:51 -0400

You have opened up a Can of worms here Brother. The decision needs to be made if you concentrate on the ETO or the ATO, then do you look at the Army engagements, marine battles or naval battles. Each have important aspects especially where South Carolina is Concerned. Fort Jackson, MCRD Paris Island and Charleston Naval Base. Do not forget 30 Seconds over Tokyo, Jimmy Doolittle Started bringing his crews together at Columbia metropolitan Airport which at the time was the Columbia Army Extension (CAE) I was with the Crash Crew there for 20 years, So many possibilities. In Harms Way covers Naval battles Marines and even a little Army action too. They Were Expendable is always a hit but one I think would be a Dynamite hit and teach them about the real sacrifice in war would be Saving Private Ryan. The realism of the Amphibious Landing will teach them about the wastefulness of WAR but the rest of the movie will instill into them about Honor and Esprit de Corps and the meaning of DUTY and why it is so important to bring RYAN back home. You might want to touch base about the Sullivans how their parents did not have that option when the USS Juneau CL-52 went down.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Mar 20 at 2019 4:56 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:56:29 -0400

"Inglourious Basterds"!!!

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 20 at 2019 5:37 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:37:16 -0400

Don't. Hollywood productions about the military are full of historical inaccuracy, technical inaccuracy and "social messaging." It doesn't matter from what decade you choose.

My suggestion:

Prep
_Every student read a DIFFERENT book about WWII from one of the professional military reading lists.
_Every student prepare a 1 minute book review and something they learned
_Every student write three questions they have about WWII,
_You screen and select a proritized list of questions,
_See if the local news will put out a call for copies of personal memoirs and correspondence by South Carolinian WWII Vets.
_Look up Medal of Honor Citations and other Commendations for bravery under fire.
_Ask ask a handful of combat veterans, spouses of combat veterans, and children of combat veterans (doesn't matter which war) to sit in on a three hour round table discussion.

Presentation
Introduce guests.
One student gives oral book review and lesson learned, reads a gallantry citation, and a piece of correspondence.
One guest offers thought on what student said
ask a pre-selected question and let the discussion run its course.

repeat until three hours is done.

Other than that I'd recommend "The Band of Brothers" or "The Pacific" or "Francis, the Talking Mule"

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Mar 20 at 2019 6:09 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:09:36 -0400

This is going to go against the conventional wisdom, but why not show Das Boot, Stalingrad or The Bridge? These are all excellent movies and show the other side of WW II. The Bridge is a 1957 German film that is about the final days of WW II when local members of the Hitler Youth are impressed into service and given the mission of defending a bridge. Or, try the 1969 movie The Battle of Britain.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 6:32 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:32:25 -0400

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member In the 8th grade, we were shown Schindler’s list. I’d recommend the same.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2019 10:34 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 22:34:22 -0400

Different option.
https://www.learningliftoff.com/great-movies-for-us-history-world-war-ii/

Great Movies for Teaching US History: World War II - Learning Liftoff

Use these great films to inspire interest in American History. This part in particular focuses on World War II.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Mar 20 at 2019 11:04 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 23:04:43 -0400

8th grade appropriate movies are;
Empire of the Sun
Life is Beautiful
The Tin Drum
Hope and Glory
Heroes of Telemark
Saboteur
Thirty Seconds over Tokyo
The Stranger
The Third Man
Victory at Sea
The Diary of Anne Frank
Judgement at Nuremberg
PT 109

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2019 10:41 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 10:41:35 -0400

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and advice!

I've not seen A Bridge too Far or The Big Red One, so I'll be watching those as well as the others mentioned. Band of Brothers could be good for some students, but I can't imagine the flack I'd get for showing it, unedited, to other students.

I like the idea of showing the war from the other side. But I might tweak it a little. Since I'm showing 4 movies (Pacific-Army, Pacific-Navy, Europe-Navy, Europe-Army), I may switch out my Europe-Navy movie, U-571, for Das Boot.

I will have already taught the material for WWII, the movies are the "we're-almost-to-Spring-Break-but-your-brain-is-shot-so-here-are-some-movies" teaching. Before they get to the movies, they do have to answer questions and research veterans' experiences.

Since it's South Carolina History, I've already taught on the Doolittle Raiders (who trained at Columbia) and Tuskegee Airmen (who trained at Waterboro, SC), as well as MCRD Parris Island, Ft. Jackson, and Charleston Navy Yard as required by our standards. (Hadn't thought about In Harm's Way instead of Midway, being my Pacific-Navy movie). Victory at Sea would also be good, but long for 3 hours.

I'm hesitant to show Saving Private Ryan. Though it fits in place of The Longest Day....many agree that Tom Hank's Captain Miller is based on Major Thomas Howie (The Major of St. Lo), who is from the small South Carolina town I teach in. I've already spent a day on just MAJ Howie, including clips from Saving Private Ryan and his family members coming in to talk to the class. Earlier in the year, a play was put on in our Opera House about MAJ Howie (extra-credit opportunity); I don't want them to get too used to his story of service and sacrifice, but to still be in awe.

Thanks again to everyone!

Response by COL Jon Lopey made Mar 29 at 2019 10:05 PM

COL Jon Lopey — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 22:05:42 -0400

Great question - Right off hand, my favorites would be Saving Private Ryan, A Walk in the Sun, Band of Brothers (all episodes are good); Battleground (101st at Battle of Bulge); Battle of the Bulge, and 12 O'clock High are classics as well. I also like The Best Years of our Lives because it describes the struggles that service members face when they return home from war. I like the Longest Day as well - It has great actors and some good history. A Bridge Too Far is a good movie. You can't go wrong with Patton either. To Hell and Back is an excellent story, based on fact, about Audie Murphy, a likely "unlikely" hero of WW II. He was rejected by the Navy and USMC. He was only 115 lbs. when he joined the 3rd ID and finished as the most-decorated Soldier of the war, at least at that time. He only had a sixth grade education but was a great leader, Soldier and the epitome of the quintessential warrior. COL L

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Mar 30 at 2019 12:33 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 00:33:52 -0400

Schindler's list

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Mar 30 at 2019 12:34 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 00:34:33 -0400

Dirty dozen

Response by SSgt John Sohm made Mar 31 at 2019 6:34 PM

SSgt John Sohm — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 18:34:02 -0400

What about the air war? How about 12 O'clock High for the strategic bombing campaign. The Battle of Britain (one of the most important battles in Europe).
I also vote for A Bridge Too Far.

Response by MSgt Currie C. made Apr 2 at 2019 2:16 PM

MSgt Currie C. — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:16:22 -0400

"Why we Fight".

Response by PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM made Apr 8 at 2019 3:42 PM

PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:42:13 -0400

Cdr. Chaps, If you ever get to WWI and want to do a wonderful class Do not forget about the Gratitude Train, and the Box Car that was in Columbia that is now in Bishopville. The French narrow gauge box cars that carried 40 soldiers or 8 horses to various battlefields in WWI and then later the NAZI's used many to carry the Poles and Jews from the various ghettos to the Concentration camps. After the war when the US sent over 400 box cars of food and other supplies to the French, the French send the US 49 of those same Boxcars to the US once for ech state at the time and one to be shared by Washington DC and Hawaii those Box Cars were kept up by the 40 & 8 or the La Society. WWi veterans who actually rode on those cattle cars. The history is very rich and quite meaningful. The City of Bishopville has done a memorial for their favorite Son, a MOH awardee from WWi and the Boxcar right on Main Street.

Response by 1LT Voyle Smith made Jul 30 at 2021 9:21 AM

1LT Voyle Smith — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 09:21:25 -0400

I vote for Patton.