Summary

• The TV shows based on World War II offered a variety of genres, from light-hearted sitcoms to intense dramas, captivating audiences worldwide.
• McHale's Navy, Catch-22, Hogan's Heroes - each unique in its portrayal of the war, resonated with viewers and left lasting impacts on television history.
• The Man in the High Castle, Das Boot, Band of Brothers - these powerful series provided alternate perspectives on WWII, shedding light on untold stories.

The Second World War was one of the most significant conflicts that the world has ever seen and has been depicted on screen countless times in many acclaimed television series. With so many different countries caught up in this global conflict that involved all the great powers of the world, World War II has acted as the setting for dramas, sitcoms, and even alternative histories that represented the themes and ideas that war conjured up. A devastating conflict full of unspeakable tragedy, the TV shows based around World War II ranked among some of the best series ever produced.

From light-hearted sitcoms about Navy men on a Pacific Island, like McHale’s Navy, to intense and realistic dramas that explored the shocking nature of battle, like The Pacific, the TV shows based around World War II were mostly categorized by their sheer variety. As a topic that got to the very heart of human nature and the seeming inevitability of war and conflict, it’s no surprise that, almost 80 years since the war ended, it still had the power to fascinate viewers. There were plenty of incredible TV shows based around World War II.

8 McHale’s Navy (1962 – 1966)

McHale’s Navy ran for four seasons

McHale’s Navy presented a light-hearted look at life in the U.S. Navy during World War II that focused on Quinton McHale (Ernest Borgnine), the commanding officer of the U.S. Navy PT boat PT-73, who was stationed at the fictional Pacific Island base of Taratupa. After the base was heavily bombed by the Japanese, just 18 out of 50 naval officers survived and McHale’s Navy followed the misadventures of those left behind. A highly beloved series, McHale’s Navy spawned three feature films and even a 1997 feature remake of the original series.

With a highly optimistic tone, many viewers may be surprised to learn that McHale’s Navy started off as a one-hour drama rather than a 30-minute sitcom. Although the tone of the first episode of McHale’s Navy was completely different from everything that came after it, it remained the official pilot for the beloved World War II series. McHale’s Navy ran for four seasons between 1963 and 1966.

7 Catch-22 (2019)

Catch-22 was a six-episode miniseries

The 1961 novel Catch-22 by Joseph Heller was one of the most significant books of the 20th century and was known for its unconventional structure that played with the chronology of the series. Catch-22 was adapted for television in 2019 in a highly acclaimed miniseries that captured the novel’s presentation of the horrors of war while maintaining its satirical bite. Catch-22 had previously received a 1970 film adaptation by Mike Nicholas, but the longer form of television allowed for much more of the essence of the book to be captured.

Focused on the United States Army Air Forces bombardier Capt. John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) and his airmen during the Second World War, Catch-22 explored the contractionary bureaucracy of the Air Force, which meant that any requests to abort a mission on the grounds of fear were to be dismissed. Beautifully shot, thoughtfully written, and highly engrossing, Catch-22 had an incredible cast that made this a worthy adaptation of its source material.

6 Hogan’s Heroes (1965 – 1971)

Hogan’s Heroes ran for six seasons

As an American sitcom that focused set in a prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi during the Second World War, Hogan’s Heroes had a highly dark premise for a light-hearted comedy series. However, despite this innate contradiction, Hogan’s Heroes worked well as the prisoners conducted espionage and sabotage campaigns right under the noses of their enemy captors. With 168 episodes, Hogan’s Heroes was the longest-running American series for a show based on World War II.

While it may seem in poor taste to make a series based on those living in a German prisoner-of-war camp, Hogan’s Heroes was a spoof of World War II movies and media, rather than the actual events themselves. A commentary on films like The Great Escape and The Longest Day, almost 70 years since it was first released, Hogan’s Heroes may be slightly removed from its original context. A major success at the time of its release, Hogan’s Heroes deserved to be ed among the best World War II TV shows.

5 The Man In The High Castle (2015 – 2019)

The Man in the High Castle ran for four seasons

Based on the dystopian novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle was an alternative history story that depicted a parallel universe where the Axis powers of Nazi and the Empire of Japan won World War II. Set in a version of America where the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Washington D.C. by the Germans, The Man in the High Castle was an interesting commentary on the nature of war and its long-lasting consequences. While many things were changed from the original novel, The Man in the High Castle forced its own identity and stood as a unique conflict-based television series.

As the most watched original Amazon series at the time of its release (via Deadline), The Man in the High Castle was unlike anything else on TV as it fleshed out its dystopian landscape over four seasons. With plenty of twists and turns, The Man in the High Castle was an outstanding drama that was a scary projection of what was possible when abhorrent political beliefs were allowed to take over society. An alternative reflection of history but also a warning for the future, The Man in the High Castle was an excellent series inspired by World War II.

4 ‘Allo ‘Allo! (1982 – 1992)

‘Allo ‘Allo! ran for nine seasons

‘Allo ‘Allo! was a British sitcom that focused on a French café owner in the town of Nouvion during the German occupation of in World War II. Initially created as a parody of wartime dramas, ‘Allo ‘Allo! featured stories that involved a dishonest German officer, French resistencance fighters, trapped British airmen, and the café owner concealing his affair with a waitress from his wife. Full of over-the-top farce, memorable catchphrases, and cultural clichés, ‘Allo ‘Allo! was a major success and ran for nine seasons.

‘Allo ‘Allo! differed from many sitcoms from its era as it featured an overarching storyline rather than simple stand-alone stories. A satirical sitcom that poked fun at everything and everyone, ‘Allo ‘Allo! had no issues leaning into cultural stereotypes as characters had theatrically over-the-top foreign accents to distinguish the many nationalities who encountered one another. A true spoof of the more absurd aspects of war-based media, ‘Allo ‘Allo! even returned in 2007 for a one-off special that featured many of its characters reprising their roles.

3 Das Boot (2018 – Present)

Das Boot has had four seasons

The German series Das Boot acted as a sequel to the acclaimed 1981 film, which followed the German submarine crew of the U-96 as they set out on a hazardous patrol during the Second World War. This follow-up series focused on an inexperienced U-boat crew trying to survive a secret mission, the torn allegiance of those caught up in the war, and the difficulties of growing opposition to Adolf Hitler across Europe. With themes of mutiny, claustrophobia, and the idea of the hunter becoming the hunted, Das Boot was a gripping series that lived up to its acclaimed predecessor.

Das Boot has received widespread acclaim from critics internationally but received some pushback in due to a perception that it was not a wholly accurate presentation of the Second World War (via The Times.) Through its strong cast and well-acted storylines, Das Boot was a tense thriller period series that explored life both on and off the U-boat. While the series often paid homage to the original 1981 film, Das Boot also forged its own identity over several seasons.

2 The Pacific (2010)

The Pacific was a 10-episode miniseries

As a companion series to Band of Brothers that focused on the Marine Corps’ actions in the Pacific War, The Pacific followed three Marines in different regiments and showcased the difficulties of conflict through their eyes. Telling the stories of the real Marines Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone, The Pacific was an acclaimed series produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman for HBO. Costing over $200 million to make, The Pacific was the most expensive miniseries ever produced at the time (via HR.)

Simultaneously visually stunning and truly horrifying, The Pacific was not for the faint of heart as it vividly presented World War II through focused and individual stories. With a brilliant cast of impeccable talent, The Pacific did not overtake its companion series in of quality but stood as an incredible achievement in and of itself. An unflinching glimpse of the Pacific War, which saw the Americans pitted against the Japanese, The Pacific was a powerful representation of a side to the Second World War that had been depicted far less frequently than conflicts with Nazi .

1 Band of Brothers (2001)

Band of Brothers was a 10-episode miniseries

The greatest TV show that focused on World War II was Band of Brothers, a highly acclaimed series that has consistently ranked among the best television shows ever produced. Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who had previously collaborated on Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers dramatized the history of the "Easy" Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. By utilizing well-written and three-dimensional characters, Band of Brothers depicted the horror and struggles of war like no series before it.

Band of Brothers was full of scenes that were basically perfect as it depicted soldiers' experiences in boot camp, the Normandy landings on D-Day, right up to the end of the war. With a legacy as one of the most acclaimed shows of all time, the achievement of Band of Brothers has yet to be replicated when it came to the depiction of World War II on television. As each episode began with interviews with real survivors of the war, Band of Brothers was only made more effective by the way it blended its dramatization with true s.

Sources: Deadline, The Times, Hollywood Reporter