Watch with free trial
Sign in
World War II With Tom Hanks
World War II With Tom Hanks

World War II With Tom Hanks

—Exploring WWII from Germany's invasion of Poland through the atomic age and examining pivotal battles, wartime leaders like Churchill and Roosevelt and the human cost of total war.
1 seasonDocumentary, HistoryTV-PG
Essential planBundle+ plan
Watch with free trial
Compare plans
HISTORY channel logo
7-day free trial (new users only), then $25 + tax per month.
Cancel anytime. See terms.

Watch Now

Season 120 of 20 Episodes

  • In September 1939, Germany invades Poland, setting the stage for the most destructive war in history.

  • After toppling the Netherlands and Belgium, Nazi Germany pushes further west; the Allies scramble to support France as Churchill is forced to defend Britain from the skies and FDR rushes to mobilize wartime production.

  • Examine the story of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's surprise invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the largest and costliest land offensive in human history.

  • Japan escalates their war in China, drawing increasing U.S. sanctions and widespread outrage; driven by resource shortages and military ideology, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in a move that reshapes the course of World War II.

  • Examine how America's battle to control the seas against the German U-boats in the Atlantic and Japan's navy in the Pacific turns the tide of the war.

  • After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces sweep across Southeast Asia; on Guadalcanal, United States Marines are given the bloody task of stopping their relentless advance.

  • As Hitler's reach extends beyond Germany and darkness descends on Europe, his hateful rhetoric leads to anti-Jewish persecution and ultimately, genocide.

  • The first joint U.S.-British offensive of the war, thousands of inexperienced U.S. troops and their untested leader Eisenhower, face off against the hardened German Afrika Korps and the infamous Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

  • Behind the fierce frontline clashes of WWII, a hidden battle rages - one of espionage, deception, and codebreaking; in rural England, a group of brilliant academics work to crack Germany's unbreakable Enigma Code and change the course of the war.

  • In Operation Blue, the German Army fights to take Soviet oil fields and the city of Stalingrad, becoming one of the deadliest battles ever fought and a major turning point on the Eastern Front.

  • The Allies hope to quickly penetrate the Nazi Reich via Italy but instead endure a months-long slog with devastating results.

  • Allied air forces engage in a fierce and costly battle with the German Luftwaffe over the skies of Europe.

  • The Allies undertake Operation Overlord, a complicated and massive military invasion, to liberate Occupied France and open a true second front in Western Europe.

  • The Allies and Japan clash in the jungles and plains of Asia, the "forgotten theater" of World War II, as America struggles to bring the fight to Tokyo's door.

  • As the tide begins to turn against the Axis powers, the leaders of Germany and Japan deploy opposite strategies on their home fronts.

  • Resistance to Nazi occupation and oppression is a constant throughout the war, with results both triumphant and devastating.

  • The Pacific campaign reaches a brutal and bloody fever pitch from 1944 to 1945.

  • The war in Europe reaches a climax as Allied armies advance towards Berlin and Hitler orders his people to fight to the last man.

  • The most terrible weapon ever created will change the course of the war in the Pacific.

  • The end of the second world war and the dawn of the nuclear age see its two great victors go from allies to adversaries.
World War II With Tom Hanks

More about World War II With Tom Hanks

Exploring WWII from Germany's invasion of Poland through the atomic age and examining pivotal battles, wartime leaders like Churchill and Roosevelt and the human cost of total war.

Starring

Tom Hanks

Subscribe to Enjoy 70+ Channels

Watch and record live TV with a Philo subscription

One Subscription.
Endless Entertainment.
Unlock live TV, binge-worthy shows, hit movies, and more. Starting at $25/month.
View plans
  • The Pacific War in Color
  • The Great War
  • WWII's Most Daring Raids
  • World War II in Color
  • Race to Victory: WWII Pacific
  • WWII Battles in Color
  • Battle of Okinawa in Color
  • Fall of Japan: In Color
  • Hitler's Secret Bomb
  • D-Day: The Unheard Tapes
  • Love After Lockup
  • SpongeBob SquarePants
  • The First 48
  • Tyler Perry's House of Payne
  • The Golden Girls
  • Fatal Attraction
  • 90 Day Fiancé
  • For My Man
  • Martin
  • Everybody Loves Raymond

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Philo is a live TV streaming service that offers two plans to fit your entertainment needs:

    Essential ($25/month): 70+ live channels and over 75,000 movies and shows on-demand. New users get a 7-day free trial!

    Bundle+ ($33/month): Includes all the channels and entire streaming library available in the Essential plan, the entire AMC+ library, and access to HBO Max Basic with Ads plan and discovery+ included.

    Both plans: offer 1-year unlimited cloud DVR, let you stream on up to 3 devices at once, create up to 10 profiles, and cancel anytime with no contract.

    Free Channels: Not ready to subscribe? You can also enjoy Free Channels with no credit card required—simply create your account and start watching.

  • Yes! New users that sign up for the Essential plan can try it free for 7 days. You can explore our channels, features, and content before your subscription begins. No contract required—cancel anytime before your trial ends with no charges.

    • An email address
    • A future payment method
    • A broadband internet connection
    • A supported device
    Philo devices
    Web, iPhone & iPad, Android phones & tablets, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV, VIZIO TV, LG TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Chromecast via Android
  • Yes! You can record an unlimited amount of live or upcoming content to your cloud DVR and save them for up to a year. No equipment needed!
    Save
  • Nope! No hardware is required, ever. Philo's DVR is already built into the app, so there's nothing to plug in, set up, or pay extra for.

    With an Essential or Bundle+ subscription, you get unlimited DVR storage included, and your recordings are saved for a full year. If you're watching with the Free Channels, recordings are saved for 30 days.

  • Yes! You can enjoy tons of premium television and movies by upgrading your Philo subscription plan with add-ons.

    Here is a list of our available add-ons:

    • HBO Max Standard (ad-free): Watch HBO Originals and hit movies ad-free for $13 more per month. Live sports included (in HBO Max app).
    • Movies & More: Watch award-winning films, cult classics, celebrity stories, documentaries, and more - for $3 more per month.
    • AMC+ (ad-free): Enjoy ad-free access to the entire AMC+ library for $4 more per month.
    • MGM+ (ad-free): Stream thousands of the latest hits, fan favorites, original series, documentaries, and comedy specials for an additional $8/month.
    • ALLBLK (ad-free): Stream original series, independent films, nostalgic Black cinema, reality, and lively stage plays for $7 more per month.
    • Hallmark+ (ad-free): Watch exclusive originals, reality shows, rom-coms, cozy mysteries, heartfelt dramas, and beloved holiday movies for an additional $8/month.
    • STARZ (ad-free): Enjoy today’s hits, classic movies, and bold original series for an additional $12/month.
  • HBO Max:
    • Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.
    • Go to your Philo account page and follow the steps to activate your HBO Max Basic with Ads plan account.

    discovery+:
    • Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.
    • Go to your Philo account page and follow the steps to activate your discovery+ account.