Band Of Brothers...What does everybody think?

Hi guys i am planning a lesson about the americans fighting in europe and was thinking should i show my class an episode of band of brothers? and if so which do you think would be most suitable.

 

Carentan, it shows the Brutality of street fighting on a smaller scale.

Then perhaps you could discuss Urban combat versus Open Combat.

 

i supose thanks!

 

I view Band of brothers as a study in contrasting styles of leadership and the evolution of leadership.

 

Hi there, i'd also suggest that if you can? show them the 1949 classic: Battleground-which has Van Johnson and many other stars in it. This movie also uses the "real deal" as extras. Another great movie that shows Amis fighting in Europe would have to be: Go For Broke-also w/ Van Johnson in the lead. Also, if you don't HAVE to have a great movie showing combat, but uses the "real deal" in both extras-German and American, as well as vehicles, weapons, uniforms and insignias and such-I highly suggest showing: Decision Before Dawn. The rubble in the bombed-out cities is the real deal. Finally, an excellent one to show that shows American-I think only in Italy? is: The Story of G.I. Joe-which stars Robert Mitchum and Burgess Merideth (as famed and beloved War Correspondant: Ernie Pyle) the ruined cities in this movie also are the real deal. This movie was filmed literally days after some of the actions presented in it.

Also, even though people complain abou this movie, this one is a classic one in which many of the extras actually fought each other in this battle and the Senio Military Adviser in this movie was I think General Meinrad von Lauchert. The movie is the 1960s classic: Battle of the Bulge w/ Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Hans-Christian Blech etc. This movie is mocked because they don't use an actual Brigade of Tiger Tanks-and use ""Tigers"' that were from the Spanish Army. Otherwise, this movie is ONLY a generalization of the events just before and during, the: Battle of the Bulge.

 

What age group do you teach?

 

To Hell and Back might also be a good choice.

 

I like Band of Brothers because it not only recalls the experiences of the men of Easy Company, but it gives an excellent insight into the nature of battle and the changes a unit experiences while being on the frontline. The seventh episode I think captured the latter aspect very well, trough the use of Lipton as a concience.

 

I think that you should consider a montage sort of thing, using parts of various movies to illustrate your point of instruction. You could give a short briefing before each segment, then a Q & A after the viewing. That way you could keep some knuckleheads from falling asleep in the back of the class....

For example;

"The Big Red 1" and/or "Sahara" for North Africa
"Patton" for Sicily
"Darby's Rangers" and/or "The Devil's Brigade" for Italy
The opening scene from "Saving Private Ryan" for Normandy
"Kelly's Heroes" for Northern France
"The Band of Brothers for Bastogne"
The jump scene from "A Bridge Too" Far for Holland
"The Bridge at Remagen" and/or "When Trumpets Fade" for the fight in Germany

Just an idea....

 

it will be year 9's (13/14 year olds)

 

Thanks for the support Lou. Do I get to sit in the front of the class now?

 

Oh thanks.

 

I usually agree with your posts I read but to suggest anyone show Battle of the Bulge in a history class is totally off base. Bulge is highly inaccurate not just because of the use of the wrong tanks. The story is pure fiction, accurate portrayal of the events is non-existant. Heck the "big" battle of German and American tanks takes place in a desert with scrub and tumble weed. And the reason for the American's "sacrificing" their armor to run the Germans out of fuel is just BS. Want a Bulge movie go with Battleground. I have also shown a Bridge Too Far before. You have to talk the kids through some parts but overall pretty good with a mix of action, strategy and tells the story with more accuracy. As far as Band of Brothers, Carentan or the episode where they fight in the Bulge after Patton reaches Bastogne are probably the best.

 

Most movies of that time period did not have accurate tanks. Plus, I don't think 13 year olds are going to care/notice the tanks aren't realistic. I also don't think the 13 year olds are going to notice whatever small mistakes the filmmakers made (honestly I haven't seen the movie for so long I don't even remember what they could have been). As far as I can remember, the Americans were fighting the Germans in Belgium in 1944 in the winter. Sounds pretty much right to me, I doubt the kids will pick up more than that. It is not a documentary, they may have taken some small liberties for the sake of entertainment. I think it is a good movie with good acting, it was actually one of my favorite at that age.

 

Wonderful movie, Great to enjoy if you ignore the details.

 

Cheers Tackle, I also agre3e with your post and also would go with Battleground for another choice depicting the Battle of the Bulge. The reason why I like the movie with the same name as the events are because a lot of it really does have historical accuracies but that are not exactly coherant but still does convey the essence of the actual events. i.e. The malmedy Massacre is one, the fall of Ambleve, is another. What I don't like about the film but only because it would have had to have been a mini-series-was because too much was "cut-out" that I believe should have been in it. One thing I really find most irritating about the movie is that the Col Hessler character should never have been used-which is a cross between Col. Peiper and a pure fictional character. I think they should have had a Col Peiper character since he was a big part of that Battle-if you know what I mean? ;-)) I also wish they would have at least had some sort fo mentioning of those Combat Commands-and Col Dave Pergrins men and defense of the area they were deployed. But, seeing as it was only a fictional movie loosely based on factual events, I will always give it a free get out of jail card-and only watch it for entertainment value. And besides, the cast is an excellent cast ;-)) I love Telly Savalas's Sgt. Guffy character as well as Bronsons Major Wallinski (SP?) character and of course Hans-Christian Blech's Old Sergeant character.

Believe me, if I were a teacher and decided to show Battle of the Bulge in my classs, I could easily come up with some good questions to ask the students-which would also prove to me if they were really paying attention to anything-let alone, I would also bring in some actual items that they could see on hand-that were of likewise items you saw in the movie. I'd start with a real Party banner, various awards, tunic, caps, insignia, and photos. ;-))

The tanks thing couldn't be helped, just look at the ones they borrowed from the Spanish Army when they made PAtton ;-))

Take care--Carl.

 

Hi,

Band of Brothers is a great series. I Know! We based our tour on that series. There are some things that are not correct in the series but in general it is a very realistic series. I was able to compare the series with actual witnesses.
In my humble opinion it doesn't make sense to show only 1 episode. You need to show them all because the whole series is 1 story. In order to understand episode 10 you need to have seen ep.9 and so on. The moods of these men were affected by the battles they had been in. for example, by the time they went to Holland they were other soldiers than in Normandy. I hope you understand my point.
I think if you want to tell your class about WWII, you should talk to them about 1 subject. Then it makes sense to talk about Operation Overlord. Saving Private Ryan will give you a pretty good idea about the battle conditions.

Thierry Cornet