Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II
September brings multiple historic remembrances as we approach the anniversary of the end of World War II in 1945. August 6 and August 9 respectively mark the days of atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagaski, one of the most momentous and destructive in world history, with effects that still linger 80 years later. And, on August 14, we celebrate V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day, which marked the end of WWII.
In commemoration of 80 years since the end of World War II and in remembrance of the lives lost, we are airing new programming alongside encore presentations of select classics that illuminate the experiences of both Japanese and American people affected by the tolls of war. Even 80 years later, there are still opportunities to learn from the decisions made then and how the lives of survivors and their families are still affected today.
Check out WWII programming airing on our channels this month and historical dramas available with CET Passport in the list below:
Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories from World War II
Friday, August 1, at 10pm on ThinkTV16
Follow two friends, connected by family histories on opposite sides of WWII, as they set out to explore the lasting trauma of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Meet Japanese survivors who endure lifelong health complications and psychological scars and American veterans who struggle with radiation-related illnesses and PTSD. Watch a preview: https://watch.cetconnect.org/video/atomic-echoes-untold-stories-from-world-war-ii-trailer-ufhukp/.
Pictures From a Hiroshima Schoolyard
Friday, August 1, at 8pm on ThinkTV14
Saturday, August 2, at 8pm on ThinkTV16
Saturday, August 2, at 10pm on CET
Wednesday, August 6, at 5pm on CET
In 1995, a box was uncovered at the home of a parishioner at All Souls Church in Washington, D.C. Inside were nearly 50 colorful drawings created by elementary children in Japan, sent nearly 50 years earlier as a gift of thanks to donations from the church. Learn more: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/pictures-from-a-hiroshima-schoolyard/.
Atomic People
Monday, August 4, at 10pm on CET and ThinkTV16
Witness the firsthand testimony of some of the last “Hibakusha,” the term for atomic survivors, who were just children when the bombs were dropped. Through devastating personal recollections and archival footage, this is an invaluable record of the only people left on Earth to have survived a nuclear bomb. Watch a preview: https://watch.cetconnect.org/video/trailer-bmm79u/.
Learn more about the stories of the Hibakusha, including those featured in Atomic People, in this article from PBS: https://www.pbs.org/articles/hibakusha-stories-of-survivors-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki/.
American Experience “Victory in the Pacific”
Tuesday, August 5, at 9pm on CET and ThinkTV16
This two-hour documentary, which commemorated the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, examines the final months of the war from the perspectives of the Japanese and American civilians and soldiers. The special provides a glimpse into the decision-making in the waning months of the war for both sides. Learn more: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/pacific/.
PBS Passport offers a range of dramas that explore World War II through historical fiction and dramatized narratives. From Navy sailors fighting German U-boats to the Women’s Land Army fighting on the homefront, these series span multiple countries and groups of people, each contributing to the war in their own way. Check out five historical series below, available to stream now with CET Passport:
Atlantic Crossing on Masterpiece
When a European princess flees the Nazis with her three young children, she finds protection in America at the White House, where she steals the heart of the president. This epic, eight-episode drama is inspired by the real WWII relationship between Franklin Roosevelt and Norwegian Crown Princess Martha. Watch now with CET Passport: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/atlantic-crossing/.
Home Fires on Masterpiece
When a rural English town finds itself on the verge of WWII, two powerful women struggle to put aside their differences in The Women’s Institute and join forces amidst the chaos and uncertainty of wartime. Based on historian Julie Summers’ factual book Jambusters, this series is a heartwarming period drama. Watch now with CET Passport: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/home-fires/.
The Sinking of the Laconia
Trace the true story of the 1942 sinking of the liner Laconia by a German U-boat, told through the eyes of six survivors, alongside actions of the Germans, the British and the Americans. This two-part drama features a German national fleeing Nazi Germany, an officer aboard The Laconia and the U-boat Captain. Watch now with CET Passport: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/sinking-laconia/.
World on Fire on Masterpiece
Follow the intertwining fates of ordinary people in this adrenalized, emotionally gripping, and resonant WWII drama. Across two seasons, the series span multiple countries from the war-torn streets of Britain deep into Nazi Germany, the resistance within occupied France, and the brutal sands of the North African desert. Watch now with CET Passport: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/world-fire/.
Land Girls
Follow the lives, loves, highs, and lows of members of the Women’s Land Army working at the Hoxley Estate during WWII. As men fought on the battlefields, women from all walks of life worked the farms that fed the nation, doing their part to keep the home front running. Watch now with CET Passport: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/land-girls/.
You can watch these programs and much more when you get extended access to CET Passport. This exclusive membership is available to members who donate at least $60 a year or $5 a month. Learn more about how to unlock your Passport access today: https://watch.cetconnect.org/passport/learn-more/.
