WW2 show contains ‘one of the greatest scenes in TV history’

For over two decades a ground-breaking World War II drama has captivated audiences with its depiction of the invasion, earning a reputation as one of the most accurate portrayals of the conflict on screen.

And historian Dan Snow has singled out that show, Band of Brothers, for its meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the dramatic D-Day sequence. He said: “This is one of the great scenes, I think, in television history.

They’ve gone through enormous lengths to make sure it’s pretty accurate, they’ve put the cast through the type of tactical training these men would have gone through, the sound design, the weapons are accurate.

“They fired World War II weapons to create an accurate soundscape, and it shows the importance of small units of well-trained, well-led men, each playing their part on D-Day and it’s the sum total of all those small actions that meant that D-Day was a success and the Allies suffered less casualties than they’d feared when they hit those beaches.”

The series, created by and Tom Hanks, chronicles the story of Easy Company, a unit of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, as they face the trials of training and combat during the war.

Upon its release in 2001, Band of Brothers was lauded for its authenticity, and many praised its depiction of the courage and sacrifices of soldiers during World War II.

Featuring a cast of stars including James McAvoy, Tom Hardy, and David Schwimmer, it was met with critical acclaim for its production quality, performances, and portrayal of the horrors of war.

Snow’s breakdown of the D-Day scene emphasises the lengths taken to ensure every detail, from the tactical movements to the sound effects, was as historically accurate as possible.

While the series did take some creative liberties, such as misrepresenting the date of Hitler’s death and portraying First Lieutenant Norman Dike as more timid than he was in reality, critics say its overall impact on the portrayal of World War II on screen remains unmatched.

And later this year, about the 72 hour build-up to , based on the West End play of the same name will be hoping to replicate the magic.

In the upcoming epic,

Joining him in the cast are Andrew Scott as Britain’s chief meteorological officer James Stagg and Kerry Condon as Eisenhower’s trusted aide Captain Kay Summersby.

Chris Messina will play US meteorologist Irving P Krick and Band of Brothers star Damian Lewis portrays Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery aka Monty.