Watch Nazi Death Squads
- 2017
- 1 Season
-
8.2 (5)
Nazi Death Squads is a gripping documentary series that aired on AHC in 2009. The show follows French Catholic Priest, Patrick Desbois, as he travels across Eastern Europe in search of Nazi sites where Jews were systematically executed during World War II. The series is a chilling account of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime and their collaborators against Jews and other targeted minority groups. The episodes are rich with historical accounts, interviews, and archival footage that illuminate the horrors of the Holocaust. Desbois' investigative team uncovers hidden mass graves, forgotten execution sites, and other evidence of Nazi death squads' operations throughout Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. The show is a testament to the courage and resilience that many victims displayed in the face of grave danger and is a sobering reminder of the atrocities committed during this dark period in world history. Desbois begins his search by speaking with witnesses who survived the genocide. These witnesses, who were often young children at the time, provide valuable insights and testimony about the brutality of the Nazi regime. Desbois' team then looks for signs of mass graves and other evidence that will help them to piece together the story of what happened at each location. Throughout the show, Desbois leads the viewer through a series of discoveries that are often difficult to comprehend. One of the strengths of the show is that it is based on Desbois' experiences, which provide a unique perspective that is not often seen in historical documentaries. Desbois, who is of French and Ukrainian descent, describes himself as a "witness to the witnesses." He is able to empathize with the survivors and their families and helps to bring their stories to a wider audience. Desbois' focus on the people affected by the Holocaust is especially poignant, given the scale of the atrocities committed. The show is divided into six episodes that cover different aspects of Nazi death squad operations. The first episode, "The Massacres of the East," covers the broad strokes of the Nazi campaign against the Jews and other targeted groups. Desbois interviews survivors who recount the atrocities they witnessed or experienced firsthand. The second episode, "Jewish Life Before the War," provides context for the genocide by exploring the rich culture of the Jewish people in Eastern Europe before the war. The third episode, "The Ghettos," covers the establishment of ghettos throughout Eastern Europe where Jews were kept in squalid conditions before being transported to the death camps. The fourth and fifth episodes, "The Killing Fields" and "The Secrets of the Killing Squads," explore the methods used by the Nazis to execute thousands of people at a time. The final episode, "The Legacy of the Holocaust," looks at the aftermath of the genocide and the attempts to bring those responsible to justice. Throughout the series, Desbois remains a measured and compassionate guide. He acknowledges the difficulty of the work he is doing and takes pains to ensure that the people he meets are comfortable sharing their stories. The show does not shy away from the graphic realities of the genocide, but it also humanizes the victims, making clear that each person killed was a unique individual with hopes, dreams, and loved ones. Nazi Death Squads is an important historical document that should be required viewing for anyone studying the Holocaust or the relationship between race, power, and genocide. The show's impact lies in its ability to show the scale of the genocide while also emphasizing the individual stories of those affected by it. By doing so, Desbois and his team help us to understand the Holocaust as both a historical event and a human tragedy. For those looking to learn more about the Holocaust or to bear witness to the crimes committed during that dark period of human history, this series is a must-see. In conclusion, Nazi Death Squads from AHC starring Patrick Desbois is an educational and informative documentary show about the horrors and atrocities of the Nazi regime during World War II. Desbois' investigation and deep dive into the evidence and testimony of the victims of the regime sheds light on the scale of the tragedy while also emphasizing the individual stories of those affected by it. Through the six episodes, Desbois and his team help us to understand the Holocaust as both a historical event and a human tragedy. This series is highly recommended for anyone who is looking to learn more about the Holocaust or to bear witness and understand the crimes committed during that dark period of human history.
