Military Documentaries on Netflix
Last updated March 23, 2023
Ken Burns: The War
2007 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsDocumentarians Ken Burns and Lynn Novick bring the harrowing history of World War II to life through the personal accounts of a handful of participants from four "typical" American towns -- proving nothing was typical during this terrible time. Historical footage and photographs combine with realistic sound effects to create visceral scenes of the battles at Omaha Beach, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and more in this seven-part PBS presentation.
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National Geographic: Arlington: Field of Honor
2005 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThere's no other stretch of grassland more renowned than Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery, home to the remains of those who served in the military, most notably the Unknown Soldier and beloved U.S. president John F. Kennedy. This heartfelt documentary looks at the cemetery's history through interviews with men and women who've been privy to solemn events held there, as well as rare archival footage and tales passed down through the years.
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Chosin
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsSome 60 years after the Korean War, U.S. veterans share their experiences on the front lines of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, a battle in which 15,000 American soldiers fought against insurmountable odds in sub-zero temperatures behind enemy lines.
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Ken Burns: The War
2007 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsA seven-part series brings World War II to life through the harrowing personal accounts of a handful of soldiers and others from "typical" American towns, recreating visceral scenes of the battles at Omaha Beach, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and more.
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Ken Burns: The Civil War
1990 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis documentary masterpiece from Ken Burns depicts the strategies and action of famous Civil War battles, and relates the stories of generals, field soldiers, politicians, heroes and a beleaguered president. The Emmy-winning miniseries begins by looking at the factors that led to the firing on Fort Sumter, and covers specific notable battles, climaxing with Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender and Pres. Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
Details about Ken Burns: The Civil War
Ken Burns: The Civil War
1990 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis documentary masterpiece from Ken Burns depicts the strategies and action of famous Civil War battles, and relates the stories of generals, field soldiers, politicians, heroes and a beleaguered president. The Emmy-winning miniseries begins by looking at the factors that led to the firing on Fort Sumter, and covers specific notable battles, climaxing with Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender and Pres. Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
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The Invisible War
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsAs ranks of women in the American military swell, so do incidents of rape. The Invisible War exposes a rape epidemic in the armed forces, investigating the institutions that perpetuate it as well as its profound personal and social consequences.
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Greatest Tank Battles: Season 1
2011 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThe Military Channel presents an action-packed series that brings to life the most gripping and monumental tank battles ever fought. Filmed on battlefields around the world, the show features realistic CGI animation and eyewitness accounts.
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National Geographic: Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack
2001 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThis feature-length documentary delves into the unresolved mysteries surrounding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as oceanographer Robert Ballard dives deep into the waters of the harbor to find the remains of a Japanese sub.
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Restrepo
2010 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsAuthor Sebastian Junger and photographer Tim Hetherington spent a year embedded with the Second Platoon in Afghanistan, chronicling the hard work, fear and brotherhood that comes with repelling a deadly enemy in this Oscar-nominated documentary.
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Secrets of the Dead: Churchill's Deadly Decision
2010 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsIn the summer of 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was faced with a difficult decision after France's capitulation to Germany. Unless Churchill acted, warships of the French Navy harbored in Algeria would fall into Hitler's hands.
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Hiroshima: BBC History of World War II
2005 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThis fascinating documentary recounts the world's first nuclear attack and examines the alarming repercussions. Covering a three-week period from the New Mexico test blast to dropping the bomb on Hiroshima, the program chronicles America's political gamble and the planning for the momentous event. Archival film, dramatizations and special effects take viewers aboard the &NFi;Enola Gay&NFi_; and inside the exploding bomb.
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Two Weeks in Hell
2009 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsGreen Berets are America's unconventional warfare specialists. Go inside their selection process, a two-week hellish interview with tasks specifically designed to break a man and expose his real character. And finishing doesn't mean you passed.
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Two Weeks in Hell
2009 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsGreen Berets are America's unconventional warfare specialists. Go inside their selection process, a two-week hellish interview with tasks specifically designed to break a man and expose his real character. And finishing doesn't mean you passed.
Details about Two Weeks in Hell
Battle of Britain
2010 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsBrothers Colin and Ewan McGregor host this documentary that honors the heroes of the Battle of Britain, sharing the veterans' stories, exploring the period's technology and marking the anniversary of this World War II struggle against the Luftwaffe.
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Greatest Tank Battles
2011 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThe Military Channel presents an action-packed series that brings to life the most gripping and monumental tank battles ever fought. Filmed on battlefields around the world, the show features realistic CGI animation and eyewitness accounts.
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National Geographic: The Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal
1996 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsUsing historical footage, underwater exploration, interviews and narration by former president George Bush Sr., the acclaimed National Geographic crew and Dr. Robert Ballard (who discovered the shipwrecks of the Titanic and the Bismarck) trace the bloody 1942 battle of Guadalcanal, in which the Allies fought the Japanese and 50 ships were downed. The recently located ships are the focus of this fascinating documentary.
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Modern Sniper
2009 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThe definition of a sniper is "a skilled military shooter detailed to spot and pick off enemy soldiers from a concealed place." This series looks at advanced training techniques that transform ordinary men into smart, inventive soldiers.
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Iwo Jima: 50 Years of Memories
1996 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsStraight from the mouths of those who lived through it, this harrowing documentary recounts the historic battle of Iwo Jima and pays tribute to the men who fought and died over those 36 days. In addition to candid interviews, the program also features archival footage, photographs and maps of the island. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Operation Detachment, this in-depth special originally aired on PBS.
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Secrets of the Dead: World's Biggest Bomb
2011 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsIn 1951, the world's largest hydrogen bomb was detonated at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. This documentary investigation of the blast's fallout (both literal and otherwise) includes testimony from witnesses as well as archival footage.
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Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State
2005 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThis six-part documentary series tackles one of World War II's -- and history's -- most disquieting and repugnant subjects: the Holocaust and its infamous killing factory, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
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Modern Sniper: Season 1
2009 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThe definition of a sniper is "a skilled military shooter detailed to spot and pick off enemy soldiers from a concealed place." This series looks at advanced training techniques that transform ordinary men into smart, inventive soldiers.
Details about Modern Sniper: Season 1
Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State
2005 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsIt was the site of the largest mass murder the world has ever seen, yet few people know its full history. This landmark series puts together the most complete history of Auschwitz, from the evolution of the camp to the mentality of the perpetrators.
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National Geographic: Camp Leatherneck
2010 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsIn a part of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban prior to 2009, the U.S. Marines' Camp Leatherneck now serves as the base of operations for more than 10,000 U.S. soldiers charged with turning the tide of war in a stark and alien landscape. This National Geographic documentary looks closely at the men and women making up that force and the obstacles they face -- including heat, isolation, boredom, and the constant, invisible threat of attack.
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American Experience: Death and the Civil War
2012 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThis film explores how the American Civil War created a "republic of suffering" and charts the far-reaching social, political and social changes brought about by the pervasive presence and fear of death during the war.
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