Band of Brothers, now on Netflix, is a tremendous entry into WWII history

Band of BrothersThe Emmy Award-winning series created by Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks turns 22 in this year. For the first time ever, the historical drama — which stars Damian Lewis (HomelandRon LivingstonOffice Space), and a litany of other recognizable faces on the brink of stardom, from Tom Hardy to James McAvoy — will be available on a subscription streaming service Other than HBO’s Max. It arrives on Netflix starting Sept. 15, and if you’ve never seen the seminal program, there’s no better time than now.

Longtime fans also have reason to be excited, as the 10-episode series rewards repeated viewing, especially in the fancy 4K format it’s expected to be shown in. You will get a much better experience if you learn more about the show’s history. The following are some things you should consider along with the much-anticipated re-release. They also include recommendations on what to watch immediately after.

You can read books

Image: Simon & Schuster

Band of Brothers is a dramatization based on the true story of the men of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Regiment, part of the United States’ famed 101st Airborne Division. The script was inspired from the first-hand stories gathered by Stephen E. Ambrose and collected in his best seller. Band of Brothers: From Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. However, unlike many historical texts based on WWII, Ambrose’s work is eminently readable and includes all of the background information needed to contextualize Easy Company’s mission for a modern audience — plus anecdotes and vignettes that just didn’t make the cut in the final edit.

Ambrose is adept at describing the issues that were at stake both domestically and internationally as the U.S. fought in WWII. He also describes the battlefield circumstances which led the U.S. to create this elite airborne attack force. It doesn’t read like doctrine. Instead, it’s a lovingly crafted story with technical clarity, a sense of dramatic tension, and fulfilling character arcs. Most importantly, its opening chapters drive home the point that these men were all volunteers — some of which literally had no idea what they were getting into.

If you finish it, feel free to follow up with Ambrose’s D-Day June 6th, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War IIThis book uses the same narrative hooks in order to convey the larger story of Normandy’s invasion. Finish it all off with Wild Blue – The men and Boys who flew the B-24s above Germany. That will help set the stage for Hanks and Spielberg’s upcoming Masters of the AirThe story will also be told by the B-17 Bomber Crews, who were fighting in Europe during the same period. The series of books is actually based upon a book written by Donald L. Miller.

You can listen to podcasts

HBO produced a 10 part podcast to commemorate the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Band of Brothers’ 20th anniversary, titled Band of Brothers Podcast. While it’s hosted by Roger Bennett, whose overly energetic style of delivery might not be to everyone’s taste, the guest list is absolutely stacked. The series includes hourlong interviews with Hanks, Livingston, and Lewis as well as with Donnie Wahlberg and Frank John Hughes — the pair who played fan favorites Carwood Lipton and Bill Guarnere, respectively.

Don’t miss episode 3, however, which includes a long chat with Band of Brothers’ legendary military advisor, Capt. Matthew Settle and Dale Dye played the mysterious, controversial, Capt. Ronald Speirs.

Watch more WWII films and TV shows now!

Band of BrothersThis is in large part because it’s specificity. The series focuses on one unit with a few soldiers. The laser focus on the unit, though, makes it difficult to see other aspects. These other series and films will give you a better understanding of the war’s other fronts.

There is a quietness to the dawns here (2015)

The four-episode drama, which takes place in 1942 spring, tells an unlikely tale of the all-female Soviet Anti-Aircraft Unit stationed close to the Baltic Sea. Based on the eponymous novella and currently streaming on Prime Video, it’s a well-executed if pulpy drama about an overlooked cohort — the more than 800,000 Russian women fighting on the front lines of WWII. Also available is an earlier version from 1972. It was directed by Stanislav Roztotskiy and nominated for a Academy Award. You can also stream it on Prime.

Warsaw 44 (2014)

The 1944 Warsaw Uprising is the subject of this drama, which chronicles a brave attempt to keep the Polish capital under control in spite of German resistance and Soviet treachery. Its attention to historical detail is sometimes outdone by its stylistic flair — specifically its climactic raid that feels like something out of a Baz Luhrmann film. Nevertheless, it’s a historically accurate and unflinching portrayal of a key turning point in the war.

The Wind Rises (2013)

Follow up on Band of Brothers, Hanks and Spielberg’s Pacific fell a bit flat. Its meandering storyline, with its alternating focus on the United States and Australia before returning to the Pacific Islands, was cited by many as a reason for the film’s failure. And while Clint Eastwood’s Iwo Jima letters and 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge take the prize for action-packed drama, Studio Ghibli’s The Wind RisesIt looks at the conflict in a totally different way. Jiro’s story is told through an animated feature that focuses on civilian life in Japan during World War II., It is streaming on Max. Max is the streaming service.

Generation War (2013)

Last but not least, we have the dark and powerful Generation War, widely regarded as Germany’s own take on Band of Brothers. Streaming is only available in original German, with English subs. This film has some amazing action sequences and a fantastic writing. It is no less captivating than HBO’s prestige miniseries, while at the same time appearing far more unsettling just a decade after it was made — especially when viewed from the perspective of our modern-day political discourse.