One cannot help but think of terrorist attacks while watching Stephen Spielberg's update of the classic sci-fi fantasy THE WAR OF THE WORLDS. While the H.G. Wells story dates back to 1898, and has inspired previous adaptations, this particular version feeds off its 21st century audience's fear of a terrorist- induced apocalypse. Even if the sight of tall buildings crumbling to the ground and crowds running fearfully away from their demise doesn't trigger post-9/11 paranoia, dialogue such as "Is it the terrorists?" will. Disgruntled, divorced father Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is struggling to connect with his estranged kids, who have been dropped off by their mother for the weekend, when a severe and unusual lightning storm leaves his New Jersey neighborhood powerless. Over the course of the... Less

In 1898, H.G. Wells wanted to find out what it would be like if an intelligent race of Martians turned the tables on Victorian England by conquering and colonizing the world’s greatest empire. For readers around the world, The War of the Worlds elicited their darkest, deepest fears.In 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air adapted the H.G. Wells novel to radio and used that medium’s immediacy, along with a series of realistic “newsflashes” as part of the story, to drive more than a million people mad with terror. Orson Welles said he “wanted people to understand that…they shouldn’t swallow everything that came through the tap, whether it was radio or not.” He succeeded beyond his wildest expectations, while claiming absolute innocence the next day. The “Panic Broadcast,” as... Less

The War of the Worlds was made famous by Orson Wells on his Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was performed as a Halloween episode of the series on October 30, 1938, and aired over the Columbia Broadcasting System. Directed and narrated by actor Orson Welles, the episode was an adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds. This collection includes that original radio broadcast on compact disc, two film versions, as well as four more classic science-fiction movies. 5 - Full Length Movies on DVD and the original radio broadcast on Compact Disc.

World War I was the beginning of "Modern Warfare." The Great War's new weaponry: poison gas, machine guns, tanks, airplanes, and even submarines forever changed the way battles were fought. Who would ever think that a single bullet from an assassin's gun could start a war that would be fought on a larger scale than ever before? Probably no one;but that's what happened! In this book, kids will see for themselves the events leading up to the first "World War";and will hunker down in the trenches of eastern Europe with the troops of many nations as they fight "the war to end all wars."

This stunning "coffee table" quality book is packed with stories, photos and "inside view" diagrams that unlock the secrets of the world's most famous fighting machines. Hard cover. 320 pages. Author Michael E. Haskew, editor of World War II History magazine, devotes six pages each to 50 of history's most significant tank designs, from Britain's Little Willy prototype and the Soviet T-34 to the M1A2 of today's U.S. armed forces. Learn about each tank's critical design elements, including firepower, protection, powerplant, and mobility. Detailed cross-section illustrations and close-up photographs give you an up-close view seen only by the elite few who've operated these indomitable fighting vehicles, with text to provide historical context. The oversized "coffee table" format is filled... Less

This classic chiller, when adapted for radio in 1938 by Orson Welles, was realistic enough to cause widespread panic throughout the United States....

Both comprehensive and intimate, "The World Wars: The Complete History of WWI and WWII" is a survey of some of history's most critical engagements, a broad collection of documentary programming that details the world-changing events of World War I and World War II, including the battles and strategies, the men and machines, and the horror and heroism that marked these epic conflicts. Experience in "WWI: The Great War" the birth of the "War To End All Wars" and the tragic, final day on November 11, when over 13,000 men died. In the four-year period from 1914-1918, the war was responsible for over 40 million casualties and over 20 million deaths. And see the momentous triumphs and most bitter defeats of the second World War in "Ultimate Collections: World War II", an anthology of the most... Less

The 'little ships' of the Second World War - the fast and highly maneuverable motor torpedo boats and gunboats which fought in coastal waters all over the world - developed a special kind of naval warfare. With their daring nightly raids against an enemy's coastal shipping - and sometimes much larger warships - they acquired the buccaneering spirit of an earlier age. And never more so than in the close hand-to-hand battles which raged between opposing craft when they met in open waters.Large numbers of these small fighting boats were built by the major naval powers. The Germans called them Schnellboote (Fast Boats), referred to by the British as E-boats (E for Enemy). In the Royal Navy they were MTBs and MGBs. The American equivalent were PT boats (for Patrol Torpedo). They fought... Less

After enduring untold suffering and near total devastation, the Soviet Union emerged from the ashes of World War II as a superpower. Even now, the ‘Great Patriotic War’ constitutes the country's single greatest source of national pride and identity -- a defining moment in Russian history no less significant than the Revolution of 1917. Yet just as the overthrow of Tsarist autocracy is fraught with ambiguities, so too is the legacy of World War II. After liberating itself from Nazi occupation, the Soviet Union established imperial domination over much of east-central Europe. But a victorious Soviet society was also poor, hungry, and -- for all intents and purposes -- still enslaved by the communist regime. The Shadow of War: The Soviet Union and Russia, 1941 to the Present offers a... Less

History® is proud to present the definitive collection of documentary programs on World War One. Experience the world-changing events from the birth of what became known as The Great War to the tragic, final day where over 13,000 men died. In the four year period from 1914 - 1918, the war was responsible for over 40 million casualties and over 20 million deaths. Join the brave servicemen of land, sea, and air as they valiantly fought alongside their Allied brothers in this "war to end all wars."Set includes: Disc 1: Most Decorated: The Doughboys Comprised of innocent teenage farm boys, the doughboys in Europe faced a most horrific warfare with machine guns, mustard gas, and artillery shells. New weapons and old tactics turned an infantry charge into an act of mass suicide for the brave... Less

A revisionist study that rejects the time-honored argument that the Great War was the cataclysmic break with the epoch that preceded it Download Plain Text version Although many novels and works of history have been published on the calamity that was the First World War, no work until this one has sought to unify current historical and literary interpretations of the 1914-1918 era and its implications for modern life. The essays collected here chart the war and its cultural and literary contours from a variety of new and challenging intellectual vantage points. Focusing in different essays on America, France, Britain, and Germany, the contributors to this book contest the long-accepted argument about World War I as the crucible of modern life. Instead, their interrogations of the trench... Less

First published by H. G. Wells in 1898, The War of the Worlds is the granddaddy of all alien invasion stories....

More than 30 years after its initial broadcast, "The World At War" remains the definitive visual history of World War II. Unsurpassed in depth and scope, its 26 hour-long programs feature an extraordinary collection of newsreel, propaganda, and home-movie footage drawn from the archives of 18 nations, including color close-ups of Adolf Hitler taken by his mistress and original news rushes that present an unvarnished perspective of many of the war's pivotal events. Throughout, penetrating interviews with eyewitness participants - from Hitler's secretary to Alger Hiss to ordinary citizens who stood outside the battle lines - add spine-tingling, first-hand accounts to an unforgettable viewing experience. Informative and unbiased, "The World At War" is the recipient of numerous accolades,... Less

Bringing together an outstanding group of thinkers, Worlds in Collision is the essential book for understanding the debate about the future of global order in the wake of international terrorism and the war in Afghanistan. When the victim of such horrific terror attacks happens to be the world's only superpower, the agenda is set for the future global order. This book will help readers understand the ways in which our worlds collided on September 11, 2001. Not only does it comprehensively address the first phase of the war against international terrorism, the book also looks at the wider regional and global ramifications. Worlds in Collision is ultimately about more than the war on terrorism, it concerns itself with the possibilities for re-shaping global order on the basis of new kinds... Less

Ten huge and tireless creatures land in England and, using their deadly rays and crushing strength, threaten the very existence of humankind....

World War II remains one of the most galvanizing and defining events in the history of America. Seemingly overnight, the entire nation unified behind a singular cause. By 1945, the size of the U.S. armed forces had grown from two to twelve million men and women of every color, religion, and creed. Young people from every walk of life were inducted and volunteered. America had quickly and fiercely established itself as a global superpower, and an entire generation's identity was forged, in part, by what many still refer to as the "last good war." Sixty years later, a young photographer named Thomas Sanders began traveling the country photographing hundreds of World War II veterans. The more he shot, the more he listened, and the more captivated he became by their memories of the war. ... Less

After the success of 1950's Destination Moon and 1951's When Worlds Collide, visionary producer George Pal brought the classic H.G. Wells story of a Martian invasion to the big screen, and it instantly became a science fiction classic and winner of the 1953 Academy Award for Best Special Effects. It's a work of frightening imagination, with its manta-ray spaceships armed with cobra-like probes that shoot a white-hot disintegration ray. As formations of alien ships continue to wreak destruction around the globe, the military is helpless to stop this enemy while scientists race to find an effective weapon. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson play the hero and heroine roles that were de rigueur for movies like this in the '50s, and their encounter with one of the Martians is as creepy today as it... Less

Beginning with a series of strange flashes in the distant night sky, the Martian attack initially causes little concern on Earth.....

Worlds of Women is a groundbreaking exploration of the "first wave" of the international women's movement, from its late nineteenth- century origins through the Second World War. Making extensive use of archives in the United States, England, the Netherlands, Germany, and France, Leila Rupp examines the histories and accomplishments of three major transnational women's organizations to tell the story of women's struggle to construct a feminist international collective identity. She addresses questions central to the study of women's history--how can women across the world forge bonds, sometimes even through conflict, despite their differences?--and questions central to world history--is internationalism viable and how can its history be written?Rupp focuses on three major organizations... Less

With novels like The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The Island of Dr. Moreau, H. G. Wells became famous as a prophet, predicting tanks, aerial bombing, nuclear war, gas warfare, lasers and industrial robots. The War of The Worlds was the first novel to explore the possibilities of intelligent life from other planets, and is still startlingly vivid, having lost none of its impact since it's publication in 1898. It was the source of Orson Welles? 1938 radio broadcast, so realistic it caused a panic, as well as two film versions. The story begins with the arrival of the Martians just outside London and ends with the near- annihilation of humanity. This recording features Maxwell Caulfield, who was educated at St.Paul's School in London and then came to New York at the age of eighteen to... Less

Acclaimed military historian Trevor Royle examines Scotland's role in the Second World War. The country's geographical position gave it great strategic importance for importing war material and reinforcements, for conducting naval and aerial operations against the enemy and for training regular and specialist SOE and commando forces. Scotland also became a social melting pot with the arrival of Polish and eastern European refugees, whose presence added to the communal mix and assisted postwar reconstruction. In addition to the important military aspects - the exploits of the army's renowned 15th Scottish and 51st Highland Divisions in Europe and North Africa and the role played by the RAF and the Royal Navy from Scottish bases - Scotland was also hugely important as an industrial power... Less

One cannot help but think of terrorist attacks while watching Stephen Spielberg's update of the classic sci-fi fantasy THE WAR OF THE WORLDS. While the H.G. Wells story dates back to 1898 and has inspired previous adaptations this particular version feeds off its 21st century audience's fear of a terrorist- induced apocalypse. Even if the sight of tall buildings crumbling to the ground and crowds running fearfully away from their demise doesn't trigger post-911 paranoia dialogue such as "Is it the terrorists?" will. Disgruntled divorced father Ray Ferrier Tom Cruise is struggling to connect with his estranged kids who have been dropped off by their mother for the weekend when a severe and unusual lightning storm leaves his New Jersey neighborhood powerless. Over the course of the next few... Less

H.G. Wells' chilling novel of a Martian invasion of Earth becomes even more frightening in this 1952 film adaptation that's widely regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time. An Oscar. winner for Best Special Effects, The War of the Worlds delivers eye-popping thrills, laser-hot action and unrelenting, edge-of-your-seat suspense. No one who has seen the film's depiction of the swan-shaped Martian machines-ticking and hissing menacingly as they cut their path of destruction-will ever forget their ominous impact! Today's Science-Fiction extravaganzas all pay tribute to this pioneering classic from Producer George Pal (The War of the Worlds), which won an Oscar® for its spectacular special effects. An impending collision with a runaway star signals the destruction of earth... Less

Looking out a second-story window of her family's quarters at the Pearl Harbor naval base on December 7, 1941, eleven-year-old Jackie Smith could see not only the Rising Sun insignias on the wings of attacking Japanese bombers, but the faces of the pilots inside. Most American children on the home front during the Second World War saw the enemy only in newsreels and the pages of Life Magazine, but from Pearl Harbor on, "the war"--with its blackouts, air raids, and government rationing-- became a dramatic presence in all of their lives. Thirty million Americans relocated, 3,700,000 homemakers entered the labor force, sparking a national debate over working mothers and latchkey children, and millions of enlisted fathers and older brothers suddenly disappeared overseas or to far-off army... Less

6 DVDs (36 lectures, 30 minutes/lecture) Awesome University Level Course! Course Lecture Titles 1. The Century's Initial Catastrophe 2. Europe in 1914 3. Towards Crisis in Politics and Culture 4. Causes of the War and the July Crisis, 1914 5. The August Madness 6. The Failed Gambles-War Plans Break Down 7. The Western Front Experience 8. Life and Death in the Trenches 9. The Great Battles of Attrition 10. The Eastern Front Experience 11. The Southern Fronts 12. War Aims and Occupations 13. Soldiers as Victims 14. Storm Troopers and Future Dictators 15. The Total War of Technology 16. Air War 17. War at Sea 18. The Global Reach of the War 19. The War State 20. Propaganda War 21. Endurance and Stress on the Home Front 22. Dissent and Its Limits 23. Remobilization in... Less

SquareTrade AP6.0 *BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED* Making History II lets grand strategy players experience the role of a WWII era national leader embroiled in the toxic mix of waning empires, economic crisis, and ethnic "fault lines" that famously resulted in a global war that transformed the world. Now armchair generals and grand strategy masters can attempt to write their own history, and choose to either defend the world from tyranny or embark on a quest for global conquest. There are diplomatic

This unique volume offers a definitive new history of European economies at war from 1914 to 1918. It studies how European economies mobilized for war, existing economic institutions stood up under the strain, economic development influenced outcomes, and wartime experience influenced postwar economic growth. Leading international experts provide the first systematic comparison of economies at war between 1914 and 1918 based on the best available data for Britain, Germany, France, Russia, the U.S., Italy, Turkey, Austria-Hungary and the Netherlands. A companion volume to the acclaimed The Economics of World War II, the volume is a major contribution to our understanding of total war.