The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Based on the best-selling book by the same name, this film documents the events that led to Germany transitioning from a democracy to a totalitarian state and from there to complete ruin. True to much of the book this documentary focuses mainly on the methods used by Adolf Hitler to achieve complete domination upon his subjects and the pure evil which resulted. Perhaps the most powerful point of this film was the way the Nazis treated the Jews and it was brought home very poignantly by the drawings of Jewish children on a wall prior to being led to their execution. Although quite sad it also serves as a very powerful indictment as well. Now, while I would have certainly preferred more details on the Russian Front as well as that by the Allies, this documentary provides more than enough historical information to keep the attention of most viewers from beginning to end. I have rated the film accordingly. Above average.