Ep 26. Remember

It is with a somber tone that the final episode of Season 1 of "The World at War" opens. Titled "Remember," the episode serves as a retrospective of the war, reframed through the sobering perspective of the people who experienced its devastating impact firsthand.

The episode initially explores the aftermath of the war. Allied victory did little to ease the pain of the millions of civilians who had lost loved ones, homes, and, in many cases, entire cities. We see the ruins of cities such as Monte Cassino and Berlin as the camera lingers on the rubble and desolation left behind. Footage of the displaced and homeless underscores just how profound the losses had been.

But the episode isn't solely focused on the physical destruction wrought by the war. We hear accounts from former soldiers and civilians alike as they recount their experiences and reflect on what they've learned. Each story is different - some are tales of heroism and bravery, while others struggle with the guilt and trauma that lingers long after the fighting stops.

One particularly poignant segment focuses on survivor's guilt. The camera lingers on the faces of soldiers as they recount the deaths of their comrades. The pain they feel is palpable as they reflect on moments they could have done more, and lives they couldn't save. We see a similar emotion in civilians who survived devastating bombings, wondering how they managed to survive when so many did not.

The episode also delves into the ways in which the war reshaped the world as we know it. Segments highlight the rise of Soviet power and the beginnings of the Cold War, as well as the establishment of the United Nations and the birth of the European Union. We also hear about the many scientific and technological advances that came about as a direct result of the war, from penicillin to turbojets.

Despite the advances, though, the episode makes it clear that victory came at a great cost. We see footage of concentration camps, of emaciated prisoners and piles of corpses, and are reminded of the atrocities that were committed in the name of war. In these moments, "Remember" serves as a powerful reminder of the inhumanity that war can inspire.

As the episode draws to a close, the mood shifts again. The camera lingers on scenes of post-war reconstruction and tries to capture the sense of hope that many felt at the time. In some ways, the sadness and trauma of the war was matched only by the belief that perhaps, after all that suffering, a better world was possible.

And in many ways, that world did come to pass. Today, the cities that were once bombed and razed to the ground are vibrant once again. Young people walk through the streets, laughing and living, with little memory of the destruction and pain that their grandparents had to endure. But the final moments of "Remember" remind us that the lessons of the war must never be forgotten. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," goes the old adage. As we watch the footage of troops marching home, and families reunited after years of separation, it's hard to disagree.