World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, and is a topic that is popular in the media. The primary reasons for this are, of course, the scale of it, and the fact that there was a clearly defined good and evil, with many of the world's nations putting their differences aside to fight a common evil. For six years, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania were wracked with bloody conflict, with almost every single country in the world taking part in some way.

It's an event that provides a lot of ground to cover (both literally and figuratively), so it lends itself quite nicely to both movies and TV. In fact, many TV shows have touched upon various aspects of the war, but with the size of the conflict, they only really scratch the surface. Regardless, they are .

is a super unsettling animated miniseries that is intentionally drawn to look hyperrealistic, resulting in visuals that come straight from the uncanny valley. This might seem unintentional, but it actually does help the mood of the show, as the entire point of it is to showcase the horrors of war in a way that doesn't shy away from showing uncomfortable things in full force.

The series centers on real-life military officer () during his time fighting in the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. The show details the journey of Sparks and his unit as they perform monumental feats and become one of the most decorated units in American military history, winning loads of medals and awards. Though the show .

is a series about American heiress and journalist (), a woman who traveled to France in the early days of World War II to arrange for safe passage out of the country for Jewish people, along with others who were marked as targets of interest by the Third Reich. She spent 13 months there, and in the end, saved the lives of over 2,000 people.

Since , many of the characters are also based on real people, who come to life in a whole new way via the small screen. There isn't a whole lot of action in it on account of the fact that it's primarily a drama/thriller, but it's still a , and that anyone can stand up for what is right, provided they are willing to do it.

is the third companion series to the all-time classic, . The story follows the 100th Bomb Group, which is assigned to conduct air raids and bombing runs on key targets in German-occupied areas of Europe during World War II. The series dispels the illusion that being a pilot or airman during the war was a walk in the park, as the crew faces intense violence and repeated dangers during what should be some very basic missions.

Masters of the Air was nominated for three Emmys but only won one of the awards. Still, this is pretty impressive and is a testament to its overall quality. The series didn't hold up as much as Band of Brothers, as it seems to sacrifice the authenticity the latter was known for in favor of flashy visuals and casual storytelling, but all in all, it's.

is a dark comedy series about a beleaguered British Air Force bombardier named John Yossarian () who initially chose his position because he was under the impression being up in the air was way less dangerous than being on the ground. Unfortunately for him, the Crown repeatedly sends him on missions that get increasingly more dangerous, driving John to try to find some way to weasel his way out of the Air Force.

Much of the series centers on the ridiculous series of legal loopholes and hoops that he has to jump through just to try and quit before his deployment is over. , which is by far part of the appeal. Another great part of it is on screen, which keeps the show lively and interesting.

Britain's Special Air Service, or the SAS, is one of the best special forces units in the world, and to this day remains the primary tier one spec ops unit used by the Crown, specializing in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and intelligence gathering operations. to the unit's origins during the Second World War. Many of the characters in the show are dramatizations of real people and are some of the founding members of the organization.

The series received two seasons of six episodes each, with the second coming out right at the beginning of 2025. It has yet to be officially canceled, but with how recent the second season is, there's been no news of a third as of yet, either. Still, the series has been a smash hit in it's native United Kingdom, and though the show isn't very historically accurate (and it knows it), it is still and perform various operations to help the war effort from afar.

is an that focuses on a bleak world where the Nazis and the Axis forces have won the Second World War, and begin to rule over the majority of the world with an iron fist. The show is quite paradoxical, as it can be pretty daunting to see how the world would have turned out had the Allies lost World War II, yet at the same time, it's kind of uplifting, as it serves as a poignant reminder of how lucky we really are that things turned out the way they did.

It is primarily set in the 1960s, with the war being won by Germany as a result of them getting a huge technological boost, assassinating President , and dropping the first atomic bomb on Washington, D.C. On top of that, Nazi dictator is still alive, and his reign of terror is just as oppressive as it once was. and has remained a hallmark show about the Second World War, even if the conflict itself isn't depicted in full detail.

is the second miniseries in the Band of Brothers universe, this time taking place during the Pacific Theatre rather than Europe. Like its predecessor, it explores some of the most crucial and exciting engagements in its area of the war, including the Battle of Peleliu Island in Palau, the Battle of Iwo Jima in Japan, and the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

It might not be quite up to the same standard as the original series, but for the most part, it retains every bit of its appeal, with great action, a strong sense of friendship, and a cast of memorable characters. The Pacific was nominated for five different Emmy awards, winning the award for Outstanding Miniseries. This and its excellent reviews are more than enough to speak to its quality, and.

Before the critically acclaimed movie , there was the WGN America original series, . This series, much like the film, centered on the war's impact at home, in the United States of America, as a team of scientists bring their heads together to create a weapon so devastating, that the Japanese Empire, the last remaining Axis nation, would have no choice but to surrender. This developmental process later came to be known as the Manhattan Project and resulted in the invention of the atomic bomb.

In this series, all of the characters featured are fictional, with head designer nowhere to be found. The series was met with exceptional reviews, and even won an Emmy award, with many critics praising its . Not only is , but the impact on the researchers afterward, which brings a really interesting dynamic to it.

(Bel Powley), a woman famous for sheltering the most renowned Holocaust victim, Anne Frank (Billie Boulet), during the Holocaust. Gies did this because she was Anne's father's personal secretary and a friend of the family. The show follows the dangers Miep Gies faces as the Nazis invade the Netherlands, and the risks that Gies endures, gambling with her life in order to keep her boss' family safe.

As with any piece of media about the Holocaust, it's woefully depressing, but it's necessary to be this way so that it can capture the atrocities committed by the Third Reich. Although we now know that Anne Frank, tragically, did not the mass extermination, but that doesn't make the dreaded outcome any less desirable during this show. Be prepared to cry when watching this show—as good as it is, it's absolutely harrowing and is most certainly not for the faint of heart.

Band of Brothers is the iconic war miniseries that started it all. Taking place on the Western Front of the war, the series was created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who collaborated on the smash-hit World War II film Saving Private Ryan just three years earlier. Band of Brothers came with much of the same style, sense of brotherhood and camaraderie, and stellar action that the film was known for. Even though the two are not directly related, the influence is definitely felt.

Band of Brothers honestly set an industry standard when it came to portraying war on the small screen. It's deeply serious, highly emotional, has a grand sense of adventure, and emphasizes the importance of having each other's back, and of coming together to fight a common enemy. Each character has their own role to play in the squad, and the show is endlessly entertaining, which is why it is by far the best World War II show. In fact, it's probably the best war show in general.

NEXT: The Best WWII Movies, Ranked