Band of Brothers

For Christmas, I was given the box set of The Pacific. This is a WWII miniseries which focuses on the war in (of all places) the Pacific. A war about which I previously knew very little. Some will no doubt proclaim it to be just another US TV show which excessively over-dramatises the emotional impact of the history involved for the sake of good ratings. But I was very keen to not only watch it, but to own it, because I think that these types of TV dramas still do more to keep the history of the time both alive and accessible to those who did not live through it than they do any kind of disservice to the memories of those who died.

This was a sentiment that I first felt when I previously watched Band of Brothers (made by the same production team as made The Pacific). Band of Brothers is the story of Easy Company (part of the US 101st Airborne division), and was entirely developed from the single book of the same name (which I have also read), written and compiled by the late historian Stephen Ambrose from direct interviews with those who were there. Each episode in the series is book-ended with on-camera interviews with those same men; principal among them was their accidental leader, Maj. Richard Winters, who died this week.

The history of Easy Company's war is a virtual history of the war itself. Parachuting into Normandy the day before D-Day, they were tasked with paving the way for the landings themselves. They then fought through Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and ended the war in the wine cellar of Berchtesgarden (Hitler's own Alpine home). The portrayal of Major Winters in Band of Brothers is understated and, according to those of his 'brothers' that are still alive and whose tributes have been published online this week, entirely appropriate to his natural character. The fact that Major Winters is included as one of the principal interviewees at the beginning and end of each episode seems to reinforce this.

So why does all this matter? Well, without wishing to be mawkish, I still believe this to be a fascinating period of history not just because of what went on, but also (perhaps more importantly) for what might have happened were it not for the courage, spirit and determination of the people at the time (whether American, British or otherwise). It was, it seems, a time when everyone pulled together out of a sense of pride and duty for their countries; some did massively important things and led major operation after major operation (Winters is a prime example). Others, had smaller, more localised roles (my one remaining grandparent - my Nan who, I am overjoyed to be able to say, is coming out to Dubai to visit us in 3 weeks time at the age of 89 - worked for the WAAFs, stitching together barrage balloons). But regardless of whatever military positions or medals may have separated them at the time, none that you ever meet today display any sense of arrogance over their personal triumphs, achievements and contributions. The war was a great leveller it seems.

Today, when celebrities, footballers and the like are worshipped, idolised and overpaid in a way which only feeds their already over-conceited egos, the comparison with those who genuinely have done something of which they can be proud is striking. I enjoy watching and re-watching Band of Brothers (and will look forward to watching The Pacific) for the same reason: to be able to forget that the world today is selfish and self-obsessed, and instead to wonder if there will be ever again be a time when people can derive collective pride from serving a greater common good together.

At the end of the last episode of Band of Brothers, Major Winters tells the story about a question that his grandson once asked him. I believe that the response he gives applies to all who lived and worked through that time. If you only click on one link from this blog, let it be this one.