World War II documentaries, often relegated to the dusty corners of the historical programming landscape, rarely offer anything genuinely new. Rehashed narratives, the same grainy footage — it can all feel a bit like homework. But Smithsonian Channel’s “Liberation: D-Day to Berlin” attempts to breathe fresh life into a well-trodden subject by focusing on the often-overlooked human stories within the larger historical narrative. Wednesday’s episode, “Belgium and the Netherlands,” turns its lens on the liberation of these two nations, it’s a stark reminder of the cost of freedom, both for the Allied soldiers and the civilians caught in the crossfire.
The series uses newly colorized footage, which, let’s face it, is often a gimmick. However, here it serves a purpose, bringing a visceral immediacy to the events. It’s one thing to read about a tank rolling through a liberated town; it’s another to see the faces of the people watching, their expressions a mix of relief and apprehension, rendered in vivid color. The episode also incorporates firsthand accounts and the producers appear to have selected stories that offer genuine insight into the true toll of war.
“Belgium and the Netherlands” airs Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 8:00 PM on the Smithsonian Channel.
