What The Deal Is

Ever wonder how The Great Dictator relates to You Nazty Spy!, or where Mr Klein fits into the grand catastrophe that is World War 2? This is a personal attempt to arrange films I've watched dealing with WW2 into chronological order based on when the subject matter takes place. Often, however, the subject matter covers a lengthy period of time. In those instances a subjective determination will be made to order film, usually placing it when story begins. And there are quite a few films that address social conditions in the years leading up to the time when most might consider the war beginning. Thus, movies like Shanghai Express are also included.

The full list is (for now) complied on the site Letterboxd under the same title, WWII Films In Chronological Order - TgL, link. For now this is a work in progress, with the list updated regularly as more films are watched. And this is, nor will ever be, a full list of movies on the subject--but the list is growing.

I've also started to compile a brief list of useful links on the subject. With the project well under way, yet still far from complete, this list will likely be ammended again later (see comments below):

• American Film Inst. Catalog of Motion Pictures database. This includes production notes, however, a number of films (shorts e.g.) are excluded. There is a hardcover publication that is more inclusive, but it's not freely available.
• Chronology of Second World War (1947), covering 1938-45.
• The Army Air Forces in World War II: Combat Chronology, 1941-1945 (1991).
• Article 'Long-Range Fighter Escort' (2019-01-10) at Warfare History Network.
• Item list for Desert War, Jun, '40-May, '43.
• Report 'Victory's Foundation: US Logistical Support of the Allied Mediterranean Campaign, 1942-1945' (2011); maps at p.513.
• Eastern Front Maps of World War II, map set.
• Invasion of the Philippine Islands timeline, Dec, '41-May, '42.
• China, Burma map set.
• New Guinea Campaign I timeline, Jan, '42.
• New Guinea Campaign II timeline, Mar, '42-Mar, '43.
• New Guinea Campaign III timeline, Sep, '43-May, '45.
• New Guinea Campaign article, Jan, '43-Dec, '44.
• Battle of Midway and the Aleutian Islands timeline, Mar, '42-Jul, '43.
• Solomon Islands Campaign timeline, Aug, '42-Dec, '43.
• Solomon Islands map set, incl. map of Pacific battles with dates.

How this blog will progress is still an open question. So much info already exists on Letterboxd it seems silly to duplicate it again here. But I suppose there will be opportunities. Of course, comments and suggestions are appreciated.