Although this title is categorized as "documentary", it is actually more a non-fiction mini-series than documentary. I think that over 80% of what you get to see in this 2-part mini-series, is scripted content with excellent actors. The rest is voice-over and small 'interruptions' whereby survivors / eye-witnesses explain details.
The storyline is based on the true events of the so-called "Sippenhäftlinge", VIP hostages of the SS, whom were amongst others family members - including children - of people involved in the assassination attempt on Hitler. For instance Colonel Von Stauffenberg's brother is amongst this group. Others include e.g. Some english POW's, an important austrian political prisoner and a son of an important italian (communist) resistance leader.
The idea of the SS was to use these hostages in negotiations between the SS and the allied forces. As such, these hostages were constantly moved from (concentration) camp to camp to prevent them from being liberated by the allied forces. And this is exactly where this mini-series starts: the Dachau camp where the hostages are to be transported to the "Alpenfestung", the place where the SS foresaw the last stand during WW2.
A combination of some very decent acting and period-authentic props, makes this a mini-series an attractive view. One really gets a view of some of the terrors these hostages may have been faced with. More so, it shows the viewer an important part of WW2 history on how far SS prominents were willing to go to protect themselves.
Overall, I score this mini-series as 6.6/10, which makes it a 7-star IMDb rating.
The storyline is based on the true events of the so-called "Sippenhäftlinge", VIP hostages of the SS, whom were amongst others family members - including children - of people involved in the assassination attempt on Hitler. For instance Colonel Von Stauffenberg's brother is amongst this group. Others include e.g. Some english POW's, an important austrian political prisoner and a son of an important italian (communist) resistance leader.
The idea of the SS was to use these hostages in negotiations between the SS and the allied forces. As such, these hostages were constantly moved from (concentration) camp to camp to prevent them from being liberated by the allied forces. And this is exactly where this mini-series starts: the Dachau camp where the hostages are to be transported to the "Alpenfestung", the place where the SS foresaw the last stand during WW2.
A combination of some very decent acting and period-authentic props, makes this a mini-series an attractive view. One really gets a view of some of the terrors these hostages may have been faced with. More so, it shows the viewer an important part of WW2 history on how far SS prominents were willing to go to protect themselves.
Overall, I score this mini-series as 6.6/10, which makes it a 7-star IMDb rating.
