When Things Get Tough The War
War & Military · Documentary

S1, E2: Episode 2: By January 1943, Americans have been at war for more than a year. The Germans still occupy most of Western Europe; the Allies can't agree on a plan or timetable to dislodge them. American troops, including Charles Mann of Luverne, are now ashore in North Africa. At Kasserine Pass, Erwin Rommel's seasoned veterans quickly overwhelm the poorly led and ill-equipped Americans, but after George Patton assumes command, the Americans begin to beat back the Germans. In the process, thousands of soldiers learn to adopt the outlook that "killing is a craft," as reporter Ernie Pyle explains to readers back home. Across the country, in cities such as Mobile and Waterbury, nearly all manufacturing is converted to the war effort. Like millions of other women, Emma Belle Petcher of Mobile enters the industrial work force, becoming an airplane inspector, while her city struggles to cope with a population explosion. Viewer discretion is advised. This film contains profanity and scenes of graphic violence.

2007 · 51m

Information

Released
2007
Run Time
51 min
Rated
TV-14
Region of Origin
United States
© 2006 The American Lives II Film Project, LLC

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio

English (United States) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

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  • Armenia
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  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
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  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
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  • Niger (English)
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