ZDF Studios to Distribute America’s Wars Series

ZDF Studios has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the new three-part docuseries America’s Wars, exploring how military conflicts have shaped the U.S.’s self image as a global power and supposed world police force.

The series traces the historical development from the late 18th century and the Spanish-American War through America’s entry into World War I, the fight against Nazi Germany in World War II and up to the present day. It also delves into the Cold War and its proxy battles, exploring Korea, Vietnam, intelligence operations, the arms race and the reshaping of the world after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The three-parter also shows the redefinition of American warfare in the 21st century, extending from 9/11 through Afghanistan and Iraq to drone warfare, covert and technologically driven forms of deployment and current proxy dynamics.

Produced by eco documentaries for ZDFinfo and ZDF Studios, the project makes use of rare archive material, reenactments, graphic visualizations of battlefields and tactics and contemporary history storytelling. It also features the perspectives of ordinary soldiers and civilians victims of war to show the human impact of such conflicts.

America’s Wars is scheduled for delivery in May.

“For around 250 years, the United States has been involved in wars and, to this day, remains at the center of public debate between its claim to be a guardian of democratic values and its clearly defined foreign policy interests,” said Nikolas Hülbusch, Director Unscripted at ZDF Studios. “America’s Wars examines these developments in a fact-based, multi-perspective and visually compelling way. The team at eco documentaries combines meticulous research, rare archive material and clear analysis—an approach that offers international audiences valuable orientation at a time when historical experience and contemporary debate increasingly intersect.”