The Best World War II TV Shows on Free Services

What it's about: Gilligan's Island is an American sitcom created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for three seasons on the CBS network from September 26, 1964, to September 4, 1967. Originally sponsored by Philip Morris & Company and Procter & Gamble, the show followed the comic adventures of seven castaways as they attempted to survive the island on which they had been shipwrecked. Most episodes revolve around the dissimilar castaways' conflicts and their failed attempts to escape their plight.Gilligan's Island ran for a total of 98 episodes. The first season, consisting of 36 episodes, was filmed in black-and-white. These episodes were later colorized for syndication. The show's second and third seasons and the three television movie sequels were filmed in color.The show enjoyed solid ratings during its original run, then grew in popularity during decades of syndication, especially in the 1970s and 1980s when many markets ran the show in the late afternoon after school. Today, the title character of Gilligan is widely recognized as an American cultural icon.

Where to Watch: 98 episodes (100%) are available to watch free online (IMDb TV). 98 episodes (100%) are available to rent or buy from $1.99 on 6 services (iTunes, Google Play & 4 others).

What it's about: A comprehensive survey of the history of World War I.

Where to Watch: 10 episodes (100%) are available to watch free online (Tubi TV). 10 episodes (100%) are available to stream on a popular subscription service (Prime Video). 10 episodes (100%) are available to rent or buy from $0.99 on 3 services (Google Play, Prime Video & YouTube).

What it's about: The World Wars tells the story of three decades of war told through the eyes of various men who were its key players: Roosevelt, Hitler, Patton, Mussolini, Churchill, Tojo, DeGaulle and MacArthur. The series examines the two wars as one contiguous timeline starting in 1914 and concluding in 1945 with these unique individuals coming of age in World War I before ultimately calling the shots in World War II.

Where to Watch: 3 episodes (100%) are available to watch free online (Tubi TV). 3 episodes (100%) are available to rent or buy from $8.99 on 5 services (iTunes, Google Play & 3 others).

What it's about: Documents both the influences of alternative belief systems on the Nazi ideology and Hitler's personal philosophy, and the history and development of the ideas and symbols that would be used along with eugenicist racial politics to perpetrate the murder and oppression of millions during World War II.

Where to Watch: 4 episodes (100%) are available to watch free online (Tubi TV). 4 episodes (100%) are available to stream on a popular subscription service (Prime Video).

What it's about: Soviet Storm is the epic television history of the Second World War’s Eastern Front. Giving an unprecedented Russian perspective on the war’s most decisive and bloody theater.

Where to Watch: 18 episodes (64%) are available to watch free online (SnagFilms). 11 episodes (39%) are available to stream on a popular subscription service (Prime Video). 11 episodes (39%) are available to rent or buy from $1.99 on 1 service (Prime Video).

What it's about: This is an interesting documentary about Stalin, his rise to power, and the invasion of the USSR by Germany in WWII. It's split into two parts, the first a general overview of the early ...

Where to Watch: 2 episodes (100%) are available to watch free online (Tubi TV).

What it's about: Secrets are divulged and stories of espionage, conspiracy, murder, sabotage and greed are uncovered.

Where to Watch: 27 episodes (22%) are available to watch free online (SnagFilms & Tubi TV). 55 episodes (45%) are available to stream on a popular subscription service (Prime Video). 65 episodes (53%) are available to rent or buy from $1.99 on 1 service (Prime Video).

What it's about: From the 4.5 billion-year epic of planet Earth, to the centuries-old prophecies of Nostradamus, to the hunt for the man who killed Abraham Lincoln, History Specials brings together the channel's most watched and acclaimed historical programs. History captures the grand sweep of our past with wit, intelligence, and enthusiasm, in programs covering critical turning points and fascinating cultural phenomena from the Dark Ages to Sherman's March, the comets to Columbus. Cutting-edge CGI recreates ancient battle scenes, and expert interviews shed light on some of history's greatest mysteries. See the past and present wonders of the world come together in this captivating collection — the source for all the fascinating history you want to know.

Where to Watch: 1 episodes (1%) are available to watch free online (History). 1 episodes (1%) are available to stream on a TV everywhere service (History). 173 episodes (98%) are available to rent or buy from $1.99 on 3 services (iTunes, Prime Video & Vudu).

What it's about: Why did the Allies chose to fight the Axis in North Africa and Italy, when France presented the most direct gateway to Germany?

Where to Watch: 2 episodes (100%) are available to watch free online (Tubi TV).