Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009) Parents Guide: Is the series OK for kids?

There are no scenes of a sexual nature or nudity present in this season. The documentary maintains a strictly historical and journalistic focus on the political and military movements of the global conflict. The imagery is confined to archival military footage and newsreels, omitting intimate or biological content.

Violence is severe and pervasive. It includes graphic combat footage of soldiers being shot, mortally wounded, and killed by various means (bombing, machine guns, artillery). There are numerous scenes of dead bodies, both soldiers and civilians, often mangled or shown lying in mass graves. Atrocities such as summary executions, concentration camp victims (many emaciated or deceased), and bombed cities with civilian casualties are frequently depicted. The colorization often enhances the brutal reality.

The documentary features narration and interviews but no profanity is heard in on-screen dialogue or original audio recordings within the archival footage.

Mild depictions of smoking and alcohol consumption appear in archival footage, primarily showing soldiers or civilians casually smoking cigarettes or individuals drinking in social or political settings. These instances reflect the period and are not emphasized or glorified.

Themes are extremely intense and sustained, focusing on the horrors of war, genocide (the Holocaust is shown with graphic images of victims, concentration camps, and their liberation), suffering, death, and the collapse of society. The series explores human cruelty, fanaticism, and profound loss, often showing the devastating psychological impact on individuals and populations. The sheer scale of destruction and human tragedy is a central theme.