Hitler Is All They Talk About In The History Channel

When it first started by in 1995, a lot of the episodes were about Hitler and WWII because that was the footage they could afford to get and turn a profit. Most clips were public domain. Hire a writer that specialized in history, or could research it, add a few experts in the field for scale (at which time, they would interview these experts for a number of episodes, even crossing over into other programs) Why the focus on WWII? because it was possibly one of the most documented wars in history. Korea? Meh. Vietnam, still not as documented. besides, much of that footage was not in the public domain. For a few years, they had a great spinoff channel called History International. It carried actual international history, history going back much further than the US was a country. It didn't last long, and was soon retooled to be H2, where Ancient Aliens and a host of other pseudo-science programs replaced actual world history and science.It is now called Vice, and I have no opinion of that because I've not watched it. The WWII programming left History years ago, to launch another spinoff channel: the Military Channel. Now, we are left with programs like American Pickers (at least they tell a history of artifacts, but mostly US artifacts, which doesn't go back very far), Pawn Stars (again, mostly US artifacts) Ice Road Truckers (okay, that could be historical and a good special, but a realty show series?) Axe Men (HUH?) and other non-historical reality shows. FML.

Back in 1995, and the early years of the network, it was often called the Hitler Channel, but since the launch of the Military Channel, Hitler barely makes a house call there.

Yes, right now it is not as documented as then. And most of the shows now are not even history. All they really talked about was Hitler back then. I don't remember if it was History Channel, but they put a lot of Hitler documentaries. My guess it was because of the Month Hitler was born.

April was the month. So last month there were many.

That would make sense. Yes, when History Channel first came out, it was almost non-stop Hitler. Being a boomer, I grew up listening to the adults talk about the war and listened hard. Because of an accident when he was 7, my dad wasn't able to serve in the military (bum leg and lost one eye) but he was able to work in the steel mill for the duration, which he did. Soon as the soldiers returned, he lost his job as a welder because the company was obligated to give the vets their jobs back. They told Dad, after four years as a welder, that they were worried about him losing the sight in his remaining eye.

Like the great depression, these were what my parents grew up with. Dad was born in 1920 on the edge of the city of Youngstown while Mom, born in 1927, grew up in a suburb of Columbus. Our programming reflected the impact. We watched WWII movies and programs when they aired. History Channel attracted a lot of us boomers because it was what we grew up on. But they were too US focused other we were at war with Germany. Notice Japan barely gets a mention. Likewise, Italy.

When History International debuted, I was in heaven. Finally, world history. Well, that didn't last long.

Yeah. They didn't talk about the other countries and the allies. Only Hitler and US. But H2 (History International) only ended until from 2010 or 2011 (don't remember).

You're correct. History International ended in 2011. It became H2, which changed it focus dramatically. much of the programming on H2 was the Ancient Aliens variety. In 2015, it changed again into a network called VICELAND. Reality shows from the look of it, based on lifestyles. Supposed to appeal to the millennials. I glanced at the shows, but nothing popped out at me.

Yeah I have heard of VICELAND but I only watched once. Not really my thing.

I'm far from being a millennial, so what they carry isn't directly up my alley. I prefer watching educational stuff. Pawn Stars and American Pickers are both appealing to me because they deal with collectable items. I've worked at an auction house and flea market, so I can get into it. Ice road truckers, Axe Men, and Swamp People? No.

I really enjoy the Pawn Stars most. The rest I don't enjoy much.

Pawn stars is great, and I'll watch it when I can, but American Pickers is closer to my own history in dealing with collectables and such. I like the fact that Rick pulls in experts, and in areas of my own expertise, they come close to my evaluations. I like the toy guy best, because he tosses out the retail price, which is never what Rick can offer. I used that a lot of times when I had my comic shop. That $5 comic book? be thankful if you get 25¢ for it. I've had people leave in a huff, but come back a month later still trying to get the $5 after they couldn't get it on eBay.

What I like about the rare things people on Pawn Stars bring are sometimes fake and they leave the Pawn Shop mad or disappointed. I remember the episode with the lady with the Elvis Presley's signature. But it was fake. But the people who get the real stuff are just plain happy.

I like the stuff that comes up on AP. remember, I have some experience in Auction/Flea marketing. Pawn Shops? That's my oldest brother.

What bothers me about History is that they lost their focus on history. Their parent company, A&E, used to deal mostly with educational shows, but now they have Duck Dynasty and the like. That would be like Music Television not having music. (did I say that)

Put history back on History. We've only got millennia and millennia of history to look at.

Either that or America. They don't have much diversity there, do they?