Veterans from the 101st US Airborne Division recount their personal experiences during the siege of Bastogne in the winter of 1944.
The last great battle of the 101st US Airborne Division in World War II during the battle of the bulge.
Hungry, tired, freezing and surrounded by three German divisions their order was to hold at all costs. And so the 101st US Airborne Division did. Veterans from the famous division recount the weeks they spent in and around Bastogne, a small Belgian town, during the battle of the bulge in the winter of 1944/1945, “the most miserable time of my life” as Jim ‘Peewee’ Martin, one of the veterans, put it.
The 360 Historical Documentary, “Hold at All Costs”, was filmed in historic locations in and around Bastogne such as the Bois Jacques, the forest where the famous Easy company, the Band of Brothers, had dug their foxholes during the Siege of Bastogne.
Interviews with veterans from the 101st U.S. Airborne Division form the emotional fabric of the documentary. The narration provides the historical framework wherein these individual, personal stories unfold.
Archival video and photographs blend into the 360 surroundings using a reverse Ken-Burns effect. “Hold at All Costs” allows the viewer to be present in the places where history happened and at the same time get a glimpse of that history through archival augmentation.
Directed, Written and Edited by Uli Futschik
Executive Producer Tim Gray
Executive Producer Joergen Geerds
Release Date: December 12th, 2022
Format: 360 video
Runtime: 20 min
Behind the scenes
16 million Americans served in World War II. Now, 76 years after the end of the war, the veteran population is rapidly dwindling. Less than 300,000 are still alive. And they are well into their nineties. Eventually the memories of the Greatest Generation, as Tom Brakow called them, will vanish with them.
However, several organizations and individuals made it their mission to preserve as many stories as they can. Notably the World War II Foundation is such an organization. Tim Gray, its founder and director, interviewed countless veterans.
Over the years, he collected personal stories from veterans that served in the Pacific and in Europe. This resulted in more than 25 films which are freely available for schools and educators.
To reach new audiences, Tim Gray decided to jump into VR in 2020. ‘Hold at All Costs’ is the second 360/ VR experience produced by Koncept VR for the World War II Foundation. Check out the previous one – Omaha Beach.
Directed, Written and Edited by Uli Futschik
Executive Producer Tim Gray
Executive Producer Joergen Geerds
Field Producer Reg Jans
360 Camera Ignacio Ferrando Margeli, Joergen Geerds, Uli Futschik
Edited and Mastered Koncept VR
Graphics and Animations Koncept VR
SFX Denise Barbarita, R. Hollis Smith
Sound Mix Denise Barbarita, MONOLisa Studios
Original Score Adonis Tsilimparis
Illustrations by Chiara Masiero Sgrinzatto
Script Editor Keith Martin
Narrated by Bradley Hyland
Narration Recorder at American Voice Power