ZDF Studios has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the three-part documentary series America’s Wars.
America’s Wars, consisting of three 52-minute episodes, is scheduled for delivery in May 2026 and is produced by eco documentaries in collaboration with ZDFinfo and ZDF Studios.
The America’s Wars documentary explores how the United States’ identity as a global power, and its role as a so-called “world police force”, has been shaped through its wars. It examines military interventions through their successes, contradictions, and long-term consequences.
Spanning a broad historical timeline, the series covers developments from the late 18th century and the Spanish-American War, through World War I and World War II, to the Cold War era, including Korea, Vietnam, intelligence operations, and the arms race. It also looks at the post-Soviet period and the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, before moving into the 21st century with 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, drone warfare, and contemporary proxy conflicts.
At its core, the series highlights the tension between America’s claim to defend democratic values and its strategic foreign policy interests. Visually, it combines rare archival footage, some of it newly colorized, with reenactments and graphic visualizations of battles and tactics. By incorporating the perspectives of both soldiers and civilians, it brings a strong human dimension to the narrative, aiming to provide viewers with context and deeper understanding at the intersection of historical experience and current geopolitical debates.
