Category:
  • AST
  • ASW
  • LES
  • STEM
  • OPP
Media:
  • Written
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Mixed media
  • Announcement
Time:
  • < 5 mins
  • < 15 mins
  • < 30 mins
  • > 30 mins
Rank:
  • Officers
  • NCO/WO
  • Other ranks
Corps:
  • AAC
  • All Corps
  • Cbt Arms
  • Cbt Spt
  • Health
  • Log
  • Pers Spt
Search

Band of Brothers (2001)

Author: Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg
Reading list:
Extended: CAPT, LT, WO2, SGT
Find this book
Band of Brothers_Cover

Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. (705min)
This HBO miniseries is based on the 1992 book by Stephen A. Ambrose, with additional research and memoirs used for the series. It is focused on E (Easy) Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The series follows them from initial training in the US through to preparation for battle in England and then their first combat jump into Europe as part of Operation Overlord, through Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and the end of the war. It is primarily a story of camaraderie and brotherhood under fire. Ambrose based his narrative on the recollections of a few core members of the Company, specifically Major Richard ‘Dick’ Winters, and so many of the personal relationships and characterisations are based on these more subjective accounts. Nevertheless, it is a powerful series, eminently deserving of the high regard with which it is still held over two decades after its release.

Comments
Post By: K1MSU
22/01/2026
In 2001, I had the pleasure of living next door to PVT Dewitt Lowry, who was seriously wounded on D-Day as a member of Easy Company. Spent several days talking with this gentleman, who only reluctantly identified himself to me as a survivor of that jump. Needless to say, we spent many hours discussing the movie, and he was very complimentary of the movies authenticity. He did not participate in any of the initial interviews conducted by Ambrose, but did contribute to some of the later post-release writings. He did feel that some of the liberties taken with facts tended to blur some of the personal story lines of the people involved. I appreciate the annotation in The Cove's synopsis of the subjective nature of the accounts, but those accounts are all that we have left of the participants now, and the series brought the sacrifices to a larger portion of the world.
Band of Brothers_Cover
Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Australian Army, the Department of Defence or the Australian Government.

The Cove is a professional development site for the Australian Profession of Arms. The views expressed within individual blog posts and videos are those of the author, and do not reflect any official position or that of the author's employers' – see more here. Any concerns regarding this blog post, video or resource should be directed in the first instance to the.cove@defence.gov.au.