World War II: From the Frontlines is a 2023 Netflix documentary miniseries directed by Rob Coldstream and narrated by John Boyega. Using vividly enhanced and colorized archival footage alongside firsthand testimony from all sides of the conflict, the six-episode series traces the war year by year from the invasion of Poland in 1939 through V.E. Day and Japan’s surrender in 1945.
Quick Facts
| Director | Rob Coldstream |
| Narrator | John Boyega |
| Executive Producers | David Glover, Mark Raphael (72 Films) |
| Genre | Documentary, History, War |
| Release Date | December 7, 2023 (Netflix) |
| Episodes / Runtime | 6 episodes, approx. 4 hours 51 minutes total |
| Composer | David Schweitzer |
Official Synopsis: Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, this docuseries brings WWII to life like never before.
Who Composed the World War II: From the Frontlines Score
David Schweitzer composed the original score, and won an Emmy for the music at the Documentary Emmys. Schweitzer’s other credits include Emma, The Afterparty, Our Great National Parks, Sanditon, The Reluctant Traveler, and Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King. For this score, Schweitzer built a library of percussive textures by recording himself bashing and scraping actual World War II-era railings with wooden spatulas and metal tools, using the resulting clangs and scrapes extensively in tracks like “The War Machine,” “From the Frontlines,” and “Numberless Forces” to give the score a tactile, industrial weight fitting the archival footage.
World War II: From the Frontlines Soundtrack List
The full score album, “World War II: From the Frontlines (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)” by David Schweitzer, was released digitally on December 8, 2023, on the Netflix Music label.
| # | Track | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | From the Frontlines | 3:24 |
| 2 | Invasion of Poland | 2:47 |
| 3 | Warsaw in Ruins | 3:24 |
| 4 | Führer | 2:10 |
| 5 | Fortress Europe | 1:38 |
| 6 | Battle of Britain | 6:18 |
| 7 | Numberless Forces | 2:29 |
| 8 | Somewhere in the Atlantic | 2:52 |
| 9 | Il Duce | 1:51 |
| 10 | Treated Like Animals | 3:32 |
| 11 | Memphis Belle | 2:11 |
| 12 | Hirohito | 1:30 |
| 13 | Pearl Harbour | 2:38 |
| 14 | Collaborators | 2:58 |
| 15 | The Abbey Turned to Dust | 2:09 |
| 16 | Miles and Miles of Sweet F.A. | 3:47 |
| 17 | Gerda and Kurt | 5:15 |
| 18 | Reichstag | 1:48 |
| 19 | V.E. Day | 4:18 |
| 20 | Kamikaze | 2:04 |
| 21 | The Power of the Sun | 1:55 |
| 22 | The War Machine | 2:00 |
Note: every track on this album is part of David Schweitzer’s original score — this is a score-driven documentary without a separate licensed song tracklist.
Where to Stream World War II: From the Frontlines Soundtrack
The full score album is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. The documentary series itself streams exclusively on Netflix. For more documentary and true-story scoring coverage, visit our TV Soundtrack hub.
Official Trailer
(Source: Film Music Reporter, FMDB, David Schweitzer)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the World War II: From the Frontlines score?
David Schweitzer composed the original score and won an Emmy for it at the Documentary Emmys.
Who narrates World War II: From the Frontlines?
The series is narrated by John Boyega.
How many episodes does World War II: From the Frontlines have?
The docuseries has six episodes, totaling roughly 4 hours and 51 minutes.
Is there a soundtrack album for World War II: From the Frontlines?
Yes. David Schweitzer’s 22-track score was released digitally as “World War II: From the Frontlines (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)” on December 8, 2023, and is available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Where can I watch World War II: From the Frontlines?
The series streams exclusively on Netflix.
Related reading: TV Soundtrack hub | Netflix | Streaming hub