Holocaust was a miniseries broadcast on NBC in 1978. It tells the story of the Holocaust from the perspective of the Weiss family of German Jews, and from the point of view of a German family where the husband is a rising SS member. Holocaust highlighted numerous important events which occurred during World War II, such as Kristallnacht, the creation of Jewish ghettos and later, the use of gas chambers. The series ultimately attempted to portray the atrocity of this genocide to viewers.

Holocaust was broadcast in four parts from April 16 to April 19. It was extremely popular earning a 50% market share. It was also popular in Europe and had a major impact when it was broadcast in West Germany. It starred Meryl Streep and James Woods and its large supporting cast had many other actors. The miniseries also arose controversy as it was criticized for trivializing the Holocaust. The television format meant the realism was muted. While the fact that NBC made a great deal from commercials led to accusations that the tragedy was being commercialized. Its creators defended it arguing that making others aware of the Holocaust is important.

• American Cinema Editors, USA: Eddie for Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series
• Directors Guild of America, USA: DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials
• Emmy Awards: Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series, Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama or Comedy Series, Outstanding Film Editing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series, Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series
• German Critics Association Awards: Critics Award for Television
• Golden Globes, USA: Golden Globe for Best TV Actress - Drama, Best TV Actor - Drama
• PGA Golden Laurel Awards: PGA Hall of Fame - Television Programs
• Peabody Awards: Peabody Award
• TP de Oro, Spain: TP de Oro for Best Foreign Series (Mejor Serie Extranjera)

Details

Actors:  Meryl Streep and James Woods
• Directors: Marvin J. Chomsky
• Format: Anamorphic, Full Screen, NTSC
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Other Movies You Might Like at Amazon.com

• Holocaust: A History DVD
• Holocaust: Theresienstadt DVD
• Holocaust: The Liberation of Auschwitz DVD
• Harvest of Despair: The Unknown Holocaust DVD

 Some Holocaust survivors have criticized the portrayal of Dr. Weiss, after he becomes a prisoner of Auschwitz, because his character is portrayed as working on road gangs and paving crews. Jewish doctors in Auschwitz were almost always assigned to the Camp Infirmary and placed in the moral dilemma of serving under German Doctors. These Jewish doctors endured an "agony of conscience" as they were ordered to help prevent the spread of disease from Jewish inmates to German captors, and also participate in medical experiments and, in some cases, even selections for the gas chambers.
When this was aired on German television, police station switchboards were flooded with confessional calls during the "Krystallnacht" scene, where people were smashing the windows of synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses. People who had participated in the actual event were calling to confess their participation, but the Statute of Limitation had taken effect, and no actions could be taken, despite their confessions.
On Kristallnacht, occurring in 1938, Reinhard Heydrich wears a type of collar insignia that the SS did not use until 1942.