Introduction

Match wits with the greatest military leaders and go behind the scenes of the most intriguing battles in history.

Outline

Command Decisions was a series produced by Hoff Productions which aired on The History Channel in 2004. Each episode depicted an historic battle through re-creations, and gave the viewer an opportunity to test his or her skills, strategies, and nerve as a commander through nine questions. The viewer was asked to imagine themselves in the mind of the battlefield commander, and would choose from 3 options for how to proceed.

Command Decisions Series

• Episode 01: Battle of the Bulge (December 1944 to January 1945) Original Airdate: 23 July 2004.
• Episode 02: Battle of Midway Original Airdate: 30 July 2004.
• Episode 03: Battle of Cambrai (November to December 1917) Original Airdate: 06 August 2004.
• Episode 04: Battle of Stalingrad (August 1942-February 1943) Original Airdate: 13 August 2004.
• Episode 05: Battle of Waterloo (June 1815) Original Airdate: 20 August 2004.
• Episode 06: Battle of Saratoga (September to October 1777) Original Airdate: 27 August 2004.
• Episode 07: Battle of Inchon (September 1950) Original Airdate: 03 September 2004.
• Episode 08: Battle of Marathon (490 BC) Original Airdate: 10 September 2004.
• Episode 09: The Tet Offensive (1968) Original Airdate: 24 September 2004.
• Episode 10: The Six Day War (June 1967) Original Airdate: 01 October 2004.
• Episode 11: Battle of Châlons (June 451 AD) Original Airdate: 08 October 2004.
• Episode 12: Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863) Original Airdate: 15 October 2004.
• Episode 13: Battle of Little Bighorn (June 1876) Original Airdate: 22 October 2004.
• Episode 14: Battle of Desert Storm (January to February 1991) Original Airdate: 29 October 2004.
• Episode 15: Siege of Alesia (September 52 BC) Original Air Date: 13 November 2004.
  • Filmed in 2003 and featured the historical re-enactment groups Legio X Fretensis as the Romans and a Celtic group named “Gaestate” who modified their equipment and costume to emulate Gauls of the First Century BC.
• Episode 16: Battle of Hastings (October 1066) Original Airdate: 20 November 2004.
  • Re-enactment team here.
• Episode 17: Battle of San Juan Hill (July 1898) Original Airdate: 27 November 2004.
• Episode 18: Battle of Rivoli (January 1797) Original Airdate: 05 December 2004.
• Episode 19: Battle of Britain (1940) Original Airdate: 12 December 2004.
• Episode 20: Gulf War (Desert Shield Phase) (August 1990 to February 1991) Original Airdate: 12 December 2004.
• Episode 21: Battle of Iwo Jima (February to March 1945) Original Airdate: 19 December 2004.

Caveats

• Not sure if there are supposed to be 20 or 21 episodes in this series.
• Different (secondary) sources have different numbers of episodes (16, 17, 20 or 21), the episodes in different orders, and different airdates (very confusing for both me and potential viewers).
• The series was released on DVD at some point, with 2 episodes per DVD (which would point to 20 episodes!).
• You can occasionally buy the DVD’s on eBay.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Dan Bree.
  • Marlon Singleton.
• Producer(s):
  • Dan Bree … associate producer.
  • Katie Buono … associate producer.
  • Michael Hoff … executive producer.
  • Margaret Kim … executive producer: History Channel.
  • Marlon Singleton … associate producer.
  • Erika Trott … producer.
  • Chris Valentini … executive producer.
• Writer(s):
  • Dan Bree.
  • Katie Buono.
  • Shirley Tatum.
• Music:
• Cinematography:
  • Emery Clay III.
  • Rico Corona.
• Editor(s):
  • Andres Alegria.
• Production:
  • Michael Hoff Productions.
• Distributor(s):
  • History Channel (2004) (US) (TV).
• Release Date: July 2004 (US).
• Rating: TV-PG.
• Running Time: 30 minutes (18-22 minutes minus adverts).
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Clip(s)