Tom Hanks gets honest about WWII ahead of anniversary

In Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks stepped into the role of Captain John H. Miller, electrifying audiences and stunning critics.

Now, as the World War II anniversary is near, Hanks is looking back at one of the deadliest wars in history.

Part of the History Channel series that honours America’s 250th independence anniversary, the actor revisited the Nazi Germany invasion of Poland.

“In less than a month, a major European nation has been removed from the map,” Hanks says as he reflects on grim footage of explosions and soldiers shooting at each other.

“The Germans take out railroads, bridges and airfields in the first 24 hours.

Jadwiga Biskupska, a professor at Sam Houston State University, weighs in on the brutal invasion, stating, “Polish civilians experience modern war in an unbelievably horrifying way. They see people killed. It’s a nightmare.”

Separately, Alexandra Richie, a professor at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, notes, “The Poles have a modern army. It’s the fifth largest army in the world, and it’s equipped with modern tanks, with all sorts of artillery and armoured trains.”

“But Hitler has been putting almost all his resources into equipping the military,” she continues. “The Poles were outgunned.”

Hanks's first three episodes will premiere on May 25.