As is the case with many other subject areas, history buffs are enormously well served by the vast documentary libraries of Netflix.

While there are some interesting offerings looking at events in the more distant past, such as Secrets Of Great British Castles, Myths & Monsters and The Pyramid Code, it’s modern history where the streaming service really excels.

For anyone who enjoys gaining a little extra insight into the events that shaped our contemporary world, here are six of the most intriguing options available to watch on Netflix UK.

The Civil War

The first of several Ken Burns entries on this list is his groundbreaking series on the American Civil War.




Burns’ nine episode series arguably remains the definitive documentary on this deep-rooted conflict.

Combining archive materials, expert analysis and a cast of talented actors providing narration, it’s a comprehensive and immersive look at a decisive era in American history.

Five Came Back

Adapted from Mark Harris’ book of the same name, this short series tells the story of five Hollywood directors who served their country during the Second World War and looks at how the experience shaped them.

The wartime journeys of John Ford, Frank Capra, John Huston, William Wyler and George Stevens make for absorbing viewing, and the use of modern-day luminaries such as Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola is a great addition.

The West

Another series which Ken Burns had a prominent hand in creating, The West is a fascinating look at the shaping of modern America.

The series charts the trials and tribulations experienced by settlers during westward expansion and how this period helped forge a new country.

As in the case of The Civil War, the use of celebrity voices to provide narration is a neat touch.

The West is epic in scope and offers a definitive look at a bygone era.

Last Days In Vietnam

Rory Kennedy’s 2014 film offers an astonishing glimpse at the chaotic final days of American involvement in the Vietnam War.

As the North Vietnamese close in on Saigon, the planned evacuation causes major dilemmas for the remaining US officials who are instructed to only evacuate American citizens.

Their decisions and actions in those final days make for poignant, riveting and occasionally harrowing viewing.

Prohibition

A fascinating point in American history gets the Ken Burns treatment here as the master documentary maker turns his attention to a time where the country took the contentious step of outlawing alcohol.

The series gives a full background as to what led to the 18th Amendment being passed and also examines the lasting legacy of the criminal activity it inspired.

Prohibition offers a compelling insight into a tumultuous era.

Auschwitz: The Nazis And The Final Solution

This six-part series from the BBC offers a harrowing but vital account of the Holocaust and, specifically, events at Auschwitz concentration camp.

The series interviews both survivors and former guards, and utilises archive footage and recreations, to deliver a hard-hitting and immaculately researched programme.



It can be understandably difficult to watch at times, but it remains an incredibly comprehensive look at a hugely evocative subject.

MORE: 7 of the best science and nature documentaries on Netflix

MORE: 6 of the best sports documentaries on Netflix

MORE: 6 of the best documentary movies to watch on Netflix