While the basic facts of Germany's role in World War II are well known among older Americans, Europeans and other Westerners (but not Asians), there are some fundamental misconceptions.
I guess some of these arose during the war, when the public had no direct insight into what was going on in Germany; all we saw were the early successes and how dangerously close Germany came to total victory, which would have been complete if it had successfully invaded Britain. And some undoubtedly resulted from Germany's own propaganda machine portraying Hitler as a strong, brilliant leader.
It is ironic watching "The Bunker" 1981 seeing Goebbels in his last hours before committing suicide ranting about how the Jews were to blame for Germany's downfall, again. Germany's loss in WWII was due largely to the incompetence of Hitler, whom Goebbels' propaganda had built into a god. That's the case this documentary makes, convincingly.
Hitler pulled Germany into a larger war in Europe it was not ready to fight by invading Poland, which was supported by mutual defense treaties with other European nations. This led to war on several fronts, but not with the USSR, with which it had a treaty. And so what does Hitler do? Invade Russia, too, while still trying to bomb Britain into submission. And the invasion of Russia came too late in the year, bogging the Nazis down in the Russian winter, without winter gear. Not very bright, Adolph.
Yet, Hitler still could have won the war. The Germans were the first to get jet aircraft into battle. But Hitler felt they should only be used offensively, for bombers, not defensively, as fighter aircraft. This, of course, was backwards. Could you imagine what jet fighters would have done to British and American prop planes? There is even evidence, presented in another documentary, that a prototype jet aircraft the Nazis built may have been an early stealth jet, designed to minimize radar detection. It was not used.
This documentary goes through a long list of such gross errors, deflating the mystique of infallibility surrounding Hitler. As such, it is must see viewing to correct our common misconceptions about Hitler and the Nazis.
Another must see documentary is "Victory in the Pacific" 1995. You cannot understand Japanese and Allied actions during the war, especially the use of nuclear bombs on Japan, without seeing this documentary. I think many Asians have a severely distorted view of this period of history. And many Westerners have an overly simplified view.
"How Hitler Lost the War" is not a dry, academic treatise. It is full of surprises and holds your interest. And it has an important lesson we should remember: Seemingly invincible tyrants can be incompetent.