Tom Hanks opens up about ‘Saving Private Ryan’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIn Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks played Captain John H. Miller, thrilling audiences and shocking critics. <\/p>\n
As the World War II anniversary approaches, Hanks is remembering one of the deadliest wars in history. <\/p>\n
Part of a History Channel series that honors America’s 250th independence anniversary, the actor reenacted Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland. <\/p>\n
“In less than a month, a major European nation has been wiped off the map,” Hanks says, as he contemplates grim footage of explosions and soldiers firing at each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the first 24 hours the Germans took railways, bridges and airfields.<\/p>\n
Sam Houston State University professor Jadwiga Biskupska emphasizes the brutal invasion, saying, “Polish civilians experience modern war in an incredibly horrific way. They see people killed. It’s a nightmare.”<\/p>\n
Separately, Professor Alexandra Ritchie of the Collegium Civitas in Warsaw says, “The Poles have a modern army. It is the fifth largest army in the world, and it is equipped with modern tanks, all types of artillery and armored vehicles.”<\/p>\n
“But Hitler is devoting almost all his resources to equipping the army,” she adds. “The Poles were shot down.”<\/p>\n
The first three episodes of Hanks’ debut will premiere on May 25.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n