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Colin another excellent video lesson ! I appreciate your ability to bring this important historical period alive for WWII history buffs, but even more so for future generations to learn about WWII. How I wish I had been aware of your body of work before spending a day of touring Normandy and the nearby areas three years ago. Sending you a sincere thank you.

Thank you!! My great uncle was with Co. A, 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was killed on 8 August 1944 at Le Pilon, Hill 285 in the advance described at 6:05. I’ve researched my uncle for years, and I’ve always wondered how the battle unfolded. Although I’ve read the after-action reports, the battle was never clear. Your video put it all together for me. I’m so grateful for your work. Anyway, my family and I have become friends with a number of people in St. Barthelemy in the Assoc. Soldat Michael Burik, and two years ago my teenage son worked with our French friends to build a monument to the 823rd in just off the town square in St. Barthelemy and a monument here in Southern Utah to WWII veterans of the ETO.

Well done documentary, thank you. While on vacation to Normandy in '85 and touring the Falaise area by car, I had found some papers along a road below Mt. Ormel in a small ravine. These papers were obviously of someone's school lessons, possibly those of a French grade schooler, judging by the ruled foolscap and lead pencil used for practicing their English language translations and penmanship. Just why these papers had been left in an area rife with WW2 history, particularly in a valley known for historical carnage, was beyond comprehension to me. Because my wife was teaching French to middle school-aged students in America, she took great delight in using these papers in class as a teaching aide.

Lest we Forget, thank you for sharing Colin. Cheers and take care

Thanks for posting

How about do one about the Normandy bar? And the story of the dedication of the engineering monument down on the beach and a little girls that had their American flag dresses made out of parachute silk.

How about make a video on the actual first landings of D-Day. The US reconnaissance battalions that landed out on the channel Islands some distance from the Normandy beachheads to secure them. It was all part of the Normandy landing and they were on the ground hours before the gliders landed at Pegasus bridge. Even though they did not face any German combat troops they did lose quite a few men to land mines and mines in the sea. Another unwritten chapter of the D-Day landings.

I read in a VFW magazine some years ago that families of the unit that was not combat train to this day still blame Colonel Johnson for the death of their loved ones because he failing to allow them to be extricated out of the area. Then again like many of the massacres none of the SS was ever held accountable in a court after the war.

Thank you for your indenpth explanations of all , all your second world war battles many thanks and keep the good work up

My father was in the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders of the 9th Canadian Brigade.

Such a terrific presentation! Appreciated all your research in order to provide in-depth information around a subject most people would have vague knowledge or understanding of and then only if they knew about WWII. Sadly, the history of WWII is being lost to younger generations. Thank you for your efforts to keep this history alive and providing its importance to modern relevance .

I wonder why the British never did take down those towers at the steel works and the cement factory? That would take it away much of the observation power of the Germans.

My great-uncle was in the US army, 30th infantry division. in his journal, he mentioned being told to let the tanks pass. He was subsequently captured with the other men in his foxhole and spent the rest of the war as a POW, held in Stalag VIIA. The more I learn about his division, the prouder I am of his service and sacrifice for the world's greater good. He was a farm boy from rural Ohio, Louis Greene, Jr.

Thank you for posting these, I watch them with great interest. My late uncle William McKillop was a wireless/gunner CDN 4th armoured Governor Generals Foot Guard. He would occasionally share snippets of his experience at Falaise but seldom as it seemed to cause him anxiety. 😔

As discovered by Norm Christie in his excellent analysis at th-cam.com/video/xP5ndJ1IpiY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1V1GUd3C-CnjoxQg, Wittmann was most likely killed by the Sherbrooke Fusiliers.

all this kit wandering about Normandy and at their camps adds so much, thanks to all that are a part of it. Thanks Colin missed this bit was already on my way home on the 8th.

We went there 4 weeks ago. It touched me far more than I expected. So emotional when you realize that these giants paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The shadows of these silhouets with their heads all bowed down to the ground enhance the emotional experience. Certainly worth the visit. The memorial is located at Val sur Mer, not far from Arromanche and will be only there until September this year.

Watching your videos is almost like being part of one of your tour groups. It is amazing how the countryside has recovered after the very destructive war

You should do the story of the dedication of the engineer monument in 1945. Especially about the young girls who had the dresses made up of red white and blue parachute material in fact one of them still lives in that area and the bar is still there and open.

Very interesting through your research. Charlie

Thank you.

Excellent deep dive. Fascinating story. Your use of native languages not bad either! WTG.

I played golf at Omaha beach golf club and came across the memorial to 47 Commando Royal Marines at the back of 6th green.

Out of curiosity. When I saw Michael Whitman's grave back in the mid-90s he had a very ornate tombstone with an engraving of him sitting up on the top of a tank whatever happened to that monument?

the death of Herbert Denham “Den” Brotheridge, considered the first allied officer to have been killed in the ground fighting on D-Day. The theory of a fratricidal fire is supported by the author on the basis of the testimonies collected during his various interviews. Von Keusgen furthermore considers that the accidental death of “Den”, deputy officer and friend of Major Howard commanding English troops, would have been a well-kept secret by British veterans

People tend to forget one thing about this battle it was the US first and second infantry divisions that opened up this hole in the line but then general Montgomery intervened and wanted to use his own troops.. but Montgomery did not take the opportunity to find out that the Americans had already had plans to exploit this hole in the German lines. Same as doing the Battle of the bulge when general Montgomery intervened and pulled out the US 82nd airborne division which led to most of the personnel of Piper's armor unit being able to escape..... In Montgomery always uses the excuse that he wanted to draw all of the heavy SS armored divisions against the British and Canadian armor on the Eastern flank... Then how does he explained the US 30th infantry division standing up against the SS armored divisions later on in the battle for Normandy without the intervention of the British ground forces? Even later on in this great series that you have on the Battle of Normandy you tell the story of the lieutenant on top of the high hills with only his radio in contact with the US corps artillery that defeated the SS armored divisions. Many people tend to forget that general Montgomery came from the Yonkers land owner class of British society n he had absolutely no problem in sacrificing colonial troops to get his own way... Have you ever really wondered why Australia pulled out their ground forces from under Montgomery's command??? And why the free French armored units would not fight under Montgomery's command inside of France? General Sir Harold Alexander would have been a much better choice to command the land forces in northern Europe.

I was there 5 weeks ago......we must keep the memory of these brave men alive....lest we forget.....well done sir.

bonjour et merci pour votre vidéo

Thanks for sharing Colin. Cheers

Why do you not do a story about the little girls with the American flag dresses when they dedicated the engineer monument? From what I understand one of them is still alive and her father still has that bar where the dress is displayed at along with a lot of memorabilia would make a great video.

excellent. if we come to Vire could you give us a tour? we would hire you

Was there ever an official investigation conducted by Montgomery's headquarters to find out exactly who was responsible and to take corrective action? I know the senior engineering officer of the 58 highland division was relieved from command when it was determined that he did not have the minefield mapped and held up the advancement for the conquest of cann. There was American generals and other field-grade officers relieved from command and sent back home for a whole lot less.

THANK YOU for these beautiful pictures i was born in bayeux 'hopital clemenceau) near jerusalem, i lived in conde sur seulles that s why i love great britain my grandparents had english people on their fields from june 1944 to february 1945 'i kept the papers why ?i don t know in the farm there were some "grafittis on the walls" and bullet holes all is true tks

❤❤❤❤❤

Go get em Scully you did your duty and some

Thank you for that history lesson and insight into this great man, served in the Green Howards in 1978 and also had the pleasure of serving with CSM Hollis’s grandson also names Stan, a great guy and a good laugh.

Red McCormick was a First Hussars

Mothers will inherit the world? Your thoughts?

Hi mate, a lot of the brave ones were after the next pub? Your thoughts? And a cigarette?

lovely, lovely video - but your voice is often drowned out by background noise and music (why?).

It is not true that all of the resistance newspapers were allowed to come out in the open after liberation. Remember general degaulle suppress almost all of the Communist resistance movements so he could seize control of the government. And even got to the point that he went to the ussr to visit with premier Joseph Stalin, mainly because of all of the promises that were made to communist resistant leaders that they would have a share in the government after liberation was not followed up on and he was afraid that the Russians were going to rearm the resistance and start a civil war within France. Same as that happened in Greece after liberation.

The revised location of Burgetts fighting outside St Come Du Mont also fits when you refer to his account of holding the left flank of the hedgerow and shot a German solider near an old building and pile of bricks. There are several buildings along the west side of the road there that could have been what he was referring to. I also recall he mentioned enemy mortar and artillery positions on the left flank, perhaps in the approximate location of the industrial station opposite the museum, or further north.

I have recently returned from the 80th Anniversary in Normandy and had the fortune to visit the museum at Dead Man's Corner. This video is the perfect accompaniment to my visit there and provides an excellent perspective of the actions that took place in June 1944. Keep up the good work creating these videos.

Thank You

That German truck you mention at 1:53 is actually a French made Laffey. The huge armored truck you mention at 9:15 is a Dragon Wagon and it is usually seen during the war recovering Sherman tanks that were damaged in battle. In Belton Cooper's book Death Traps, he speaks of an over eager commander of a Dragon Wagon going out to collect a Sherman in the middle of a battle which the Germans saw as well, and they began shooing an artillery barrage that destroyed the Dragon Wagon, the Sherman it was trying to collect, and every thing else around the area. By the way, you accidentally called a Bren Gun carrier a Weasel, and the Panzer two is actually called a Lynx.

Thank you for giving coverage to Waverly Wray, he was from Batesville, Mississippi and there is a highway named after him. I am also from Mississippi. Wray did many amazing things including capturing a German brigade, and in Nordike's book on the 82nd, his men called him the Alvin York of WW2. While he did so much, he was never awarded the Medal of Honor, and over the years there have been attempts to right that wrong. The commanding officer said there would only be one Medal of Honor giving for actions on and around D-Day.

Great overview of the recent celebrations Colin. Thanks for sharing. Do you ever work with Paul Woodage of WW2TV?

I was there 4th to 6th it was a great few days, did'nt visit any museums just lapped up the fantastic atmosphere the reenactors and their vehicles make it such a show of living history. it was a bit crazy at times battling through the traffic even though we were on motorbikes but everyone seemed just happy to be there even the Gendam's were waving back and prompting us to tag on the back of their groups, many of them likely not local as they were taking snaps as we were in some well known locations. Its a strange mixture of commeration of the fallen and joy of the begining of liberation but works really well, was there in 2004, and 14, would love to think I will be on my bike in 34 too. Thanks to all the People who made it what it was last week especially those with itchy uniforms and gas guzzling machines. Special thanks to those that will always be there, and those that went to visit them who made it all happen 80 years ago. Thanks for the vid some was familiar.

I am attempting to learn more about what is referred to as Hill 91 near the battle that broke out near the town of Ariel France. My father's best buddy was assigned with four other forward observers that came across the Germans and their pants are tanks that were grouping near the bridge. Any information you may have about these men killed by friendly fire when they requested artillery support would be appreciated. I believe they were under the command of general Hobbs.

I would like for you to start doing more stories similar to this one human interest stories of the French people and how they stood up to the German terror. I purchase the book that you recommended in another video the secrets of D-Day very enlightening book.❤