THE BATTLE OF CARENTAN | The German View | Normandy WW2
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ม.ค. 2024
- On 6 June 1944 the elite German 6th Fallschirmjägerregiment would come face to face with the US 101st Airborne Division.
WHEN THE US AIRBORNE MET GERMAN PARATROOPERS FOR THE FIRST TIME | Carentan 'Purple Heart Lane' | Normandy WW2
The best German infantry units based in France in 1944 were the regiments of the Fallschirmjägerdivisions or parachute divisions. Although they were actually Luftwaffe troops, these units were by this time in the war, tactically subordinated to Army command.
In this video I follow the route of Lt Colonel Robert G Cole and the 3/502 PIR as they attacked Carentan; the route they took becoming known as 'Purple Heart Lane' due to the amount of casualties sustained in the offensive.
Sources:
The Lions Of Carentan: Fallschirmjager Regiment 6, 1943-1945 -
Griesser, Volker
www.nationalww2museum.org/war... Mitch Yockelson, PhD
warfarehistorynetwork.com/art...
www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.asp...
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I know these guys were taking the war one day at a time. But to think of what all those that survived this battle then went on to face the rest of the war is terrifying. They repeatedly went into hell for almost a year straight
How true. It was one thing after another. I hope you enjoyed the video 👍
Almost as bad as Vietnam where on a 13 month tour you were in combat 280 days and the average age of a grunt was 19 years old...
@@t.j.payeur5331 that’s terrible. The under appreciated conflict
My dad fought in Normandy and some of what he said still gives me nightmares all these years later. After fighting in Normandy and being shot, once healed he was then sent to fought against the Japanese. 6 years of fighting. How my dad and all those other men coped during and after I’ll never know ❤dad
Imagine the eastern front. Or the pacific.
The Then and Now are extremely touching. As the WWII pictures fade I can't help but think that many in the pictures never came home and we have lost almost all who did make it home. As the new photo overtakes the old I marvel that these places have lived mostly in peace for 80 years thanks to the allied forces in the Then pictures.
Well said my friend! I hope you enjoyed the video 👍
😢 😭 I as an American Army 🪖💪🪖 Veteran HOOAAAH ‼️ seeing this makes me cry.
@@thehistoryexplorerthank you for covering this battle. My uncle, PFC Kellam Turner, was killed in action at Carentan. I finally have some idea of what he faced. At least it was important to seize the town and his life wasn’t wasted.
@@ol-Sargehis and millions others lives were destroyed by Hitler.
That overlay at 20:45 is incredibly fascinating. Great job and thank you for that. Hits home seeing it as a real place. You can even see where the roof was repaired!!! Insane
Thank you so much my friend. Glad you enjoyed it
Yes the roof repair jumped out at me. I love them and made similar comments to you about how it brings it home.
Then and now *videos* are next level. I love them!
I was wondering how they had any chance at all of getting across the bridges. 0400 darkness seems to have been their saving grace.
It was madness really. Glad you enjoyed the then and now video 👍
absolutely one of the best documentaries about the fightings at the northern entrance of Carentan in June 44. Thank you!
With a pupils exchange between Carentan and my german hometown (they are tin-towns) I first came to Carentan in the summer of 69, aged 17 years. Since then, I spent nearly all my holidays there and in the 80ies I was living in Carentan more than 4 years. ( having now family, children, grandsons in Carentan)
I was allways interested in history and of course heared, read and learned a lot about Carentan in wartimes. I remember, when my friend Antoine showed me in the early 70ies the battelfield arround the Ingouf-farmhouse and the cabbage-field.
Every ten seconds he pointed at spots, places in the area and said " there were laying one ( two..three) US soldiers, there were laying one (two... three) german soldiers." He remembered the young faces of the german Fallschirmjäger : "16, 17, maximum 18 years old, they were kids", he said. Antoine was living in Carentan, rue Sebline, during the war, had polio when he was young, so he was not able to serve in the french army.
I remember all that military stuff still laying arround and collected by farmers in there barns. Helmets were used to feed the chicken, US coil wire was used as fences, some workers still wearing parts of uniforms. I saw oil-barrels filled up with amunition of all calibers. And the area of the Ingouf- farmhouse and cabbage field was free, no industrial buildings, no supermarkets, no monuments.
Hope to return to Carentan very soon, kids and grandsons are waiting for their Papa and Opa.
Again many thanks for this documentary. Keep on with your good work.
That a brilliant comment! Thank you so much for the feedback and for sharing your story. Fantastic 👍
Having visited that area several times over the years, it was easy for me to orient myself throughout this video. For someone who hasn't been there before, I think you do an excellent job orienting the viewer to the battle and terrain (much like all your videos). And yes, I LOVE "then and now" too.
Thank you Don, that’s what I hope to achieve in making these videos. Hopefully people will understand the conflict that way. I really appreciate your feedback 👍
Rob. Starting the new year strong. So well done. The video then and now footage is incredible! Really makes it come alive. Your use of maps really helps puts the entire action in perspective. As you say, it starts with the ground. Terrain is key. It’s nice to see the enemy perspective as well. Gives the viewer the whole picture. Your production values are first class and that, along with your excellent narration make it all work seamlessly. Great job. Looking forward to more of your work.
Thank you very much mate I’m so glad you enjoyed the video. Last of the Normandy series for now!
My response is a few days late, but this was the first time viewing the video. Great job! I was in the Artillery in both the Army and National Guard. I was also a paratrooper having been with the 82nd, 8th ABN DIV., and 173rd ABN in Nam. I always appreciate videos about paratroopers no matter the era or country. There's just something special about jumping from planes.
Thank you Bruce! A man after my own heart. So glad you enjoyed the video, this particular story is such a good one it should be shared more widely 👍
The overlay was beautiful! Makes it feel not so long ago. Almost brings them back from the grave and gives you greater appreciation that these were just everyday people called up to serve. Brings a tear to my eye.
Thank you for taking the time to do this!
Thank you very much! So glad you enjoy the video
I love your series Then and Now. So touching and poignant. I wish I was still in my American History classroom. I would show my students your series. The courage of those soldiers and the ultimate sacrifice that so many paid made possible the peaceful scenes of today. Thank you for giving these to us.👏
You are most welcome! I’d love to think these videos are shown in a classroom - which does make me think I probably need to be more engaging for teens in that case
@@thehistoryexplorer No need! The photos themselves do the trick.❤️
Your explanation and visual demonstration of the ground was very good. I have seen a couple of you tube battle historians cover this action but yours was by far the best. Well done! I look forward to watching more of your work.
Thank you so much. I really do appreciate the kind feedback
I had to come back to this again just to watch Lt Col Cole as a ghost. Just brilliant
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it buddy
My uncle, PFC Kellem Turner, was killed in action at Carentan. Thank you for providing me with some idea of the battle and why it was a critical objective. At least his death wasn’t for nothing.
You are most welcome my friend. What unit was he with?
Brilliant! Never knew this even happened! Well done Rob
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Got so many more videos planned 👍
Loved the then and now footage montage 👍🏻
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it
Great video I wasn't expecting you to be walking around on the ground so much, was a nice surprise and interesting to see how the land has changed
Glad you enjoyed it Kev. Thanks for the kind feedback
This is a wonderfully made and narrated video . Thank you so much.
I felt watching this ,that I was virtually there. It is a way above any other videos I have watched on this subject.
I look forward to watching others. RIP Lt Colonel Cole. What a brave man.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thank you so much for the very kind feedback. My goal is to help people understand the scenario in the best way possible.
The 80th D-Day anniversary was this week. I was watching the C-Span special "Normandy, the Airbone Invasion of Fortress Europe". The film talked about Caretan so I searched the name and found your wonderful TH-cam program on The Battle of Carentan. Thank you so much it showed the bravery of our young men.
You are so welcome! I hope you stay and enjoy more videos from the channel
PS the footage of Cole is remarkable. Not only because it is such an important historical record, but that he was awarded a Medal of Honour NOT posthumously.
Your comments on the ground make me think that once one actually does officer training, the landscape never looks quite the same, ever again, especially since everyone gets a generic infantry officer training ( =some who shall remain unnamed end up in steel boxes!) . Insignificant rises and dead ground assume massive importance at the tactical unit level. All the 'invisible to the civvy eye' stuff becomes obvious, but this requires schooling! Even now, I still cross creeks and look at the steepness of the banks to quickly assess bridging distances, fording depths and the best position for a DFSW to enfilade fire from a defilade position...
These guys are a legend to whom we owe so much.Stunning bravery at a brutal moment.Great video and great narrative.
Thank you very much indeed. So glad you enjoyed it 👍
I absolutely love these videos. I am fascinated with World War 2. I had five uncles that were in the war. Thankfully, they all survived. One was discharged from the army and tried to rejoin the Marines. They would not take him, so he joined the merchant Marines, where he had one ship torpedo out from under him.
What a legacy! You must be proud
@@thehistoryexplorer another of my uncles from the other side of the family was in the Philippines, when MacArthur left. He was left behind as so many were. Luckily, he was friends with some natives that hit him until MacArthur returned. From the story, I was told he requested to be equipped and put right back in the battle, a request which was denied. He was sent to a hospital and stayed for about six weeks and then was sent home. I have a 48 star flag that he carried with him all that time, it has a hole in it as a child. I always assumed that was a bullet hole, but later learned that it was not a bullet hole, but just age related damage.
You do such good work. Thank you. The average age was so young at 17.5 Just unreal.
Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. It turns out the average age of 17.5 was only applicable to replacements they received which was still a sizeable amount of them
What I liked the most was seeing the ground going in the direction these hero’s did put it in a different perspective for me Thank you and I really liked the moving then and now, great video
That’s awesome. So glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind feedback
Superb documentary, I am genuinely impressed with the information given. God knows what those guys went through in this battle for Carentan. The point of view from the German perspective is also very thought-provoking.
I could not run at a well-defended farmhouse with bayonet out.......balls of steel!!!
Thank you so much. Lots of work went into this one so I hope people enjoy it 👍 😊
If you do the Cole story in Best (near Eindhoven) also make sure to get the story of Joe E Mann. Also received the medal of honor for his actions here in Best :)
Yes I absolutely plan to my friend 👍
Fantastic and original look at this area! Keep up the awesome work and definitely include the then and now footage when you can. That brings it to life like no other way.
Thanks! Will do. Really appreciate the feedback 👍
Thank you for the real battle ground tour. People today just don’t get real war and the sacrifices made by everyone involved.
You are most welcome my friend. Thank you for the kind feedback
Great work friend. Excellent job of making memories of the war come to life. Love the onsite footage and you obviously have done your homework with the old videos, maps, and pictures. Very inspirational and educational 😊😊😊
So glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind comment
Great video Rob! I really enjoyed it! Very educational and informative! The then and now video images were brilliant, especially the ones with Lt. Cole!! Keep them coming!❤
You are very welcome. Thanks for the feedback!
Thankyou for bringing us to these places, where brave men fought and died 🕊️.
You are most welcome my friend
Used to be my dream vacation as a kid. Normandy to carentan, Pegasus bridge, the whole 9. I'll never make it now with hotel prices lol.
I’ve only just discovered your channel and this is my first video. The Then and Now shots were awesome. Thanks for the effort to make these amazing videos.
Welcome aboard! You’re most welcome buddy and I’m glad you enjoyed the video
Mate, you have a real talent for this, good stuff! Thanks for another excellent video!
Thank you very much Ron!
I love it.
This is made from a soldiers perspective.
Im thinking and seeing cover, concealment, field of fire.
That’s exactly what I was going for and what I hope to bring to these videos. So glad you enjoyed it 👍
Dude this is so good. You’re videos are incredible. I really appreciate all your hard work in preserving this important history and presenting it in such an easy-to-follow way. Thank you!
I appreciate that! It is genuinely my pleasure. I love doing this
I really enjoy the then and now clips, they led me to your channel
Hey buddy! Thank you very much
@@thehistoryexplorer my pleasure. I enjoyed this episode. The concept of then and now moving pictures was a really good idea. I hope to see more.
Keep going with the then and now. I've visited all these sites, but the footage really puts it in perspective.
Excellent. This is the first "live action" then and now I've seen. Very effective.
So glad you enjoyed it. I loved making the video and hope to go back to Carentan again soon 👍
Nothing beats being there. When I first saw episode 2 of Band of Brothers, the attack on Carentan just seemed like an action in another French village. But, some years ago, I took the train from Paris to Caen and rented a car with the goal of visiting Pegasus Bridge, Omaha Beach, the American Cemetary and Sainte-Mere-Eglise all in one day. I made it as far as the American Cemetary, but when I looked at the map, I realized that I could never make it to Sainte-Mere-Eglise and return to Caen in time to catch the train back to Paris. The reason, of course, was that the only route connecting the Utah Beach sector and Omaha Beach was through a village called... Carentan.@@thehistoryexplorer
@@crsnmorton sounds like my idea of heaven 👌
Awesome video thankyou footage was awesome as well as editing!
Thank you so much buddy. Really appreciate it
Sir this is the best most in depth video I've ever seen about a battle location. 💪💪💪💪 Happy very happy I found your site.
You are most welcome buddy. So glad you enjoyed it great picture too 👌
Great…
I had tried to watch this VDO clip of Carentan by assistance of the Alliance France, Bangkok Thailand.
Thanks for sharing this.
Great Normandy series. I love that part of France but haven’t been as often as I would like. Perhaps now in retirement.
Inspirational men of 502nd. I was struck by Coles’ clearheaded, real time battle appreciation. He could have retreated. He could have gone to ground (he talks not of artillery/mortar threat here but of being picked off by small arms). Or he could fix bayonets. All seemed to him equally risky, so on balance, better attack. Much easier said of course than done.
Thanks for the superb now-and-then technical work. France has of course been invaded & partially occupied twice in global conflict. The USA and Britain have not suffered that fate for strategic reasons, though Britain came close. Living in France, the traces of these occupations remain vivid all throughout the ‘hexagon’.
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the video and series. Many more videos to come!
This was a fantastic walk through of the battle on the north side of Carentan! Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Dank für die gute Arbeit! Eine faire Darstellung auch unserer Fallschirmjäger.
All the best for 2024. May we see us there when we come with our 9 motorcycles BMW and KS750 around the 4. -7. June this year. 👍
Thank you very much! So glad you enjoyed the video and good luck with your trip!
Imagine living in a house you know had been 'cleared'... probably best to not know exactly what happened where inside or you'd never sleep a wink!
Yes exactly! It must be surreal. There’s a information board outside of their driveway so they obviously know about it too
Great work. Love the 'Then and Now' images. Really puts you in theyre shoes. Thanks for the effort making these...going to watch more now:)
Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy the channel. I have hundreds more videos on the way
So glad I found your channel. I have been binging on it the last few days. I love the 'then and now' inserts and actually find them very emotional. They make the events seem so much more real and closer so for me the more of those you do the better. I am planning my trip to Normandy and you are informing where I will go. I intend to do a few this year and am even considering doing it on a cycle to really absorb it close to nature. Please keep going with the excellent work. I was born in 1953, just 8 year after the war ended and yet growing up the the war always seemed a distant event even though it was regularly discussed in school - now it all seems so recent -so not sure what has happened there. I will be looking for the locations of some of your 'then' and 'now' pictures you have shown to really bring it home. How transient life is!
Your comment has made my day! Cycling around those back roads and lanes behind the beaches will be stunning, especially in the spring and summer. I’ll be visiting again later this month and also in October. I love it there
What a cool video. Thanks for sharing mate!
Thank you very much buddy!
Thank you for this up load regards .
I’ve watched a few of your videos now and I have to commend your animated battle movement and then and now material. Absolutely top notch stuff. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the positive feedback. It takes a lot of work but I’m so glad you enjoy it. You’ve made my day 👍
I loved how you matched the footage up that was so cool
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank You ; THE , From what i have learned , the Fallshrimjagger were some tough folk to encounter , a shootout of epic level indeed .
You are very welcome!
Incredible content. A visual, boots on the ground Mark Felton 😅. Mean that in the highest regards dude! Keep it up! And heck yes! The before and after is simply incredible....really drives home the reality of it all more so than a map and animation only.
Thanks for the kind feedback buddy. Much appreciated
Superb loving your take on this content, with your own obvious knowledge and experience, your care to make sure your factually correct, the then and now and finally that your very obvious respect for the men on both sides who went through these experiences. Keep em coming please
Much appreciated! Thank you for your very kind feedback. I love doing this 👍
Amazing!! the information and detail in this story is brilliant. We really appreciate all the research you do for this channel and truly grateful for your hard work looking forward to the next episode 👍👍
Glad you enjoy it! My pleasure mate and great win today 🫡
@@thehistoryexplorer definitely 😁👍
As you said, I would follow this man. I agree and it's a military thing to scan the room and know almost instantly who you would go to in an emergency of the military kind. The feeling becomes ingrained for life.
Well said buddy. Couldn’t agree more 👍
Then and now photos and video is my favorite!! Keep it up! :)
Thank you! Will do!
Yes, love then and now images! Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Will do!
Great video and great job!! The Then and Now element is phenomenal; please continue to provide this historical connection. It truly is like time traveling to be able to see the connecting together of the past and present footage. Until we can get a flux capacitor, and a Delorean; Then and Now is the way to go!
Iam so pleased I have found your channel I like the way you explain everything and then and now photos also the way your adding film footage to take it that step further and bring the event to life .keep up this great channel 👏. 👏.
Thanks so much 😊 you’ve made my day
That was well done. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it! Loads more on the way
What an outstanding and engrossing video. I love the 'then and now'. I feel like I got to know Lt Col. Cole a little bit, which is magic.
What a brilliant comment. Glad to hear it!
Just came across your channel. Very informative. Can’t wait to watch some more 👍👍
Thanks mate. Appreciate it
Incredible work thanks
I really do enjoy the then and now video overlay. It gives a unique perspective.
Glad to hear it! So pleased you enjoyed the video
As amazingly portrayed in Band Of Brothers
The scene from band of brothers was indeed a 101st airborne attack in Carentan but it was by the 506PIR on a different route. I’ll make a video on that soon too 👍
Extremely well presented!
Thank you my friend! Really appreciate it
Incredible work!...thank you Sir :) .... lovin' the 'Now & Then'
You are most welcome my friend, glad you enjoyed it
Loved this bud, 5 stars from the U.S, I subscribed!
Awesome! Cheers mate
Such a beautifully made video! Thanks for putting in the work to really bring it to life.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic video! The “Then and Now” was eerily touching. I love your shows! Tom Mullen, Geneva, IL USA.
Thank you very much Sir. Glad you enjoyed it!
This was really well presented, thank you! The overlay and info were both great.
So glad you enjoyed it, it really means a lot to me to know people are benefiting from the videos or taking something from them 👍 thanks
@@thehistoryexplorer You're very welcome! I know the effort people like you put into making these videos (planning, traveling, researching, recording, editing, and I'm sure I'm STILL omitting things. This video was really like walking in their boots! That field of fire from the house though...unreal.
I'm looking forward to watching your other videos!
@@sundaymorninghikes6275 it’s an absolutely pleasure and honour to share these locations. Thanks for the very kind feedback
Amazing detail, thank you!
Thank you Bruce! Glad you enjoyed it
I love watching then and now clips it put a perspective on what these men went through. I thank these guys for the life I have now and we should never forget. God bless
This is very interesting thank you!
And thanks to all you men and woman in service ❤
Thanks for the kind feedback!
Really like the then and now.
Thank you buddy 👍
Those interviews with the real guy telling us hes going to charge gives me the willies. Damn dude. How did you guys survive. Just having him in back & white shows how determined he is.
So Gnarly, Heros, all of them.
He’s a very brave and determined leader. Sad story about his death
von der heidt and his men battled our own in a post normandy,one side raised a white truce flag,, 2 cdrs met during the cease fire,agreeing to hold fire for a couple hours, maybe one hr,while medics of both sides worked at attending to their own men and the adversaris wounded, the wounded,moving KIAs rearward,,von der heidt got a lletter of commendation from an american cdr for his scrupulous observance of the truce
Two elite units that respected each other despite the bloody fighting
Excellent as always...👍👍
Thank you! Cheers!
i absolutely love then and now. the more accurate and lined up the better. nicely done in this video too
Thank you very much! So glad you enjoyed it
Great video, fantastic work! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you very much!
@@thehistoryexplorer I particularly love the video of the past over the still of today. Superb. I think that would be an amazing way to show history to the youth of today.
Fascinating video. Then and now needs to stay, especially the movie pictures. First of its kind I’ve seen. It made clear what he said. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you
Outstanding video. Then and now is an excellent perspective!
Thank you! Really appreciate it
super cool then and now footage! more please!
More to come! Thank you
Loved it man.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant as always
Thank you so much mate. Really appreciate it
More please. Thank you.
Many many more videos to come 👌
Yes absolutely love the then and now perspective. Really brings the history to life.
So glad you enjoyed it
Incredible channel. Your presentations are remarkable.
Thank you very much! That comment has made my day 😊
Great vid yhank you
You are most welcome my friend
Thank-you so much for showing us the ground with a soldier's eye. Thank goodness Jerry was lacking ammo. I don't see how the Americans could have surmounted all these obstacles.
I didnt know some footage from ww2 came with the original audio.. 😮 most I've seen had the artillery explosions added post editing as only video footage without audio was able to be captured. Very cool.
Hello Katie, it’s fantastic isn’t it? The audio isn’t great but I think it just adds so much more depth to his character. I hope you enjoyed the video
Then and now overlaid pictures are very valuable.
Thank you very much!
A well made and informative video. BZ!
What many people in Britain, the USA and Canada may not know is that the German paratroops, the Fallschirmjäger, were actually a part of the Luftwaffe, the German air force, and were not units of the German army (Heer).
Very true
Thank you for sharing
Wishing you a Happy, Healthy, and Safe 2024
🎖️🏆🙏🤗
and to you! I hope you enjoy the video
Indeed love the then and now footage
I think the "Then & Now" footage is excellent! It certainly brings the vision to life.👍🏻 What happened to the video of the No. 3 bridge? You skipped from No.2 to the No. 4. 🤔
Fantastic story telling and videography.
Thank you so much. Very appreciated
Exceptional use of digital media, historical sources, story-telling AND Maps!@@thehistoryexplorer
This video is very well done. 👍
Thank you very much!
Then and now are perfect for a full circle..... amazing
Thank you buddy