JD, I’m not sure what official records you were looking at in regards to Graignes, but I was there for the 75th anniversary of that battle. The townspeople there said that besides those killed in battle, SS men executed 44 villagers for giving aid to the Americans, including Madeleine Pezeril and eighty-year-old Eugénie Dujardin, who were shot to death in their beds. The SS also took Father Leblastier and Father Lebarbanchon from the rectory into the courtyard and executed them. The Germans then set fire to the village burning down 66 homes, and the church. All this was related by a few survivors who were witness to all of this. I think this story needs deeper consideration.
I'm sure there's more to every story but I appreciate JD actually going over there to bring these stories to our attention. I would have never known this story and now, I can dig further into it if I so wish.
@@johnsimms4501 As do I john. I've been appreciative of every vidoe JD's produced since I started following his channel in 2020. I'm just passionate about this story having met some of the people who were there and survived the battle and subsequent massacre. I've been very fortunate to have know many WWII vets and civilian survivors of the war, and in that time I've found there has been more than a few times where old military records were less than accurate.
Reminds me of the Battle of the Alamo. It's kind of sad that it's not a better known or recognized battle. I guess because it was one of many fought in such a short time.
I recently read an article in a French magazine written by an historian saying that the story of the battle of Graignes is a little biaised. According to new researches some historians, notably Martin KA Morgan who wrote a book about the battle, are reconsidering their views about it. There are evidences like a aerial picture of the church late June showing little damages compare to after the war pictures, a report of the strenght of the German forces (a little less than 200 men and not 2000 with tanks), and also lack of evidences, for example they have not find (yet) a report of an inquiry regarding to the execution of POW like it exists for the executions of Hemevez. It also seems that most of the civilians were killed during the combats or later bombings (like both priests). After the battle Germans ordered the remaining civilians to evacuate the village and it seems that the two ladies were still there because their horse collapsed and they were executed at that moment. There are a few examples of what you can find in this video : th-cam.com/video/_y8xA74Zy7I/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=WW2TV
Captain Sophian was the battalion surgeon who was with this group in Graignes. He was the son of a well-known physician and grew up in Kansas City, MO. During this battle, it's been written that he cared for the wounded soldiers in the church until the end when many of the remaining paratroopers escaped through the marshes to join up with the American forces. They were vastly outnumbered. He had the opportunity to leave too at that point but chose instead to stay and care for the immobilized wounded Americans. When the SS captured the town, they executed all the remaining soldiers including Captain Sophian. He is now interred in the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery on a hill. He left behind a child who he never had the chance to see.
I had never heard this story. As a veteran of the 82nd, this touches my very soul. My connection to these MEN is something I wouldn't sell for GOLD. Thank you to all involved in making these programs and especially to those who actually did it.
I really appreciate this series. My father was in the 5th Armored Div and landed at Utah beach. You have covered so much and brought me so much insight that I feel like I'm there with you on this. Thank you and be safe...
I am glad that you did this story, it is sadly almost unknown to the greater public. I visited the memorial in 2008 and it was hard to find, it is really in the backwaters. The defense by the troopers was epic and so was the help they had from the civilians. Tragically many paid with their lives. You forgot to mention the priests who where executed by the germans and are buried in the church.
Visited Graignes last week after viewing this video, very quiet except for a burial being prepared , seemed so far from st mere eglise ,quite a misdrop indeed, such a sad place to visit with so many lives lost in such a small village , Lest we forget .God bless the souls remembered here .
Alright, first up, I am an Australian. Listening to your history makes me feel patriotic and very thankful for the sacrifices of US troops and other allied forces in the European theatre of war. Australian servicemen were largely and most notably in the Pacific and African theatres fighting the Japanese and of course Rommels Panzers (look up the Rats of a Tobruk). Now, I have to say I have absolutely loved all the content you have put out JD, particularly on Maj. Winters and the men of Easy Company from the Toccoa videos about the PIR training, to the foxholes in the Bois Jacque overlooking Foy all the way to your tours of St. Marie du mount and the gun emplacements there. Goes without saying I am a massive HBO Band of Brothers fan. However, this video struck me in particular. The stand those PIR men took, the heroism of the citizens in supporting the Allied force who gathered to defend Graignes were incredible, absolutely incredible. I’ve watched this video before, but I didn’t notice that on the wall showing all those who sacrificed, there is an enlisted man who stood out as different from the others, he goes by the name of FLT.SGT Stanley K. Black (RAAF) or in other words the Royal Australian Air Force. FLT.SGT. Black and his Lancaster bomber was shot down on the night of 9/10 June in the area of the town of Lison. He was taken in by some brave French villagers and given rest and a “good stiff drink” as the records go. He asked to be shown to the town of Graignes where he met the PIR element whose orders were to defend the village. FLT.SGT Black stayed and helped defend the village alongside his US brothers-in-arms. He died in defence of the village, aged 21. He was not initially recognised on the memorial and a local English lady by the name of Ms. Liggins who knew the story of the lone RAAFie (affectionate name for the Aussie Air Force) petitioned to have the memorial updated to include his sacrifice as well. Stanley Black was born in Melbourne in 1923, his story is incredible and I can only assume each of those other Paratroopers had their own story just as incredible and awe inspiring. I am very glad the Australian story was intertwined with the US story at this little village of Graignes, makes me damn proud.
@@TheHistoryUnderground Australians are very proud of their military and the sacrifices of those who came before. There certainly are sites that may be of historical interest if you decide to visit the land down under one day. Until then, just keep doing what you are doing, this storytelling means a lot to people who recognise the price of freedom paid by the many many who gave their all.
The sacrifice of Australian youth in conflicts in France during WW1 is profound and sobering. In the battlefields of Flanders Fields the attrition of lives was beyond reason.
Another fascinating episode. The courage it took to jump out of a plane into the night with tracers flying all around, the bursting flak and noise of hundreds of C47’s. Incredible. Keep up the excellent content.
my dad told me he was second from the door in the stick, all crammed together so they could push each other out as quick as possible so they weren't spread so widely when they landed. he said the flack seemed to curve up very slowly until it reached the plane then went crack! as it passed. he said he couldn't wait to jump before the plane got hit hahaha. I laugh now at the way he said it, but strewth, I can't imagine what it would be like. He was 21 years old, just old enough to vote in the UK at that time.
I again tip my hat to you, Paul, and entire production crew for yet another great historical presentation! Not discounting the enormity of June 6 and public interest focus of the beach landings, but I find all the subsequent battles on immediate days following to be remarkably fascinating from a historical sense. Your vlog series of these subsequent events has not only educated me and others on the individual strategic importance of the events in the big picture of liberating Europe , but the presentations are done in such a respectful and dignified way. Thank you again Sir for your time and efforts. God Bless!
Another great watch. It's amazing how beautiful and peaceful the church and church yard is considering what happened there so many years ago. Thank again for keeping history alive.
JD... Another superb vlog. You have shown your viewers the heroism of the soldiers. You have now given to us an insight into the brave French citizens who fought the Germans as well.. Thank you again for taking us on this journey with you.
Great story. I know it's not the same, but when I was in the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group training in Germany in the mid 80's we were always treated well by the German civilians. When set up in towns and villages, we would park our vehicles in the yards and garages, cam nets, the whole works. We were often treated with fresh baking and the occasional beers as well.
We did one drop during my service where the last guy in the last stick landed in another conty... But we jumped JUST by the border, a road was the border and he dropped on the other side of it (dirt road). This seems a little more than that.. ;) Keep the Normandy stuff coming, loving it!
Anyone else notice F/Sgt Stanley Black RAAF on the memorial? I wonder how many people who visit Normandy even come to these little, but important, back water battlefields? Each town was just a link in the chain of victory. With the paratroopers being scattered far and wide, I wonder how wise it was to sent inexperienced in combat transport pilots into a combat zone? I read or heard, a few paratroopers were dropped into the channel and not even over land. In the end it was successful, but could easily have gone the other way.
F/Sgt Stanley Black was a Bomb Aimer on his 5th mission on a RAF Avro Lancaster bomber, shot down by flak during a raid on bridges near Caen on 7th June. He and the Navigator, F/O John Drylie, were able to bale out but landed separately near the village of St. Jean de Daye. Drylie was able to evade capture with the help of the French Resistance. Sgt Black was hidden overnight by a French farmer and taken the following day to Graignes at his own request to join up with the paratroops. Drylie and Black were the only survivors of the 7-man crew from the initial crash and Drylie did not know if Black has landed safely. Sgt Black was initially listed as "missing" and later, in 1945, this was changed to "presumed dead" as at 11 June 1944, possibly because he was then known to have been in the battle at Graignes but was not among the survivors. His family apparently remained under the impression that he had died in the crash of his aircraft. Over the years different unofficial versions arose about the identity of the allied airman at Gaignes, not fully resolved until about 2008 when local lobbying in St, Jean de Daye saw his name included on the memorial.
@@IntrospectorGeneral Thank you for the information. I had not looked his name up yet but I had thought he might possibly have been a fighter pilot shot down while attacking ground defenses.
Flight Sergeant (FSGT) Stanley Black was born in Melbourne, Australia and a member of the Royal Australian Air Force, a part of the Empire Air Training scheme. As a recently discharged veteran of 20 years from the RAAF, I first read the story in our service newspaper where as you said local lobbying and research had his name included. Additionally a family member was tracked down and with an official RAAF delegation, attended a ceremony in the town. The story has always struck me, he could have stayed hidden but sought out the US Para’s and subsequently fought with them and was killed, all incredibly brave men. vwma.org.au/explore/people/620189
PFC Harvey Perdue (82nd A) is my wife’s grandfather. He was a teacher, age 34, from West Virginia. Perdue was dropped on June 6 and died June 9. I often wonder what happened to him. This man was not a rock star or actor, rather Perdue was a true hero. He is now buried in France.
The story of Graignes is a tragedy. I’ve got a bunch of drawings and writings from a paratrooper, Richard J Hoffmann (501st PIR), which he drew/wrote during his training. Its a lot of fire mission/machine gun squad tactics. When he died, he was only 22/23 (birth date isn’t exactly known, just 1921).
Great series, good to have Paul and his knowledge helping. One of the things I noticed about the beautiful country side is no trash or litter. My hats off to the residents for keeping a sacred place so clean and up kept.
Thank you JD for taking us places that some for some of us, might not be able to do physically ourselves. Also, please keep telling these lesser known events, they deserve to be known. On a side note, would it be too much to ask to put a link on the music you use? There have been quite a few pieces you have used that I would like to listen in its entirety.
My Dad was with the 47th AFA in the 5th Armoured. Landed after D Day and they went south from the beach. They were part of the breakout in August towards Paris. They passed thru Paris and into the British sector to reinforce Montgomery. They wound up 90 miles from Berlin on the Elbe River. Worse part was the Hurtgen Forest. That and British rations.
I imagine there are some still living in Normandy who remember and are grateful to America and the rest of the Allied Forces for all they did back then.
That went in a totally different direction that I expected. Two questions, both about the beginning. Ya skimmed over much I'd love to hear, for instance, how, what circumstances prevailed that got them landing where they were. These are the best bits of history...for all I know they were playing poker on the plane and missed half a circle, and jumped late. Or wind, or they had a plane off course. That went undiscussed, but I see why, length alone. Secondly, as a former military guy you must be able to kind of piece together that conversation that ensued when they figured out their predicament. There must be, I don't know, military shorthands that you have already fixed in your head but hoped you wouldn't be using. I'd like to hear what you think went on in THAT conversation. The rest was great. Thank You very much. I have been to Verdun, as a 16 year old, and wish to see Normandy and the tank museum and anything else I can. And...anytime you want to do a bit on an ancestor of mine...Blackhawk, I have studied him and particularly the battles, the river battle and on land, against the US in 1804 and for the next 28 years.
Probably a bad comparison. But the French citizens helping the Americans reminded me of the colonials helping the Continentals and Militias during the Revolutionary War… they were possibly signing their own death warrant. But I love their courage and commitment.
Wow! I am watching this a bit late (sorry!) was babysitting toddlers and they needed my full attention…However, in spite of all that you still blew my mind. I’d never heard this story. Taking food from their own garden at great risk to themselves ~wow! Inspiring! So glad you shared their story…they deserve to be remembered!
The grenade trap works the other way around. If a grenade comes in you kick it into the pit and most of the explosion goes up and the pipe diverts some of concussive blast forces out.... because physics. You don't drop the grenade into the pipe.
Your videos really need to be required watching for kids in school studying WW2. The humanity you’re able to show in the videos is inspiring. Well done.
Another excellent video JD your shows just get better and batter! Really missing Normandy can’t wait to return and you have given me some ideas where to go, thank you
I hope this channel keeps growing so JD can continue to go deeper into these stories! Every video in this series is amazing and holds hours of its own stories!
JD..You do an OUTSTANDING job in your presentations. I have been on numerous Stephen Ambrose tours to Normandy, and I consider them among the best for armchair history buffs. Your knowledge of the subject and teaching skills are among the best..Thank you for sharing....
Excellent video! A while back I stopped and checked out one of your videos. I’m glad I did. You’re Hands down the best on youtube. Keep doing what your doing.
Jd great video I really enjoy your collaboration with Paul Woodage WW2TV. I just finished reading about Graignes and the 507th in Martin Morgan's book 'Down to Earth'. Great read if you haven't done it already. Thanks!!!!
Another fantastic video and very moving story about less known battles in Normandy. Just one big question: What happened to the church? There was a picture of it in the video which showed more walls around it. Would be awesome if you could answer that. Keep up the awesome work JD!!
While I understand that time does not allow you to discuss every detail of this engagement, you should have noted that the 507th repulsed at least the first attack by the Germans and continued to fight until their ammunition was exhausted. Also, the locals searched for, and found ammunition cannisters that were dropped and brought them to the Americans.
SGT John Hinchliff, member of the 507th Group that defended Graignes was the last paratrooper guarding the rear and fought several SS pursuing soldiers with everything he had on him. The French government awarded him with the French Legion of Honor. In 2020, he passed away. He was the last surviving paratrooper from the defenders of Graignes❤AATW 😔🙏🇺🇸🎖💜
I worked with the city for the commemoration during the 64th and 65 anniversary of Normandy. I was able to speak with a few of the survivors of the German atrocities there and the moving ceremony at the cemetery/ church memorial. A we had one of the surviving paras there too. The citizens were very warm and gracious. I hope to go back one day.
My Dad was a PFC who jumped with the 507th that morning. In a little known piece of Normandy history, he was one of the very, very few US paratroopers who were permitted, via a program known as "My Ladies' Time" to bring along their young brides and, in my Dad's case, his bird dog, Barney. Barney and my Mom were both given full parachute training, and my Mom was taught to shoot "Marksman" with a BAR. It was really my Mom who organized the frogs at the bakery and Barney got some Frenchies started making cauldrons full of French taffy for the Americans. The woman who ran into the Church yelling, "The Boche are Coming!" was really my Mom, Gloria, whom both the French and the GIs had come to regard as a 1944 version of Joan of Arc. She certainly had the gams for it! My Dad led about 30 guys into the vault that held all the Kraut gold. My Mom carried two gold bars in her musette for the rest of the war, instead of her feminine products like most of the brides. But most of the guys assumed in was Kotex so they never bothered to look in her bag. Those two bars became what my Mom called "the kids' shoe fund" as me and my four siblings grew up through the late forties through early 70s. At the end of the war, after capturing Berchtesgaden, my Mom had lunch with Bess Truman, where at Mrs. Truman's special request, my Mom made her regionally famous"eye-talion" meatballs. My Dad became so famous through all the fighting that it was said he was the one soldier that could tell Patton to shove it up his axk when he got mouthy. Dad could not abide foul language, especially in a general officer. My Dad had a nickel-plated Colt 1911 given to him by the guy who owned the Messerschmidt factory after the battle of Britain. The factory grounds are where Barney is buried. He died with Glenn Miller in the plane crash. Today, nobody knows what happened to that very collectible pistol, which was once rumored to have been the weapon with which that coward Hitler shot himself, but I don't believe that. Another rumor has it being acquired by the SOE, where after the war it was eventually given by Q to James Bond, who didn't like it because it was too heavy and kicked too hard. He preferred a gun more easily carried in a lady's handbag.
Thank you for this episode! I'm sure there are plenty of combat situations we do not know about! Bringing this one to life and what the French Citizens did as well. Humbling! .... Thank you JD and Paul....
another great episode...had never heard the story of Graignes and appreciated you telling it...just amazed with this series..well produced and should be some type of documentary series on tv...
Your videos and commentary are so well produced and so insightful and so interesting! Thanks for taking on these fascinating slices of history and sharing them with the rest of us. Very well done! :-)
He was the only survivor of a Lancaster bomber shot down in the area on D-day. He got into the village, found the paratroopers setting up shop and decided to stay. He was killed with them and 44 murdered civilians. His family in Australia believed for seventy years he had died in the crash.
Have been there and seen the wall in the church on the way to Caretan, went out the back way down the hill into the valley and got lost ! A lot of headscratching later we finally found the road to Caretan, my 600cc yamaha road bike turned into an Enduro bike on a couple of occasions but we got there, you can see we were in a hurry to get to Caretan thus missing "Dead man's Corner and theD-Day experience museum's, good video 👍🏴🇬🇧
did you guys go to gavray yet i love that area in france and theres some awesome pictures from ww2 of the American liberation of the town that could go with the videos. great job btw.
These guys were dropped so far inland it would be almost a full week before friendly forces were able to make contact with them. Must've been a bad feeling once they knew they were that far behind enemy lines
Hey man just recently found your content and I've been binge watching for way to long! 😂 Kind of random but what camera and lens do you use? Picture quality is always excellent
One thing a lot of people dont understand about the German munitions of the war, specifically the 7.92x57 cartridge, is that (1) It has/had a cupro nickle jacket, which more or less made it an incredibly effective AP round (2) Its a .323 caliber, 196 grain bullet traveling at 2600+ feet per second. Now for you non ballistics types out there, this means that a cartridge of this weight and speed (if used with a proper hunting bullet) would be perfectly suitable for hunting large moose and brown bears in Alaska!! So imagine if you will the MG42 ripping out 900-1100 rounds per minute with a round that can put a 1200 lb moose or 800 lb Kodiak bear in the dirt with just one round! And this ofcourse is being used against human flesh and bone, and the average size of an American paratrooper was probably not much more than 185 lbs, likely less. The same round was used in their rifles as was their MG's so one of these rounds is devastating beyond belief, and God forbid theres someone behind you, theyre getting hit/killed by the same bullet. Outstanding job on this video as with all of your stuff. Well done!!
Great story. Saw an episode on ww2 tv covering this battle. Some things appear to not be as they were originally thought. Doesn't take away from the great courage showed by the paratroopers and french civilians.
As I recall , their was a 60th aniversary TV documentary on these events , and I have been unable to find it - NBC-?? Tom Browka hosted it ? It was a surprisingly good documentary , as I recall - Does anyone else remember this ?
![ทางเดินชีวิต - ธีเดช ทองอภิชาติ x อ.ไข่ มาลีฮวนน่า [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1f3wcG16dd4/mqdefault.jpg)
JD, I’m not sure what official records you were looking at in regards to Graignes, but I was there for the 75th anniversary of that battle. The townspeople there said that besides those killed in battle, SS men executed 44 villagers for giving aid to the Americans, including Madeleine Pezeril and eighty-year-old Eugénie Dujardin, who were shot to death in their beds. The SS also took Father Leblastier and Father Lebarbanchon from the rectory into the courtyard and executed them. The Germans then set fire to the village burning down 66 homes, and the church. All this was related by a few survivors who were witness to all of this. I think this story needs deeper consideration.
I'm sure there's more to every story but I appreciate JD actually going over there to bring these stories to our attention. I would have never known this story and now, I can dig further into it if I so wish.
@@johnsimms4501 As do I john. I've been appreciative of every vidoe JD's produced since I started following his channel in 2020. I'm just passionate about this story having met some of the people who were there and survived the battle and subsequent massacre. I've been very fortunate to have know many WWII vets and civilian survivors of the war, and in that time I've found there has been more than a few times where old military records were less than accurate.
Reminds me of the Battle of the Alamo. It's kind of sad that it's not a better known or recognized battle. I guess because it was one of many fought in such a short time.
I recently read an article in a French magazine written by an historian saying that the story of the battle of Graignes is a little biaised. According to new researches some historians, notably Martin KA Morgan who wrote a book about the battle, are reconsidering their views about it. There are evidences like a aerial picture of the church late June showing little damages compare to after the war pictures, a report of the strenght of the German forces (a little less than 200 men and not 2000 with tanks), and also lack of evidences, for example they have not find (yet) a report of an inquiry regarding to the execution of POW like it exists for the executions of Hemevez. It also seems that most of the civilians were killed during the combats or later bombings (like both priests). After the battle Germans ordered the remaining civilians to evacuate the village and it seems that the two ladies were still there because their horse collapsed and they were executed at that moment. There are a few examples of what you can find in this video : th-cam.com/video/_y8xA74Zy7I/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=WW2TV
Captain Sophian was the battalion surgeon who was with this group in Graignes. He was the son of a well-known physician and grew up in Kansas City, MO. During this battle, it's been written that he cared for the wounded soldiers in the church until the end when many of the remaining paratroopers escaped through the marshes to join up with the American forces. They were vastly outnumbered. He had the opportunity to leave too at that point but chose instead to stay and care for the immobilized wounded Americans. When the SS captured the town, they executed all the remaining soldiers including Captain Sophian. He is now interred in the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery on a hill. He left behind a child who he never had the chance to see.
Thanks for sharing.
I had never heard this story. As a veteran of the 82nd, this touches my very soul. My connection to these MEN is something I wouldn't sell for GOLD. Thank you to all involved in making these programs and especially to those who actually did it.
I really appreciate this series. My father was in the 5th Armored Div and landed at Utah beach. You have covered so much and brought me so much insight that I feel like I'm there with you on this. Thank you and be safe...
Bless your dad...he did a great service.
I am glad that you did this story, it is sadly almost unknown to the greater public. I visited the memorial in 2008 and it was hard to find, it is really in the backwaters. The defense by the troopers was epic and so was the help they had from the civilians. Tragically many paid with their lives. You forgot to mention the priests who where executed by the germans and are buried in the church.
Visited Graignes last week after viewing this video, very quiet except for a burial being prepared , seemed so far from st mere eglise ,quite a misdrop indeed,
such a sad place to visit with so many lives lost in such a small village , Lest we forget .God bless the souls remembered here .
Definitely one of the most far flung groups.
Alright, first up, I am an Australian.
Listening to your history makes me feel patriotic and very thankful for the sacrifices of US troops and other allied forces in the European theatre of war. Australian servicemen were largely and most notably in the Pacific and African theatres fighting the Japanese and of course Rommels Panzers (look up the Rats of a Tobruk).
Now, I have to say I have absolutely loved all the content you have put out JD, particularly on Maj. Winters and the men of Easy Company from the Toccoa videos about the PIR training, to the foxholes in the Bois Jacque overlooking Foy all the way to your tours of St. Marie du mount and the gun emplacements there. Goes without saying I am a massive HBO Band of Brothers fan. However, this video struck me in particular. The stand those PIR men took, the heroism of the citizens in supporting the Allied force who gathered to defend Graignes were incredible, absolutely incredible. I’ve watched this video before, but I didn’t notice that on the wall showing all those who sacrificed, there is an enlisted man who stood out as different from the others, he goes by the name of FLT.SGT Stanley K. Black (RAAF) or in other words the Royal Australian Air Force.
FLT.SGT. Black and his Lancaster bomber was shot down on the night of 9/10 June in the area of the town of Lison. He was taken in by some brave French villagers and given rest and a “good stiff drink” as the records go. He asked to be shown to the town of Graignes where he met the PIR element whose orders were to defend the village. FLT.SGT Black stayed and helped defend the village alongside his US brothers-in-arms. He died in defence of the village, aged 21. He was not initially recognised on the memorial and a local English lady by the name of Ms. Liggins who knew the story of the lone RAAFie (affectionate name for the Aussie Air Force) petitioned to have the memorial updated to include his sacrifice as well. Stanley Black was born in Melbourne in 1923, his story is incredible and I can only assume each of those other Paratroopers had their own story just as incredible and awe inspiring.
I am very glad the Australian story was intertwined with the US story at this little village of Graignes, makes me damn proud.
Thank you for that. Much appreciated. Really hope to get over to your part of the world someday.
@@TheHistoryUnderground Australians are very proud of their military and the sacrifices of those who came before. There certainly are sites that may be of historical interest if you decide to visit the land down under one day. Until then, just keep doing what you are doing, this storytelling means a lot to people who recognise the price of freedom paid by the many many who gave their all.
The sacrifice of Australian youth in conflicts in France during WW1 is profound and sobering. In the battlefields of Flanders Fields the attrition of lives was beyond reason.
Another fascinating episode. The courage it took to jump out of a plane into the night with tracers flying all around, the bursting flak and noise of hundreds of C47’s. Incredible. Keep up the excellent content.
my dad told me he was second from the door in the stick, all crammed together so they could push each other out as quick as possible so they weren't spread so widely when they landed. he said the flack seemed to curve up very slowly until it reached the plane then went crack! as it passed. he said he couldn't wait to jump before the plane got hit hahaha. I laugh now at the way he said it, but strewth, I can't imagine what it would be like. He was 21 years old, just old enough to vote in the UK at that time.
We all know about the beaches but, these are the kinds of places the Battle of Normandy was won. Another good episode:)
I again tip my hat to you, Paul, and entire production crew for yet another great historical presentation! Not discounting the enormity of June 6 and public interest focus of the beach landings, but I find all the subsequent battles on immediate days following to be remarkably fascinating from a historical sense. Your vlog series of these subsequent events has not only educated me and others on the individual strategic importance of the events in the big picture of liberating Europe , but the presentations are done in such a respectful and dignified way. Thank you again Sir for your time and efforts. God Bless!
Another great watch. It's amazing how beautiful and peaceful the church and church yard is considering what happened there so many years ago. Thank again for keeping history alive.
Great job buddy,
I just enjoyed watching your video with my Sunday morning coffee. Thank you so much!!!
JD... Another superb vlog. You have shown your viewers the heroism of the soldiers. You have now given to us an insight into the brave French citizens who fought the Germans as well.. Thank you again for taking us on this journey with you.
Great story. I know it's not the same, but when I was in the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group training in Germany in the mid 80's we were always treated well by the German civilians. When set up in towns and villages, we would park our vehicles in the yards and garages, cam nets, the whole works. We were often treated with fresh baking and the occasional beers as well.
We did one drop during my service where the last guy in the last stick landed in another conty... But we jumped JUST by the border, a road was the border and he dropped on the other side of it (dirt road). This seems a little more than that.. ;)
Keep the Normandy stuff coming, loving it!
Anyone else notice F/Sgt Stanley Black RAAF on the memorial? I wonder how many people who visit Normandy even come to these little, but important, back water battlefields? Each town was just a link in the chain of victory.
With the paratroopers being scattered far and wide, I wonder how wise it was to sent inexperienced in combat transport pilots into a combat zone? I read or heard, a few paratroopers were dropped into the channel and not even over land. In the end it was successful, but could easily have gone the other way.
F/Sgt Stanley Black was a Bomb Aimer on his 5th mission on a RAF Avro Lancaster bomber, shot down by flak during a raid on bridges near Caen on 7th June. He and the Navigator, F/O John Drylie, were able to bale out but landed separately near the village of St. Jean de Daye. Drylie was able to evade capture with the help of the French Resistance. Sgt Black was hidden overnight by a French farmer and taken the following day to Graignes at his own request to join up with the paratroops. Drylie and Black were the only survivors of the 7-man crew from the initial crash and Drylie did not know if Black has landed safely. Sgt Black was initially listed as "missing" and later, in 1945, this was changed to "presumed dead" as at 11 June 1944, possibly because he was then known to have been in the battle at Graignes but was not among the survivors. His family apparently remained under the impression that he had died in the crash of his aircraft. Over the years different unofficial versions arose about the identity of the allied airman at Gaignes, not fully resolved until about 2008 when local lobbying in St, Jean de Daye saw his name included on the memorial.
@@IntrospectorGeneral Thank you for the information. I had not looked his name up yet but I had thought he might possibly have been a fighter pilot shot down while attacking ground defenses.
Flight Sergeant (FSGT) Stanley Black was born in Melbourne, Australia and a member of the Royal Australian Air Force, a part of the Empire Air Training scheme. As a recently discharged veteran of 20 years from the RAAF, I first read the story in our service newspaper where as you said local lobbying and research had his name included. Additionally a family member was tracked down and with an official RAAF delegation, attended a ceremony in the town. The story has always struck me, he could have stayed hidden but sought out the US Para’s and subsequently fought with them and was killed, all incredibly brave men. vwma.org.au/explore/people/620189
@@craigbeaston4401 Yes and as an airman. not trained in ground tactics like the infantry were. I agree, all brave men.
JD, you have really taken this channel to another level with this Normandy series.... Excellent job.
This is the first I have heard of this component from the D-Day invasion. There must be many more untold pieces from this huge story. Thanks.
PFC Harvey Perdue (82nd A) is my wife’s grandfather. He was a teacher, age 34, from West Virginia. Perdue was dropped on June 6 and died June 9. I often wonder what happened to him. This man was not a rock star or actor, rather Perdue was a true hero. He is now buried in France.
As they’d say , he was one of the ones who liked it there so much,well, they never came back. 👍🏻🌹
Never fails, your ability to uncover these tragic and fascinating stories is second to none. Thanks to the entire team for another great video.
The story of Graignes is a tragedy. I’ve got a bunch of drawings and writings from a paratrooper, Richard J Hoffmann (501st PIR), which he drew/wrote during his training. Its a lot of fire mission/machine gun squad tactics. When he died, he was only 22/23 (birth date isn’t exactly known, just 1921).
Paul really knows how grab your attention when story telling. He is obviously passionate about WWII history too. Good job.
Great job. Such a awesome video and channel. This should be taught in history classes.
Another great video highlighting just one of countless acts of bravery by the people who never wore a uniform and yet risked more than those who did.
Great series, good to have Paul and his knowledge helping. One of the things I noticed about the beautiful country side is no trash or litter. My hats off to the residents for keeping a sacred place so clean and up kept.
It’s really interesting, and humbling, to see these locations and realize how war affected the normal citizens of France during the invasion.
War, though sometimes inevitable, is little more than sanctioned murder.
Great coverage of another little known battle. Enough of a taste that I'd like to know more. Thanks for another excellent video 👍.
I honestly believe that you bring history to life when some want to rewrite it. Another great program.
Thank you JD for taking us places that some for some of us, might not be able to do physically ourselves. Also, please keep telling these lesser known events, they deserve to be known.
On a side note, would it be too much to ask to put a link on the music you use? There have been quite a few pieces you have used that I would like to listen in its entirety.
Thank you John. Great history brought to life .
My Dad was with the 47th AFA in the 5th Armoured. Landed after D Day and they went south from the beach. They were part of the breakout in August towards Paris. They passed thru Paris and into the British sector to reinforce Montgomery. They wound up 90 miles from Berlin on the Elbe River. Worse part was the Hurtgen Forest. That and British rations.
I imagine there are some still living in Normandy who remember and are grateful to America and the rest of the Allied Forces for all they did back then.
When I go to Normandy I'm bringing this collection of videos as a suggestion guide. Thanks.
How is this not a major movie. Those poor bastards! Both French and US
Thanks for taking us there JD
Agreed. This would make for one heck of a movie.
Well, seen as your channel is becoming ever more popular. Maybe one day you will be in cahoots with people who can make it happen. 🤞
As always, JD, fantastic story! Thanks to Paul, Eric, and you(and all your support personnel 🌝), for videoing, and telling it!
Story retold in new book, “The lost paratroopers of Normandy”. I remembered this video as I’m reading it. Thanks for another resource!!
thank you jd for all video you make
you are one team very good God bless you and Eric and Pol
That went in a totally different direction that I expected. Two questions, both about the beginning. Ya skimmed over much I'd love to hear, for instance, how, what circumstances prevailed that got them landing where they were.
These are the best bits of history...for all I know they were playing poker on the plane and missed half a circle, and jumped late. Or wind, or they had a plane off course. That went undiscussed, but I see why, length alone.
Secondly, as a former military guy you must be able to kind of piece together that conversation that ensued when they figured out their predicament. There must be, I don't know, military shorthands that you have already fixed in your head but hoped you wouldn't be using. I'd like to hear what you think went on in THAT conversation.
The rest was great. Thank You very much. I have been to Verdun, as a 16 year old, and wish to see Normandy and the tank museum and anything else I can. And...anytime you want to do a bit on an ancestor of mine...Blackhawk, I have studied him and particularly the battles, the river battle and on land, against the US in 1804 and for the next 28 years.
Probably a bad comparison. But the French citizens helping the Americans reminded me of the colonials helping the Continentals and Militias during the Revolutionary War… they were possibly signing their own death warrant. But I love their courage and commitment.
Wow! I am watching this a bit late (sorry!) was babysitting toddlers and they needed my full attention…However, in spite of all that you still blew my mind. I’d never heard this story. Taking food from their own garden at great risk to themselves ~wow! Inspiring! So glad you shared their story…they deserve to be remembered!
Thank you for making such amazing content and taking us with you to normandy. Loving every video
My dad's uncle was mis dropped there. Don't know where exactly, because he's been dead a while and I can't ask him.
He drank a lot.
You and Paul make a good team. Both of you guys need to come out to California to check out USS Iowa
Thanks!
The grenade trap works the other way around. If a grenade comes in you kick it into the pit and most of the explosion goes up and the pipe diverts some of concussive blast forces out.... because physics. You don't drop the grenade into the pipe.
Sitting here drinking coffee and watching you guys.
Thank you for remembering. So much history in Normandy.
Your videos really need to be required watching for kids in school studying WW2. The humanity you’re able to show in the videos is inspiring. Well done.
Another excellent video JD your shows just get better and batter! Really missing Normandy can’t wait to return and you have given me some ideas where to go, thank you
Another place I would have never known about or would have thought to go see now I have another place. Thank you again!
I hope this channel keeps growing so JD can continue to go deeper into these stories! Every video in this series is amazing and holds hours of its own stories!
JD..You do an OUTSTANDING job in your presentations. I have been on numerous Stephen Ambrose tours to Normandy, and I consider them among the best for armchair history buffs. Your knowledge of the subject and teaching skills are among the best..Thank you for sharing....
Excellent video! A while back I stopped and checked out one of your videos. I’m glad I did. You’re Hands down the best on youtube. Keep doing what your doing.
Fascinating story, I hadn’t heard it before. Your channel is extremely professional, excellent filming, music, content and delivery of the story
I appreciate your stories, love them.
👍🏻
Amazing story may they rest in eternal peace
Jd great video I really enjoy your collaboration with Paul Woodage WW2TV. I just finished reading about Graignes and the 507th in Martin Morgan's book 'Down to Earth'. Great read if you haven't done it already. Thanks!!!!
Another fantastic video and very moving story about less known battles in Normandy. Just one big question: What happened to the church? There was a picture of it in the video which showed more walls around it. Would be awesome if you could answer that. Keep up the awesome work JD!!
While I understand that time does not allow you to discuss every detail of this engagement, you should have noted that the 507th repulsed at least the first attack by the Germans and continued to fight until their ammunition was exhausted. Also, the locals searched for, and found ammunition cannisters that were dropped and brought them to the Americans.
Make your own video then dude
Shows that when fighting the SS, no quarter was given.
Another excellent video JD, much appreciated 👍
Thank you for more information about the area and the way you pay honor to our brothers
JD, Beautiful camera work and your usage of a drone in each presentation is outstanding!
comme d'habitude merveilleux (as usual, marvellous)
SGT John Hinchliff, member of the 507th Group that defended Graignes was the last paratrooper guarding the rear and fought several SS pursuing soldiers with everything he had on him. The French government awarded him with the French Legion of Honor. In 2020, he passed away. He was the last surviving paratrooper from the defenders of Graignes❤AATW 😔🙏🇺🇸🎖💜
If Hanks and Spielberg are watching, here's your next miniseries right here.
Including the shot down airmen who joined the US paratroopers in fighting.
I worked with the city for the commemoration during the 64th and 65 anniversary of Normandy. I was able to speak with a few of the survivors of the German atrocities there and the moving ceremony at the cemetery/ church memorial. A we had one of the surviving paras there too. The citizens were very warm and gracious. I hope to go back one day.
Absolutely sterling work, as ever!
Thanks for remembering these brave soldiers and civilians.
so beautiful done and the drone footage - so proud of what they have achieved🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Fabulous series 👏
My Dad was a PFC who jumped with the 507th that morning. In a little known piece of Normandy history, he was one of the very, very few US paratroopers who were permitted, via a program known as "My Ladies' Time" to bring along their young brides and, in my Dad's case, his bird dog, Barney. Barney and my Mom were both given full parachute training, and my Mom was taught to shoot "Marksman" with a BAR. It was really my Mom who organized the frogs at the bakery and Barney got some Frenchies started making cauldrons full of French taffy for the Americans. The woman who ran into the Church yelling, "The Boche are Coming!" was really my Mom, Gloria, whom both the French and the GIs had come to regard as a 1944 version of Joan of Arc. She certainly had the gams for it! My Dad led about 30 guys into the vault that held all the Kraut gold. My Mom carried two gold bars in her musette for the rest of the war, instead of her feminine products like most of the brides. But most of the guys assumed in was Kotex so they never bothered to look in her bag. Those two bars became what my Mom called "the kids' shoe fund" as me and my four siblings grew up through the late forties through early 70s. At the end of the war, after capturing Berchtesgaden, my Mom had lunch with Bess Truman, where at Mrs. Truman's special request, my Mom made her regionally famous"eye-talion" meatballs. My Dad became so famous through all the fighting that it was said he was the one soldier that could tell Patton to shove it up his axk when he got mouthy. Dad could not abide foul language, especially in a general officer. My Dad had a nickel-plated Colt 1911 given to him by the guy who owned the Messerschmidt factory after the battle of Britain. The factory grounds are where Barney is buried. He died with Glenn Miller in the plane crash. Today, nobody knows what happened to that very collectible pistol, which was once rumored to have been the weapon with which that coward Hitler shot himself, but I don't believe that. Another rumor has it being acquired by the SOE, where after the war it was eventually given by Q to James Bond, who didn't like it because it was too heavy and kicked too hard. He preferred a gun more easily carried in a lady's handbag.
All I want to know is, how did they find Barney after the crash? 🥴
Love the sun studio hoodie. From Memphis.
Another great episode. So strong.
Thank you for this episode! I'm sure there are plenty of combat situations we do not know about! Bringing this one to life and what the French Citizens did as well. Humbling! .... Thank you JD and Paul....
another great episode...had never heard the story of Graignes and appreciated you telling it...just amazed with this series..well produced and should be some type of documentary series on tv...
THANK YOU for this tragic story i was not aware of
I missed this video, thanks for bringing this unknown part of ww2 to light.
The restored crossing incorporated into the general memorial to commemorate the loss of the soldiers, villagers and the village itself is magnificent.
Awesome! Great job yet again JD. Keep up the good work.
Humbling….truly humbling
Your videos and commentary are so well produced and so insightful and so interesting! Thanks for taking on these fascinating slices of history and sharing them with the rest of us. Very well done! :-)
I want to know about Flight Sergeant Stanley Black, RAAF. How did he come to get himself mixed up in ground fighting?
He was the only survivor of a Lancaster bomber shot down in the area on D-day. He got into the village, found the paratroopers setting up shop and decided to stay. He was killed with them and 44 murdered civilians. His family in Australia believed for seventy years he had died in the crash.
@@rodritchison1995 Thank you for that.
Have been there and seen the wall in the church on the way to Caretan, went out the back way down the hill into the valley and got lost ! A lot of headscratching later we finally found the road to Caretan, my 600cc yamaha road bike turned into an Enduro bike on a couple of occasions but we got there, you can see we were in a hurry to get to Caretan thus missing "Dead man's Corner and theD-Day experience museum's, good video 👍🏴🇬🇧
Thank you!
Thank you for this story. May we never forget.
great video mate mind blowing
did you guys go to gavray yet i love that area in france and theres some awesome pictures from ww2 of the American liberation of the town that could go with the videos. great job btw.
So many of these little stories would make great films. Bravery from everyone.
I'd love to see more maps that briefly show where your at in relation to the beaches !! Great video again brother !!
God Bless them for such a sacrifice. Thank's JD for teaching us in detail about these places.
These guys were dropped so far inland it would be almost a full week before friendly forces were able to make contact with them. Must've been a bad feeling once they knew they were that far behind enemy lines
Hey man just recently found your content and I've been binge watching for way to long! 😂 Kind of random but what camera and lens do you use? Picture quality is always excellent
One thing a lot of people dont understand about the German munitions of the war, specifically the 7.92x57 cartridge, is that (1) It has/had a cupro nickle jacket, which more or less made it an incredibly effective AP round (2) Its a .323 caliber, 196 grain bullet traveling at 2600+ feet per second. Now for you non ballistics types out there, this means that a cartridge of this weight and speed (if used with a proper hunting bullet) would be perfectly suitable for hunting large moose and brown bears in Alaska!! So imagine if you will the MG42 ripping out 900-1100 rounds per minute with a round that can put a 1200 lb moose or 800 lb Kodiak bear in the dirt with just one round! And this ofcourse is being used against human flesh and bone, and the average size of an American paratrooper was probably not much more than 185 lbs, likely less. The same round was used in their rifles as was their MG's so one of these rounds is devastating beyond belief, and God forbid theres someone behind you, theyre getting hit/killed by the same bullet.
Outstanding job on this video as with all of your stuff. Well done!!
I would love you for you to do an operation market garden series in holland. Is that something in the works down the road?
Hi from Australia i just watched your video and i noticed a Australia airmen on the memorial and thank-you for the videos
Thank you good people of Graignes.
Howdy JD and company! Thanks for sharing the story. I had never heard of this fight at Graignes. Still subbed! 😏
Great story. Saw an episode on ww2 tv covering this battle. Some things appear to not be as they were originally thought. Doesn't take away from the great courage showed by the paratroopers and french civilians.
Very awesome JD !!
Any books written about this? I think this would be a great candidate for a movie. Very, very compelling story.
As I recall , their was a 60th aniversary TV documentary on these events , and I have been unable to find it - NBC-?? Tom Browka hosted it ? It was a surprisingly good documentary , as I recall - Does anyone else remember this ?
Another great video, an Australian pilot on the plaque very interesting
Outstanding video