James Holland is a terrific historian and his passion for the material is infectious. We essentially moved an entire city across a sea. D Day was a logistical miracle almost
Having both met and had a drink with James Holland at the Chalke Valley History Festival as a Roman re-enactor, i can honestly say that the guy is exactly what you see. Intelligent, communicative and friendly. One of my favourite Historians, he just tells a story so well. Additionally its great to see Paul from WWII TV channel joining in. Its great when TH-cam Channels get together. I could of watched another 2 hours of this.
@@krzysiu4003That sounds pretty good... I wish I had space for another podcast, because I have about 20 in my list of things I want to listen to and don't have anything like the time. If only I didn't have to sleep.
@@krzysiu4003 Well recommended. I have been binge-listening for many many months now👍. I can thoroughly recommend his books too. Just finished Big Week and have Sicily in the to-read list.
What can you say? James Holland is a fantastic public historian making history easy for the casual user but also giving more information to the interested historian. Really appreciate all your work, and very jealous of your life and achievements.
Absolutely the best series on D-Day James is incredible his in-depth knowledge is second to none and to have Mike there was an absolute privilege to watch
Outstanding presentation,gentlemen. I hope that we Americans, British and Canadians will remain steadfast friends and allies for ten thousand generations.
It's actually Europe's history of waring states that made it so great, and a century of no competition has left the west soft and ripe for the pickings, oh well at least the Chinese seem willing to carry the torch of greatness
@@chazzbranigaan9354 The amusing thing is how that trope has been repeated over and over. Remember how the Americans were supposed to be so overwhelmed with the Japanese surprise attack they'd sue for peace? s for the Chinese, when was the last time the PLA saw combat? I mean besides committing genocide against the Uighur of course. How about the Russians and their recent experiences? To whom are they going to impart their recent combat experience when their military age range now exceeds their life expectancy?
I could listen and watch James Holland all day this guy not only knows his stuff but hes got a real passion for the people who were actually there and just wants to know all he can about what theyve got to say really good
Really appreciated the mixture of viewpoints between a brilliant historian and a veteran Ranger comparing their different points of view. I also was grateful to see Paul "Woody" Woodage doing what he does best as an interpreter of the battlefields too. A tremendous treat to watch. I hope I shall see the next installment of what James has in store for Mike.
James Holland is by far my most favorite historian. In addition to this, his presenting of the Battle of Britain is spectacular. Currently involved in his book on the Dam Busters. I look to read anything he writes and watch anything he comments on.
If I had to choose between a documentary by or with James Holland and a documentary about logistics in war I'd sit here frozen until someone kicked me out of my chair. I'm extremely thankful you're sparing me the choice. 😁
I love this content. I was so privileged to be raised by my 4 uncles that fought in WWII. They were 20+ years older than my father. Then my father was stationed in Germany in the early 60s where he had 2 of my much older brothers. This makes me think of them and what they must have been doing in Europe as young men.
My Great Uncle lost an eye and massive head wound to survive the war , at the 1st battle of El Alamein. Their unit was withdrawn from fighting the Germans to go to the Jungles of New Guinea and then beat the japs . He may not have survived that part of the war it was that bad ,if he had gone
James Holland has been a long time fan. I have watched many of his documentaries over the years. I have number of his book’s too. He explained military history with humanity in mind. This is a great site Thank You.General Bernard Montgomery will always be one of my favorite generals of all time.
I served with the 1st ID from 2013-2017. History and heritage is a huge part of the Division. I was there for the centennial and a few of my friends got to be in some of the Normandy anniversaries they’d send people over to be a part of. It’s truly an honor to carry on that legacy
..A cousin of mine, who sadly passed away some years ago, was a Nurse in the US Marine Corps at this time--indeed, her unit was in Normandy the day following the Landings! ..I salute all who have served, & thank you for sharing this film!
I love learning about the history of WWII. What a pleasant surprise to see and hear from Paul Woodage. His TH-cam channel WW2TV is excellent. I can't let a week go by without seeing a few episodes of his program. Thanks to all who made this program possible. I was saddened on the anniversary of D-Day this year when I was speaking with a 43-year-old friend who literally had no idea what D-Day was. History as a stand-alone subject at school hasn't been taught here in California since the 1970s and the ignorance in the subjects of history and geography are profound.
So was I, but it was still worthwhile. I’m afraid he has to dumb down when he makes TV style stuff. This will have had a significant budget, so he has to do what the people funding it think will deliver as large (and lucrative) an audience as possible.
@@DanielsPolitics1 - I would hope that James Holland is above being told what to do and think that his following is a bit more sophisticated than what was presented. As for planning DDay, The National WW2 Museum put out a good YT vid with Rick Atkinson (author). James' vid was very pedestrian (IMO) and I was hoping for more.
I hope there is a continuation of this video down the road. Very well done. Love hearing what James has to say about the war in multiple documentaries.
Mr. Holland, I own all of your books...I have given many as gifts as well. Thank you so much for this fresh and informative documentary! My gosh, it was the best I've seen. And thank you Mr. Holland for taking care of all of us, giving your all in service to your (our) country. What I wouldn't give to have been in that pub with you two...picking your brains! ❤
Purely brilliant work. I may be lucky enough to visit Western Europe for the first time later this year. These sites that James,Mike and Paul have gone to are on my bucket list (they have been for 40 years since I was a teen), Such a timely production for me. It seems perhaps a rental car from Caen would give one the best flexibility to get to these such sites? Seeing the impact on Mike as an Ex-Ranger at Point Du Hoc is moving, yet understandable. Looking forward to part 2.
Fantastic video! Thank you All! Thank you all so very much for what you do. I fear these events will be forgotten. If not for work such as this, they would be. Please… By all means continue this journey…this work. The future needs to know… ❤
Many years ago... I belonged to a Methodist fellowship group along with a gentleman who had helped plan the D-Day invasion. He had an MBA from Harvard (when MBAs were much rarer) and one of his prize possessions was a map (hand-drawn on parcel-wrapping paper) of the routes from England to France mounted on a wall in his home. He passed away over thirty years ago and was one of the brightest people I have ever met.
In the middle of Savage Storm (James Holland), and he writes like he talks - so easy to listen too and read. As are his other books I’ve read. Thank you James. Also listen to “We Have Ways of Making You Talk” with Al Murray. Tremendous and easy to listen too and soak up the history. Cheers guys and now going to dive into this video. Regards from Cornwall 👍👍👍
Would like to see a more in-depth look into the actual procurement process of everything that was needed to do the landings.everything from how and who built the harbors to where all the ships got loaded and with what? Yes I know that it would be many long videos however it would be fascinating!
On leave from my SeaBee Battalion deployment in Spain in May 1984, my buddy and I went to Normandy. When we pulled into the Pointe du Hoc parking lot, there were signs saying you must stay on the established paths because of unexploded ordinance. We checked out the view from the famous bunker and took our pictures and marveled at the men who climbed the cliffs. A month later at the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, Army veteran and President Reagan came to the same bunker. After seeing the warning sign, I always wondered what reaction the Secret Service had when the President was there...😮
Thank god for historians bringing us the 'hidden history'...who knew supplies were important? I've clearly watched too much Hollywood where bullets never run out....though I do remember that old saying that a 'soldier marches on his stomach'...and I've heard of the Mulberry harbours and Atlantic convoys, Arctic convoys and the Redball Express and Monty building up his supplies before launching his attack on Rommel...indeed many films made about those. Yep....logistics have been a totally hidden part of warfare until now.
Recently I've come to agree that way not enough emphasis is put on the logistic achievement, especially made by the US Army during this war and later. Without the aid of computers and modern modes of shipping, they moved huge quantities of men and material of every size and description, starting with the D-Day invasion, the Red Ball express supply line, the transfer of troops from the European Theater after VE Day to the other side of the world to the Pacific Theater, and then during the 11 months of the Berlin /Airlift. There are videos avail here on all these events. I encourage everyone with an interest in the history of the era to check them out.
My take, the more I learn, is that logistics and a visceral understanding of the difficulties of transportation are the reason Eisenhower was tapped as supreme commander. He wasn't in the trenches during WWI, he was slogging across the US collecting data and writing reports. He had a good idea what sloggiing across Europe would entail. Hence the US interstate highway system.
Thank you . The brilliance of the Logistics is equal in importance to the bravery of those who fought. I am always facinated by the huge detail that goes into logistics of Wars going all the way back to the Egyptian/Hittites. Alexander the Great must have been at the top of the scale of planners, but Eisenhower surely was there also.
The actor Richard Todd was involved in the capture of the Pegasus Bridge as he was part of the 7th Parachute Battalion (light infantry). The bridge was renamed in their honour. This is from a video about Richard Todd by The History Chap.
We toured all the sites in the summer of 2015. The weather was horrible that day but at Omaha the weather cleared and we were able to go down to the beach. On the hill behind Omaha there is the Colleville-sur-Mer War Cemetary. Surprisingly there are a lot of 8 th and 9 th Airforce men burried there, not just D-Day casualties.
I read a comment by Erwin Rommel to the effect that even before the enemy is sighted, much less the first gun fired, the people who are responsible for supply have set the outcome of the battle. It may a bit extreme, but he knew a lot more about war than I do.
I went with my wife to Normandy in 2008. My father's ashes are scattered off the coast along with my mother's.He died on June 6th, 1975. He was there on the Charles Carroll APA 28. They delivered the 29th to Omaha beach. He attended to the wounded when the ship was turned into a temporary hospital after every landing. He had already been through the Africa and Sicily invasions. In photos of the ship, you can see surgical lighting above the tables in the mess hall. Every inch of usable space was put to use for the wounded soldiers. They even took care of German soldiers. My father had a German fork he lifted from a young soldier who was brought aboard. He had both hands blown off from a grenade. He was just a kid like my father was. 18 or 19. My father was able to stop the bleeding. He was just a terrified kid. Now with no hands. My father enlisted when he was 17. He had already witnessed enough horror for ten life times. The worst was yet to come. He would finish his duty to his country at Okinawa. He only said they just assumed they would all die from a Kamakazi attack being troop ship. He would never say anything else about the Pacific campaign. Nothing. If you can, go to Normandy and the cemetery above it. You're not human if it doesn't rattle you to your core.
@@thevillaaston7811 Ironic, especially given the close relationship that exists even today between Holland and Canada in recognition of the Canadian effort to liberate The Netherlands. During WW2, a Dutch princess was actually born in a Canadian hospital room that was specially designated temporarily as Dutch territory. Even today, tell a Dutch person that you're from Canada and you are treated like royalty.
@Well considering we supplied most of the logistics the weapons et cetera to the rest of the allies yeah It was an American show but we don't look at it that way.
It's almost like folks like you seem to think that because you held the line for 2 years you won the war by yourself. I don't know anybody at least of all me that doesn't respect what the British effort was in those dark days But remember you had help Churchill came to us for help and we did.
those patches on his leather jacket are reproductions & thank god for that. A real Merrill's Marauders is anywhere from $50-$100 for the standard fully embroidered type. & the Devil's Brigade or 1st Special Service Force 1SSF can go from $100-$300. Not to mention the SF wings on his sleeve & RANGERS lozenge.
Back in about 1973, I had to choose a book for an English oral exam, I chose Dawn Of D-Day by David Howarth. Miss Jones was to be my examiner & her first question was….” What does the D stand for in D-Day?” I had no idea, the answer certainty wasn’t in the book & I’ve found no reference to it anywhere else!! she stated it was for “Deliverance” as in, Deliverance-Day!! Is there any truth in this at all??
Good, but that was less about the logistics and more about individual actions at specific places. Oddly the Mulberry Harbour was designed at my daughter's school in Bath.
I was very curious to see the flash of the First Special Service Force on Dr Simpson's jacket. Do all Rangers get to wear that patch? I ask, because I had a step-uncle who was part of that force. Then one day I discovered that a fellow who sits near me at hockey games in our small town (5500 people) was the son of another member of the Black Devils! Given that it was a fairly small unit, the chances of this is staggeringly small, I would think.
The English really praised Montgomery's planning efforts and execution. However, Operation Market Garden was Montgomery's failure to gather sufficient intelligence prior executing the mission, putting allied forces in a position for failure.
Market Garden was not a defeat. It took 100km of German held ground. The Germans retreated and lost Eindhoven and Nijmegen. The allies later used Nijmegen to attack into Germany. Only Arnhem was a defeat but technically this was an all air operation. Planned by the air forces. Montgomery had no jurisdiction to order First Allied Airborne Army and RAF to accept his suggestions and they didn’t. Montgomery argued for double missions flown on day one, for closer drops to Arnhem and for coup de mains on the bridges. The air commanders refused all of this. Consequently, Arnhem was not Montgomery’s battle to lose technically speaking. Deep down he may have felt the same way. It was planned mainly by the Air Force commanders, Brereton and Williams of the USAAF, though I’m not letting Hollinghurst of the RAF off here. His decision not to fly closer to Arnhem doomed 1st Airborne. It was Bereton and Williams who: ♦ decided that there would be drops spread over three days, defeating the object of para jumps by losing all surprise, which is their major asset. ♦ rejected the glider coup-de-main on the bridges that had been so successful on D-day on the Pegasus Bridge and which had been agreed to on the previously planned Operation Comet. ♦ chose the drop and and landing zones so far from the Bridges. ♦ Who would not allow the ground attack fighters to take on the flak positions and attack the Germans while the escort fighters were protecting the transports, thereby allowing them to bring in reinforcements with impunity. ♦Who rejected drops south of the Wilhelmina Canal that would prevent the capture of the bridges at Son, Best and Eindhoven by the 101st because of “possible flak.“ From Operation Market Garden: The Campaign for the Low Countries, Autumn 1944:ty John Peate
The ‘failure’ of Market Garden to complete was down to the unwillingness of the RAF to carry out sufficient drops close enough and the US Gen Gavin failing to take his priority objective the Nijmegen road Bridge!
@@johndawes9337Well laid stated, Market Garden although risky had the ability to be a total success especially if the RAF had been directed to comply with the desired requirements!
I was disappointed that there was no mention of the pipeline rapidly buil under the Channel by the Allies. This was important for fuelling armor and mechanized units.
It probably wasn’t mentioned in this video due to PLUTO not delivering any fuel on or immediately after the D-Day landings. Fuel began flowing thru the pipelines on the 18th - 22nd of September, 1944 which was around 3.5 months later. With that said, I still believe it was an incredible act of engineering and logistics as PLUTO managed to deliver over 172 million gallons of fuel by the end of the war.
Such a shame they get this entirely wrong from the get-go, in the title. Although the Normandy campaign was larger the actual amphibious assault of Sicily, Operation Husky, was larger than Overlord, more men, more ships huge distances to cover, some of the troops coming from as far as the USA. The crossing to Normandy was a tiny distance by comparison. I do have to say that Hollands book on Normandy is the best I have come across though, so I can only assume the title was click bait.
The Mulberry harbours were termed A for American and B for British . The B Harbour was named Port Winston. The American one wasnt fixed properly like the British told them too. It was smashed apart in a Gale force 4 Storm from19th to 24 June and written off . The Americans cocked up many aspects of before during and after of Normandy landings
It is certainly true that the US one was much more badly damaged. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard any suggestion that that was due to any negligence or incompetence of the US personnel.
The Rhodesian Light Infantry jumped at 400 ft. They had at least 3 combat jumps a day and keep the record for the most combat jumps in the world that will never be broken ever. Look it up, you will be dumbstruck. Oh yes, Rhodesia is called Zimbabwe today.
@@simongee8928 The whole thing was put together at almost a moment's notice. I well remember the chain of events well. Argentina invaded on the Friday, the crisis was not even at the top of the news until earlier that week. The task force had two light carriers, with 22 short range fighters, with a large part of the landing force in luxury liners, Sealink ferries, and so on. The whole thing took place at over 7,000 miles from Britain. Operation Corporate is widely regarded as a masterpiece of military improvization.
@@simongee8928 Any you think D-Day went without hiccups? DD tanks not arriving? Landing craft hitting the wrong beaches? Preparatory bombing not hitting beach defences? Overlord took 3 years of planning and took place 70 miles from the UK mainland.... The Falklands was planned at VERY short notice and took place 7000 miles away.
James Holland is fast becoming a national treasure 👍
He and guy walters are very good historians
James Holland is a terrific historian and his passion for the material is infectious. We essentially moved an entire city across a sea. D Day was a logistical miracle almost
Having both met and had a drink with James Holland at the Chalke Valley History Festival as a Roman re-enactor, i can honestly say that the guy is exactly what you see. Intelligent, communicative and friendly. One of my favourite Historians, he just tells a story so well. Additionally its great to see Paul from WWII TV channel joining in. Its great when TH-cam Channels get together. I could of watched another 2 hours of this.
Do you listen to his podcast with Al Murray called, We have ways? Very informative as well as humorous.
@@krzysiu4003That sounds pretty good... I wish I had space for another podcast, because I have about 20 in my list of things I want to listen to and don't have anything like the time.
If only I didn't have to sleep.
@@krzysiu4003 Well recommended. I have been binge-listening for many many months now👍. I can thoroughly recommend his books too. Just finished Big Week and have Sicily in the to-read list.
What can you say? James Holland is a fantastic public historian making history easy for the casual user but also giving more information to the interested historian. Really appreciate all your work, and very jealous of your life and achievements.
Absolutely the best series on D-Day
James is incredible his in-depth knowledge is second to none and to have Mike there was an absolute privilege to watch
Outstanding presentation,gentlemen. I hope that we Americans, British and Canadians will remain steadfast friends and allies for ten thousand generations.
It's actually Europe's history of waring states that made it so great, and a century of no competition has left the west soft and ripe for the pickings, oh well at least the Chinese seem willing to carry the torch of greatness
@@chazzbranigaan9354 The amusing thing is how that trope has been repeated over and over. Remember how the Americans were supposed to be so overwhelmed with the Japanese surprise attack they'd sue for peace? s for the Chinese, when was the last time the PLA saw combat? I mean besides committing genocide against the Uighur of course. How about the Russians and their recent experiences? To whom are they going to impart their recent combat experience when their military age range now exceeds their life expectancy?
@Gerhardium bro I don't think you really understood my comment at all
Judging by the mulituude of comments by Americans on here, you would not think that the USA was on the same side as Britain and Canada.
Please include us Aussies in that group
I could listen and watch James Holland all day this guy not only knows his stuff but hes got a real passion for the people who were actually there and just wants to know all he can about what theyve got to say really good
Really appreciated the mixture of viewpoints between a brilliant historian and a veteran Ranger comparing their different points of view. I also was grateful to see Paul "Woody" Woodage doing what he does best as an interpreter of the battlefields too. A tremendous treat to watch. I hope I shall see the next installment of what James has in store for Mike.
James' passion and enthusiasm about the subject is so infectious. Brilliant guy!
James Holland is by far my most favorite historian. In addition to this, his presenting of the Battle of Britain is spectacular. Currently involved in his book on the Dam Busters. I look to read anything he writes and watch anything he comments on.
If I had to choose between a documentary by or with James Holland and a documentary about logistics in war I'd sit here frozen until someone kicked me out of my chair. I'm extremely thankful you're sparing me the choice. 😁
I love this content. I was so privileged to be raised by my 4 uncles that fought in WWII. They were 20+ years older than my father. Then my father was stationed in Germany in the early 60s where he had 2 of my much older brothers. This makes me think of them and what they must have been doing in Europe as young men.
My Great Uncle lost an eye and massive head wound to survive the war , at the 1st battle of El Alamein. Their unit was withdrawn from fighting the Germans to go to the Jungles of New Guinea and then beat the japs . He may not have survived that part of the war it was that bad ,if he had gone
James Holland has been a long time fan. I have watched many of his documentaries over the years. I have number of his book’s too. He explained military history with humanity in mind. This is a great site Thank You.General Bernard Montgomery will always be one of my favorite generals of all time.
The secret to winning wars is : An intimate understanding of logistics, the practical art of moving and supplying armies.
A British Army soldier
I served with the 1st ID from 2013-2017. History and heritage is a huge part of the Division. I was there for the centennial and a few of my friends got to be in some of the Normandy anniversaries they’d send people over to be a part of. It’s truly an honor to carry on that legacy
“Logistics wins wars. Period!” General Chuck Horner
Was at some of these places in September last year, including RAF Tarrant Rushton! Just finished The Savage Storm, James is a great writer!
..A cousin of mine, who sadly passed away some years ago, was a Nurse in the US Marine Corps at this time--indeed, her unit was in Normandy the day following the Landings!
..I salute all who have served, & thank you for sharing this film!
the nurses too often get forgotten. They are true heroes and miracle workers
Thank you for this documentary! My favorite show that has D-day in it is Band of Brothers
I'm here before any kid can say first your welcome
Band of Brothers is very good just don't dig to deep in to the facts.
@@orwellboy1958 I agree
Thank you for all this extensive work
I love learning about the history of WWII. What a pleasant surprise to see and hear from Paul Woodage. His TH-cam channel WW2TV is excellent. I can't let a week go by without seeing a few episodes of his program. Thanks to all who made this program possible. I was saddened on the anniversary of D-Day this year when I was speaking with a 43-year-old friend who literally had no idea what D-Day was. History as a stand-alone subject at school hasn't been taught here in California since the 1970s and the ignorance in the subjects of history and geography are profound.
"You're in my world, James. I know this." Indeed you do Paul.
Loving the First Special Service Force patch!
Was expecting & hoping for a deeper dive into the logistics of DDay and how they put it all together and made it work.
So was I, but it was still worthwhile.
I’m afraid he has to dumb down when he makes TV style stuff. This will have had a significant budget, so he has to do what the people funding it think will deliver as large (and lucrative) an audience as possible.
@@DanielsPolitics1 - I would hope that James Holland is above being told what to do and think that his following is a bit more sophisticated than what was presented. As for planning DDay, The National WW2 Museum put out a good YT vid with Rick Atkinson (author). James' vid was very pedestrian (IMO) and I was hoping for more.
I hope there is a continuation of this video down the road. Very well done. Love hearing what James has to say about the war in multiple documentaries.
Do you listen to his podcast? ‘We have ways of making you talk’ is the best podcast ever.
James as an avid WW2 tragic this may be your best work yet.
Mr. Holland, I own all of your books...I have given many as gifts as well. Thank you so much for this fresh and informative documentary! My gosh, it was the best I've seen. And thank you Mr. Holland for taking care of all of us, giving your all in service to your (our) country. What I wouldn't give to have been in that pub with you two...picking your brains! ❤
I'm so sorry! I meant to say Mr. SIMPSON, when thanking for his service to our country...I'm sorry. I'm old, lol!!😅
Monty was a great general to work for, working with was another monster!
Purely brilliant work. I may be lucky enough to visit Western Europe for the first time later this year. These sites that James,Mike and Paul have gone to are on my bucket list (they have been for 40 years since I was a teen), Such a timely production for me. It seems perhaps a rental car from Caen would give one the best flexibility to get to these such sites? Seeing the impact on Mike as an Ex-Ranger at Point Du Hoc is moving, yet understandable. Looking forward to part 2.
Fantastic video!
Thank you All!
Thank you all so very much for what you do.
I fear these events will be forgotten. If not for work such as this, they would be.
Please…
By all means continue this journey…this work.
The future needs to know…
❤
Many years ago... I belonged to a Methodist fellowship group along with a gentleman who had helped plan the D-Day invasion. He had an MBA from Harvard (when MBAs were much rarer) and one of his prize possessions was a map (hand-drawn on parcel-wrapping paper) of the routes from England to France mounted on a wall in his home. He passed away over thirty years ago and was one of the brightest people I have ever met.
Thank you, thank you! Have been searching for years for details about the D-Day logistics!!
In the middle of Savage Storm (James Holland), and he writes like he talks - so easy to listen too and read. As are his other books I’ve read. Thank you James. Also listen to “We Have Ways of Making You Talk” with Al Murray. Tremendous and easy to listen too and soak up the history. Cheers guys and now going to dive into this video. Regards from Cornwall 👍👍👍
Would like to see a more in-depth look into the actual procurement process of everything that was needed to do the landings.everything from how and who built the harbors to where all the ships got loaded and with what? Yes I know that it would be many long videos however it would be fascinating!
D Day would have been a disaster without the allied troops being supplied with its daily Met Stats from the west coast of Ireland.
Love love love James Holland best historian of ww2❤❤❤❤❤
On leave from my SeaBee Battalion deployment in Spain in May 1984, my buddy and I went to Normandy. When we pulled into the Pointe du Hoc parking lot, there were signs saying you must stay on the established paths because of unexploded ordinance. We checked out the view from the famous bunker and took our pictures and marveled at the men who climbed the cliffs. A month later at the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, Army veteran and President Reagan came to the same bunker. After seeing the warning sign, I always wondered what reaction the Secret Service had when the President was there...😮
Thank god for historians bringing us the 'hidden history'...who knew supplies were important? I've clearly watched too much Hollywood where bullets never run out....though I do remember that old saying that a 'soldier marches on his stomach'...and I've heard of the Mulberry harbours and Atlantic convoys, Arctic convoys and the Redball Express and Monty building up his supplies before launching his attack on Rommel...indeed many films made about those.
Yep....logistics have been a totally hidden part of warfare until now.
Fantastic documentary!
Amazing Documentory..............All brave armed Forces that will never be forotten ❤❤
Proud to have been a 1-18th soldier. Many years later of course.
Thank you for your service sir.
so very interesting to a WWII history buff, Thank you. My dad was In Italy with the Canadian 5th Division, Perth regiment.
I enjoyed the presentation, James and Paul together is a win! Don’t quite understand the negativity of some.
Some very thoughtful observations in the interaction!
Thank you, gentlemen!
The Canadians fought with an understated fury. Many thankless dirty dangerous objectives from Normandy to Holland .
Word- at Caen and rhe scheldt, ike and monty looked first to the Canadians-they did not disappoint. Same in WW1.
I thought the air drop across the rhine notably exceeded the size of the d day air drop ??
The Pegasus Bridge was replaced in 1994 by one similar in appearance, and the original is housed on the grounds of a nearby museum complex.
Fantastic museum.
I'd love to make this journey and see first hand these things again. Last saw it back in 68
A wonderful and extensive work...thanks
Love James Holland 🙌🏻
Shame the programme about these brave men and women is destroyed with TH-cam ads - there must be a happy medium
agree..
i watch commercial tv most days,
but TH-cam is awful
It was the best of times and the worst of times, bit those who fought for freedom and democracy, are the shining stars. God bless them all.
Your place is incredible beautiful itself, wow. I really enjoy your commentary on all the videos I’ve watched.
Visited the beaches and Pegasus Bridge back in 2005, thinking it’s time to go again.
Im no historian but this superb.
Recently I've come to agree that way not enough emphasis is put on the logistic achievement, especially made by the US Army during this war and later. Without the aid of computers and modern modes of shipping, they moved huge quantities of men and material of every size and description, starting with the D-Day invasion, the Red Ball express supply line, the transfer of troops from the European Theater after VE Day to the other side of the world to the Pacific Theater, and then during the 11 months of the Berlin /Airlift.
There are videos avail here on all these events. I encourage everyone with an interest in the history of the era to check them out.
My take, the more I learn, is that logistics and a visceral understanding of the difficulties of transportation are the reason Eisenhower was tapped as supreme commander. He wasn't in the trenches during WWI, he was slogging across the US collecting data and writing reports. He had a good idea what sloggiing across Europe would entail. Hence the US interstate highway system.
Thank you!
Wow! This was an awesome Documentary!
Thank you . The brilliance of the Logistics is equal in importance to the bravery of those who fought. I am always facinated by the huge detail that goes into logistics of Wars going all the way back to the Egyptian/Hittites. Alexander the Great must have been at the top of the scale of planners, but Eisenhower surely was there also.
The actor Richard Todd was involved in the capture of the Pegasus Bridge as he was part of the 7th Parachute Battalion (light infantry). The bridge was renamed in their honour.
This is from a video about Richard Todd by The History Chap.
We toured all the sites in the summer of 2015. The weather was horrible that day but at Omaha the weather cleared and we were able to go down to the beach. On the hill behind Omaha there is the Colleville-sur-Mer War Cemetary. Surprisingly there are a lot of 8 th and 9 th Airforce men burried there, not just D-Day casualties.
Surely the Rangers trained for their deployments in Northern Ireland and Scotland for the cliff assault on Point de Hoc?
Thx,all.
Are you putting the second part of this up?
Great video. Thank you.
Great history vid never miss yours. thank you
Nice to see Woody in this!
Nice house, great car. I’d love to hang out with James Holland and Paul Woodage.
I like his First Special Service Force patch. My grandfather’s WWII(US and Canadian combined, unit
I read a comment by Erwin Rommel to the effect that even before the enemy is sighted, much less the first gun fired, the people who are responsible for supply have set the outcome of the battle. It may a bit extreme, but he knew a lot more about war than I do.
I went with my wife to Normandy in 2008. My father's ashes are scattered off the coast along with my mother's.He died on June 6th, 1975. He was there on the Charles Carroll APA 28. They delivered the 29th to Omaha beach. He attended to the wounded when the ship was turned into a temporary hospital after every landing. He had already been through the Africa and Sicily invasions. In photos of the ship, you can see surgical lighting above the tables in the mess hall. Every inch of usable space was put to use for the wounded soldiers. They even took care of German soldiers. My father had a German fork he lifted from a young soldier who was brought aboard. He had both hands blown off from a grenade. He was just a kid like my father was. 18 or 19. My father was able to stop the bleeding. He was just a terrified kid. Now with no hands.
My father enlisted when he was 17. He had already witnessed enough horror for ten life times. The worst was yet to come. He would finish his duty to his country at Okinawa. He only said they just assumed they would all die from a Kamakazi attack being troop ship. He would never say anything else about the Pacific campaign. Nothing.
If you can, go to Normandy and the cemetery above it. You're not human if it doesn't rattle you to your core.
Fantastic production - and I could not help noticing that amazing car! If you'd care to sell it, let me know.
Did anybody mention to Holland that D-Day wasn't just Americans.
This fact will come as a surprise to some, possibly many.
'Did anybody mention to Holland that D-Day wasn't just Americans.'
Why would they? The whole thing was America this, America that.
@@thevillaaston7811
Ironic, especially given the close relationship that exists even today between Holland and Canada in recognition of the Canadian effort to liberate The Netherlands. During WW2, a Dutch princess was actually born in a Canadian hospital room that was specially designated temporarily as Dutch territory. Even today, tell a Dutch person that you're from Canada and you are treated like royalty.
@Well considering we supplied most of the logistics the weapons et cetera to the rest of the allies yeah It was an American show but we don't look at it that way.
It's almost like folks like you seem to think that because you held the line for 2 years you won the war by yourself.
I don't know anybody at least of all me that doesn't respect what the British effort was in those dark days
But remember you had help Churchill came to us for help and we did.
those patches on his leather jacket are reproductions & thank god for that. A real Merrill's Marauders is anywhere from $50-$100 for the standard fully embroidered type. & the Devil's Brigade or 1st Special Service Force 1SSF can go from $100-$300. Not to mention the SF wings on his sleeve & RANGERS lozenge.
Part 2 is titled: D-day: What was it really like storming Omaha...
Back in about 1973, I had to choose a book for an English oral exam, I chose Dawn Of D-Day by David Howarth.
Miss Jones was to be my examiner & her first question was….” What does the D stand for in D-Day?”
I had no idea, the answer certainty wasn’t in the book & I’ve found no reference to it anywhere else!! she stated it was for “Deliverance” as in, Deliverance-Day!!
Is there any truth in this at all??
I’m guessing Okinawa? I’ll see.
Is this series on history hit? Just subscribed and cant find it
I found this on Amazon it’s called Normandy 44
It's also famous for brie cheese and Calvados.
wow Paul Woody Woodage of WW2 TV (TH-cam) makes an appearance, amazing!
Good, but that was less about the logistics and more about individual actions at specific places. Oddly the Mulberry Harbour was designed at my daughter's school in Bath.
I was very curious to see the flash of the First Special Service Force on Dr Simpson's jacket.
Do all Rangers get to wear that patch?
I ask, because I had a step-uncle who was part of that force. Then one day I discovered that a fellow who sits near me at hockey games in our small town (5500 people) was the son of another member of the Black Devils!
Given that it was a fairly small unit, the chances of this is staggeringly small, I would think.
The English really praised Montgomery's planning efforts and execution. However, Operation Market Garden was Montgomery's failure to gather sufficient intelligence prior executing the mission, putting allied forces in a position for failure.
That is the Hollywood version.
Read the deputy US Army historian and learn some real history
Market Garden was not a defeat. It took 100km of German held ground. The Germans retreated and lost Eindhoven and Nijmegen. The allies later used Nijmegen to attack into Germany.
Only Arnhem was a defeat but technically this was an all air operation. Planned by the air forces.
Montgomery had no jurisdiction to order First Allied Airborne Army and RAF to accept his suggestions and they didn’t. Montgomery argued for double missions flown on day one, for closer drops to Arnhem and for coup de mains on the bridges. The air commanders refused all of this. Consequently, Arnhem was not Montgomery’s battle to lose technically speaking. Deep down he may have felt the same way.
It was planned mainly by the Air Force commanders, Brereton and Williams of the USAAF, though I’m not letting Hollinghurst of the RAF off here. His decision not to fly closer to Arnhem doomed 1st Airborne.
It was Bereton and Williams who:
♦ decided that there would be drops spread over three days, defeating the object of para jumps by losing all surprise, which is their major asset.
♦ rejected the glider coup-de-main on the bridges that had been so successful on D-day on the Pegasus Bridge and which had been agreed to on the previously planned Operation Comet.
♦ chose the drop and and landing zones so far from the Bridges.
♦ Who would not allow the ground attack fighters to take on the flak positions and attack the Germans while the escort fighters were protecting the transports, thereby allowing them to bring in reinforcements with impunity.
♦Who rejected drops south of the Wilhelmina Canal that would prevent the capture of the bridges at Son, Best and Eindhoven by the 101st because of “possible flak.“
From Operation Market Garden: The Campaign for the Low Countries, Autumn 1944:ty John Peate
The English? surely you mean the British they're not the same nor are they interchangeable.
The ‘failure’ of Market Garden to complete was down to the unwillingness of the RAF to carry out sufficient drops close enough and the US Gen Gavin failing to take his priority objective the Nijmegen road Bridge!
@@johndawes9337Well laid stated, Market Garden although risky had the ability to be a total success especially if the RAF had been directed to comply with the desired requirements!
Cool 💛
My father served under Montgomery - Rifleman London Irish Rifles, Sicily, Anzio and up Italy until wounded.
He had no good opinion of Montgomery.
so your dad disliked his boss.
My father served under Montgomery.
He had no opinion of Montgomery. Probably because he never met the bloke.
@@thevillaaston7811 Likewise.
*I've always wanted to ask...*
Exactly what does the 'D-' stand for (in D-Day?)
Decision Day
@@Encryptus1 Thank you!
I think this has been *the most omitted crucial fact* in all of documentary history.
It stands for "Day." Just like the W in "W-Week" or the H in "H-Hour," etc. It is NOT "Decision."
@@RR-uj2vx I think I posed a good question. Looks like the pursuit of an answer is turning into a debate.
@@RR-uj2vx so, D-Day means Day Day? 🤔 VE-Day means what then?
What is FFI on the car please?
Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur (French Forces of the Interior) AKA "The French Resistance".
I was disappointed that there was no mention of the pipeline rapidly buil under the Channel by the Allies. This was important for fuelling armor and mechanized units.
It probably wasn’t mentioned in this video due to PLUTO not delivering any fuel on or immediately after the D-Day landings. Fuel began flowing thru the pipelines on the 18th - 22nd of September, 1944 which was around 3.5 months later. With that said, I still believe it was an incredible act of engineering and logistics as PLUTO managed to deliver over 172 million gallons of fuel by the end of the war.
Hallowed ground, not hollowed ground.
The Citroen .
Largest mistake in history, is more like it.
Such a shame they get this entirely wrong from the get-go, in the title. Although the Normandy campaign was larger the actual amphibious assault of Sicily, Operation Husky, was larger than Overlord, more men, more ships huge distances to cover, some of the troops coming from as far as the USA. The crossing to Normandy was a tiny distance by comparison. I do have to say that Hollands book on Normandy is the best I have come across though, so I can only assume the title was click bait.
Woody...👍
👍👍👍
The Mulberry harbours were termed A for American and B for British . The B Harbour was named Port Winston. The American one wasnt fixed properly like the British told them too. It was smashed apart in a Gale force 4 Storm from19th to 24 June and written off . The Americans cocked up many aspects of before during and after of Normandy landings
It is certainly true that the US one was much more badly damaged. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard any suggestion that that was due to any negligence or incompetence of the US personnel.
Then google it. They went for speed rather than getting it right
Interesting, but hardly any of it is about the logistics of D-Day, as the title states
What percentage of equipment and men were from the US?
16% of the navy vessels, 50% of the airforces and 40% of the invasion force
Actually Okinawa was the largest invasion.
D-Day 156,000 Troops put ashore on the first day.
Okinawa 50,000 troops put ashore on the first day.
The Rhodesian Light Infantry jumped at 400 ft. They had at least 3 combat jumps a day and keep the record for the most combat jumps in the world that will never be broken ever. Look it up, you will be dumbstruck.
Oh yes, Rhodesia is called Zimbabwe today.
Interesting that despite the massive numbers involved, most of the logistics worked. But in the Falklands war logistics apparently, were a disaster.
How so?
@@thevillaaston7811 According to a book of the event, items were badly mispacked; mortar tubes on one ship, mortar bases on another for example.
@@simongee8928
The whole thing was put together at almost a moment's notice. I well remember the chain of events well. Argentina invaded on the Friday, the crisis was not even at the top of the news until earlier that week.
The task force had two light carriers, with 22 short range fighters, with a large part of the landing force in luxury liners, Sealink ferries, and so on. The whole thing took place at over 7,000 miles from Britain.
Operation Corporate is widely regarded as a masterpiece of military improvization.
Try convincing the squaddies who were at the sharp end and needing ammunition & supplies. y@@thevillaaston7811
@@simongee8928 Any you think D-Day went without hiccups? DD tanks not arriving? Landing craft hitting the wrong beaches? Preparatory bombing not hitting beach defences?
Overlord took 3 years of planning and took place 70 miles from the UK mainland.... The Falklands was planned at VERY short notice and took place 7000 miles away.