I bloody love this ! Conversation! Life before the web ! I remember sitting in pubs re fighting Arnhem in my 20s "well no he should have pegasused the bridge.... gliders right on top of it grab hold await Johnny frost bobs your uncle 😅"
I take away a couple of things from these videos; that a couple of brilliant historians can instantly switch into 8 year old boys as soon as they get anywhere near this stuff - just like the rest of us. And never go camping with James Holland - you will starve to death. I love these videos guys, you could just do an endless series of them all, and like the podcast, I would never miss one. Thanks.
I have to say that at first glance I was a little perturbed by the size of the beer glass Al was using. Until he pulled out the bottle from under the table. Jolly good show Murray! Carry on
Ok I admit it. I had to look up AGRA 🙂 Even though I've been to Norandy and felt I "knew a bit" there's always room for learning. Every day's a school day 🙂
I absolutely adore the easy pace of this chat interspersed with such gorgeous footage.. so much information but delivered in such a gentle informal way.. Thank you.
These videos are a great companion to the podcast as well as to the many books. It wasn't until I "walked the ground" at Arnhem when I could fully visualize the events that had happened.
I have known since I was a small child in the Cubs that I was really rubbish at throwing, so when it came to throwing my first grenade during my basic training I was dreading it. I was really surprised to see how far I could not throw it. Thankfully tactics have changed somewhat and the lob is a thing of the past. Posting the grenade was the Vogue at the time.
When I was trained to lob a grenade, in the 70s. It was constantly stressed that throwing was a bad thing. You could throw it further than lobbing it because it was easier. but they maintained that if you threw it at a target, it would roll past it. You had to throw it high so that it stuck when it landed, like a mortar round. A pig to do, and of course, it restricted the range. I think they made it more difficult than if should have been.
About the speed bumps; my girlfriend and I visited Normandy in January and whilst travelling from Omaha Beach to Gold (in the dark) I drove over a speed bump going quite fast and my car quite literally went airborne 🪂 so I guess you could say we had a more accurate experience 😂
One throws a hand grenade like that because one wants the grenade to land flat in a trench or foxhole and not roll around. It's less stressful on the arm and wrist to lob, not to mention easier when encumbered with kit.
Rommel created brilliant performances for the camera which followed him around, he was a propagandist incarnate for himself. He was a ‘lucky’ general as requested by Napoleon. However, many of his adversaries were not up to the mark and helped create the myth by their incompetence. When he finally met one (Montgomery) who had his measure, it was basically was all downhill from there.
Intriguing talk re: grenades - of course your Mk.36 is the same size, but people are bigger…! Maybe the ‘bowling’ was so you could teach a 5’6 Tommy the sane way as a strapping six footer like James and Al?
Great series - great footage and love the banter. One minor issue: Rommel absolutely was NOT a great general - he was at best a tactically competent one who got very lucky on 2-3 key occasions but who otherwise repeatedly made poor or rash decisions. He was completely illiterate about logistics which amplified his poor tactical decision, thereby making him overall operationally below average. He was also without any doubt a loyal Nazi (at least until summer '44 if not until his death), despite the many post-war myths claiming he wasn't.
Re: grenade tossing - I wonder if bowling as opposed to throwing reduces the chance of the thing slipping out of your hand and inflicting friendly fire?
The mulberry harbour showed the sheer determination the allies were here to stay and defeat the nazis together with another ingenious invention Pluto. Pipeline under the ocean that carried fuel from the Isle of White to Port en bessan. And if all our nations come together we can defeat any dictator like hitler and putin
I bloody love this ! Conversation! Life before the web ! I remember sitting in pubs re fighting Arnhem in my 20s "well no he should have pegasused the bridge.... gliders right on top of it grab hold await Johnny frost bobs your uncle 😅"
I take away a couple of things from these videos; that a couple of brilliant historians can instantly switch into 8 year old boys as soon as they get anywhere near this stuff - just like the rest of us. And never go camping with James Holland - you will starve to death.
I love these videos guys, you could just do an endless series of them all, and like the podcast, I would never miss one.
Thanks.
An army marches on its stomach but not with James the lads would be hungry
I have to say that at first glance I was a little perturbed by the size of the beer glass Al was using. Until he pulled out the bottle from under the table.
Jolly good show Murray! Carry on
I'd like to see the handgrenade toss competition
Try different types too, to see the difference between the stick grenade etc.
@@juliangreenwood528 And are sticky bombs really sticky?
Ok I admit it. I had to look up AGRA 🙂 Even though I've been to Norandy and felt I "knew a bit" there's always room for learning. Every day's a school day 🙂
Loved mention of "The Little Airfix Bloke", great and funny musings gents. 10/10.
Yeah! This is pure gold! I dream Airfix...
I absolutely adore the easy pace of this chat interspersed with such gorgeous footage.. so much information but delivered in such a gentle informal way.. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
"I don't know if you're familiar with the Megastructure concept Jim?" got a big laugh in this house.
I did "the big laugh" too! Especially when the Nazi's came up...
These videos are a great companion to the podcast as well as to the many books. It wasn't until I "walked the ground" at Arnhem when I could fully visualize the events that had happened.
Nothing like getting out there and walking the ground. Appreciate the work that you all are doing.
Excellent programme. And particularly the oblique reference to Dame Celia Molestrangler.
I have known since I was a small child in the Cubs that I was really rubbish at throwing, so when it came to throwing my first grenade during my basic training I was dreading it. I was really surprised to see how far I could not throw it. Thankfully tactics have changed somewhat and the lob is a thing of the past. Posting the grenade was the Vogue at the time.
When I was trained to lob a grenade, in the 70s. It was constantly stressed that throwing was a bad thing. You could throw it further than lobbing it because it was easier. but they maintained that if you threw it at a target, it would roll past it. You had to throw it high so that it stuck when it landed, like a mortar round. A pig to do, and of course, it restricted the range. I think they made it more difficult than if should have been.
Cycled out of Arromanches ,well buggerd when we reached the top & that was without some one trying to take a pot shot .Respect to those brave lads
You need to have a walk round Berlin, the battle under the steel bridge has some great battle scars
I think I could've watched that all day. Wonderful stuff!
Really enjoyed the whole series, PLEASE do more 👍👍👍👍
About the speed bumps; my girlfriend and I visited Normandy in January and whilst travelling from Omaha Beach to Gold (in the dark) I drove over a speed bump going quite fast and my car quite literally went airborne 🪂 so I guess you could say we had a more accurate experience 😂
Many many many many ...many thanks for this
What a great name for a TV show. "Allied Megastructures"
Needs a certain catchy word in the title 😉
Fantastic sentiment from Al at the end.
Absolutely love this
One throws a hand grenade like that because one wants the grenade to land flat in a trench or foxhole and not roll around. It's less stressful on the arm and wrist to lob, not to mention easier when encumbered with kit.
Really enjoyed the video can't wait for the next one
Fabulous series. Thank you both and all behind the scenes. Now please say you two are going over to Arnhem in September too?!
@@pwburch1988 We can neither confirm or deny that season two of this will be from Arnhem…
@WW2WalkingTheGround This is a story you will tell your grandchildren... Well I'll keep my fingers crossed and maybe see you there!
Another great Video keep them coming.
Great stuff gentlemen. Thank you.
Another great video guys very enjoyable 👍🏻
Loved it all…can’t wait to see you in “Bastoigne”
Really enjoying these videos. Al were you drinking a fruity drink or a wine for the ladies? 😊
Musta been Norman cider
This was great fun to watch. I was a bit concerned for your beverages when you were demonstrating the tossing of a grenade though. 😂🎉
Thank you for sharing this information with us. I often wonder if D-Day never happened would the allies won the war?
Frag Grenades are not heavy. You throw them that way to get them over obstacles, into foxholes and trenches, etc.
Rommel created brilliant performances for the camera which followed him around, he was a propagandist incarnate for himself. He was a ‘lucky’ general as requested by Napoleon. However, many of his adversaries were not up to the mark and helped create the myth by their incompetence. When he finally met one (Montgomery) who had his measure, it was basically was all downhill from there.
Intriguing talk re: grenades - of course your Mk.36 is the same size, but people are bigger…! Maybe the ‘bowling’ was so you could teach a 5’6 Tommy the sane way as a strapping six footer like James and Al?
Here's one American housewife who would totally watch "Not Nazi Megastructures" and the grenade hurling 🙋♀️
Great series - great footage and love the banter. One minor issue: Rommel absolutely was NOT a great general - he was at best a tactically competent one who got very lucky on 2-3 key occasions but who otherwise repeatedly made poor or rash decisions. He was completely illiterate about logistics which amplified his poor tactical decision, thereby making him overall operationally below average. He was also without any doubt a loyal Nazi (at least until summer '44 if not until his death), despite the many post-war myths claiming he wasn't.
Will there be an unedited episode of the tea making escapades
Re: grenade tossing - I wonder if bowling as opposed to throwing reduces the chance of the thing slipping out of your hand and inflicting friendly fire?
‘How’s a Sherman going over a speed bump?’
At pace with Zero F***’s ??
Wine Al ? That's for the ladies 😂😂😂
Could be a fruit-based drink 😂
@@Nemesis20252 It’s French cidre.
Which is better than both British and Irish @@WW2WalkingTheGround
But how could you drink there, without inviting Woody?
The mulberry harbour showed the sheer determination the allies were here to stay and defeat the nazis together with another ingenious invention Pluto. Pipeline under the ocean that carried fuel from the Isle of White to Port en bessan. And if all our nations come together we can defeat any dictator like hitler and putin
I love it! it says a lot about the satire 😊
pint for the fella and glass of white wine/fruit-based drink for the lady
What is a Agra ?? Have I spelled it right.
Al - why is that you are drinking? Too small for cider or beer and too frothy for wine :)
@@graemer3657 It’s a French cidre.
If he doesn't know how to light Hexamine.
He obviously doesn't know Grenades!
Googling what’s an agro
AGRA - Army Group Royal Artillery - artillery units held at Corps and Army levels to beef up divisional artillery.
@@andrewflindall9048 and that’s why google didn’t help, Agra not Agro! 😂 I should’ve gone to chatGPT that put me right very quickly
@@andrewflindall9048 just asked ChatGPT how does AGRA work?! I think I’d have got the same response from James😂
@@iNireus It is a bit niche, to be fair.
Rommel was beaten before he knew it, he was up against the undefeated world war champions after all
Absolutely super series - We Have Ways war-waffle with pictures! WNTL? Can’t wait for more 😁🪖