A German Uniform Found In A LOST WWII BUNKER in Normandy! | American Artifact Episode 19

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In Episode 198 of History Traveler, we were exploring the German bunker complex of Crisbecq Battery on the Normandy coastline. But there was far too much to see for just one episode. In this episode of American Artifact, we're taking a closer look at one of the bunkers at Crisbecq and even better, a German uniform that was recovered in a unlikely place after having been buried for years.
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
Get your History Underground MERCH at www.thehistoryundergroundstore.com
Set yourself up with a 10% DISCOUNT on all Origin gear and nutritional products by entering the code "history10" at www.originmaine.com!
Other episodes that you might enjoy:
- Crisbecq: A GIANT German Bunker Complex in NORMANDY! | History Traveler Episode 198
• Crisbecq: A GIANT Germ...
- Juno Beach: The Fighting Canadians on D-Day | History Traveler Episode 194: • Juno Beach: The Fighti...
- The 12th SS Massacre of the Canadians in Normandy | History Traveler Episode 195: • The 12th SS Massacre o...
- Holdy Battery: The Sister Gun Battery of Brecourt Manor | History Traveler Episode 187: • Holdy Battery: The Sis...
- German Bunkers of UTAH BEACH (D-Day!!!) | History Traveler Episode 190: • German Bunkers of UTAH...
- The Private Collection of Major Dick Winters (EP 151): • The Private Collection...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
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Help spread history and share this with a friend. And be sure to SUBSCRIBE to catch all of the latest content when it drops. Thanks!

Опубликовано:

24 фев 2022

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Комментарии : 404

@SirGweet 2 года назад

I wanted to tell you this for awhile: you’re genuinely living the life I’ve wanted to live for years. Visiting, documenting, preserving cemeteries, traveling to historic sites, this is “the life.” While I’m jealous and envious, I’m so friggin proud and happy to see someone doing this. Your whole channel, every video, dude, thank you. So. Much. Thank you

@JamesLee-lk4kx 2 года назад

I concour with that statement.

@bretti1860 Год назад

Why don't you start realize your dream? You can do exactly the same. :)

@bumblebee623 Год назад

Noone cares.. if u want that life go live it and stop crying about it online

@joeb3668 Год назад

Lots of genuine treasures to discover ,not to mention toe tappers to discover also

@610vatorspeed7 Год назад

@@bumblebee623 rude!!!! Sometimes people put other priorities first then there dreams goofy

@r.guardia9107 Год назад

The solder had no idea his uniform would be shown on RU-vid 80 years later. Would be crazy if he were able to see this.

@georgekouremenos596 7 часов назад

The soldier had no idea that Normandy were to be his grave. What youtube and nonsense... generations passed and brains got bad.

@Basusu1166 2 года назад

my grandfather also wore a uniform jacket, also with the award ribbon to the iron cross second class in the buttonhole and he was also there at the time of the invasion. he was captured after hard fighting and was in American captivity for 2 years until he returned to destroyed Berlin in 1946 where he met my grandmother on the black market and married her in 1947. my grandfather still has nightmares at night until the 1960s from which he woke up screaming

@shunumiah8041 10 месяцев назад

Wait so he was a nzi

@bizarre5443 9 месяцев назад

@@shunumiah8041he was a soldier

@67Mefisto 2 года назад

When I first visited Batterie du Crisbecq in 1999, the whole area was overgrown with weeds and you had to look hard to find the bunkers. Since the huge revival of interest in sites in Normandy following the release of Saving Privat Ryan, the French have done a tremendous job restoring this site. Also, the huge proliferation of Museums and other restored sites does Normandy the credit it deserves.

@jetsons101 2 года назад

I'm sure that whoever tossed that uniform away never could have thought that someday people would find it and make a big deal about it.... Funny how history evolves. Thanks for your great work.

@paulpaul246 Год назад

Yeah he was probably scared to death and wanted to get rid of the uniform so he wouldn't get shot or maybe he hid it for some other reason.

@paulpaul246 Год назад

Perhaps he wanted to come back and get the uniform for his children and grandchildren after the war was over. I wonder if he perceived that The Invasion would spell the defeat of Nazi Germany.

@robertnegron9706 Год назад

If he is still alive. Would be a real story

@robertnegron9706 Год назад

@@paulpaul246 that’s a great surmise. Yea to blend in with civilians.

@normahird9059 2 года назад

JD... Again another superb video of Normandy. You have preserved history for future generations. Your reenactment of this battle is so realistic your viewers are actually there walking beside you and Eric. Thank you

@sandramosley2801 2 года назад

Absolutely! Well observed!

@PhiletMil 2 года назад

Thank you for showing this German bunker complex JD & Erik. Not many people get to see this, because they usually don't have the time in one day tour. Such great videos especially the ones taken with the drone, love it ! I have been giving D-Day tours for 20 years and still learn every day, especially thanks to the stories from my clients (I actually had the privilege to have both German & American veterans/clients in the past and you learn so much from them). I had read years ago that it was 7 Americans that were killed in this bunker by accident because someone smoked there after the battle (I forgot where I read it & I might be wrong). What strikes me is that the same story pretty much happened in the battery of Longues sur Mer, killing tragically 4 servicemen one month after D-Day by accident because someone smoked near the ammunition storage in casemate #4 from what I read. If someone knows more and has reliable sources about this, I am always interested to learn ;)

@michaelderenne9838 Месяц назад

How this channel doesnt have millions of subscribers is beyond me. I guess people would rather watch others play video games than learn this history. Such good content. Thankyou

@michaeldouglas1243 2 года назад

Not sure if this is true or not, but I had heard more than once before, that some of the greener German troops in Normandy took off there uniforms and donned french civilian clothes and tried to blend into the countryside to escape capture or death. Some were captured and that was how this came to light. Mayne that uniform in the duct work was a product of that folklore. We may never know.

@jaybarrows2526 2 года назад

I agree

@JLKB-1947 2 года назад

@ Michael Douglas . I’ve heard about such stories more or less the same back in the 60’s while I was in the then British HongKong from the Royal Military WW2 veterans . Then in the70’s , I heard about such stories from several WW2 veterans that I worked with back in USA . I’ve got drafted in November 1969 .

@francisjohnification 2 года назад

Hi Mr Douglas. Not folklore. It’s a fact. Not only the regular troops, but especially those of higher rank, particularly if they had been involved in the more ‘questionable’ actions of the war. Not surprising really. Anonymity would be highly desirable if you are on the losing side and want to avoid any potential reprisal.

@charles0322mrsdani 2 года назад

This was my first guess

@cschu879 2 года назад

That is pure rubbish the German people were nazified for years before the invasion so believe me they did not believe they were going to lose and they swore The invasion would fail so they fought tooth and nail... we just destroyed them with tounge and cheek

@stephenrrose 2 года назад

JD, Another fantastic episode! Thank you for all that you do! Erik, thank you for preserving history, and it's humbling to see you bring artifacts back to the location. The cemetery visits get me all the time!!!!

@aprylrittenhouse4562 2 года назад

Im so very jealous of you two young men. When i was your age i always wanted to see the places my uncles fought in. Thanks for making this video tour possible.

@GoingBrokeGarage 2 года назад

I just have to say I love this channel so much. You make some fascinating videos. Thanks for what you do! You really are doing your part at keeping history alive for the next generation!

@ClassicHotties 2 года назад

Wow. Seeing the bunkers in living color really brings history to life.

@jefferyfowler7860 2 года назад

Great job JD and Erik. I'm amazed at how much I've learned from you guy's.

@dawndickson2156 2 года назад

These artifacts are amazing! So is this series!

@mamab4211 2 года назад

So glad you went back and shared another video of this place!! 🥳 Very cool!! Thanks for taking us along 👍😎

@jaexotics Год назад

I love WW 1-2 era history. I don’t want to say WW2 was my “favorite war” but I do enjoy learning and watching videos like this on it because my old neighbor who has past on now was Military Police during the war. He’d always tel me stories when I was growing up of what it was like. Before he past on he gave me some of his service medals. Great video!

@ramay1210 Год назад

What a channel, by far it's the best I've ever watched. I spend hours from Normandy to Germany watching your amazing discoveries. Thank you and keep up the great work 👍👍👍👍👍

@TheHistoryUnderground Год назад

Wow, thank you!

@jimwiskus8862 2 года назад

That is truly amazing! I am shocked that that tunic was not eating up by mold or some kind of a critter mice whatever. Thank you JD and Eric.

@familyman3942 2 года назад

Awesome as always, thanks JD and Eric

@scottsprings9604 2 года назад

Thank you both.

@williamsoileau1802 2 года назад

Very well done, throughout the some 50 yrs.of collecting, studying history, teaching, etc... my uniform collection has grown to 519 pieces dating from 1754 to the 1980s Cold War, I own a complete O.Rs panzer uniform Grossdeutchland, low boots, M43 cap, mouse gray shirt, necktie, headset, wound badge 3d class, panzer assault badge along with a Lance cpl 's uniform m1940 of that division Grossdeutchland Infanterie Reg',t complete. My Abn. Paratrooper collection alone is huge including an M42 jump uniform of the Devil's Bde.with the early M1C fixed bail pot and Hawley liner NCO bar on the pot. Imagine the faces, men, expressions, fear, hatred, etc. The diaries, memoirs, hand drawn maps, battlefield drawings in my paper collections, hair raising reading what Pvt. Jim Watson saw in Chickamauga Co. D 1st Fla. Cav. Also an autographed photo of field Marshall Rommel I found tucked away in one of my Musette bags. My Sharp's carbine M1859 has the man's name scribed into the shoulder stock P.Flynn Those aren't even the mind blowers from.my collections

@djareatone Год назад

You show us so many incredibly beautiful places and so much interesting history of value that many of us followers have heard about but will not be able to see and we are so grateful that you can show us those places.. it feels so amazing and we are eternally grateful for what you show us :D

@joemichael3656 2 года назад

Great series, have a hard time understanding how all this concrete was produced all along the coast, to build these bunkers, this was done with 30’s equipment, the elaborate interiors of some are amazing it’s incredible to believe the Germans were so determined to win the war. But made too many mistakes in the end. History is so fascinating.

@Dusty357 2 года назад

Slave labour is how

@BigLisaFan 2 года назад

Yes, they made crucial mistakes. Switching from attacking RAF airfields to bombing London allowed Fighter Command to catch its breath and regain the upper hand. Turning on Russia was a major error as well. Putting faith in the "wonder weapons" instead of conventional ones and not exploiting the advanced aircraft they had all contributed to the downfall of Germany. Good thing they made those crucial errors when they did, history might be different today.

@cschu879 2 года назад

To answer your question Joe it was slave labor that built all those bunkers slave labor that mixed the concrete that poured the concrete that leveled the concrete it went to sleep with concrete all over them the slave labor that suffered with the severe concrete Burns that you receive from dealing with concrete without safety protocol the Nazis were pure evil and the Germans were a nasty bunch to allow these criminals to take over their country and attack the world but that was then and this is now which means Russia is attacking Ukraine so where is the world that I know it's gone away.

@BigLisaFan 2 года назад

@@cschu879 Weren't many workers from the Todt Organization too?

@JLKB-1947 2 года назад

@@cschu879 . Agree .

@TravelingToHistory 2 года назад

wow what an impressive story JD. About the discovery of a german uniform. i love the artifact series 👍🏼

@three6ohchris 2 года назад

Oh wow... When Erik mentioned that 12 American servicemen lost their lives there because one of them, or a different American soldier not killed, was smoking a cigarette near the ammo stores. So heartbreaking and tragic.. to live through D-Day and some vicious fighting, only to be killed over a silly accident that could have been prevented easily. RIP to each of those men, as well as all service members of each of the Allied Countries that fought and lost their lives while trying to make sure the rest of the world was safe from tyranny. God Bless. 🙏

@bmcg5296 2 года назад

Love your videos J.D in seeing history, with Eric and his relics. That has also been superb. His knowledge and names he knows in and around France has been great. Thank you also Eric.👏🏻

@bmcg5296 2 года назад

On another issue the ribbon is the wearer of a Iron Cross Second Class J.D. So he had to have done something still brave enough to earn it. But just not enough to get the real Iron Cross.

@66Bunn 2 года назад

My first thought was that perhaps smoke was pouring in the air duct and perhaps a German infantryman jammed it up with this coat to keep from choking...just a thought

@rappers5719 2 года назад

I seriously can't get enough of this.

@nonamesplease6288 2 года назад

Great artifact. The man who owned this was a combat veteran as evidenced by the EK2 ribbon in the buttonhole. German troops were somewhat unique in that they wore their decorations on their combat uniforms. The jacket also doesn't appear to have the white colar piping or any other distinctions to identify him as anything other than a Landser.

@suzyqualcast6269 2 года назад

Think that's why so many actual decorations have been, and are, found out on the old areas of engagement.

@twinsonic 2 года назад

The ribbon looks way to new for 80 years old..

@sigmundjahn3122 2 года назад

White piping? You mean infantry, yes?

@velociraptorimperator4299 2 года назад

An M-36 early war tunic with pleated pockets and the bottle green collar still being worn in 1944, I suppose it's possible, but one might expect to find a NCO tresse around the collar with corresponding collar tabs and shoulder boards

@thurin84 Год назад

many european countries wore their awards in combat conditions.

@youngbidness1715 2 года назад

This is awesome! Thank you! Keep em coming.

@michaelbyrne1596 2 года назад

Your concept of bringing history to all people is both educational and rewarding, another wonderful video. Shame with what's going on in another part of Europe that some people will never learn from history that taking land by force only creates losers on all sides.

@davidolien2828 2 года назад

You always reveal exciting history. Thank you!

@henrysara7716 2 года назад

Thank you for sharing.

@Jgasporrap 2 года назад

Always amazing content, thanks for making these great videos!

@muddyfox4x4 2 года назад

What a find 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

@Wreckdiver59 2 года назад

Very cool that Erik received that jacket. Who knows how many items like that just get tossed out after all these years. I'll see you guys shortly 😁.

@allengrant 2 года назад

Another outstanding episode from Erik and yourself. The minutia that y'all uncover is fascinating. Kudos for bringing out the drone. The overhead shots, in this case, the Crisbecq Battery, adds a great perspective in terms of showing the massive size of this complex. Without giving too much away, are there plans to chronologically retrace the order of battles all the way to the Eagle's Nest? Well Done, once again.

@keconstruction2576 2 года назад

I feel like the method that was explained on how the camo pattern was inlayed into the concrete is slightly in accurate the paper would have had to have been adhered to the forms walls when they poured the concrete into them there would have been no way to access the wet concrete to put these in once it was poured hence why I think the method described is in accurate it is more likely they put waste pieces of rebar on the forms so when they pulled the forms off the rebar would be easy to pull out where paper and other things would get the folds caught in the concrete and rip out leaving remnants of the material in the grove

@booenslin8986 Год назад

Yes sir I agree your living my dream.keep up the good work for the world to be in touch!!!

@dave3156 2 года назад

Another really interesting video JD! You have done a great job with the battle in Normandy. Thx

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 года назад

Thanks!

@maximalwest2797 3 дня назад

The Breast Eagle is in Superb condition!

@bobwallace9814 2 года назад

Back in the day of 1980, a neighbor of my then girlfriend used to come over the house, especially on holidays. Super nice guy named Hans. One of those guys in his late 50's that didn't look a day over 35. He spoke perfect English but could switch to German if someone asked. He had his full regular army uniform from the war in his closet. He brought it over one time and put it on for everyone. It still fit him perfectly. I wish I had been up on uniforms and awards back then.

@steffenwilde6175 2 года назад

Tja der Hans der kanns,, schneidig ist die Infanterie.

@maximalwest2797 3 дня назад

Yeah the late Wife of my Grandfather had an Uniform and a Helmet from her former Husband.....i was 7 back then 1987 when i "found" it in the Wardrobe! I guess alot of People have Stories like that to bite themselves in the Butt.:D Our family totally lost contact to her after my Grandfather died. (Nobody liked her she was a bit Cruel:)) At least i got the Wehrpass from my Grandfather and two WarTime Photoalbums from him and his comrades.

@jonvee7014 2 года назад

Another amazing episode ….I am completely hooked

@benjaminrush4443 Год назад

That Crisbecq Battery Bunker Complex was quite fortified. Glad they kept the Artillery in place. Thanks.

@sigguy1361 Год назад

I had to chuckle when he was talking about camouflaging the bunkers from aerial surveillance. I would think those huge structures in the middle of a field would stand out like a sore thumb regardless of what you did to them. Another great video, thanks!

@MultiSkyman1 8 месяцев назад

I love this stuff!

@OliverSidla_SLR 2 года назад

Amazing, thanks!

@1924ab 2 года назад

Incedible story, thank you so much.

@dermotgodfrey1454 Год назад

Literally history at your fingertips! Amazing find!

@JosjeR 2 года назад

So bizar that this bunker is actually a grave as well.

@aprylrittenhouse4562 2 года назад

I wonder what was on the minds of these young men as they defended those bunkers and casemates. They mustve been scared as the invaders were as well.

@justinweaver8787 2 года назад

Wow what an amazing find!

@rawdawgg_ 2 года назад

What a great thing to have acquired! So awesome!

@aslooijer 2 года назад

Amazing! To be in the bunker where it was found. Very cool

@jpmtlhead39 2 года назад

I was there in 1999. Just awsome place.

@SandervkHistory 2 года назад

What a story... awesome artifact! am catching up on some episodes 👍

@jmgrant6881 2 года назад

You always have very interesting content. Thank you.

@larryburwell8550 2 года назад

Oh glad to see uniform has been brought back to be put on display in the bunker where it came from for everyone to see when they come there

@Slywulf86 Год назад

Crazy the story that thing could tell if it could talk! All I could see in my mind while looking at it was the German soldier looking around and seeing all was lost. So he took off his uniform, hide it by stuffing it in there and ran away thinking maybe he could blend in with civilians. Who knows how it really happened but it is one very interesting story no less. Great stuff y'all!

@lizzapaolia959 Год назад

Another outstanding video. Thanks again for sharing these educational videos 👌🙏

@emilioalcazar4170 Год назад

Amazing find this tunic!

@jaspergrey108 2 года назад

Great video! I'm loving this channel.

@1970swimmer 3 месяца назад

I was stationed in Baden Baden from 1990-1993. When we would do morning PT (fitness) we run in the blackforest off the beaten track and every so often one of our platoons would find hidden trenches and the odd camouflage shacks. Germany I would say, still has many a hidden gem to be found one day.

@chrisskinner7859 4 месяца назад

To be that close to history must be a TRIP !!!!!

@unrecognizedpiano1100 2 года назад

Thank you guys, I am happy I found this channel

@powercatjeffy 2 года назад

That's a real example of "smoking kills." How sad. Survive the landing and you get a moment to relax and it takes you.... :(

@aquiliferix5691 2 года назад

Thanks for another great video. I noticed at the end credits the British flag has been raised incorrectly. The red "stripe" in the lower left quarter should be furthest from the flag pole.

@JohnBoy-Ramone 2 года назад

Well spotted...when hoisted like this, it is a sign of distress.

@davekreitzer4358 2 года назад

Sure hope that was donated back to where it came from , It should be on display there along with the story !!!

@mccuenoirfilms Год назад

That jacket definitely belongs in the bunker display!!

@petercliff4023 2 года назад

Another really great episode, thanks for bringing back the tunic to the bunker. Could you do a episode on the accident that killed the American soldiers? May be they could put a plaque on the wall to remember them?

@keithrayeski3147 2 года назад

Goose bumps right there!! How very cool!!! Like others, curious why the other battery is not accessible.

@suzyqualcast6269 2 года назад

Full of uncleared munitions, maybe. There's several along the whole length of 'the Wall'.

@camdodge9891 2 года назад

Fantastic explore and great video loved it JD

@mynamedoesntmatter8652 2 года назад

One of my uncles who was overseas sent a complete German uniform back home. My grandmother, who detested the Nazis and hated that her four sons were in both Europe and the Pacific Theatre, took that uniform outside one day and burned it. Needless to say that didn’t go over well with any of the family, boys and girls (one aunt was in the WAC). A piece of history lost in a fire on the home front. I have my father’s wartime mementos, few that they are, except for the suitcase full of letters, photos, clippings and telegrams, all that my parents saved. They were just dating at the time my father went into the military and their courtship is mostly all there in those many letters. They’re both gone now, and having these things means so much.

@carlsowell8099 2 года назад

Very cool! Love the videos.

@jeremyprice571 Год назад

So very cool, I've seen you on TV a few times. You are always a wealth of information!!!! TYVM

@TheHistoryUnderground Год назад

👍🏻

@zen4men Год назад

Ivy makes great camouflage!

@Nighthawk1966 2 года назад

Just when I thought I saw all of Erik’s stuff, you guys pull this thing out !! Wow, that was awesome for real ! Man Erik’s the man for real, Wow dude ! So so cool ! You should do a WW1 series with all of his stuff too cause it’s incredible as well as I’m sure you well know.

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 года назад

👍🏻

@lthom5158 2 года назад

Another great episode!

@bobleicht5295 2 года назад

What rank?

@FLRailroaddog 2 года назад

Amazing 👍

@mikedandurand3548 2 года назад

Man you NEVER disappoint.

@fredv7487 2 года назад

Well done as always.

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 года назад

👍🏻

@sirchromiumdowns2015 5 месяцев назад

It's hard to believe the naval bombardment didn't do more damage...then again, look at all that rebar! The concrete walls must be two feet thick. The grass is so well kept, it looks like one big putting green.

@chrispowell9506 2 года назад

Very cool! Great background music as well!

@mthompson0331 2 года назад

these are my favorite.

@claysmith1258 Год назад

Wonderful who the holder of the EK2 was and if he survived the war. Interesting video.

@michaelmallal9101 3 месяца назад

Great to hear Lili Marleen.

@Unknown-_-User 2 года назад

6:25 Zugluftleitung not Zulufleitung When they write It on the wall, it should be right. Great Videos btw. Best regards from Germany

@1psychofan 2 года назад

Wow! When we say smoking kills people-we aren’t joking! Lol seriously good episode!

@augenblickgeschichte6803 Год назад

Sehr interessantes Video. Gut gemacht

@KuwaharaBMXRider 2 года назад

Those German uniforms were really well designed 👌🏻

@mikemercer5808 Год назад

Thanks!

@richfinds8222 2 года назад

I wonder if the Kreigsmarine "borrowed" an army uniform to stop a drafty air duct? The air duct would have to be pretty well sealed at either end for this to happen unless it was like 1970s or before? I once found a cardboard stationary box from ww1 inside a metal tin 4ft below the ground so these conditions preserved it. Great video ive been to Normandy 4/5 times and I didnt know about this place.

@MrJal67 Год назад

You guys need to go to Maisy Battery if you havent yet...amazing story.

@TheHistoryUnderground Год назад

Had plans but schedules didn’t quite line up.

@kieronjones5460 2 года назад

Nice tunic. Interesting for myself as I collect WW1 and WW2 militaria, and one of the German combat helmets I own looks like a standard army helmet with the paint, but on close inspection of the decal you can see the original gold rather than silver colouring of the eagle, making it a naval coastal artillery helmet. Mine is obviously a veteran bring back example, rather than an extremely lucky find like that. Great video.