Band of Brothers Ep.2 Reaction | First Time Watching | Asia and BJ 

Just always remember as you are watching this series, it’s a recreation of historical events. In other words This ACTUALLY happened. God bless these heroes, we can never repay them…

Spent 14 years as a Infantry Officer. Dick Winters is the Gold standard of leadership. New Infantry officers at Fort Benning learn all about him.

I can confirm that final card. Back in the late 1980s, while I was learning to be a young Army officer, we studied this attack as a perfect example of how to assault an entrenched position held by superior numbers. The show doesn't really get across how well this assault was performed. Winters took 17 men and accomplished his mission suffering only two casualties: one killed, one wounded, despite facing between 50 and 70 enemy troops. It was truly remarkable.

I’ve watched this show for nearly 20 years. That first scene with the real soldiers always makes me tear up with him at the end.

Can you believe this is a 22 year old show? Saw it when it came out and it still looks like it was created today. The immersion is so real, it’s no question you’re making subtle movements to duck and stuff while watching.

Buck Compton was a pitcher in college so he threw his grenades more like a baseball so they didn't have much of an arc to it. The grenade exploding as it hit the German on impact was legit. If y'all are ever in New Orleans, the World War 2 museum is a must. So much history in that building, I was lucky to be there when it first opened.

Major Richard "Dick" Winters (Damian Lewis) is the kind of guy I'd describe as a natural born leader, you just can't teach what he's doing and I bet he kept plenty of guys alive. Also, I always felt Staff Sergeant William "Wild Bill" Guarnere (Frank John Hughes) opening fire on the horse cart was retaliation for his brother's death.

Winters was cut from a different cloth, his courage was off the charts.

This is when the shit gets real. "We're not lost Private, we're in Normandy" Shows Winters confidence already. Currahee! ♠

My great uncle served in the 82nd Airborne (504)… he was shot and killed as he parachuted into Italy in Dec. 1943. RIP to all the heroes 🇺🇸

In real life, Malarkey actually KNEW that German soldier from back home in Eugene Oregon. He worked across the street from him for years. Unbelievable.

Hall was a great character. He even won over Guarnere at the end "He's all right, that kid." RIP

That opening scene is one of the most intense things I've ever seen in film. It also provides some perspective for Saving Private Ryan when they talk about paratroopers missing their dropzones and asking how they wound up so far away. It's also a wonder to me how Donnie Wahlberg gets less acting rolls and is less known than Mark because he's a much better actor.

They soldier that got killed by the explosion was the first guy Dick Winters found after dropping. The guy the volunteered to come along since he couldn't find his own unit.

I watch this series every year on Memorial Day and on Veterans Day. My Dad was a Ranger in WWII. My Uncle died in WWII, I never got to meet him, he died before I was born. This series is nothing short of amazing.

I’m going to be in Normandy on Saturday , it’s always emotional being on the beaches or driving through the villages where their are alway memorials and even pictures of those who died . I always think that what takes me 20 minutes to drive cost 100s even 1000s of lives to take from the Germans .

You guys should stick with this and binge it real quick, so good

There aren’t very many of these people left. So when you see some old guy in his late 90s doddering along at Walmart or sitting on a park bench, watching the world go by, just remember that when he was 19 or 20 years old, he was doing sh!t like this. His tour of duty was “for the duration of the war”. And when he came home he didn’t complain or even talk about it. He didn’t want to remember. He wanted to forget. It was only near the end of their lives that these men finally broke down and told their stories to the generation of their grandchildren and then they practically had to drag it out of them for the sake of history. They truly didn’t want to remember. They are rightly called the greatest generation. Selfless and courageous and honorable, at one time they were the baddest MFs who ever walked the Earth. Much love ❤️

Love the reaction to this episode! I have a suggestion: Chernobyl. Another true story about the nuclear meltdown in the Soviet Union that occurred in the 1980's. It's only 5 episodes but it will blow your mind when you realize how close to global disaster we were in!

I can’t express enough how much this series touches your heart. And every episode gets better and better. Love y’all.

This show really makes you CARE about everyone in it. It portrays each man (and woman) as a real person, as of course they were... with feelings, fears, hopes and dreams. It's inspiring and heartbreaking.

Fun Fact: the actor who plays Malarkey, Scott Grimes, also voices Steve Smith in the cartoon American Dad! So now, everytime I see the scene of him dodging fire in the open field, I can just hear Steve Smith screaming in fear as he runs.

By the time you are finished watching this mini series you will understand why they were called the greatest generation. These young men of the U.S and allied forces were truly remarkable.🍻

To anyone reading this and has served thank you so very much ❤️

I was right there with u Asia, ducking and flinching like the bullets were coming straight at me! It's just amazing that 20yrs later this series still has the ability to inspire awe and mad respect for our veterans 👏

@06:25 "that's why they need to study the maps!" 100% agree! Good land navigation is such an underrated part of being a great soldier/warrior. It doesn't matter how well you can shoot, fight hand-to-hand, how fit you are, etc., if you can't even get TO the fight!

I've been looking for this......they just keep getting better and better. I hope that you enjoyed episode 2. 😀

they were true heroes, My father was friends with Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron they use to come to our house and have a beer with my father.

Many of the US paratroopers did not have quick-release mechanisms for their scute harnesses as the British paratroopers did. Before D-Day, the Nazi flooded a lot of fields in Normandy, so when the paratroopers jumped, many landed in the flooded field and drowned from the weight of their equipment. Very sad footnote to this chapter of the war.

Happy you are watching this. One of my favourite series for sure. Feel like everyone should watch this 10 episode series just to get a slight picture and idea of what WW2 was all about and their sacrifice and bravery for our freedom today.

For a time in my youth, I thought about joining the military. My father, a First Sgt in the 82 Airbourne Division in Vietnam, told me he fought in a war so me and my brother wouldn't have to. Honor those who will sacrifice their own safety for your freedom.

I was in the military.. and I can’t even imagine.. unreal bravery!.. greatest generation

Damian Lewis captured Dick Winters so beautifully and with such apparent ease, that we almost don't realise what an absolutely stupendous actor he is. The greatest actor of his generation, IMO. Winters' rare combination of natural leadership qualities (charisma & authority) and his innate nobility and humanity would've been overdone or underplayed by any other actor.

Love your reactions and your comments about this show. In my opinion its the greatest series every made, and the fact that the story is true makes it that much more impactful Lets put this in prospective for a minute, these men came in from civilian life spent two years training. On their first day Winters led 12 men in battle they successfully took out a fixed emplacement manned by over 50 soldiers. Also not sure if you are up on military honors, but the Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest honor our country can give a service man, second only to the Medal of Honor, and Winters earned his DSC on his first day in battle. He was an amazing leader solider and man. Keep watching the series i look forward to seeing your reactions to all the episodes. Also not sure anyone has yet mentioned it but I strongly recommend that when you finish the 10 episodes of the series you watch "We Stand Alone Together" the documentary about Easy company that was made along side the series. It is where the interviews you see at the start of the episode are taken from. Of course there is plenty of stuff that does not make the series and it gives you a great insight into the thoughts and feelings of the men as the war moves along. Keep up the great work!

When I saw this reaction I was shocked!!! Great to see y'all willing to watch. I know you both have great respect for the telling of these men's stories and their place in the history of our great nation. Can't wait to follow your journey on Band of Brothers.

This series brought me to tears a few times. An amazing bunch of men and their story is brilliantly depicted here.

Asia's hand placement and movement is just hilarious throughout every reaction

I have seen some crazy stuff - I was in Afghanistan. We were across a valley from Al qaeda and knew a fight was coming. As we were waiting about 75 taxis pull up from the neighboring town. Half the fighters got out and walked to our side and half walked to their side - they all drove in together!! I didnt trust any of them and NEVER wanted them behind me.

To hear you describe the events like you are…warms my heart. Spread the word about this type of stuff to others. Every May…the country observes Memorial Day. That day is to be in remembrance of the sacrifice of the men and woman who have worn the uniform. It’s not simply a day off…to BBQ or go to the lake and celebrate being off work. It’s to take a moment and remember. On Memorial Day…drive past a cemetery and observe the families just sitting by the graveside of a fallen loved one. It will change you as a person. There is a photo on the internet of a young mother with a blanket spread on the ground in front of her husbands headstone. She is clutching her child and weeping… That’s how she spends her Memorial Day… Her husband never got to see his child. These were 17-18-19 year old boys in this series. They don’t know what manhood is yet. They soon learn it and you will witness it by time this series is over.

I forgot to mention from the first film where the interview was going with the real men of Easy Company where one of them said he recruiter said "you get paid $50 more a month". That was known as "Blood Money" because you are behind enemy lines with no support, surrounded, no way to be resupplied, and there's a high chance you may never come back. Also Currahee is a mountain here in Georgia where the airborne trained in Toccoa Georgia. Currahee Mountain is a name from the Cherokee Indians which means "Stand Alone". So the airborne adopted the name Currahee for "we stand alone together" due to the nature of who they are because when jumping behind enemy lines they will be surrounded by the enemy alone but together.

Hope you do The Pacific after this one. The men who fought the Japanese deserve to be remembered for the hell they went through!

Hi Asia & BJ. I am so glad that you two are watching this series! Probably the BEST series ever created following a division/group/I don't know the correct military term - but the BEST series about WWII. I am retired from a school district in Colorado (23 years) - where for the first 15 years I worked at a High School . For most of my time there, the high school had an Oral History Day for the Freshmen students who were studying WWII where they brought in veterans of WWII to talk to the students about their experiences of the war. All I can tell you is that those men and their stories held both the STUDENTS and the FACULTY SPELLBOUND. Best wishes and take care:)

The whole purpose of their job was to jump behind enemy lines, disrupt/destroy enemy operations, and then delay any more of the enemy from countering the beach assault. Surrounded with a very real possibility of no support or rescue coming. Especially if the beach landings failed. Hard to wrap your head around someone willingly going into that. One of my favorite lines (much later in the series) is "We're paratroopers. We're supposed to be surrounded."

This series is the best!! The men and women that served our country in all wars are true American Heros. I read one of the books written by Major Richard Winters and it sheds more light on what the men went through. Respect!!!!

14:10 The assault on the guns at Braecourt Manor was assigned to Easy Company, which consisted of 165 men. However, only 12 men from Easy Company were available. The rest were scattered about the countryside or already dead/wounded. The German gun position was manned by 60 soldiers, with machine guns, and protected in trenches and bunkers. 12 against 60. Easy Company destroyed all the heavy guns and killed about 20 Germans, while losing one American, who was actually a volunteer from Able Company. The American High Command, Eisenhower’s staff, expected to loose, as many as, 65% of all the paratroopers (killed/wounded) on that first day. The sacrifices of the paratroopers prevented the slaughter and defeat of the forces landing on the beaches of Normandy. The paratroopers did this by blocking and ambushing the German counterattacks, before those Germans could get help to the German troops fighting in the bunkers and trenches, defending the beaches. My family were close friends with one of those paratroopers, Eddy Nelson. Eddy was shot in the head in the battle at Normandy; but he survived, married his, beautiful, high school sweetheart (they were both, fresh out of school), and raised a beautiful family, despite Eddy’s permanent disabilities. He had a steel plate that replaced most of his skull, and lost a portion of his brain. He had a permanent loss of short term memory. He was always, gentle, kind, and friendly; as were his wife and children.

Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Saving Private Ryan do a extremely good job showing what WWII combat was like. The battle depicted here is the battle of Brecourt Manor. Still studied at West Point. Can you understand why they were called the Greatest Generation? Bravery was common for these men. It's going to get worse. The 101st was in almost constant combat from June 6, 1944 to May 1945. Good luck.

This series is one of the best cinematic productions EVER. RIP to all those brave men.❤

So glad you guys are doing this series. It was based on a wonderful book about a truly heroic group of men. You will be emotionally invested and your appreciation for that generation will grow.

So one of my grandfathers was 2nd rangers on Utah beach on D-day and was only 1 of 5 survivors from his platoon. My other grandfather was 3-505th 82nd airborne and jumped into Normandy the night before. I had the privilege of serving in the same unit when I joined in the same company. We had a huge picture in our Battalion HQ of all the members of the battalion the posing in front of the aircraft the night before they jumped. Was pretty cool seeing my grandfather in the picture.

i remember an interview a reporter did with a ww2 veteran she asked him if he ever had nightmares about the war he replied yes then she asked when was your last nightmare he said last night

Lt. Lynn 'Buck' Compton did attend UCLA and was an All-American catcher for the baseball team. [ Among his baseball teammates was Jackie Robinson. Compton was later inducted into the UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame. He majored in physical education, with a minor in education. He also played with the UCLA football team in the 1943 Rose Bowl game on January 1, 1943.] My impression of the scene where he fumbles the grenade; it appeared to me that he was bumped in the back by the soldier behind him that caused him to drop the grenade. More info: At UCLA, Compton participated in ROTC. In December 1943, he joined the Army and was assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division before Operation Overlord. Buck had the rank of 2nd Lieutenant at the time of D-day ( June 6th, 1944 ). Buck was assigned as assistant platoon leader to 2nd platoon prior to the parachute drop into Normandy. Due to casualties and shifting assignments Buck became the 2nd platoon Leader during the Normandy campaign.

E was one of many exemplary companies in the European theater, and along the Pacific coast, during WW2. Although this series focuses on the exploits of one company, it is important we recognize the contributions of all.

Hi Asia and BJ. BOB was adapted the book by historian Steven Ambrose. He had planned to write about D-Day in general, but when He learned that a certain officer from the 101st Airborne E Company, 506PIR had written an extensive memoir and collected a scrapbook with a wealth of material, he decided to write BOB about Easy Company's exploits from Normandy to the end of the war. Because of these memours and several interviews of numerous members of Easy, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks along with HBO, ended up making a mostly accurate account of it. However, its important to note that through out the series several instances of people, places and events have been folded into each other, and even changed, in order to fit it all into 10 episodes, and get a flavor for the truth. So a very accurate show, especially in places, still has some inaccuracies. Not all who fought agreed with some of the narratives. Some have since written their own accounts which sometimes differ. Some families took issue with how their ken were portrayed. But overall, I think the writers did their best to honor the men of Easy as best they could.

Love these and I cant wait for you guys to upload the rest. The best series of all time. Pacific, is a great watch as well. Its going to be a journey for you both but I think its something everyone should see, see what people lived though and did for them.

It is about time.

My father was in the RN on D-Day he told me after watching Pvt Ryan that they had to pause the LVs on the way back to literally wash out the remains so the next Gis would get in the craft.Different breed from nowadays .

In 2018 I was on a tour of Normandy and we went to Brecourt Manor, the guns Easy destroyed were 3 miles from Utah Beach, they were shelling the beach as Americans were landing on D-day, destroying those guns saved potentially hundreds of lives on Utah Beach.

I caught this series when it first aired on HBO, and my dad and I watched it together. He was a child during WWII, and he told me how he'd have nightmares about being a POW, captured by the Germans. He used to ask his mum "What's war?" Like he just couldn't grasp that people would fight to the death like that. Anyway, really enjoying watching you guys watch it!

The boys that stepped out of those planes and off of those landing craft and assaulted those pacific islands are almost all gone. Thank you for your service.

You guys are the best on Reaction to a movie. I saw the very first episode of this show in it's very first day. It was a Sunday , on September 9 2001. I was taking care of my baby girl of 7 months old. 2 days later, on September 11, 2001; the world changed. I'm a 50 year old guy now, my girl is 22 years old.

Enjoy watching movies with you guys, fun fact Jimi Hendrix was in the 101st Airborne in the early 1960's

Tom Hanks, to one of the actual men of Easy company: "If we get 10% of this right, it will be a miracle. We're shooting for 70% right". They went to freaking boot camp!!!! 1940 style, with atrocious hard boots they had to spend hours in a bathtub with! Just like the cast of Private Ryan did. Under the heel of catptain Dale Dye, retired USMC. He portrays Colonel Sink here.

I have watched many of your music video and movie reactions, which are extremely fun, thank you. But, when I saw B.O.B was on?... I'm excited for y'all. As you have heard, arguably the best miniseries ever made. You will not be the same person you are today when you finish. God Bless.

This episode also explains why Saving Private Ryan was such a difficult search because of all the airborne misdrops caused by the German antiaircraft attacks. That's the part that really gets me... men training for two years, the first paratroopers ever, and many of them die before even getting a chance to jump out of the planes.

The road was red because that was where the road block made of dead horses had been. The Germans were still using a lot of horses for transportation, as seen earlier, and so were the French people. Sometimes the dead ones were put in a road and tied or chained together. It made for a messy to clear road block. The Sherman tank they got on near the end was one of the "funnies", a nickname for all of the specialized tanks used on D-Day. Those funnels on the engine deck were for air and exhaust to allow it to operate in somewhat deep water. The idea was that if the landing craft couldn't make it all the way to the beach, it could drive off the ramp as close as they could get and have a chance to wade in. Another type had canvas sides that could be pulled up and propellers on the back and it was supposed to be able swim in on its own. However, they could barely manage calm lake waters and most sank before they reached the beaches. The way the paratroopers were so spread out actually worked for the best strategically. Because so many contacts were happening all over the place, the Germans had trouble moving around and knowing exactly where to go.

Reel talk! Such a difference in my grandparents' war and ours in Iraq and Afghanistan. We had no uniformed military to fight. Anyone was an enemy, anything was an explosive device. 1LT Winters was a rare breed of officer and gentleman. Army fun fact: each year we have to do a 12 mile road March in full battle rattle and at least 60lbs in the ruck for time. Rucks were weighed before and after the March.

My favorite all time movie. Watch the making of the movie. All the actors having to go to a boot camp to train prior to filming. The statue built in Normandy depicting Dick Winters…amazing history

Some information about the composition of the 101st division as well as the 506th PIR as of June 1944: During Operation Overlord (June 1944): 101st Airborne Division: - Major General Maxwell D. Taylor [101st composed of 4 infantry regiments: 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and 3 Artillery battalions, 1 Antiaircraft battalion and 1 Engineer battalion] 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment(PIR) - Colonel Robert Sink 1st Battalion (a,b,c companies): Lt. Col. William L. Turner (KIA 7 June 44), Lt Col. James L. LaPrade 2nd Battalion (d,e,f companies): Lt. Colonel Robert L. Strayer 3rd Battalion (g,h,i companies): Lt. Col. Robert Lee Wolverton (KIA 6 June 44), Maj. Oliver M. Horton ------ On June 6th: Lt. Colonel Strayer commanded the 2nd Battalion (which Easy company was part of). First Lieutenant Thomas Meehan was in command of Easy Company. 1st Platoon Leader: 1st Lt. Richard Winters Assistant: 2nd Lt. Harry Welsh 2nd Platoon Leader: 2nd Lt. Warren Roush Assistant: 2nd Lt. Buck Compton 3rd Platoon Leader: 2nd Lt. Robert Mathews Assistant: S/Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton (acting) When Lt. Meehan went missing, Lt. Richard Winters (the most senior officer in Easy Company) took command and Lt. Harry Welsh took over as 1st Platoon Leader. Eventually Lt. Buck Compton became 2nd Platoon Leader and Lt. Warren Roush became 3rd Platoon Leader. --------- The non-commissioned officers (NCOs): The 1st Sergeant: 1/Sgt. William Evans ( Was on same plane [stick 66] as Lt. Meehan ) 1st Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. Leo Boyle 2nd Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. James Diel 3rd Platoon Sergeant: S/Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton When Sgt. Evans went missing, S/Sgt. James Diel took over as 1st Sergeant and Sgt. William Guarnere took over as 2nd Platoon Sergeant. ---------- Easy Company originally included three rifle platoons and a headquarters section. Each platoon contained three twelve-man rifle squads and a six-man mortar team squad. Easy also had one machine gun attached to each of its rifle squads, and a 60mm mortar in each mortar team. === By the time the company was pulled off the line (in Normandy), they had taken 65 casualties including 22 killed in action [including the 17 of Stick 66 ( Lt. Meehan and Sgt Evans etc)]. Out of the 139 men of Easy Company who had left England on the night of 5 June, Winters' roster shows that there were only five officers left (Winters; his three platoon leaders Harry Welsh, Buck Compton, and Warren Rousch; and Rousch's assistant Francis L.O’Brien), as well as 69 enlisted men.

Great reaction guys. I took a trip this past September and was able to see where the HQ location was, within half mile of where the four guns were. I also walked the field where the guns and fighting took place. The series shows the battle taking a few minutes but it took a good part of the day. The soldier who was asking where HQ was and got killed is kinda of true, except it was a Warrant Officer who was killed who was actually bringing ammo to them. Also guns were not 88mm, but actually 105mm guns. Their actions knocking out the guns saved numerous lives on Utah Beach. Hands down the greatest generation 🫡.

The D-Day invasion was so high risk that General Eisenhower actually scribbled out a note in case the invasion failed. In the note he expressed that any responsibility for the failure was his alone and he also praised the men under his command for their bravery.

Love the interviews with the actual soldiers. All of these men are remarkable but I really enjoyed "Shifty" Powers. Poor guy fought in every battle/mission easy company had but was lucky enough to never get wounded. And because of his luck...didn't have the "points" to go home early. I did 13 months straight in Afghanistan and by the 10th month I was going nuts and was ready for R&R. And my time in Afghanistan was nothing close to what these men endured. I couldn't image doing what they did for so long...and with so little. That generation really was built different.

Great series! Love that more people continue to watch this wonderful series. I think this should be shown in History classes to high school students. Maybe they would appreciate more of the sacrifice that generations before them had to do for their freedom today

Asia & BJ Paratroopers and other military had standing orders not to gain POWs until areas are secured. That's why Spiers shot those POWs including the one from Oregon. When areas are secured, then POWs are taken in those areas.

Just to put into context so you know what was going on. This episode takes place at the same time as the beginning of Saving Private Ryan when the first invasion of (the beaches of) Normandy occurred (D-Day). The Airborne was dropped behind enemy lines earlier that morning to destroy enemies big guns that would be used to hit those landing on the beaches and ships that were nearby. And to protect Bridges that would be needed later. The fictional character of Ryan was supposedly part of the 101st airborne and scattered in the wrong drop zone just like in this episode. In researching SPR, Spielberg and Hanks discovered the story of Easy company and decided to make it into a series, they produced it together

This is the other side of what happened in Saving Private Ryan. That movie started with the invasion of the Normandy beaches. These guys parachuted a couple of miles in-land the night before the beach invasion.

I was at that exact spot and saw where the guns had been and the farmhouse and everything. There is a tour you can take - Stephen Ambrose Band of Brothers. We went in 2016 and would go again in a heartbeat.

It was Lt. Mehan's plane that caught fire and went down, remember the pilot yelled, tell Mehan to get em out of there just before it caught fire. Today ,there is a plaque with each man's name on it at the site where it hit.

Two things of note here. Winter's capture of those Artillery pieces was so well done it's literally a textbook example as of... like 15 years ago at least. Spiers (iirc) had an.. interesting career. However even under the Geneva Convention paratroopers are not expected to be able to safely secure prisoners of war so they're in the clear smoking them. Bleak as it is. There's some more nuance to it, but context helps. Edit: Forgot the episode points out that became a textbook example. Oops

The wreckage of Lt. Meehans plane wasn’t found until the fifties. Meehans remains were identified and returned in 1952.

I'm so glad you're watching this series. My mother grew up in Nazi Germany, my father in occupied Hungary. They emmigrated to the U.S. because they wanted to be free. They both survived the bombings by the British and the Americans and the near starvation and upheaval after the Germans lost. I am a proud American and we owe these veterans, young men at the time, for their bravery and sacrifice.

The movie The Longest Day depicts a stick of 82nd Division Airborne troops accidentally landing in the middle of St. Mere Eglise. They were wiped out. The church in the scene now has stained glass windows depicting France being saved by paratroopers whom are depicted as angels from heaven.

It's hard not to get attached to these characters. The more you watch the more respect you will have for these men. The PTSD of those who survived must have been brutal.

Ryan from saving private Ryan was in This company 36easy company was one of the company’s in the 101st airborne Tom hanks helped produce this series and his son even acts in it! You two rock keep your great content coming! 🎉

Such a well done series. A true must see for anyone wanting to understand what our soldiers had to deal with. Glad you're reacting to it. It isn't always an easy watch, but it is worth it.

Please do two episodes at a time. Cant get enough

6:30 Great Job Asia, that is exactly right. If you don't study those maps you might as well have been dead. Also, I'm proud of you for not covering your eyes =)

The Pacific battle scenes are even more intense - Both series (this & The Pacific) show the reality of war 😢

In case no one told you, those interviews are the actual people the actors are portraying in the show. They were in easy company of the 101st. The guy who talked about preparing themselves is lieutenant winters.

Can't wait for y'all to watch the rest. I love these series.

The transport pilots were generally inexperienced; they had rarely flown over heavily defended enemy territory (they were, after all, transport pilots). When they came under fire, they were unprepared for its weight, and many reacted by evading (so the formations broke apart) and speeding up. The aircraft, therefore, ended up in a chaotic mess, and many planes were going very fast when the troops jumped. The result of the high speeds meant savage wind shear that tore away equipment, especially the infamous leg bags, and it also widely separated the paratroops (consider that if it takes 5 seconds for each paratroop to step up and jump then 240km/h then the men will land around 70m apart, at night, in foreign and hostile terrain). So it took multiple days for the US airborne units to shake out, gather into units and assess the losses they had sustained in the early hours of the fighting.

Band of brothers seems to be an unvarnished look at wwii. The mental state a person had to get to, in order to do the things that had to be done, just to survive, let alone win the war, always astonished me. The greatest generation.

at 5:23 you can see winters leg bag fly completely off his leg. Took me several watches to see that small but really important detail.

I watched this and the first episode the night it aired on HBO. Sunday. September 9th, 2001.

Yeah, the shot when they’re in the plane is them getting in the mode. Not only are you jumping out of a plane that’s getting shot at, when you drop you’re behind enemy lines. Your first taste of combat you’re surrounded. A lot of those guys will say they were more than happy to jump from those planes, sitting ducks up there.

The best summarization of these me. Is said by one of them. He states his grandchild asked."Grampa were you a hero in the war?.. Grandpa replied "No.. but I severed in a company of heroes". I met some of these men. When I thanked them for all they endured so my kids could be free. They all replied with variations of. I'm not hero I did what I had to do. The heros never left there. Part of their training was dealing with the fact that when they landed they would be surrounded Yes he smoked them. At the time the invasion was not secure. They simply had place or man power for pows. So there was not a tremendous amount of options

That gun they destroyed was hitting the beaches you were watching in Saving Private Ryan.

I just want to point out if y’all don’t know already that they are not dropping ON the beach. They are dropping a few miles inland hours before the Army lands on the beach. They have to clear roads, take out guns and make it easier for the Army to get Tanks and supplies to land and make it easier for them to move inland. Paratroopers are always surrounded!

If you have watched Saving Private Ryan, it was total chaos. On the beaches, this jump in the night. It was a wonder that it was a succes. Eisenhower (commander of operation D Day) even prepared a speach, in case it was a total failure. But, it was a succes and we Europeans can't thank you enough for that.

If you're wondering, those german soldiers with the cigarettes were indeed shot and it was a war crime to do it, speirs admitted to doing it in his old age and even winters said he was something of a psychopath and these days would have ended up prosecuted for it, there were other incidents that got ignored because of his competence as a soldier. Funny thing is he stayed in the military and ended up as the american governor of spandau prison years after the war ended, overseeing the germans convicted at nuremberg. Everybody hated him. If you're wondering about the german soldier that was speaking english and was from oregon, foreign volunteers weren't as uncommon as people think. Even from the US. There were some americans and british who fought for the germans, either as volksdeutsche as that guy was or as pows who later volunteered for various reasons. Lots of europeans did as well, a large number of soldiers fighting in berlin at the very end were in fact french SS volunteers for example. They at least got what they deserved for it in the end

If you're interested in a historically accurate movie, check out "Wind Talkers". It's about the Navajo natives that used native language as an unbreakable radio code. Very effective. Saving 1000s of US soldiers in the pacific theater during ww2