I'm impressed with the level of respect people have had for these locations over the years. We're looking at the ruins of bunkers from over 75 years ago and no spray paint anywhere.
some of them are paint, but a little numbers. This place is not a fashion place to visit. The people who come to visit this place are here to go to the beach and visit the war museums. So they are respectful. This is far from bad neibourhoud.
It's France fortunately the French have a lot of respect for the war era just take a look at any of the grave yards they are immaculately clean and well maintained unlike ours in the UK which couldn't give a fuck about such things !!!! All the UK does is charge soldiers for war crimes from 40 years ago thank god their ain't many ww2 soldiers left the government will have them jailed also it's tragic what the UK has become !!!!
Indeed it is, a sacred Ground... Only those understand my feelings who know what I'm talking about.... It's my wish to be able to visit these places and other WWII battlefields and monuments, those cities,, at least one in my lifetime... Please God,, hear my prayers, it's not something bad I ask you for..
The words I'd use to describe how I feel about the people who leave graffiti in historical sites wouldn't be appropriate to display on your comment section. Fantastic video, we appreciate you taking the time to show us history.
My grandfather was a U.S. Army soldier (mortar crew) and came ashore in the landing. He fought there and through the remainder of the advance through France and Germany. He remained in Germany through 1946 as a Military Policeman. He would never discuss the war with us. Thanks for your video tour of the emplacements.
My grandfather would never talk about the war either, he was 14 in 1945... He lost his 2 years older brother on the eastern front and both my great grandfathers I knew were POWS, I only know the story my other grandfather told me, when in like 1948 his dad came back and he was a stranger to him...
I use to be in the Canadian Reserves, and met older veterans often .. the only stories I heard about the war were about girls, food, drinking and gambling
My great oncle fought in the german mountain troops throughout the whole war in allmost every theatre of war. France, Greece, (I think Africa as well, but I'm not sure) and on the eastern front in Ukraine and then at the north end of the front. He never spoke of the war, even if asked. The only thing he ever told us, that they pitted scorpions in a whole together (must have been in the mediteranian area), betting who would win and that they had severe problems with partisans in the east. He unfortunately died 2 years ago, so we will never hear his story. He was the funniest and kindest man I ever knew.
It's a dream of mine to go from one side of Normandy to the other exploring all the beaches and paying my respects to all the people who sacrificed their lives on that day and the days afterwards
And my family came from the state of Holland in the Netherlands in the 1870s and settled in the Northwest part of the state of Indiana in America by the southern tip of Lake Michigan next to Chicago. Schoon means clean in Dutch, at least that's my understanding, and I have been able to trace origins of the name although spelled three or four different ways, back to the 1500s in the now non-existent country of Prussia.
@@kardinmo: briefly along the Southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea with the capital city of Konigsberg primarily of German Austrian makeup and was effectively negotiated out of existence in 1947, for more detail go to Google👍
Thank you for showing this.. A very good friend of mine, her Father had just passed away 2 days ago, was on that very beach that day. U.S Soldier, he never spoke of anything. Thank you again.
Yeah, those walls would talk of slave labourers who were forced to build them and of an attempt to turn Europe into a giant concentration camp, and they would talk of brave people who came from far away to risk their lives to restore civilisation, and they would talk of immature wankers who think the Nazis and their stuff is "cool".
It's a terrifying thought what that machine gunner did with a view like that... I got chills as the camera approach that bunker! a lot of Americans lost their lives because of that machine gun or artillery gun.
Thank you for these videos, I will never be able to see these historical sites if it were not for people like you that share your experiences. Such a beautiful and peaceful beach now, the only other photos/videos I've seen of it is of the invasion.
Hello I'am french and I just visit this region of my country. My vacations have become a reminder on the history of my grandparents and myself. It is very sad. I went to visit the landing beaches, sainte-mère l'église etc...all these young soldiers who came to help my country....as french we must never forget...God bless America!
99% of these heroes have passed, unfortunately. My Uncle Ray landed on Omaha Beach. He never spoke of the war... would say all the time he was lucky to be alive. Died in his mid 70's.
Thank you for the video. My uncle landed on that very beach. He was an engineer with the special brigade units. It is stunning to see the beach in this way and I can understand the fields of fire that the Germans had on that morning. Again Thank you so very much.
Just imagine 76 years ago on D-Day and imagine the chaos those 'Brave Men' went through. May we never forget those brave warriors and thier memories 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
This is exactly how the trenches are always dug because in this way better protection is obtained from machine gun fire but also from a grenade explosion
Thank you for this footage. I got an sicken feeling when you over look the beach and the waves were coming up on shore. Picturing the landing boats with all the men. Bullets flying everywhere. It's amazing what went on there 76 years ago. Rest in peace to all the men who never got to go home.
I appreciate the visual perspective from this vantage point. My father was US Army, 23 Regt, 2nd Inf Div. Silver Star recipient. Omaha Beach on D+1 through the final days in Europe. Always hoped to travel his footsteps but will never be able to do that. Your video is much appreciated.
I was on that beach. When you see the number of gun mounts and firing positions, it is amazing American soldiers were able to take that section of beach.
They wouldn't have been able to if the german's were able to resupply the positions. Their lines were cut off by paratroopers inland, destroying bridges ect. Without those men dropping deep into enemy territory, no beach landing's would of been a success.
@@garethlawton5278 they weren't able to resupply because a lot of paratroopers died behind the lines. Whatever it takes Garth to defeat the Nazis and they were defeated
Michael Oneil you were fighting the wermacht mate, not so much the nazis. Anyway lots of ways to look at things. Had we not fought at all, we might all be speaking German. And that might be the sum total of defeat, other than nice cars and space rockets.
Thank you for the journey, it really gives us all a better look back into history. I am writing a story of my fathers Battalion on the internet and this really adds to the story. 187th Engineering Combat Battalion. Thanks again
Thank you for taking your time to show this. I had some uncles on both sides of my family that served in the European theater. Some were killed in action and buried in cemeteries in France and a few others did come home. My father served as a medic in the Pacific theater in the last year of WWII. He would never talk about what he saw during the war. I would assume that what he saw was carnage as the Japanese soldiers were heinous animals and gave no mercy.
I am making a trip to Germany in early June and plan on staying a day or two in Normandy on the way. My main objective is to visit Omaha Beach and the American cemetery. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time.
I visted Omaha Beach. Unfortunately i also visted an Indian restaurant the night before. And to make an emergency evacuation on the beach........ If you know what i mean
You won't be disappointed, took my father there on the 75 anniversary as my grandfather was in the 82 airborne and wanted to see and experience just a small portion of what he went through.
My wife and I went on a Viking River Cruise and took a tour of the bunkers and the beaches of Normandy. Then a ceremony at the American cemetery very emotional. My father came ashore there the date was June 29, 1944 we took that as a tribute to all the servicemen I came ashore
I love seeing the actual locations of historic moments though it feels like France ought to preserve at least some of it for the future...lest we forget.
If I'm not mistaken, the German officer in charge of that particular bunker was, in fact, the very first man to see the invasion on the horizon before the landing. Imagine looking out to an empty ocean and then, little by little, the invasion force becomes visible and then it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. That officer survived the war.
Thank you very much for the video. It was well done and was excellently narrated and informative. My father, with the 5th Rangers landed on the 'southwestern' end of Omaha, on 'Dog Green' sector. He fought through Europe until December 21st when he was captured in Belgium near St.Vith as a squad/section leader in the 106th. Infantry Division and was liberated in the beginning of May 1945. He passed away in September of 2012 at the age of 90. By the way, our family last name is Schoon which is Dutch and is supposed to mean 'clean'.My great great grandfather came over from the state of Holland in the early 1870s. I want desperately to come over to Europe to follow my fathers path from June 6th in Normandy if possible to the area of St. Vith in Belgium to the prison camp in Bad Orb Germany Stalag IXb that he was held prisoner in from the 21st of December during the Battle of the Bulge for 5 months. If you know of any group or agency that has such tours I would greatly appreciate you're giving me there address on the internet to try to arrange such a trip, Thank You!🇳🇱🇺🇸
I believe this location was one of the first German strongholds taken at Omaha. Chapter 18 in Ambrose's D-Day book mention the 16th Regiment on the far left flank encountering a machine gunner who was Polish. Lt. Spaulding was in command of the initial thrust up the bluff. Because of him and his men, soldiers on the beach were inspired to make it to the sea wall and up the bluff. It is men like Lt. Spaulding, Captain Dawson and Lt. Dillon that made the day a success. Thank you for these videos!
@@TheBattlefieldExplorer Thanks for the reply! And for the information. I will be visiting Normandy one of these days. Until then, I'll be watching your vids.
What a great video presentation with stunning views of Omaha beach and amazingly clear details of German bunkers. One can sense the pride those German engineers must have taken in their reinforced concrete work and perfectly formed entrances, sleeping quarters and steps. "I have a rendezvous with Death, on some scarred slope of battered hill; When Spring comes round again this year; And the first meadow flowers appear." Alan Seeger- 1888-1916.
Ellie Price German engineers may have designed these, but they were built by slave labourers from all over Europe and who died in their thousands doing it.
The reason for the zigzag path of the trenches, were to reduce casualties from incoming shells. If one hit, the blast and shrapnel would be limited to the one straight path. Same thing was employed in the WW1 trenches. Had nothing to do with concerns of someone jumping in and firing a machine gun. That person would be eliminated immediately! You never storm a trench! Nice video! Thanks!
MalcolmXcrement I’ll take your word for it, but wouldn’t it still make sense though? If a wave of of soldiers were storming to a bunker and you had a straight line of sight, it would be easier to eliminate your enemy?
Thank You for the super tour. as close to walking through this historic battle field myself. Thank You for that! it seems so quite and peaceful now. but, OH GOD! what a horrible deadly day that was. Can't even begin to imagine what once was so peaceful and beautiful was so bloodied and horrible carnage and lost and confused spirits. then after so many years it has nearly erased that time. sure is something to think about. War is True Hell. what Man does to himself and Animals are so unnecessary.
It is very nice to see it without it being filled with trash and graffiti, unfortunately, this is rare now. The reason nobody was there was because it was early in the day, I walked up at 8am.
The place is notorious for snagging bunker-explorers and have them break their limbs while tumbling about in the landscape. You can tell how close it came with BFE, even as he ultimatly decided not to risk it. I'm guessing that's why there aren't more peole here. Those that didn't lern have died from starvation while lying incapaciteted, lost in the weeds.
Uhm, that's what I relate to in order to juxtaposition the rolling fields of mild and friendly climate Normandy onto the harsh environs of a canyonscared rocky desert like, say Death Valley (or, if it's more to your liking, a damp, humid junglehell were any break of the skin is sure to be followed by infection and gangrene if not dealt with in short order - it doesn't matter that much as to my point.) So what's up with *YOU* @Phlegma? Beyond this opportunity you extend me for explaining my joke - anything other obvious you'd like to point out?
We will be with the "Beyond Band of Brothers" tour group... I've watched most of your videos, so grateful you do this! I will surely weep when I step into one of those foxholes in Bastogne for sure! Thanks for all the hard work! @@TheBattlefieldExplorer
Brilliant video, I have been here several times. When you initially followed the trench to the right towards those lookouts there are a few very large bunkers in the cliff below. If you work through the brambles you can get to them and more collapsed tunnel system. We did crawl through (sketchy) and the old supports were there. It was collapsed not far in and just fill on bats. There's quite a bit more to the position than what is on top. One time it had been cut back and was easier to access, but mostly it is as you saw it in your video.
@@TheBattlefieldExplorer I have a feeling when we went for the d day celebrations it was tidied up, but outside of that is pretty overgrown. Fantastic spot though. Can also drive down and park just up the road you walked up. Thanks for making the video :). Fond memories for me.
Ich kann nicht sagen wie mich diese Orte bewegen. Einerseits der Ausgangspunkt der Befreiung und der Grundstein für Europa. Dann wieder der Gedanke an die vielen Opfer die genau an diesem Strand gefallen sind. Danke an all die tapferen Krieger die uns die Freiheit gebracht haben.
Maybe you should put some pictures if you could find afcourse from the positions how it was back in 1945, it would be intresting to see the mounted mortars enz.
Very interesting. I always thought that Omaha beach was faced with steep cliffs and no paths from it until now. It's a beautiful place but so tragic that so many young men on both sides died there.
I was there mid September in 2019 while on a private tour of the Omaha beach area and it was awesome. The only downside I encountered, (other than not enough time to explore EVERYTHING that caught my eye) was exploring the soldiers quarters bunker you looked through at 10:07. Someone had taken a crap in the gun-pit. Very disrespectful, but I didn't let it ruin a trip of a lifetime.
Couple things. First is it is incredible how in tact these bunkers are considering the 1000s of tons of ordnance dumped on it. Second, i can only imagine, that there was likely lots of cross fire and friendly fire possibly from both sides in these few hours.
Hi! I did a cycle tour along the Normandy Coast...i stayed in a campsite and i am 99% sure this site was just a 5 min walk from the campsite........ It was amazing to see it all intact & overlooking the beach below.... I thought it was just fascinating....Dublin Dave...
Interesting video, I have visited the D Day beaches on several occasions but not Utah yet, I obviously didn't get to see everything including this stronghold, so thank you for the upload. You have a new Sub.
Wow brings back memories I think me and dad went to that exact one! I really want to go back, I just went to some Bunkers here in Ijmuiden in my latest vlog and I can't wati to go back and really explore!
Most battleship rounds landed on the beach itself and behind the German offensive, doing very little, or no damage to the German lines. Our men were sitting bucks as soon as they hit the beach. The large crater you saw might have been made from an artillery shell from one of our ships.
