The Pointe Du Hoc Bunker Story 

I first visited Pointe du Hoc in the 70’s with my Dad when it was just an overgrown field, no parking, hard to find, the bunkers stank and nobody cared except those who took an interest. Since then I have taken my kids back several times over the decades. It’s a shame to see all the bomb craters fenced off and access controlled nowadays, but I guess the site needs to be preserved so we never forget.

My uncle was on Utah beach he wrote his experiences & how he felt in the moment. He’s gone for 15 years we found this dday story after he passed & we made copies and handed it out at the funeral. He NEVER EVER TALKED ABOUT ANYTHING. He said even at the end of his life 60+ years he said he could still smell, taste, visualize the sheer terror as they had no clue the landing would be an ambush. He was 1 of 8 out of 300 men that made if off the beach. And remember u spent a lot of time with the other guys & u have to watch them die his best friend died next to him

I visited Pointe Du Hoc in 2004, only then did I truly realise the almost impossible task that the Rangers had been given. Its position made it 99% inaccessible from the sea. However the Rangers gave it 150% and achieved their objective. We live in freedom today through the acts and sacrifices of these incredible and brave men.

I was there in July 99 with Dad on a cycling tour of the beaches. Great memories

I visited here in 2009 and it is amazing at just how battered this area was. I would of hated being any soldier on that cliff side position when the main bombardment started

I really adore how Mr Van Den Bogaert contains all his enthusiasm inside. Really you can hear how much he enjoys being there and geeking about history but he still keeps it to a level that is not on that of a fangirl seeing it's favorite boyband. That is really impressive. Additional it is really interesting to hear all this. It's always good to learn new things.

I was inside this very bunker only 3 months ago! I crawled all throughout every emplacement and bunker at Point du Hoc. There was an underground hospital too. The Germans were so advanced in their engineering. This was one of the favorite parts of my tour of Normandy, including Arrowmanches and the Mulberry Harbor, St. Mere Eglise. Utah, Omaha, and the American Cemetery. I can't wait to explore more of the Atlantic Wall on my own in Belgium, Spain, Holland, and even Norway.

Two of my friends and I were there on the 3rd of June (we were lucky enough to attend the 70th anniversary celebrations) but the bunker was closed :/ What a pity. After watching this video we would have loved to walk through it.

I was there in November 14, the atlantic wall is an engineering marvel, this place is amazing

I was there in the first week of July 2019, just an amazing place to visit.

They didn't build in layers. They used boards to frame it prior to pouring the concrete. They the boards are removed leaving the look you see.

This was fantastic. Thank you!

Great video. Awesome information and walk-through.

I found this video and was totally captivated, and then it just cuts out at the end. That was a jolt. I would be interested to know how much material got cut out, and if it can be viewed somewhere.

Must see more from this guy!

If you're interested in this topic, I highly recommend you read D Day through German eyes books 1 and 2. It's mind blowing to hear the accounts and experiences from the German side of this battle. One of my most favorite and eye opening reads ever.

VERY INFORMATIVE ABOUT THE BUNKER. THANKS

Very good movie! Very interesting and informative. Thank you! Have you done more of this kind?

I could listen to this guy for hours talking about this.

Thanks for the video.

Good stuff, Thanks. Knew one of the Rangers that was there.

These guns were GPF155 ex french guns.My fathers US artillery unit had the same at the beginning of WW2.They were WW1 vintage.

Excellent.

How, what an excellent visit! I visited Pointe du Hoc last years, but now hearing the story behind it it's wondeful! I would love to see the rest of the video. Please, do it for the entire complex! Another question: where can I find archival footage from Point du Hoc? In google photos I couldn't find pictures from the bunkers.

The more du hoc vids I see, the more I realize how geographically correct cod 2 was.

You’re an excellent guide

This guy is very excited about what he does. Well done.

I visited Pointe Du Hoc a couple of years ago it was crawling with tourists, I was in that bunker what you don't appreciate is the bombing damage at the site as a whole it was like the moon, gun emplacements that received direct hits were badly damaged; it must have been fearsome for the Germans on that day.

Nice Vidéo! Thanks

Amazing the damage to this position and the rangers sprayed bullets all over it and lost a lot of men subduing it, compared it to the Maise battery (its pristine, no bullet holes, cracks, lumps missing etc (except for the USN barrage to take out three Howitzers later))

Very impressive video

Where can we see the rest of the tour... Wanne see it all. Just visited Point du Hoc and I'm so impressed, even more after seeing this guiding tour.. Love to see the rest.

Mooie film Geert en goed gepresenteerd!

Very informative!

Amazing history, glad these are protected hystorical places, thank you for sharing & for the information

Is there any more from this guy. He knows his business.

Nicely done Brother

Well done!

They didnt use concrete forms they built the forms from boards.That is why they look like layers.

I was there in 2017. The whole area is covered in bomb and shell craters. 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇨🇦

I have had this discussion several times with the WW2HISTORYHUNTER about making a German bunker into a modern home but with the original walls up with modern insulation but make a wonderful home in and on top of a bunker just like that. I live the Canon position on top. That could be restored and turned into a wonderful living room or a gathering point for friends. I would love to add a 100 yard shooting range under ground so it wouldn't bother anyone. I would have all the proper paperwork so it was legal. I'm a avid collector of military weapons going back to the Revolutionary War. I wouldn't want to give that up. Its my investment for the future and the future is looking great. I also collect gold and silver bullion. I really don't trust banks. When I put my money in them it becomes code. I would rather have what paper money is based on. If you can't tell I don't trust the financial district of this world. I like the idea of closing the doors and let the world go crazy. And brokers out there that sell bunkers please send me a message. Thanks.

I was there in 2018, visited my uncle’s grave. John V. May. ❤️ 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Is there a second part to this? It seemed to cut off.

I am impressed

The last time I was there, we were not allowed to enter this bunker and was blocked due to the foundation sinking into the sea.

WOW really COOL

We are going to Normandy in October 2021. How do we find this bunker at PDH?

Hi. True. The Maisy Battery (about 6 Kms to West) is where it was at. A good book is 'Cover up at Omaha Beach' Gary Sterne. Puts a whole new light on the situation. Cement poured in layers to prevent heat build up from chemical reaction and to allow drying. But those lines are not the lines which mark those layers. They are indeed from the wooden planking which were used to creat the mould. Irrespective of nationality, it must have been terrifying in there. Once you were overrun, you're dead, or captured although there wouldn't have been much time in the heat of battle, nor the incentive to capture anyone after seeing your comrades slaughtered. Surely those holes would have allowed firing of machine gun as only muzzle exits this hole, the tapered space on the other side looks large enough to move the weapon few degrees left to right which is all that is needed down a restricted walkway/entrance.

The guns were never installed, just the pedestals to mount them. They were found concealed in the woods about a mile behind the gun positions.

I visited this a couple years ago

It was not poured in layers, the framing / concrete form lumber was either 1 X 6 or 1 X 8 lumber, they did not have plywood, so the " layers" he talks about are the edges of each piece of lumber laid horizontal from corner to corner, and stacked on edge, one upon the other.

I'm going to Normandy in September 2018 and obviously I'll be visiting Pointe du Hoc. Maybe I won't go into the bunker but this was an excellent video nonetheless. Very informative!

This guy has the same mannerisms and even similar voice as the actor Matt Damon. Is anyone else seeing the similarities?

Interesting

Not "built in layers" but what you see on the walls are imprints of wooden planks that were later removed. Thats all. Concrete was filled continuously to form a monolithic structure that is not prone to breaking as easily by bombing / artillery fire. Germans usually did complex bunker structures from several "parts" - one or more rooms per monolithic concrete block. In contrast, czechoslovakian had even big bunker structures made as "one piece". Interesting video anyway :)

Excellent presentation. I learned quite a bit. No matter how well you construct the fortification, it is only as secure as the human factor enables it to be. Interesting stories about the drunk radio men and the morale problems. All things considered, though, I should have loved to have duty there rather than on the Eastern Front. I bet that commander you mention did not last long in the East.

I was here in june of 2018 and I noticed savere charring on the bunker ceiling. What's the story behind that because I can't find any info about it.

The H in Hoc is silent. It should sound more like 'pwant dew occ'.

If you go to the Bunker at Ouisterham they have all the range finger equipment etc on display there that controlled the Merville battery Well worth a visit as is the battery at Lon Sur Mer :) Done both

Whats behind the gate at 9:30

1:00 , man takes hands out of pockets & places them on hips to look more official & gangster ..

very clear and interesting , perhaps work on tv next ?

Question: In the barracks space, there is an area behind bars. What was that area used for when the bunker was operational in 1944?

I don't know, I haven't seen the pointy hawk he's talking about yet,anybody else?

Layers? Not board forming residue?

WHERE IS PART 2???

Concrete was not poured in layers. Like all forms from the period when there was not plywood for forms the builders used planks of wood to build the forms. They may have poured sections at a time but not layers. The outline of the gaps between boards can be seen and it only looks like layers. Standard building practice for the period.

excellent film guys, thank you. 1 thing I'd like to know....was that area in front of the main bunker room (facing out to sea) as open & accessible in 1944 as it is now? I mean there's steps coming down from the left & right and generally lots of room for enemy soldiers to fire in through the opening. Even if those steps & path weren't there in 1944, seems like a big design flaw to allow that much space to exist for use by the attacking Allied forces.

Does anyone know of any German survivor or POW accounts of the invasion of Point du Hoc? I’d really like to hear about what happened from the German side and I haven’t found any information at all.

Been there.

is that where saving ryan movie was made, that bunker?

i was in the Bunker few times

Whats a Dutchguy doing in a ABMC video? Just wondering

lol 1st time I ever heard that hanz fritz and gunter were all shit faced back at the guns, that's great!

Why is the roof charred in the bunker?

Mấy thanh niên cứng l from Úc

Really nice that a corporate hedge fund manager took a day off from work to make this video!

I wouldn't mess with the security guard. Lol

2:55 did someone hit their head

My uncle was on Omaha beach

i don't even have to smoke weed to pay attention to this! but i do anyway!

The marks in the concrete is tracks after the wooden frames, they pored the concrete in from start to the end in one time with big mixers, no amatours her man! we have about 300 fortresses in Norway after the Germans, and we have seen the big mixers,

As a poet and a war buff or historian, I am surprised at the speed of the speech on this video, I think a slower talker would have been helpful as I sadly lost pace trying to read the under-titles and listen at the same time. Disappointed, sorry. Aslo of note, was the reference made to a "Standard" type of German bunker which I believe to be misleading as nothing was standard with German engineering and construction, it was superb.

The didn't build it in layer, if so it be weaker.

It's too bad that this bunker isn't set up to look like it did on D-Day. Would be a incredible thing to see.

4:15 french, russian and italian pow's ? i thought the italians were allied to germany

Take a shot every time he says bunker xD

The 8 that surrendered, did they survive? 14:45

The concrete is not poured in layers. The wooden forms produce the horizontal lines. The concrete is poured in as few pours as possible on a job like this. Probably the foundation was poured in one day, followed by walls shortly after and then the roof a few days later. This structure is nothing like the Hoover Dam. It's not going to overheat. This is a simple, if heavy, building. This 'layers' idea he suggests displays a serious lack of construction knowledge.

I had no idea Matt Damon was such a WW2 buff.

poor fellow of those american soldier and allies, have suffered all this tragedy for all of us, may god put their souls in one place.

The concrete was probably built in layers to minimize the hydraulic effect of pouring the entire height of the wall at one time. Pour a board or two higher every day. A common construction method back in the day worldwide. The wide walls, the steel reinforcement, the massive roof design and the fact that the structure was buried in the ground would have provided the strength needed.

I play an old online WW2 game..against other guys. Pointe De Hoc is one of the maps, that bunker is spot on it the game!!!.....Remagen Bridge also!!...Great game...its free to play, and 10 bucks to buy. its called Darkest Hour...its on Steam. Give it a try, im there almost everyday.... MAGA is my name. [named myself that to make kids cry]

It WAS poured in layers, They couldn't mix that much at one time.

Land mines at edge of cliffs and as far back as practice why not done ?

imagine knowing that you are such a terrible force to earth that you actually have to reinforce your entire existence in such an aggressive way. "we're going to conquer france but build hundreds of hidden heavily armed bunkers along the coastline... just incase"

Play this on cod ww2

At 11:35 he speaks about guns "over there." Over where? The big guns had been moved back into the woods well off the shore. Surely the soldiers in the observation bunker would have known that. So what's all this blubber-blabber about, anyway?

Started in Nov 42 Italian POWs then it is started in 1943...

The US Rangers are America's best Trained, advised a s created by the British Commandos. "Ranger" was proposed by Lord Mountbatten and chosen by Truscot to honour 18th c British colonial Rogers Rangers.