When Americans Landed On D Day, Germans Were Absolutely Shocked 

The Allied invasion of Utah Beach during World War II stands as a testament to American struggle and unwavering bravery. On June 6, 1944, as part of the larger Normandy Invasion, American forces faced a daunting task as they landed on the shores of Utah Beach. The journey from sea to land was fraught with challenges, yet the soldiers displayed incredible resilience in the face of adversity. Overcoming rough seas, unpredictable weather, and fortified German defenses, the Americans pressed forward with remarkable courage. The struggle on Utah Beach showcased the indomitable spirit of the American troops, who faced intense enemy fire and navigated through the chaos of battle to secure a crucial foothold on European soil. Their bravery in the midst of such adversity played a pivotal role in the success of the overall invasion and marked a defining moment in the history of World War II. If you enjoyed this historical insight, please subscribe to our channel and join our community. Your support helps us grow and brings more enthusiastic content to history lovers like you.

My dad was an Airborne Ranger and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He rarely spoke of this experience other than sharing that the ranger right next to him had his head blown off, and that it was cold. After the war he returned to his hometown of San Diego, and lived in the home that I grew up in until his death. I miss you dad, thank you for being a patriot and being a great father.

My father was a Normandy Vet. Landed on Juno Beach. He was a Sargeant in the 1st Canadian Army, 4th Amoured Division, New Brunswick Rangers, 10th Independent Ground Defence Platoon. Fought his way from Normandy through France, Belguim, Holland and into Germany. Never wounded. Came home after the war, married, had 5 children, spent 35 years as a police officer and died in 1988 at the age of 66yrs.

My wife's dad landed on Utah Beach the day after his 19th birthday. He described how their landing craft got hung up on a sand bar some distance from the beach and couldn't get off. So the boat captain ordered that the tank be launched to lighten the load. Her dad was in some sort of an amphibious jeep in line ahead of the tank, and so he and his partner were first off of the landing craft to make way for the tank. The jeep immediately sank to the bottom and it was all he and his partner could do keep from drowning with it. They lost their packs and rifles. But that was the least of their problem, for the tank immediately headed off the ramp directly toward them and was about to run over them. They barely got out of the way and were then able to grab onto the tank and hang on, which was how they landed on Utah Beach. Relieved of the weight, the landing craft backed off of the sand bar and landed the rest of the soldiers at a completely different spot. He and his partner were soaked, separated from their unit and without rifles and packs while Germans were shooting at them. Her dad ended up grabbing a rifle from a dead soldier, which was a grim and shocking introduction to war. They then ran to cover at the foot of the dunes. He wrote an amazing account of that first day, and some those that followed. He has since passed. My wife gave his account to the 4th Infantry Museum at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Captain Mabry went on to win the Medal of Honor in the Hurtgen Forest battle. Additionally, he won the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars for Valor. I went to high school with his son in Panama. He was commander of the US Army Southern command. He awarded me my Eagle Scout award. He was a fine man that everyone loved and respected RIP.

This video confirmed everything my father told me about his experience landing on Utah beach. He was 4th division and was responsible disarming the mines. Every Saturday morning, after breakfast, he'd gather the napkins and trace out the battles and all that involved. He spoke German as his paternal grandparents were from Germany. We spent many a Saturday talking about the battle of Huertgen Forest. He was not shy about talking about shooting German soldiers. He harbored no hatred of them. He knew that both sides were locked in a war that almost nobody wanted. This video completed the circle for me. It connects me evern closer to my father, if that's possible

My uncle Carl was there, he said they shelled the beach 3 days and nights before landing, he was in Italy too, he was a medic, the war had been over 1 month before he came home he was gone 37 months, his immediate family thought he was dead, but Praise God he lived , one day they heard someone singing and dancing on the porch, praise God it was Uncle Carl he had to ride a slow boat home 🫡

My grandfather was a Navy Gunner's Mate at D-Day (as well as Salerno). He never got closer than several hundred yards off either beach and thanked God until the day he died for it.

My Grandfather was a Army Medic on the beach at Normandy, I never got to speak to him but have his purple heart. He was hit by shrapnel from enemy artillery fire.

I had a uncle who was some of the first at Normandy, only a handful survived out of his platoon. Thank you uncle JR. for your service!💯

"When Americans Landed On D Day, Germans Were Absolutely Shocked" -- the headline is bizarre. Hey, folks, there were soldiers, sailors and airmen of several countries landing and providing critical support that day. As the Imperial War Museum notes: On D-Day, Allied forces consisted primarily of American, British and Canadian troops but also included Australian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, New Zealand, Norwegian, Rhodesian and Polish naval, air or ground support. They ALL deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

I have a friend that went ashore on D - Day he did not make it until lunch the first day before being severely wounded. Bravery beyond belief.

Unfortunately, Teddy Roosevelt's son died a month later. But he did an excellent job at Normandy.

Marvin Parette (please excuse the spelling if so) lived a block away from me when I was a kid growing up in the neighborhood (Metairie, La). I remember he would give us rides while walking to the store, school etc. At that time he was an undercover cop and would show us how he would set his clock on the speedometer of his vehicle and demonstrate it to catch speeders. I remember him as a very kind and mild mannered man. My father was a Lt. Commander aboard a mine sweeper in WW2 and always admired Marvin. Those wonderful heroes!!!

Teddy Roosevelt's son, a general, in the first wave on the beach! Ya gotta love it.

At @25:00 the story mentions sending two tanks along with "Louie Nixon" of the 101st Airborne. Those are the tanks that Lt. Louis Nixon is riding when he meets Lt. Dick Winters just after the assault on Brécourt Manor depicted in Band of Brothers, Episode 2, Day of Days.

These men were so young to be given that responsibility. They and their families gave up so much. I wonder if young men today would make those sacrifices. Let’s outlaw war.

The real strength of the allied command was that the higher ups allowed the officers and soldiers on site to make the necessary decisions. The Germans especially with the Normandy landings had to get OKW and Hitler permission to make changes. Hitler and others at OKW continued to believe that the real landing would come at Calais. So, changes weren't given in time. The allies just changed.

My father stormed a Normandy beach two years before D-Day. It was well-defended and the Germans massacred his regiment on the beach, he was captured and spent the remainder of the war as a POW. He was scarred for life. He NEVER talked to me about his war experiences, and kept hidden from me and my siblings had had been married at the time of his capture and his English wife had given birth to their daughter while he was a POW. We didn't learn about this until after his death in 1973 when I was 16. We located our half-sister in 2005. She lives in Worthing, UK, across the Channel from where our father was captured. I know it won't take most of you long to figure out where my dad was captured and which nation's armed forces he served in.

My uncle Norman was a paratrooper with the 101st. My father told me that the family used to pray for him at the dinner table. Surviving France, he and others attacked Hitler's home at Berchtesgaden. Not any troops there. He took a large flag, which I saw when I visited at age 12. He became a lawyer and eventually a county judge in Mankato MN.

I'm sure the German defenders must have been in awe and shocked when they looked out from the beaches to ocean with such a large invasion force as far as the eye could see. Some probably figured they were going to lose the war soon.

A new respect for Teddy's son. What a super story!

Utah Beach. My dad, Capt. Burton Anderson died on June 6, 1988. He landed on Utah a few days after 6/6/44 and his company with the 9th was the first to cross the peninsula. His guys were already veterans of Africa and Sicily by then. Most of these videos do not cover Utah.

My Faher was a Naval officer on a troop ship at D Day, and told me he was amazed at the US Army troops going down those rope ladders and into the boats to go to a beach that was being blow to hell. He said he didn't know people could be that brave! 22 years later I was a US Aamy medic, and was flown into germany on a jet plane....I was born at the right ime...

My dad went in on the second wave. Never talked about the war.

No battle plan survives first contact; adjust, advance, repeat. Sua Sponte ☀️⚡️⭐️

my father landed on Normandy, he too was Shocked for Life, specially after he was shot in the neck, in Avranches, 3 days before Germans surrendered..

After reading the books "D-Day from German Eyes", books 1 & 2, I was astonished to learn that the Werhmatch actually believed they were liberators of France defending from Allied forces. And they also thought that there was NO WAY any tanks could land on those beaches and move inland. They truly believed this.

When I was in the military, we really could care less what a General did. The only important thing was what the man to the left and right of you did.

It’s remarkable that the Americans didn’t have any flail tanks that cleared Menes. The British and Canadians used flail tanks extensively. They allowed British and Canadian forces to attack across minefields. Strange the USA didn’t use flails

Greatest generation/ true patriots

and when The Americans encountered the concentration camps The Americans were totally Shocked.

God bless all of them.

What a great video. So much movements

It wasn't just the US who landed at Normandy. They were part of the Allies contingent

An unreleased draft of a message prepared by Dwight Eisenhower: "Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

4:48 Goliaths were small remote-controlled vehicles on treads that could be driven under tanks and exploded.

BACK THEN WE WERE MORE MORAL THAN TODAY

Yes, the Germans were shocked that over half of the invaders were British, Canadians and Free French, and that 80% of the naval support was RN or Commonwealth.

"When Americans Landed On D Day, Germans Were Absolutely Shocked" That was kind of the point...

Ummm....it wasn't just Americans who landed on D Day.

Good presentation. I learned a lot.

They were even more shocked when British, Canadian, French, Poles, Czechoslovakians, Dutch and Belgians turned up.

Thanks!

How about at least a "slide show" instead of a single photograph?? These "podcasts" do not belong on RU-vid.

Listening to this guy same the same word 2 or 3 different ways is maddening. Can't take it anymore.

It amazes me that during World War II no one in command was smart enough either at Normandy or Iwo Jima to just have the warships continue to lob smoke screen shells covering the entire beach landing area. It would’ve saved tens of thousands.

Don’t forget the British and Canadians also landed in Normandy on D-Day

You've gotta love the folks grumbling about mispronunciation. Some obviously haven't yet figured out that it isn't a human reading to us. Personally, I often prefer the new AI enhanced text-to-speech software that's become available. Just compare this to some of the horrible old audiobook readings that "libravox" put out. They were awful. Regardless, I'm grateful that someone put forth the effort to present this channel to us as it is. The stories have been great, and I don't feel the occasional text-to-speech hiccup has detracted from the overall mission at all.

Warning: Karen in the comment section ruining it for everyone

Were the Canadians, Argentinians and Brazillian Americans also there?

there are lots of nice stories in this channel , i wish there will be visuals added for us to understand more...

Salute!! 🇺🇲

There were 16 Medals of Honor awarded for bravery on D-Day. Nine of them were posthumous.

The Germans were shocked that the Allies landed on Normandy, not just the Americans!

I strongly doubt the Germans had any clue of any such thing.

Considering how many people died that day. I would say they weren't that shocked.

very professional narrative well done - did visit area - obviously not a vet but anyone interested it is worth a trip and inland various sites of interest // it is quite something when you see the length of the beach / even in a car was quite a drive / various museums exist as to tours with some planning / brit

My Dad wrote that he and his company of Engineers(communication) were scheduled in in the fifth wave, but due to sunken vessels and the general confusion, did not get ashore 'til "later". As a result, they got ashore behind the inland fighting. From Utah, they would head toward Cherbourg to repair/rebuild the port facilities.

What was desperately needed that day, were armored infantry fighting vehicles/armored personnel carriers, delivered via LCTs (Landing Craft Tank). They would've been virtually impervious to German machinegun fire, grenades, mortars, and all but direct hits from artillery. They would've saved hundreds, possibly even thousands of killed in action. The Higgins boats, as valuable and useful as they were, were death traps at a contested landing area.

A great story slightly spoiled by the automated narration with countless annoying pronunciation errors. Why not just use a human narrator?

Very well written. Good luck with your channel.

What a great video, well done for doing an in depth look at the Utah landings. Everyone wants to concentrate on Omaha, which is a shame because of the very brave men who landed and took Utah beach.

Band of Brothers Louis Nixon mentioned in this

My dad was lucky. He got knocked out of combat the first year of the war. 40% disabled, purple heart.

I especially commend you for the retelling with such respect and due poignancy. Lest we forget. Lest we forget.

Perhaps a ridiculous suggestion, but if each Higgins boat had several smoke grenade launchers on them that were fired when they hit the beach, would that have been helpful in any significant way?

Coxwane? Sertiously? Cox'n ... please.

My father landed in the first wave at Utah. He exited the boat and went in to water over his head. He managed to get to the beach. He was eventually wounded and evacuated to England on D+4 or D+5.

THE TITLE IS AN INACCURATE INSULT ! Especially as it was the British & the Canadian armies that were plunged into battle from Day 1 with the German Panzer SS Regiments. The US Forces who landed further West had problems securing their beaches, but were confronted mainly by German Static Coastal Defence Regiments !!! And as the Germans had been expecting these landings for months, they certainly weren't "shocked" by the arrival of the Allied Armies (British, American, Canadian & Free French). Quite the contrary the German troops were better trained than any Allied Army, something both Eisenhower & the British General Staff had agreed. Would require at least 2 Allied soldiers for every German in the region, if we "the Allies" were to succeed in simply getting off the beaches before the Germans pushed us back into the Sea !!! The main battle was for the town of Caen. (5 miles directly to the South of the British & Canadian beaches) which the British & Canadians were supposed to grab within a day or two. But took weeks in the end, due to more & more Panzer Regiments being fed into this area. This whole area around Caen is known as the "bocage". With its high hedgerows and trench like country lanes. Which was highly defensible and extremely problematic to attack. Meanwhile the U.S. Army had to take the Normandy peninsular & the port of Cherbourg to the West of the landings (effectively in the opposite direction of the British, Canadian & Free French thrust). Which was far more open countryside, and not so heavily defended. Their biggest problem was the Port itself but the U.S. Troops overran this Port in a few days, without too much trouble. Although the German Military Engineers had time too demolish all the Port facilities, meaning we had not gained a usable Port to land reinforcements !!! . What this program is trying to do, is inflate a microcosm of the action of D Day were 156,000 British, American, Canadian & Free French troops were landed on a number of beach along a 20 mile stretch of coast. In particular it deals with a battle within a battle for UTAH BEACH. Its mention of General Roosevelt who landed in the first wave on UTAH BEACH, & made a serious contribution to keeping the troops steady & calm whilst under fire. As UTAH BEACH was the one beach landing that the Germans almost repelled. The Allied Naval bombardment of Utah beach, prior to the troops landing had failed to destroy one or two important German bunkers.

Shame our would or any world has this happen. Well done!

Great story!

Good old Engineers.

The last Great Generation.

''Everyone has a plan, until you punch them in the mouth'' - Mike Tyson

It’s a myth that Germans were shocked of invasion. The military knew it, just not the exact date, expected a week or so later. E.g. Frundsberg Division left all not in best shape tanks by purpose in the region although commissioned in the east again. In my opinion the invasion just was so successful as the well trained British forces matched best German tank divisions in the battle and kept the US Forces away from this threat. If US had battle with these divisions, the situation would be terrific.

The Germans high command was totally confused on where the allies were to land.

I'm surprised enemy medics took care of wounded opposition.

Combat Engineers lead the way!

Gen. Roosevelt died of a heart attack 36 days later. He was awarded the Medal of Honor.

There were more than just americans landing. Your title offends all the other men landing from other nations.

German medics assisted an American during D-Day? never heard that before.dang

'When Americans Landed On D Day, Germans Were Absolutely Shocked'. You can tell by his style that this fellow knows nothing about the military. Soldiers are trained not to be 'shocked', unlike armchair soldiers such as himself.

Well - people you can thank the Japanese that the Americans were at D-Day at all. They were busy sending supplies to GB, Russia, and I don't who else of the allies. Then Pearl Harbor, and ships and paratroopers, planes and Army, and Marines arrived with artillery and equipment and lots of ordinance. So we were all doing what was needed. And to be clear - I wasn't there at all, I am speaking in the "corporate we". I'm American. And my Dad was stationed in the Aleutian Islands.

Wow...German armed drones in WWII. I had never heard of this. Now I see what they look like and I have seen modern versions that don't look so different. I guess those glass vacuum tubes didn't hold up to the shockwaves of heavy bombardment.

Many or most of those swimming tanks sank as the cross currents collapsed the sidewalls that kept the tanks afloat. They were tested successfully on the southern beaches of England, but had not taken the operational landings I to account.

It reminded me of when putin tried to storm Ukraine war is horrible

They were expecting the free french to liberate their country!

2/3 of the troops that landed on the beeches on D day were British , just saying 🇬🇧

If they only have flail tanks like the British and Canadians their casualty could have been lower

No one‘s complained about the still picture yet, so I will. 😄 The content of the narration was very good, but looking at one picture throughout the entire narration kind of spoiled it.

Just as well they had duplex-drive tanks; a Limey invention. They could have had double if they'd asked... Great naval support from the Royal Navy, too: HMS Erebus with its 15 inch guns; HMS Hawkins, 7 x 7.5 inch guns; 2 light cruisers (HMS Black Prince and HMS Enterprise - 15 x 6 inch between 'em); and the superbly accurate close-support-gunnery of the frigates HMS Hotham and HMS Tyler. It was a fantastic achievement by the Americans all the same. The quick-thinking to exploit what at first could have been a serious navigational error was something which the Brits might have struggled with... Superb!

ONE picture, no videos or other pictures?

Meanwhile todays Generation Z young males : "I want to be a girl and play on the ladies volleyball team".

Germans 😮 😅 were doomed

At about 11:22, a soldier mentions that they lightened their packs by throwing away cartons of cigarettes. Why would they throw away their cigarettes when cigarettes weight very little for their volumn?

As informative as this is, I wish whomever is posting this would not post it with a single static photo ! This is a video based format. And a single static photo makes the whole thing tedious and unwatchable ! Staring at the same photo for 41 minutes makes it totally unenjoyable ! I notice this person does this with all his postings. Stop doing this ! This is a "video" format !

2:56

All 20 of them

Utah Beach. Omaha Beach air bombardment missed main beach defenses, bombs hitting inland. Thus Omaha Beach casualties.