“It Was A Slaughter” - The Fate of German Paratroopers on D-Day | Normandy | WW2
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the small village of Saint-Côme-du-Mont became a critical battleground in the fight for Normandy. In this video, we examine the fierce fighting that took place here, focusing on the role of the 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment. Tasked with defending the area against the advancing U.S. 101st Airborne Division, a whole battalion of elite German paratroopers found themselves trapped in the surrounding marshes. Cut off and overwhelmed, their story is one of determination, desperation, and ultimate tragedy. Discover how the events at Saint-Côme-du-Mont impacted the broader Normandy campaign and the fate of the German defenders.
Saint-Côme-du-Mont: The Trapped Fallschirmjägers | D Day Normandy | WW2
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An old girl-friend's dad was a member of the Fallschirmjager. He never talked about the war. While watching a WW2 television drama on television with the family one night, he and I retired to the kitchen. I asked him about where he served. To my surprise, he bolted to attention,; belted out: "Fallschirmjager, 2 battalion, 3rd Kompanie". He then rattled off the places he had served; Belgium, Greece, Crete, Libya, Sicily, Italy and finally Normandy!
Too few people can recognize HONOR when they see it. Many German soldiers were not the lunatics as so often portrayed... just regular people.
@@jaegertiger384There was no honor in what they were fighting for.
@@Moa-u7fin their minds there was ..clever the way hitler and the rest sold so much bullshit I guess
@@jaegertiger384 exactly right and they were just doing what they thought was right and many who knew Hitler was out of his mind did what they did because they didn’t wanna be killed
Many veterans do not talk about the war, my late father in law was an US Captain and never said a word.
Incredible, I bumped into Baron von der Heydte whilst visiting a cemetery in Belgium in 1983, we had a very good chat about the war and his service, he surrendered to American troops before Christmas in 1944 during the Bulge and had some amazing stories, he spoke very good English, he was an absolute gentleman 🌲
He cared deeply about his soldiers too
Save it for the cross burning Adolf.
Wow,,I would be speechless,,
My Great Auntie Dot always sinsist3d she met Rudolf Hess on Ilkley Moor, after they got lost in bad weather as the nazi leader flew to Scotland for some clandestine war work.
Ilkley Moor is one of the highest regions of England, and the clouds had met the ground that night on the hills.
Auntie Dot was a deeply Christian woman, with a spine of iron. She was a profoundly serious woman, and not a lady taken to flights of fancy.
If she said she met Rudolf Hess then she met Rudolf Hess.
God bless her, she was such a Christian woman, she had promised hess not to inform on him, and she wouldn't break a promise, not even to a nazi leader during the war.
@@NiSiochainGanSaoirseI don't follow. I thought Hess landed on the property of a Scottish Lord in his ME-110.
My dad was a D-Day vet and was one of the many men that were fighting there. I see this and consider it as a remembrance to him and the others.
Thanks to all the heroes for everything they did.
God bless your dad .just lost mine last year, he was a 19 year old able seman on a Liberty Ship off the Normandy coast on June 6 at 9:00 am....they had Landing Craft on the deck, loaded with trucks, that were loaded with 55 gallon drums of Gasoline, and hoisted them into the water with their cargo cranes....he did not know where they went, or if any made it ashore...he never considered himself a "D-Day" veteran because he did not "fight' , but he was always my hero, from the Greatest Generation
My father (22) was there in Normandie he served in Luftwaffe 3rd.Fallschirmjäger Division and was captured in september 1944 and was POW in the US and UK to 1947. He started serving in 7 Flieger Division 1940 that later become 1st.Fallschirmjäger and 2nd. Fallschirmjäger Division. He was 18 when he jumped over Greece/ Crete on 20 mai 1941. Later it was Russia 1941 and 1942. After Stalingrad and Leningrad theaters he went to France and then it was Sicilia 1943 and Italy Monte Casino where his 3rd.battalion in februar 1944 i think was transferred to Reims France to built 3 rd. Fallschirmjäger Division with units from Division Göring etc. He was the best father any son can wish for 😉
Tu padre era un HÉROE
@@kevlarsteiner8978given the side he fought for heroic is maybe hard to use here.
Sí, hay censura en RUclips, pero la Verdad nos hace libres aunque esté prohibida, y este padre fue un Héroe como una catedral de grande. Sí lo dudas mira el Festival de Eurovisión y ve en qué se ha convertido Europa
All were heros !! They were bounde to loyality to their on country !! What a digrace the democrat😢 0:00 party isnt loyal to this natio😢n@@SeanHogan_frijole
Weisser Komet und Blauer Komet
My American father was a WW2 combat vet on B-17’s flying missions over Germany and my German mother is from Ludwigshafen and her father, my Opa was in the Luftwaffe as flak gunner during the war so I heard some very interesting perspectives from both sides
Notwithstanding human destruction....the Germans fought overwhelming odds in both wars , yet were tough and hard to beat. Makes one wonder had those wars would have ended one country versus one country would have ended.
An excellent video. The commentary was so well balanced, and you can hear the sadness and emotion in his (? Rob) voice. Something only a veteran could manage.
Thank you my friend
Thank you so much for this video. My dad came ashore at Omaha Beach and survived his time in World War II. He met my mother while stationed in England, and after he survived the push to Germany, he went back and they were married at the justice of the peace. They were married for 57 years. We were in France for the 80th anniversary of Normandy but you never see everything. This allows me to see things I missed.
Outstanding
Well, that is a sweet story!! Thank God, your daddy survived Normandy beach and met your mom. I’ve heard of several love stories that started between American soldiers and sailors over in England with the English girls. Most of the net when the men were over there training prior to D Day. Praise your dad and I thank God for him and every other service member. When I watch the most realistic scenes from the Normandy invasion; like saving Private Ryan, it made me cry the first time I saw it.
Thank you for continuing to teach us parts of the war we would have no other way of learning. It is important to all of us, and especially future generations. Rob you do such an excellent job. My respect to you. ♥️☘️
The only addition that comes to my mind is video inclusion of going up the stairwell in the church and giving us the views available to the Baron... while pointing out where Allied troops were at the time. It would make Heydte's understanding and assessment of the battle more complete.
I always appreciate Rob's approach to teaching History. Maybe it's your heritage, or maybe your military experience. Regardless, it's always genuine and informing. Thanks from Michigan, USA!
@@Peace2U-ec6es thank you so much for your kind feedback, I really appreciate it!
Hey there, neighbor! 👋🏻 Just another Michigander here 🙋🏻♀️ (Metro Detroit area) that's also a fan! So glad I found this channel a few months ago! ❤️
Well done. Was there last year on June 6. Nobody was on Saint Come du Mont. We parked right where the officer had held the Panzerfaust. It was easily vacant and quiet. No visitors, no locals. Everyone was at the more popular “movie” places. Also nobody at Dead Man’s Corner or at the lock. Great job keeping history alive!
Thank you so much!
It was good to see the actual ground over which this fight between to Para units took place. Despite the Germans being cut down in retreat, as in ancient warfare so it is in modern warfare, this was no easy battle for the 101st Airborne soldiers as well. I've wargamed this out and found the Fallschirmjagers to be tough opponents. Their organic 120mm mortars were very effective, despite the scarcity of their ammunition supply. The cemetery was particularly hard fought for, as evidence of the fragmentation scars shows. Brave men on both sides. but I'm glad that the Americans were successful. They would also pay a price at Carentan, although the German casualties here handicapped Von Der Heydte later on. I was assigned to the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division in the 1980s and have a great pride in its history. Thanks for caring Rob.
Thank you for a wonderful video. It sure brings alive the stories of these brave men and the tragedies sometimes that followed them.
So short!! But so good!!!. Always enjoy your videos. I like the off the beaten path stuff
Thanks for remembering and educating.
@@allencollins6031 it is my pleasure, I’d visit these locations anyway so I may as well make a video too
A beautiful day choosen to shoot a good video - thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you! During many trips and holidays to France, I have always taken the time to stop, look, and discover evidence of the fighting throughout the liberation of France. Your use of photos with locations is a superb illustration, as is your research. I also make a point of honouring the fallen at the nearest local and official cemeteries, lest we forget.
Outstanding as always! Thank you!
that was a terrific video, i enjoyed your presentation. thank you.
Another great video. The Know Your Enemy segment really helps to put things in perspective and sets the stage for action you describe. First class job.
Thank you so much
A superb ‘micro’ documentary that’s a beautiful addition to European & U.S. history, Thanks!
That peppered cemetery iron fence just goes to show how deadly shaprel was to the human body! Gosh.. great vid mate!
The bullet hole pattern would make interesting tactile wallpaper for a feature wall or in a long hallway or corridor!
Good to see you again Brother!
Another solid effort!
Alabama USA appreciates you
And I appreciate the USA!…especially Alabama! I’m convinced I was born in the wrong country. One day I’ll get to visit the States again. Thank you for the kind feedback my friend
Thank you, Rob. I always look forward to your videos. The one in the car park is particularly moving.👏👏😮
This is a fascinating insight beyond the big picture. As a secondary History teacher and the grandson of a war hero who was a Pathfinder in Normandy and a survivor of Arnhem I am always keen to further the debate and maintain a balanced perspective so that future generations may not forget. Thankyou for sharing this.
Aussie veteran here mate, appreciate your service and really enjoy your channel. Keep up the great work mate 👍👍
You are most welcome mate. Thanks for the kind feedback and all the best
Well done without alot of fluff or revisionist history. Just the facts & very professional.
After visiting Normandy last year I was moved by seeing the WWII pictures layered onto today's photo. Brilliant. Thank you for aharing!
Young men on both sides. . War started by old. Fought by young. Never change..
Always seems to be the way
Young men on one side had no problem executing civilians, POWs, Resistance fighters, and any one accused of helping the resistance...young men on the other side not so much 🤷
My Uncle Bill was 82nd Airborne in D-Day...he would have fought there and nearby...he also fought in Market Garden and the Bulge...and made it home. To survive as a paratrooper from D-Day to the end was nothing short of a miracle.
I think I've just found one of my favourite channels. Loved this
Wow, thank you!
Your videos are outstanding. I have always wanted to visit the places of WW2 since I was a child in the 1950’s.
Keep up the great work.
Excellent channel. Very well researched, planned and narrated. Thank you!
Thank you kindly!
I was in Normandy in 2013. Been fascinated with WW2 since I was a kid in the 70s. Very moving to actually be there and imagine what it was like. Also very beautiful countryside.
It really is beautiful countryside. Love visiting France
It is a dream of mine to go to these places and see the then and now photos and actually stand at those places
Not sure if I will ever get a chance to and watching videos like yours might be as close as I ever get to seeing these places
Keep up the great work
So glad you enjoy the video. Have you been to Normandy before?
@@thehistoryexplorer no I live in Australia and have never been out of the country
It will be a dream come true if I ever get over there
@@coreyrich2567 I lived in Aus for 9 years and used to travel back to England every few months, I also brought my 80 year old grandfather to see his £10 pom family so it's never too late to travel. Good luck.
@@pooooornopigeon thank you for your positive words it’s not age that is stopping me it’s the financial side
The men have come and gone but the buildings remain, bearing scars. I'm glad they've kept these structures instead of turning this place into a huge parking lot.
Yet another top show, Buddy.
Not only do I enjoy your presentations (for which I know you put in a lot of effort for weeks and months before you drop them), I love to read the comments of your other viewers - and seeing how we are so greatly dispersed, worldwide.
It's great to be part of such a team - all with very similar interests - yet each and every one of us sees things through our own eyes, with different views, feelings and emotions.
And that's a good thing 👍🏻
Keep it up!
Much appreciated my friend. We’ll have to go for that beer soon! 🍻
@@thehistoryexplorerEspecially as it's your round! 🍻
Thank you for posting this.
You're welcome!
Thank you for this video. It brings what happened then to life.
You’re welcome
Visited Normandy quite a few times to see the D Day memorials. However I have to say this amount of detail would have been missed by me! Thank you so much for making me aware.
You are most welcome my friend
Really enjoy these vids...my dad was born on D-Day (literally), and we plan to make a family trip (FINALLY) to Normandy as he now turns 80.
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing your hard work.
So glad it was them and not our boys. My great uncle Vinnie was there on D-day and survived the war. He was kind, gentle and grateful to be alive.
Very interesting video. Thanks for posting and sharing your knowledge. My dad was a WW II veteran, US Army, stationed at hospitals in England France.
@@robthomas4886 so glad you enjoyed it! I certainly enjoyed making it
Que tristeza da mirar estos lugares!! Gracias por subir estos videos!!
I’m glad you appreciate them, thank you
The commentator speaks pretty good English; rare in england nowadays.
I had elocution lessons in the 50s, before "hollywood" english took over. My Irish Mother even forced my northern Irish father to be tutored (the Lancastrian natives couldn't understand him nor he them).
Worked as a GP in Preston.
Ee..rmm, very interesting presentation.
Slante!
☘👿
Tasmania
Thanks! …. I think!
Thank you for the journey. Take care, keep safe.
Thanks, you too!
New subscriber. The music was perfect for the occasion. More please 🙏
Thanks for the sub! I hope you enjoy the channel
TEXAS HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Nice work! Thank you for the work you do to remind us of our history. God bless!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for taking time to teach us
I know that sounds crazy. Most of the older ones are gone ( I'm 71 older to but I was born after all of this ) I always look at the pictures. When I was growing up you wouldn't hear anyone talking about the war . Me being female dad said very little . I've learned slowly
You are most welcome my friend
I'm 62. My dad served as did many of my neighbors and many of the fathers of my friends. None of them talked about the war except in general terms. My dad served in the Navy.
My best friend's dad was an officer in the 82nd Airborne. He talked more about the reunion of the participants of Market Garden than about any of the actual fighting he saw in Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy, the Ardennes Forest along with everything in between and beyond. He talked about that reunion though.
For the reunion most of the American and British veterans of the battle along with their wives stayed with the families of their former foes.
Those marks on the iron railings aren’t shrapnel damage. Shrapnel from an explosion would be roughly evenly scattered across them.
Those marks follow two roughly horizontal lines. They were made by bullets from a machine gun raking back and forth multiple times, which probably made a lot of those pockmarks as well on the wall behind it.
Great video. Loved the breakdown of the German Regiment and it's equipment. The then and now photos are excellent. Many thanks
You are very welcome my friend
The railing was made of solid steel bars. The force to shred them was massive.
Wow, yes you’re right
Would love to see you do an in depth style video like this on the battle of Aachen. That one’s always been interesting to me and isn’t talked about a ton I feel.
Well presented Viddock ..👍
Thank you kindly
Very interesting. If you could have gotten into the tower it would have been fascinating to see the view the German commander saw.
You know what, the door to the tower was actually unlocked! I didn’t dare go in there as I have so much respect for the people of Normandy
@@thehistoryexplorer I understand.
My Polish grandfather from a town Lubawa in northern Poland was conscripted to Wehrmacht. Was stationed in Normandy.
Surrendered and joing the Polish army in the UK.
Nice video, many thanks
You’re very welcome
Thank you for posting this video
Valuable information and informative
You are very welcome
Another excellent video 👍. I’m always looking forward to your next one !
Another excellent video Rob 👍
Cheers Willie! Chat soon in the side bar pal
Powerful photos and to leave the damage untouched basically from 80 years ago is a constant reminder of the sacrifice the chaos the horrors of war, and the sadistic leaders who put innocent people in such dangerous deadly situations, should always be a reminder
Exactly!
Greetings from Down Under.
As a ww2 Junkie I was impressed on a grate detailed video, thanks so much, really enjoyed & appreciated your efforts putting this together.
Cheers 🤜🏻🤛🏻🕶👍🏻
Thank you my friend. Glad you enjoyed it
Such a balanced presentation. Such a good job of then snd now photos to make that time come alive again.
Thank you! Appreciate that feedback
Great video love military history brave men on both sides fighting for their lives
Thank you very much
Very well done video - thank you.
Thank You
You're welcome
The core of the German airborne force was destroyed on Crete what was left bled to death in Russia and Italy. The troops in Normandy and thereafter were poor quality. Al Murray in his book Command does not rate them at all citing their defeat by the Dutch in the battle of The Hague and German AirPower instrumental in the capture of Crete.
Very true. I had planned on going to Crete but it was too hot
Great video Rob! Your military background gave a good explanation for the limited shelling the Germans did.
Glad you appreciated that! I did wonder if anyone would pick up on it
Excellent video well presented thank you for this wonderful research.
Thank you. It was very interesting.
Wonderful video!
Thank you very much!
Amazing revisit of History and you can still feel the sacrifices made by American soldiers to free the French people from the German occupation. Very pleased to see the American Flag still flying. Thank you for the walk through history that we should never forget.
The American flag if everywhere in Normandy
What a great channel!
Thank you very much!
Respect to all past n present Thankyou
Thank you.
Nice video, thx.
The now and before pics were really awesome. Creates a connection from then and now. Just too bad you weren’t allowed to go to the church tower to show us the view, but I’m sure you tried.
My father bought in Korea and was wounded twice and today if he was alive he would be completely sick every day about what is happening to America!!
Nice presentation. You really brought history alive again. Thanks!
Marvellous video thank you. Sub added
Thanks for the sub! I hope you enjoy my other videos
Another superb episode. May I please suggest, for we non army types, that you include the number of men in any unit that you mention. Battalion?? 😊❤️🇦🇺
I can certainly do that. Thank you for the kind feedback
You are missing an opportunity here. Why do you not detail what actually happened? You say this regiment was destroyed- how? I for one come to these videos to find out what happened. You could tell the story.
I made a second video on the attack into Carentan
Scary those shrapnel marks.
The training and experience probably lent itself to very effective indirect fighting, however not numerous.
Have you been to Leros? That is a fascinating island with a lot of WW2 history.
I have not!
Currently reading DDay by Stephen Ambrose...the video adds a great visual to the description. I believe a DD tank saved the day in this battle allowing the outnumbered Americans to gain the causeway into town.
The DD tanks of 2nd Armoured saved the day at Bloody Gulch, slightly after this battle
Like to Thank all world war two veterans, Without your heroics. We could all be Speaking German today . I look at are life now the way we have forgot a lot these brave men sacrificed, for Freedom and the way we live. Again Thank you so much.
Well said
I've heard on ww2tv say that fallschirmjäger in Normandy were part of an anti-paratrooper unit. It was glossed-over a bit in the episode I saw so I don't know much about this.
Do you know if 6th fallschirmjägerregiment was part of this anti-paratrooper unit?
The static forces were specifically trained for anti paratrooper roles
@@thehistoryexplorer Ah. That explains why this anti-paratrooper thing came as a bit of a surprise to me. I've been treating the static divisions as a sort of placeholder until the big names arrive. Which they are of course, but they do have their own roles and training (and hopes and wants and dreams 😀). That gives me some direction to look at further. Thank you.
Really appreciate you sharing this with the rest of us WWII enthusiasts. Nice work, great content!! Thanks!!
My pleasure! Thank you
Sacred ground. As so many of these videos show us.
Thank you, so glad you think so
I wonder what German paratroopers thought of American paratroopers.
They probably thought they were the enemy..just a hunch
2:26 Auch, that landing did not look right :/
p.s. Great video, I enjoyed it alot :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you
TY 🙏🙏
Their officers and NCO’s were experienced. Then comes a list of OTHET places from which they had been expelled. You loose battle after battle but stand your ground. Your family and your country would expect nothing less.
I’m curious. Many tank divisions where start staffed and short tanks and support vehicles. I heard all the firepower they had. Did they really have all those machine guns and mortars. Disbursed - does that mean the battalion was short of men like the tank divisions were?
Do you have footage from the top of the bell tower? I would really like to see the view of the beach head from the perspective of von Der Heydte on that day.
I should have gone up there as the door was unlocked but I didn’t want to be disrespectful as nobody was there
Doesn't sound like too many Fallschirmjagers surrendered. That is one of their commandments.
My neighbors father was in the 82 nd Airborne. He and his men quickly surrounded several German soldiers. They threw down their arms to surrender. It was not even light yet on June 6. His commanding officer didnt know what to do with the prisoners. In poor German, he told the prisoners they had to stay there until they would be escorted to the "rear". The Germans must not have understood him and they tried to run in the darkness. They were met by more 82nd paratroopers coming around a house who shot all of them. War is hell.
War is indeed hell
Eagle Pass Tx 🇺🇲
@@janhusslareformaprotestante. would love to visit