I think your voice adds a serious and factual tone to stories that need to be told. Often generals are romanticized as the heroes of history, but giving stories for the junior officers, and the smaller formations shows how great many of these men of these untold stories are and for that thank you.
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered - NOTHING TO BE SORRY FOR! Trolls are like FLACK, and you, on a bombing mission, know when you are over the Target, you will get Flak!
I enjoyed your video. My Great Uncle was in the 9th and involved in this attack, I have visited the Merville site several times and also his grave at Ranville war cemetery (He was killed a week after Merville attack), The Generation of heroes that fought to free the world from Nazis and Axis powers truly deserve eternal respect. As a veteran myself, I appreciate the sacrifices made by our forces to give us the liberties we enjoy today.
As usual, an excellent recounting of the story of 9 Para. 1st Canadian Parachute was tasked to support the flank of 9 para during the attack and experienced the same challenges on the para drop. The stories are often lost these days. Absolutely first class. Well done.
History guy, please please please don't stop creating your videos. I am impressed how well you unfold the content. Factual info can sometimes be boring. Not your videos! The content is so rich in info. You must do a lot of research and find multiple sources (it is apparent) before you bring to light a new subject for us the viewers. If we take a moment and really think about what it takes to find the info, the photos, etc. And the editing you must do, I get a lump in my throat just thinking about how appreciative I am for you and your work. Please Don't Stop! Many of these subjects were never covered in the U.S. schools and those that have usually have a spin on them with an opinion or even twisted propaganda. Keep it up. We are hungry for more!
This is one of the best channels on RUclips. Easily digestible episodes with diverse scope and not repeating the same topics that other channels beat to death
My father was part of these brave men. Otway was an exceptional leader. It was harrowing and despite all the odds they were successful. I helped my Dad write his memoirs of his military career, he remained a para until 1963 and saw a lot of active service. There is a side story to this mission. My Dad was not a religious man but on telling me about this mission he became emotional about the death of the Padre. The padre was George EM Parry, who during this mission dropped in with the men and then went to the aid centre to help the wounded. The germans stormed the aid centre and killed the defenceless men, the also killed Padre Parry who was unarmed and was reported to have fought like a tiger. When word of this reached the men, they fought all the harder as the all respected Padre Parry. Also it was reported that Sgt Fred Milward was the last known survivor of that mission, that is inaccurate as his passing preceded my Dads by 2 months. My Dad was Colour Sgt John Murray.
I would use the term “ true heroes” because the word hero is used too freely in the present day. Used alone, it’s lost it’s true meaning in our shallow, virtue signalling present day culture.
These days, it seems like all history channels post videos on the same stories. Your stories are always stories I've never heard before and reinforce my love for history. Thank you for your channel and the knowledge you pass on
The Merville Battery is preserved as living history for tourists to this day. It's a must-see stop on a tour of Normandy battlefields. I encourage all American/Canadian/British history buffs to make a trip to Normandy to see the beaches and outstanding museums there. It's far easier than you might think to tour Normandy, just rent a car at the Paris airport and drive west two hours. The French will treat you great I promise, feed you well, and show you our shared history with pride. Photos do not do Normandy justice, you need to see all this with you own eyes and put your feet into the sands of Omaha Beach and go into the gun emplacements of Pont du Hoc, see Pegasus Bridge, and walk the cemetery. Touch a few crosses and thank each one for giving up all their birthdays. Do it, you won't regret the trip and take the kids.
Great job, another amazing story of D Day and beyond. My father and 7 of my uncles were all there, all in front line combat units. I always marvel at the fact that all lived, and made it back home. My father was with George Patton, he walked and fought his way through France until he was wounded while assaulting German positions at the Battle of the Bulge. Thanks again for retelling those stories.
I have been fascinated by all wars but especially WW2 and just can't get enough of this stuff! Thanks for your time and effort to bring us these videos. I am a U.S. Army vet who has the utmost respect for the British soldiers and what they accomplished. Thank you!
Two things fascinate me about WW2: the desperation as fascism threatened to become the dominant form of government in the world, and the vast number of times when critical events hinged on the wildest of luck. Imagine an island holding out against a force that had already engulfed most of Europe and was only 20 miles away. June 1940 to June 1944... amazing! "...we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender..."
The History Guy is the complete opposite of today's internet: Video titles are very rarely a clickbait, but you click anyway because you know it's high-quality content inside. And in my case, in the end i wondered what took me so long to click.
9th Battalion was part of 3rd Brigade, rather than 3rd Division. The division was 6th Airborne, as you had stated earlier. Thank you for enlightening us on bits of history that deserve to be remembered!
Was in a Army Reserve Military History Detachment back in 1994. We were part of the 50th Anniversary celebration for the Normandy Landings. Got to interview a lot of WWII vets. Americans, English, German. And the local Frenchmen as well. For some of those vets it was a very emotional time. Sadly, many are gone now. But I will always hold that short tour of duty and something very special.
I like to consider of myself as a history buff from WW2 and this is the 1st time I've heard of this fight. We, the whole free world, owe our very existance to these brave people because if they would have failed we would be speaking German or Japanese today. Thanks again for this little snippet of history.
I had actually met the German commander for the battery, Raimund Steiner during a tour back in 1998. He spoke about the bombings before the D-day, the visit by Rommel and the two Spitfires that strafed the position during Rommel´s inspection, the assault by the paratroopers, the recapture of the battery and how they managed to escape and march back to Germany with the last survivors and wounded personnel after they was forced to abandon the battery. If I remember correct, Raimund was assigned to this battery on the "quiet front" to recover from injuries he got on the Eastern front. He ended up in the middle of an invasion instead. A amazing story.
There is a 90mm artillery piece outside the museum on Utah beach. It fell overboard when it was being brought to shore and was later brought up and placed there. Well I have meet the man that was the commander of the artillery battery that that gun was a part of. When I met him, he was telling me that story and I showed him a picture of an artillery piece in front of the museum. He said "Yep! That is my gun!" I had taken that picture about 5 years prior to meeting him. So it was neat to meet him by chance and have that little connection with him.
I was at the museum at the Pegasus Bridge and we got a phone call to say our ferry booking back to Blighty via Pompey was cancelled because of an unexploded WWII bomb in Portsmouth harbour - we asked to go outside to re-arrange the booking on telephone and told the receptionist what had happened - he just gave a very Gallic shrug, rolled his eyes and exhaled some air as he dismissively muttered "Bosch!"
One of the best films on the Merville battery I've seen...my uncle was a pilot with 605 sqn on D Day , his aircraft and two others were tasked with attacking the battery at 0010 hrs, they were to bomb the searchlights..he writes of heavy light AA fire, which severely damaged one of the elevators...his logbook entry for D Day, tells of the 100 Lancs plastering the area, and the Glider Train going in, he watched it all while circling the area, at which time he and the other two aircraft of 605 left the area, at 0039 hrs. His aircraft dropped the first bomb on the 2nd Front....he writes of being very proud of that ...:)
As always, History Guy connects us with the fortunes of the people who lived these events. History calls to me because it is about the struggles of human beings, and History Guy tells me their story. He's the best.
Excellent illustration that large operations like D-Day are a culmination of a plan within a plan within a plan etc. It shows that perhaps a mission's success is less about what went according to plan and more about the tenacity of those executing such plans.
“No plan of battle survives contact with the enemy.” When you hear about all the mishaps during D-Day and afterwards it’s remarkable that it succeeded in the end.
“Uncommon valor was a common virtue”, Adm. C. Nimitz. He spoke of the Marines that secured Iwo Jima, but his words can be applied to times and theaters throughout history. The Greatest Generation have been and always shall be me undiminished heroes.
Hi there, it is great to see some form of recognition for this feat, as a lot of attention rightly so focuses on the gliders that went to Pegasus Bridge. My late father was one of the pilots of the three gliders that headed for Merville, the glider crashed heavily hitting a tree breaking dads leg and arm. He was rescued by Canadian forces and popped up at the Canadian hospital near Burnham Buckinghamshire, after being listed as badly injured presumed POW.
Really good to see a video like this coming from across the pond - too often Americans don't even seem to realise that any one else was involved at all in the invasion of France, even though they provided less than half of the troops that landed on D Day (73,000 out of 156,000). Keep it up!
I never mean to short the Allies or focus on the US. I can say, simply from my production perspective, US newsreels from the era are in the Public Domain, most British ones are not. It is easier for me to get visual media for an episode on American troops. That said, I have done several talking abut allied contributions during the war, and intend to continue to do so.
Was very excited to see this. I actually had the privilege to visit Merville Gun Battery this time last year - well worth a visit on the near endless list of things to see around there!
Maybe it's because as we all get older we make our own memorys/history an learn to appreciate those times long passed by even if it doesn't involve that person 🙃
Good Grief Mr. The History Guy. You need to write a book about this, and when the movie producers come along. Cha-ching, cha-ching. You continue to amaze me with these tidbit stories of history I thought I knew.
have missed your series for awhile and was grateful to stumble onto it tonight. your presentations always leave a feeling of when the going gets tough, the tough get going, especially pertinent in these days and times. may all the service people who served and made the ultimate sacrifice, rest in peace. by
I visited this site in June last year. Thankyou History Guy for bringing it to life and for your many remembrances of small parts of history. Don't ever change, you're ok for a Yank. And before anyone kicks off that is a joke - I served with and have friends still in the US military.
Really like your site, great non partisan content and very well researched and presented. I live in New Zealand, born in London, have close relatives in the US so much appreciated.
I found this at 12mins after posted. The earliest I have found THG's posting. WW2 has been interesting subject for me since my youth. I enjoy these little known bits of this war interesting as I mostly do not know about them and the subjects THG of battles I know about, they always find something about them I did not know. Thanks again for another great history lesson.
I really wish these obscure stories where better known. I find these more interesting then the glossing over of more popular events when I was in school. I fear we will never learn from our mistakes we seem to make the same mistake over and over again.
I agree too. So many of his subjects are nearing the end of their life war have long since passed. If you don't have eye witnesses to these important the truth will fade. I wish schools taught students more like this. Rarely do I watch a video on RUclips and reflect on it after it the video is over
I heard the military was doing away with Morse code as an antiquated means of communication. I think that's a mistake. They will never know what situation will require until they are in a situation that will require it.
Yes another superb episode of my favourite RUclips channel - thanks so much HG! Thanks also for your factual, interesting and respectful coverage of the exploits of people from outside of the US. Speaking as a Canadian, I can assure you that it is noted and greatly appreciated.
I never get tired of hearing WWII stories of the valor, bravery and self-sacrifice of young men for a cause greater than themselves. We could certainly use a little more of those qualities right now.
I live I. The Philippines and due to lockdown my wife and I have been rewarching Star Trek Next Generation. Today we watched an episode from season 5 were Scotty from the original Star Trek makes a guest appearance. It reminded me that James Doohan that man who plays Scotty served in the Canadian army and was involved in D-day. I would love to see the history of the man and his unit and their involvement in the D-day landings. Thanks and love all your videos!
Thanks History guy for remembering and sharing. It is because of people like you that although so many died in WWII, they live on. My Uncle and his 7 brothers from the Miramachi region of New Brunswick Canada, all served with a Canadian regiment that landed on D-Day. I remember his stories well, and the hardest was that they all saw their youngest brother shot down on the beach yet none could stop to do anything or they would have been killed as well. Such sacrifice. We must never forget, WWII and the millions of lives lost is the cost of tyranny and we must always remember so that such tyrants can never rise to power again. Thanks for helping us remenber
Thank you for all you do in bringing these little bits of history to the masses. If you ever get the chance I cannot recommend visiting the Normandy battle fields highly enough, to walk in the footsteps of these men is truly humbling.
The Paras had no thermite grenades to disable the cannons breech locks. American Rangers did and disabled several German cannons in coordinated attacks. My father was a 19 year old American medic that came ashore at Omaha Beach on the 2nd day.
My father was there, at Normandy, off shore of bloody Omaha. He said that there were so many bodies in the water that they looked like they could be used as stepping stones to walk from ship to ship. It was the fifth landing for him.
@@nemosis9449 Dad said that the tin cans(american slang for destroyers) did a heck of a job. Some of them went in to within a 1000 yards of shore and slugged it out with the kraut shore batteries. Take some time to record your dad's stories for your following generations. Good Luck, Rick
@@nemosis9449 I was lucky enough to meet a Royal Navy Veteran in Normandy at the 70th Anniversary. He said to me 'Stop calling me Sir, I was only a Snotty (Midshipman) . He also had us in stiches with his stories, all about how he had made a fool of himself. What else should I have called him? Sir was the least of the respect he was due.
Great video but with one slight inaccuracy... You said that this story is well known in England. Unfortunately like so many stories of heroism like this, it is not as well known here as it should be. Thank you very much for bringing their story to a new audience History Guy. Keep up the good work.
I read long ago that the opponents that the German generals most feared was the British because they could easily improvise solutions to problems as that was part of the way Brits were trained. I can remember my father solving a calculus word problem for me 5 different ways in about 15 minutes. I knew he was bright, but boy was I ever startled. And I find that often in my work when an obstacle appears I work out a different method of attack, and indeed I usually have a plan A and a plan B, just in case A doesn't work out too well. Yanks seem to have only a singular plan, blast anything with heavy fire power. Or, that is at least what I have seen in my working with them. I much prefer to work with fellow Brits, not only because of their usual flexibility of thought, but also because I love the banter that goes on with a happy group of Brits. What a fantastic story. And the whole attack was completed with full and proper results in about 30 minutes. Simply amazing.
My father was in the 9th and fought near the battery on the night .as a young man I used. To go to Normandy with the vets such a privilege to be with such men and they had a great respect for there officers.Otterway Hill, Gail Crookenden ect. My dads job was to set up a beacon before the main drop but was no near were he should have been ,as the old boys used to say it was a complete balls up.thanks for this post .it brought back many emotions from my fathers war
Good history lesson. I had an ancestor from there that fought in the battle of Hastings. Sir Huge De Merville. His great-grandson, Huge De Merville was one of the assassins of Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury.
A great documentary, THG. I think even the stern Lt.Col Otway would have cracked a faint smile. Have you ever read about Pegasus Bridge, an operation that took place that same night ? One USAAF general called it one of the finest pieces of aerial navigation of WW2. Praise indeed. It is thought that Lt. Den Brotheridge was the first allied soldier to die in combat during operation Overlord
So many forgotten histories from ww2. Thanks for educating us about Melville gun battery. Another forgotten history is the 6th d day beach, designed to eliminate guns that could be used on the British flank or used to repell attacks on other german positions. It was one of these other guns that may have fired upon Melville that day, reulsing ottways partner. May be another forgotten history lesson....
Thank you for this excellent content. I enjoy your work as a fellow historian in the UK. The paras are amongst our finest and Ulstermen are known for their grit and determination.
The History Guy reminds me of my favorite history teachers who shared a love of story telling and contagious enthusiasm for the subject matter in addition to an encyclopaedic knowledge of their specific areas of study.
Thank you for telling the story of the Merville battery assault in your trademark succinct yet factladen presentation. It's the only of the main gun batteries I haven't been able to visit along the 5 (6! band beach, look it up for the interested!) landing beaches. A true story of valor and sacrifice for the common good we enjoy the fruits of even today. Never forget.
I’ve gotten my son into WW2. He has a great recollection of dates and names. He always likes to do military remembrance days. We ‘remembered’ Midway by watching the Roland Emmerich film last night. It was amazing also as the 20 somethings carried the day in 1942 in the Pacific as well. Several days well worth remembering in June.
Im always inspired and amazed by the depth of information so well presented. I am also amazed of what soldiers with such fallible plans and equipment are able to accomplish. May we continue to benefit from their experiences and sacrifice and may they rest in peace.
Another good one Mr Geiger. I saw the Boxcars but I appreciate that you use what you have. It was nice to see a rare glimpse of a type which was authentic: an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle glider tug.
Excellent video of an important part of the D-DAY landings. Chaos always rules a battlefield. It all comes down to being able to adapt to the situation, & having the courage to press forward that matters. That's how battles are won.
Complexity and chaos are logarithmic. That the remnants of the force overcame the "planning" is testimony to a generation. That is the history that deserves to be remembered. Thank you, Sir.
Thank you Sir ,for another well presented true story. I saved it to read today. It is as you and so many others have said an almost forgotten pice of history that has slipped from view. I have to add that as a boy when I was beginning to start my life long love of history of the second world war the book by Napier Crookenden, was one of the first books that captured my imagination and respect for the British Paras. Thank you sir for work .
Thank you! Great story! My dad served a short time in the Canadian Merchant Navy at the end of the war. My granddad(dad's dad)was Canadian Navy, The man who would become my uncle served in the Canadian Navy and his youngest brother served in the RAF but he did not come home being shot down over Germany. My best friend in Germany, his dad was a German soldier in the war and some of my dad's friends who he grew up with were forved to leave Canada and were sent to Japan and two of his friends served in the Japanese navy. My other grandfateher(mom's dad)served in the US Army during the first world war. Latter dad moved to the USA and spent the rest of his life in the US Army.
As my uncle, a WWII Marine, 2nd and 5th Divisions, pointed out to me, the day of every amphibious assault is a D-Day. He had three D-Days / H-hours etc. Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, as well as 2nd divisions reinforcing 1st Division on Guadalcanal.
i like the way you present the stories. don't worry about time. As long as it is interesting i will listen and watch. You have put a nice presentation together, stayed on subject and brought lost knowledge to us. Thank you!
Another very interesting story I had never heard before. My father, uncle, and father in law were all WWll vets. I heard stories from all three in their later years. They stayed silent for many years, and only opened up one on one for short times. I know the memories had been buried to keep them at bay.
Dear HG, We learn and sometimes remember. Nearing June 6, 2020 and having remembered a-place called Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium, another invasion at the beginning of the war, a piece of history hopefully learned from.A tour de Maine you say. There you see we listen and analyze. My father was on the beach on D2. 101 Air Ambulance. British Army. We are proud of their service. 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇨🇦🇦🇺 🇳🇿 and many others in the Commonwealth and out. Thank You
4 года назад
Another in a long line of great ones, History Guy. Thanks again.
A great tribute to people with leadership qualities. Great leaders are rare. Thank you for this excellent article. Always a treat to visit the History Guy. Can't wait for the next one.
Quick add to the story. My father, Thomas C Bailey was a Staff Seargent in the US Army prior to D-Day. He was a chemical warfare specialist and was at the Royal Chemical Warfare School when everything was locked down a week before D-Day. As a result, he went over in a glider with the Brits. His glider was hit by anti-aircraft fire on the way over the night before D-Day. The tow rope wouldnt disengage and so they headed back to England where they landed, counted off and got back on another glider. He told us they "didnt even give him a chance to change his underwear." He went back over again and they were shot down. He then was the only American at the Battle for the Merville Battery. By the way, it is the 76th anniversary of D-Day. He is still alive and has no idea why anything he did was special. As he said, I was just doing my job. Thank you.
Your voice and narration are just fine, you are doing a fantastic job of making history enjoyable to watch. Thanks for your time and hard work..........
who ever said his voice/narration aint fine? maybe its YT but i never saw anyone mention this! Which is so shame on those people as i totally agree with you voice and narration of THG is stellar! I cant stop binging all his episodes!
My late father Pvt Edward Ronald Jones was involved with the assault, he was a sniper and was part of the covering fire for the assault on the battery, C Company 12 Platoon. He survived the war, Normandy, the Ardennes, crossing of the Rhine and Palestine
An excellent story, as usual. You never cease to impress. Just one nit-pick from a neighboring Illinoisan regarding the accompanying images. The image at about 1:21 shows twin boomed Fairchild C-82 Packets (or possibly C-119 Flying Boxcars.) Neither aircraft was in service on June 6th, the C-82's maiden flight was on September 10th of 1944.
A relation of mine. Marine James Alfred Griffin of 47 RMC was awarded the Military Medal at Port en Bessin, taking out a machine gun position single handed after they opened up on them. I'm 72 and new Jimmy really well growing up. Man was a Legend.
Photos are from the public domain and are for illustration only.
Thank you History Guy, excellent story on the 6th of June...
I think your voice adds a serious and factual tone to stories that need to be told. Often generals are romanticized as the heroes of history, but giving stories for the junior officers, and the smaller formations shows how great many of these men of these untold stories are and for that thank you.
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered - NOTHING TO BE SORRY FOR!
Trolls are like FLACK, and you, on a bombing mission, know when you are over the Target, you will get Flak!
For my part , I'm grateful to you for your excellent programs , please keep them coming !
@@coiledsteel8344 LOL, LOL!
I enjoyed your video. My Great Uncle was in the 9th and involved in this attack, I have visited the Merville site several times and also his grave at Ranville war cemetery (He was killed a week after Merville attack), The Generation of heroes that fought to free the world from Nazis and Axis powers truly deserve eternal respect. As a veteran myself, I appreciate the sacrifices made by our forces to give us the liberties we enjoy today.
As usual, an excellent recounting of the story of 9 Para. 1st Canadian Parachute was tasked to support the flank of 9 para during the attack and experienced the same challenges on the para drop. The stories are often lost these days. Absolutely first class. Well done.
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The History Guy is here to give us what The History Channel turned its back on. Best channel on RUclips!
The history channel. BLOWSSSSS. GIVE U 5 BUCKS FOR IT. GET BENT. RICK.
The History Channel, Hmmmmm I do remember something called that many years ago....
Yep
Agreed. He doesn't even drop his name. He just gets down to business telling it like it was. VERY refreshing!
This is good as public tv even better
History guy, please please please don't stop creating your videos. I am impressed how well you unfold the content. Factual info can sometimes be boring. Not your videos! The content is so rich in info. You must do a lot of research and find multiple sources (it is apparent) before you bring to light a new subject for us the viewers. If we take a moment and really think about what it takes to find the info, the photos, etc. And the editing you must do, I get a lump in my throat just thinking about how appreciative I am for you and your work. Please Don't Stop! Many of these subjects were never covered in the U.S. schools and those that have usually have a spin on them with an opinion or even twisted propaganda. Keep it up. We are hungry for more!
This is one of the best channels on RUclips. Easily digestible episodes with diverse scope and not repeating the same topics that other channels beat to death
My father was part of these brave men. Otway was an exceptional leader. It was harrowing and despite all the odds they were successful. I helped my Dad write his memoirs of his military career, he remained a para until 1963 and saw a lot of active service. There is a side story to this mission. My Dad was not a religious man but on telling me about this mission he became emotional about the death of the Padre. The padre was George EM Parry, who during this mission dropped in with the men and then went to the aid centre to help the wounded. The germans stormed the aid centre and killed the defenceless men, the also killed Padre Parry who was unarmed and was reported to have fought like a tiger. When word of this reached the men, they fought all the harder as the all respected Padre Parry. Also it was reported that Sgt Fred Milward was the last known survivor of that mission, that is inaccurate as his passing preceded my Dads by 2 months. My Dad was Colour Sgt John Murray.
It's all the little stories, that never appear in the movies, that make history interesting. Thanks, history couple.
Aahh, History Guy....
Sonny Burnett 👍
@@sonnyburnett8725 q⁰
I think this should be made a movie
The word "hero" seems insufficient when one hears stories like this.
A staggering achievement by some very special young men.
RIP to all who fought.
LEST WE FORGET.
I would use the term “ true heroes” because the word hero is used too freely in the present day. Used alone, it’s lost it’s true meaning in our shallow, virtue signalling present day culture.
@@TheOldGord Exactly! I saw the word on a store's window recently, "be a local HERO, maintain social distancing" FFS!
Comes the hour, comes the man.
TheOldGord using the term “virtue signal” is in itself a form of virtue signaling, FYI
These days, it seems like all history channels post videos on the same stories. Your stories are always stories I've never heard before and reinforce my love for history.
Thank you for your channel and the knowledge you pass on
The Merville Battery is preserved as living history for tourists to this day. It's a must-see stop on a tour of Normandy battlefields. I encourage all American/Canadian/British history buffs to make a trip to Normandy to see the beaches and outstanding museums there. It's far easier than you might think to tour Normandy, just rent a car at the Paris airport and drive west two hours. The French will treat you great I promise, feed you well, and show you our shared history with pride. Photos do not do Normandy justice, you need to see all this with you own eyes and put your feet into the sands of Omaha Beach and go into the gun emplacements of Pont du Hoc, see Pegasus Bridge, and walk the cemetery. Touch a few crosses and thank each one for giving up all their birthdays. Do it, you won't regret the trip and take the kids.
Just come back from a week in normandy. Very humbling 😢
Great job, another amazing story of D Day and beyond. My father and 7 of my uncles were all there, all in front line combat units. I always marvel at the fact that all lived, and made it back home. My father was with George Patton, he walked and fought his way through France until he was wounded while assaulting German positions at the Battle of the Bulge. Thanks again for retelling those stories.
Ledger-Hill's words: 'Do not be daunted if chaos reigns, it undoubtedly will.' Should be printed on every page of every military plan.
Are you sure that was an Englishman who said that sounds like a born and raised Texan for sure LOL
@@ernestoherrera2755 well the man was from Somerset so not sure what Texas has to do with anything
The meter and intonation of your voice makes every story so compelling. I wish you would have been my professor during all of my history classes.
I have been fascinated by all wars but especially WW2 and just can't get enough of this stuff! Thanks for your time and effort to bring us these videos. I am a U.S. Army vet who has the utmost respect for the British soldiers and what they accomplished. Thank you!
Two things fascinate me about WW2: the desperation as fascism threatened to become the dominant form of government in the world, and the vast number of times when critical events hinged on the wildest of luck. Imagine an island holding out against a force that had already engulfed most of Europe and was only 20 miles away. June 1940 to June 1944... amazing!
"...we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender..."
Reprogram yourself from the alt right russian propaganda and return to being a loyal American
Always instructive and entertaining. Very well researched. It's hard not to admire the understated way the Brits talk.
The History Guy is the complete opposite of today's internet: Video titles are very rarely a clickbait, but you click anyway because you know it's high-quality content inside.
And in my case, in the end i wondered what took me so long to click.
9th Battalion was part of 3rd Brigade, rather than 3rd Division. The division was 6th Airborne, as you had stated earlier. Thank you for enlightening us on bits of history that deserve to be remembered!
Yep, 6th Airborne, I also like the photo of Beverly aircraft used, not introduced till after the war lol
Was in a Army Reserve Military History Detachment back in 1994.
We were part of the 50th Anniversary celebration for the Normandy Landings.
Got to interview a lot of WWII vets. Americans, English, German. And the local Frenchmen as well.
For some of those vets it was a very emotional time.
Sadly, many are gone now.
But I will always hold that short tour of duty and something very special.
I like to consider of myself as a history buff from WW2 and this is the 1st time I've heard of this fight. We, the whole free world, owe our very existance to these brave people because if they would have failed we would be speaking German or Japanese today. Thanks again for this little snippet of history.
Never think that your voice or narration is unpleasant. I find it just perfect for the job.
I had actually met the German commander for the battery, Raimund Steiner during a tour back in 1998. He spoke about the bombings before the D-day, the visit by Rommel and the two Spitfires that strafed the position during Rommel´s inspection, the assault by the paratroopers, the recapture of the battery and how they managed to escape and march back to Germany with the last survivors and wounded personnel after they was forced to abandon the battery.
If I remember correct, Raimund was assigned to this battery on the "quiet front" to recover from injuries he got on the Eastern front. He ended up in the middle of an invasion instead. A amazing story.
There is a 90mm artillery piece outside the museum on Utah beach. It fell overboard when it was being brought to shore and was later brought up and placed there. Well I have meet the man that was the commander of the artillery battery that that gun was a part of. When I met him, he was telling me that story and I showed him a picture of an artillery piece in front of the museum. He said "Yep! That is my gun!" I had taken that picture about 5 years prior to meeting him. So it was neat to meet him by chance and have that little connection with him.
I was at the museum at the Pegasus Bridge and we got a phone call to say our ferry booking back to Blighty via Pompey was cancelled because of an unexploded WWII bomb in Portsmouth harbour - we asked to go outside to re-arrange the booking on telephone and told the receptionist what had happened - he just gave a very Gallic shrug, rolled his eyes and exhaled some air as he dismissively muttered "Bosch!"
Non, monsieur, it's "Le Boche!" (The Bosche Group has set their spark plugs to "incinerate.";)
We love your voice. Great Job again. A true American with proper pronunciation.
One of the best films on the Merville battery I've seen...my uncle was a pilot with 605 sqn on D Day , his aircraft and two others were tasked with attacking the battery at 0010 hrs, they were to bomb the searchlights..he writes of heavy light AA fire, which severely damaged one of the elevators...his logbook entry for D Day, tells of the 100 Lancs plastering the area, and the Glider Train going in, he watched it all while circling the area, at which time he and the other two aircraft of 605 left the area, at 0039 hrs. His aircraft dropped the first bomb on the 2nd Front....he writes of being very proud of that ...:)
As always, History Guy connects us with the fortunes of the people who lived these events. History calls to me because it is about the struggles of human beings, and History Guy tells me their story. He's the best.
Excellent illustration that large operations like D-Day are a culmination of a plan within a plan within a plan etc. It shows that perhaps a mission's success is less about what went according to plan and more about the tenacity of those executing such plans.
“No plan of battle survives contact with the enemy.” When you hear about all the mishaps during D-Day and afterwards it’s remarkable that it succeeded in the end.
Hawkathon - As former heavy weight champ Mike Tyson said, "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the MOUTH!"
That is why we train and train and train. Prepared for any situation.
The only constants in life are death, taxes, and fuck ups
Hence the motto : Improvise , Adapt , and Overcome.
When the going gets tough The Tough get going Never shrink back
Thank you for giving us a clear view of one operation of many important operations on D-Day!
“Uncommon valor was a common virtue”, Adm. C. Nimitz. He spoke of the Marines that secured Iwo Jima, but his words can be applied to times and theaters throughout history. The Greatest Generation have been and always shall be me undiminished heroes.
Hi there, it is great to see some form of recognition for this feat, as a lot of attention rightly so focuses on the gliders that went to Pegasus Bridge. My late father was one of the pilots of the three gliders that headed for Merville, the glider crashed heavily hitting a tree breaking dads leg and arm. He was rescued by Canadian forces and popped up at the Canadian hospital near Burnham Buckinghamshire, after being listed as badly injured presumed POW.
Really good to see a video like this coming from across the pond - too often Americans don't even seem to realise that any one else was involved at all in the invasion of France, even though they provided less than half of the troops that landed on D Day (73,000 out of 156,000). Keep it up!
I never mean to short the Allies or focus on the US. I can say, simply from my production perspective, US newsreels from the era are in the Public Domain, most British ones are not. It is easier for me to get visual media for an episode on American troops. That said, I have done several talking abut allied contributions during the war, and intend to continue to do so.
I'm sure you realised I wasn't complaining about you! Excellent channel, and thank you for making some fascinating pieces.
Was very excited to see this. I actually had the privilege to visit Merville Gun Battery this time last year - well worth a visit on the near endless list of things to see around there!
Life is so weird. When I was younger I hated history. Today I can't get enough of it.
If we'd had history *teachers* like THG, I think history class would've been far more interesting. He manages to make his love of history infectious.
Maybe it's because as we all get older we make our own memorys/history an learn to appreciate those times long passed by even if it doesn't involve that person 🙃
When presented right history is a human story from the past with real people.
It is called maturity! Not weird at all!
Good Grief Mr. The History Guy. You need to write a book about this, and when the movie producers come along. Cha-ching, cha-ching.
You continue to amaze me with these tidbit stories of history I thought I knew.
have missed your series for awhile and was grateful to stumble onto it tonight.
your presentations always leave a feeling of when the going gets tough, the tough get going, especially pertinent in these days and times.
may all the service people who served and made the ultimate sacrifice, rest in peace. by
I visited this site in June last year. Thankyou History Guy for bringing it to life and for your many remembrances of small parts of history. Don't ever change, you're ok for a Yank. And before anyone kicks off that is a joke - I served with and have friends still in the US military.
Really like your site, great non partisan content and very well researched and presented. I live in New Zealand, born in London, have close relatives in the US so much appreciated.
I found this at 12mins after posted. The earliest I have found THG's posting. WW2 has been interesting subject for me since my youth. I enjoy these little known bits of this war interesting as I mostly do not know about them and the subjects THG of battles I know about, they always find something about them I did not know. Thanks again for another great history lesson.
I really wish these obscure stories where better known. I find these more interesting then the glossing over of more popular events when I was in school. I fear we will never learn from our mistakes we seem to make the same mistake over and over again.
I agree, looking at history more would help us not always have to learn the hard way every time.
@@phillipstoltzfus3014 Well said sir!!
"There is no present or future-only the past, happening over and over again-now."
Eugene O'Neill
I agree too. So many of his subjects are nearing the end of their life war have long since passed. If you don't have eye witnesses to these important the truth will fade. I wish schools taught students more like this. Rarely do I watch a video on RUclips and reflect on it after it the video is over
When modern technology fails make sure you have a homing pigeon.
I Googled what one of those was, trouble is my question flew off in the wrong direction.
I think someone used smoke signals in the war as well.
Pigeons are smarter
I heard the military was doing away with Morse code as an antiquated means of communication. I think that's a mistake. They will never know what situation will require until they are in a situation that will require it.
ruclips.net/video/cDwsnpo066g/видео.html
Thank you for having a Closed captions that really work! Love this channel. Great work!
I try to get in there and clean them up, but don't always have time, that is, in fact, the reason I was a few minutes late posting today.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Better late, than never. CC works for alot of us.
Yes another superb episode of my favourite RUclips channel - thanks so much HG!
Thanks also for your factual, interesting and respectful coverage of the exploits of people from outside of the US. Speaking as a Canadian, I can assure you that it is noted and greatly appreciated.
Thank you History Guy. I really enjoy your work. Your professional narration and production is second to none. Bravo.
I never get tired of hearing WWII stories of the valor, bravery and self-sacrifice of young men for a cause greater than themselves. We could certainly use a little more of those qualities right now.
Seeing it today with healthcare workers. Not as noisy, but certainly actions bigger than themselves.
Thank you History Guy for another story of bravery that should never be forgotten.
I live I. The Philippines and due to lockdown my wife and I have been rewarching Star Trek Next Generation. Today we watched an episode from season 5 were Scotty from the original Star Trek makes a guest appearance. It reminded me that James Doohan that man who plays Scotty served in the Canadian army and was involved in D-day. I would love to see the history of the man and his unit and their involvement in the D-day landings. Thanks and love all your videos!
Thanks History guy for remembering and sharing. It is because of people like you that although so many died in WWII, they live on.
My Uncle and his 7 brothers from the Miramachi region of New Brunswick Canada, all served with a Canadian regiment that landed on D-Day. I remember his stories well, and the hardest was that they all saw their youngest brother shot down on the beach yet none could stop to do anything or they would have been killed as well. Such sacrifice.
We must never forget, WWII and the millions of lives lost is the cost of tyranny and we must always remember so that such tyrants can never rise to power again.
Thanks for helping us remenber
Thank you for all you do in bringing these little bits of history to the masses. If you ever get the chance I cannot recommend visiting the Normandy battle fields highly enough, to walk in the footsteps of these men is truly humbling.
The Paras had no thermite grenades to disable the cannons breech locks. American Rangers did and disabled several German cannons in coordinated attacks. My father was a 19 year old American medic that came ashore at Omaha Beach on the 2nd day.
My father was there, at Normandy, off shore of bloody Omaha. He said that there were so many bodies in the water that they looked like they could be used as stepping stones to walk from ship to ship. It was the fifth landing for him.
My dad also was near there on a RN destroyer and remembers the GI bodys floating out to sea. Respect.
Well, they couldn't kill enough...and got their comeuppance.
@@nemosis9449 Dad said that the tin cans(american slang for destroyers) did a heck of a job. Some of them went in to within a 1000 yards of shore and slugged it out with the kraut shore batteries. Take some time to record your dad's stories for your following generations. Good Luck, Rick
@@richardross7219 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇦
@@nemosis9449 I was lucky enough to meet a Royal Navy Veteran in Normandy at the 70th Anniversary. He said to me 'Stop calling me Sir, I was only a Snotty (Midshipman) . He also had us in stiches with his stories, all about how he had made a fool of himself. What else should I have called him? Sir was the least of the respect he was due.
Great video but with one slight inaccuracy... You said that this story is well known in England. Unfortunately like so many stories of heroism like this, it is not as well known here as it should be.
Thank you very much for bringing their story to a new audience History Guy. Keep up the good work.
I read long ago that the opponents that the German generals most feared was the British because they could easily improvise solutions to problems as that was part of the way Brits were trained. I can remember my father solving a calculus word problem for me 5 different ways in about 15 minutes. I knew he was bright, but boy was I ever startled. And I find that often in my work when an obstacle appears I work out a different method of attack, and indeed I usually have a plan A and a plan B, just in case A doesn't work out too well. Yanks seem to have only a singular plan, blast anything with heavy fire power. Or, that is at least what I have seen in my working with them. I much prefer to work with fellow Brits, not only because of their usual flexibility of thought, but also because I love the banter that goes on with a happy group of Brits.
What a fantastic story. And the whole attack was completed with full and proper results in about 30 minutes. Simply amazing.
My father was in the 9th and fought near the battery on the night .as a young man I used. To go to Normandy with the vets such a privilege to be with such men and they had a great respect for there officers.Otterway Hill, Gail Crookenden ect. My dads job was to set up a beacon before the main drop but was no near were he should have been ,as the old boys used to say it was a complete balls up.thanks for this post .it brought back many emotions from my fathers war
Good history lesson. I had an ancestor from there that fought in the battle of Hastings. Sir Huge De Merville. His great-grandson, Huge De Merville was one of the assassins of Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury.
A great documentary, THG. I think even the stern Lt.Col Otway would have cracked a faint smile. Have you ever read about Pegasus Bridge, an operation that took place that same night ? One USAAF general called it one of the finest pieces of aerial navigation of WW2. Praise indeed. It is thought that Lt. Den Brotheridge was the first allied soldier to die in combat during operation Overlord
I am reminded of my visit to Point du Houc last year when you were describing this.
Well done as always
So many forgotten histories from ww2. Thanks for educating us about Melville gun battery. Another forgotten history is the 6th d day beach, designed to eliminate guns that could be used on the British flank or used to repell attacks on other german positions. It was one of these other guns that may have fired upon Melville that day, reulsing ottways partner. May be another forgotten history lesson....
Thank you for this excellent content. I enjoy your work as a fellow historian in the UK. The paras are amongst our finest and Ulstermen are known for their grit and determination.
Amazing, love the way you tell the stories of normal men and women who perform heroic deeds for their country!!
The History Guy reminds me of my favorite history teachers who shared a love of story telling and contagious enthusiasm for the subject matter in addition to an encyclopaedic knowledge of their specific areas of study.
Thank you for telling the story of the Merville battery assault in your trademark succinct yet factladen presentation. It's the only of the main gun batteries I haven't been able to visit along the 5 (6! band beach, look it up for the interested!) landing beaches. A true story of valor and sacrifice for the common good we enjoy the fruits of even today. Never forget.
I wanted to add, it's not history that deserves to be remembered, rather history that needs to be remembered.
I’ve gotten my son into WW2. He has a great recollection of dates and names. He always likes to do military remembrance days. We ‘remembered’ Midway by watching the Roland Emmerich film last night. It was amazing also as the 20 somethings carried the day in 1942 in the Pacific as well. Several days well worth remembering in June.
Oh, and we had The Longest Day on standby if we had enough time for both.
One of the many interesting "side stories" of D-Day. I have visited Merville Battery several times.
Enjoy every episode , very well done credit goes to the “history guy” and how it is presented 👍🏻
Another excellent presentation on a hitherto uncelebrated courageous action. Thanks, Mark.😃👌👌👏👏👏👏
Im always inspired and amazed by the depth of information so well presented. I am also amazed of what soldiers with such fallible plans and equipment are able to accomplish. May we continue to benefit from their experiences and sacrifice and may they rest in peace.
Outstanding! Thank you HG. There are many of us that enjoy your work & commitment.
I knew a local man who was one of the Rangers that climbed cliffs to disable the heavy guns at Pointe du Hoc.
@freebeerfordworkers The guns were moved to a nearby field.
Another good one Mr Geiger. I saw the Boxcars but I appreciate that you use what you have. It was nice to see a rare glimpse of a type which was authentic: an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle glider tug.
This is another of the many stories of D-Day I hadn't heard before. Absolutely amazing tenacity and bravery. Thank you sir.
Thank you so much to Both of you. Life now can start to get better for me. Love you Both 😊😊
RIP "Speckled Jim"!
Best RUclips channel, of course.
Tremendous addition to a great body of work.
Thank you, sir!
Excellent video of an important part of the D-DAY landings.
Chaos always rules a battlefield. It all comes down to being able to adapt to the situation, & having the courage to press forward that matters. That's how battles are won.
Complexity and chaos are logarithmic. That the remnants of the force overcame the "planning" is testimony to a generation. That is the history that deserves to be remembered. Thank you, Sir.
Thank you Sir ,for another well presented true story. I saved it to read today. It is as you and so many others have said an almost forgotten pice of history that has slipped from view. I have to add that as a boy when I was beginning to start my life long love of history of the second world war the book by Napier Crookenden, was one of the first books that captured my imagination and respect for the British Paras. Thank you sir for work .
An engaging retelling of the derring-do of some of the many many valiant efforts of our distinguished heroes.
Thank you! Great story! My dad served a short time in the Canadian Merchant Navy at the end of the war. My granddad(dad's dad)was Canadian Navy, The man who would become my uncle served in the Canadian Navy and his youngest brother served in the RAF but he did not come home being shot down over Germany. My best friend in Germany, his dad was a German soldier in the war and some of my dad's friends who he grew up with were forved to leave Canada and were sent to Japan and two of his friends served in the Japanese navy. My other grandfateher(mom's dad)served in the US Army during the first world war. Latter dad moved to the USA and spent the rest of his life in the US Army.
The courage to do what must be done. The past speaks to the present I think.
Thank you.
As my uncle, a WWII Marine, 2nd and 5th Divisions, pointed out to me, the day of every amphibious assault is a D-Day. He had three D-Days / H-hours etc. Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, as well as 2nd divisions reinforcing 1st Division on Guadalcanal.
i like the way you present the stories. don't worry about time. As long as it is interesting i will listen and watch. You have put a nice presentation together, stayed on subject and brought lost knowledge to us. Thank you!
This deserves a movie.
Another very interesting story I had never heard before. My father, uncle, and father in law were all WWll vets. I heard stories from all three in their later years. They stayed silent for many years, and only opened up one on one for short times. I know the memories had been buried to keep them at bay.
Dear HG, We learn and sometimes remember. Nearing June 6, 2020 and having remembered a-place called Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium, another invasion at the beginning of the war, a piece of history hopefully learned from.A tour de Maine you say. There you see we listen and analyze. My father was on the beach on D2. 101 Air Ambulance. British Army. We are proud of their service. 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇨🇦🇦🇺 🇳🇿 and many others in the Commonwealth and out. Thank You
Another in a long line of great ones, History Guy. Thanks again.
A great tribute to people with leadership qualities. Great leaders are rare. Thank you for this excellent article. Always a treat to visit the History Guy. Can't wait for the next one.
Loved it! This is worth remembering. Bravery and ingenuity under pressure. Thanks
Quick add to the story. My father, Thomas C Bailey was a Staff Seargent in the US Army prior to D-Day. He was a chemical warfare specialist and was at the Royal Chemical Warfare School when everything was locked down a week before D-Day. As a result, he went over in a glider with the Brits. His glider was hit by anti-aircraft fire on the way over the night before D-Day. The tow rope wouldnt disengage and so they headed back to England where they landed, counted off and got back on another glider. He told us they "didnt even give him a chance to change his underwear." He went back over again and they were shot down. He then was the only American at the Battle for the Merville Battery.
By the way, it is the 76th anniversary of D-Day. He is still alive and has no idea why anything he did was special. As he said, I was just doing my job.
Thank you.
Great story! I did not see that in my research.
Another great video. Well-written, edited, and produced. You rock, sir!
Your voice and narration are just fine, you are doing a fantastic job of making history enjoyable to watch. Thanks for your time and hard work..........
who ever said his voice/narration aint fine? maybe its YT but i never saw anyone mention this! Which is so shame on those people as i totally agree with you voice and narration of THG is stellar! I cant stop binging all his episodes!
The person that complained about the narration/sound quality on the first day must have deleted his original comment@@robert25archer25
Really well researched and presented. Thank you.
Wow! I never knew 'til now about this when you brought it to light. Thank you, History Guy!
Heartwarming and educational story again, as usual. Thanks so much for all the great and oftentimes inspiring stories🇬🇧🇺🇸
My late father Pvt Edward Ronald Jones was involved with the assault, he was a sniper and was part of the covering fire for the assault on the battery, C Company 12 Platoon. He survived the war, Normandy, the Ardennes, crossing of the Rhine and Palestine
An excellent story, as usual. You never cease to impress. Just one nit-pick from a neighboring Illinoisan regarding the accompanying images. The image at about 1:21 shows twin boomed Fairchild C-82 Packets (or possibly C-119 Flying Boxcars.) Neither aircraft was in service on June 6th, the C-82's maiden flight was on September 10th of 1944.
A relation of mine. Marine James Alfred Griffin of 47 RMC was awarded the Military Medal at Port en Bessin, taking out a machine gun position single handed after they opened up on them. I'm 72 and new Jimmy really well growing up. Man was a Legend.
They had no radios but had a homing pigeon. And of all the failures, the pigeon succeeded.
Surprisingly reliable little fellows. ruclips.net/video/cDwsnpo066g/видео.html
Love it! Good to use this channel for its more personal deep dives of the War in combo with other more comprehensive overviews.