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Thank you so much, HistoryMarche, for doing this battle. My grandfather served in the 5th Rangers (alongside the 2nd) at/near Point Du Hoc and helped to reinforce the 75+ men who survived the German assault. Got the Bronze Star on D-Day & 2 purple hearts. He died in 2000 from cancer, and I have a bigger story about what he experienced at Saint Lo. Edit: (Check the Reply Section for his story)
@RecoveringAhole your wish is my command. After D-Day, the remains of both Ranger Battalions were combined for a few months to regain any of the men & strength lost from the Point Duc Hoc assault. My grandfather was like Reiben (not in personality but in equipment) from Saving Private Ryan, carrying a BAR into hell itself. Despite what current history books are being shared/recorded today (or the true US records, which consisted of 16 to 18 million personnel files tragically lost in the 1973 Saint Louis fire), the US kept some remaining Rangers in the field into smaller groups to aid other forces, leading to the opening stages of Operation Cobra to take Saint-Lo - the American Caen of the US sector. Some elements of the 5th Rangers remained on the beaches and were tasked to guard/provide security for POW camps at Valognes and Foucarville during the latter stages of June 8th & mop up the remaining German prisoners after Operation Overlord. Others were assimilated (or quoted by my grandfather & other veterans as "unit transfusions between different US units") into the 29th Infantry Division, given their expertise, and that, unlike the 2nd, didn't suffer more casualties on D-Day. Unlike the Germans & other countries, America had a tendency to switch or blend units that had both experienced vets & raw recruits close to the frontline. Most European countries tended to send badly devastated units back to the depots in safer territory. (Ex, If a German division was almost destroyed, the unit & its survivors would be pulled back into Germany for reorganization, etc.) Still, the 2nd Rangers had almost a 70% causality rate, while the 5th had a 22% causality rate, which meant that the 5th had to pick up the slack in terms of manpower for all Ranger operations within the 29th. Some US commanders & the 29th Infantry's leaders still needed them beyond the beaches to face the more elite German units inland before they could recoup new men to replace what Rangers were lost on June 6th. Basically, they prioritized units/men that had big automatic weapons like the BAR, etc., to supplement specific units that lacked (or lost after D-Day) the appropriate firepower to meet certain commanders' needs, which really caused issues in bookkeeping between different divisions or corps. The majority of standard US GI infantry units at the time of D-Day neither had the high combat efficiency nor the exact physical training & skillset as the Rangers to face the multiple challenges ahead in Western France. - particularly with the very dense bocage regions in France As my grandfather would say, they also needed to have the necessary training to bypass very rough & almost impossible terrain while facing hardened elite troops. The Rangers spent most of early 1943 to 1944 training for this moment in Tennessee. By the Spring of 1944, they were training in the Highlands of Scotland (later practice on England's Southern Coast close to June) for months to replicate the conditions of the Point Du Hoc assault in short succession amid the changing weather conditions in the English Channel. They were now small automatic fire teams (unofficially, some elements of the remaining 2nd & 5th members were combined yet never officially designated as a new unit by US command), and at least some members partially embedded/providing critical support for the 29th Infantry Division's advance, who what HistoryMarche mentioned relieved the Rangers two days later on D-Day +2 who now started heading south towards the Elle River & subsequently began their approach to Saint Lo. In the earliest stages of the battle of Saint-Lo in mid-July 1944, while helping to support the 29th & dislodge hardened German defenses, my grandfather got wounded when a piece of mortar shrapnel from an incoming German round hit his leg (from his calf to above his ankle) & took him out of action. The 29th Infantry Battalion under the command of the controversial US commander Charles H Gerhardt (who became made infamous at Saint-Lo for his costly non-sense tactical assaults), alongside another American division (part of the XIX Corps) with smaller groups of army rangers aiding the divisions, took massive losses from German artillery destroying the town. It was said by the war's end that Gerhardt's decisions would cost the lives of 20,600 American GIs under his command. Hence the motto, "One on the field of battle, one in the hospital, and one in the cemetery.". The Germans utilized the same indirect artillery defensive strategy the Americans were known for, and literality started a scorched earth policy to delay the Allied advance. Amid the chaos of war, my grandfather lost his Walter P38 souvenir during the battle while badly wounded but saved his Luger pistol in WWII, which I have personally fired on the range numerous times in 2023. My grandfather would have met his end at Saint-Lo, but thankfully, he had a guardian angel over him. Over the years, I was told by my father & my aunt that after he got wounded, my grandfather was saved by a Sherman Tank Crew from the 747th Independent Tank Division (attached to either the A, B, or C medium tank companies who later had one of the first hedgerow cutters in the bocage) that came to support the 29th, 30th, & 35th Infantry Divisions to take the critical crossroads at Saint-Lo & was attempting to gather all the wounded GIs during the battle. It's still very unclear how many Americans were saved on that day alongside my grandfather, but as a result of them saving lives, the Sherman Tank Commander was the only casualty while gathering up the wounded men under heavy fire. The Rangers lost more men in leading the way into the breakout of Nomardy at Saint-Lo, given the almost mountainous, river-like, and dense bocage terrain that the Germans chose very well to defend. Saint Lo closely parallels the landscape of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania with strategic rolling hills and, like Saving Private Ryan, critical river crossings all around the town, and the Germans under the 352nd Infanterie-Division (not shattered yet after the combat of D-Day) & later the 2nd German Parachute Corps who were experienced veterans from the Eastern front who respectfully really knew what they were doing. Hence, the need for the rangers to stay active despite the heavy losses on D-Day to aid the 29th infantry battalion & help challenge these veteran Germans on the hills overlooking the town. The Saint-Lo campaign took the majority of July (from the 7th to almost the 23rd) for the Allies to successfully bypass, and the US causalities were extremely high (partly due to the nature of the Allies taking each hill and the river crossings around the town to secure it). Close to between 10,000 to 11,000 causalities for the US, 350+ French civilians, and an unknown number of German losses - most likely very high as well, given that 352nd was now a shattered force by August 1944. Tragically, before the battle, US commanders tried to warn the civilian population of the oncoming aerial bombardment and later advanced into Saint-Lo with pamphlets, but the weather didn't cooperate with allied planners. Many were causalities from American bomber ordinance (later US General Lesley J. McNair, who helped spearhead Operation Cobra. with Omar Bradley, died from friendly fire) It would have been much worse without the rangers (including other elite units, which included the 101st, 82nd Airborne, etc.), who played an indirect role in aiding the opening thrust of the Operation Cobra campaign. The US Rangers went that far to enable the breakthrough into southern France despite being almost sidelined back on the Normandy coastline and to complete the mission on what they had started from the Point Du Hoc cliffs a month earlier on June 6, 1944. By August, both Ranger battalions began to recover more from the losses they received from the two-month attrition of war leading up to the slow yet essential role in the Battle of Brest in September and later into the Battle of the Bugle in December 1944 to be officially added to the historical battle order formation records (which is almost non-existent for July except medical records highlighting known ranger members & their injuries around the battle of Saint-Lo due to the many reasons I listed above earlier in the comment). Like the battle of Zerf in 1945, the events at Saint-Lo for some rangers are very hardly remembered. Perhaps the pace of fighting & chaos at the time was too rapid and the scope of troop movements too grand to have permitted one undermanned light battalion to be singled out for recognition. Indeed, after-action reports of some American units directly involved in the operation ignore even the presence of the 5th Rangers in their areas. This fact not only provides an insight into the way in which Rangers were perceived by other units but may also explain why certain recounts have all but passed from memory. This has resulted in an unfortunate loss, for these stories hold many lessons and deserve to be told. To add insult to injury, the fire at the National Personal Records Archive in 1973 suffered an 80% loss to records of U.S. Army personnel discharged from November 1, 1912, to January 1, 1960, which was such a colossal loss of "cultural heritage" & many important records were not duplicated or copied to microfilm for preservation after WW2. Even to this day, they still don't know what exactly was destroyed. Thus increasing the untold stories, the unknown achievements, and the mystery of what our ancestors did in WW2. For my grandfather, his war was over, and he was honorably discharged per credible surviving US WWII Hospital Army/Dept of Veterans Affairs records by late 1944 due to how his injuries (with artillery fragments embedded in both leg & foot) took longer to heal. He was only 21, returning home to a grateful nation, knowing he completed his mission to help end the war in Europe.
@@SolidAvenger1290 thank you for sharing brother. That’s a great story. I bet you’re real proud of your grandfather. My grandpa also fought in WWII, though he was in the pacific theatre fighting the Japanese. He went island hoping.
@RecoveringAhole thank you for your kind words. I truly am of his service and, later, his duty as a police officer. He retired from law enforcement after 21+ years, yet his wounds still were a reminder of the sacrifices he made in the war. He still had to carry a morphine capsule around his neck for most of his life (which, as a child, I was fond of) and suffered from PTSD for a few years after the war from losing many friends in Normandy. He almost had another scrape with death (in terms of history) in law enforcement when he switched his shift with a friend who later died during the 1974 BWI hijacking to attack the White House. Many thanks for your grandfather's service in the Pacific. My other grandfather on my mom's side served as a medic in the Pacific theatre as well as island hopping. His story is still a mystery, but he did violate the US military code and shot a Japanese soldier in the trees once.
@@SolidAvenger1290 my grandpa didn’t talk about the war much. I did get him to talk one time though, it was after 3 glasses of whiskey he was drunk enough to tell me about his best friend who he entered the service with and went through bc with. They got stationed together by some miracle and he told me “I forgot which island” but soon as they landed he said there was nobody there. They were expecting resistance but nobody was defending the beachhead. So the marines started pushing forward , my grandpa with his best friend beside him. He told me within a split second that place turned into a he’ll hole. His friend and him started pushing forward when all of a sudden he hears this whistling that got closer and closer , then boom. Next thing he knows he’s on his ass dazed. He gets up and starts looking around for his buddy.. well that’s when he noticed that he was literally wearing his friend all over his uniform. His bud obviously got hit by a direct artillery strike. He said he was picking little pieces of human flesh out of his hair. After that I decided not to ask anymore.. I don’t think we’ll ever truly understand the sacrifice these men had to make.
My father was in the Big Red One. He told us many stories when we were kids. We would say he survived because he ducked. 😬 I never truly knew what he went through until I watched saving private ryan. I was horrified! Dad refused to watch it as he would say, “Why would I watch it? I lived through that hell.” He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and spent 4 years in the European Theatre. Was awarded the Bronze medal. When he came home, he got married and had 5 children. Got a good job at the Post Office. We had a beautiful home, always had food and clothing. He flew the American Flag every day. He loved this country like no other. He would have fought for his country up to the day he died. He died at 86 and would have been 106 years old this year. 🇺🇸 Bless the men and women who serve to protect us. They are heroes. 🇺🇸
Awesome story. Much respect for your dad. My grandfather served in the 5th Rangers on D-Day and survived that extremely long day of fighting. Got the Bronze Star & 2 purple hearts by the war's end. Did fight at the Battle of Saint-Lo in July 44; that story is in the comment section/replies.
I worked at the post office my last year of high school part time. I worked with many WWII veterans. They did make a good living..they paid us students well too. I came from a family of 9 so working 20 hours a week helped me take care of myself. Most kids working with me came from large families. I learned from the responsibility was given some very important jobs..worked my way up in trust. One of my favorite jobs in my entire working life. Happy your family benefited from your Dad’s WWII sacrifice..your Dad sounded like a great guy. A walk the walk patriot. He was an 🇺🇸 hero in every way home and abroad. He was in my Uncle and Mom’s generation hard working and most all had great sense of humors. We should never forget their honorable sacrifice.
Aye, it's just a shame thanks to the shoddy British education system, a lot of ignoramuses thought Saving Private Ryan "ignored" British "accomplishments" -------------- on a beach that they assigned to the Americans in the first place while their troops took the conveniently lightly defended beaches.
Thank you for making a video on this, my great grandfather was in E company of the 2nd rangers battalion, he unfortunately passed in 2006 alongside my cousin and his wife in a car crash involving a drunk driver after saying goodbye to my cousin who was being deployed
The phrase "Rangers lead the way!" was first uttered by Gen. Norman Cota, 29th Infantry Division to Lt. Max Schnider 5th Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment on Omaha beech. Schneider and his men led the breakout from the beech in his sector and the Ranger motto was born.
There was no 75th Ranger Regiment in WW2. The 75th Infantry (Ranger) as we know today was established in 1969. On D-Day the 2nd and 5th Rangers were organized under what was called 'The Provisional Ranger Group'.
@@FraserFir-sb4lkyes they were provisional. My grandfather served in the 5th. They more or less became a lesser provisional unit after D-Day but US command still needed their elite skills in the Saint Lo campaign. My grandfather survived that battle to breakout of Normandy.
The critical importance of destroyer fire support during this operation cannot be overstated. Vice-Admiral Deyo noted that, because they were seen as more expendable and because they could operate closer to the beach, they were able to directly and precisely fire onto German positions and wipe them out in a way battleships and even cruisers couldn’t .
Yes, I wonder why they didn't cover those men on the beach with smoke and naval fire. How do you let a whole beachhead flounder and almost fail with total naval and air superiority? Can someone enlighten me?? Or is it normal for them to charge machine gun bunkers and fortifications??? I feel like the USAAF and RAF shoulda pounded the Bajesus outta them. I must be missing a huge piece of that puzzle
@@libbygarrett7158 I believe the navy was more focused on Omaha, given the dire nature of the assault on that beach (given that most of the US troops on that beach were 2nd GI-rated troops vs. the elite status of the Rangers at Point Du Hoc), and believed that the Rangers would manage things much longer than expected. Not to mention, the US Navy had to follow orders to ensure that the Germans wouldn't have reinforcements beyond the beachhead (the battleships focused on that more inland) and that elements of the navy (destroyers & cruisers) were concerned about other sea-related threats to the invasion. As the day wore on, they felt more secure with the sea and then began to see the landing troops having trouble. Plus, US cmdrs were likely concerned that any smoke or constant bombardment would affect the Ranger's ability/equipment to climb the clifts and fight the Germans in close combat. Not to mention that the weather could have been better at times on D-Day despite clearing for the invasion to take place. Regarding the bunkers, well, the Allies did bombard the coast relentlessly before the invasion and had hoped it would be enough to wipe out the defenders, but it didn't work much. The Allies were more concerned with friendly fire with the landings by then, and the airforces were more focused on air domination and attacking mechanized German reinforcements. In terms of taking out a bunker, the Rangers( & others) follow the handbook, which has Battle Drill 5: Knock Out a Bunker (07-D9406). This drill is still being used by US troops in 2023, which I agree needs to be revised given the circumstances. Still, most militaries have to assume that there could be multiple hidden entrances/passageways to a single bunker, which they need to make sure is secure or blocked off.
@@libbygarrett7158 A theme of the war was Admirals not giving proper naval fire support because they were always afraid of getting hit. The air support on D-Day was off target a lot too.
@libbygarrett7158 because the landing crew needed to find the beach also it's really difficult to get proper fire support onto the ridge as you have to use plunging fire
Swanage is not on the Isle of Wight, its not even really near the Isle of Wight. Swanage is on the coast of Dorset about 30km away from the Isle of Wight
Год назад+12
This battle is my favorite of all that happened on D-Day, I have good memories of when I met this episode of WW2 history, thanks to Call of Duty 2 and the war illustrations on this battle. It is admirable what these Rangers accomplished, even though the plan ran into trouble from the start and they were basically left alone at Pointe du Hoc, yet they managed to capture the German fortifications in one of the most epic moments of the entire war (scaling the precipice while receiving enemy fire) and destroy the artillery at the end after a search against time, to later resist the German counterattack for days; They were all true heroes and their effort saved thousands of soldiers.
My grandfather from Heaven thanks you for that very nice comment. It really took a lot of grit for him and his friends to fight for that long against the odds.
Год назад+4
@@SolidAvenger1290 No friend, we all must thank him and his colleagues for their services, they are heroes. You must be really proud, it is an honor to carry on your grandfather's legacy by respecting his memory.
@ well thank you for the sentiment. I am proud. We live in a time that has forgotten the sacrifices my grandfather and the millions of others made in WW2. Before becoming a Ranger, he got inspired by how the Finnish were fighting ferociously against the aggressive Russians in 1939 with minimal resources and support yet had the determination & courage to hold off the enemy no matter what. US opinion during that time was partly happy to see Stalin & the Soviets get embarrassed internationally. I hope HistoryMarche does a video on the Finnish-Soviet War.
I’ve been there with a private guide and my dad, who was a veteran of Charlie Company, 2nd Rangers in the 80’s after Ranger school. It was such a cool moment for him to be where this all happened and walk the emplacements, the hedges, and even walk to where it’s believed the guns were.
Nice. America's first special forces. The US Rangers were created, trained and advised by the British Army Commandos in 1942 Achnacarry Scotland. The 1st and 29th Rangers were born. Direct copies of the Commandos. These got disbanded, and later used their new Commando skills to create the 2nd and 5th US Rangers in 1943. "Ranger" was selected because of the British colonial Rogers Rangers (Queens Rangers). 8 British advisors accompanied the US Rangers at Point Du Hoc aswell as 3 SWANS. 🇺🇸
All true given what research my dad found out about his father's unit, the 5th Rangers. Back in the States, the standard GI provisional infantry depots became also like high school with different cliques of men that it got so toxic with some of draftess including my grandfather. He transferred to the Rangers, and the difference was astonishing. The Rangers and Airborne units were less immature, more professional, and had better amenities. He was immensely proud working with the British commandos training in both Scotland and later on the English Channel days before June 6th.
Always Quality Content! those infographics and maps are gorgeous and super functional, we will definitely improve ours. you are an inspiration for all history creators.
@libbygarrett7158 it really was. The Rangers took years of training in Tennessee & later months in Scotland's highlands with other units for climbing exercises and other hazardous conditions. The standard GI back then considered the Rangers to be almost comparable to Halo's Spartans.
Well they weren't the best troops one could ask for. The enemy troops at Normandy were mostly second or third rate. Probably very luckily fort he Allies that they were. I shudder to think what would've happened has the troops been first rate.
This video came out the day after I visited Point Du Hoc, it’s really powerful to see it in person, the shell craters are massive and the bunkers are really impressive solid lumps of concrete. If you’re in the area, I’d really recommend the Overlord museum in Colleville su mur
It is actually not very far from where i live, and it's a very famous location. A bit too much tourists like omaha ( omaha beach aroud the ameican cimetery is a natural park and is part of my job to work there) wich pose issues to keep nature and history intact. Lots of it is still there and can be visited, plus many museums in the area exists about ww2 for those interested
It's very evident that the maintenance of the cemetery is seen as a duty and not just a job and I thank you for that. I was humbled at how much the people of Normandy continue to show their appreciation for what took place on June 6th 1944. For those intending to visit, Going on the Anniversary is fine, but busy beyond words, I went in September and had the whole place to myself listening to Ambroses "D-Day" on audio book. That was an amazing way to experience the area. Bon Chance!
It was a wonderful historical coverage video of that bravery Veterans operated in early times of overlord operations during WW2. ..allot thanks ( history Marche) channel for sharing
Brecourt Manor! That's a textbook trench assault that would do wonders for young students learning WW2 military strategy at how the paratroopers absolutely crushed it.
I agree. The Rangers (like my grandfather) took the more risky route attacking head-on with the Germans while the Paratroopers did fantastic high-speed maneuvering & attacks around their opponents.
incredible vid, thanks for posting. would love to watch more WW2 vids on your channel, possibly even mentioning (obviously only in passing since they did so little) some of the other allied nations - since, incredibly, even the amazingly gifted yanks needed a few non yanks to help single handedly win ww2, unlike in ww1 where 1 god loving apple pie eating american sergeant defeated all of kaiser bills forces before stopping for a luke warm cup of joe.
Thank you for mentioning Sergeant Leonard Lomell’s part in destroying the Guns!! Everyone tends to forget that the guns were later found and destroyed, and First-Sergeant Lomell deserves the highest accolades for leading what was left of his Company after his officers were all killed, and being wounded. He truly is an American legend!
When I visited pointe du hoc it was crazy experience...those craters are huge and also there is a nice muzeum with I belive some of those original 155mm cannons. Thanks to all the heroes from operation overlord
Like the saying, "No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy." My grandfather and the remaining Rangers trained for this after 2 & a half years since the units were formed. The terrain in Northern France has always been a challenging factor for centuries, and even with the best strategy to win, it tends to be hampered by such rough terrain. The Germans knew this, but the resiliency of Rangers managed to hold on under such conditions.
Just watched a b-grade movie on Tubi about this assault and it surprisingly seemed to be fairly historically accurate if you ignore the unrealistic grenade explosions and second rate acting.
Been a sub for several years now. You have an epic narrator voice and presence really. U should keep doing what you are doing which would be doing us a favour
I had the pleasure and opportunity to visit this location. The craters were still there. The craters were about 10-15 feet deep. It was fun to run down one and take a picture.
Thank you for that nice comment. Beyond D-Day, the Rangers did play an indirect role during the Saint-Lo campaign aiding the 29th Infantry in July 44. Most barely cover that seeing how most of the military records were lost in the 1973 fire in Saint Louis.
Heard this story so many times yet it always enthrals me and this version is one of the best. While watching I keep thinking of the film the Longest day.
Hey, Flash Point, fancy seeing you here. Again, hope you & everyone else has a great time on the tour. Already shared my grandfather's story on this feed as well for everyone to exprience. Keep up the amazing content.
Gracias por poner subtitulo en español! No hay mucho material de este tema tan interminable como es Normandia, proncipalmente en español. Gracias Master!
These videos are awesome. Brilliant made. We know it take lot of time and hard work and dedication to make these videos. So we always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. Love and your huge fan from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🤝🏴.
London Fire Brigade had a hand in this battle. The Rangers borrowed a couple of powered telescopic ladders from the Fire Brigade and fitted them with a couple of Vickers K Guns.
Col. Rudder's mission for Operation Overlord was to land at Pointe du Hoc, and to neutralize the batteries there, and at Grandcamp and Maisy. The 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions were earmarked for this mission. However, thanks to the ever shifting realities of war, only Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies of the 2nd Rangers were able to land at Pointe du Hoc, with Able, Baker, and Charlie landing alongside the 5th Ranger Battalion at Omaha Beach. As Col. Rudder was down to a quarter of his total assault force, the decision to assault the Grandcamp and Maisy Batteries had to be delayed until his surviving Rangers could be relieved by elements of the 2nd Rangers, 5th Rangers, 1st Infantry, and 29th Infantry. The Grandcamp and Maisy Batteries were still firing on Omaha and Utah Beaches by D+3, so it can be said that Rudder's mission was only a partial success, despite the heroism and sacrifice of his men. Orders issued from his superiors indicate that he did not carry out most of his assigned tasks, and instead set up a perimeter defense in an area that wasn't all that strategically vital. The guns that were spiked were part of the objectives issued, but represent a minority of the total artillery complement that the Germans had emplaced in the area. With that being said, I doubt the Rangers that Rudder had on June 6th could've even managed to assault the Grandcamp and Maisy Batteries, as they are quite formidable fortresses, and have fanatical SS soldiers among the defenders. As evidence to this claim, I point to the British assaults on the Merville Battery, which was taken by a severely understrength force of 150 Paras, given the importance of the objective, and which resulted in 75 casualties (50% casualty rate) amongst the British Paras involved, and they were forced to retreat. Nos. 4 and 5 Troops of 3 Commando also assaulted the position the following day, retaking it, yet being forced to withdraw with heavy casualties. And to note, that objective did not fall into Allied hands until the 17th of August, despite two separate units attacking it. Rudder had only 225 Rangers with which to assault a position as equally as fortified as Merville, and though he did not launch the assault, his desperate defense in the face of repeated German counterattacks wore down his force until only 90 Rangers could remain in the line. To sum it up, the action at Pointe du Hoc is an incredible propaganda victory, but was more or less a costly assault that, militarily, achieved little.
To some, it was a propaganda victory, and to others a false or lukewarm outcome; however, my grandfather, who served in the 5th Rangers, Company C, believed it was still a victory that allowed the other beachheads more breathing room to maneuver and reduce/disrupt the German front line. Northern France's terrain was always the biggest opponent whenever the Germans (or whoever) defended it with smaller numbers. They/the Germans knew what they were doing, and like in the Battle of Saint-Lo in July 44 (in which my grandfather and some rangers unknowingly participated), the terrain gave them a way to hold better against the growing number of Allied troops in Southern France. US commanders were either too overconfident with their assessments of winning or too reckless in full-on assaults.
@@SolidAvenger1290 yeah. He was what I would recognize as a "bad ass". I'm talking about these tough guy kids today. I would love to hear more about your grandfather's story. My grandfather would tell me stories before bed to put me to bed, but then I couldn't sleep thinking about them.
@@elijahbrown9738oh okay. Got a bit confused there. Yeah they were like the Halo Spartans for the US military in WW2. Thank you. His story is shared below in the comments of my original post on HM's feed here.
This is amazing man! Your WW2 content is my favorite of yours alongside the roman one! Keep been awesome! Leave a hearth For the algorithm!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤
That's what the Rangers trained for from years of training. It took from 1942 to 1944 to mold these men as one of the most elite Allied units in WW2. Grandpa served in the 5th on that cliff, and when the other allied units heard of what they did, they were still in shock at how they kept fighting without much support.
As a proud Texas A&M Aggie, a lot of us learned about this battle. Rudder was an Aggie and later president of the university. There are displays about the battle on campus
My great grandfather fought in this battle my mother would tell me stories of the people in the French town crying seeing the Americans for the first time
Or at least one of the lesser known Tank Battles in Normandy at Caen, one of the densest concentations of German armour in WW2. Over 8 Panzer divisions and 3 Tiger battalions on a front of 60km.
Hey with that being said, HistoryMarche, you should make a video on the Rangers like on Call of Duty 2!!! Hill 400 , Bergstein, all that...Op Varsity too. Thanks, ❤ the channel
James Earl Rudder was class of 1932 at Texas A&M University and would later take over as University President in the 1960's. Rudder Tower was built to the exact height of Pointe du Hoc in his honor. We had to memorize facts about him as part of the Corps there, it was a pain in the ass 😂
The memorial, dedicated by the French, represents the daggers used by the Rangers to hold their footing while climbing the cliff. The fact that they were still able to complete the mission after so many problems is a testament to the Ranger's outstanding training with the British Commandos, their fantastic leaders and their resolve to save the lives of their fellow Soldiers. Truly the greatest generation.
Yes, they were. This is why the Rangers were one of the most elite units in WW2 and my grandpa, who served there with the 5th would agree with that assessment.
Great content! Is that the end credit theme from Bedtime Stories I hear in the background? It’s free use, so it doesn’t matter. I actually like it paired with this presentation.
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You're one of the Best For a reason man! Keep going with all your hard work🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤
Gracias por subirlo con sub titulos al español
do you guys use an ai voice? some of the pronunciations on the words sound unnatural.
Como haces estos videos deberías de hacer un tutorial
Nice one. But can I request different colors for the individual sides soldiers? , was abit hard keeping them apart at the cliffs edge.
Thank you so much, HistoryMarche, for doing this battle. My grandfather served in the 5th Rangers (alongside the 2nd) at/near Point Du Hoc and helped to reinforce the 75+ men who survived the German assault. Got the Bronze Star on D-Day & 2 purple hearts. He died in 2000 from cancer, and I have a bigger story about what he experienced at Saint Lo. Edit: (Check the Reply Section for his story)
Tell it! What happened!?
@RecoveringAhole your wish is my command. After D-Day, the remains of both Ranger Battalions were combined for a few months to regain any of the men & strength lost from the Point Duc Hoc assault. My grandfather was like Reiben (not in personality but in equipment) from Saving Private Ryan, carrying a BAR into hell itself.
Despite what current history books are being shared/recorded today (or the true US records, which consisted of 16 to 18 million personnel files tragically lost in the 1973 Saint Louis fire), the US kept some remaining Rangers in the field into smaller groups to aid other forces, leading to the opening stages of Operation Cobra to take Saint-Lo - the American Caen of the US sector.
Some elements of the 5th Rangers remained on the beaches and were tasked to guard/provide security for POW camps at Valognes and Foucarville during the latter stages of June 8th & mop up the remaining German prisoners after Operation Overlord.
Others were assimilated (or quoted by my grandfather & other veterans as "unit transfusions between different US units") into the 29th Infantry Division, given their expertise, and that, unlike the 2nd, didn't suffer more casualties on D-Day.
Unlike the Germans & other countries, America had a tendency to switch or blend units that had both experienced vets & raw recruits close to the frontline. Most European countries tended to send badly devastated units back to the depots in safer territory. (Ex, If a German division was almost destroyed, the unit & its survivors would be pulled back into Germany for reorganization, etc.)
Still, the 2nd Rangers had almost a 70% causality rate, while the 5th had a 22% causality rate, which meant that the 5th had to pick up the slack in terms of manpower for all Ranger operations within the 29th. Some US commanders & the 29th Infantry's leaders still needed them beyond the beaches to face the more elite German units inland before they could recoup new men to replace what Rangers were lost on June 6th.
Basically, they prioritized units/men that had big automatic weapons like the BAR, etc., to supplement specific units that lacked (or lost after D-Day) the appropriate firepower to meet certain commanders' needs, which really caused issues in bookkeeping between different divisions or corps.
The majority of standard US GI infantry units at the time of D-Day neither had the high combat efficiency nor the exact physical training & skillset as the Rangers to face the multiple challenges ahead in Western France. - particularly with the very dense bocage regions in France
As my grandfather would say, they also needed to have the necessary training to bypass very rough & almost impossible terrain while facing hardened elite troops. The Rangers spent most of early 1943 to 1944 training for this moment in Tennessee. By the Spring of 1944, they were training in the Highlands of Scotland (later practice on England's Southern Coast close to June) for months to replicate the conditions of the Point Du Hoc assault in short succession amid the changing weather conditions in the English Channel.
They were now small automatic fire teams (unofficially, some elements of the remaining 2nd & 5th members were combined yet never officially designated as a new unit by US command), and at least some members partially embedded/providing critical support for the 29th Infantry Division's advance, who what HistoryMarche mentioned relieved the Rangers two days later on D-Day +2 who now started heading south towards the Elle River & subsequently began their approach to Saint Lo.
In the earliest stages of the battle of Saint-Lo in mid-July 1944, while helping to support the 29th & dislodge hardened German defenses, my grandfather got wounded when a piece of mortar shrapnel from an incoming German round hit his leg (from his calf to above his ankle) & took him out of action.
The 29th Infantry Battalion under the command of the controversial US commander Charles H Gerhardt (who became made infamous at Saint-Lo for his costly non-sense tactical assaults), alongside another American division (part of the XIX Corps) with smaller groups of army rangers aiding the divisions, took massive losses from German artillery destroying the town. It was said by the war's end that Gerhardt's decisions would cost the lives of 20,600 American GIs under his command. Hence the motto, "One on the field of battle, one in the hospital, and one in the cemetery.".
The Germans utilized the same indirect artillery defensive strategy the Americans were known for, and literality started a scorched earth policy to delay the Allied advance. Amid the chaos of war, my grandfather lost his Walter P38 souvenir during the battle while badly wounded but saved his Luger pistol in WWII, which I have personally fired on the range numerous times in 2023. My grandfather would have met his end at Saint-Lo, but thankfully, he had a guardian angel over him.
Over the years, I was told by my father & my aunt that after he got wounded, my grandfather was saved by a Sherman Tank Crew from the 747th Independent Tank Division (attached to either the A, B, or C medium tank companies who later had one of the first hedgerow cutters in the bocage) that came to support the 29th, 30th, & 35th Infantry Divisions to take the critical crossroads at Saint-Lo & was attempting to gather all the wounded GIs during the battle.
It's still very unclear how many Americans were saved on that day alongside my grandfather, but as a result of them saving lives, the Sherman Tank Commander was the only casualty while gathering up the wounded men under heavy fire. The Rangers lost more men in leading the way into the breakout of Nomardy at Saint-Lo, given the almost mountainous, river-like, and dense bocage terrain that the Germans chose very well to defend.
Saint Lo closely parallels the landscape of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania with strategic rolling hills and, like Saving Private Ryan, critical river crossings all around the town, and the Germans under the 352nd Infanterie-Division (not shattered yet after the combat of D-Day) & later the 2nd German Parachute Corps who were experienced veterans from the Eastern front who respectfully really knew what they were doing.
Hence, the need for the rangers to stay active despite the heavy losses on D-Day to aid the 29th infantry battalion & help challenge these veteran Germans on the hills overlooking the town.
The Saint-Lo campaign took the majority of July (from the 7th to almost the 23rd) for the Allies to successfully bypass, and the US causalities were extremely high (partly due to the nature of the Allies taking each hill and the river crossings around the town to secure it). Close to between 10,000 to 11,000 causalities for the US, 350+ French civilians, and an unknown number of German losses - most likely very high as well, given that 352nd was now a shattered force by August 1944.
Tragically, before the battle, US commanders tried to warn the civilian population of the oncoming aerial bombardment and later advanced into Saint-Lo with pamphlets, but the weather didn't cooperate with allied planners. Many were causalities from American bomber ordinance (later US General Lesley J. McNair, who helped spearhead Operation Cobra. with Omar Bradley, died from friendly fire)
It would have been much worse without the rangers (including other elite units, which included the 101st, 82nd Airborne, etc.), who played an indirect role in aiding the opening thrust of the Operation Cobra campaign. The US Rangers went that far to enable the breakthrough into southern France despite being almost sidelined back on the Normandy coastline and to complete the mission on what they had started from the Point Du Hoc cliffs a month earlier on June 6, 1944.
By August, both Ranger battalions began to recover more from the losses they received from the two-month attrition of war leading up to the slow yet essential role in the Battle of Brest in September and later into the Battle of the Bugle in December 1944 to be officially added to the historical battle order formation records (which is almost non-existent for July except medical records highlighting known ranger members & their injuries around the battle of Saint-Lo due to the many reasons I listed above earlier in the comment).
Like the battle of Zerf in 1945, the events at Saint-Lo for some rangers are very hardly remembered. Perhaps the pace of fighting & chaos at the time was too rapid and the scope of troop movements too grand to have permitted one undermanned light battalion to be singled out for recognition. Indeed, after-action reports of some American units directly involved in the operation ignore even the presence of the 5th Rangers in their areas.
This fact not only provides an insight into the way in which Rangers were perceived by other units but may also explain why certain recounts have all but passed from memory. This has resulted in an unfortunate loss, for these stories hold many lessons and deserve to be told.
To add insult to injury, the fire at the National Personal Records Archive in 1973 suffered an 80% loss to records of U.S. Army personnel discharged from November 1, 1912, to January 1, 1960, which was such a colossal loss of "cultural heritage" & many important records were not duplicated or copied to microfilm for preservation after WW2. Even to this day, they still don't know what exactly was destroyed. Thus increasing the untold stories, the unknown achievements, and the mystery of what our ancestors did in WW2.
For my grandfather, his war was over, and he was honorably discharged per credible surviving US WWII Hospital Army/Dept of Veterans Affairs records by late 1944 due to how his injuries (with artillery fragments embedded in both leg & foot) took longer to heal. He was only 21, returning home to a grateful nation, knowing he completed his mission to help end the war in Europe.
@@SolidAvenger1290 thank you for sharing brother. That’s a great story. I bet you’re real proud of your grandfather. My grandpa also fought in WWII, though he was in the pacific theatre fighting the Japanese. He went island hoping.
@RecoveringAhole thank you for your kind words. I truly am of his service and, later, his duty as a police officer. He retired from law enforcement after 21+ years, yet his wounds still were a reminder of the sacrifices he made in the war.
He still had to carry a morphine capsule around his neck for most of his life (which, as a child, I was fond of) and suffered from PTSD for a few years after the war from losing many friends in Normandy. He almost had another scrape with death (in terms of history) in law enforcement when he switched his shift with a friend who later died during the 1974 BWI hijacking to attack the White House.
Many thanks for your grandfather's service in the Pacific. My other grandfather on my mom's side served as a medic in the Pacific theatre as well as island hopping. His story is still a mystery, but he did violate the US military code and shot a Japanese soldier in the trees once.
@@SolidAvenger1290 my grandpa didn’t talk about the war much. I did get him to talk one time though, it was after 3 glasses of whiskey he was drunk enough to tell me about his best friend who he entered the service with and went through bc with. They got stationed together by some miracle and he told me “I forgot which island” but soon as they landed he said there was nobody there. They were expecting resistance but nobody was defending the beachhead. So the marines started pushing forward , my grandpa with his best friend beside him. He told me within a split second that place turned into a he’ll hole. His friend and him started pushing forward when all of a sudden he hears this whistling that got closer and closer , then boom. Next thing he knows he’s on his ass dazed. He gets up and starts looking around for his buddy.. well that’s when he noticed that he was literally wearing his friend all over his uniform. His bud obviously got hit by a direct artillery strike. He said he was picking little pieces of human flesh out of his hair.
After that I decided not to ask anymore.. I don’t think we’ll ever truly understand the sacrifice these men had to make.
My father was in the Big Red One. He told us many stories when we were kids. We would say he survived because he ducked. 😬 I never truly knew what he went through until I watched saving private ryan. I was horrified! Dad refused to watch it as he would say, “Why would I watch it? I lived through that hell.” He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and spent 4 years in the European Theatre. Was awarded the Bronze medal. When he came home, he got married and had 5 children. Got a good job at the Post Office. We had a beautiful home, always had food and clothing. He flew the American Flag every day. He loved this country like no other. He would have fought for his country up to the day he died. He died at 86 and would have been 106 years old this year. 🇺🇸 Bless the men and women who serve to protect us. They are heroes. 🇺🇸
Awesome story. Much respect for your dad. My grandfather served in the 5th Rangers on D-Day and survived that extremely long day of fighting. Got the Bronze Star & 2 purple hearts by the war's end. Did fight at the Battle of Saint-Lo in July 44; that story is in the comment section/replies.
I worked at the post office my last year of high school part time. I worked with many WWII veterans. They did make a good living..they paid us students well too. I came from a family of 9 so working 20 hours a week helped me take care of myself. Most kids working with me came from large families. I learned from the responsibility was given some very important jobs..worked my way up in trust. One of my favorite jobs in my entire working life. Happy your family benefited from your Dad’s WWII sacrifice..your Dad sounded like a great guy. A walk the walk patriot. He was an 🇺🇸 hero in every way home and abroad. He was in my Uncle and Mom’s generation hard working and most all had great sense of humors. We should never forget their honorable sacrifice.
*Saving Private Ryan and Call of Duty II...* They both did the landings very great.
Medal of Honor - Frontline was also did the landings well.
@@blackwolfpt9781 Correct, I did not forget about that, was just busy with other little stuff at that moment, so I forgot to put that in.
Heck yeah they did.
Aye, it's just a shame thanks to the shoddy British education system, a lot of ignoramuses thought Saving Private Ryan "ignored" British "accomplishments" -------------- on a beach that they assigned to the Americans in the first place while their troops took the conveniently lightly defended beaches.
😂
Thank you for making a video on this, my great grandfather was in E company of the 2nd rangers battalion, he unfortunately passed in 2006 alongside my cousin and his wife in a car crash involving a drunk driver after saying goodbye to my cousin who was being deployed
The phrase "Rangers lead the way!" was first uttered by Gen. Norman Cota, 29th Infantry Division to Lt. Max Schnider 5th Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment on Omaha beech. Schneider and his men led the breakout from the beech in his sector and the Ranger motto was born.
There was no 75th Ranger Regiment in WW2. The 75th Infantry (Ranger) as we know today was established in 1969. On D-Day the 2nd and 5th Rangers were organized under what was called 'The Provisional Ranger Group'.
@@FraserFir-sb4lkyes they were provisional. My grandfather served in the 5th. They more or less became a lesser provisional unit after D-Day but US command still needed their elite skills in the Saint Lo campaign. My grandfather survived that battle to breakout of Normandy.
The critical importance of destroyer fire support during this operation cannot be overstated. Vice-Admiral Deyo noted that, because they were seen as more expendable and because they could operate closer to the beach, they were able to directly and precisely fire onto German positions and wipe them out in a way battleships and even cruisers couldn’t .
Exception being the battleship Texas, which fired more shots than any other ship in the fleet.
Yes, I wonder why they didn't cover those men on the beach with smoke and naval fire. How do you let a whole beachhead flounder and almost fail with total naval and air superiority? Can someone enlighten me?? Or is it normal for them to charge machine gun bunkers and fortifications??? I feel like the USAAF and RAF shoulda pounded the Bajesus outta them. I must be missing a huge piece of that puzzle
@@libbygarrett7158 I believe the navy was more focused on Omaha, given the dire nature of the assault on that beach (given that most of the US troops on that beach were 2nd GI-rated troops vs. the elite status of the Rangers at Point Du Hoc), and believed that the Rangers would manage things much longer than expected. Not to mention, the US Navy had to follow orders to ensure that the Germans wouldn't have reinforcements beyond the beachhead (the battleships focused on that more inland) and that elements of the navy (destroyers & cruisers) were concerned about other sea-related threats to the invasion. As the day wore on, they felt more secure with the sea and then began to see the landing troops having trouble.
Plus, US cmdrs were likely concerned that any smoke or constant bombardment would affect the Ranger's ability/equipment to climb the clifts and fight the Germans in close combat. Not to mention that the weather could have been better at times on D-Day despite clearing for the invasion to take place.
Regarding the bunkers, well, the Allies did bombard the coast relentlessly before the invasion and had hoped it would be enough to wipe out the defenders, but it didn't work much. The Allies were more concerned with friendly fire with the landings by then, and the airforces were more focused on air domination and attacking mechanized German reinforcements. In terms of taking out a bunker, the Rangers( & others) follow the handbook, which has Battle Drill 5: Knock Out a Bunker (07-D9406). This drill is still being used by US troops in 2023, which I agree needs to be revised given the circumstances. Still, most militaries have to assume that there could be multiple hidden entrances/passageways to a single bunker, which they need to make sure is secure or blocked off.
@@libbygarrett7158 A theme of the war was Admirals not giving proper naval fire support because they were always afraid of getting hit.
The air support on D-Day was off target a lot too.
@libbygarrett7158 because the landing crew needed to find the beach also it's really difficult to get proper fire support onto the ridge as you have to use plunging fire
Swanage is not on the Isle of Wight, its not even really near the Isle of Wight. Swanage is on the coast of Dorset about 30km away from the Isle of Wight
This battle is my favorite of all that happened on D-Day, I have good memories of when I met this episode of WW2 history, thanks to Call of Duty 2 and the war illustrations on this battle. It is admirable what these Rangers accomplished, even though the plan ran into trouble from the start and they were basically left alone at Pointe du Hoc, yet they managed to capture the German fortifications in one of the most epic moments of the entire war (scaling the precipice while receiving enemy fire) and destroy the artillery at the end after a search against time, to later resist the German counterattack for days; They were all true heroes and their effort saved thousands of soldiers.
My grandfather from Heaven thanks you for that very nice comment. It really took a lot of grit for him and his friends to fight for that long against the odds.
@@SolidAvenger1290 No friend, we all must thank him and his colleagues for their services, they are heroes. You must be really proud, it is an honor to carry on your grandfather's legacy by respecting his memory.
@ well thank you for the sentiment. I am proud. We live in a time that has forgotten the sacrifices my grandfather and the millions of others made in WW2. Before becoming a Ranger, he got inspired by how the Finnish were fighting ferociously against the aggressive Russians in 1939 with minimal resources and support yet had the determination & courage to hold off the enemy no matter what. US opinion during that time was partly happy to see Stalin & the Soviets get embarrassed internationally. I hope HistoryMarche does a video on the Finnish-Soviet War.
That was actually my first COD game, But this was long before it became mainstream
I’ve been there with a private guide and my dad, who was a veteran of Charlie Company, 2nd Rangers in the 80’s after Ranger school. It was such a cool moment for him to be where this all happened and walk the emplacements, the hedges, and even walk to where it’s believed the guns were.
Nice. America's first special forces. The US Rangers were created, trained and advised by the British Army Commandos in 1942 Achnacarry Scotland. The 1st and 29th Rangers were born. Direct copies of the Commandos. These got disbanded, and later used their new Commando skills to create the 2nd and 5th US Rangers in 1943.
"Ranger" was selected because of the British colonial Rogers Rangers (Queens Rangers).
8 British advisors accompanied the US Rangers at Point Du Hoc aswell as 3 SWANS. 🇺🇸
All true given what research my dad found out about his father's unit, the 5th Rangers.
Back in the States, the standard GI provisional infantry depots became also like high school with different cliques of men that it got so toxic with some of draftess including my grandfather. He transferred to the Rangers, and the difference was astonishing.
The Rangers and Airborne units were less immature, more professional, and had better amenities. He was immensely proud working with the British commandos training in both Scotland and later on the English Channel days before June 6th.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the support. Very kind of you.
@@HistoryMarcheYou deserve it man
Always Quality Content! those infographics and maps are gorgeous and super functional, we will definitely improve ours. you are an inspiration for all history creators.
👍🔥
Yes this channel is a nice ispiration for everyone! But as i can see your is not bad at all!
This narrator is my favorite of all war history channels ❤
I'm amazed by the fact that the batteries were not manned or even with soldiers defending them!
The troops stationed there weren't called second rate for nothing.
@@GeraltofRivia22indeed. My grandfather will admit to that if he were still alive today. Served in the 5th Battalion.
By 1944 I couldn't imagine the logistical nightmare or the quality of troops out that way. Musta been chaotic
@libbygarrett7158 it really was. The Rangers took years of training in Tennessee & later months in Scotland's highlands with other units for climbing exercises and other hazardous conditions. The standard GI back then considered the Rangers to be almost comparable to Halo's Spartans.
Well they weren't the best troops one could ask for. The enemy troops at Normandy were mostly second or third rate. Probably very luckily fort he Allies that they were. I shudder to think what would've happened has the troops been first rate.
Great as always! didn't expect another WW2 vid!
I was literally here 5 days ago! You can still see the shell holes and destroyed German bunkers here.
"Sgt. Randall! The guns aren't here! The Krauts must have moved them someplace else!"
"What?"
"THE GUNS AREN'T HERE!"
Call of Duty 2 has a mission for this battle. Such a classic.
God I love this channel from actually learning to falling asleep to
This video came out the day after I visited Point Du Hoc, it’s really powerful to see it in person, the shell craters are massive and the bunkers are really impressive solid lumps of concrete. If you’re in the area, I’d really recommend the Overlord museum in Colleville su mur
The french were so classy with their monumental tributes to their allies
Really loving the History Marche x Srpske Bitke collabs. Watch a video in English, then some time later watch same video in Serbocroatian.
Yes world war 2 content what I've been waiting for
It is actually not very far from where i live, and it's a very famous location. A bit too much tourists like omaha ( omaha beach aroud the ameican cimetery is a natural park and is part of my job to work there) wich pose issues to keep nature and history intact. Lots of it is still there and can be visited, plus many museums in the area exists about ww2 for those interested
It's very evident that the maintenance of the cemetery is seen as a duty and not just a job and I thank you for that. I was humbled at how much the people of Normandy continue to show their appreciation for what took place on June 6th 1944.
For those intending to visit, Going on the Anniversary is fine, but busy beyond words, I went in September and had the whole place to myself listening to Ambroses "D-Day" on audio book. That was an amazing way to experience the area. Bon Chance!
More variety is a good thing. More video's from any different time periods is a good thing. Keep up the good work HistoryMarche.
Wonderful video! The heroism and sheer carnage of operations like these boggles my mind.
Call of Duty 2 Memories are flooding back!
"Sgt. Randall, the guns are gone! They aren't here!"
What!?
"THE GUNS AREN'T HERE! The Krauts must have moved them someplace else!"@@NauticalCoffin2404
It was a wonderful historical coverage video of that bravery Veterans operated in early times of overlord operations during WW2. ..allot thanks ( history Marche) channel for sharing
Me too as someone who had a grandparent that once served in the 5th Battalion. Survived the war.
Brecourt Manor! That's a textbook trench assault that would do wonders for young students learning WW2 military strategy at how the paratroopers absolutely crushed it.
I agree. The Rangers (like my grandfather) took the more risky route attacking head-on with the Germans while the Paratroopers did fantastic high-speed maneuvering & attacks around their opponents.
Would it be possible for a Battle of Caen 1944 video? There’s not a lot out there on this battle.
Commenting for the algo! 🔥🔥
These videos are among your best man! Love your work and keep going🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤
incredible vid, thanks for posting.
would love to watch more WW2 vids on your channel, possibly even mentioning (obviously only in passing since they did so little) some of the other allied nations - since, incredibly, even the amazingly gifted yanks needed a few non yanks to help single handedly win ww2, unlike in ww1 where 1 god loving apple pie eating american sergeant defeated all of kaiser bills forces before stopping for a luke warm cup of joe.
Such a great overview of PDH. Thanks so much!
Swanage isn't on the Isle of Wight, it's on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset
Thank you for mentioning Sergeant Leonard Lomell’s part in destroying the Guns!! Everyone tends to forget that the guns were later found and destroyed, and First-Sergeant Lomell deserves the highest accolades for leading what was left of his Company after his officers were all killed, and being wounded. He truly is an American legend!
When I visited pointe du hoc it was crazy experience...those craters are huge and also there is a nice muzeum with I belive some of those original 155mm cannons. Thanks to all the heroes from operation overlord
Nice video I learned a lot I Hope you will do another episode of Hanibal
Yoo! Credit to the animation team! It was so good.
I enjoy the creativity of your work which was incredibly informative, thank you.
I see multiple mistakes by both sides during this mission that was accomplished. Well done by such brave US Rangers risking their lives.
Like the saying, "No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy."
My grandfather and the remaining Rangers trained for this after 2 & a half years since the units were formed.
The terrain in Northern France has always been a challenging factor for centuries, and even with the best strategy to win, it tends to be hampered by such rough terrain. The Germans knew this, but the resiliency of Rangers managed to hold on under such conditions.
Just watched a b-grade movie on Tubi about this assault and it surprisingly seemed to be fairly historically accurate if you ignore the unrealistic grenade explosions and second rate acting.
Been a sub for several years now. You have an epic narrator voice and presence really. U should keep doing what you are doing which would be doing us a favour
I had the pleasure and opportunity to visit this location. The craters were still there. The craters were about 10-15 feet deep. It was fun to run down one and take a picture.
great video man!
I love pretty much everything you put out, but more WWII please! ❤
What a pleasant surprise
Wow, very impressive work by the Rangers! Thanks for diving into a lesser known aspect of D-Day!
Thank you for that nice comment. Beyond D-Day, the Rangers did play an indirect role during the Saint-Lo campaign aiding the 29th Infantry in July 44. Most barely cover that seeing how most of the military records were lost in the 1973 fire in Saint Louis.
Heard this story so many times yet it always enthrals me and this version is one of the best. While watching I keep thinking of the film the Longest day.
There's something about running from an open beach against fortified enemies that makes a fun game.
I absolutely love these style videos. You do such great work
I cover this in my D-Day lecture!
This animation is bloody amazing mate
Headed to this exact spot in 3 weeks! I heard you need to stay on the guided path as there are still unexploded land mines there
Hey, Flash Point, fancy seeing you here. Again, hope you & everyone else has a great time on the tour. Already shared my grandfather's story on this feed as well for everyone to exprience. Keep up the amazing content.
Hey man, good to see you. Definitely no skirting around the meadow hehe. Enjoy your trip, message me to snapshots!
Gracias por poner subtitulo en español! No hay mucho material de este tema tan interminable como es Normandia, proncipalmente en español. Gracias Master!
These videos are awesome. Brilliant made. We know it take lot of time and hard work and dedication to make these videos. So we always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. Love and your huge fan from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🤝🏴.
Thank you so much 😀
Love all the modern content!!
"All"?
Great video. Please do more 20th and 21th century battles.
"Seargant Randall the guns are gone, they are not here!!!"
"WHAT?!?!"
"THE GUNS are NOT here, the krauts must've moved them someplace elsee!!"
London Fire Brigade had a hand in this battle. The Rangers borrowed a couple of powered telescopic ladders from the Fire Brigade and fitted them with a couple of Vickers K Guns.
Great video, but I really need the continuation of Anibals' series please.
Thank you.
Col. Rudder's mission for Operation Overlord was to land at Pointe du Hoc, and to neutralize the batteries there, and at Grandcamp and Maisy. The 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions were earmarked for this mission. However, thanks to the ever shifting realities of war, only Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies of the 2nd Rangers were able to land at Pointe du Hoc, with Able, Baker, and Charlie landing alongside the 5th Ranger Battalion at Omaha Beach. As Col. Rudder was down to a quarter of his total assault force, the decision to assault the Grandcamp and Maisy Batteries had to be delayed until his surviving Rangers could be relieved by elements of the 2nd Rangers, 5th Rangers, 1st Infantry, and 29th Infantry. The Grandcamp and Maisy Batteries were still firing on Omaha and Utah Beaches by D+3, so it can be said that Rudder's mission was only a partial success, despite the heroism and sacrifice of his men. Orders issued from his superiors indicate that he did not carry out most of his assigned tasks, and instead set up a perimeter defense in an area that wasn't all that strategically vital. The guns that were spiked were part of the objectives issued, but represent a minority of the total artillery complement that the Germans had emplaced in the area. With that being said, I doubt the Rangers that Rudder had on June 6th could've even managed to assault the Grandcamp and Maisy Batteries, as they are quite formidable fortresses, and have fanatical SS soldiers among the defenders. As evidence to this claim, I point to the British assaults on the Merville Battery, which was taken by a severely understrength force of 150 Paras, given the importance of the objective, and which resulted in 75 casualties (50% casualty rate) amongst the British Paras involved, and they were forced to retreat. Nos. 4 and 5 Troops of 3 Commando also assaulted the position the following day, retaking it, yet being forced to withdraw with heavy casualties. And to note, that objective did not fall into Allied hands until the 17th of August, despite two separate units attacking it. Rudder had only 225 Rangers with which to assault a position as equally as fortified as Merville, and though he did not launch the assault, his desperate defense in the face of repeated German counterattacks wore down his force until only 90 Rangers could remain in the line. To sum it up, the action at Pointe du Hoc is an incredible propaganda victory, but was more or less a costly assault that, militarily, achieved little.
To some, it was a propaganda victory, and to others a false or lukewarm outcome; however, my grandfather, who served in the 5th Rangers, Company C, believed it was still a victory that allowed the other beachheads more breathing room to maneuver and reduce/disrupt the German front line. Northern France's terrain was always the biggest opponent whenever the Germans (or whoever) defended it with smaller numbers.
They/the Germans knew what they were doing, and like in the Battle of Saint-Lo in July 44 (in which my grandfather and some rangers unknowingly participated), the terrain gave them a way to hold better against the growing number of Allied troops in Southern France. US commanders were either too overconfident with their assessments of winning or too reckless in full-on assaults.
damn Lahmel and Kuhn went on a fucking pilgrimage to the south I guess….
Funnily enough i am currently staying near point-du-huc, nice coincidence
I wonder how many people that think of themselves as a "bad ass" would do in a situation like this.
My grandfather did serving in the 5th Rangers. Got the Bronze Star & 2 purple hearts
@@SolidAvenger1290 yeah. He was what I would recognize as a "bad ass". I'm talking about these tough guy kids today.
I would love to hear more about your grandfather's story. My grandfather would tell me stories before bed to put me to bed, but then I couldn't sleep thinking about them.
@@elijahbrown9738oh okay. Got a bit confused there. Yeah they were like the Halo Spartans for the US military in WW2. Thank you. His story is shared below in the comments of my original post on HM's feed here.
I can only imagine the...colorful language that erupted when they found the cannons gone.
Love finding these gems
Heard about this battle but did not see the geographical layout til now
This is amazing man! Your WW2 content is my favorite of yours alongside the roman one! Keep been awesome!
Leave a hearth For the algorithm!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤
🥰🥰🥰🥰
It's incredible how they kept their position even though they lost more than half of their men...Normally that means collapse of an entire unit.
That's what the Rangers trained for from years of training. It took from 1942 to 1944 to mold these men as one of the most elite Allied units in WW2. Grandpa served in the 5th on that cliff, and when the other allied units heard of what they did, they were still in shock at how they kept fighting without much support.
As a proud Texas A&M Aggie, a lot of us learned about this battle. Rudder was an Aggie and later president of the university. There are displays about the battle on campus
U guys deserve the 1 mio followers!!
Army Rangers are just fancy Marines, Ooh Rah.
Basically they were like the Spartans from Halo back in the day. Grandfather served in the 5th on D-Day.
Incredible.
My great grandfather fought in this battle my mother would tell me stories of the people in the French town crying seeing the Americans for the first time
RONALD REAGAN delivered an amazing speech there.
"Sgt Randall, the guns are gone they're not here !"
Do a video abaout the battle of Montisgard king Baldwin IV greatest victory at age of 16.
I would love to see you do a video on the Combat of the Thirty
Do one of the Eastern Front, these were the most decisive battles in WW2. Especially the legendary tank battles.
Or at least one of the lesser known Tank Battles in Normandy at Caen, one of the densest concentations of German armour in WW2. Over 8 Panzer divisions and 3 Tiger battalions on a front of 60km.
DUKW is normally pronounced “Duck” as in quack. A few army duke’s survive today in good order and used for tourist transport in Australian.
God bless them! They free climbed that thing! While under fire!
When will Hannibal Part 20 appear? It's one of the best historical series I've ever seen on this channel, this is why I asked the question.
Sergeant Randall, Pvt Bradeburn, Pvt McKlosky and Corporal Miller are missing...
Incredible video
Great video
Call of Duty 2 players rise up! ✊✊✊
Best CoD game ever
Here I am!!! Miller, Get those guns!!! Thermite time baby
Hey with that being said, HistoryMarche, you should make a video on the Rangers like on Call of Duty 2!!! Hill 400 , Bergstein, all that...Op Varsity too. Thanks, ❤ the channel
Company of Heroes & World Of Tanks Raise your hand. ~Nyan😼
Wohoooo
James Earl Rudder was class of 1932 at Texas A&M University and would later take over as University President in the 1960's. Rudder Tower was built to the exact height of Pointe du Hoc in his honor.
We had to memorize facts about him as part of the Corps there, it was a pain in the ass 😂
Really tough and badass guys
This video makes me want to play call of duty 2 again especially the American missions involving this.
Oh yes! History Marche saying french words 🤤❤❤❤
This is incredible
Pointe Du Roc, I remember climbing the cliffs
Sergeant Randall. The guns are gone. They're not here!!!
The memorial, dedicated by the French, represents the daggers used by the Rangers to hold their footing while climbing the cliff. The fact that they were still able to complete the mission after so many problems is a testament to the Ranger's outstanding training with the British Commandos, their fantastic leaders and their resolve to save the lives of their fellow Soldiers. Truly the greatest generation.
What kind of half assed battle plan didn’t factor in the weather or the effects of choppy water on overloaded ships?
Those men were made of pure courage.
Yes, they were. This is why the Rangers were one of the most elite units in WW2 and my grandpa, who served there with the 5th would agree with that assessment.
Great content! Is that the end credit theme from Bedtime Stories I hear in the background? It’s free use, so it doesn’t matter. I actually like it paired with this presentation.
Cheers, the song is Byron's Mask from Epidemic Sound.
@@HistoryMarcheit sounds incredible!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉