Bayonet Charge at Purple Heart Lane (Normandy, 1944 Documentary)

On 10th June 1944 along this roadway between Omaha and Utah beaches outside the town of Carentan, men of the 101st Airborne Division fixed bayonets, rose from cover and charged towards waiting German Paratroopers. Under a hail of fire and in hand-to-hand combat, they gained a vital foothold in one of the key locations in the battle for Normandy. But just why was it so important? And how was it achieved?
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General Sources:
US National Archives (NARA) - www.archives.gov/
The National Archives, Kew (TNA) - www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Bundesarchive
Google Earth Pro & Web Versions - earth.google.com
Maptiler - www.maptiler.com
Credits:
Research: Romain Breget & Dan Hill
Script & Narration: Dan Hill
Editor: Shane Greer
Thumbnail Design: Linus Klaßen
Drone Footage: Florent Plana
Music & Sound Effects: Shane Greer

[@jphaesen3860]

I live in the village of Vroenhoven where the WW2 started on 10th of May 1940 but also only 15 miles from Margraten where Col. Cole is resting. Thanks to your documentary I can put a face and a person on the name. I will go to him and pay my respect but also to the other guys that died for our freedom.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Our team were filming in Margraten and commented on how busy the cemetery was with local visitors. We are glad you learnt something from our documentary.

[@ibeetellingya5683]

Amazing. Please take along the spirit of respect and gratitude from us other viewers with you. We salute him from afar, and thank you for standing before him for us.

[@nomidubidabi]

WWII started on September 1, 1939

[@wyomarine6341]

@@nomidubidabi WW2 on the western front started on May 10, 1940, so from his perspective, he's correct. My father was a Fallschirmjager who jumped at Moerdijk on 10 May, 1940, and after a tour in Russia and Norway, was in Carentan as a Sanitater Sgt with 6th FJR. He was captured on Aug 10 near LeMans by US forces. His story is in Greg Way's book "Fallschirmjager" Chapter 1.

[@PauloPereira-jj4jv]

WWII started in Poland. September 1939, officially.

[@michaelallison1255]

as an American i say thank you for remembering our fallen soldiers- no matter what the world says about us today there is no doubt about the unselfish courage of our fallen sons- brothers-husbands-sisters😪

[@ericyeo26]

Thanks to the Americans in the Vietnam war, Korean war, South east Asia had a 10 year margin to develop. Else we would be communist now and very poor. Thanks to the Americans' sacrifice again and again all over the world rule of law prevails. It is all by God's mercy ❤️🎉.

[@thewatcher5271]

I Always Hope I'll Get A Glimpse Of My Dad In One Of These Videos. 60 Years Ago, He Told Me About Seeing Colonel Cole Fall, In Holland. Thank You.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Wow thats something... keep looking you never know where an image might pop up. I once stumbled across an image of my father disembarking from a troop ship with the Royal Ulster Rifles... that was a shock!

[@ndunwoodie]

What company was he in?

[@thewatcher5271]

@@ndunwoodie I Think He Said Headquarters Company But I Was Pretty Little Back In The '60's When He Was Telling Me About It. Thank You.

[@thewatcher5271]

@@BattleGuideVT I Am Glad For You & I Am Still Hoping! Thank You.

[@titanguy9992]

This unbelievable work the cameraman charging the old farmhouse while narrating keep this up ill definitely be checking your videos out more.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks so much... we are delighted you liked the video!

[@harryshriver6223]

A wonderfully accurate and true telling of the Forgotten battle for Carentan. So many brave heroes who survived and died on Purple Heart Lane should be remembered forever. Vaya con Dios y en paz descansen. 😢

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for the kind words Harry we are glad you enjoyed the video.

[@MichaelEllison-jr4wg]

Great informative story. The original aerial footage and views the soldiers faced while explaining the mission was incredible. Thank you for the documentary and look forward to more content.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks so much for the kind words... we enjoy digging deep into these actions and sharing it here on YT.

[@seegurke93]

Ever since Brothers in Arms (I think it was Road to Hill 30) I loved this story! Sadly the farm is not whole anymore. But I loved the place when I visited last year. Wish that it was possible to walk the purple heart lane but you are foreced to use your car since there is no sidewalk :(

[@BattleGuideVT]

It's amazing how computer games influence our understanding of history.

[@ProfessorM-he9rl]

Thank you for this post. There were 5 beach landings, yes 5. All those that did so and the defending soldiers should be respected and remembered for their courage. Thank you RIP x

[@johannes7059]

Great video, amazing job with mixing the old and new footage Also i am still a big fan of the podcast, i look forward to every new episode, thanks for that

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks so much @Johannes7059 for your support here and as a podcast listener!

[@jgonzalez101]

Thank you for sharing this important part of our Military History of these brave determined and courageous Soldiers during some of the most ferocious battles of WW2. ❤️🇺🇸

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for watching.

[@user-qk6qn5sk6y]

I very much appreciate the way you blend the old and new terrain images. It makes for much easier comprehension of what is being described. 👍

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you... glad you found value in the production.

[@cpointon95]

Absolutely brilliant documentary. The sheer bravery.. just.. humbling. Thankyou.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@colin7073]

Superb unvarnished account of events. Excellent history telling. Thank you is just not enough for the bravery of the soldiers. Lest we forget.🇬🇧

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks Colin!

[@cgross82]

I was watching your video until the end, when I realized that I had the honor of sounding Taps from that very tower at Margraten Cemetery in 1977, when I was a member of the U.S. Third Armored Division Band. Major General Maurice Rose, Commander of the U.S. Third Armored Division, and the only U.S. General Officer killed in action in WWII, is also buried there at Margraten Cemetery. Thank you for your video and the inspiring account of the Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Wow...thanks for your kind words!

[@armyvet8279]

Awesome video thanks! We owe everything to those men who fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy

[@cheesenoodles8316]

That was pretty good. A map of Purple Heart Lane, the first hand account is great, the end sobering.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you... glad you enjoyed it.

[@-jk-2580]

I’ve visited the Purple Heart Lane years ago and this bring me good memories. Just really excellent video!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you.

[@sclarsen86]

Fantastic video, thank you for putting this together.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Our pleasure!

[@ibeetellingya5683]

It seems that the farmhouse still stands, and the video of approaching it up close with the action narration took my breath away.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks... it really added to the story in our opinion.

[@ndunwoodie]

My dad was in H co, 502 that was involved in this bayonet charge.Fortunately, for him, he had been injured in a nightitme practice jump just prior to D Day and missed the invasion. He said that most of his company did not return to England after being withdrawn from France having been killed or wounded.

[@rainmanmainplan4421]

This is why i play Hell let loose because they use satellite imagery on their map purple heart lane and other maps..... I like how authentic the game is because it's true to history.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Have you tried Post Scriptum?

[@rainmanmainplan4421]

@@BattleGuideVT nope I've watched reviews and gameplay looks awesome ww2 for some reason always has a place in.my heart, when I joined the military in phase 1 training they took to us to normandy i ran across omaha beach saw the bunkers even went to point du hoc amazing experience

[@rainmanmainplan4421]

@@BattleGuideVT even walked across the original Pegasus bridge it's riddled with bullet holes, went to the German cemetery very depressing and went to the American cemetery

[@KCODacey]

Very nicely done. It's important to me, when reading history, to be able to orient myself on the battlefield. You fellows did a wonderful job. Thank you.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks... glad you enjoy our style.

[@eatniffer1944]

Purple Heart lane is also one of my favorite hell let loose map

[@LoneWolf051]

yes! was also a great map in Forgotten Hope 2 and Brothers in Arms

[@Frank-jg4tq]

Yeah mine too, it's crazy how accurate it is compared to real life. Incredible

[@keesie75]

@@LoneWolf051 Still is a great map in Forgotten Hope

[@TomasMartinoLlamas-xf4xx]

What an incredible video! I love how you put this amazing story into such an intimate perspective! Thanks

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@derksforeal7960]

You guys are absolutely keeping the history of these mostly forgotten people, places, and events alive. 80 years and a million lives separate us but y’all are doing the impossible, bringing the past to the present and reminding everyone that it could be worse 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for the kind words, and we are delighted you enjoyed the documentary!

[@mairiconnell6282]

A 29 nine year old Lt Col. Wow not normal until 44 years old. Respect.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Yeah he was something else.... just sad that he didn't live to be any older than 29.

[@dennisseah9403]

If I recall, I think he died in Market Garden.

[@earlofdoncaster5018]

War greatly enhances promotion opportunities.

[@bgroovin1343]

Actually, in the modern Army...given a typical commissioning and promotion timetable...a LTC will be approximately 38. Full Colonel is about 44-45.

[@mairiconnell6282]

@@bgroovin1343 I can only speak about my husband’s timeline. He was on fast promotion and hit Major at 34 years old. UK Forces.

[@Mangolorian-je3eo]

“Look out Jacques, it’s another WWII nerd running across the road” 😂 Very well told, love the map matchups.

[@danielflamm1930]

never knew about Cole, what an amazing man. from another San Antonio native thanks for telling part of his story with such an amazing video🙏

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Andy-co6pn]

Is there no memorial to him in San Antonio ?

[@danielflamm1930]

@@Andy-co6pn unfortunately none that I know of, though my grandfather who also served in WW2 is buried at the cemetery on Fort Sam, I’ll be sure to check for some info about Cole the next time I’m there!

[@flavio_meneses]

As usual, stupendous research and even better storytelling. Thanks for the great video.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@theenigmaticgamer]

Thank you for another superbly presented video. Your ability to blend historical images with those of today really brings the story to life. Thank you for also sharing the story of Col. Cole and his courageous men. They deserve to be remembered.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks very much glad you enjoyed it!

[@madebyruud]

Incredible footage mixed with recent videos and tools while greatly narrated. I enjoyed this documentary a lot keep it up!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you very much!

[@fcon1350]

Incredible video of an incredible piece of history. Keep up the great work man 💪

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for the kind comment.

[@hughbarton5743]

Thank you for a well-told presentation of a tiny pivot point that likely changed the world. Nice work!!! PS : thank you for a narration by a person who speaks properly, including(in my high school opinion....) a perfectly correct French job of place names, etc. Just subscribed today. Thanks!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for the kind words and for subscribing and becoming part of the community here!

[@charliebryce3783]

This is so well researched, explained with superb graphics.

[@nocontract9514]

Wow.. one of the best videos I've seen regarding WW2 actions. Very informative and excellent referncing to historic and present day so that the viewer can assimulate what happened.... Many thanks for this!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you liked it!

[@stevepritchett6563]

An excellent video on something I knew little about. Found this video by accident, but have now subscribed 👍

[@mitchbeckett8140]

Thank you, great job!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you too!

[@raymondtonns2521]

thank you for this tale of fortitude under fire .

[@BattleGuideVT]

Our pleasure!

[@aperson7754]

Love these videos

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@bristolfashion4421]

Gee Whizz - I’ve stayed on Carentan, in the peaceful campsite next to the canal. I was cycling through to tour the peninsula and wotnot… I’ve cycled up and down many of the roads shown in the vid. 😮 It’s so hard to imagine the trauma and the bravery, on both sides and all I can say is its such a blessing that it all stopped back when it did. Even at this distance I can readily tell that War is Hell…

[@theuntoldhistoyofiranandthemid]

It was great, I enjoyed it. I am really interested in history, especially the history of any country. I will be happy if you support the history of my country, Iran.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Good luck with your channel!

[@theuntoldhistoyofiranandthemid]

Thanks 😊

[@benstallard9924]

another superb video

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks Ben

[@robinfowler9477]

i never heard of this action, thank you

[@gs637]

Thanks you, and Respect!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@charlesfiscus4235]

He was a full Col. when he was killed during Market Garden

[@danielreichert2025]

Absolutely astonishing. Prayers to the fallen 🙏

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks Daniel

[@alex4833]

Excellent video. I'm taking time to learn more about WWII and wish I had learned about Col. Cole in school. The maps and images were helpful. Hearing Col. Cole's recollection is helpful too. Excellent work, Battle Guide. Take care.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks very much Alex. Glad you found it interesting.

[@alex4833]

@@BattleGuideVT Sure thing! Your videos are all informative and helpful :).

[@bennett9117]

Great narration. Have you heard of Michel Hollard and the V1 ? True and great story.

[@thetimetraveller6550]

Absolutely as always incredible impeccable work from the whole team at Battle Guide, there entire research is "The Best" Nothing else on the entire web comes close. I emplore everyone subscribe 👍 thumb up and smash the 🔔Bell share, share, share, tell family friends👭👬 and everyone else thank you.

[@BattleGuideVT]

HAHAHA... thanks very much for the very kind endorsement!

[@thetimetraveller6550]

@@BattleGuideVT don't worry am determined to get all the buggers I know to subscribe it really is amazing the in depth research you guys do as far as am concerned it's definitely number 1 nothing else is as good I researched my relative who was a sniper in ww1 and I know how difficult it is to find information that's still an ongoing project but am just an amateur compared to you guys.

[@jamesellis2784]

Run thrust . Crazy .

[@bhut1571]

Nicely done. Cheers from Canada.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks!

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

Top notch video. I really like your usage of original ariel pictures used in an overlay fashion. The bayonet charge signaled by a whistle instead of popping smoke is unusual. The most interesting fact for me was the bombing by 2 Stuka's as the only German Air usage I have ever read about were the 2 fighters (FW190's?) that flew over Gold & Sword Beaches on June 6th and a few occasional night raids on shipping off the coast of Normandy. I wonder what became of those 2-daylight daredevils? Of course I subscribed 👍

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for joining the community.

[@kenherrington274]

Thanks

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks so much Ken!!

[@carlgreisheimer8701]

This is why he got a MOH and Winters got a DSC

[@Glen.Danielsen]

This channel is a gem. Incredible graphics, and original film of Col. Cole’s narration! I wonder though: where was air support, P-47 heaven? (I am just ignorant armchair observer.) 😶

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@quantumdog_enlisted]

Who played the Brothers in Arms: Road to hill 30?

[@BattleGuideVT]

I did... and I sucked at it... LOL

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

It's crazy to think a 29yo could lead such a crucial part of the most important military operation in history... I not long got done watching "Masters of the Air" and it took me a little while to get used to just how relatively young those commanding officers at the time actually were.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Yes great point... we look up to these individuals sometimes as elders and then realise we are twice their age... LOL

[@andybobandy641]

I love the frame rate corrected footage. It just adds a little bit more realism to an awful nightmare of a era. I still don't understand how ANYONE survived that war.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks!

[@garage3022]

Epic content. Too bad it is supressed by YT

[@joeypinter9011]

very cool.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks

[@robinc6324]

I was just in Carentan. I wish I had seen this video before i got there.

[@oceanhome2023]

The view of those 2 Cemeteries really brought home the loss of the Airborne troops . Operation Market Garden a meat grinder , a disaster !they should never have let Montgomery do this operation !

[@markdidsbury3626]

The last thing a soldier wants to hear from their CO is "Fix Bayonets!"

[@MrTuftynut]

Excellent documentary andeven better with the old photo overlays and 1944 video footage!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it!

[@lyonknives1784]

Reason number six billion why they were the greatest.

[@charlesfiscus4235]

Lt. Col Cole was nominated for the CMH for his actions during this battle , specifically the bayonet charge he led.

[@agiboa]

Great quality. I have also seen those aerial photos and many of the historical ones as well as the Lt Cole newsreel. Putting them together like this is exactly how I would do it if I had the skills and time. Awesome job.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@emerkamp1]

Doesn't seem like the battles like this get talked about much, or at all. It might get mentioned, First time for me with this much detail and i'm like a war history holic

[@paultiller6766]

My uncle Frank was in the 101st and made this jump.

[@neilcrowesongs9768]

Where was the air cover and artillery?

[@dreamjackson5483]

❤

[@annehersey9895]

I still find it utterly preposterous that Monty’s objective of that first day was to capture the 60,000 strong city of Caen!! Military planners must have never been in battle for the ridiculous timetables they set-Guadalcanal was set to be a 4 day battle for the island!! And they never learned through the entire war.

[@stevefuller6499]

Awesome!!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks Steve

[@Gjudxdkjyzddhjnr7091]

Cole was a gigachad

[@TheFunkhouser]

Where was the allied air-support!!??

[@Ajax_Kennedy]

Amazing video, as always. 👍 I'm interested in learning more about the "informal truce" that allowed both sides collect their wounded. Stopping a heated conflict without either side outright surrendering is such a fascinating thought. It just blows my mind. 🤯

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@martinjaspers7859]

Thank you for this great video, truly incredibly well done! I live close to were Lieutenant Colonel Cole was killed and I always stop at the memorial which is raised in his honor, I just cannot pass it without thinking about what happened there...

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@laktisandpipik9265]

At 4:21 : How can you be afraid of German paratroopers when one of them is Marty Feldman?

[@BattleGuideVT]

A similarity for sure... but didn't his hump just change sides?

[@daystatesniper01]

Curraheee !

[@jasonvazquez2563]

Great video, thank you

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for the kind comment Jason!

[@barrysmith1202]

Currahee!

[@DannyoRaiden]

Was this the scene from bob when winter put out smokes?

[@johntowle]

Medal of Honor awarded to Lt Col Robert Cole which effectively cancelled out Lt Dick Winters being awarded the MoH for Brecourt Manor as only one per division was awarded.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

On D-Day the British and Canadians put 75,215 troops ashore, the Americans 57,500. As an indication of the weight of armoured forces the allies were facing after the D-Day landings here are the German armoured dispositions around the Normandy bridgehead by the middle of July 1944. British 2nd and Canadian 1st Armies facing Caen and the eastern portion of the Normandy bridgehead were opposed by: 1st SS Pz Div (Liebstandarte SS Adolf Hitler) 9th SS Pz Div (Hohenstaufen) 10th SS Pz Div (Frundsberg) 12th SS Pz Div (HitlerJugend) 21st Pz Div 116th Pz Div 101st Heavy SS Pz Abteilung 102nd Heavy SS Pz Abteilung 503rd Heavy Pz Abteilung Which had flooded into Normandy from the Pas de Calais area in response to the realisation that the D-Day landings were NOT a diversionary attack. The American 1st & 3rd Armies on the Contentin peninsular and in the western portion of the Normandy bridgehead were opposed by: 2nd SS Pz Div (Das Reich) 17th SS PzGr Div (Götz von Berlichingen) Pz Lehr Div While telling everyone how great you were, you should remember to say a respectful "Thank you" to the British and Canadians who took the brunt of the German defensive reaction & shielded you from the worst of the fighting while the yanks flailed about in the "Bocage" against mostly "stomach divisions" and were allowed to amass for "Cobra" in relative peace and quiet.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Who are you talking to? Im British.

[@motherdear3733]

Market Garden, which was insisted upon by Montgomery ( and where Lt Cole lost his life) was poorly conceived and the loss of life was appalling. The death of Lt. Cole was a waste.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

One ] thank god for subtitles I couldn't understand him speaking .He had a lazy pronunciation style. Two] where was the contact with the Navy who could of fired shells over their heads ? If artillery smoke was delivered where was it earlier ?

[@meirionowen5979]

Big deal! The British Army has pulled off a bayonet charge and scared the cr** out of numerous enemies (Americans included) every single day for over 300 years. Before breakfast, in fact.

[@NUCL3ARTAC0S]

Do you have no respect for the dead?

[@meirionowen5979]

@@NUCL3ARTAC0S Do you have no comprehension of irony?

[@RivetGardener]

"Big Deal" you say about combat bayonet charges, from a couch potato who has zero videos posted on his channel and a play list of 1940's drama movies. Obviously not knowing anything about military service, combat, nor manhood adrenaline you embarrass yourself.

[@montarakid1943]

Superior quality every time.