Documenting Death: Verdun's Military Museum | History Traveler Episode 308

[@mikeg6042]

My Dads uncle died in the battle for the Meuse-Argonne on Oct 31, 1918 just 12 days away from the Armistice. My Dad was named after him when he was born in 1918. He would have been my Grandmothers Brother. His name was Alfred Lilgreen. He was an Infantry soldier in 91st Div, 182nd Brig, 363rd Reg, Company L. He was KIA in the Argonne Forest, 105 years ago nearly to the day. As a disabled Vietnam combat veteran, I feel this this very close to my heart.

[@patrickferrell1998]

Thank you for your sacrifice Alfred!!

[@lottiedahlin6474]

❤🙏

[@mikewinings4120]

Thank you for sharing your story and family history, your family member lives as long as someone speaks their name,they only truly die when no one speaks of them,thank you,and if you don't mind,I would love to share your story with as many as I can,and if you have more anything,I would be honored to hear 😊

[@reinhardrupp2670]

Im

[@reinhardrupp2670]

😊

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

I have a friend whose grandfather served in the trenches of WW1. He spoke often about the misery, and even pointed out where he was. Not expecting to survive, he said he etched his name on a wall which was prominently displayed. Decades later my friend (on vacation) was able to find the location which was open to the public and saw his Grandfather's name. It was still there and he was able to touch it, pause, and say a prayer of thanks that he survived.

[@gazzertrn]

Wow thats something else , a message from the past . I still have my grand fathers ash tray , made from a brass artillery shell( he was in the royal ordinance regt taking shells to the front ) .Only small but i would never get rid of it ,as i never had the chance to meet him .

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

@@gazzertrn I know- It gave me chills, but his was only one story of the millions like them. Fortunate that he could walk in the footprint of his Grandfather, but even more fortunate that he didn't have to share the terror of the war.

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

@@gazzertrn Sorry I missed your story about the ash tray! That my friend is very cool. Treasure it always!

[@gazzertrn]

@@Peace2U-ec6es I will .thankyou .

[@davidknight1612]

Wow!!! So cool!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍👍👍

[@michaeldouglas1243]

Man o man. Glad you do this for us J.D. othrwise most of us wouod never see things like we saw on todsys video.

[@sonofhawaii4227]

"the sun is shining, and I hate the sun" You gotta warn me before saying stuff like that! Too funny!! Another great video. Aloha 🤙🏻

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! It’s true. Give me the clouds.

[@sonofhawaii4227]

@@TheHistoryUnderground i feel the same way. Air conditioning is my best friend.

[@dawnlefevre9172]

The shrapnel display really captured by attention!!! What a crazy cool way to show just what it is and have you imagine how devastating it can be!!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Probably my favorite display in the museum.

[@thomashudgins996]

You are a talented filmmaker. You always seem to continually impress me with your work. Not only is the content informative, but it is also enlightening and professionally filmed, produced, and edited. You should be a colleague of Ken Burns. Both of you have this incredible way of bringing history alive and understandable. Thank you!

[@dbach1025]

Ditto. JD has grown as a film maker. I am more impressed by his humility and graciousness. How he handled the burglary in Greece was inspiring.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you! That really means a lot.

[@thomashudgins996]

@@TheHistoryUnderground I meant every word!

[@TribeTaz]

I have to agree. I have been binge watching all episodes and you have really grown into an amazing editor and filmmaker. Better than anyone on History Channel

[@frenchfan3368]

Excellent episode as always J. D.! Yes, trench art has always fascinated me as well. It's so ironic yet comforting that objects intended to cause death found their final appearance as objects of entertainment. Keep up the good work!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@lesterdiamond6190]

The series "Soldiers, A History of Men in Battle" has an episode titled "Gunner". Even though it's several years old now, it is an excellent review of the History of Artillery, and features a segment on Verdun. I recommend this to any viewers here.

[@mikemercer5808]

New member here. In my opinion, this is the one of the few KZbin channels worth a membership. The amount of information you provide, plus travelling to actual sites of historical significance is incredible. I have been watching for a couple of years now, and every video has been informative, and very well done. Kudos to you and your team! Keep up the great work!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I appreciate that more than you know. Thank you!

[@brianferry4038]

Can’t argue with Cornholio. A wonderful balance of information, very solid cinematography, and JD’s down-to-earth personality and passion for what he does all comes through on each video.

[@markb.7642]

Always interesting to see what is in the museums, I wish you could spend more time in places like this and give us a deep dive into the displays. I had the honor to speak with a veteran of WWI when I was a teenager and the things he told me would normally scare anyone away from military service, but into the Marine Corps I went anyway. I wouldn't trade my time in the Corps for anything but thankfully we never had to experience any of the horrors of WWI.

[@Wreckdiver59]

It's bad enough that I think today is Friday because I was traveling all day Monday, now you're trying to convince me it's Sunday 😂

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😂

[@japt2357]

I’m trying really hard not to watch any of this series because I plan on binging on my day off. 👌🏼

[@captain_rewind]

I never knew about Trench Art! Love this video. Shot very well and your commentary comes in pristinely.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@cyndiebill6631]

Beautiful trench art. I noticed that the German helmet didn’t change much from WWI to WWII. Cool museum. I always love it when you do videos on them.👍😊

[@trainshavewheels]

The stormtrooper helmet was invented in WW1. Before that, they wore the 'pickelhaube' helmets, the helmet with the spike on top.

[@roberthudson1959]

@@trainshavewheelsIf it ain't broke, don't fix it. Even the current US Army helmets are modeled on the stahlhelm. It should also be noted that the Germans weren't the only ones to use spiked helmets. Cavalry units of the United States Army used them with their dress uniform.

[@liamod01]

I was visiting the area when they were renovating the museum and expanding the car park…in a very small area that was being dug up there were stacks of grenades, shells and entrenching tools waist high if not higher….and that was only the war materials found in an area no bigger than a tennis court.

[@nanetterolph2972]

Since my grandfather was in world War one these videos are fascinating to me!!!! I have learned so much already about it!!!! I often wonder about my grandfather's role in the war but he never spoke about it to anyone that I know of!!!! Thank you for the knowledge!!!!!

[@Gitarzan66]

I have some of my grandpa's papers and his corporals stripes from WW1. Hand written passes and stuff. I even have one paper that said he was clean and clear of VD and that he could go home. I thank that paper for my very existence. He was wounded and walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Co E 107th Engineers. 32nd Inf Div.

[@jetsons101]

Not getting off the video subject but the helmet to the left at (3:59) looks a lot like the one on Colonel Klink's desk on the Hogan's Heroes TV show. JD, that is quite a museum along with your narration. Never saw a helmet like the sniper helmet before -- it does seem like a good idea except the small eye slits would make taking aim a bit challenging. That shrapnel display gave me the willies. Thanks for your time, work and posting.

[@alanrichard3931]

JD, you do an incredible job informing people about interesting facts about human conflict while being highly entertaining. I appreciate your work!

[@bobh64]

My wifes grandmother remembers being evacuated from Verdun and coming back after the war. For the longest time she said people were still being killed from all the leftover artilery that never exploded till an unfortunate person disturbed the projectile either walking in the woods or farming the land,

[@1psychofan]

Wow, those are cool artifacts indeed! Wow! I love those shell casing art creations, talk about talent-and that crucifix? Wow. I am not Catholic but that was something to see! Imagine the time, effort and patience it took to make that! 😮

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Very cool, indeed.

[@1psychofan]

@@TheHistoryUnderground you do realize that this post has caused me to binge other episodes on your channel-what a feast of educational-entertaining and enjoyable videos!

[@dfusit]

I am thoroughly enjoying this series on Verdun. Your attention to detail is commendable JD. Thank you!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@chiefslief1886]

Thank you so much for letting us know all this...I went really quiet inside wen realising I am so lucky to live my life with so much Freedom... So thank All of You!❤🇱🇺

[@terryeustice5399]

Thank you JD for this tour of the Museum at Verdun. Also interesting that artillery it caused more damage than the Mustard Gas.Than you for sharing. 💯👍👊

[@steelbaton59]

JD thank you I learn so much from your videos

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching!

[@handyguy501]

so glad you made it to the Verdun museum. What I saw on Frenchtastic wheted my lips for more. Thank you.

[@christophstoger9588]

Was there in our ww1 rememberance tour through france and have to say the whole area is filled with somuch history u can spend a whole week there and didnt see all.. one thing that got me the most is the giant video wall while u can listen to written letters from the front...

[@owensterry29]

There's a massive collection of trench art in the Field Artillery museum at Fort Sill Oklahoma. That whole museum is awesome and not just because I attended basic training and AIT there back in the summer of 89

[@judygrandstrand9784]

These museums are fabulous. Thank you for sharing them with us.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them!

[@jacquelinebloom4339]

Thank you for the museum tour. I learned so much!

[@davidolien2828]

You did a fantastic job on this episode l thank you!

[@G.S.T.K]

You never fail to amaze me..thank you for everything you do..I learn so much from every video

[@user-vu4yf7lc3c]

Thank You, I didn't know anything about Verdun, learned a lot. I hope it is Wheelchair Friendly.

[@Imachowderhead]

My grandfather fought in the 18th US infantry Company E. He fought in every major WW1 offensive and was captured near the end of the war. He was a machine gunner who won the Purple Heart and Silver Star. He had severe PTSD and died in a VA Hospital in GA. I never got to meet him.

[@geraldblackburn4883]

Ever get over there, I will def go look there, I would like to go to Normandy and would like to see a few other sites. Good Show.

[@Meme-mq4nu]

I’m glad you made documentary on this museum! It’s one of the best war museums we’ve visited. We’re there this summer. It’s so informative and educational.

[@PascalNocquet]

Thanks for all your videos JD I own two engraved 75mm shell casings, that my grandfather brought back from Verdun, where he was wounded (he didn't do the artwork himself). He made lamp bases out of them, I kept the original wiring. They are beautiful, very proud to have them on my desk.

[@richardglady3009]

That was a magnificent video…THANK YOU! I love the display showing the shell fragments from an exploding artillery shell. You see explosions in movies and read about them in books…but to see what the pieces looked like…unimaginable. In the American Civl War, soldiers also tried metal armor, like the piece shown in the museum. I saw an actual piece in a museum in Vicksburg (city not the National Park). Thank you for traveling, making this video and posting it where a person like me, (in a wheelchair) can see and enjoy for free.

[@joshuajohnstone5248]

The tench art is stunning, it truly amazes me what humans can do in the worst circumstances and conditions! Brilliant video dude, I really appreciate seeing this!

[@brianprather3261]

Would love to see a part 2 of the museum

[@mikewinings4120]

You good sir,have hands down the best insight and coverage to every place you bless us with,forget history and discovery channels,thank you for your dedication and absolute 🙏 respect ❤

[@bradmccormick358]

Trench art is so amazing. It really shows a lot about the individual. And I'm sure it was prized by them for them to carry it with them and work on it in their down time.

[@rallefreifahrt6630]

Your videos are amazing, thanks a lot from Germany!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them!

[@PaulA-sy1xl]

Did you go to the Fort in the town of Verdun it's great you travel around on automatic moving cars with mannequins that come to life through projections and holograms etc to tell the story.

[@mikefriend1514]

Another fascinating addition to the WW1 series! Thank you!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@stezve1913]

Very interesting museum. The shell fragments display is awful and shocking to look at, thinking about the horrible wounds this could create...

[@pauldurkee4764]

Some of those exhibits like the german gas helmet and variations of the steel helmet I've never come across before, so interesting. I think the germans were very innovative regarding camouflage, whether it was helmets or colour schemes on vehicles.

[@weenedonpetrol]

Another excellent and informative video JD. When I visited Verdum almost 30 years ago now I didn’t have time to go round the museum. Another reason to go back and explore by myself.

[@anthonysmith778]

Ive been there. Its fukkin great. One of the better museums ive been to. They have old stereoscopes at the cemetery too, with thousands of photos of death and destruction. Would love to go back

[@idotroger88]

Great museum, thank you for sharing it!

[@edwinwebber8104]

My great uncle told that he was able to see the larger artillery rounds flying over head and taking off the tops of trees.

[@karentrimmer]

I'm always amazed by the speed at which aviation advances. Less than 20 years since Kitty Hawk, airplanes have a role in a world war.

[@randystolz]

I'd always wondered what plechettes looked like... And the "trench art" from shell casings reminded me of some scenes from the novel "All Quiet on the Western Front"... The dewatering hand pump was also interesting... Ty, JD🤓🤓

[@NewChannel-wi7vj]

That would be "fléchettes"...

[@randystolz]

@@NewChannel-wi7vj Ty for the correction

[@FilipDePreter]

Thanks for the video. Fantastic museum it is.

[@scottseymour886]

What you thought was an experimental gas mask is in fact what the soldier with the flame thrower would wear, heat resistant and bright flame resistant to help see.

[@NewChannel-wi7vj]

Absolutely!

[@robertclark5752]

Thank you for showing us this. I know I will never make it to these locations. Thank you for your efforts!!

[@TeamFish15]

Interesting. I’ve been rewatching Boardwalk Empire, and in the first season when Jimmy Darmody meets Richard Harrow, Richard was a sniper in WWI. He showed Jimmy a German Sniper Mask that he got off a German Sniper he had been stalking for days, waiting on him to lift his mask. He said the sniper finally lifted it to scratch his nose and Richard put a bullet through his right cheek. So when you showed that sniper mask, I knew exactly what it was.

[@ehayes5217]

Extremely interesting, thank you!😃🇺🇸

[@Snoggy_1_2]

Very neat museum! I was there years ago with ian from forgotten weapons.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

What misery that was. Trenches, tunnels, mud and rain. Pointless runs into machine gun fire.

[@ericshrive7506]

Did you visit the Douaumont Ossuary and memorial ? Very sobering !

[@marcsewell7275]

This is fantastic. After going to ww1 museum in kc i have always wanted to see what others had to show. Love these videos thank you.

[@merlijnveijk855]

JD you have been to the Argonne aswell? The museum in Romagne and the museum in Montfaucon?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Not yet.

[@merlijnveijk855]

You’re still in Verdun?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@merlijnveijk855 - No, this was filmed a few months back.

[@merlijnveijk855]

@@TheHistoryUnderground If you need help with the Meuse Argonne I can help you with that

[@frankmarullo228]

I would have had a terrible time staying alive in WW2 cause I would be the one collecting all the helmets guns hats etc. etc. That I could carry. LOL. It's funny how during any war ( as bad as war is ) NOBODY really collects stuff like that. Then years later it is all collectable . love your channel. THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA......

[@Countryfresh223]

"Plus, the sun is shining, and i hate the sun." 😂😂 i agree

[@kevinjones2802]

The pickelhaube helmet with the glass face shield is about the most steampunk thing ever.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! Agreed.

[@geoffthiessen646]

Excellent video

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you very much!

[@raiskis1]

Great video.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lollclark457]

We have some trench art and some of the examples you see are stunning!

[@Fragile56]

My grandfather(popi) (my daddy's father) fought in WW1.

[@pauldouglas3084]

Really enjoyed the video mate I love to learn about ww1 because no more about the ww2 more than ww1

[@JimGDMAC]

I visited the Memorial this year in late May and as you said there is much more there than you showed. I am surpeised that you made a big thing about air power but didn't show thw two full size aircraft on display, one French and one German. If you visit the Memorial then another must go to is nearby. The Necroplis and Ossuary at Douemont, this very sobering site shows the sheer carnage of the battle with the number of graves and remains in the Ossuary.

[@hillbillytrucker8347]

Love the videos on Verdun and what you have covered so far. But I hope you mention LaMorte Homme and Cote 304. On long and brutal they were and the reasons they changed hands so many times. Until the French finally retook them from the Germans for the final time. Thank you for the history videos and sharing the lessons from the past.

[@1337fraggzb00N]

Have been there years ago, it was very interesting.

[@ludo9234]

I have a few original shell cases with trench artwork on them.

[@bobgreenwood1066]

Outstanding 😊

[@Cyrille1536]

Was there in 82 ; at that time some of the last poilus were commenting visits in fort de Vaux.

[@fairieswearboots3556]

I think that funny looking German helmet with the glass visors would be for flamethrowers, as it looks like an pre WW1 firefighting helmet.

[@Chiller11]

Excellent looking museum. To me, Verdun and the Somme are two of the most depressing battles of WW1. The tremendous loss of life for so little progress gives rise to the lions led by donkeys trope that is a common perception of that conflict. The realities are more complicated than that but the rather obscure trigger of a political assassination in a small Balkan region in some tragic domino like effect tumbling all of Europe into catastrophe just seems such a waste of millions of young men.

[@tinman8518]

I'm always amazed at how quickly the evolution of flight moved. Less than two decades after the Wright brothers initial flight nations had established air forces.

[@camdodge9891]

JD amazing video as always thank you

[@mr.pickles810]

“Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl” Fredrick the great

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😬

[@debbiehills2928]

❤so amazing.😊❤

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@ddandthegirls]

Did you say you hate the sun? 🌞 That made me giggle

[@halfsquatchshortbeard3435]

16:05 you can still buy small flechette darts to load shotgun shells. They’re crazy to shoot.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😦

[@user-vu4yf7lc3c]

That Air Bomb has got to be only, 5--10 lbs.

[@The_Distance_111]

Another awesome video. It’s been great to watch the Verdun series. I was there in 2018 at the time of the centennial of the armistice. The museum is outstanding.

[@charlesmullins3238]

Imagine that biggest railgun round and the size of shrapnel….someone chime in with the specs of that round….thanks jd..matt

[@user-vu4yf7lc3c]

They still do it even today

[@jimolin8092]

There is a military museum in northern Pennsylvania in Eldred, pa that has a lamp shade made of human skin

[@thelocalmaladroit8873]

This is heartbreaking. So senseless. Thank you.

[@merlijnveijk855]

The helmet for the flamethrower crew is just a fire man’s helmet. The museum knows its Got nothing to with the flamethrower but still keeping’s it it the museum. For the rest the museum is very good

[@Hairnicks]

Fabulous museum, what a terrible war. The Germans had amazing equipment and of such sophistication, but in both wars it seems they had a tendancy to overcomplicate things, particularly in ww2 with their tanks, ie. Shermans like my dad drove could be quickly fixed in the field whereas German tanks really needed a workshop to fix them.

[@swgeek4310]

I am trying to figure out, how did those guys work and engrave those shell pieces there at the end?! Let alone under fire, constant stress and oh inabtrench with limited supplies...Makes me feel kinda useless..lol

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That’s a common misconception. They weren’t under fire constantly. They’d be on the front for awhile and then rotate out. There was actually a lot of downtime between cycles in the frontline trenches.

[@bucktaylor6522]

Hey jd can't help noticing that french uniform looked a lot like a confederate artillery uniform even a kepi

[@CJBarry55]

You hate the sun? Gotta be more to that… either you’re from the PNW, have a medical condition, or past trauma, which is ok. Just thought it was an odd thing to hate. Love the channel. P.S vids come regularly to my feed.

[@keithmitchell6918]

Pretty wicked indeed.

[@ratherbyexploring4898]

Verdun is a great PC game.

[@oldgrunt5806]

What I cannot comprehend is, after all this, 20 years later you do it all again. No effort was made to prevent it happening again. Sad commentary on a supposedly intelligent species.

[@lionelsquires7662]

Jip. Korea, vietnam ,angola, south west africa, irac, Afghanistan........take your pick!!😮😮😮

[@Freepr411]

War is a racket

[@PCPAyLOAD]

Don't hate the sun to much.. The humans need it.