Exploring The Terrain Faced By US Forces Who Stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day | WW2 Walking The Ground

James Holland and Al Murray are walking the ground at Omaha, the most iconic of all the D-Day landing beaches on the Normandy coast. By following in the footsteps of the US forces they seek to understand the challenges they faced as they landed and stormed the beach on June 6th 1944. After exploring WN60 and the strength of the German defences they walk the Fox Green and Easy Red sectors where the US 1st Infantry Division came ashore. They describe the course of the D-Day beach landings as the Americans battled to secure the Colleville 'draw' under devastating enemy mortar and gunfire. James and Al then clamber back up the bluffs to WN62 before heading back to their car to drive to the western end of Omaha beach near Vierville where the 29th Infantry Division and Rangers landed on D-Day, as depicted so memorably in the film Saving Private Ryan.
Join historian James Holland and writer and comedian Al Murray (from the hit podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk) as they follow in the footsteps of World War II soldiers, unearthing fascinating insights and captivating tales along the way. Exclusively on KZbin. Subscribe now: / @ww2walkingtheground ".

[@deano6912]

Love this format. 2 mates chatting between themselves while we all tag along. Great stuff!

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@LukeEdwards-x8c]

So loving this series ❤😊 after listening to the podcast on trains, planes and in automobiles it’s lovely to see the chaps walking the ground 😊

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Great to hear!

[@mookrage]

If these two had a baby it would be a cross between david stirling, churchill and stephen fry. That's a world I want to live in

[@tonydrapper3589]

I’m not sure if that is an image I want in my brain 😳

[@mookrage]

@@tonydrapper3589 no.....in your man womb

[@InTheFootstepsofHeroes]

James, the pak 43 is still in the casemate at Vierville sur mer. There were two, one ate each end. The one at Vierville, WN72 caused horrendous damage on landing craft and tanks.

[@WargamingHistory]

One at the Coleville end also in WN58

[@siras2]

You're correct and James is definitely wrong - 8.8cm PAK - and, as you say, the original gun is still in situ, I've seen it.

[@ericUtr]

Yup, i was there last week. There's a PAK43 in that bunker for sure.

[@TimVS1]

Walked these beaches last week. Highly recommended although a long walk! Great to see the history described in the places we visited

[@belbrighton6479]

Brilliant episode. I really appreciate walking the ground.

[@richardnorris3095]

Excellent guys 🤩👍🏻

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Thank you 😀

[@TheBritishLegions]

Superb stuff, at last I feel Im getting to know Omaha more & more after the confusion there on 6 June 44. Its essential to walk the ground here

[@johnfanning9185]

There IS an 88 at D1 Exit.

[@brianjames3849]

There is a pack anti tank gun in that bunker, its still there

[@bullrogtv6152]

Brilliant as always but Im afraid I'm going to need to disagree with James RE the 88 at WN72. The casemate almost certainly had a PAK43/41 88mm in it.

[@InTheFootstepsofHeroes]

Yeah, it’s still inside. Odd he thinks otherwise. You can’t miss it.

[@justanothercreator7273]

this is like Top gear....for WW2 buffs...great stuff

[@andrewflindall9048]

Al's right - it was an 88 in the big bunker at WN72. And it still is...

[@lucaamedeowilber1557]

Al & James are simply the best!

[@robertJ14]

Must be hard for these 2 not to descend into an obscure WW2 fact/story competition. Can imagine a scenario like the Four Yorkshiremen sketch. "Well i met a tommy with one eye on a desert island who said he stole Rommel's jeep" etc.

[@WargamingHistory]

Only B company suffers the tank losses in the ocean 3 are landed, one knocked out immediately, A coy land 14 tanks and 7 dozers. None of A coy make it through the day. Gap is a lot wider today at WN72

[@RJVEK]

Love you two! You MUST have a TV series- so watchable. I holidayed in Malta a few times. First time I read Fortress Malta and went to find some of the key sites. I then read Warby’s War on the back of that and loved it. On my bookshelf are a range of Jim’s books that I’m looking forward to reading and at the the moment loving Turning the Tide in the West. Thanks so much for enriching my life through history. My grandad was shot fighting down to Caen and I think was a captain in the Buffs but could have been the Middlesex regiment. I wish I was brave enough as a child to ask him about it but my mum said he never spoke about it.

[@JamesToms-s7y]

Cracking war waffle chaps - keep it up

[@donb1183]

There is an 88 at western end of the beach. It's still there

[@Mycenius]

Just adding to comments re: Pak 43/41 ATGs (88mm) - all the documentation has always shown there were 2 of these on the beach, in bunkers, one at WN61 the other at the other end at WN72.

[@RedFiveScaleModels]

Managed to get to 6mins before Saving Private Ryan gets a mention. 🤣

[@Paratus7]

How many times does Mr. Holland touch his hair?!

[@SteveBonas]

Absolute top notch fellas.With these vids & we have ways,I am so grateful.We afflicted bow to your excellence 👏🫶🙏

[@Xyzabc998]

Thanks for the nuance, perspective and the view from the opposition.

[@jc-d6179]

Very good work gents.

[@PaulDouglasDouglas97]

I been there there some great views can't wait for the next one

[@hamsteronthepaintingtable6465]

Keep it coming chaps, really looking forward to the next chapter 😊👍

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

@@hamsteronthepaintingtable6465 If you haven’t seen it yet, Omaha: Defending The Beach also went live today.

[@hamsteronthepaintingtable6465]

@@WW2WalkingTheGround thank you I completely missed that, very much appreciated ❤️👍

[@ronswanson8155]

I was on that beach back in February and as you guys rightly said, it’s tough trying picture the absolute carnage on that day compared to the tranquil beautiful place it is now, sun shining, dogs walking.

[@twobyfour]

I may be wrong, but I think Sub Lt Jimmy Green`s flotilla landed A Company 116th a little further East to where James is pointing. I seem to remember one of the survivors mentioning a PaK 50 or 75 in the main casemate at D 1 being some distance off to the right.

[@andrewflindall9048]

And did they lose an LCA to mortar fire? I thought they just lost one that got swamped, then they picked up nearly all the GIs on the way back?

[@twobyfour]

@@andrewflindall9048 Yes, one of the flotilla was lost to swamping in the heavy swells. Sub Lt Jimmy Green and his crew rescued all but one (an RTO I believe) on return.

[@andrewflindall9048]

@@twobyfour Thanks. Always good to know that bits of the brain still work.

[@InTheFootstepsofHeroes]

Some were right infront of WN72 and the D1 exit. The 5cm kwk was taken out by landing craft, Gun on approach, according to Jimmy Green.

[@twobyfour]

@@InTheFootstepsofHeroes Thanks for the heads up. I going to re read his account, he certainly had an interesting perspective on that morning.

[@igorGriffiths]

Great to see these two finding their feet with this series, best episode so far

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

@@igorGriffiths Please recommend to everyone you think would enjoy!