Growing Up In Nazi-Occupied Belgium | Memoirs Of WWII #9

Nelly “Michette” Thirifays-Hiett was five years old when her homeland of Belgium was invaded by the German Army. Here you’ll hear her perspective on living under enemy occupation and what freedom means to her.
Memoirs of WWII Website: bit.ly/2w60kGM
Patreon: bit.ly/2HIebIN
Instagram: bit.ly/2FBGBhv
Facebook: bit.ly/2w5Lhgf
Twitter: bit.ly/2jlcp1A
Written and Directed by Joshua Scott
Filmed and Edited by Christian McLean and Joshua Scott
Archive Footage Source:
www.archives.gov/
Archive Photograph Sources:
Nationaal Archief
J. Gumkowski, A. Rutkowski, Treblinka, Council for Protection of Fight and Martyrdom Monuments
Non-Original Musical Score Source:
artlist.io/

[@bonzaicatattack]

what this channel is doing is incredibly important

[@MemoirsofWWII]

josh barnes thank you!

[@Dysentery_]

Couldn't agree more

[@Ruby321123]

Amen.

[@email4664]

A very potent piece of history indeed. This lady is a really lovely person, and her pride is very well deserved. I have greatly enjoyed the four of your series that I have seen, but this one is close to my heart. If you have a moment, look into Tanks in Town in Mons Belgium. It is a gathering of military vehicles that re-trace the route that the 3rd armored under Patton took when they entered Belgium to liberate from German occupation. These folks hosted myself and my Brother, and treated us to a very personal three weeks, while we visited in 2007. The Belgians really appreciate the US forces for helping them through a dark time. Their appreciation lasts still through the younger generations. Quite a beautiful thing to experience.

[@emily.7668]

@@MemoirsofWWII thank you for giving these vets the opportunity to tell their story.

[@andrewfischer8564]

im crying after each and every episode. and im a grown ass man.

[@QualityModelRailroad]

yep me too

[@ciscorock]

Me too, me too..

[@AvecPoesie]

No shame in tears. Grown ass men have feelings too.

[@yaboilongschlong]

I just have allergies

[@Foxforce_6]

Me too brother

[@andynixon2820]

Years back I stayed in a french guest house run by an old lady originally from Brussels. I commented on her good English , she looked me straight in the eye and said she'd secretly learnt it during the occupation as she new the British would rescue them one day. She wanted to say thank you in their own language and even today the Dutch , belgians and danes hold the allies in high regard for this reason .

[@SuperExodian]

my grandparents were flemish resistance, they were involved in stuff like smuggling and sabotage. i'm sad that i never really got to know them (3/4 of them died by the time i was 10, both grandfathers before i even was born, the final grandmother lived another 10 years but she was fairly senile by then. )

[@wannabeseal2671]

"Nobody was fat in those days, I tell you.) Lol.

[@MrJames-qu4kz]

"he broke the bed"

[@JNVTN]

America left the chat

[@kmoss9521]

WannaBe SEAL my grandma was 6 when this happened and she says the exact same thing. Lol

[@nikosz66]

Its not laughable at all. Greece for example lost 300.000 people out of starvation , in the winter 1941 -1942. Many children were between the dead . Not funny, sad , yes.

[@cavemanlovesmoke4394]

@@nikosz66 she didnt mean it like that. It was the "spunk" of the gentle lady...

[@jordanbauerly8843]

I cant imagine just how wholesome it was for those GIs to see this little girl trying so hard to help them.

[@keltondownen3645]

"As young as we were, we knew they were the enemy". Thats awful, that a child can understand that sad reality.

[@nikomeyers2192]

I just found a letter from my father to my mother from Belgium in 1945. Incredible.

[@douniadubreucq1011]

This is amazing

[@bluedog843]

Honestly, this episode might be one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen. She has the pictures of the men who liberated her, the letters in her notebook and the stories. Then to hear that some of them died in the upcoming battles... this was a sad one but a happy one.

[@sokay2laugh512]

I was just in Belgium and it, and it’s people, are just lovely as can be. Our time there was too short, but we’ve so much to see. We’ve been through France, Belgium and Luxembourg so far on a Beyond Band of Brothers tour and it has been a life changing experience. Don’t let the fear of not speaking French stop you from making a trip like this. You will be treated with great kindness and patience. Use the google translator in the rare times there aren’t English speaking people in shops or restaurants. Make the trip if your are from the USA. The people here are truly beautiful and thankful that the USA exists.

[@MagnaVictus]

We will always threat our liberators with the deepest kind of respect. If you're every returning to Bastogne, be sure to hit me up! :)

[@SuperExodian]

i'd like to add that, in belgium, not speaking english isn't a problem in the slightest, in flanders about 80% of the population speaks english and i think about 60% of wallonia speaks english too.

[@jillianrose1346]

What you guys are doing, telling their stories, is absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much, it’s really opened my eyes and my heart. I cry at every video you guys put out and it just makes me so grateful for the people who fought and died for our freedom. ❤️

[@MemoirsofWWII]

jillian rose thank you for watching!

[@ohmy9479]

Spot on...🇺🇸❤️🙌🏻

[@jayg9732]

Amen

[@me1965]

Thank you to the most gracious lady in Belgium for sharing your story and your kindness with our soldiers!

[@gillesmeura3416]

I'm from Belgium. My parents were 13 when our country was invaded. They evacuated to France in May 1940, and came back a few months after. They grew up under German occupation. My mother and grandmother were particularly afraid, because my grandfather had left for England to join the Belgian army there. In early September 1944 they were liberated. And my grandfather returned. My father joined the Belgian army on his 18th birthday, the 30th of April 1945... In spite of V-E day he was sent to Northern Ireland for training (he became an ATk gunner - 6 pounder). They were training to go to the Pacific, but then war ended before he completed training. My father passed away 12 years ago, but my mother is still alive, and shares her wartime memories with me.

[@Killerwale-hk4wy]

My Great grandfather was a Belgian doctor that left the hospital and started his own clinic where he spoke Dutch (the hospital was French which was spoken by the richer people). Anyway when the Germans took Belgium a group of Germans wanted some scans from the hospital. They send the Germans to my great grandfather because he had better equipment. After the war he got accused of coöperating with the Germans and had to spend some years in prison. The wheirdest thing about this is that I really like that hospital and was even born there.

[@user-82719a]

I am sorry for your loss and Thank you for His service, May He Rest In Peace.

[@Andyb2379]

I’ve shown my daughters this interview. I think it’s important they understand what happened, how it happened & how they must show kindness to everyone they meet in life. Their own Grandfather helped in liberation of Belgium & I think now they understand their past. Thank you

[@BASTIONsteam]

Absolutely beautiful work. I cannot express enough how much these videos have meant to me. 38 year old man with tears in his eyes at the computer. My Grandfather was a Bristol Beaufighter pilot during ww2 and never spoke about his experiences as they were too traumatic for him to recall. My father told me last week that his memoirs are to be published soon in an aviator magazine. Couldn't be more proud. Keep up the fantastic work my friend.Paul

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Paul Graham we would love to see it once it’s published!

[@BASTIONsteam]

@@MemoirsofWWII many thanks, ill keep you posted!

[@matro2]

@@BASTIONsteam You didn't.

[@thelonewolf9598]

I am from Belgium. Thank you so much for making these video's. To all the people saying my generation (born 1995) does not know and respect what those soldiers have been trough. You are wrong.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thelonewolf95 thank you for watching!!

[@sokay2laugh512]

I just left Belgium yesterday on a Beyond Band of Brothers tour and the people were so kind and gracious to us every where we went. A truly beautiful place to spend time. I hope to bring my children back one day soon so they can see that Europe doesn’t hate the USA like they’re being taught in school. I found the same kindness in France and Luxembourg as well.

[@locklear7937]

@@sokay2laugh512 We Europeans like the American people, we just dislike your government and the man currently leading it. But then, we have some real idiots leading our European countries as well so it is what it is.

[@pablotown77]

@@locklear7937 we also disliked that pos, so we got rid off him 👍😜

[@MrFotow]

I wish I'd seen this channel before, my father survived the hunger winter in Holland and I'm sure he would have been more than happy to tell his story on this channel as he told it to me and my sister, sadly he passed away a year ago but I still cherish those stories as a reminder of how bad it was and how he survived because of the brave airmen that did the fooddrops over The Netherlands during the war. Every year I pay my respects to those fallen in the line of duty to liberate Europe, I'll never forget what they did for my family so my father could live to reach the respectable age of 81.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Olof Wessels everyday we lose so many opportunities to preserve and archive stories like your fathers. Thank you for sharing a bit of his story and for watching.

[@abelponcedeleon]

My grandfather is a WWII Veteran. For 3weeks my grandfather was in the hospital due to complications with his gallbladder. And these videos always kept reminding me of what he has done during WWII. This past Monday we finally brought him home. And I’m glad I’m able to get more stories from him before his time comes. I’m am grateful to be in his presence and to have him for 28 years of my life. And I feel like it’s my job to pass on his legacy to my daughter, nephew’s, and nieces so they can know the great man there great grandfather is, and the sacrifices he made.

[@jerryw6699]

This is one of my favorites, she's so real. Every single American should watch these, people take so much for granted these days. Those men fought so the whole world could sleep at night.

[@gabrielrenteria8256]

There was a perfect veteran for this channel, he was a pilot in the air cav in WWII, heavily decorated..Raymond Vasquez ofRancho Cucamonga out of 5 friends he was the only to come home..hes passed on now but i know he would have gave a hell of a story.

[@alanfuad__]

1:07 that woman waving to her children then proceed to cry is very touching and sad. Hopefully they got reunited...

[@Andyb2379]

I’m 36 years old, I’ve two daughters. I’ve tears running down my face watching this. I can only but imagine thank goodness what they must gone through. Unimaginable worry, fear, 5 years old. So much innocence. God bless.

[@HerrMikael]

I'm 36 as well with two sons. I can imagine being one of the American guys with a family behind the Atlantic. It must have been very hard. To meet a little angel like Nelly must have felt therapeutic

[@stardustcomet7527]

This chanel needs more attention

[@joshuawfinn]

Yet another awesome installment in an awesome series. Thank you so much Josh!

[@landisratliff9565]

This is one of the few channels that I constantly check for uploads. These videos are so moving and fantastically emotional. Keep up the amazing work!

[@RUDEMASTER]

Awesome videos keep up the good work

[@Maaarrina]

Strangely enough, Its often in the hardest of time you find the sincerest and rarest of human kindness. Beautiful stories.

[@stevel6939]

When things are at their worst humanity is at its best.

[@paulweston3677]

This is still America. It's that spirit that steps up to face challenges, at home and abroad. What an excellent video

[@ctaney2254]

What a great story, makes me proud to be an American. Love the end, you can tell how much those guys meant to her and all the people of Belgium. Definitely want to visit the country and go to that cemetery.

[@appetitefordestruction3511]

A nother great story! And as a Europian this kind of story's always brings tears to my eyes knowing i am in my early 30's and those brave young man in there 20's or not even 20 never made it to there 30's. For my grandparents freedom. Nothing but respect.

[@sublimeguy]

Some of the the allies actually falsified there birth dates to go actually the youngest man to die during the D.day invasion was either 14or15yrs old I think he was a medic and some committed suicide because they were not eligible to serve it was a very selfless generation during those times unlike the days we live in now it's extremely uncommon to find a young person now who can even tell u who Hitler was. And most likely if they can that's all they know. We live in the me me me generation .

[@appetitefordestruction3511]

@@sublimeguy So true, a amazing generation. I think even the best generation young man the world even knew or ever wil know. Again nothing but respect. To al those brave young man, thank you for youre service. It wil NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

[@sublimeguy]

@@appetitefordestruction3511 Ya know I often wonder and think what life is about I mean what it is really all for I am religious and I believe what I have been told but I often pray that if there is a possibility of of reincarnation I would rather go bk in time to be apart of somthing bigger in a generation that believes in due process and selflessness to be part of that even if only for a few yrs. Ya know I can remember my uncle's telling me about the war just sitting there playing with my army men or my cowboy toys but it's memories I will charish till I die such an amazing group of people.

[@appetitefordestruction3511]

@@sublimeguy I totaly understand what youre saying. You know because of serie s like Band of brothers and the pacific, some times i think wow i wisch i was part of that amazing generation. Als when my grandma told story's about the war she med my grandpa ( i never knew him he died long before i was born) during the war, they where both resistent fighters in the Netherlands. And when she told story's about the dangerous things the heve bin thru it always made me proud.

[@sublimeguy]

@@appetitefordestruction3511 if you haven't already seen it you should watch the movie defiance with Daniel Craig it's based on Jewish resistance Fighters during World War II it is absolutely amazing

[@OnTheFritz602]

Wow, wonderful story. Nelly had love and gratitude in her young heart, and so did her Family.

[@Cobb83SnipeZ]

They dont teach WWII history any more in most schools in the U.K. and I think this is a travosty and MAJOR discrace and dishonour to the veterans that survivrd and who gave the ULTIMATE sacrifice......

[@dotheyfloat9961]

What, really? When did they stop teaching it? I did my GCSE's in 1999-2000 and at that time History was 90% WWII and WWII

[@archieewing4973]

@@dotheyfloat9961 I did my GCSE's 3 years ago and they still taught :p I think it is still very much taught in the UK

[@bradphilipswain3374]

I left school about 6 years ago and they only touched on it, was more important talking about victorians and shit which wasn't fascinating at all, hence why I'm here :)

[@tedgregersenvalasko2375]

Do they teach about the British Empire and all its astrocities? It was the worst...

[@locklear7937]

This comment is emphatically wrong. They do still teach it - it is one of the most important history subjects to be taught. I recently took a home-study course of IGCSE history and the main topics covered were WWI and WWII. The belief that they are not taught because it's 'wrong to be patriotic' or whatever is right-wing vitriol. It's a massively important part of the curriculum.

[@smith14111]

Just about every single one of these videos bring tears to my eyes, but this one got to me especially hard. When she talked about asking her mom and then seeing the picture of her with the G.I. at the end.😭

[@limjahey3119]

This story brought tears to my eyes. In the face of evil and tragedy I think it’s a beautiful thing when complete strangers come together and share their own sense of friendship and family with one another. Keep sharing the stories the world needs to know The value of a kind and caring heart

[@eddierodriguez5266]

Brought tears to my eyes. God bless you for Chronicling this wonderful story.

[@1asdfasdfasdf]

Thank you. I'm afraid that there's a new generation that doesn't have clue what was given for their freedoms.

[@sublimeguy]

And you would be exactly right and it saddens my heart because they don't know and most don't care they live with a very selfish mindset not all but a huge majority so it's up to us to install that in the young ones so maybe they will pass it on

[@gracelessnesss]

I'm 19. I've binge watched all of these videos. I met with a world war 2 vet once who gifted me the nazi emblem he tore off of a german soldier. if the younger generation isnt aware, it is only the older generations who are at fault for not instilling that knowledge within them. there will always be a generation hating on young people.... the young people that they created.

[@1asdfasdfasdf]

@@gracelessnesss Unfortunately I'm afraid that you're correct with your last sentence (after the ellipsis). When I see on the street interviews where today's generation can't identify any of the people in power by their photo but recognize every celebrity it truly scares me. You're obviously aware. Let's hope that there are many more like you out there.

[@matttomlin1024]

19yrs old hard working Republican bodybuilder with dreams of being a full time electrician people care. The older generations overlook us but many of us out there really appreciate and look up to the heros of our past times. God bless

[@bajamike3803]

These new kids protest to have freedoms taken away

[@Hartleymolly]

I cry every time I watch these amazing videos. I hate I didn’t know more about my grandfathers war struggles. The things I complain about are so embarrassing compared to these survivors. I am so lucky and blessed, we all are.

[@mrijk1946]

Sir, as a 15 year old collector of ww2 artifacts. I must thankyou for the incredible job you are doing. Every video and every story you share with me i get chills down my spine and tears in my eyes. The past needs to be remembered, not forgotten

[@sab5686]

i'm only 16 and i know how my generation is forgetting the truth. i will continue to speak these survivors words and make sure that it is never forgotten

[@jimbobmcdougal6983]

The fact that she can still pull out positive memories from such dark times is comforting to me

[@luizaeduarda5274]

I am brazilian girl and i love hear about this kind of historys. Thank you for your work, is so important for all of us meet them and realized the important they are, really thank you !!

[@andy12328]

I live in Florence oregon one of the highest population of elders in the state and I have always loved what you are trying to do, if you are interested I can go ask around for survivors of wwii and see if they are willing to share their story. They will all be gone before we know it and I'm proud other people like me want to keep them alive, even if it means through story. If you can email me I'd love to hear your ideas on the subject

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Andrew Kellerman we are always looking for stories and are hoping to travel this year to gather them from all over. Please contact us via our contact page on our website. (www.memoirsofwwii.com)

[@MrCaptainSnax]

PLEASE DO IT!!! Older people love telling these stories, and for you to track them down specifically for their stories would be so enriching for them!!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Andrew Kellerman thank you so much for offering to do that! We have amazing Patreon’s that donate each month to support our travels, so yes if you find WWII vets in your area we would make a trip to capture their stories. As you find them you can fill out the veteran form on our website and we will log it on our end. Thank you for your help in preserving these stories! Www.memoirsofwwii.com

[@hekkeh5427]

i had to hold my tears at the end of the video.....We will never forget what they did for our country, biggest respect from us for there service and sacrifices. A 39 year old Belgian living in freedom cause of them thx

[@anvi.a8976]

Not going to lie,I cried in this episode.This episode was the most heart touching of them all!

[@JoleneDaviesITKWJ]

My grandma (Oma) & Opa a survived German occupied Holland. My Oma turns 92 soon. She's still alive. There is an interview with them both before my Opa passed from years ago regarding their experience. It's pretty extraordinary. They never liked talking about it, but eventually a few stories here and there. She has 10 children, 35+ grandchildren , and many great grandchildren. She's amazing.

[@kainable8769]

The beauty of this, is, vets can talk about it. Giving children chocolate. These pictures of this event, is so simple... that it brings tears to my eyes. My grandfather was not so keen on talking about it... I later found out why, the family that took HIM in, were later killed for their aide to him, he never forgave himself. My grandfather(my fathers step father) was quite abusive when he came home from war. But he was a God fearing man, and that part of him stayed until he died about 10 years ago. I loved him. He taught me how to tie my shoes, how to open a door for a lady. I love and miss him, from the bottom of my heart thank you for these stories.

[@clintondavid525]

This one had me crying all the way through it. Incredible humans are everywhere

[@vaughnmojado8637]

Awe. She is such a lovely lady. I can see her as a little girl bringing all the GI’s home like I did with dogs. It makes me very happy to have seen and listened to her story. Much love from my fiancé, my family of dogs and Me.

[@PUAlum]

Thanks for posting this truly heartwarming video. I hope this channel does much to reawaken friendship between Belgians and Americans...and all our friends in Europe. So much was sacrificed by so many...we can't let the friendships fade.

[@slocad11]

Josh, You have crafted another excellent documentary here. The audio, background music and footage as well as the editing. Professional, heart-warming and authentic. I spent the last two days visiting Bastogne, and am in Luxembourg now. There, memorials abound as to the courageous exploits achieved by the GI`s who liberated this area. The city of Bastogne commemorates the 75th anniversary of Battle of the Bulge this year. I can highly recommend to any of your viewers two Bastogne hotels in particular for their warm staff, professionalism as hosts and perfect rooms and facilities: Hotel Melba and Hotel Leo Station, both downtown on or very near General McAuliffe Square. I have nothing to do with the businesses, but wish merely to help any viewers who visit Bastogne to have the best possible stay.

[@benisaten]

This is absolutely amazing. My eyes are heavy. Respects from 🇨🇦 forever.

[@aironiversen9214]

I love these videos and they never cease to make me cry!! Today's kids have NO IDEA what these people and our soldiers went through.. so sad.

[@keithandrade1087]

That comfort when her parents showed up at the door is just one of the most beautiful feelings.

[@billyc9707]

Thank you so much for making this video series. These stories should always be told and never go quiet

[@AvecPoesie]

This is one of the more moving stories, truly. Their hospitality of those heroes was remarkable. On a side note, I wish people still wrote handwritten letters. They are just so beautiful and profound mementos.

[@rogerscott8211]

my great grandpa was in the 5th armored in WW2 in france to germany, his dad"s home country

[@QualityModelRailroad]

Hats off to your great gramps! Yes lots of German Americans had to go and fight in the Old Country.

[@thomasallen3818]

I don’t usually get choked up, but this interview did it. The beautifully written letters from the G.I.’s really did it to me. It really was a different time. I don’t think you would see anything like that nowadays.

[@zoxart1203]

I am 15 and many peoples of my generation don't really know what those heroes did. It is sadly to see, but everytime i am talking about the war i share this page with them and i hope they will learn something more about these heroes. Thanks for making these videos.

[@chitaessi]

the notebook with the soldiers' notes is a treasure & a priceless remembrance. thank you for sharing this wonderful story

[@btrdangerdan2010]

Wow that’s so good I wanna cry! God bless the sweet little lady.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Sun and D-970 thank you for watching!

[@andyZ3500s]

This one really got me. What a wonderful lady, to bad she and her family went through that.

[@jimz68]

What a wonderful lady. Brings tears to my eyes. Thank You for sharing this episode.

[@e.w.132]

What excellent work you guys are doing Memoirs of WWII. Such pure and beautiful human emotion you show in these videos.

[@vaerenbergh]

My grandmother saw the war in her teenage years in Belgium, she told me 2 airbattle stories when i was young, one for the trainstation of Denderleeuw and one where B17's where going on a raid in Germany, flew over and one got shot down and flew right over their mineworkers hous, there where some more stories but i can't recall them all

[@andytaylor1588]

That was very touching. I have many past relatives who served in WWII and most of them died in battle.

[@friedgaming8258]

They truly are the greatest generation

[@npc77107]

No doubt!

[@Maddogcommentor]

That was probably my favorite of your videos yet. Shows the heart behind the men that went overseas to fight evil.

[@traylee8837]

Damn this was so amazing and well put together , Absolutely beautiful!

[@JScottCee]

Wow. What an especially moving episode. Seeing the handwriting of the soldiers really got me. Reminds me of my own WW2 grandparents and how they were, spoke, and wrote. Very moving. Thank you for all your work 🇺🇸

[@Llliiss_aa]

I seriously couldn’t handle it so I had to cry such an emotional story

[@giantclaw138]

Just found this channel and I'm going through the whole playlist. Why did I not know about this channel before?

[@emilbratteberg1455]

I am 14 years old and love the series but my generation are so dumb that they dont understand what this soliders did for us

[@yannhayon2796]

those are the sad but true words

[@bluespruce679]

Emskbra.... God bless you! What you can do is share, share, share! You can also learn all you can, and then teach your generation about this amazing history! Who knows, perhaps young people such as yourself will become authentic history instructors, who will inspire other young folk to live, learn, grow and share about The Greatest Generation...and all they and our wonderful Allies did during WWll. Thank you for your interest in this stunning history, and again, may God bless you! Shalom! 🌺🕊️🌺

[@luckyleo88]

I hope they will learn one day. Hopefully.

[@muchneededwater5936]

To be fair I wouldn’t say that there all dumb. They’re just teenagers who rather be with friends then learn about history since there history classes never tell these amazing stories. I didn’t learn any of this at my school. I had to learn it myself.

[@SuperExodian]

@@muchneededwater5936 it's not the current teenagers that are the stupid ones, it's the boomers that allowed the schools to get corrupted by marxism and start teaching degenerate anti-western things. the current state of you americans scares me. because europe is already a lost cause. we haven't just embraced marxist teachings, it's gone past that. anti-marxism is basically heretical here.

[@observationpostcharlie1365]

My dad was with the big red 1 he didnt talk much about the war but would talk about. Him giveing candy to the kids. My uncles said the same thing an how the liberated people were soo greatful

[@tinman8518]

Here's a great article showing that they are still very grateful for the Allies help in their liberation. This is still happening in other European countries as well........ www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-culture/netherlands-american-cemetery-adopt-graves/?rebelltitem=3

[@blcdad]

How could there be 4 idiots that exist who would thumbs down this???

[@robertdaniel6044]

Incredibly, there are still neo-nazis in this world. Lots.

[@brushwolf]

members of antifa

[@juliehasler4345]

What kind of cruel people disliked this video.Thank you Josh for all that your doing to keep these stories alive and everlasting.

[@alexenns3203]

Thank you for putting this together Josh. I also thank all veterans that serviced and are serving

[@chrisbloom3005]

I was lucky enough to live and work in Belgium for 2 years. The Belgians at the plant where I worked told me that I had to visit Henri Chapelle American Military Cemetery. When you drive up it reminds me of a miniature Lincoln Memorial and it is not until you are on the step of the memorial that you see the 9000 crosses. I remember audibly gasping when I saw it. I travel to that part of Europe quite often and get back to Henri Chapelle whenever I can. Absolutely one of the most beautiful and impactful places on earth.

[@Ringele5574]

I love the stories like this. How war fighters connect with those they are trying to save, and both are so grateful for meeting the other.

[@Dingle_Nugget]

It’s good a channel like this exist so we still have some memory of these hero’s in many years from now. Thank you for making this channel!

[@Bootinyourbutt19199]

I wish I could’ve got my Papa to see these before his passing. He was from the Netherlands as a teenager in the beginning of WW2, the Germans forced his family into the army and those who did not join were put to concentration camps. His stories were horrific of how he lived and survived. To this day he is my biggest hero for fighting. Rest In Peace Joaquim Jantzen 1938 - 2015. Thank you for sharing these Josh.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Mercury stories like your grandfathers need to be told, thank you for sharing a bit of his story and for watching.

[@richiecuzzz1]

This channel is so amazing. It really makes me proud to have a grandfather who fought on the western front. I absolutely love these videos and how you guys are showing what these brave men did to ensure our freedom. The newer generation needs to take note of history and what was sacrificed for the world we have today. Thank you guys so much for making these incredible videos!

[@joeschneider732]

Amazing story of a young lady! God Bless!

[@OLMasterChief]

Out of the 58 videos we have currently, i feel that this story specifically is the best. This channel should make it a tradition to ask every person they interview from this time period, what their advice is for the younger generations. All the stories you guys have captured keep me on the edge of my seat eager for more and more. Keep up the awesome work Josh and team!

[@Moonchild1607]

Can we also support this amazing project by translating? I can add Dutch subtitles to an episode!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Heartless thank you for the offer, we are able to add several translations. We will add Dutch subtitles to our videos! Thanks again for offering to provide those!

[@user-gw1li6jq5i]

@@MemoirsofWWII I can add Greek ones if you need

[@liamjohnston5578]

Dammit I cry almost every episode but this one hit me right in the feels. Thanks you!

[@nyboy76]

A side to WWII that we don't often see...what a great story. Thank you Ma'am for what you and your family did for our boys over there. God bless you.

[@LethalSx]

That was just beautiful ... thanks for sharing. It really gets normal to me to cry in every video you put online. These stories are all so touching... insane Job again, keep doing it please. Love from germany and love to the lovliest woman in belgium ;)

[@CarlJohnson-sq6gx]

Thank you for ur dedication and hard work of finding these ppl. Great video none are boring

[@TheStandardBearer]

My wife and I admire and love these stories.

[@jasonpatrick351]

This is very important work great job. We will always owe a debt of gratitude to that generation. They went through something I hope we never have to go through again.

[@leonrossingh8934]

I can not believe what a good channel this is, this is just wonderfull for anybody who loves to hear about history! Already watched every video multiple times!

[@jaimeribeiro4322]

I love this show and what it's doing for both these survivors of the War and also for young people of today, I do think it would be cool to have German, Italian and Japanese veterans/survivors sharing their stories like this too. It would be important, I'd say.

[@matteo4096]

If you are interested I suggest to search : "the italian bravery" or "Italian army in russia" on you tube

[@curtgomes]

In 2004 I visited the Henry Chapelle cemetery. It is a mot beautiful place. The head care taker of the cemetery told me the average age of the American GI buried there is 19 years old. Rows and rows of thousands of graves beautifully kept by the Belgium people. It's truly a heart rendering experience. I was traveling with two WWII vets who had friends there. They remembered their buddies like it was yesterday. Some incredible memories..........

[@oliviaalvarado5793]

My father served in the army during WWII. He lost two fingers from shrapnel. He talked about the sounds of the whistling bombs that flew overhead.

[@Paulrere]

This is easily TV worthy, so so good

[@StayMentioned]

I’m a whole man and I cry after every episode 😂 it’s just so touching

[@legolilpump2356]

Thanks for the upload

[@prettyreckless2700]

the first 20 secs sounds like my life with an anxiety disorder lol thank you for these, they're amazing and a hit of perspective one needs once in a while

[@jsjs9236]

thank you so much for these videos!

[@johnjaeger4804]

Great videos. great work. Thank you.

[@summermusic2288]

My favorite part of each and every month is your upload. Thank you so much for what you do!

[@jonahlevy5174]

Summer Music there videos make my day brighter because there is not many left in the world today.

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you for watching!

[@drew9195]

WHY THIS STUFF ALWAYS MAKE ME WANNA CRY!! I’m a grown ass man and it’s still making me tear up😭😂 beautiful channel Im so happy I subscribed. It’s very important what you’re doing here.