How Strong were German Defences at Omaha Beach? | Walk the Ground with James Holland & Al Murray

[@patrickgallagher1633]

I visited Omaha for the first time today so really enjoying rewatching this video now. The defenses around the draws are impressive but I was struck by the length of the beach. Just 84 machine guns for 5 miles of beach, crazy. Note: I nearly got stuck at Vierville-sur-Mer all night, would not recommend doing Omaha by public transport 😅

[@DDDD-pv7fw]

One of the best channels on KZbin, was just there in Normandy for the 80th Anniversary. God Bless all those who served !!

[@Movetheproduct]

These two don't have good chemistry together, talking over eachother and both wants to lead the conversation. Too bad really, could have been good.

[@davidsullivan7743]

Really enjoying this, it's great to hear two knowledgeable experts explain it on the actual ground

[@callumgordon1668]

Over 20 years ago we holidayed near Isigny Sur Mer and a holiday in Normandy kindled an interest in serious history about WWII, during which I’ve read and watched and valued anything of you guys that I’ve come across. Intelligent, informative, accessible, entertaining but respectful. Omaha, as you say is a beautiful beach, an amenity for locals and tourists and our then 2yo little boy played in the sand and surf every day. A poignance that wasn’t lost on us, especially after visiting the adjacent US cemetery, the Commonwealth Cemetery at Bayeux and the German one at La Cambe. Our little boy is now a young man, probably older than most of the soldiers that fought in Normandy and WWII and I’m grateful that in part due to their sacrifice he is unlikely to ever experience what those oh so young men did and that part of that sacrifice means that children and their families in Western Europe can safely play on beautiful beaches. Would that it could be so everywhere.

[@irishmarine3]

What a wonderful video with a great pair of hosts

[@luciusesox1luckysox570]

I went in 2004 and was blown away by the scale of the place. One thing that stuck in my mind were these holes/gun emplacements carved out of the cliffs at the western end of the beach. From there you had a perfect enfilade view of the entire beach. I have no idea what guns were in there but they would have been able to cause absolute carnage.

[@DaveHalliday-zd3hi]

Great content,been looking for an 'on the ground' perspective of normandy for a long time,keep up the good work

[@glynmatthews6697]

Thanks so much for being the absolute best thing onYT fur some considerable time!!

[@callumgordon1668]

Brilliantly described and informative. A fascinating watch.

[@lightspeedlagu]

Just reading Holland’s book, Normandy 44. It’s excellent.

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

Brilliant!!!

[@M_Holien]

Excellent nuggets in between the banter and some good insights. Thanks to the whole team presenting these two gentlemen at the tip of the entertainment spear.

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Movetheproduct]

These two don't have good chemistry together, talking over eachother and both wants to lead the conversation. Too bad really, could have been good.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Woody had a good episode on The Colville Draw a week or so ago. How defences developed since 1942, etc.

[@jabonorte]

Loving the video content! Doing a great job for the French tourist board

[@LukeEdwards-x8c]

Cracking series ❤

[@kevinhendon]

This is getting better by te episode👍👍👍👍

[@martynmcnulty782]

I have visited Omaha Beach - a very humbling experience ...

[@JamesBouault]

WN60 was the position that fired on my Grandad's 550 LCA Flotilla (Royal Navy) as they brought in US troops of I and L company of the 16th Infantry Regiment during the first wave on D-Day (the map used at the beginning of the video i believe has a small mistake, Company I with the arrow pointing to the east were part of the 16th Infantry Regiment not the 116th as shown). They were meant to land on Fox Green sector at 6.30am but ended up landing at around 7am on Fox Red instead due to the strong sea current pulling their landing craft to the east. Also a combination of sea mist and the smoke fires above the cliffs hindered navigation for Grandad's flotilla. Indeed, half of Grandad's flotilla (6 LCAs) were so far east they were heading towards Port-en-Bessin! They realised their mistake and turned around, now going parallel to the coast line back towards Omaha Beach. They arrived on Fox Red over an hour late. Grandad's flotilla had the misfortune of coming ashore directly opposite WN60, meaning they came under sustained and heavy machine gun fire from this position on their run into the beach, causing loses to the US troops and to the Royal Navy personnel - 550 Flotilla lost 5 men during that first wave, but a positive was that the steep cliffs under WN60 offered the US troops below some protection once they did come ashore.

[@user-oo8xp2rf1k]

On the french coast ( near Picardy actually) I remember seeing hip-hop graffiti on a big gun implacement and I thought, with satisfaction how much Hitler would have hated that. These victories have infinite impacts, decades later. I don't like hip hop graffiti that much, outside of New York, but i love the open relaxed society that makes it possible.

[@adriang6259]

I have visited the beaches and most of the places these guys have shown on these documentaries. I had the same thought. Imagine being stationed on that beach and there's ships dominating the entire horizon, the entire channel. Horrifying is very close to the emotion, I would imagine.

[@tutts999]

Very interesting watch, well done to everyone involved.

[@chadgrov]

If any of you history buffs are also into video games I highly suggest checking out the game called Hell Let Loose - WW2 first person shooter, nothing like call of duty, much more tactical, slower paced and intense. You can basically call it “playing” Band of Brothers instead of just watching it. Omaha and Utah beaches are maps in the game. As well as Foy, Kursk, Remagen, Driel, Hurtgen Forest, Saint Marie Egliese and Saint Marie Du Mont, Carentan, etc. it’s quite good, and visually stunning Edit: on Omaha beach there is a strong point named after the real life “draw” believe its WN70

[@user-kj1mp9eo9v]

My father’s 1st cousins , French, are still in Normandie…. I just saw on another video that the Germans were trying to move huge forces up from the south in the middle of France to bolster against the Norman invasion of the allies… But Americans and British dropped machine guns and supplies to the French resistance fighters in the middle of France, who blow up rail lines and made it difficult for the Germans to mobilize their troops up to Normandy… This is a major factor in why the German defense were not as strong as they could’ve been… Hitler was trying to put tanks railways and usher them up to Normandy from the Vichy part of France… finally, on the French side of things that is on my French family side, my great grandfather good friend/cousin was Eugene Lefebrve, who was responsible for the French resistance in Pont-Audemer

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Great comment! Thank you.

[@WargamingHistory]

Two 88mm one at either end one at WN72 and one at WN61. Incorrect numbers on the Tanks too lads, Zagola has higher numbers. 741st B coy 5 DD tanks made it ashore. One of these knocked out the 88mm in WN61 and the 75mm in WN 60. A coy 14 deep wading landed and 7 dozers, three were destroyed by the 50mm in WN61. All of A cots tanks were lost by the end of the day. In the western end 743rd 32 DD and 7 deep wading and 3 tank dozers landed 6 were lost to the 88mm and 50mm in WN72 almost immediately.

[@crazyhippo99]

These are brilliant to watch and listen to but one thing I think hasnt been mentioned is that the allies landed initially at at low tide and had 200 yards or more to cover before they got to the sand that can be seen in the background towards the end of this episode. There is also the fact that beach was filled with obstacles and mines. all in all, hell for whichever side you happened to be fighting for on that day.

[@tonyhuntington]

A brilliant unscripted show I feel like I'm sitting with 2 old friends having a chat

[@andrewflindall9048]

I would be interested to know the source for the 'plan to land between the strongpoints and come at them from behind'? On the face of it, the 'plan' appears to be little more than 'one company per sub-sector'.

[@IverKnackerov]

Thanks for a quality (free) content. If you are one of the nause’s who can’t resist picking out minute details that you think are different, please don’t. It doesn’t make you into an expert and it doesn’t add to anyone’s enjoyment.

[@hamsteronthepaintingtable6465]

Thanks for another great instalment, reminds me of the scene in The Longest Day and the German commander in the command bunker, sees the invasion force at sea. Always awesome that scene😊

[@cmarnold78]

Ahhhh the dude that does all your audio books. Thought I recognized the name and voice!

[@DHBucsFan]

No walk of Juno Beach in this series?

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Sadly not on this Normandy trip. We had a packed three days, but we'd love to return at some point, as we feel that we've literally scratched the tip of Normandy.

[@DHBucsFan]

@ understandable, but at the same time, it does often feel like the story of D-Day is just the same few stories told and retold again and again, not to say that the stories of Omaha, Pointe du Huc, Pegasus Bridge or Brécourt Manor are not worth telling, but 13,000 Canadians landing on Juno doesn't seem like just a small omission from the D-Day story. And in a wider sense I think here in Canada with that story, and others from our military past being so little explored or talked about it makes it more difficult for modern Canadians to connect with that military heritage we do have, and our much neglected modern CF is a reflection of that. The soon to be previous government was only able to put the CF into it's current state; under equipped, under strength and in a recruiting crisis, while the priority seems to be using it as a social experiment rather than a professional organization dedicated to protecting Cdn sovereignty at home and abroad and supporting our allies because there isn't a cultural connection between the population and the CF, which is in part due to the history of it having such a small space. Got on a soapbox there a little bit, not really directed at the show, the hosts, or the channel, just supporting why I think covering Juno to as wide an audience as possible is important.

[@britishmuzzleloaders]

"Acrid stench of cordite".... which the Americans didn't use... I digress... Another fine episode!

[@heinkle1]

Saving Private Ryan fooled us with the giant concrete towers

[@Leon-bc8hm]

Typical and they talk about Russian movies being propaganda (they sure are but the have things more right than wrong numbers wise and quality troops against them).

[@djtrainspotter]

I was expecting to see a few more views of the area.

[@matthewtoes6433]

Can relics still be found if you walk around with a metal detector or is this forbidden Some people like to go to old war fields just for this purpose

[@kennethhendrickson2865]

The problem was that when the run out of ammunition there id no reserve or way to get re supplied.

[@igolfjtweetler4097]

The Germans suffered 1200 dead at Omaha beach so they fought hard with what they had. The biggest problem they had was lack of ammunition.

[@Leon-bc8hm]

And their best Armies A B and Center were being destroyed in the East.

[@Lee.Enfield-303]

Al, lend James some of your brylcreem 😜 Watching these videos makes me want to break my enforced abstinence of Hell Let Loose, but the reality wont match the expectation.

[@RR-uj2vx]

Or, James could wash his hair. Bet his jeans need a wash, too.

[@carlhepton5059]

Al I’ve seen war time photos that is a gun bunker holding a pak50 at gun nocked out whether it was a dummy??

[@gerald1589]

Please remember they had their day at the beach . So you could have yours.

[@robertsessoms]

Bad weather kept Bombers from hitting it right before the landings

[@AndyClayton-f5x]

To hit the defences, the bombers were asked to fly along the coast, bit the AF were nervous of flak, and insisted on bombing from the sea. Most of their load fell on the fields behind the defences.

[@nickbudd7296]

Just some pointers on the defending episode. There were five draws, not four. Two 8.8cm guns, not one. 352ID wasn’t poorly trained - level 2 of 4 levels of competency - with offensive training yet to be achieved. And it was well-equipped as per TOE. 716ID by nature was not a front line unit, being static, Niels is the expert here. The top/rear of the bluffs had two Kompanien of 352ID who were in direct support of the WNs. So they must be taken into account. Mostly Ost Battalion is not correct either.

[@harrygoatleaf4032]

No mention of the fact that the likely success of the landing was so precarious at one stage that the Americans contemplated cancelling it when at the early stage US soldiers could not get off the beach but stayed behind the cover of the sea wall due to the amount of German defensive fire.

[@dominiclaherty4099]

Actually that’s a bit of a myth that came about later in history when Bradley was older and said he considered it. But none of his dairy or records record this at the time and he actually sent his 2ic to the beach around mid day who reported everything was fine and no concerns. Given the gap it would have left between the other beaches it wouldn’t have been an option at all to withdraw from it. Essentially despite heavy casualties on either end of the beach it was basically secure from 1030 however the smoke and poor comms didn’t mean this was clear to the off shore commanders

[@scottscottsdale7868]

Wait. James Holland and Tom Holland are brothers?

[@jesseratcliff3508]

Yes.

[@oldskool731]

yep

[@Philmoscowitz]

Not to diminish the soldiers' accomplishments on Omaha Beach (which was actually the bloodiest of all the Normandy beaches on D-Day), but that day saw only 3,400 American casualties at Omaha, of whom only 770 were KIA. Those numbers pale in comparison to the famous battles of WWI. My point though is that those numbers speak to the relative weakness of the German defenses at Omaha.

[@Leon-bc8hm]

Where were all those German crack troops.... oh yes they were getting completely destroyed on the Eastern Front.

[@CGM_68]

Just 1 German Division (12,020 men) defending 33 miles (53km) of coastline; almost half of whom have no combat experience. What were they thinking of?

[@PalleRasmussen]

The millions of Red Army soldiers in the east.

[@phillydelphia8760]

Defending that kind of position requires very little skill or experience. Realistically, these beach defenses aren't really designed to stop anyone. But to hold them up for long enough that the counter attack can arrive to push them back into the sea. Why waste well trained and highly experienced troops on a static defense? That's the logic that I would imagine they went with. Edit: also the allies had been waging a campaign of disinformation to lead the Germans to believe that the actual landings and biggest hit was to come at Calais, rather than Normandy.

[@InTheFootstepsofHeroes]

The 352nd Infantry Divison was brought in to the area but were tasked mostly as a reserve to meet any invasion force. Their Artlillery were augmented for defending the beach, with observers located at resistance nest along the beach.

[@InTheFootstepsofHeroes]

@@PalleRasmussen Rommel was more concerned about the 2 million Allied soldiers across the channel and their air armada.

[@PalleRasmussen]

@@InTheFootstepsofHeroes but he did not decide what divisions were sent east or west.

[@BlueGorilla111]

What always I find puzzling is why hitler decided to fight on so many fronts at the same time, I’m glad he did because ultimately the war was lost and it seems a major contributing factor.

[@wbertie2604]

Attacking before the other side had completed rearmament and before running out of oil. Winning the war became unlikely as soon as France and Britain declared war in September 1939, although the Allies winning wasn't certain for several years later - stalemate was a likely outcome.

[@andrewflindall9048]

There were two divisions to pile in, but they only assaulted two brigades (regiments if you're a yank) up, same as GOLD, JUNO and UTAH

[@siras2]

Approx 1500 men (750 per Division) in the 1st wave at Omaha.

[@wbertie2604]

They landed as RCTs - Regimental Combat Teams - reinforced regiments, so basically brigades. Most US divisions had three regiments per division, but a few had four for D-Day, such as 1st Infantry. Most US troops had the advantage of semi-automatic weapons, apart from one regiment (2nd Infantry) whose commander distrusted the M1 and insisted that they use M1903s!

[@sugarresin]

Have you guys read Heinrich Severloh's 'the Beast of Omaha's' memoirs? And how his MG42 machine gun post was responsible for the majority of the casualties inflicted on the US infantry on Dog Green

[@DJhinckley]

On the basis that entire deaths for Omaha was approx 1600 and total casualties around 2800, Severlohs claims to have fired 12000+ rounds, killed over 2000 and fired continuously for 12 hours look a tad over exaggerated. Its debated whether Severloh even manned an MG42, as more likely he was in one of the M1917 positions his unit had, given his war record. Casualties in front of WN62 his units MG42 position were approximately 300+ on the day. So, the questions are, where did Severloh get all his extra ammunition and spare gun barrels from? And how did he manage to be responsible for 70% of all Omaha casualties from his one single WN position? There is actually a very famous Robert Capa photo, from D Day second wave showing soldiers avoiding fire behind a couple of tanks,, the position is fire coming from right side WN64, and not WN62. Sevetloh lied.

[@InTheFootstepsofHeroes]

No, he didn’t. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJa9l4CFbreXrZYsi=BlU34So6_6PKIcXL

[@wbertie2604]

​@@DJhinckley the gun he likely had, the Polish version of the M1917, had a fixed barrel. So his story is even less credible. He claims to have killed, from a single spot, more than were killed on the entire five mile frontage.

[@maverick4177]

No wonder there were so many offers of “handy hock” followed by gun fire in a lot of cases I’d imagine

[@jasonmussett2129]

The situation for the Germans was made worse because of lack of ammo-enough for forty five mins

[@AndyClayton-f5x]

Those German mgs chewed up ammo at an alarming rate. Keeping them supplied was always an ongoing struggle. You often see soldiers with belts of bullets draped over a shoulder, it'd be used in no time at all.

[@wbertie2604]

​​@@AndyClayton-f5x well, they would have chewed through it if they'd been MG-42s, but they were often ones such as the Polish version of the American M1919. In general, MG-42s were prioritised for the mobile divisions, not on the thin crust of the defences right on the beaches

[@RonaldReaganRocks1]

Man, the guy in the tan jacket looks exactly like Rik Mayall.

[@neelo79]

Is Al really hungover?

[@siras2]

0:14 "We're starting at the Western end" ummm - Eastern end.

[@MegaBloggs1]

but they dont use the naval guns!!!! the excuse of the sunk tanks doesnt hold up-one of the tank battalions was effectively launched

[@Filmmaker809]

Would have worked if you had not talked over one another. Come on.

[@TheBioniXman]

You cannot spell. What is the word in the title that is similar to Defences?

[@andrewflindall9048]

'Defences' is correct in actual English. Sorry.

[@wessexdruid7598]

5:02 Al - if you want biodiversity and protected species, visit the Salisbury Plain Training Areas - or better still, Porton Down!

[@alberthennen7370]

Get your facts straight boys. ID 716 was a Bodenstandige Div ( Static or Fortress Division - not first rate either in terms of men or equipment ) , but the 352nd was a (reconstituted) line Infantry Division with a cadre of NCOs and Officers with frontline combat experience. You also failed to mention the Mortars , organic to Infanterie Divisions , which while not on the beach or immediate bluffs , were well within range and with predesignated fire zones and Forward Observers at the beach in the protection of the bunkers. MGs were set up in enfilade fire from the Widerstandsnesten.

[@IverKnackerov]

Jeez…. It’s free quality content. And you’re picking the legs off the fly ….

[@alberthennen7370]

@@IverKnackerov Hi Ivan In my opinion such details matter in history. You may have noted that I erred in my own response above by saying defilade fire when I meant enfilade , and have since corrected it. I am only an interested amateur , and I make my share of mistakes , but such small details become the foundations for what is commonly believed. This makes each piece of information important , so that what is built atop the foundation is sound. I myself am always in search of accurate detail. In my opinion , sometimes those legs are out of place.

[@wbertie2604]

The mortars were very significant. People talk about Severloh and MG-42s, but USA estimates were that 60% of KIAs were due to artillery and mortar fire. (It makes Severloh's claims even less credible).

[@Movetheproduct]

These two don't have good chemistry together, talking over eachother and both wants to lead the conversation. Too bad really, could have been good.

[@Movetheproduct]

Holland is the one destroying the chemistry

[@MegaBloggs1]

why doesnt bradley cop more flak for failing to hammer the beach defences through ignorance and dismissing the techniques learnt in the pacific-the omaha bombardment is pathetic compared to the softening up of some the islands in the pacific

[@andrewflindall9048]

To be fair to Bradley (shocking, I know), that call was made above his pay grade. Actual destruction of beach defences by gunfire or bombing would take time. The Germans could use that time to move forces to Normandy before anyone landed. 'Operational' surprise was more important than tactical surprise.

[@MegaBloggs1]

you are making excuse for bradley

[@julianwilcox399]

Well also the crap US landing craft that meant you had to wade in from 500m out. It the US had taken the British crafts we offered you that you deemed 'gimmicks' you wouldnt have lost as many men . Arrogance, which was a main theme in WW2 despite joining "our team". I have said for years The Yanks had the 2 easiest beaches and yet made a total mess of it because they wouldnt listen to people who had been there

[@BrbWifeYelling]

Sounds like they should’ve listened to you…

[@Leon-bc8hm]

Just like in Hurtgen forest.

[@wbertie2604]

They used the landing craft they had. The UK didn't produce enough. The USA built ten times as many as the UK.

[@andrewflindall9048]

​@@wbertie2604 Yet many US troops (including all the Rangers) landed in British landing craft, many of which were British-crewed, others loaned to and crewed by the USN. I think the original comment is blurring LC and the Funnies.

[@wbertie2604]

@andrewflindall9048 yes, many were manned by RN but they were a mix of LCA (production about 2000) and LVCP (production about 23000). I hope someone with more knowledge of who piloted which, when and for whom can comment. There was a high demand for LVCP in the Pacific, of course, and in other areas.

[@Eric-kn4yn]

These 2 guys are waffeling on wheres the facts

[@Leon-bc8hm]

The fact that the Germany Armies AB Center and their allies were getting completely destroyed at the Eastern Front.

[@jcallear8529]

how dare you say the smell of cordite is an acrid smell to ex members of the armed forces and my service the rn it is the smell of freedom

[@Leon-bc8hm]

Blah blah blah blah you never seen and drop of blood in your life. So tired of these so called veterans online.

[@davidrendall7195]

Not really accurate to say the British and Canadian beaches were only assaulted by a single division. Each beach also saw the deployment of an independent Armoured Brigade, Sword beach saw the use of two independent Commando Brigades, each beach also saw the deployment of numerous subunits of 79th Armoured, two brigades of independent artillery (AA and Field) plus RN and European Commandos. So yes... only one divisional standard came ashore at each British and Canadian beach, but the equivalent manpower and systems of slightly over two divisions landed on Sword, two divisions worth at Juno and slightly less on Gold. Over the first 24hours more came ashore on the British and Canadian beaches to exploit inland, so their second punch of the day was stronger. British and Commonwealth forces operated independent assault brigades in greater numbers than the US Army. They may be smaller units but surely they still deserve to be counted.