Legendary Band of Brothers D-Day Action At Brecourt Manor | With James Holland and Al Murray

[@panderson9561]

This has to be the best description/video I have ever come across of the Brecourt Manor assault. The aerial view with the drone, James' "map" drawing, being able to see both together at the same time, perfect.

[@pinchus34]

This series is amazing. I’m so glad you gents did this.

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

@@pinchus34 Really glad you are enjoying so far! More to come.

[@InTheFootstepsofHeroes]

Great place to visit, and yes, it’s astounding how close Le Grand Chemin is to the field. A great story is that one of farmers sons, Michel de Vallavieille, was shot in a friendly fire incident by one of the paratroopers. Critically wounded he was airlifted to England and survived. He returned and became the mayor of St Marie du Mont and became the founder of the Utah Beach Museum.

[@Thighanmighty]

His son, Charles, is the landowner now. He's also the local mayor. I've met him at Brecourt.

[@peterbrown1208]

Mr. Holland. You are a very good story teller. I'm going to enjoy walking with you guys. Excellent stuff.

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Thank you! Glad to have you walking with us.

[@kempez]

This is such a great series and a brilliant exposition of each small action and weirdly shows the scale of the landings, talking through each position's experience. The podcast is awesome, the books are superb, but this series is just so good. Thanks both for this, I hope it gets used as part of a continual education for our kids. It really gets to the nub of how it's real people, doing incredible things in a place that is still there. I will be visiting these places at some point, but this has inspired me even more. Keep it up!

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Thank for you these kind words. Glad you are enjoying the series!

[@iambecomepaul]

The whole, “looking back and wondering how that could have been me” really struck me hard. I have felt that. It’s unnerving, at least to me. There’s nothing real about the past except what you remember. And even THAT is surreal at times. Wow! I enjoyed this even if it was jarring.

[@DouglasBrightman-yb8ry]

Lucky to have walked the field on band of brothers tour It felt great to tread in the footsteps of Winters and Easy company That’s why I’m looking forward to my visit to Aldbourne in a few weeks

[@Thighanmighty]

I walked it with Charles, the landowner. I went in the ditch where Winters lead his men into...thats still there. It got too overgrown by the 2nd gun.

[@PalleRasmussen]

I want to let you and KZbin know that this is good stuff. Here you go.

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Thank you!

[@digitalbegley]

I'm sure this will be pointed this out by others, but a culvert allows a ditch or stream to travel under a road or railway. Mostly these are covered, however you can have open culverts. These are generally for ease of maintenance. I built a number of these as a Royal Engineer.

[@andrewrigsby4639]

'Culverts' were an issue in NI for us during the 'Troubles'.

[@MrJameshorsman]

It’s a ditch, culverts allow a ditch to go under something, like a road!

[@ChristopherWHerbert]

A culvert is more like an underground pipe under a road. A really large pipe. Much like a tunnel

[@ashfranklyn2847]

It does pass under the four way intersection between the fields and bocages.. I get where you're going, but that makes it a culvert yeah? 😉👍

[@MrHemlock51]

So you can't advance up a culvert. Well possibly on hands and knees in a larger one.

[@joshkarena3058]

You have to remember, Winters was given responsibility to take out those guns, he didn't know how many there were and where they were located because the Germans had them totally hidden from view, Winters had to scout the area, the landscape layout and how many Germans he'll be up against. He returns back to his CP, meantime he's thinking on what he's seen, how is he going to attack, what armoury he'll need, who will he take with him from who was available to him at that time. This is their first live combat and killing involved. The rest is documented and in history.

[@hadders8774]

I’m so glad this is here… I used to make maps and was a bit perplexed as to why Jim was calling it a Culvert… thought I was losing it!

[@ohorlando1187]

1st the pod. Now the vlogs. Also with James and Al’s books it’s a good time to be interested in history. Keep up the sterling work lads. Keeps me sane at work!

[@matthewelder3220]

I visited the Easy Co memorial a couple of days ago, looked at the field and the marble explanation and wondered exactly the same things as discussed. Normandy, its history and memorials are fascinating and very humbling. So pleased to have visited (again).

[@Meanlonger]

I love the banter between these two .

[@87leeb]

These two are a brilliant pair

[@davidturner7477]

Absolutely brilliant , love their podcasts

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Thank you for watching!

[@calumclark1719]

I know James has done simlar before as i remember watching it but the two of you walking the ground on Imphal and Kohima would really be good and hit home the incredible conditions that battle was fought. As i am listening to the series atm just jumped into my head

[@rsornbe]

You guys have grown on me. All of your videos and the presentation of a casual conversation with relevant examples and facts are amazing. Well done. Kudos to the camera guy too.

[@your_royal_highness]

I had the pleasure of talking with a member of the Vallavieille family (I think the daughter of young Michel who was shot by the Americans). She was so kind to talk with my friends and I. We did not go knocking on the door but pulled into the parking area by the field. Her even more elderly family members were coming back from church and one of my companions spoke fluent French. So they said wait here and got the lady to come out. I remember how she described the sadness that still permeated the atmosphere around the area. The “wounds of war” were still present.

[@ducomaritiem7160]

"Oberleutenant Strimmer" 😂😂😂😂❤❤❤😊😅 Absolutely Fabulous!

[@WelshAl]

Amazing videos, I love them. I went there this year and was as suprised as you said in the video that there are so few merchandised reminders!. All you have to contend with is huge coaches full of touring Americans (lovely people).

[@paulbardon4645]

Thanks gents for the education.

[@TheModelGuy]

Absolutely love this! I follow your podcast as well while driving around Alberta, Canada! You two together bring such a unique and engaging energy to history that you could talk about baking a cake and make it interesting

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Thank you!

[@MrCooperman]

Had the privilege of visiting Brecourt in ‘06, the owners son/grandson guided my Dad and I through the field itself, along the hedge line, to ‘Liptons Tree’ where the guns were etc. I believe it’s all closed off now, but what an experience that was! Especially after meeting some of the E-company veterans by chance in ‘05, at our hotel. Very memorable.

[@jamievandamme2452]

What an experience that would have been

[@Thighanmighty]

He took me in 2017 as well, whilst a tour group watched on enviously from the edge of the field.

[@bluesrocker91]

I always imagine it must be a very strange experience to revisit old battlefields as a veteran. I used to wonder a lot about WWI veterans returning to the Somme or Ypres, decades after the war ended, and how it must feel standing in what had once been No Man's Land, with their children and grandchildren around them. Knowing that the last time they were there, that spot was the closest thing to hell on earth, where nothing could survive, and to see it again as just a peaceful field in the French or Belgian countryside where families and coach loads of tourists visit must feel very surreal.

[@nigelbarrett4741]

Another great episode and wonderful reflections with which we can all empathise. I’ve been there a couple of times with my children, but still found it difficult to orient myself from the drone shots.

[@Alfie1970Waterhouse]

Thanks. Great stuff. Al is switched on.

[@hayleylicence6525]

Fantastic episode. Thanks again, chaps and chapetts!

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

@@hayleylicence6525 Glad you enjoyed. Thank you for watching.

[@calummacpherson9745]

Marvellous stuff , you chaps are quite brilliant .

[@kevinhendon]

This is one GOLDEN Series and really enjoying it 👍👍

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

@@kevinhendon Thank you for the kind words. We are heading out on our mission to shoot a new location next week.

[@kevinhendon]

@@WW2WalkingTheGround Fantastic news 👍👍

[@jjrider6758]

The Brecourt Manor site has changed so much since I first managed to find it 25+ years ago - Then there was absolutely NO mention of it anywhere on the ground.. I'd read the Stephen Ambrose book and stopped the car at the roadside near the Manor itself to look into the field at where I thought I had worked out was the rear of the gun emplacements (miraculously I'd actually got it correct !!) I was stood at the fence with a map and one of my young sons, pointing out what might have been where, when a smiling Frenchman appeared from the Manor. In my schoolboy French I asked if this was the location of the 'Batterie Allemande sur Jour-J' He said 'Oui' and, because we hadn't just trespassed, we could go in and walk along the hedgeline - It was fantastic !.. When the series came out a year or two later I was pointing at the TV saying 'Hey, do you remember going there ?'.. Did they hell as like !..

[@hamsteronthepaintingtable6465]

Another cracking episode chaps 👍😊

[@battlefield_hackers_exposed]

That feeling of dislocation to your own oast life is a very good observation.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Heck of a place.

[@longstreet0163]

Another really nice and informative video guys. The guns were 105mm light field guns. They may have been howitzer, but they were 105mm.

[@Pseudonym-aka-alias]

Been to Brecourt twice, once with a friend and the other I took my son in-law, and both times the owner took us around the field to see where the gun emplacements were and the machine gun nests that protected them.

[@DCS_World_Japan]

One of my favorite Band of Brother's episodes, despite the insane time compression.

[@RJVEK]

I’m now a fully paid up regular soldier to W Company- the walking company. I’m a lowly private with a chequered past seeking redemption but my NCOs are these two called Murray and Holland and they need my help making tea and folding officer’s chairs which they have purloined from an abandoned position some way behind the lines. I’m my kit bad is the most excellent book I picked up on my travels in Blighty names Darkest Hour- only on chapter one and it’s amazing! Did knows who wrote it but it is very impressive.

[@panderson9561]

Alright, you forced me to do it...I subscribed.

[@brettgreene4341]

whilst on a band of brothers tour last year, i had the honour of meeting the gradson of the owner of Brecort Manor and to then WALK on Brecort Manor itself and see of where the 🇩🇪gun positions were something il never forget as long as i live #onUNFORGETTABLEmoment

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing and thank you for watching!

[@brettgreene4341]

@@WW2WalkingTheGround well i've Only just starting watching this epsiode sir, and it still amazes me that i walked on that sacrid ground....a year on

[@AndyClayton-f5x]

A ditch is open, dry or damp. A culvert is a pipe. Its often next to a gate, allowing traffic or animals to cross the ditch.

[@PaulDouglasDouglas97]

I be there big fan of band of brothers can't wait for the next one

[@ianlast6722]

It’s quite interesting the directors got the sound right in BOB series as when they are depicting the scenes and the 4 guns are going off they literally sound like next door they aren’t like miles away

[@EdBarry-l9v]

The comments around 9:15 strike a cord - the 'how did I do that?' and 'was that really me?'. Now that I'm in my 40s the adventures of my teenage years (just ordinary stuff) seem like a diffferent person did them. I can only imagine being twice as old and thinking back to participating in one of the greatest events in history...just wow.

[@Gunthazv2]

Speaking of losing/finding weapons, Compton found a Thomson sub before or just after jumping, he was so desperate to use it he saved the clip till this action. Where it instantly jammed, this minute detail is still shown in the series.

[@jimwalsh1958space]

fucking awsome dude ! thanks both.

[@dreamjackson5483]

Interesting presenting duo 😁

[@johnappleseed9290]

There’s an interview with Bill Guarnere and the interviewer asked him how long did brecourt manor last? And he replied roughly 45minutes… I still can’t get my head wrapped around that.

[@Thighanmighty]

That's not what I have heard. The assault on the guns started around 9am and Dick Winters withdrew his men at around 12pm. By 1pm tanks had arrived from Utah beach that mopped the last Germans up.

[@johnappleseed9290]

@@Thighanmighty source? From dick winters account? I have his book hang tough, haven’t started it yet but if it’s from there I can see how that may a accurate source, but my source is from an actual interview with Bill Guarnere, an actual veteran who was there and his statement was that the assault lasted roughly 45 minutes, I can link the interview if you’d like.

[@ScooterMcGraw]

Dammit!! Was there a month ago and forgot to look in on Brecourt :(

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Next time!

[@patlittle4642]

A Culvert runs under the roadway a Ditch runs along side a road. Both used for drainage, Chimo!

[@johnsparks211]

I'm not saying WIKI is infallible but the page notes the Artillery troops did a runner and the guns were manned by 6th German Para regt with any troops they could find. Great video BTW Chaps..

[@jimwalsh1958space]

A ditch is simply a shallow groove dug in to the earth to drain water from the crop field. A Culvert is a ditch lined with stones, clay or concrete. Fun fact: The romans invented concrete that sets underwater.

[@Vinny86100]

What's mental to me is. How did the Germans not have security that knew the Allies were just across the road? Something you mentioned about disconnect from previous events. I completely agree whilst not on the scale I served in Afghanistan. I look at that now and when I tell stories, I almost don't associate myself with the person in the story. It's very weird almost like my life is in acts like a Shakespeare play.

[@WW2WalkingTheGround]

Thank you for sharing.

[@IverKnackerov]

I assume that with tens of thousands of troops landing on the beaches, the Germans were tied up doing their main job of firing the guns

[@Greenhillwoodlands]

The discussion about returning to battlegrounds being a cathartic experience really strikes a chord. I often wonder what areas of Iraq I fought in look like now and would love to be able to revisit and put some demons to rest.

[@RaceDayReplay]

I had the same feeling standing by the gate into that field, a great battle took place but now there's no sign only cows

[@chrisharrington655]

Also I guess coming to terms with killing another human being. Dick Winters does not come across as a blood thirsty nut-case, he is clearly a leader with compassion and integrity, who without WW2 would have been an everyday family guy. I know this obs because I watched all of Band of Brothers!!

[@AndyClayton-f5x]

If you guys want a laugh, watch Al doing a couple of videos for the tank museum. The 5 best tanks, and the 5 worse tanks. I was in hysterics.

[@nemosis9449]

Now the sounds of a strimmer breaks the silence but back then it would have been an MG 42.

[@patlittle4642]

I hope you guy's go to the Falaise Gap at some point?

[@anthonywilson4873]

A ditch is open a culvert is covered and drains water under a road or similar. So a ditch may drain water into a culvert under a road and then the ditch continues.

[@1psychofan]

According to the “reliable” internet search…the difference between a ditch and a culvert is that a culvert goes under a roadway or other obstruction-ditch is in open ground.

[@davids560]

Great video as usual but calling the attack on Pointe du Hoc a piece of cake is a bit off. Just look at the Rangers' casualty figures. Fascinating stuff other than that.

[@nails3394]

Aahhh naaaa ,James is drawing both sides of the road in his sketch 🤦‍♂️, apart from that...really good as always 🙏

[@philsosshep4834]

My great uncle did land right on top of the Germans he in fact landed in a german trench and was immediately captured and as they say for him the war was over . Gordon Taylor 6th airborne.

[@markkirby9531]

Regarding Spears refusal to get invovled in the Band of Brothers videos, perhaps he had PTSD, to some extent, from his service in WWII. It wouldn't be surprising if he did. If true, reliving any of those experiences was not in his best mental health interests.

[@ontheroad_again]

I recently found your videos and enjoyed them extremely. However, the shaking video gives me a little motion sickness, shoot wider and use stabilisation in post or maybe use a tripod. Not trying to be negative at all, just trying to help for a better viewer experience. Thanks

[@AlfieVasaar]

A culvert is a way over a ditch with a pipe in it to let water continue along the ditch. So it is in fact a ditch.

[@ronbednarczyk2497]

All the explanations of the attack on the guns at Brecourt Manor I've seen appear to show that the attack as presented in BoB was backwards. Unless they attacked the gun closest to Brecourt Manor first, the guns in BoB are pointing in the wrong direction. Can anyone please enlighten me on this?

[@iNireus]

Had no idea the 4 guns were so close to the assembly point, grand chemal I’m guessing the Spiers scene didn’t happen as close to the grand chemal as portrayed, Surprised Gerry didn’t hear them assembling Is it cos they were gunners who are def?

[@brynjenkins7979]

I’m sure in a way he was quite glad to go back and not see any trace of it. Peace had returned and the locals got there’s lives and land back.

[@LeveretteJamesClifford1955]

Culvert is a concrete, metal or synthetic pipe. The guns were 105s. A 155 is so big it requires a carriage that has 4 tires front and a removable carriage for the rear that has an additional four wheels. The 155s were so big that if the air corps or anyone else found them they could easily be knocked out of action with all crew killed. The bunkers you show had 105s and those that were destroyed except for a couple, were blown up after being captured. Some held on for a week, and two had their guns destroyed by direct hits from naval vessels. Man, so many errors in this video! You talk about the men's reactions, well, Winters found that it made him a better man, while another man disappeared for years taking odd jobs, finally went to a reunion and killed himself shortly after attending. Some men can take it, others go through the motions and still others are psychologically crushed. That is why we have so many veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are killing themselves.

[@paulkench4812]

Incredible really injoying ,i need to find out more about caen my grandad surrendered to the British he was in the ss lutenent in the panzer unit that his unit got bombed by the raf ,his tiger saved his life ,he never spoke about it but he just said the Nazis where the basterds and a German soldier was just yhat ,my great uncle was lance copral gearge kench of the kings own royal west kent regiment ,bren gunners at green hill 3of them took on a German moter cycle unit and succeded stray bullet got him ,died of his wounds at 22 buried in tunsia 👍

[@kookaburrakookaburra]

Ain’t nothing on Verdun, no battle on earth has beat that.

[@ianlast6722]

The most annoying thing is the sound of grass being mowed and cows. Somehow I believe Dick Winters would approve and enjoy that

[@simonfitton7536]

What about the DD tank in the corner of the plan!

[@user-mc4sq3fk5d]

It’s not the era at all but rather the Duck Winters hero worship. Some research will indicate he wasn’t, after the book, such a saint. Also, so many more units fought but the focus is all on the 506th. They did a fraction of the fighting of the men in the 1st infantry.

[@gorbalsboy]

The motion of reality versus unreality is every veterans experience,you go back to civilization and people wander about like farts in a trance and they tell you your fffed up😊

[@kevinrose7275]

a culvert is a ditch that runs under a road 🙂

[@rodroper211]

the abnormal becomes normal but then you have to go back to normal.

[@lucaamedeowilber1557]

how about it's a Dulvert?

[@CGM_68]

Don't you mean a Vitch, Herr Leutnant?

[@garymiller_85]

Ditch!

[@michaelbevan3285]

the guns were 105mm le FH 18s. Im surprised at James not knowing what they were.

[@nielshenkemans]

To be even more specific, they were le.F.H.18/40.

[@TermiteUSA]

Why cant a ditch flow thru a culvert?

[@tonycoulter2416]

A ditch hs sides. The ones a Brecort are .ore like shallow depressions. They werent like the ones in the series.

[@SteveR-w1q]

So the battle in band of brothers was shall we say not 100%correct

[@Snaproll47518]

The German artillery were 105mm. The 10.5 cm leFH 18 (German: leichte Feldhaubitze "light field howitzer") is a German light howitzer used in World War II and the standard artillery piece of the Wehrmacht, adopted for service in 1935 and used by all divisions and artillery battalions.

[@simonfitton7536]

What about the dd tank on his plan

[@simonfitton7536]

Put the dd tank on!,,

[@jafro8]

I’ve just googled culvert and it’s not a culvert

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

The hero worshiping of easy company is getting OTT, you would think they won the war all by themselves, the TV show is great and I’ve toured their sites but they are no more or less important than any other company or regiment.

[@PaulDear-jb2bu]

I think we all know that to be true, but they got/get the publicity due to the book and the miniseries, which could've been about any company of men during the war and gives you an insight into what it could've been like for any group of soldiers at any time during the conflict. The trouble is, is that there were too many actions taking place throughout the war to focus on all of them and I am sure there were even more exciting/courageous actions that would've made the Brecourt Manor battle look like a water pistol fight in comparison, so I will never complain about hearing or reading about Band of brothers.

[@garethjohnstone9282]

If there was a TV reenactment as good as BOB for every military unit that fought in WW2, you could take your pick. But as it stands, BOB gets the limelight. Perhaps it inspires people to research and learn more about WW2 as a whole, which is good, surely?

[@Britton_Thompson]

They were special forces, bro. I think they were just a little bit more important than other companies and regiments. Besides, who else was holding the line in the Battle of the Bulge? Everybody else was retreating while the 101st dug in

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Especially when the tv series (Episode 4) belittles the memory of the real life British tank unit. 44th Royal Tank Regiment, a far more experienced and battle hardened unit than the 101st Airborne was at the time.

[@IverKnackerov]

They keep alive, the memories of all the unsung heroes….dont be so miserable and salty

[@ryanaines6617]

This whole Easy Company BOB has been regurgitated so many times it’s pathetic. So many other stories than this.

[@user-mc4sq3fk5d]

Another Band of Brothers homage? Good grief.

[@Winters506]

Don’t like it? Don’t watch. Pretty simple. It’s ok if you’re jealous that not a soul will ever pay homage to your life achievements. Not sure why you’re so salty that historians have interest in this era? To each their own I guess…

[@LukeEdwards-x8c]

I wonder what these troops would think about the potential smoking ban in English pub gardens??

[@PalleRasmussen]

How is that relevant?

[@LukeEdwards-x8c]

@@PalleRasmussen well first most enjoyed a cigarette 🚬 and I am sure they would have been very vocal about a ban in their beloved English pub gardens. It’s so so interesting how society has changed.

[@PalleRasmussen]

@@LukeEdwards-x8c I wonder how these guys would react to the ban against human sacrifice in Denmark these days. You know, they too were warriors, and society change...

[@michelles2299]

Oh really? You always get one!

[@michelles2299]

user-mo8df6eb2z@@LukeEdwards-x8cnot relevant..... different times different priorities