Return to the Ardennes Forest - Panzer & GI relics dug up

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

Want to get your hands on exclusive relics or merchandise? Check out our webshop: www.mdww2battlegrounds.com/shop/

[@goldenretriever1508]

My Dad was 18 years old when he was drafted in 1944. After boot camp he was shipped out and within a few months he was in the Battle of the Bulge. He was injured twice (shot and grenade) and brought home the scares of war. He passed away in 1990 at 64. I think about and still miss my Dad every day.

[@gnarly_bastard9284]

R.i.p

[@wakeupidiotsnow2611]

I can relate to you and your father. My dad was the last 10 drafted in May 44 age 25 in Dodge City. My old man was there, he was raised a cowboy in Hodgeman county Kansas, trained in the CCC as a mechanist in Dodge City during the dust bowl, US Army rifleman 28th Infantry Division “THE BLOODY BUCKET” Division as the red keystone badge of the 28th was interpreted by the Nazis. “ROLL ON 28th ROLL ON” and they did, all the way to the end! First US unit to enter German soil in WWII, in their push to the Elbe River and the defeat of the Nazis May 7th 1945. He survived the attack At Bastogne thank God for General Patton’s 3rd Army and Tanks came to their rescue.

[@rickb5946]

@@wakeupidiotsnow2611 Respect !

[@rivco5008]

Your dad risked everything for his country, a hero with a capital H. Rest in Peace.

[@f.dmcintyre4666]

RIP.........Can I ask if your Father passed away due to wartime issues? Bless............

[@petertimmins6657]

I was a Paratrooper in the US Army and served from 1983-2010. I carried the same type of spoon that you found. It was something I always had handy when we went to train, or to war. I cannot begin to count how many meals I ate with it over the years. It’s funny how the little things can bring back so many memories.

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

Thanks for sharing your story with us! Interesting to hear that the US Army kept using this spoon for so many years. It's robustness has proven itself. After more than 70 years in the soil it comes out like new!

[@delsmithfishing2891]

I am a veteran of war . Very happy the woods are peaceful now . Many men lost their lives . Thank you for sharing your video and being so respectful to the men of both countries !!!

[@slayer-roblox4904]

Del Smith Fishing thank you for your service

[@sutilgladiador8477]

I'd love to shake your hand. People like you have changed the course of history. You have my honors.

[@platesalesmanthevi6756]

Can you like, tell us what happen in the forest?

[@williamjones6053]

Del Smith fishing ..thank you for knowing that all soldiers are brave ..and even the enemy is loved by somebody ..you sir are a model vet and very humble about combat ..the horrors of which are burned in your mind forever ...catch a boatload of fish ..stay humble and thoughtful

[@zederish]

@@slayer-roblox4904 leave him a 5 star review

[@rivco5008]

My uncle fought in the Ardennes with the 99th division in Dec '44 to Jan '45. He would've been interested in this video. He died in Feb 2018, aged 91. RIP Robert Ward.

[@hasanbokra]

😪

[@kewlcaper]

RIP

[@idsfxtm5759]

he are germany army?

[@nickstaggs290]

Rest In Peace

[@nineballing1]

A true American hero..... RIP Mr. Ward.

[@vickicaldwell2091]

I want to write thank you for your professionalism, courtesy, and respect while conducting the metal detecting searches. You all allow for the items to speak for themselves. It's very easy to see that you take this "job" seriously; and I, for one very much appreciate your reverence. Your group does not fill the screen time with endless, inane and arbitrary chatter for this I am grateful. Blessings.

[@lindasnyder313]

My Daddy was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. Ironically, though he lived to be 95, he died partially from when his feet were frozen. How awesome it was to see this video. Daddy said the forest looked like toothpicks from all the shelling.

[@woowoo2903]

I like the way that you clean up the items and then show them in context with an explanation x Great work and very respectful

[@binky8501]

My Grandfather Leonard Trull fought there during the Battle of the Bulge with the Golden Lion Div 173 inf. He was captured and ended up in Slaughter House 5 with Vonnegut et al.

[@kevinwilliams563]

Thank you for sharing your adventure. My uncle fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was part of the breakout in 1945. He died on February 16,1945 and is buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery in Epinal,France.

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

+Kevin Williams Thank you for sharing this story with us. I deeply respect the sacrifice your uncle made for our freedom. May he rest in peace.

[@jackarmstrong7623]

If you don't mind me asking what was his name

[@anandapriyadarshan]

it's fascinating to watch these findings but yet a painful feeling of how these young men fought & maybe exhaled their last breath inside these woods, never knowing if some one would find them, parent's wife's kids back home. damn.... each of this part has it's own story. yet we are lost in a world where we have to earn to live. thank you for the share

[@jegrover1]

Another thing about the Battle and the Sherman Tank that few know now. During the battle, there was a heavy coat of frozen rain on top of the snow so that the tanks could not run on the roads with out sliding off into the ditches. So, the tankers would take off every 4 or 5th tread and reverse it so that the tread part that went on the sprocket would be on the outside of the track and there by give them traction when the Panzers could not move on the ice.

[@wakeupidiotsnow2611]

Great finds and video. My old man was there, he was raised a cowboy in Hodgeman county Kansas, trained in the CCC as a mechanist in Dodge City during the dust bowl, US Army rifleman 28th Infantry Division “THE BLOODY BUCKET” Division as the red keystone badge of the 28th was interpreted by the Nazis. “ROLL ON 28th ROLL ON” and they did, all the way to the end! First US unit to enter German soil in WWII, in their push to the Elbe River and the defeat of the Nazis May 7th 1945. He survived the attack At Bastogne thank God for General Patton’s 3rd Army and Tanks came to their rescue.

[@jegrover1]

My father fought in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge in a Sherman tank as a gunner. 74 mm gun that they started off with was under powered, but when the 75mm came out it could take a Panzer from the side or the back, but the front still was problematic. He was in A company of the 750th tank Battalion attached to the 104th Infantry off and on throughout the war.

[@thebravegallade731]

Actually the smaller gun is a 75mm while the upgraded one is a long barreled 76mm

[@Biffle-re3db]

My Dad fought there. He said it was hell. Thank you for being respectful to all. Great finds, I have my dads compass, just like what you found! I enjoy your videos very much. Thank you.

[@ikutiap5923]

AMAZING! thank you for sharing this

[@harishbhatt321]

Was you father from nazi side or french side??????

[@Biffle-re3db]

@@harishbhatt321 I apologize, I mixed up the Ardennes with the Hurtgan Forest battle. My Dad was in Pattons 3rd army, my Dad was severely injured on Nov. 30, 1944 in the Hurtgan Forest and was in England recuperating during that battle. He returned to duty in mid-late February and continued with his company/platoon to the end of the war in Germany.

[@punkbloater]

It said stainless on the back of the spoon, apparently that was back when the words actually ment something, it was spotless! 😊

[@franklinwerren7684]

Amazing artifacts of the WW2 era. The area was right in the middle of the area where the “Battle of the Bulge” happened. I notice most of the trees are post WW2 growth.

[@jbellos1]

My Dad was part of the 99th Division, 393rd Reg, 1 Batt, Baker Company. He was in a foxhole along what is called the International Highway. He survived and returned home in January 1945. He is no longer with us. I find your metal detecting fascinating and quite enjoyable. Thanks

[@Jay-bx4rh]

It's crazy how close to the surface this stuff is! Goes to show just how recent this period was even though it feels so long ago..

[@mnpd3]

My late uncle was there; D/424, 106th Infantry Division. A green division on line for only a week or two when On Dec 16, 1944 the Fifth Panzer Corps counter-attacked the divisional sector. Of 16,000 men only a few hundred were present for duty a week later --- my uncle was one, the sole survivor of his action. A Tennessee country boy, he could both outrun the wind and hide with the rabbits. That's what it took since fighting armor with your hard hands served no purpose.

[@marcoaureliodef.e.6402]

I living in São Paulo - Brasil and i always see videos about ww2. Yours videos are much importants to humans because it show us as was the bigger war and your atrocities. Thank you by your videos.

[@MsCripplex]

Thanks for digging up both our historical background, lest we forget the price that was paid on both sides. I live in Vermont in the USA and without your work I wouldn’t see these things. Stay safe!

[@WW2HistoryHunter]

wow , just so great my friend and thanks for sharing again. Greetings and stay safe. WW2HistoryHunter

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

It was a nice adventure again.Thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@timothymaynard5122]

David, I don't see you out in the field doing this. Not easy and luck has to be on your side. Just saying without any prejudice.

[@susiedavis9866]

7

[@gilbertcampbell7023]

@David Robinson 0i go away. Please unless you have something interesting. Where are you David ?. Answer please.

[@gilbertcampbell7023]

@@mdww2battlegrounds -it must be very exciting when you hear the first signal . And then go on to your find

[@mrm5556]

There were 27 enlisted men in service during WWII with the laundry number f4954, with a little work you might be able to find the actual soldier that carried that canteen.

[@nineballing1]

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing your finds, and not only that, but also telling us what the artifacts were and footage of them in use. I had a family member who was there in the Battle of the Bulge. Who knows, he may have been the one that dropped that M1 Grande clip. He told the cold was bearable after a day or two because your body went completely numb. The biggest worry was frostbite and "trench foot". Thankfully he made out of there alive and with all his finger and toes. He will always be a hero in my eyes.

[@binky8501]

knowing that my Grandfather fought on the very soil you are digging in makes these videos special, especially the Ardennes

[@hahakjfdd]

Crazy that 70 years ago that forest was hell

[@nealwoolworth7365]

I know kinda scary to think about

[@jh8338]

Just think....the last guy to use that spoon was probably sitting right there in the forest, looking around and wondering if he was going to make it home.

[@ace2164]

My father fought in the Battle Of The Bulge. He was near Liege on the Meuse River. He told me the snow was up to his waist and was very difficult to move around. He said he was strafed and dive bombed by a Stuka Dive Bomber on the morning of January 1, 1945. He also told me about the Germans that had infiltrated his area. They were in American Army uniforms and spoke perfect English. They eventually identified them because they wore yellow scarves so that their own German troops could immediately identify them and not shoot them in combat. Very interesting stories he told me.

[@nineballing1]

Thanks for sharing that. Your father was a hero.

[@KNOXBLOX]

My cousin Paul Carter was in the Tec 5 Company B 702 Tank Destroying Battalion. He drove a tank. He helped liberate Europe from Hitler’s nazi Germany. He went all over Europe and helped liberate Dacow prison camp. He survived the war. His commanding general was not Patton, but his battalion coordinated attacks with General Patton. He has a huge pic of all the tank battalions meeting together to receive General Patton’s European war briefing. There is much military paper work on the internet that describes his tank battalions basic training, shipping orders across the Atlantic Ocean, all the battles they engaged in and what parts of France, Italy and Germany they liberated.

[@BaseK59]

"LIBERATE"

[@crabapple1951]

Lost one Uncle at Remagen Bridgehead. His brother was tech 4 TD 609th at Bastone. Another brother flew on B-29 off Guam and yet another brother loaded ammo on the planes going from England to Europe. I retired Seabee -20 yrs.EO1

[@bax323]

I know this ordnance is over 75 years old but it would still make me nervous handling it worrying it could explode.

[@fw1421]

It’s amazing you can still find anything of value after all these years of metal detector hunters scouring the Ardennes.

[@josephcivita1450]

For anyone out there interested on look for these types of artifacts please be careful. Even very old munitions can be dangerous.

[@Bumper776]

The letter/numbers stamped into the top of the canteen could quite possibly identify who the owner was. The letter followed by 4 numbers is often called the "laundry mark" but it is the first letter of the last name followed by the last four numbers of their service number. At least this was the case when I was in the Army in the early '70s.

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

Thank you for your response. I am aware of this and performed an investigation based on these facts. Unfortunately, it did not lead to a perfect match. I am therefore still not sure about the canteens owner...

[@thehunter3386]

Excellent presentation! The on-screen description of the find, the field clean-up to further identify the relic and the video record of the original usage makes your production first class! Your discoveries serve to remind us of the sacrifices made so long ago must not be forgotten! Thank you for your efforts!

[@roadpanzir]

Well done, the Taylor instruments compass was made right here in my hometown of Rochester New York, their specialty was and still is thermometers.

[@livefreeordie45]

My father was with Patton's 3rd which came in to rescue those at the Ardennes.

[@jerrypalmer906]

Mine too, "The Super Sixth" 6th Armored Div. During the Bulge a 1st LT. Silver Star for actions in the Bulge. Passed in 2004.

[@Robert-dt8ur]

I metal detect and have always wanted to metal detect a battle ground in Europe especially in Germany and Russia. My grandfather was a Major in the Luftwaffe he flew a HE-111during the London blitz. Holding several Ph.d’s and being the chancler for the University of Mannheim before the war he was transferred to Peenemunde where he worked on the rocket program, i.e. V-1, V-2 etc. After the war he got his old job back as Chancellor of the University of Mannheim until he retired. Great videos keep them coming I’m jealous! In the U.S. it mostly coins usually not very old and jewelry plus lots of trash!

[@300routasydan2]

The last fallen of the WW I was fallen in the ardennes fields in France, not far to sedan and charleville-mézières... And nobody know it except those born in there

[@noahellis3672]

I really enjoyed this video, especially with the description of what was found and what their story might be. Seeing the items cleaned up, like the compass, is also a nice touch to the video.

[@chs82ndab]

At the 11:52 mark the M1910 canteen lid is marked with the soldiers Last name first initial and the last four of his service number. We still mark our equipment this way in the American military.

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

chs82ndab Thank you for that information! That's new to me. Do you think it is possible to trace down the soldier who owned the canteen based on this information? Is there a certain website for tracing down soldiers?

[@lookup49]

The canteen in marked A.G.M. co...American Gas Machine company. They made camping equipment before the war and supplied lanters, stoves and outdoor equipment to the US armed forces. Nice find.

[@t5grrr]

The compass, I have one left to me by my father, a marine in WW2. It is in "as issued" condition.

[@kostasomatalos]

13:50 I have a same compass almost like new from my Grandpa..

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

As do I, mine is just like it but from WW1.

[@WhatIsYourMalfunction]

The full Garand en bloc clip is filled with black tipped, armor piercing ammunition.

[@WhatIsYourMalfunction]

Are you sure they aren't faded red tip? They would be tracer rounds, though sometimes orange tipped rounds were tracer as well. Black above a red line are armor piercing tracer rounds. Silver or light blue are incendiary.

[@mlbannon6974]

ShinyPartsUp wow that flew right over your head

[@WhatIsYourMalfunction]

Yup, just looked at it again. Missed that one totally. Sheesh, no more typing until I sober up next time.

[@jason127x99]

Yep! I'd pull the heads and reload them.

[@WhatIsYourMalfunction]

Save them for SHTF. They aren't illegal.

[@derekstocker6661]

American canteens and mess tins often have a users name or initials on them still visible after so many years under the soil. Great videos guys, keep up the very good work, the halftrack treads an unusual find surely.

[@markporter2642]

Really nice video. I like the way you have integrated historical footage showing the artifacts in use by soldiers. Well done.

[@300routasydan2]

The maquisards done more than you US, your arrongant denial about frenchs is enough...

[@williamjones6053]

Brave men ..no matter what country ..all simply following orders for something bigger than themselves and a cause they believed in ...in life you have to stand for something or you will fall for anything

[@robertmcgowan4312]

My Dad was with the 4th Engineers on Omaha Beach on D-Day

[@lifeorliberty3086]

How amazing would it be to dig up relics from a real war! I cant even find a nickel around my house. Nothing but cans, nails and car parts. I'd give just about anything to go there someday. Thank you for sharing this video. I really enjoyed it.

[@granskare]

In the 1950s I used similar equipment in the USAF. Odd how things stay relatively the same . As others here have said, keep safe. I was at Sembach near Kaiserslautern so nothing of our stuff was in that area.

[@yingpin18]

@4:35 that is black tipped ammo for the M1 Garand. AP, or Armor Piercing ammo. Love the videos and the great finds.

[@beckydeboard1271]

my dad was at the Ardennes Forrest during Battle of the Bulge. He was 19. He passed in 2000

[@History-Secrets]

Great video guys!! :-D A lot of really cool and special finds! Awesome Panzer Track parts! :) Actually... everything is awesome, just a bunch of fantastic finds!! Thanks for sharing! Gr Nick

[@fairlane2020]

The condition of that spoon is simply amazing

[@burymedeep-be7dm]

That 1790 Luxembourg coin was a nice extra!

[@ikutiap5923]

It was probably the lucky coin of one of the soldiers! Or one from his great grandparents

[@huntinghistory1671]

Amazing scenery! 👍🏻 I visited Foy some years ago to get a glimpse of a feeling of what Easy Company 506 was going through at WW2. Best regards Hunting History

[@endutubecensorship]

5:13 Top left hand corner of the enbloc, you can see a fabric pattern. This enbloc was possibly in a "bandoleer" (disposable fabric pouches with a sling) that has since disappeared

[@GamecockRock90]

that flare find was cool... it could have been one of the flares used to signal for german assistance as they were losing the battle. HUGE historical find.

[@crusaderclarkplays5466]

Ardennes was the historic battlefield. GI's fought hard by initiative strategy fight and enemy has greater troops with tanks.

[@lavictoire1960]

I'm amazed how you manage to identify a lot of this stuff.

[@Abby1952]

Mollasses and water solution will clean rusted metal back to clean metal. I use it on rusted tools.

[@brianpetersen2364]

I suspect the halftrack was destroyed judging by the associated finds around it they were probably damaged in a fire/explosion, the flare was unlikely to have been fired and agin was most likely ignited by the fire/explosion, just my opinion of course and nice finds guys ;)

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

+Brian Hine That is definitely a plausible explanation! Thanks for watching.

[@skyservenews7605]

It is so refreshing to see the equipment, nationality and, area detected met with historical facts.

[@xXTh3W0lfXx]

Nice to see a old coin from my country (Luxembourg). I only saw them in a museum. And I might knowing where you were. Some soldiers of Luxemburg helped the Belgians to defend the north of Luxembourg and the Ardennes and I know that some of them had old coins of Luxembourg as a lucky charm.

[@berzerker1100]

Very interesting information Thanks !

[@kurtanderson5023]

Very cool and thank you for sharing. i wish i found things like this when I was serving there in the early 1980'2.

[@mistervacation23]

Smoking a cigarette in the hospital. Long gone are those days.

[@elbandido9887]

Great video the Ardennes Forrest saw a lot of historical combat during ww2 wasn't this the place that the Germans made a last ditch stand to turn the war into their favor? This place must be a treasure land mine worth's in ww2 relics and treasures my favorite part was the rare coin the one that originated in the 1700s that coin must be worth alot of money to coin enthusiasts.....

[@sigspearthumb1056]

That M1 Grrand clip was full of AP Rounds. How amazing

[@Arasmus45]

Very interesting. Seems like I learn as much as you reveal just by the massive amounts of comments you guys generate. Keep it up.

[@danielmcglasson8076]

I cannot afford to do this because I live in the slums. This is my dream and you are living it. I wish I had the opportunity.

[@danbarb9728]

from which country you are man?

[@joebrown1382]

I clicked this from the side bar after watching WW2HistoryHunter. Great video & I will sub you & ring the bell. That canteen almost made me cry. What a horrible time in history. My dad was in the "Bulge" I am a war baby 1945.

[@mdww2battlegrounds]

Thank you for watching! I deeply respect that your father fought for our freedom in Europe. He and his fellow soldiers will not be forgotten. Take care!

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

A Great video, the 100th Infantry Division U.S.A. fought in the Ardennes Forest, my DAD was one of the soldiers.

[@astridcassie5]

third night in a row watching your vids! super addicting

[@mikefreeman3772]

Nicely done & respectful video. Somewhat haunting. I am so lucky to not have had to endure what so many others have had too. I thank many of them that have endured such tragedy so that I live a free life.

[@deejayica]

This is not a video, this is another history lesson, very much thanks!

[@michaelleech7372]

Note the ordnance corp crest on the 75 MM shell

[@iForce08]

10:36 Poor U.S. soldier probably had its last drops and still had to fight the German ⚡ ⚡

[@disgruntledgrunt4259]

That first clip of M1 Garand ammo was not just any ammo, the black tips on the rounds indicate that it was armor piercing.

[@JohnWicksPencil14]

I don’t think I’d love anything more than metal detecting the Ardennes forest. Can anyone go and do this? I may have to plan a vacation

[@justicews]

U.S.C.E. (US Corps of Engineers). Just for your information.

[@surfinbird71]

You just saved me from a sleepless night.

[@richardcranium5839]

yes it is. the needles actually had radium to make them glow in the dark. exactly like my dads but his was marked usace (korean era)

[@philipperiopel1911]

And proudly made in USA, not China!!!

[@jewelbennett5446]

Salute to you hello

[@wiking44]

I metal detect in Germany but have not gone to any battlefields. I don't know enough about safety protocols. If I had dug up that incendiary bomb it would have gone off....that's just my luck.

[@That_NJ_guy]

Hasen Pfeffer well you are already digging up stuff you don't know what it could be so isn't that technically dangerous. I personally who like to dig up war stuff but I live in the US so we really don't have much war artifacts to dig for since most of it is probably so far gone. My biggest fear would be unearthing a body not an explosive. Just don't pull the pin and you'd be fine. If you do ever dig war artifacts, I recommend giving the explosives and dangerous products into the authorities or if possible a museum.

[@stevenjohnson2273]

It would be better to do what they did. Mark it and report it. No need to take unnecessary chances with old ordnance.

[@iamrichrocker]

great video..and thanks for not screaming..loved the the music with the editing of the video..you got a new sub ..i also had a sense of melancholy....my Dad was in the Army during WW2..and i am a big fan of Band of Brothers...love the historical viewpoints..thanks again..

[@ninalutgen6244]

Be careful.Thanks for finding these things and sharing.

[@potentix]

I was born in the Ardennes so i would like to see more pf these videos. Go visit a town called Malvoisin, i used to live there.

[@sarge6870]

Well done video. Just wanted to mention, the spoon you found at the end of the video was part of the soldiers mess kit.

[@ttech694]

As long as you don't disrespect the fallen soldiers. Nice finds.

[@christopherlangdon2892]

My father fought there in 1945...was wounded March 6, 1945 in either Mineralbrunnen or Birresborn. US 90th Division, 357th Infantry, F Company

[@datboidego]

Crazy how many people died in that quiet and calm forest. There was many dead bodies left behind and they were just put back into the cycle of life

[@mjj4246]

I could get addicted to doing that... thanks for sharing

[@bigsur175]

It looks like my father described it to me when I was a kid he was there in WWII

[@hansstrouf]

There is nothing left in the Ardennes forest, the resistance and the population recovered the weapons at night, you can recover only scrap metal and a lot of box of Nivea cream, the mauser, MP 44, Mg 42, the M1,

[@Lex5576]

7:50..Look at the Continental Tire horse logo on the track link. Continental was Germany's principal tire and rubber producer during the war....and still is.

[@pjyost9565]

The clip of 30.06 ammo you found was black-tip armor piercing ammo. Many GI's used it instead of the normal ball round for its increased penetration and damage. Ive heard many former soldiers talk about using AP ammo in the M1 and its nice to see actual proof of it. Nice video.

[@morriscat11]

My grandfather was in WW1 and WW2 i found your video was amazing keep it up please be safe

[@cerealkillerjigs]

the emblem stamped into the 75mm is Ordnance Corps which has changed over the years from supply ammo to presently the maintenance chevron.

[@sinisazidanic9275]

my grandfather give me a US wwII amunition box , US shovel and else.This youtube chanel is inspired my .Now im metal detecting. in my country croatia has been a war before 28 years. On saturday im going in forest where was a war. Here are stil old mines so i need to carefull. Lets hope that old mines not work any more. I hope i will find granade or machine gun.

[@sjohnson1776]

Awesome stuff Mates. Well done! That history needs to be preserved.

[@jdedonatoco1]

the metal detecting is like golf. it looks boring but man what fun to do it...

[@tinklvsme]

Hi, I found a great brush for small detail work. It's a dental brush found near the past for dentures. It cost me $1.20 at Walmart. I use it for my Jewelry and to detail the car. You would love it, it has a small brush on top and looks like a big toothbrush.

[@allanjelen2365]

think of all the blood spilled here and death a real sad place may all those men be blessed in heavens.