Storming the Toughest Fort of Cherbourg (Fort du Roule in Normandy) | History Traveler Episode 292

When it comes to the Battle of Normandy, one of the divisions that commonly gets overlooked is the 79th Infantry Division but these guys were engaged in some tough fighting in the summer of 1944. One of the actions that they were involved in was the taking of Fort du Roule, which sat upon a dominating feature in Cherbourg and was vital to the taking of the deep water port. Not one, but two Medals of Honor would be awarded to soldiers of the 79th for their bravery in taking the fort. Much to learn!
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburg...
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[@TheHistoryUnderground]

⭐ If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com.

[@williambabbitt7602]

I’ve been a subscriber since I first saw you, Wayback when you were walking through Gettysburg battlefield. After all, we’ll dunkers have to stick together.

[@terrymcgivern1585]

Thank you so much for giving some recognition to the 79th. My father was with the 79th. he never made it to Cherboug though, as he was wounded in the thigh by a sniper at La Haye-du-Puits. Falling in a ditch, the sniper took a few more shots at him, but he was just low enough to not get hit. The sniper was eventually captured, and made to carry my dad's litter back to the medics. He spent the next 6 months in an english hospital. One last thing, when he recovered he was sent back to his unit which was now in the Ardenne. They made him a cook and he stayed mostly out of the action. One day, most of his group was out on patrol. He was in a small cabin cleaning up after breakfast. He looked out the back windows and german paratroopers are landing in the back yard. He had no weapon within reach, but took a butcher knife and tried to hide. He could hear Germans on the front porch and was expecting them to come in. But then he heard gunfire, the rest of his group saw the paratroopers and drove off the germans. He was pretty shook up as you might imagine. Thanks for listening to his story and for telling everyone's stories! you do an awesome job!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that. Glad that I could do a small bit to shine a light on the 79th. Hoping that people will be sharing these videos out to help others learn about these guys and what they did.

[@edmundlibby2215]

My father was a US Army Major in the Cherbourg port clearance and logistics operations. He brought back a 12 power German artillery spotting binocular that he found in one of the railroad tunnels into the city, which the Germans used for storage -- I still have it --

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow!

[@northsongs]

That's a treasure passed down from a hero father!

[@SaundersE5]

That’s way cool

[@63vetteman]

Common men demonstrating uncommon valor, each & everyone! Thank you & God Bless!

[@chrisl211]

As a kid I used to play with my cousins in the caves below Fort du Roule. We could access the bunkers and all fortifications inside the hill. It's like a maze and a very dark place where you can be embushed very easily. The combats must have been very tough in these parts.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Wish I could’ve got in there.

[@robertcottam8824]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Why didn’t you ask for permission in advance?

[@williambabbitt7602]

Thank you, JD! I’ve seen many movies about the invasion of Europe I have read books about it, but until you actually see it, you can’t begin to appreciate the difficulty of the challenge. I am struck by the loss of life during this venture. On both sides sons were lost wives were widowed fathers were killed, beloved uncles, who did, and all lives reach changed. Every life plus changes someone else’s life. There is always more than a single victim. Again I thank you for bringing this to my attention in such a powerful way. God keep you safe.

[@sandramosley2801]

A jewel.👍🏼 I don’t as often mention your skill as a writer and storyteller, but your skills in these areas are beautiful as well.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@surfdocer103]

Well said and deserved

[@alexisbonnel897]

Hi JD, thank you so much for this great video, my family is from Cherbourg, I could have shown you a couple of cool places around that still carry a lot of WWII scars and hidden artifacts. The propaganda about assassins going back to where their crime was committed is a reference to Joan of Arc. History is everywhere, thanks for showing it. So many sacrifices by the Allied forces shall never be forgotten.

[@rafterman2126]

This video is a little more special to myself as my Great Uncle, Sgt Joe Owens fought with the 79th infantry Division 315th Infantry Regiment. I believe he was wounded fighting on the Cherbourg Peninsula. He was later KIA in February of 1945 during the German offensive Operation Nordwind in the town of Hatten France. God bless all the brave soldiers who fought in WW2. Thanks for all the video's you do and thanks for keeping history alive and nor forgotten.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh wow. Glad that I could share this.

[@timothyogden9761]

I am very glad to have stumbled upon your channel over 3 years ago. I appreciate the hard work put into one ever informative video after the other. Thank you Teach!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I appreciate that!

[@JWPRODUCTIONS2025]

This channel actually got me watching more videos on the Hitler Era & WW2. Great job doing the videos. Keep up the good work. you just gained a Australian subscriber

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@1psychofan]

That steep ground at the fort, WOW! These guys were tough to take that!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Very.

[@williammathews3022]

Great video! Obviously, those divisions tasked with pushing towards Paris took a lot of the fame and notariaty. Glad you're posting vids on the lesser-known, but equally important, push to secure Cherbourg!

[@bottomlesspit7]

Glad you're sharing other appreciated but unknown divisions as well!! Be sure to include the 90th Division if you can! That was my great-grandfather's division. 357th Reg. Co. G.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@stephenrrose]

Great video JD! Always learning something new from your videos (History lessons) Thank you for keeping History Alive! Wow, that ground is steep!!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 👍

[@Sir_vAce]

You never cease to deliver captivating and hugely informative videos! Impeccable job!

[@robynw6307]

JD you always, always, always add something new to my knowledge. I never knew about PLUTO. Genious.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@clarkbuckner4900]

My dad was there, co. B,313th. Regiment 79th infantry.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🇺🇸

[@randystolz]

As ever, thank you for showing us the ground, JD, and I especially appreciate it when you share non-American (in this case, French & German) perspectives on the battles. And, as ever, thank you for remembering to us the men whose incredible valor makes our freedom possible.🤓🤓

[@charlesbruss225]

A place I planned to visit someday!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Quite the place.

[@pauldouglas3084]

Really enjoyed the video mate can't wait for the next one

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Wreckdiver59]

Very cool 👍 You don't hear a lot about Cherbourg. I know Le Havre was used extensively later in the war, but that was quite a bit east of the Normandy Beaches.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I wanted to spend a bit more time on the peninsula on this trip. Hope that people find it interesting.

[@Spitnchicklets]

Hey JD, Great to see you, hope you’re doing well.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@michaeldouglas1243]

Great video. Ur right the 79th doesn't get much attention.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. Hopefully people are sharing these videos to give these guys a bit more attention.

[@sscinamon]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video so glad that you are able to make them again

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks again!

[@philmathenia2265]

Thanks JD , for teaching me something new today. Never knew about the pipelines coming from England. Great video as alway.

[@charlottereed8060]

Hi JD!! How are things going for you?? Hang in there!! We have your back!!! 🙏🏻❤️🤟🏻✝️

[@OldFrontLine]

Really enjoyed this one, featuring this in a new tour for 2024 and so will be visiting over the winter.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! That should be a heck of a tour. Wish that people knew more about this part of the battle.

[@larryburwell8550]

fantastic video. you show so much that you paint a great picture something very few like myself would never have seen. thanks you JD

[@charlieh3335]

You have the greatest job in the world...and by far my favorite youtuber

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@historyinyourhand1787]

I'd love to visit some of the sites along that Cherbourg coast - great video 👏

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wish I’d had more time to spend there.

[@natbarron]

👊🏼beautiful, JD! That piano music over the black and white film 💔

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@michaelgalea5148]

Thank You J.D. for another great video. I always learn so much from you.

[@michae8jackson378]

I'm glad you shared this, amazing content. Thanks JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bricker1591]

Very informative. I had no idea they piped some fuel over the channel that way. I figured it was all barrels and whatever. Thanks for all these WW2 videos -- I've really enjoyed them.

[@Indiana_vador_47]

Merci pour la vidéo de qualité

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@loreleikomm5802]

super interesting to see the artifact of PLUTO, ty for this video and tour.

[@jamesschroeder969]

You do such a fantastic job! Thank you

[@kljaberg848]

Such a view from that high ground.

[@thomasanderson3230]

Great video! I enjoy each one!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@maverick4177]

Tough Hombres commemorated at Utah Beach where they came ashore in Normandy 😎

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🇺🇸

[@ritasword6771]

This is the beach my Dad landed on. He was in the Navy on the LST 346.

[@jasonford7826]

Amazing video. There are some pictures you showed from inside the fort that make me wonder if my German grandfather was stationed there for a period of time. We have pictures of him at a deep water port and we know he was in France.

[@camdodge9891]

JD Great video thank you for sharing

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@judygrandstrand9784]

Beautiful photography.

[@ianlast6722]

Great video again JD. According to Wikipedia and maybe why areas are not open to the public behind such tough security measures.. ‘After the war, the Navy took possession of the site and set up its command post in the first maritime region until 1988, when part of the site became a naval communications center. The School of Military Applications of Atomic Energy uses some of the facilities. ‘

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I should have mentioned that the military uses it today. Also why you didn’t see any drone shots in this video. 🙂

[@MrEaglesfan40]

The fort is very interesting JD great video Sir Thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ejparker13]

JD. You are cool. Love your narrative

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@surfdocer103]

What a splendid site

[@jetsons101]

Cherbourg, the last port that Titanic visited before leaving on her maiden voyage. All Freedom loving people today now have the job of protecting our freedoms that were under attack during WWII. Even today evil is still trying to take away our freedoms, learn who they are so they can be removed (voted) from power. Thanks to JD and all of the "Greatest Generation" no matter what country they were from.

[@foxtrotromeo25]

The last port Titanic called at was Queenstown (now called Cobh) in southern Ireland.

[@tundranomad]

​@@foxtrotromeo25👍

[@jetsons101]

I stand corrected, thanks...........@@foxtrotromeo25

[@Bravo_116Cinema]

JD there is a national D-Day memorial in Bedford Virginia, it is also the memorial of the Bedford boys. Please don't forget this

[@joemabry9643]

Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@alcom3101]

Beau Travail comme d'habitude🔬🛠🌌Toujours un Moment de Détente🎬Alex France Picardie Somme💪🙏🌌

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@cyndiebill6631]

The fact that that fort is still there with little damage is a testament to its builders. If I’m not mistaken that is the last port Titanic stop at to pick up passengers and mail before sailing onto America. There is a lot of history in that city and that fort has seen it all.👍🙂

[@tundranomad]

Last port for Titanic was Queenstown

[@cyndiebill6631]

@@tundranomad I wasn’t sure which one it was. I knew it stopped there at one point.

[@malcolmmorton989]

Excellent as usual…p.s still waiting for a Pegasus Bridge or Merville battery report.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2KvdpWlebd1jLM

[@TheBezaleel]

The fort at St. Malo can be visited via a guided tour in the afternoon's. The island in the estuary continued to resist and did not surrender until a day after Paris fell. The island was hit by multiple battleships and I believe a sort of napalm was even used.

[@thickernell]

JD is Back! W00t!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Working on it. 🙂

[@frankmarullo228]

Another good video JD. Thank you for your work.question : how many times have you gone to Europe ? Love all your work. You are very lucky to be able to do these things. THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA.......

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. Feel pretty fortunate to be able to go and share these experiences.

[@frankmarullo228]

@@TheHistoryUnderground JD. You probably already know this , most of my friends think I'm crazy , or worse but in the 1920s coca cola used to give out watch gobs with the words coca cola around a swazstika on it. With that being said the swazstika has been used all throughout history. Is it possible for you to do a video on the use of the swazstika ? THANK you Frank from montana......

[@sailor32170]

My father's unit, the 1056th Engineers were the group tasked with clearing the port of the obstructions that the Germans had placed there so that the port could be used.

[@OldStreetDoc]

I will NEVER cease to be amazed at what those young men accomplished. Not ever. Hopefully such men won’t be critically needed in the future, because we may never see the likes of them again. Any idea why the Fort is SO protected? Certainly, it merits protection as an important historical site & museum. But I wouldn’t have thought the razor wire was necessary. Is it under a threat of vandalism or something? As always… great work, JD. 🫡🇺🇸

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I forgot to mention that it is still used by the French military which is also why you don’t see any drone shots in this video.

[@OldStreetDoc]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Ahh… well that makes complete sense then. Thanks for answering that, JD! I’ve never had much experience with ‘addictions’, however I’m starting to think I may have one. Called ‘The History Underground’. 😉🤣 You are doing some masterful work, JD. Please know that it’s appreciated.

[@gears101]

I love this stuff.

[@josephkahren7584]

Truly fascinating, your content is always amazing. I was wondering if you could by any chance go into any detail about the 60th inf. Regiment 9th Division. My grandfather fought with the Go Devils and I would love to see related to him on your channel.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Gonna be touching on the 9th a bit in the next episode and maybe some more in the future.

[@josephkahren7584]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Awesome, I'm looking forward to it. Thank you for all that you do! I have a strong passion for history and love your content. Stay safe.

[@peacemaker-du4hz]

youre much braver than i am leaning out over that wall like that

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😅

[@Infinitegrowth-zt1mh]

Awesome!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@johnshields6852]

Boston born 1960 we have our freedoms because of these brave men, in 1966 we'd pledge allegiance to the USA first thing every morning and I meant every word of it, still do.🇺🇸🙏

[@josephwojtkowski2152]

Dear God I love this channel

[@kdcowboy9478]

Couldn't the navy pound that fort and air power? Love your channel and videos. I'm waiting for videos from the Philippines. All the best!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yes. There was some air power involved as well but nothing that could root out the defenders in the tunnels.

[@RealismAndHonor]

This fort and the town of Cherbourg should be added as a map to Hell Let Loose to further the knowledge of this battle and create an amazing map for a great game

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed.

[@pimhoff]

The USS Kearsarge also sank the famous CSS raider Alabama outside the Cherbourg harbor during the Civil War.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@meganobrien9862]

Do you have a book suggestion to learn more about this? I had never heard of it and it was such an interesting video

[@seangamble7480]

Similar to the Canadians at Vimy Ridge, amazing!

[@mistervacation23]

Where was Camp Lucky Strike located?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I just Googled it for you. St. Valery, France.

[@mistervacation23]

@@TheHistoryUnderground thanks J D. For some reason I thought it was Cherbourg

[@Chiller11]

I didn’t realize the pipeline ran to Cherbourg. I was aware the port never figured significantly in supplying the Allied advance with other commodities but as Patton could later confirm, the Army can’t move without fuel.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yep. The first one ran to Port en Bessin.

[@mathieuraymond2196]

Nice vidéo JD...again 😅, did you translate the french or you had something to help you? Im french too ( canada) and that was great translations , Nice !!!

[@harryfaber]

That was a clever poster, reminding the French that the English had killed Joan of Arc in Rouen.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

They’re were masters of propaganda.

[@32dras]

Rarely who, me neither, think about that, but what an enormous logistic operation was to supply everything to allies troops, from food, munitions to fuel, guess fuel was shipped from US, protecting ships from U-boats, transfer it to France, distribute it all along the frontline....it was an accomplishment by itself.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Logistics was everything.

[@Gitarzan66]

@7:55 That looks like the spot where Sansa Stark was going to push Joffrey off the bridge.

[@MDYOUTUBE-g1z]

Have you been able to find info on and/or do a video about 8th corps who landed at Utah?

[@rayoeler3055]

I found finding these places interesting ! Was lucky to get stationed Germany so much history all over places of war was ! Though I must admit the Germans are on the whole are very good people today ! Love the country and its people ! Iwasthere 22 years after the war and really enjoyed my time there !

[@christianb.4726]

Thank you. As a german, it's good to hear this.

[@32shumble]

When I was a kid you could go in the tunnels - I think there was at least 3 gun positions that opened out in the cliff side It could be argued that the toughest fort was one of the one's at the end of the breakwater - I've heard that it never surrendered and it and its garrison were just bombed to hell. Certainly it's a sobering sight as you enter the harbour on the cross-channel ferry. Knowing that those men are still there under the rubble.

[@christianb.4726]

My Grandfather was POW in a prisoncamp in Cherbourg. He was a flight instructer. Does anyone know, where this POW Camp was located ? Thanks for your interesting documentary.

[@danielgreen3715]

I bet that old Fort took some Taking! No wonder it took the 'Allies' as long as it did to break into the City Im quite suprised that the RAF didn't just flatten it with Earthquake Bombs rather than having the costly Ground Assaults like they had

[@ernestbetz5982]

it only hurts when the ground gets closer

[@marypasco2213]

I realize this was war, and it has happened throughout history.....But every time I see the devastation brought about by this war, bombs falling on all these places, I cry for all the history, both local and national, lost to this destruction.

[@randystolz]

At some point, would appreciate it if you took a swing at the "2d D-Day," the Allied invasion and liberation of the south of France later in '44...🤓ty

[@bajen114]

Why didn’t you visit the site inside the mountain under the fort? The Germans finished it in record time. Hospital, mess hall etc. Very impressive and interesting place.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Couldn’t get in that day.

[@PhD777]

It was disappointing that you completely ignored the other pictured recipient of the Medal of Honor as if his actions did not matter.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

This episode was focused on the 79th Division and Ft. Roule. I talk more about the 9th in the next episode.

[@wags68]

Are you far from any submarine pens?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yes.

[@rabignall]

Truly love your shows! I don't want to sound weird or anything, without sounding to personal, is there a way you could tell us about your family and (sorry, I forgot your partners name on the show). his fam. too? Things like, are you married, kids, what do you do outside of the shows. Friends stuff!!!! Also, I keep forgetting the thing on your arm. You said you're a PK, so am I.....I just want to be friends.

[@BillsHistoricSites-ip3su]

JD awesome

[@1psychofan]

One piece of advice for everyone: Do not, I repeat DO NOT drive drunk on that hairpin curve! 😊😮 wow! Hope no one is coming around the corner!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That wasn’t even the worst one.

[@1psychofan]

@@TheHistoryUnderground what? It gets worse????? How is that possible? WOW!

[@1psychofan]

@@TheHistoryUnderground imagine meeting someone coming the other way~now imagine if they are texting…..YIKES!

[@bikerz3857]

JD: you should wear a lighter colored hat so the US flag will stand out more. Great history lesson. Keep it up!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

No one would recognize me. 😅

[@billotto602]

It's not a park or something that is open to the public during "normal" business hours ?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nope. Military facility. Which is why I couldn’t drone the area.

[@zillsburyy1]

is this where hitler had the Luftwaffe drop a canister of iron crosses?

[@raizedbynerdz8718]

First

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@frontenac5083]

Nope.

[@raizedbynerdz8718]

@@frontenac5083 yep

[@evertzander6924]

👍👏🇸🇪

[@gregsayre4700]

dadgum fences

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That’s what I said

[@FrancisSullivan-j7t]

Why would you have such an important Historical site,and not allow Access to the public,France is very Removed from the Sacrifice that AMERICANS made to liberate their nation

[@PhD777]

The first propaganda poster was referencing the English burning/murder of Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) in Rouen.

[@tomcummings711]

They Were not Woke ! No Tattoo , Ear Rings , Nose Rings , Pink Hair or Smart Phones ! Now do you think Gen Z would do Today ?