The Definitive Historical Breakdown of Saving Private Ryan / Reel History

[@ReelHistory]

@54:11 Upon further research and kicking ourselves for not picking out this very obvious point, Cranston's character is a WW1 veteran of the 2nd ID. This is given away by the WW1 victory medal on his chest. Sorry about that.

[@G.I.HistoryHandbook]

He also has two small gold chevrons above the cuff of his right sleeve. There are two possibilities here. These may be WWI-era Wound Chevrons denoting two wounds. (But, his purple heart ribbon lacks an oak leaf cluster signifying multiple decorations, and he would NOT be authorized to wear both Wound Chevrons and a Purple Heart ribbon simultaneously...though some still did.) Or, those are actually his WWI-era Overseas Chevrons (like Dale Dye’s character is wearing), representing one year of overseas service during the First World War. (These were supposed to be worn above the cuff of the left sleeve, but his character is missing his left arm...Can anyone quote the regulations covering that?) Either way, it all points to the colonel being wounded as a teenager.

[@ReelHistory]

@@G.I.HistoryHandbook the crazier thing is I belive he also has ww2 Era Asia/Pacific and Africa,Mediterranean, European theater Ribbons. Let someone explain that one.

[@G.I.HistoryHandbook]

@@ReelHistory Great. Now I have to fire up the Blu-ray player... Has anyone seen my jeweler loupe?

[@ChuckJansenII]

@@ReelHistory Love the eye 'fer' detail.

[@ReelHistory]

@@ChuckJansenII, they don't call it "Pennsyltucky" for nothing.

[@BritGamingchanel]

My great grandfather served in the royal navy, took those US boys ashore, he never told me about any other part of his wartime service but he did say it was 'beyond hell'. After he died we did some research into his service. He was torpedoed twice on two separate ships and survived both of the sinking's yet he never spoke a word about it. Truly a different generation

[@ReelHistory]

A true humble hero

[@thelizardkingdc]

What research did you do that gave you such incredible insight into his career? I am working on my family military history and I’m gonna submit some FOIA requests.

[@joshbiddinger1744]

Out of bootcamp I spent about 2 hours with a Sailor who ended up as a side boy for the official party of the surrender on the Missouri in Tokyo Bay. I wish I would have kept in touch, the name and ship was lost from my memory of the years. He talked about happier times and the degenerate things junior sailors did then and still do now. It was only after researching his ship that I learned he survived at least 7 kamikaze attacks.

[@tsulkaluadventures2460]

Your great grandfather was a badass. God bless from America.

[@jgaff7974]

There's no way I would have spent two hours and twenty minutes watching a KZbin video if it wasn't as brilliantly presented and researched as it was. So we'll done and thank you to all! By the way, being from Ireland, I do remember local media reports of some members of the reserve Irish army extras being taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia during the filming at Curracloe Beach for the D Day landing scenes. Two days ago I spent 15 minutes chest high in the Irish Sea and finally fully appreciated what these guys went through. It was so cold. So kudos to tthem for sticking with it and playing their part in one of the most unforgettable opening scenes in movie history. Watching it for the first time in the cinema I realised my muscles were constantly tensed for the whole twenty minutes! Well done again and you definitely deserve more subscribers.

[@ReelHistory]

Cheers!

[@jasonpenn5476]

Except that he commented about a conversation about the fighting in Anzio claiming that the 2nd Ranger Battalion wasn't at Kasserine Pass.

[@sloppytilapia]

What? ​@@jasonpenn5476

[@neilholmes8200]

16:00 I remember this film coming out when I was 18 or 19. Watching it for the first time was really eerie, it felt so different to any war film that came before it. The realism it achieved in the opening scenes was unlike anything in films like Bridge Too Far or Longest Day. It felt like a huge paradigm shift in how action scenes would be shown in future.

[@ReelHistory]

It certainly was, when you realize that The Thin Red Line and When Trumpets Fade came out the same year it really brings that home.

[@derekweiland1857]

This movie was the first movie I watched in theatre after I got out of Army boot camp.

[@neilholmes8200]

@@derekweiland1857 I think I watched it about a week after seeing Gettysburg - quite the contrast!

[@trager8933]

I mean apocalypse now and platoon were fairly realistic In Its own right.

[@TheArtien]

I watched this for the first time in AIT in el paso TX. Ft. Bliss. They took the whole company to watch it. It was a surreal expirience. And got me more ready than anything I learned in boot camp. Greta video man.

[@PatrickSmeaton]

Loved this! I'm 50, so I was old enough to have numerous curtains with my grandfather about his experience as a Tech Sgt in the Pacific Theater. I'm so grateful that he was incredibly patient with his young grandson's questions and comments. I still have the book I often poured over with him. I'm going to read Bedford Boys, Rangers Lead The Way, AND Dispatches of D-Day next.

[@DixieWhiskey]

Jared, your passion for WW2 and history in general is incredibly refreshing. When I was a young kid I more often than not watched documentaries on the History Channel rather than cartoons. So I always thoroughly enjoy your content.

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you! It's a shame what happened to the History channel

[@leilanz8325]

@@ReelHistory It was aliens!

[@dbach1025]

@@ReelHistory amen.

[@IIBloodXLustII]

@@ReelHistory Even in it's hayday it was a bit to much show-e-ness and less concerned about accuracy.

[@figmillenium]

Forgot the History Channel used to do history…

[@CH-em2wu]

Another interesting fact about the tanks on Omaha Beach. The tanks were from the 741st tank battalion. And one of them was crewed by Edward Sledge Jr. The brother of Eugene Sledge from The Pacific.

[@ReelHistory]

Great connection!

[@Ithinksometimesinthelife]

Did he survive?

[@jameslongest6410]

​@@IthinksometimesinthelifeEugene and Edward both survived.

[@Ithinksometimesinthelife]

@@jameslongest6410 cool! Is he still alive or is he dead(

[@jameslongest6410]

​@@Ithinksometimesinthelifeboth are deceased. Edward died in 1985 and Eugene died in 2001.

[@volkiruski1221]

I am 64, my father was a Dutch freedom fighter, resistence in his country but also fleed to UK with a small boat and went in the army there at the Brittisch Navy, In NL he fought against the Germans when they invaded NL, he was then a motorordananse. I saw yesterday the Band of Brothers review, Band of Brothers itselves I have seen for the....myabe 50 tis tyime. My compliments for Jared and his friends. I am happy I found this channell.

[@garyswift9347]

My mom's family lost one brother on the Normandy beach, another in the weeks following, in the hedge rows. My own grandfather (another of those brothers) survived into his 80's after taking shrapnel from a Japanese attack on his merchant marine ship. The fourth of those brothers survived the war, but died lighting a grill with gasoline at his welcome home party/family reunion. My grandfather held onto life for weeks in the hospital at the end of his life, due to heart problems related to the Japanese shrapnel still in his heart, till he held his first grandchild (my daughter) in his arms one time. He died later that night.

[@rodc7]

A part often missed early on is a quick glimpse of Miller's patrol driving off in a jeep with a trailer attached (I think) during one of the last shots of the beach. In the original story they started in the jeep loaded with supplies but lost it in combat a few days later. Captain Miller is talking off screen but you can clearly make out the main cast members bouncing along the bottom of the screen for a few seconds.

[@ReelHistory]

Well now I have to go back and watch the scene. ....the more you know

[@LMTran]

@@ReelHistory you can see them at the bottom of the screen in the scene where the camera pans up to Omaha beach, showing all the ships unloading cargo

[@camaxeman4370]

Yes, you're correct. This part leads into the combat part mentioned where the jeep and trailer are lost to German 88 fire. The entire scene was cut from the final edit for reasons unknown and, being a Spielberg movie, we're unlikely to see an extended directors cut. To set the scene, there's a column of Sherman Tanks, Jeeps, Trucks etc stopped on the road just before a bend where the 88's are targeting, anything going round that corner gets hit. The jeep comes barreling down the grass verge past some GI's relieving themselves (actually the smallest bottle of water with a hole in the lid, tucked into the fly of the trousers. Squeeze and hey presto...) and after stopping to find out the delay Miller decides he can use speed to get past the 88 fire. They don't, hence they end up walking which I believe is the scene about griping upwards, not downwards. I know this because I was one of the GI's with a bottle of water stuck down my trousers. After the first take I heard an American voice over my shoulder ask me to turn slightly as they couldn't see the 'stream' very well. I said I was trying to not let the blue cap be seen, to which the suggestion was to use my other hand to cover that part. "Ok no worries" says me, then the realization hits that it was Stephen Spielberg himself that I'd just had a discussion with on how to best 'film a scene'. This was the day when at breakfast, Dale Dye was prowling around the canteen area in the same kit as he mostly does when on set. Scowling at most of us he says "You guys are taking too long, get your food, shove it in your holes and swallow. Chewing is a waste of time" If I ever write down my experience of being an extra in that film, that last part would be the books title!

[@lawrencedockery9032]

Huh that might be the explanation for the line he says later to Ted Danson about having lost most of their ammo on the way in

[@charlietheanteater3918]

My commander for my WWII re-enactments was an extra in the Omaha beach sequence. He got to meet Tom Hanks during a lunch break. In that overhead shot of all the dead at the end, he gets the idea to arrange his body in an awkward way so that he’ll be able to identify himself. Unfortunately about 20 other guys had the same idea so he can’t find himself in there lmao

[@ReelHistory]

These stories should be compiled into a book!

[@ThumperSpinnerbaits]

A small historical side note about Barry Pepper's character killing the German sniper: the shot through the scope of the enemy rifle is most likely based on a shot made by Marine Corps Sniper, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, during the Vietnam Conflict.

[@im8015]

Which is just a BS made up war story. The TV show Mythbusters did an episode in which they tried shooting through a scope of that type, and it didn't work, even at point blank range. After some feedback from viewers, they even did a follow up with armour piercing ammo (not that Hathcock would have used that), and it didn't go through the whole scope either.

[@MrAdamloring1985]

Tom Sizemore is so good I this movie. He could have been one of the greats.

[@DocM.]

He was in the ICP movie Big Money Rustlas! How much bigger can he get!? 😂

[@nateallen8409]

He's didn't die too soon or something and he's extremely recognizable so I wouldn't phrase it like he failed or something

[@nateallen8409]

@@DocM. exactly! An American icon.

[@MrAdamloring1985]

@@nateallen8409 he could have be in the conversation as one of the best of his era, but he let drugs take over his life. He is a meth and cocaine addict, he’s in constant trouble with the law, he’s broke, and his career is pretty much done.

[@ReelHistory]

See his in U.S.S. Indianapolis was pretty sad. His problems really showed through...atleast I thought so.

[@pwprochazka]

Rommel's Asparagus (Rommelspargel) were vertical poles inland to stop gliders The landing obstacles were called "Hemmbalken" which is a "Check Bar". This review was awesome. I've recommended it to several of my friends. subscribed.

[@kenrup]

The shaving aspect of the hygine routine was important for the gas mask. A good seal could not happen with whiskers on the face. They didn't know for sure that HItler wouldn't use gas.

[@judithcampbell1705]

Thank you 💛 for your excellent report on such a classic movie like Saving Private Ryan. I've watched it at least 25 times. One of my favorites. You did a great job with your critique! Kudos

[@lancelittleton3269]

absolutely outstanding recap Jared! Thanks again for sharing your library of knowledge with us, this was much more in-depth than the History Buff review (which I also love). I'm 'excited' for your overview of the Wade death scene. Since I was a kid, the two most haunting scenes besides the opening scene was Melish'sand even more so, Wade's death. That one scene in particular drove so many things home for me including the brutality of war and how most died in slow, agonizing, and ugly ways, how young most of these 'men' were, and the loss of innocence that was painfully experienced as most green American boys of the time were 'ready to fight' and 'looking for action' to 'stick it to 'em', only to learn the truths about warfare. Much like the BoB episode 'Points', I believe it also showed the amount of men who died or were killed over objectives or things that held very little value in the overall grand scheme of the war. It of course further added weight to the recurring theme throughout the movie: Is one man's life worth the lives of others? This one scene encapsulated all of that to me which made it so haunting and it's still one of the toughest movie scenes for me to stomach to this day. I suppose the poor tactical decision of confronting the MG42 nest was used as a catalyst to portray Wade's death and to bring about these emotions. Excellent review as always Jared, I'll certainly be showing this with my dad to discuss later! Looking forward to the breakdown!

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for your input! That is definitely a haunting scene.

[@terpman]

I visited Normandy when I was in 8th grade with my family. My grandfather, an American WW2 veteran lived in Paris at the time (he passed away in Jan 2020). At the cemetery, he went off on his own down an aisle for a bit to "visit some friends". The opening and ending scenes do a really good job capturing that emotion that I could see just as much in my grandfather in Normandy. He absolutely refused to see this movie and refused to ever talk about what happened to him in the Ardennes other then say he was wounded. I can't even imagine what he must have gone through. In a way, he played a large part in my continued interest in this period of history.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for sharing.

[@idiot_city5444]

Unfortunate that he wouldn't tell you his story, now it's lost forever

[@4thamendment237]

@25:10 -- the muffling of the hearing happens when a very powerful weapon detonates near by -- you can temporarily go deaf, or pretty close to it like this shows. It's happened to me and I could barely hear anything at all -- but the ringing in my ears was WAY louder. They left out that part.

[@ManWithNoName1980]

Hi Jared, I can't see anyone mentioning this but those two Czechs executed by US soldier for sure weren't part of any Ostbattalions. Like Poles they were conscripts from parts incorporated into III Reich. In example, if Poles they will be from Pomerania, Greater Poland or Silesia, and Czechs probably from Sudetenland. At that moment in time they weren't even a voluntary Volksdeutsche... Simply, Germans threatened that if they don't join Whermacht their family will be sent to Konzentrazionlager. Germans doubt their loyalty and sent them as far from home as possible, fwr away from other Slavic countries to make desertion more difficult. Many run away and joined French Resistance or Polish units in Italy or in Normandy. I heard about exhumation in Southern France of Whermacht soldiers who died in operation Dragoon. In mass grave of 14, if I remember correctly, only two were "Germans". Sergant was Austrian, and one soldier was Volksdeutsche from Romania. The rest identified were Poles and Czechs. Ostbattalions were made of volunteers from soviet minorities like Georgians you mentioned. But on top of that, each division got thousands of Hivies. Voluntary helpers. Made of Red Army POWs, running transport, kitchens etc.

[@gregorydotreppe1970]

Thank you for mentioning the great cost paid by the French civilian population. An important book in this regard came out in 2018 with Stephen Alan Bourque's Beyond the Beach: The Allied War Against France.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for the reading recommendation! We are always looking for new titles!

[@guyjperson]

The radioman here was the doctor who dealt with the Concentration Camp in Band of Brothers, right?

[@saraholiver79]

Excellent video as always. Rest in peace to Tom Sizemore. Jared, I could have sworn you’d covered The Pacific, am I crazy? If no, you must! I really would love to hear your insightful commentary on that series as I prep for the upcoming Masters of the Air.

[@cleverusername9369]

Seconded

[@thefoolscrusade8523]

58:00 - Malcom (22), Leroy (21) and Randolph Barber (19) were three brothers from New London, WI who served together on the USS Oklahoma. They were killed on the morning of Dec. 7th, 1941.

[@matthewtemkin4726]

I began attending Ranger reunions with my dad in 2000. Mainly in N.J. at the Northeast Chapters Christmas party--where Len Lowell played Santa. This film came up quite often, usually in a mocking, dismissive nature. Comments such as, “Didn’t they have radios” and, “Sure, sure-we ALWAYS let the enemy go” were the norm. I pointed out that the film put both the Rangers and WW2 on the map, so to speak-making the public aware. I did ask one of the veterans of the landing on Omaha beach if the landing was depicted in a realistic manner. He said, “Sort of. Omaha was bad, but not quite THAT bad. I visited Ft Benning and the Ranger Hall of Fame with my dad in 2006-he was helping plan the next WW2 Ranger reunion. There was some talk of initiation Tom Hanks into it as an honorary Ranger. My dad was against it but I tried convincing him that Hanks and the film--along with Band if Brothers-was instrumental in bring the “Greatest Generation” back to popular culture. I never did learn what the vote was. Hey--I just want you to know how much I LOVE your videos. I’ve only had one college history professor who is as personable and knowledgeable as Jared and I still think about him.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for the stories! We have heard similar stories about Len Lomell!

[@robertbenson9797]

As always, a great episode! I would remind viewers that there was another loss of brothers more recently. In 1969, an American destroyer, the USS Frank E. Evans, was on maneuvers in the South China Sea, off the coast of Vietnam. The Australian aircraft carrier, Melbourne, collided with the Evans, cutting the destroyer in half. The bow section sank almost immediately, killing 74 US sailors. Among those killed were the Sage brothers, Gary, Gregory and Kelly, from Niobrara, Nebraska. The brothers had requested duty together on the Evans. The Navy relaxed the “Sullivan rule”, to allow the brothers to serve together. There is a Nebraska State Historical Marker honoring the Sage brothers in their hometown of Niobrara, in Knox County, honoring them.

[@MrAdamloring1985]

When it comes to the captain bars on Hanks helmet, i wonder if officers would may have done so, in order to be easily identified as an officer by their men during the madness of the invasion. Also, in this particular case, the choice to put bars in Hank’s helmet could have been for the sake of the audience, so that we immediately know that he is a captain.

[@ReelHistory]

I personally believe it was for the audience, tlbut the facts of the helmet bars are in the video 😉

[@majorhicksusmc]

The U.S. Army during WW2 adopted the practice of painting a horizontal strip on the back of helmets to identify NCOs and a vertical strip to identify officers. Officers, as well as NCOs, are always high value targets for snipers. That can be seen today in the war in Ukraine with the high number of Russian generals who have been killed by Ukrainian snipers.

[@micanopykracker902]

The white vertical stripe on back of helment says they are a officer the horizontal are NCOs

[@majorhicksusmc]

@@micanopykracker902 - You’re right, forgot to add that in my reply. Good catch.

[@micanopykracker902]

@@majorhicksusmc tnx

[@joncheskin]

Thanks so much for your commentary, it is nice to understand all of the nuances of depicting a war on the big screen. To me this film was an epiphany; I saw the first scene and immediately felt like I finally was experiencing something like what really happened. It seems to me a really important moment, perhaps the most important moment, in the history of war movies.

[@sirarthurfiggis]

Fine work as always! Worth mentioning that the temporary deafness sound effect had actually been done roughly ten years earlier in the Soviet WWII film "Come and See." The protagonist, a teen boy who's joined Belorussian partisan forces, lives through a German artillery barrage and is deafened for days afterward (the ringing effect actually lasts for several minutes, as opposed to the fairly brief use in S.P.R.) If you haven't seen it, you've absolutely got to check it out. For my money, it's tied with "Das Boot" for the title of greatest WWII film of all time. It's bleak beyond words. I love S.P.R. (and the two movies are trying to accomplish very different things), but the filth and hopelessness of "Come and See" makes it look like a Saturday morning cartoon.

[@BillTrinensTongue]

Minute 1:18:20 I love the scene. in this scene, we see the essence of Miller as a teacher and not as a military man. The way he talks to his men, the way he guides the conversation always made me think of a teacher talking to his students. "Oh captain my captain" - "death poets society" type of dialogue. Great underrated scene.

[@MrEd8846]

I was in 4th grade when my parents took me to see this in theaters. It actually is kind of what got me into history in general. It terrified me but sparked my curiosity enough to want to learn more. And my parents didn't care because I was finally doing something educational lol

[@neilholmes8200]

Around that age I got into wargaming, my parents took the same attitude, they'd rather me be painting model soldiers and building terrain during the week and fighting battles at the weekend than some of the other things teenagers got up to lol

[@ceelavee]

Having 11 year old watch this with me on memorial day. I hope the 2 words "earn this" help her appreciate our military.

[@MrEd8846]

@@ceelavee just because my parents did it doesn't mean I recommend it.

[@ceelavee]

@@MrEd8846 parental discretion.

[@thefoxyscentury]

I enjoyed every minute of this breakdown. Thank you for all the work you put into it.

[@cleverusername9369]

I always forget how stacked this movie is, casting-wise. Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Paul Giamatti, Ted Danson, Vin Diesel, Barry Pepper, Matt Damon, Nathan Fillion, Dennis Farina, what a cast.

[@wm.stephenneal4110]

There so much to unpack here. Very much appreciated your review. My father landed on Omaha on D Day with the 29th Division but in the second wave with the 116th he was a Tech 5 radio man in the headquarters company. He like many others took Ranger training but was transferred back to the 116, for DDay. Was awarded two Purple Hearts. We watched SPR together and it put him right back there. His blood pressure jumped and he was visibly shaking as I held his hand. Afterwards he thanked me for going with him being with me and his wife my mother helped him heal a little.

[@jerryrichards8172]

A photographer's assistant was running a sack full of film daring the battle back to the fleet. While running up landing craft ramp he tripped and the entire sack of invasion film whent tumbling into the sea. The iconic pictures where all that was left in the camera. The assistant said it was a super human effort for him to just get on that boat and stay alive.

[@andreasm.7552]

I would have said that too.

[@EmersusTech]

@22:00: Now, hold on...the US government is landing on this beach and, notwithstanding German hostile intentions, some officer might want to pause the battle to write up a report about how bad things are. You see, bringing freedom to Europe means bringing bureaucracy and paperwork -- lot's of it! So that typewriter is essential! Tom Hanks neglected to mention the legions of bureaucrats that were waiting to arrive! 😊

[@EmersusTech]

And the IRS will drop tax forms to keep the Germans mesmerized while we take over France!

[@jandrewhearne]

My grandfather was an MP in Western Europe. He landed after D-Day on Utah a few weeks afterward. He handled POWs and security. He couldn’t make it through the movie, even though he was relatively rear echelon.

[@ReelHistory]

We thank him for his services overseas.

[@zoanth4]

I snuck into this movie when i was 13, had no clue what it was about. The beach scenes are dug into my brain for life, i was in utter shock watching the carnage on the big screen at that age

[@garandguy101]

Another great episode! Very interesting that Preston Niland was in the 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. My ex wife’s grandfather Mark Paradise was in E company of the 22nd Infantry Regiment. He landed on UTAH also, sadly he passed away 2 years ago.

[@ReelHistory]

May he rest in honor.

[@MoniqueFoto]

My 30 year old son is a WW2 history nut. I’ll definitely share your page. Thank you for all the hard work.

[@oOneenOo]

Regarding Bryan Cranston, is it possible that he's a WWI veteran? I am by no means an expert on ribbons, but along with the silver star, I think I spot the WWI victory medal ribbon. The sniper shot is an homage to the one Carlos hathcock made in Vietnam. And agreed that it's unlikely Horvath and Miller were veterans of other Ranger units due to Casserine pass and the big mess at Cisterna. Regardless, thank you so much for the tireless, top quality work you do.

[@LoneWolf051]

Thats what Ive always assumed

[@Andy85uk]

Definitely is a WW1 veteran he has the Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Purple Heart World War I Victory Medal American Defense Service Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal American Campaign Medal Croix de Guerre 1914-1918

[@ReelHistory]

@@Andy85uk, good observations!

[@MrChickennugget360]

@@Andy85uk but some of those are ww2 era ribbons. my guess is his 2nd ID combat patch is based on his ww1 service but he was wounded in action in ww2. Not in the least because if he was wounded to that extent in ww1 he would not have spent the next 20 years in the Army. He would have been discharged.

[@RasEli03]

Isn't Brian Cranston the actor for Walter white

[@Emanon...]

To quote Mr Atun-Shei, with regards to Lincoln's letter: "... Lincoln was so fucking classy..."

[@ortizricky25ro]

Thank you for your content*. It’s people like you that make my love of history survive all while dealing with adulthood and responsibilities lol

[@ReelHistory]

We're all in this together. Thanks.

[@SergioArellano-yd7ik]

One veteran of D-Day said " not enough bodies" Another said no. movie can ever be truly accurate because they can never recreate the smells

[@davemac1197]

58:25 - remarkably, the Ryan homestead was a farmhouse constructed on Gunsite Road, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, England, and then demolished after filming. When I checked it out on Google maps, I was amazed to see that in the middle of the corn field on the western side of the road is the West Kennet Long Barrow - an ancient burial mound, and one of the sites I remember visiting on a school field trip in the 1970s, along with the stone circles at nearby Avebury and Stonehenge.

[@ReelHistory]

That's an incredible story!

[@davemac1197]

@@ReelHistory - nah, it's a magic island!

[@waldoman321]

Anyone catch Jackson’s comment at the radar site about “when we left them 88s”? Was he referring to the earlier battle Miller mentioned back at the command post?

[@nddavi58]

correct

[@edalesquadtv9338]

Living in the same town as the Sullivan brothers fortunately they had a portion of a museum in waterloo dedicated to them which has some really cool insights. Unfortunately many of the buildings and other monuments made in their honor are slowly either being renamed due to being sold or gone completely.

[@ReelHistory]

Too bad. Theirs is an incredible story.

[@neilholmes8200]

2:06:00 many years ago I remember there being a lot of discussion in the early days of the Internet about whether Steamboat Willie was the same person who Killed Mellish or not. This was before Wikipedia and Imdb haha

[@MutsumiOtohime78]

I still think it would have made more dramatic and narrative sense if that was the same guy, since the fact he just lets Upton go without any hesitation definitely seems more in line with "You let me live, so I'm repaying the favor" than the actual reason "Despite him being a hardened SS soldier he just decided to let Upton go because he showed no threat"

[@elijones2041]

Henrik Naube's interview in the book "D DAY Through German Eyes" is a very interesting first hand account of the germen perspective of the "Dog One" sector on Omaha beach. it give some good insight on how he thought the battle would go at the time and what he thinks about the German loss.

[@ReelHistory]

Agreed! Great book!

[@plantdaddy544]

really wonderful to hear the history behind this. there were times in your video where you were referencing a detail of a scene after showing to us only briefly. It would have been nice to have it on the screen along with you while discussing.

[@milesniddrie]

My grandfather was in the RAF and went into Normandy after the invasion. I talked with him back in 1999 and as always he didn't reveal much of his war experiences. This talk happened after I'd watched Private Ryan. All I could really do was thank him, but i did ask how did he get the courage to fight. He simply said it was our job. We owe the veterans a huge debt. Sadly we continue to wage wars on each other, how much did we really learn?

[@davemac1197]

Aggression is often appeased by people who have not learned the correct lessons from the history of warfare, and wars are often started by people who seek to take advantage of that. I think the point has been made just recently that Vladimir Putin has calculated the West is weak (by the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan) and that encouraged him to believe he could annexe the whole of Ukraine without facing more than a lot of diplomatic protests and maybe a few half-hearted economic sanctions. Mark Twain once said that "history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes", and current events are certainly rhyming with 1938. In fact, the map of eastern Ukraine right now looks a lot like western Czechoslovakia in 1938.

[@ReelHistory]

Miles, we think Ike's words at the end of this video are pertinent on your point.

[@Autobotmatt428]

1:07:00 also served on General Pershing's staff during the first world war and helped in the planing for some of the AEFs great battles of the war.

[@neilholmes8200]

42:58 that scene reminds me of Martin's comment in Band of Brothers (Crossroads iirc) where an enemy soldier says they're Polish and he says "there ain't no Poles in the SS". He was wrong of course*, but then it is provably the kind of thing the average Allied soldier would have believed, so it's kind of accurate and not accurate at the same time lol *whilst there was no specific Polish division, many people that the Germans classed as Polish served in both the Heer and SS units

[@davemac1197]

That was a marathon! It has taken me two days (it's now Wednesday in the UK) just to watch it! Thanks for all the hard work.

[@ReelHistory]

Glad it was worth your while!

[@swirvinbirds1971]

I wish the entire movie was a telling of D-Day instead of the whole Saving Private Ryan plot. So many great true stories to tell that without engaging in fantasy and stretching believability.

[@ReelHistory]

A whole movie about the landings on a single beach would be incredible.

[@hixtonweasle6169]

I agree, Also, I would like to see the true story of Fritz Niland and Father Sampson on film

[@lalabrouhaha]

I have been waiting for this! Thank you!

[@ReelHistory]

You are most welcome! Thanks for tuning in!

[@thedude1316]

My grandfather was in the 29th. He came ashore on June 7th. Took St. Lo Who will carry the torch once Spielberg is gone and create this great WW2 content?

[@ReelHistory]

We salute him, I hope he had a good life.

[@Frictionfactor]

Wow, thank you for taking the time to do this! Awesome stuff!

[@ReelHistory]

Glad you liked it!

[@GodOfWar221]

As an amateur historian myself, I did have a question for you Reel History. First off, let me begin by saying how much I enjoy your channel. They way you break down these scenes, and give us real world context. Really adds a new level of enjoyment to these films for me. Now, it was my understand that the majority of the soldiers stationed on Omaha, were largely conscripts. And that the real battle tested, and hardened troops were stationed at Calais. Along with the Panzer divisions. As that's where Hitler thought the invasion would land, as it was the shortest crossing point. Also, that TIger that's shown in the last scene of Private Ryan. Was one of the last few functional Tiger Tanks in the world. Tiger 332, I believe. And the same one, used in Fury.

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you! Through a bit of research I found this very comprehensive breakdown of data on this subject. It's worth researching further, but all of this seems to be very accurate. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/german-infantry-at-omaha-beach

[@majorhicksusmc]

The Tiger in the movie is not a real Tiger tank. It’s a Soviet T-34 modified to look like a Tiger 1 tank. It’s obvious from the road wheel configuration and size of the tank. German Tigers and Panthers have a overlapping road wheel system, which is complicated to repair. The T-34 used as a Tiger 1 in the movie, has the Soviet version of the Christie suspension system that the Soviet’s used on their T-34s. The Tiger 1 in ‘Fury’ is real.

[@andrewc6602]

@@majorhicksusmc those are almost the exact words at 1:53:00

[@johnard611]

@@ReelHistory In "The Big Red One," the Sgt. played by Lee Marvin tells his rifle squad just before the Omaha Beach landings that the opposing German units are "a couple of schnell battalions, combat rejects defending the beach at Colleville-Sur-Mer."

[@edguty3811]

This was the coolest thing I’ve watched. Your insight, knowledge and commentary was a real treat to listen to. Thank you.

[@NickRentals31]

7:03 something that always bothered me about this scene that I hardly see mentioned is the lack of ships in the background. All these landing craft seemingly appear from nowhere as if they sailed all the way from England. The largest naval armada ever assembled should be very prevalent behind them yet the producers couldn’t add a single ship? On a similar note, when coming ashore, there are a couple shots of Tom Hanks (when he says something like, “keep moving and clear those murder holes”) that show over the left side of the landing craft. We don’t see any other landing craft coming ashore. The beach they’re supposedly landing at, Dog Green, was one of the western most beaches on Omaha (Charlie beach, the one the Rangers really came ashore at was the western most) so there should have been hundreds of other landing craft to the left of the one these Rangers are aboard. With all the money spent on this landing sequence it should have been relatively cheap and easy to super impose some other ships to make it look like this wasn’t some random group coming ashore unsupported.

[@davemac1197]

I had the same observation. The scene in The Longest Day when Major Pluskat sees the horizon full of ships from his artillery observation bunker is spot on. I think when he's asked on the phone how many ships he sees, he replies "all of them!" or something of that nature. That's the impression it should create!

[@neilholmes8200]

@@davemac1197 iirc he says something like it's the invasion, there must be 5,000 ships out there!". The German on the other end of the line says that's nonsense, the Allies don't have half that many, to which pluskat tells him to come and see for himself lol

[@davemac1197]

@@neilholmes8200 - possibly I read an account that varied from the film script. Major Werner Pluskat was a real person, he was the commander of I./Artillerie-Regiment 352 - 1st battalion of the 352nd Infantry Division's artillery regiment, with an observation post on Omaha Beach.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

I say the same to Saving Private Ryan fans who complained about Dunkirk lacking scale. SPR lacks scale for the D-Day scene. Its as if the Omaha Beach landings were a couple hundred yards wide and only a dozen landing craft involved with not a single ship on the horizon. It's double standards.

[@wepooted]

i don't regret studying antiquity but it's these types of videos that make me wish I could ask the Romans and Norse many questions. There's nothing quite like first hand accounts that make movies and books like yours, Mr. Fredrick, as compelling.

[@neilholmes8200]

Woo hoo, been waiting for this for a while now 👍

[@ReelHistory]

Same! Enjoy

[@neilholmes8200]

@@ReelHistory will do, I've interrupted my reading of your book to listen to your video haha

[@TTT-1961.]

Love your informed analysis and word choice. I like the sappy part at the beginning and especially the end. My father was a Major in WW II and flew B17’s. I totally could have seen him acting the same as older Ryan.

[@ReelHistory]

Respect to your dad.

[@shawncooney7458]

I ABSOLUTELY Love this video, you are VERY interesting to listen to n the knowledge is incredible. My father (from Wilkes Barre Pa.) was in the 26th Infantry regiment. I paid and did my own research on his service. He was in Company B 1st Infantry Div. n I think they were 2nd wave Omaha beach 12 PM landing but delayed landing till 7 PM due to debris on beach. He was wounded on June 10th in Caumont n that is where the trail ends unfortunately.. Only thing I don't understand on his paperwork is he enlisted as infantry n discharged as supply clerk..He died on 12/5/70..He apparently still had tiny shards of shrapnel in him. Thank You for what you do it is an Honor to those who served,

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you for sharing his story.

[@barebp]

Really good and knowledgeable stuff as always! Hope this video gets more views because this is one of the most in depth dives into background/historical accuracy/realism for this film. Thank you!

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you!

[@mcwildstyle9106]

I remember I saw this movie as a kid and the one shot that always stunned me was the scene of that one soldier who picked up his own arm and kept running towards the shingle. Ever since then, I dreamed every night of standing on the beach and looking out at the channel thinking..."how the hell did they do it?"

[@ReelHistory]

Indeed. It is always a powerful thing to go see the sites for yourself.

[@Chief-um2vp]

The first time I watched that scene I was watching it with my dad who did a tour in Afghanistan. He started laughing when that guy picked up his arm lol

[@mcwildstyle9106]

@@Chief-um2vp lol for real?

[@behindthespotlight7983]

At 1:47:50 that location is also Hagenau in Epidode 8 of Band of Brothers and Carentan in Episode 3. There’s another oft-used WW2 change-over location in England with basic period facades & streets that is well used across many WW1 and WW2 films since the 1990’s. It’s proper name escapes me but it was Bastogne in Band of Brothers and used in an excellent WW1 film titled “Testament of Youth”filmed in 2013, released in 2014. I was in Set Dec in Hollywood for 16 years. Whereas I worked with the crew who had just come off “We Were Soldiers” one of great laments is having never done a war picture.

[@gentryduran8747]

Very enjoyable video and informative, if you are able to can do the movie "Black Hawk Down"

[@ReelHistory]

It is on our list!

[@billdavis6900]

@ReelHistory - What you said at 1:21:00 is about Paul Giamatti's character's ankles is absolutely correct. In WWII, US paratroopers were the special forces of their day. They were essentially the "Navy SEALS" of their time. For those who don't know, Airborne training was all volunteer and had a 75% to 80% washout rate, which meant that out of 100 candidates only 20 to 25 ended up getting their getting their jump wings and became paratroopers. Like you said, there's no way a guy who could barely walk would've gotten through Airborne training. The funny thing is, many paratroopers volunteered because it paid $50 per month more than regular infantry pay. $50 may not sound like much but when you consider that it is the equivalent to $870 today, it actually was a significant amount of money. Love your videos by the way.

[@andreraymond6860]

I had been reading all I could about the Dieppe Raid leading up to the release of SPR. I saw the miniseries in 1993 and was disapointed with the landing scene at the end of 'Dieppe' the miniseries. Spielberg managed to convey the horror of the slaughter of an opposed beach landing.

[@andreraymond6860]

Of course the Canadian production was done for television on a fraction of its 6 million dollar budget. By contrast Spielberg had access to a huge Hollywood budget and could show the blood and gore that television censorship would not allow.

[@ReelHistory]

@@andreraymond6860, ever seen "Storming Juno?"

[@TheArtien]

I went and watched this for the first time in AIT at ft Bliss el paso TX. they took the whole battery to watch the movie and I went back on my weekend pass to watch it again. It taught me more than anything I did in boot camp. It was a surreal expirience that helped my in my future deployments...

[@G.I.HistoryHandbook]

I hate to be "that guy" (or maybe I love it), but since you seem to appreciate a good nitpick: I can't say with certainty that the "Ranger Handbook of Field Expedient Devices" never existed, but in two decades of collecting WWII training material I wasn't able find any actual shred of evidence that it ever did. All references to it seem to be directly tied to Saving Private Ryan. They appear to stem from a 1998 Los Angeles Times interview with an assistant professor of military science at UC Berkeley who, when asked about the accuracy of "sticky bombs," claims they are in this mythical manual. I'd be very interested in any documented reference to this supposed handbook that dates back to WWII, or even predates the release of Saving Private Ryan.

[@ReelHistory]

A fair critique! We read that same article in which it was referenced!

[@matthewardison2541]

What a fantastic consideration and analysis of this seminal film! Thank you for your thoughtful video!

[@jackson857]

Any update on the Generation Kill breakdowns?

[@ReelHistory]

Perhaps later this summer!

[@SemperFiGuy]

@@ReelHistory d0eS tHaT mEaN cHuCk Is ReTuRnInG?!?!😂

[@billsemplice7778]

Enjoyed your analysis of Saving Private Ryan, I will be visiting Normandy next June. My dad served in the 7th Armored Division during WW II landing in Normandy 14 August 1944, and immediately entering into combat in southern France under Patton's 3rd Army.

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

I can't remember if I've mentioned this here but I wanted to share that one of my teachers in high school is the granddaughter of a d day veteran, she didn't say what unit he was in but claimed that he was wounded by wooden bullets, I believe they were mentioned in Stephen Ambrose's D day book. Here's where the story gets crazy, she married a German and his father was among those defending the beaches. Her grandfather survived and came home on the Queen Mary.

[@ReelHistory]

That's just another crazy example of just how large scale of a war this was. Everyone was involved somehow.....paths were bound to cross occasionally.

[@NickC1966]

Great video. The USS Sullivans is actually harbored here in Buffalo at the Naval Park downtown. Me and my school kids were given a tour of it years ago by a vet who served in the Pacific and was at Leyte Gulf among other places. It was utterly fascinating.

[@garystu9878]

It would be great if, after this historical movie breakdown, you cover the other major 1998 WWII movie, The Thin Red Line. In my opinion a great movie in its own right, and one that I feel has been overshadowed by Saving Private Ryan’s (rightfully deserved) acclaim.

[@ReelHistory]

The Thin Red Line is one of Jared's favorites. It is on our list!

[@chuckipedia]

Great channel and wonderful Saving Private Ryan Extended show. Well done Jared.

[@neilholmes8200]

Overall I'd say that the flaws in the movie are very minor and it's a brilliant visual recreation of the war. Some of its inaccuracies or omissions of other nations do annoy me but are mostly forgivable in the right context. For example Miller and Ted Danson's character bitching about Monty doesn't bother me because a) Monty could be slow at times and b) you can't expect American soldiers of that rank to know what problems the British army were facing on their front (most of the German armour in Normandy was facing the British early on) and C) even if they did know, they wouldn't care. As Miller says, gripes go up, and griping about your Allies in particular probably happened all the time. By way of an example, a common British soldier's phrase was that when the Germans bomb, the British duck, when the British bomb, the Germans Duck, but when the Americans bomb *everybody* ducks. Like I said, it worked both ways, that gentle rivalry between the Allies was part and parcel of the war. So its inaccurate in hindsight, but an accurate depiction of how these men would have thought out felt.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Neil hasn’t anybody noticed that almost all of the feedback is about the Omaha beachhead landing and not about the reason for the film. Which raises the question why put several American GIs in serious danger to try and rescue just one man. It is illogical. Why could they not have contacted army commanders to seek out all soldiers named Ryan.

[@onealmr]

Truly one of the best commentaries I've ever watched.

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you!

[@JNeutronFTW]

Wish i could like this 1,000x

[@ReelHistory]

We like you too!

[@77mpickett]

I know the movie also was influenced by the Sullivan brothers killed in the pacific. I grew up in the same town they were from waterloo iowa. I found out later that my family was actually friends with their family and knew them well and told me that they were a very nice family. Very good people.

[@davemac1197]

There was a surprising reaction in the UK to the release of this film - I remember a number of veterens complained in the media about the lack of British servicemen portrayed in the D-Day landings at the start of the film, and it was not specific to the detail of missing Royal Navy crew on the 2nd Ranger Battalion's landing craft, it was just a general complaint! I was surprised that veterens, of all people, did not appreciate that the film was about Saving Private Ryan, and not Saving Europe (Again). The clue was cleverly hidden in the title. The simple fact is that if they wanted a film about saving Private Smith in the 6th Airborne Division with a section of Commandos landing on Sword Beach, you first have to pony up all the money from a UK production company, and then if it was going to be strictly historically accurate there would not be a single American character in the film!

[@ReelHistory]

Very good point, as an American my thoughts on the subject were always "but it's about a small American unit pushing up the Cotentin Peninsula, why would they run into other Allies at all?

[@neilholmes8200]

I used to argue with people about this very point, and when that didn't work, I'd ask why the Dambusters didn't have an American crew flying a B17 in it. I'd usually get told I was being ridiculous, and they'd fail to see the irony in that

[@davemac1197]

@@neilholmes8200 - I've found that irony doesn't travel well across the Atlantic. You could try my father's technique for telling jokes while on business trips to Japan. First, he told them he was going to tell a joke. Then he tells the joke. Then he tells them he just told a joke, and they all laugh politely. He swears it works! Think how many Hollywood films have a British historical story, but has to star an American actor to sell it in the 'domestic' market. Cliff Robertson (playing a Canadian) in 633 Squadron, for example. And I recall Rock Hudson and George Peppard were both in 'Tobruk'. Gosh, it almost looks like we have all the best stories!

[@neilholmes8200]

@@davemac1197 I like to think we Brits have gotten our own back by getting Hollywood to cast our best actors in almost all the good villain roles haha

[@davemac1197]

@@neilholmes8200 - because only we can do evil. Obviously. Dominic West (The Wire) explained that one on a US chat show - there's a KZbin clip somewhere - "good British actors are cheaper than good American ones", so for producers the economics make good sense.

[@keithsmith5998]

The Borgstrom Brothers of Utah were also an inspiration for this film. A US Army Reserve training center in Ogden, Utah was named after them. Of which I proudly attended in 1994 and 1995.

[@CJ-ih5dp]

Allied soldiers were told not to take prisoners during the first few days following the invasion because they did not have the resources to take them captive which may be another reason why we see surrendering German soldiers being shot

[@ricklopez4703]

From what I read there was volunteers from the 29th infantry who formed a Ranger battalion that landed with the 29th infantry division. I wonder why the movie made them the 2nd Ranger battalion

[@ReelHistory]

Here is some real history. The 5th Rangers landed at Point Du Hoc. However, their landing was delayed due to a navigational error. Without seeing any sign of a successful landing in time and fearing that the 5th's landings were a failure, the Commander of the 2nd Rangers ordered his men to land at the secondary objective.... Omaha Beach.

[@ricklopez4703]

@@ReelHistory oh I see. Thanks for the info. 🙂.

[@robertmalcomson4777]

Incredibly powerful, detailed, and meaningful video. This is one of my all-time favorite movies and I appreciate your analysis of it and the historical context of it.

[@ReelHistory]

It is our pleasure!

[@landsea7332]

Thank you for such a thorough analysis of the military accuracy of this movie - well done . Also, thanks for pointing out the issue of the tiger tanks . It was the British and Canadians who faced the panzer divisions with tigers . As of June 9th , their attempt to advance into Caen was being stopped by the 2nd , Lehr, 12th ss , and 21st panzer divisions. From what I understand , Montgomery's plan was for the British , Canadians and Poles to keep the panzer divisions occupied in order for the Americans to break out and swing around . By June 30th , the 47th , 255 , 10th ss , 9th ss , 1st ss panzer divisions , and other divisions , were brought up to support the initial panzer divisions around Caen . As shown in Band of Brothers , circa June 13th , the American airborne faced the 17th ss German Grenadiers just south of Carentan . .

[@ArdennesEindhoven]

I was selected to participate in the 45th Anniversary of D Day in 89 when I was in the 82nd. Best experience of my army career.

[@ReelHistory]

Very memorable we suspect!

[@NickC1966]

I used to live on Sachs Road in Gettysburg right after the movie Gettysburg came out. I remember the tank on 15. My sister in law’s great uncle was part of the Bedford Boys. She and her mom were interviewed for the book. They are also in the documentary that was filmed but not released yet. He was KIA during the first wave.

[@ignaciovaldes2390]

this is amazing! great video! thank u so much for so valuable history class

[@dennisyates1762]

Generally I detest & avoid channels with this stop/start commentary, but I'm actually enjoying yours. I agree; you should definitely have more subscribers than you currently do. At least you do research. Plus, damn, but you notice a lot of little details. I could barely make out the Matt Damon egg at Mrs Ryan's, amongst others. Keep up the excellent work. Looking forward to more of same.

[@derekstynes9631]

I have gotten through half of this excellent Post and I am compelled to Subscribe to Fantastic Channel so Keep Up the Great Work !

[@orcanimal]

These breakdowns are great! So much insight

[@johnhoward3271]

Thanks for all the work you have done for this perspective of this film ! This film is as close to watching actual combat as I've ever seen ( not to mention as close to actually being IN combat as I hope to be )

[@JamesBouault]

Thank you for mentioning about the Royal Navy's presence on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Often forgotten, indeed maybe not even known by some. My Grandad and his crewmates from 550 Flotilla, Royal Navy, landed US troops of I and L Company of the 16th Infantry Regiment, US 1st Infantry Division onto Fox Red sector of Omaha Beach as part of the first wave of infantry on D-Day. Due to the strong sea current and the poor visibility hindering navigation, Grandad's LCA craft, along with the 11 other landing craft in the flotilla, came ashore around 7am, half an hour late and a few hundred metres to the left of their intended landing point of Fox Green sector. But the cliffs in Fox Red sector did offer some protection to the US troops from the German WN60 strongpoint above. Grandad's flotilla, 550 Flotilla, Royal Navy, lost 6 men on Omaha Beach on D-Day; Leading Seaman Albert William Heard. Stoker 1st Class Albert George Green. Able Seaman Sydney Pritchett. Able Seaman Wilfred Norman Fowles. Able Seaman Arthur Furness. Stoker 1st Class Robert Arthur Cecil Knight. May they rest in peace.

[@michaeldamisch1367]

Good morning and greetings across the big pond. Thank you for giving me more movie and historical background informations on one of my favorite war movies and for sure the WW2 movie who really got me the most emotional wise. Have a great day and stay safe 😎🪖

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@alancranford3398]

A word on US Army personnel management doctrine during WW2--when someone was given a battlefield commission, that soldier was rotated to another unit as soon as possible. It was thought that the new officer had too many connections to his subordinates and would play favorites. Sometimes a unit that had seen combat was broken up with the survivors forming cadres for new units. Second Rangers had veterans from First Rangers as cadre, if memory serves.