What REALLY Happened To The German Dead? | Normandy | WW2

[@stefaniecosme4774]

After watching a Spectacular short video (which, the theme music from The Pacific was being played, which made it Even More Spectacular) that showed pictures of WWII, then and now, and after watching just a few minutes of this video, I Immediately knew that I Needed to Subscribe to this channel- I also felt the need to comment on something that was said in the part of the video when you/The History Explorer was first walking into the German cemetery, which was something to the effect that by visiting the cemetery that you/your channel Did Not support Nazis nor the Nazi cause- Hearing that you had to basically and preemptively defend the Amazing thing that you were doing, which was showing us another Devastating side to that Even More Devastating war, kind of made me Sad- It also made me think of something that Shifty Powers said in the interview part of Band of Brothers where he said that he came to realize that the German soldiers were also doing what they were, which was what they were told to do as soldiers- He also said he thought that If the circumstances were different, he might had even been good friends with some of those fellow young men (I believe, However, that that would NOT include the SS)- Anyways, I Thank You for what you created for us WWII enthusiasts to enjoy and I Very Much look forward to watching your other videos!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you so much and what a fantastic comment. I hope you’ll check out some of my other videos too 😊 Sadly, if you make videos that cover German units/ actions or locations it does tend to attract two types; the first group accuse you of promoting Nazism; the second group tend to feel loyal to the German cause. As a result I prefix videos like this with that statement. I find it sad too. I really hope you enjoy the channel and thank you so much for your kind feedback

[@jameshinchliffe8453]

​I enjoy ​@@thehistoryexplorerthe channel is very good. But I can remember the words of my father who's youth was stolen from him by the Germans and the Japanese.He was drafted in the one year draft of 1940 and then he was forced to serve for the duration of the war. He was a southerner which no one gave a damn about anymore than we give a damn about them. Trained under General Patton at Ft Benning in the 2nd Armored Division and served in North Africa, Sicily, and the European theater of operations until the end of the war. He developed a hatred of both the Germans and the Japanese until the day he died because they'd robbed him of the best years of his youth. I have come to agree with him! To hell with both of them! And I don't give a damn where they're buried!

[@angeloforzinetti3930]

P

[@georgemiller151]

I went horseback riding in a part of Belgium about 25 years ago. - I can’t remember the name of the town - but I was guided by a Belgian. There was evidence of the war in the woods (foxholes, etc.) and we got to talking about the war. He said that the front line moved back and forth a few times. There were dead Americans and dead Germans scattered around. He said the locals buried the Americans and marked their graves and they were later recovered by the Americans. “And the Germans?” I asked. “The Germans? We just through them in a pit, covered them up and forgot about them.”

[@bryanbufton4358]

I can only agree with you. 😅​@@jameshinchliffe8453

[@Monsoon-sd6vr]

I served 30 years with a combat Regiment of the British Army; during my travels I visited that cemetery. As you point out not to gloat or make fun, that was never our intention, we were just pleased that they looked after their fallen as we would look after ours.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Well said mate

[@angelamary9493]

Rest in Peace All those who Sacrificed their lives on both sides ..

[@417jumps3]

I had an uncle who was in the first wave on Omaha Beach. Miraculously he survived the war but was involved in fierce combat. About a year before he died he told me about his war experiences. What I found interesting was his respect for the enemy/Germans. He said they had a job to do just like the allies and had respect for hard but clean combat. He left his experiences at that and I never learned more.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It’s fascinating isn’t it? Some Germans were worse than others and some had much deeper held beliefs than others

[@417jumps3]

@@thehistoryexplorer I know, right. Sometimes that’s hard to comprehend but what you said is the absolute truth!!

[@Jaden-y7e]

3 Replies

[@labrd41]

I would imagine that very few solders on either side really wanted to be there.

[@417jumps3]

@@labrd41 oh I’m pretty certain that’s a seriously true statement!!!!

[@napierlines6977]

The quality of these videos is brilliant. Thank you

[@Strength-in-Union]

Nice one, Buddy. Thanks for introducing a German war cemetery to those who may never have given it thought. I have visited several - not through any bad reason, but because the vast majority of those dead were only serving their country - as we do. They may still have living relatives, and its important for descendants to be able to honour their relatives. There will be some truly nasty people buried there amongst very many more Germans who just served their country. And we had some truly nasty folk serving in our armies too! But they're a' deed, and buried at peace - in some very beautiful cemeteries - ours, and theirs. I urge those interested in military history and the content of your videos, to take time to visit cemeteries with war graves. Read the names on the stones - that way, those soldiers are not being forgotten.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thanks mate. Well said 👍

[@vicordecastro2851]

​@@thehistoryexplorer_ may they all rest in peace .🙏 .🙏 .🙏

[@MarkCartret]

Why would it be “surprising” to you that 450- 600,000 visitors go to the German cemetery? This is part of our history, allies and axis alike, and soldiers were people who had lives and families. Yes “forget what you know (or “think”) about the war. This is about remembering the war dead”. Even assuming all these men were “guilty” of the atrocities, which I cannot accept that all were, death is the ultimate end to all earthly events. Attempting to punish or denigrate a corpse, or blot it out, beyond life is inhuman, and in this case, a tragic irony to all who study history. Good documentary.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

My surprise is based on my own biases. I’ve been to Normandy well over a dozen times and this was the first time I went to the cemetery. To find out so many people visit each year was quite surprising to me

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

Powerful Video. Powerful lessons. Thank you Rob.

[@craemac]

“It is well that war is so terrible, or we would grow too fond of it.” ― Robert E. Lee

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

A wonderful and insightful video. Your camera style and narrative brings the whole thing alive. You are by far the best producer of such videos that I have followed. Thanks very much.

[@elizabethtaylor3779]

Fascinating. I especially appreciate the learning opportunity, provided by someone who relates the information so articulately.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Glad it was helpful! I enjoyed doing the research into this one

[@Jaden-y7e]

​@@thehistoryexplorer2 Replies

[@WeWereSoldiersChannel]

Another brilliant episode! thank you

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you!

[@boatnut64]

I've been to Le Cambe. I went there with my Son, on a trip to Normandy. My Great Uncle, Harry Thomas Sharp, was Killed in Action, July 4 1944, at Carpiquet Airport, and is Buried at Beny Sur Mer. RIP

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@jocelyneb]

La Cambe German War Cemetary Normandy

[@jacquelinebate2455]

❤

[@Mag_Aoidh]

Excellent as always Rob.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you! Appreciate the very kind feedback

[@PAS_2020]

Amazing look at the enemy side. This video so full of fact with compassion. You are gifted and respect that very much in all your videos.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Wow, thank you. What a compliment! You’ve made my day 👍

[@uniform131]

10yrs ago I met a man who participated in D-Day. I say participated bc that is how he described it, he was 15yrs old, his mother wouldn’t sign the paperwork to let him join, so he altered his birth certificate, forged her name and joined the Army. He trained and was sent over he was part of the 29th infantry. So blessed to have met him.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Wow! Outstanding thank you for sharing

[@markshay6943]

I am an American Desert Storm war Veteran. I appreciate your time and the work you put into these videos

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are most welcome my friend. My dad is a gulf war veteran and I’m now serving myself. So glad you enjoy the videos, I really appreciate the kind feedback 👍

[@sarapanzarella97]

We visited Normandy in 2019. But first we went to Mont Saint Michel. Just a little south of our BNB was the German War Cemetery Huisnes-sur-Mer Mausolée du Mont d'Huisnes. Every summer apparently German kids come and help maintain the cemetery. If you are in the area I highly suggest visiting. Great views of Mont saint Michel at sunset too.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I have never seen it but apparently it is beautiful

[@waterpongo6975]

Sad to say I didnt event knowthis cemetary existed. interesting place and really good information in here. well done Rob

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Well you can’t know everything! Ha!

[@domenicodelucia163]

Uyiti i

[@timalexander7758]

Great video! I enjoyed this one very much

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Glad you enjoyed it! I’m getting some heat for this being ‘pro German’ apparently. You can never win. I really enjoyed the research for this one 👍

[@timalexander7758]

@@thehistoryexplorer Those are just crybabies looking for something to get offended about. You only said What Happened. Just need to tune those people out

[@kkemp221]

The 'oradour sur glanes'story makes me shiver every time i read about it. I was born in a little town called 'putten' the netherlands, where on the 1st of oct 1944 the oradour story almost happened again. Men were seperated from the women and children. Men were locked in a school. Women and children in a church. Women and children were released finally but had to come back the next day with food and clothes for the men. The next day the men were deported while the women and children were evacuated. The german burnt over 100 houses a disaster for the women. Most of the men died in concentration camps. Among them my grandfather. Today a statue of a mourning woman remembers us of what happened then

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Terrible events!

[@johnnyhollis9977]

My father was nearly killed shortly after VE day by a fanatical German known as a Werewolf. My father had no choice but to silence him for good and was subsequently court marshalled for 4 minutes and released with no further action necessary. Little respect was afforded to some German dead as the bitter conflict had killed many allied soldiers who were far too young to die. The same could be said for the German soldiers too who quickly realised that things were not going too well. The dead German was quickly disposed of down a bricked lined ditch and covered with bricks. No marker was added. After seeing the horrors of war first hand it is easy to understand the bitterness that ensued in those awful and tragic circumstances. Great video!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

That’s a terrible story, war brings out the worst in everyone. But at that stage of the war everyone was weary and tired of the conflict

[@johnnyhollis9977]

@@thehistoryexplorer Totally agree. My dad suffered internal blast injuries that reduced his quality of life for years after the war. When he died from having dementia in 2006, his personal confrontation with the German tormented him. He told me many stories of his war experiences. Not all of them were that traumatic, others though described total carnage. He was a great man, albeit a bit of a maverick! 😉

[@robelee4484]

My father was captured at Dunkirk. He was imprisoned at Stalag XXB which was located in Marienburg, Poland. He always said,' You have to remember most of them didn't want to be there like we didn't want to be there'. In other words , they had no choice.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Very good and interesting video!!! Watched a video of a French girl visiting a German War Cemetery in Normandy a few years ago, think it was a smaller cemetery off the beaten path. Her video was during a rainy day which somehow seemed fitting. That was quite a powerful video for she was expecting to feel a bunch of hatred or whatever, but she left very humbled because of the lives lost, regardless of nationality and she realized that a lot of those dead soldiers were around her age group. I have been to the American Cemetery in Normandy, as well as all the beaches and other locations - really does humble you. Regardless of era/battle, have always wondered what happened to the dead of battles, especially way back in the ancient times to present. Of course, the "victors" take care of their own spectacularly and the "losers" - what happens?? Toss into a mass pit most likely/

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes exactly! Well said

[@vasilenegulici6146]

RESPECT CELOR CĂZUȚI ACOLO 😊😢❤ DUMNEZEU SĂ-I ODIHNEASCĂ PE TOȚI 😊❤

[@vilo_h5541]

That was very informative. Thank you.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Glad it was helpful!

[@donrodgers283]

I’m 75,an American, my father was in the army and was a replacement in Italy and made it to Germany. He never spoke to much about it. When I was drafted in 1968 and was told I was going to Vietnam he told me this, stay low, look, listen and smell. I inherited my childhood home. Never went through much in the attic. After I retired that was the big honey do list. I found a box containing things from his time in Europe. 6 diary’s listing every country, battle date/dates and every man he knew who was killed starting in Sicily and ending in Germany. My wife and I read these together over 3 weeks. When I can home he said I know what you saw please leave it there and that was it. I saw 1 year, he saw 3 years. I don’t know how he did it.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I love reading stories and accounts like these. Thank you for sharing 🫡

[@gyrogeargoose]

My Goodness, what a 3 weeks you and your wife had! Much respect to you and your Dad! Amazing that he filled out 6 diaries! Please have them published perhaps? You are both American heros. My Dad fought aboard the USS Essex in the Pacific. God's Finest Blessings To You and Your Family, Sir! Marshall in Oklahoma

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Ive had the honour of visiting all the sites shown. Oradour sur Glane is just below the modern day village. Frozen in time is an understatement. I was there way back in 2011. There was still the remains of a childs toy pram in the ruins of the church. Id say that was one of the hardest things to see in all of those locations. Great work and top quality content.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I wanted to make a video there not very long again but a few others forgot there before me! I’ll release one from there in 6 months or so

[@Roller_Ghoster]

@@thehistoryexplorer cant wait!

[@Occident.]

French Resistance burned 4 German prisoners alive in that village. That's why the Germans retaliated. The history books don't tell you that little fact.

[@clarkkoch4723]

Very good history lesson. Thanks so much.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

My pleasure! I really enjoyed making this one

[@paulevans3827]

Rob, another excellent video thank you so much your content is always excellent👍Paul

[@thehistoryexplorer]

That means a lot buddy, thank you. 🙏

[@TellySavalas-or5hf]

I visited La Cambe cemetry twice! In 1988 and 2001. It's a respected place.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes I agree, it was my first visit but I found it to be very peaceful and respectfully done

[@rolfagten857]

Did you met Ronald Reagan at the bittburg S.S. cemetry , Telly?!

[@weird-history-and-odd-news]

It would be really great if you would correct the auto-generated-for-closed-captioning spelling of the names/places/battles - when everything else is accurate, it's a bit of a disappointment that the closed-captioning is not. Thanks so much for your work on these videos. From a Canadian subscriber 🙂

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I’m sorry but KZbin create these closed captions. They certainly aren’t perfect and I hope they will improve this in the near future

[@weird-history-and-odd-news]

@@thehistoryexplorer Yes, KZbin creates the captions, but you can edit them easily in the Subtitles section of your KZbin Channel Dashboard.

[@jonathanhunter-y5d]

WOW awesome video :)

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you very much!

[@StephenGrew]

War is insanity! Those poor men and women.

[@TheJon2442]

Sadly and too often started by those who never have to suffer and often profit from their actions.

[@herbertvonsauerkrautunterh2513]

I went to find the grave of my mother's friends father near monshau. I think it was around there. He died around the time on the Ardennes offensive. Huge cemetery but I found it

[@allencollins6031]

Thank you for the History. And the video/picures that bring it life.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

My pleasure my friend. I hope you’re doing well

[@jjt1093]

There is a good documentary using gps and battle reports for exact locations on the death of wittman, I agree it must of been my fellow countrymen, he passed 150m infront of a row of canadian shermans holding up in an old chateau courtyard. Now to this video, very well done, had no idea so much effort was put into relocating the german dead to a central plot, that was an amount of respect to them to do that.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you very much, I’m so glad you enjoyed the video

[@JesusRunsMyHouse]

My dad was 17 when he volunteered and went to war because his two older brothers were already over there. My one uncle was shot down over Guam and him or his has never been found but I remember them putting a picture and his favorite rabbit gun in the coffin and burying it. My other uncle was there from 41 -42 and again 44-45. My dad went on to fight in Korea and Vietnam and came home a alcoholic basketcase

[@davidk7324]

Well done, thank you. We made a stop at Marigny, I believe, during Paul's April tour.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Ah yes! Another great place. Some of the pictures I uploaded were actually from Marigny

[@frasermitchell9183]

There is a German war memorial here in England, on Cannock Chase. I have visited it and it's not hard to find if you have an OS map. It was established to be a single memorial site for all German forces members who were killed while over England, which means most of the names are members of the Luftwaffe. There is, however, a separate memorial to he Crewe of a Zeppelin airship shot down in WW1.

[@gartwilliams3347]

Visited the German Cemetery outside of Bastogne this past May (2024) Very interesting and I was told no Belgiums visit the cemetery. Also the dead were buried in their uniforms, or sheets, no real coffins.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes that’s true, the closest they got to coffins was a cardboard type box

[@Maxl1409]

Thank you very much for this video! Just something I notice when referring to german names, etc.: "ei" is pronounced like "I" and "ie" is pronounced like "ee", in this case "Diekmann"="Deekmann" (like in "seek", "deep", etc.) Keep it up!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thanks for sharing! Every day is a school day

[@Tanjacs]

0:39... The look on these children's faces is just so very scared...!! 😢

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It is very sad isn’t it

[@longtabsigo]

Wittman’s unit caught the British troops out of their tanks and other vehicles brewing up their tea! So when W’man “passed by” he was able to score vehicle kill after vehicle kill with no return fire whatsoever. I’ve been told, for what it’s worth, that this action was one of the incidents that led the British military to equip virtually every tank, IFV & APC with a boiler that allows for one to brew up their tea while never needing to exit the vehicle. I suppose I could google it but almost 3am, I’m sure someone (or everyone)will correct me if I am wrong. 😁

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Actually Wittmann's Tiger was hit by British AP fire at least 5 times including by a Firefly. Pat Dyas' Cromwell fired almost point blank at him twice. None of the 5 hits penetrated the armour of his Tiger although the last hit on his Tiger disabled his Tiger in the running gear and he and his crew abandoned it.

[@Thecarman1994]

I visited with my father 30 years ago. He was stunned to see a grave with his own date of birth. Dad had had a life, a family and a career.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It’s enough to make you stop and think

[@Thecarman1994]

@@thehistoryexplorer yes, dad lived to age 96. What might that young German have achieved

[@mampe8898]

I visit here in finland at rovaniemi city german soldiers war cemetery. When they started built it local people were against it of course. Sad place.. there is actually good presentation video.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you very much

[@stevenewman1393]

😉👍Very nicely greatly wonderfully well done and very nicely informatively explained on the historical facts of this burial cemetery for German soldiers during WW2 indeed Sir!👌.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are most welcome my friend!

[@brandenforrer2603]

One of my grandfathers was a guard at a camp and the outher was a America paratrooper. Its crazy how things work out

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Isn’t that the truth.

[@j.lietka9406]

I occasionally watch videos where metal detectorists go to WW2 battle fields and remains of soldiers are found. The remains are eventually returned to the country of origin. I would like to see a video on the WW1 & WW 2 memorials to fallen German soldiers. Thank you

[@AL6198]

Very interesting. I am French but was not aware of this German cemetary. And yes, Oradour is still remembered by all French people.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you very much. I will release a film on Oradour in the near future, such a impactful and harrowing scene!

[@mrrw1936]

I just find this so fascinating. these subjects are always toucjy but the professionaism here with the productoion and resaerch is so good to see

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are very welcome and thank you for the kind feedback

[@americanpatriot2422]

Great video

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you American Patriot 🇺🇸 👌

[@luckyguy600]

It is what it is. War never changes/ just the tools used to fight them.

[@lappin6482]

So true

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Very true

[@mikeyj9607]

In 83 while stations at Pruem AFS maybe 30 miles from Bitburg AFB a couple of us visited the Miltary cematarey there ,the one made infamous from President Regans visit.I was impressed at how it was set up the row of crosses like in Normandy how peaceful it was and how germanic it was .One thing that stood out was they had soldiers interned on both sides of the marker we just remarked typical german efficiency ,none of us knew about the SS dead that was there ,would have made no difference as being in the military we respected the way they buried their men

[@JACQUESLUCONT2333]

Hi, im from Russia, and thank you for your videos.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are very welcome my friend

[@user-vv6sy2ox4q]

The massacre at Oradour sur Glane was perpetrated as a reprisal for a crime against German prisoners by the resistance. The captured Germans (including a relatively senior officer of the 2nd SS) were placed into an ambulance and burned alive with civilian spectators laughing at the sight. The Germans were incensed when they heard this news and proceeded to commit their terrible crime. Just an altogether appalling series of events.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

@@user-vv6sy2ox4q yes allegedly that is the case, but it does not justify the actions, as you have already pointed out. A terrible set of circumstances!

[@graemer3657]

There was a trial after the war of the SS involved in the Oradour massacre. 14 of the 21 were Frenchmen from Alsace Lorraine who were conscripted into the SS, 13 of them by force. There would have been more people tried, but few of the SS present at the massacre were alive at the wars end

[@jacquesmalite2612]

​@my aupa was partisan he faughr das reich division.they killed major kampf,a war criminalité.ss killed 700 women and babies in oradour...what soldiers.....krauts will be always krauts..... graemer3657

[@siberg6257]

You are all wrong. The SS didn't murder the women and children. There was an explosion in the church caused by resistance explosive ordnances stored in the church. The french System cannot let the truth be told because it would destroy the myth that SS are bad guys and the commies were the good guys. The truth will prevail one day, because it always does. Mark my words

[@tonykulikovsky]

I once read a book when I was much younger, and it suggested that it was about gold

[@lynnhiggins7340]

I've been to Oradour Sur Glan two times, it's truly awesome. So very sad. X

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I hope you enjoyed the video

[@tombristowe846]

Good vid. There is another interesting German burial ground near Mont St Michel., at Mont d'Huisnes. It's a mausoleum, or an ossuary, where the bones of about 12000 Germans are buried.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Oh wow I’m not aware of that!

[@760Piper]

Very powerful video. Curious as to why Wittman was buried alone and with another soldier.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Glad you enjoyed it. In a future video I explain how his remains were not found for some time and how he was moved here to be buried

[@dianeday1297]

The sad thing is, we can never seem to kill off the ideologies that get us into wars. It's defeated in one war just so another country adopts it, then another war occurs.

[@THORFXMX]

Just returned from France , visited the American cemetery, Omaha beach and the overlord museum. I believe we drove bye the German cemetery of which I did not visit. I recommend anyone who may be interested to visit.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I have been to Normandy dozens and dozens of times but this was the first time I ever visited the German cemetery. No idea why I never went before

[@Kirtlington-Bandit]

Everyone should be taken to a war cemetery , whilst stationed in Germany any relative visiting i always took them to one. When you see the ages it really puts your life into perspective and what people sacrificed their life’s for .

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes I agree. In any military cemetery

[@medic1627]

In case anyone was wondering, the coins left on the grave are put there to remember the person buried there. It's a form of remembrance, it's letting the person know that you dropped by to visit them.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thanks for sharing. There were many graves with coins, not just the ones features here 👍

[@michaelzahnle5649]

@@thehistoryexplorer We have the same practice stateside. I've personally left coins on the grave markers of past military members that I've found in civilian cemeteries.

[@rainmanmainplan4421]

When i visited this cemetery it was very dense and felt very heavy and just felt bad really that soo many lives were lost

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes I know what you mean! Luckily I was there on a lovely summers day but I imagine in the winter it would feel quite ominous

[@gillgetter3004]

Thanks I wondered what happened to the German dead👍

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I hope you took something from the video. I found the research really interesting

[@karlbotkin2349]

A great guy with great courage and commitment. A very resourceful Soldier and determined individual, that sacrificed all for the good of his unit.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Who are you referring to?

[@Voice-Actor]

I was at these very graves in August. Not the easiest cemetery system to navigate!

[@Voice-Actor]

Oh... and the best Calvados in Normandy at the rear of the cemetery. Vergers de Romilly.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I know what you mean! It took me a while

[@anthonysherry2628]

My late father served in the British Army, Royal Tank Regiment. He met my German mother in Munster. When i see these video's i feel sad, so many young taken on both sides. But they did their duty, right or wrong. What a waste.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Well said my friend

[@gunsandpolitics5510]

My father was an engineer in WWII. He came ashore on Omaha Beach on June 12 along with his engineering battalion. His first job was to use a bulldozer to dig a big slit trench to bury dead animals. There were a LOT of dead horses and other livestock. His second was to dig some trenches to bury dead Germans. Graves registration would attempt to get some ID on the bodies, then they were laid out in the trenches and buried. Most of them were later dug up and re-buried as in this video.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Wow imagine that! Thanks for sharing

[@angelamary9493]

Rest in Peace All Those who Sacrificed their lives on both sides ...some ones father ..Son .. Brother ..Uncles ..

[@spudgun7474]

The vast majomajority of those fighting on the axis side were far from Nazi. The majority were regular citizens fighting for their families and country.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes that’s true

[@berg6964]

100%!!

[@PrussianRedWhiteBlue]

ITS OK TO BE WHITE

[@chrishoman3928]

Not exactly true most were Nazis just not finatic u can look up how many people were Nazis card members for lack off.

[@Phillip-q9s]

Hardly, when the need for the Einsatzgruppen was established , it firstly recruited older policemen not initially of fighting age, they were given the option of not getting directly involved in the actual killings with the option of other duties and zero repercussions, but they mostly all willing volunteered to carry out these hideous crimes with the aid of the Wehrmacht,

[@rhiantaylor3446]

A while ago I visited Vladslo WW1 German cemetery near Diksmuide in Belgium. It is here that the remains of German soldiers were re-located from many smaller cemeteries and I was surprised to realise that each plaque on the ground remembers the names of 20 soldiers buried beneath.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

That is so sad isn’t it. Regardless of which side they came from they should be respected

[@giovanniverga5928]

German Military Cemetery, Passo della Futa, between Florence and Bologna 36,000 fallen, the youngest was born in 1927 and died in 1944. American Military Cemetery of the 5th Army near Florence on Cassia, Località Tavernelle 4,400 fallen. The biggest Italian Military Memorial, Redipuglia (IWW). 100,000 fallen. Death has no enemies, only victims.

[@jerseycitysteve]

We should remember that on the Eastern Front, there were hundreds of villages that met the same fate as oradour-sur-glane.

[@Jay77G]

I went to oradour sur glane. Amazing and sad place. It's a must to go if ever in that area.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Oh I agree! I have a video coming up on Oradour

[@Jay77G]

@@thehistoryexplorer looking forward to it 🙂👍

[@prontsc]

It was a disrepest to the fallen soldiers, not SS soldiers to be buried in shared and mass graves after the war. My German uncles who died in 1940 had their own graves and tombstones until after the war in the 1950's when they were dug up and reburied, on land no one wanted. Most killed in Normandy were young men/teenagers with no experience since the Nazis' were expecting the Allies to land north by Calais. When I showed my German relatives the photographs I took when visiting, they all asked who is paying for graves upkeep and never have been to any German war cementary. And there's alot of them!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes the are a lot of them. There are no winners in war, that’s for sure

[@YoloSwagNinja]

“Land that no one wants” is a good place for a cemetery. You’re not wasting some valuable property for some people who aren’t affected by their zip code.

[@eric-wb7gj]

It makes more sense to have them centralised if the area has to be maintained & commemorated. It would make it far more difficult for maintenance crews to tend thousands of separate graves. Also, depending on their location, if there are residents there, they may not want the grave of anyone in it. At least they are not forgotten. After Waterloo, it's said the bones of the soldiers were ground up, sold off & used for fertiliser.

[@peterwallace9764]

@@eric-wb7gj- That would be very demoralising for any relative with dead soldiers in their past family relatives.

[@ArnieC1974]

There is an other one who you should visit! It's beautiful! It's on a backroad to le mont saint Michelle and the name is Huisnes-sur-Merthere you will find the cemetery. You have to climb a lot of steps and then you find yourself in a big round circle where all Germans are intured in there own grave, so they are not buried but all have there own plot stacked 6 rows high. You can see a lot there and it's kept very well by the German government. You can walk there for hours and still haven't seen it all. It has a beautiful Chappell as well with all the names engraved. I found it on my way back from Saint Michelle but you can better first go there!

[@Sunnydays14121]

So sad seeing children in uniform 😢

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes that always gets me 😢

[@Tanjacs]

And the look on their faces is so scared...!! 😢

[@Jaden-y7e]

3 Replies

[@TellySavalas-or5hf]

Hitleryouth boys.

[@fosterfuchs]

The first post WWII German war movie is called Die Brücke (the bridge). It's about a group of German teenage friends from a small town who at he end of the war sign up to fight for the German Army. After brief basic training, it's really too late for them to be of any use. So a German officer orders them as an afterthought to defend a bridge at the edge of their town. They take it extremely seriously, and by the end of the movie, only one of them survives. The movie shows the sheer senselessness of what they did.

[@erichall465]

I thought it was millions of them that perished. They were so ruthless.

[@chrishensley6745]

Nice video...I respect the German soldier for there way of fighting where alot had to fight...like the 17 and 75 year old men that died there....they were smart in ALOT of ways......Unlike the Japes......that is a different story/bunch of people right there.

[@stevensole1909]

RIP to those brave soldiers

[@Sp10580]

Trust you mean the brave allied soldiers and not talking about the nazis

[@stevensole1909]

@@Sp10580 100% no. I mean the Germans. Allies were bullies who had more money and greater numbers. Germans were the brave ones.

[@RivetGardener]

War is a horrible and disgusting thing. I have always wondered what came of the Panamainian bodies strewn along Omar Torrijos Airport when we took it down on 20 DEC 1989. And what about the rest when we cleaned out the other areas, the streets where we fought and the buildings we took over. As an Airborne Infantryman we did our job and moved on. Who cleaned up behind us? I have no idea.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Oh wow you were involved in that? Very interesting

[@Berlin-Kladow]

Interesting. It would be interesting to have a video of visiting other German cemeteries in Germany in the future. I have visited Germany many times but have never had the opportunity to visit any. They seem to be hidden away in shame . I couldn’t find any on websites. It’s truly sobering to visit these sites and remember all the people who suffered the horrors

[@thehistoryexplorer]

That’s a great idea. I don’t have plans to visit Germany this year but I’ll remember to visit the cemeteries when I do

[@robertbishop6935]

There are a lot of German cemeteries littered around Northern France.

[@griffhenshaw5631]

I went to the village in 76.. Very sobering.

[@MartinVSmith6334]

There is a German War Cemetery in Mota Santa Anastasia, Sicily that is kept as nice as any Commonwealth or American Cemetery is in a foreign country. Ironically it about 5 miles from the American Naval Air Station in Sigonella. Not unusual to see flowers on a few graves. Have not been there in about 10 years.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes exactly and let’s not forget these soldiers had families, sons and mothers, just as we do.

[@robertamatt4532]

Max Hastings in his book Das Reich suggests that the Oradour sur Glane question of why the Germans inflicted the massacre there is a theory that they had heard that a resistance cell was based in the town. The suggestion is that their intel was wrong inasmuch as the information cited Oradour Sur Vayes which is only 34km to the south.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Possibly, although I’m not convinced anything can justify what they did. Imagine the until atrocities they committed in Eastern Europe too

[@robertamatt4532]

​@@thehistoryexplorer I totally agree, unfortunately history tells us that after 4 years of total war tempers became very short on both sides. It is not difficult to uncover war crimes committed by the Allies too, take for instance the estimated 6--10,000 German prisoners of war said to have perished in the Rhine Meadows Camps. The vast numbers of surrendering Germans caught the Allies by surprise and it is thought that up to 200,000 were held in the spring of 1945 through to September 1945 in 19 open air concentration camps along the Rhine. There was no shelter and many succumbed to the elements. The Allies circumvented the Geneva convention by referring to the troops as Disarmed Enemy Forces--rather than Prisoners of War who under the Convention had established rights of care. Naturally this was kept very quiet--I think the adage that='The victors write the history' applies in this case.

[@keithscott1255]

Noticed the wooden barrel shot off a Sherman at 9.24.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes indeed. A OP variant from K Battery. Good spot!

[@mrnexus8seven949]

Why are you surprised so many people visit this cemetary?

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Because I’ve been visiting Normandy for over 20 years and this was my first time going to La Cambe

[@Stewart682]

Put a British/Canadian helmet on a shirt and I'll buy one!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Easy my friend! Although I’m currently filming in France so it will be a few days

[@wumhenry123]

Good to hear that even the german side recognized the war crime of Diekmann and wanted to court martial him.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes definitely!

[@TKM1951]

It occurs that if they were being moved to central resting places ,why weren’t they repatriated

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It’s just as the American soldiers see moved from various locations to the main US cemetery. Some families did choose to have their family members brought back to the US

[@eric-wb7gj]

I suppose it depends on who's paying, & if there are any living relatives to claim them, or if the government wishes to carry out the task. I read of an WW2 account where a German mother got a note from the railway station saying there was a package for her to pick up, it was a large one, & she had to pay for it's transport. When she got there, she found it was the body of her son in his coffin. She had to pay the fee, then walk him home about 5km to their village for burial.

[@Dulcimertunes]

@@eric-wb7gj😢

[@kerrydennison7947]

It's very sobering to see this considering how the Germans treated the Russian war dead. I have always wondered why the French people even allowed the notorious SS to be buried on French soil you would think they would have forced the bodys to be repatriated to Germany after the war. Then again the Russians simply plowed over the German cemeteries in Russia and turned it back into wheat Fields etc.

[@fishbag3321]

What do the black crosses mean?

[@thehistoryexplorer]

They are just basalt markers buddy, Saxon in design I believe

[@HuppeldePupNL]

Great video. Thanks. A word of advice, however: can you please make a bit of an effort to get the pronunciation sort of right, of the French and German names. Ehdolf Dikemun and Ahdolf Deekman do not sound at all similar to most Continental ears.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I will try my best. Sorry

[@carresteigerwald3278]

Im surprised people even visit it. That being said, these people, beyond the war, were someone's child. They were a little 4 year old playing with toys at one time. I know its very difficult to think about, but the Lord loved them too. However their choices decided most of their fates, regarding their eternal place.

[@TheConfederate1863]

I think you can see at the cemeteries who won the war….😢

[@thehistoryexplorer]

In what way?

[@Dulcimertunes]

The Nazis didn’t need a reason to incinerate civilians

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes of course

[@jkline999]

The body getting loaded into the truck is an american sgt.

[@brianmurray1395]

1944-1961 Reburied .. what's left a tooth? A leg bone?

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes I did think that too

[@hisoverlorduponhigh90]

Germany was very clear about their grievances. They wanted the terrorists (resistance) turned over, and they wanted the bombing of German civilians to stop. I am not rationalizing, just underscoring the atrocities on both sides, during a very emotionally charged episode.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Possibly, but I do feel some were just led to act this way

[@paddycable1723]

Never forget the genocidal extermination programme on an industrial scale. NOTHING the allies did compares to the horror of that. The Nazis were perhaps the greatest evil ever to be visited upon humankind.

[@adhofsink1216]

Have you ever been to Ysselsteyn in the Netherlands?

[@thehistoryexplorer]

No I havnt actually but I do have plans to visit the Netherlands again soon

[@adhofsink1216]

@@thehistoryexplorer It is worth the visit. 👌

[@rossthompson7956]

Two uncles served their also. One B17 navigator and one ground combat. They mever openally talked about it. The navigator said they had to fly to Russia and used the hay stacks for cover as the german fighters shot up the Russian base. Russians were nice to the allies back then.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Outstanding 🫡

[@gregbolitho9775]

Glad they got looked after, alot seemed not to be.