Holdy Battery: The Sister Gun Battery of Brecourt Manor | History Traveler Episode 187

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

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

[@keithsifford5326]

“Ordinary men doing extraordinary things”….That pretty eloquently sums it up. Thanks again.

[@sterlingforsythe7398]

Bravo to History Underground. In June 2010 I floated the Atlantic from Houston to Antwerp on a container ship MSC Flaminia to sort of replicate the troop crossing experience, and spent 3 months from Caen to Berlin. Spending almost 3 weeks in Normandy from Cherbourg to Calais running up and down the Assault Areas and beyond, stopping wherever I saw casemates and museums. These videos and stories are so spot on. I took over 9,000 digital photos that summer. The stories I heard and encountered, the people I met, the help I received along the way. The near death experiences I had like walking up on the open bunker atop Omaha bluffs in the cornfield above Ruquet Beach that is now a bee-honey colony cabinet farm and the mare and her foal that were sheltering in the casemate at Fermanville that galloped right by me after I had startled them in the dark. Finding Dead Man's Corner, the Chapelle de la Madeleine outside St Lo and the story of Major Howie there, La Coupole, Blockhaus, Val Ygot mobile launch site, finding Rommel's house in Herrlingen (Ulm) and the yard tour by the current resident, the Bulge area, the 506th foxholes out on the road to Foy, the local gendarme who got me to the Elsenborn Ridge, finding the "Malmedy Massacre" was in Baugnez not Malmedy, the mom and pop museum at La Gleize Belgium, the bridge at Remagen where my Dad was in 1945 with the 738th Tank Battalion Spcl, Nuremberg's Zeppelin Field; the Kongresshalle Center, the Luitpoldhain Ehrenhalle, the Justiceplatz, getting a tour of the actual judge's chambers and courtroom which was in 2010 a jury vor dire screening room, and finally wrapping up with a week in Berlin, Bendlerblock, the Flak Tower tour, Reichstag, accidently driving thru the Brandenburg Gate behind a city public works truck into the pedestrian square, the eerie Plotzensee Prison, the Olympic facilities, Tempelhof Airport, the Wilhelmstrasse, Luftwaffe Ministry, the Wannsee House. Checkpoint Charlie..... so many experiences you have brought to life and back into my memory, truly overwhelming and outstanding!

[@stevecockrell8639]

As a former paratrooper with the 82nd we learned a lot of history of actions in ww2. Of course didn't learn them all but was fortunate enough in the early 90's to meet some ww2 vets from division. Truly an honor to chat with them about their time over there. Thank you JD for your awesome presentation of these and all your other videos.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Very few of those guys left. Wish that I could go back and talk with a bunch of them.

[@Loneranger670]

From one paratrooper to another, and all others - much respect 👊🏻

[@anthonydm2947]

Hey JD, hope you are feeling better. Well said… ordinary men sent to do extraordinary things..which turned them into extraordinary heroes. Could you imagine if those fields could talk…..great video. Thank you.

[@adammitchell3462]

I love how this channel makes every episode feel like a personal experience

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@safety86]

Well done, JD. I wish KZbin had a two thumbs up button! When you pointed out the old landing strip parts used in the fencing, it is very symbolic of how D-Day is truly woven into the Normandy region's history.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@bzsportscards144]

My mom and I had the opportunity to stay at the Holdy battery for a few nights in August, and the people who live there are incredible. Even with the language barrier, we learned tons of information about what went on there. Would highly recommend to anyone who gets the chance to travel to Normandy!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nice! I'd like to stay there myself.

[@OldStreetDoc]

Another WELL done video! I can’t thank you all enough for doing so much to keep our history alive. There aren’t too many of these great men remaining with us today, and y’all are doing so much to make sure they are never forgotten. 👏🏼🇺🇸

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Trying my best. Thanks! :)

[@sheilayoung8007]

So interesting, I love learning about history especially, the stories that have been lost. Thanks for bringing them to life.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully people are sharing these videos and making these stories more widely known.

[@jamesvanderpoel2135]

This is definitely the most underrated channel on KZbin

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Hopefully it’s helping people to learn a few things.

[@TauroWW2]

Great movie, this is at my friend Jean F. where you filmed this. Great guy, and has lots of information and pictures from back then. This place is indeed underrated, since it's overshadowed by Sainte Mere Eglise, actually a lot of pictures in the museum is from Holdy.

[@oliverbradley592]

brilliant video, keeping the stories of the lives of these brave young men alive. Much love from UK

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that! Hopefully people are sharing these out and helping to spread the history around.

[@qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm3937]

Not 100% sure if it’s true but we believe my great grandad may have been at the fight at holdy. It’s mentioned in articles about the engagement that members of the 506th were also there along with majority being 502nd and I recall hearing he told my dad that he was there as he dropped somewhere near Eglise by st marie du mont

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh wow!

[@bradmiller3367]

I must preemptively thank you for this, simply as I am home quarantining having caught The Virus and this is a welcome respite from cleaning and cooking and reading and writing and other things to fill my time. Always entertaining and instructive!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Good chance to catch up! Get well soon. Just went through a round of it myself.

[@AmberPearcy]

I hadn’t heard of this battery until it was mentioned in a previous video. So it’s nice to see it here. Thanks JD!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that I could put it on the radar for you! Thanks for watching.

[@wwiibuff9862]

Another awesome video, please keep up the great work. One thing I need to clarify is that it IS confirmed that there were US troops in the St. Come-du-Mont church tower that morning, NOT Germans. It is mentioned in a book or two, but also my friend Larry Lopes of Service Company, 506th PIR, 101st ABD was one of about five paratroopers in that tower early in the morning, firing on Germans below in the town square. After being up there for a little while, they came down. About 30 minutes after they did, the tower was hit by the round from Captain Patch at the Holdy Battery. I've been up on the balcony of that tower, and it has an awesome view of the area, including Utah Beach.

[@matthewstaz9691]

I couldnt seem to fall asleep tonight and out of sheer boredom I checked KZbin to find this gem. JD hope you feel 100% soon but thank you for the amazing content!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nice! Thanks.

[@patrickmorrissey8754]

Thank you for the history lesson. There is so much to see and learn about D-Day. I have been to the “Dog-Green” portion of Omaha Beach, but not Utah. Your use of Drone footage is very much appreciated as it gives a needed dimension to the ground based footage. On the thermite grenade story. If the battery was manned by the WAFFEN-SS, I would think it was plausible. You have given me some history nuggets to follow-up on…so much to look into. Thanks again! Patrick Morrissey

[@OlSgtLove]

Great job and very well done 👏!!! If those Soldiers could be there with you today , I'm sure they be giving you a big hug and pat on the back and telling their stories. But you are keeping their history and memories alive . Enjoy very much what yall are doing . Thank-you again and God Bless . ARMY ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🇺🇸

[@timothymcknight9485]

As always, another great video of a small part of the big invasion on D-Day. Thank you, JD. Hope you are doing better today!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Got a lot more of these small stories coming.

[@mamab4211]

Perfectly said!! Extraordinary men in extraordinary circumstances. Thank you for taking us along 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. Thanks for watching!

[@mikebohrer3881]

Love the "not so well known" stories you bring us. Thank you again!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Got a lot more to come :)

[@mrfishydudeman]

Just woke up, ready to study for my exams, and then i'm blessed with this!!

[@Wreckdiver59]

Another place kind of off the beaten path but still part of the story. I certainly never heard of Holdy Battery. Amazing how all the pieces were coordinated together to make the overall plan a success. It was probably unintentional, but thanks for the early video drop. 😉 Something good to wake up to. Feel better soon JD.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. This is one that I figured most people hadn’t heard of.

[@SIGP229TPOC]

Great stuff as always. I learn a lot from this channel. It's amazing to think about the chaos that was going down, right where you were standing.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! I’ve been learning a lot too.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

The Generals would be in their 50's , the majors and lieutenants in their 30's the troops in their 20's( roughly ) . A lot of young people committed to the cause . How brave they all are and were

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🇺🇸

[@jimwiskus8862]

Incredible, from presentation to the stories.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@cnickle100]

Loving these videos from Normandy invasion. Hope you are continuing to feel better JD. Thanks again for the great work.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them! Thank you.

[@WFMeyer]

JD, you knock it out of the park every time. I am looking forward to when you begin to explore the South Pacific!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. If things will settle down with travel a bit, it'd sure make that trip easier.

[@cyndiebill6631]

Beautiful farm. It’s hard to believe that war ever touched this beautiful place. Another great video thank you so much.😊👍

[@Loneranger670]

The atrocities you mention at 03:00 are tragic. As a paratrooper myself I can understand that an enemy soldier taking the opportunity to swiftly kill his enemy in war ( such as paratroopers rendered useless by being caught up and suspended in trees) but to torture them enemy first is unacceptable and that type of behaviour creates hate between nations to be repeated forever.

[@johnsanchez9772]

Love your videos I look forward to watching them. My great grandmother's brother was in the 506 101st c company and landed somewhere around that area. He made it through normandy and operation market garden but was killed during the battle of the bulge he buried at the luxembourg cemetary. It's an honor to be realated to him I'm hoping to get over there and pay my respects to him and all of the other great men we lost

[@kennethnew3075]

Thanks for another great history lesson. Get some rest and hope you are feeling better.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that.

[@jetsons101]

I was just about to go to bed, and this showed up on my computer.... What a great watch for going to bed to, Work in the AM......

[@gaylewilliamson9183]

The best channel ever.Thank you I always learn from your channel.👍😍🇺🇸

[@zaynevanbommel5983]

Thanks JD again an awesome post mate much appreciated

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@stephenrrose]

Great Work JD, Hope you are feeling better? Appreciate you and what you are doing! Thank you for the education!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@dave3156]

Thanks so much for doing this series. Extremely interesting the small details of D-Day which are not well known. Would be kind of interesting to metal detect there I think. Thx for sharing

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Hoping to highlight some of the lesser known spots in this series.

[@midcoastmoto8724]

Another awesome education! Thanks JD. Hope you are feeling better

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@simon6ppc246]

Another top episode keep on this subject for as long as you can my friend.

[@janetgies8698]

Thanks for putting in the old photos of the Guns in the Field. Your Videos are such a great way to learn about History! Yes we are learning about Extraordinary Men fighting Extraordinary Battles that certain current young people want to erase.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching!

[@SandervkHistory]

Never heard about the place! Thanks for sharing.👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely an underrated spot. If Stephen Ambrose would’ve picked a different company, everyone would know about Holdy and Brecourt would be the obscure one.

[@lroberts4162]

JD, thank you. Another great video

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@BuckeyeBackyardBBQ]

Never thought about a sister battery. Crazy

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

You aren't alone. A lot of people are unaware of this one.

[@iceman590444]

Thanks for getting this out to us all JD, hope your cleared up here soon! ✊💙✌

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@darkoflight4938]

Excellent!!!! So interesting to see locations that is mostly hidden for the public. Great stuff, as usual!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Hopefully people will share this out and help grow the awareness of this place too.

[@jefferyfowler7860]

Outstanding video J.D. thanks for bringing all this in such incredible detail. 👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@seanodwyer9487]

I was in Normandy in 2010. I took my oldest there after her graduation from HS. On our trip, between Omaha and Utah, I saw a cardboard sign for Maisy Battery. It was discovered around 6 years before. It was cold and raining. It's an enduring memory for me going through the trench's with my Daughter. We were the only people there. I would love to hear your take on it, if you have the time.

[@flack3]

Just discovered your channel, amazing work! Thanks from Canada!

[@christopherreynolds8873]

Great video. Love the detail, and the lesser known areas you are presenting about. I hope you attend feeling better.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Got a lot more to come.

[@skimmer8774]

Great report. The men were ordinary but they were absolutely all heroes.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@garretvaughn7936]

As always, another fantastic video revealing some of the personal history of D-Day. Thanks for bringing the battles down to an individual level to honor the heroic acts of these "ordinary" men. I especially appreciate your use of maps and overhead drone shots that give us the true lay of the land. It is meaningful to me to be able to look at the area via Google Maps. I'm really enjoying this entire series Great job, and thank you!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! I’m going to try and utilize the maps a little more in the future.

[@derek89273]

That was called Marston Matting if I remember correctly, used on airstrips or bad conditioned roads.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

You see it all over the place over there. Might have to try and get a chunk to bring home next time :)

[@jerichostevens2711]

I've done a lot fighting at St. Marie... but on Hell Let Loose... haven't played it in awhile. I will today.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@davecass485]

Thanks for the great video. Get well my friend and stay safe.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@1psychofan]

A great video! Once again I learned something! I sure hope you’re feeling much better!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Getting a little better. I’m at least functional now 🙂

[@1psychofan]

@@TheHistoryUnderground that’s a start! So sorry you were sick!!! Keep taking care! ❤️🙏🇺🇸

[@danielsibley6322]

JD, if you put a video out every hour it still would not be enough! Love your work friend!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! Well, I got a new one dropping here in about an hour 😄

[@ronbanning7142]

Love your work. From Brisbane,Australia..

[@GreatNorthernTech]

Thanks JD! Fascinating stuff. Hope your feeling better.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that.

[@michaelerickson5724]

Great video hope you are feeling better!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. Doing a little better than I was.

[@powercatjeffy]

Fantastic, as always. It's so nice to travel with you. It's almost like being there.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Glad that I can share the experiences.

[@user-jq8wr8ru2s]

Great video. Amazing to see . Thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@pigybak]

Those men were the real super heroes.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

They were something else for sure.

[@KowboyUSA]

So peaceful and serene today if you didn't already know it was the location of one of histories bloodiest battles it'd be hard to imagine.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed.

[@2Bearair]

Love your videos. Thanks for bringing these events to life.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them! Thank you.

[@wrangler70jkujeep74]

Amazing history trek great see it and stories of battle

[@L_Train]

You can read the after action report for the 506th on D Day if you do a little googling. The action at Holdy is described. There are a few discrepancies between the report and the things described by the person in this video. The report says that there were much less than 75 men attacking, I think it was less than 25 but more than 12. It also stated that the Germans did not go out into the fields to eliminate paratroopers but just covered the fields by small arms fire. Several Americans who were in the field were able to come out from where they had been hiding after the battery stopped firing. It does say that among the German dead were bodies of US paratroopers that had been collected earlier so I'm not sure how that worked out. According to the Report, the Germans took cover in a system of ditches and were not pushed back but attacked with grenades. They took about 30 prisoners with some wounded Germans and about 50 KIA. The Americans suffered 1 wounded, a rifle grenadier who was shot in the neck.

[@lucassixto5272]

Great video as always JD! Where do you find the music for your videos? It always seem to fit the mood extremely well. Thanks for the great work you do.

[@lthom5158]

Hope you are feeling better! Great video!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you!!

[@hoosierplowboy5299]

Excellent presentation, thank you...

[@randygerman2176]

Did not know about Holdy battery. Well done. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Glad that I could help to put it on your radar.

[@Mactacfitness]

I’m going to piggy back on someone else’s comment and say you should definitely come to Hawaii.. some very beautiful hikes to see some cool bunkers and of course, Pearl.

[@muddyfox4x4]

Great Video as usual. Love the way that most is untouched! Me and my son missed a few things, but were on 2 Yamaha 600's and easily visited most major sites quickly 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty amazing place.

[@XxBloggs]

Excellent once again

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@420goat]

another great video had no idea about this battery never heard about it before.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that I could share it!

[@thomasanthony9374]

Another excellent video. Do you have anything planned for episode 200? I remember when you hit video 100. Keep up the great work.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

No, nothing special for 200. It'll just be whatever I happen to be on in this Normandy series :)

[@helenabiesma5560]

yes brilliant - love it too - thank God that we visited that area with my father in 79 it was I think - 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Pretty amazing place.

[@davidking6172]

Great event that took place that cost the lives of lots of US Paratroopers. The German troops stationed around the guns did some terrible things and I am sure that boys got some revenge. Brave but tragic events. God bless all of ours allies.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🇺🇸

[@pauldouglas3084]

great video mate cant wait for the next one

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@robchamberlin4900]

My Grandfather a WW2 vet was a Tank Crewman was in a PT Rehab center in the early 2000s and there was a gentleman there in a wheelchair in the common area. They brought my Grandfather back from physical therapy and as I was waiting in the hall I heard the social worker talking with him. He was a Paratrooper during WW2. I wanted to get his story but he was gone by the time I got out there. He was discharged from the rehab facility to an assisted living facility. Wonder if he was involved in this battle.

[@offworldatom8850]

Your excellent videos truly make my day.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@cadenzimmerman2784]

Hey JD, just recently started watching this channel. Been sorta binjing it for the last couple of days. New favorite YT channel! Great content and I love what you guys are doing. Keep it up

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awesome, thank you! Glad that you're enjoying the channel :)

[@timwirasnik5878]

History Lesson Dropped!

[@camdodge9891]

Great stuff another amazing video thank you JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad to share the experience and the history!

[@fredv7487]

And another outstanding job. I also hope you are feeling better. According to what my dad remembers the units that where in the initial attack where all mixed up. I think in the movie Saving Private Ryan they touched on that. I'm sure with all the lead that was flying around it wasn't a pretty sight. 👍👍👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! And yes, there were some misdrops for sure.

[@VanillaGorilla502]

Wish I could have done the Normandy jump ceremony with the 101st while Active Duty.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That would’ve been something to see.

[@MrWhitelightning73]

Outstanding

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@parkjones4561]

JD, please do a video on the battle of new market and the bushong farm!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I'll have to put that on my list.

[@parkjones4561]

Thanks!!

[@stephentaylor9630]

Outstanding job! You are definitely living the dream! Thanks for your insight. I've had the privilege of visiting the D-Day Beaches three times. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make to Brecourt or Holdy. Were you able to visit the bridge at Chef-du-Pont or the La Fiere bridge?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Decent chance that you’ll see at least one of those before this series is over 🙂

[@rw9866]

Another great video thanks again for showing us stuff we might be able to see.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@drlarrybrown]

Great series, JD. Appreciate everything you and Erik do. Question for you. The "trenches" played a big role in the Brecourt battery assault and you mentioned seeing them at Holdy. Are the trenches defensive structures created by the Germans, a natural part of hedgerows, or do they serve as drainage for a French farm field? Thanks!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

The ones that Easy Company advanced up were there prior the the Germans.

[@logannguyen1343]

I never knew that Brecourt Manor had a sister battery.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

You're not alone. A lot of people are unaware of that.

[@mikemontgomery7337]

Very interesting. I'm sorry to say I've never heard of this story.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that I could help put it on your radar. Hopefully people will share this video and help make this story better known.

[@jamesholt7612]

Very cool video JD. Have you ever been to Pearl Harbor and checked out their military museum? I love all kinds of history from military to law enforcement to first responders. They are in the final stages of getting the United States Marshals Museum in Fort Smith Arkansas and I think you should pay a visit after it's opened up to the public.

[@treysmith8917]

I wish you could have went to Maisy Battery, I just read about it in a book called “the cover up at Omaha” and only recently has more information come out about it.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, me too. Couldn’t coordinate a time with the owners unfortunately.

[@treysmith8917]

@@TheHistoryUnderground I understand they have weird hours and schedules with the seasons, I don’t think they are open 24/7/365

[@treysmith8917]

@@TheHistoryUnderground have you been the the National Dday memorial in Bedford, Virginia?

[@markkuhlthau2455]

Great video please keep them coming

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks, will do!

[@alirezamahmoodii8014]

hello jd you are good man and Eric too I love you saying in this.... good luck thank you for this channel 🙏

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@AUgrown]

Excellent thanks

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that!

[@dannystephens9056]

Love the ch keep them coming

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@leondraw1766]

Question: Did the pilots of the gliders ever get any real "in the air" training or was it a one shot kind of deal?