The Unseen Battle of Easy Company at Brecourt Manor (PLUS MORE!!!) | American Artifact Episode 93

Anyone who is familiar with Band of Brothers if familiar with the fight at Brecourt Manor on D-Day. But there was much that was left out of the narrative. We're returning to Brecourt to get a look at the scars of battle that few have ever seen. In addition, we taking a look at a special presentation from The Gettysburg Museum of History of an artifact of great historic significance that is directly linked to Major Dick Winters.
A transcript of the D-Day diary of Dick Winters can be found in the book “Hang Tough” which is available here: www.gettysburg...
See our previous videos from Brecourt here:
- The UNTOLD STORY of Brecourt Manor & The Utah Beach Museum | History Traveler Episode 186: • The UNTOLD STORY of Br...
- The Artifacts of Dick Winters at Brecourt Manor | American Artifact Episode 12: • The Artifacts of Dick ...
- A 101st Airborne Paratrooper Killed at BRECOURT MANOR | American Artifact Episode 16: • A 101st Airborne Parat...
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburg...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
Set yourself up with a 10% DISCOUNT on all Origin gear and nutritional products by entering the code "history10" at www.originmaine.com!
Other episodes that you might enjoy:
- What WWII Soldiers Looted From Goering's House!!! | American Artifact Episode 73: • What WWII Soldiers Loo...
- The Eagle's Nest: Looted Artifacts & Engine Rooms | American Artifact Episode 68: • Liberated Silver From ...
- Exploring Hitler's Eagle's Nest!!! | History Traveler Episode 274: • Exploring Hitler's Eag...
- War Souvenirs From Hitler's Berghof!!! | American Artifact Episode 66: • War Souvenirs From Hit...
- The Heart of Hitler's Third Reich & What U.S. Soldiers Took From It | American Artifact Episode 61: • The Heart of Hitler's ...

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

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

[@BoostedAgent]

JD did you have to go back and film this, or was your video recovered? Or was this saved before the unfortunate events in Athens?

[@DDGVET4]

The amazing thing about this area is the fact it has remained almost untouched for close to 80 years. Great job guys.

[@MrSebfrench76]

Times flies slowly in my beloved Normandy😉

[@mrDCunningham]

That's what I thought. The same shutters even.

[@DDGVET4]

@@MrSebfrench76 Thank goodness there is still peace and tranquility somewhere in your country.

[@MrSebfrench76]

@@DDGVET4 Paris....Paris got all the looks...Paris is not the real France😁

[@nissanman1983]

Funny how they kept it the same all these years. Not like Americans always trying to wipe out the past.

[@HistorySavior1941]

Man am I so thankful you guys went back and re-shot this episode. I saw your original posts when you took the medal here and got so stinking excited because I knew that this was one of the videos coming. That was really cool to see that place with his medal in the place where it was earned. Awesome job brother! How lucky are we to be able to visit these places today and keep these stories and places alive.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@michaeladamo1188]

We are lucky to have JD and Eric because they have friends in Normandy and get us inside content like this! Thank you for all your hard work.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Our pleasure!

[@c1ph3rpunk]

It’s sad that we’ll be the last generation to have been able to speak with the vets that were there in WW2. But it does help knowing there are those like you that will spread their stories for years to come. I was able to see, and sit in, the C-47 “That’s All Brother” back in the 75th anniversary of D-Day before it departed for France, what an amazing experience.

[@cyndiebill6631]

How wonderful to have an account of what happened in both Countries written by Dick Winters. You know he’s smiling right now. Thank you again for the wonderful video. This farm is just beautiful!!👍🙂

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙂

[@Wreckdiver59]

Unprecedented access to the Manor. Really glad you and Erik got together a few years ago. It's been a great partnership 👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely.

[@marshat.ordureau3121]

BONJOUR from South of France,,, enjoy your History ❤😊and I was OVER COME BY PRIDE,,❤when visiting Normany France,,, last Oct.. 2022,,, BEING A AMERICAN & MY husband is FRENCH ,,, we were thrilled walking together on OMAHA BEACH!!! ALL those young Men,,,, HEROS FOR EVER ,,, AMEN❤❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Really enjoy visiting your country.

[@johnbelfiglio562]

Thank you so much for keeping this important part of history alive!! It is imperative that this stays forever in our hearts. What these men did so we can have the life we have today! Great work and God bless the men of Easy Company and all of the men and women who kept us free!

[@PremierHistory]

Amazing video as always, great to see Charles allowing access to his home for you to tell the story, it’s very fortunate there has been little development in the area to preserve the site

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@acousticshadow4032]

This one is jam-packed. The blood-stains that remain on the floor are certainly chilling. Very appropriate place for the "onion" copy of Dick Winters' diary account, also. Well done! Thank you JD, Erik and Charles.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@tnwhiskey68]

Wow! Im amazed at the job they have done to maintain that manor so perfectly! Good job Mr. Charles!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@KaylaHrehorets]

Absolutely beautiful and so meaningful. I got goosebumps when Eric handed the document to the gentleman.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@carlryder962]

​@@TheHistoryUnderground Is the document part of Dick Winters memoir's and how can I access them to read? Great video!

[@paulshanahan135]

Very nice and touch in sharing the Dick Winters diary document with Charles and the Utah Beach Museum.

[@dawndickson2156]

What a true treasure Charles is to have opened up his home and land for you to be able to document this piece of history. Hats off to Erik who could have sold the documents to a high bidder. Yet he felt the manor was the proper home. JD my hope is every history teacher across the US discovers and uses your channel in the classroom! Well done gentlemen. Well done.

[@anthonydm2947]

Absolutely amazing. The respect you and Erik show not only for our history but also for the people you meet along the way and the friendships made.🇺🇸🙏

[@Tom-dz6yo]

Outstanding, guys. Awesome that you could/would provide Charles, his family, and all, such an important document representing the liberation in that region of France. Bravo! So grateful too for Charles and his family sharing the premises with all of us.

[@Bam_Like_Dat]

To add something tangible like the battle scars, medal & letters is what gives this lesson definition. Quit selling yourself short JD. Your work is top of the line. It sets the standard and your work with Erik is phenomenal!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that.

[@vega1824]

Thank you so much for taking us with you to these places.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@chrisnolin7103]

Wow. That was incredible to watch! Access inside Brecourt. Excellent work. I love this series!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nanetterolph2972]

Eric i am 63 years old and i remember those copy type sheets you speak of!!!!! It really makes me feel very old!!!! JD and Eric i am grateful for the wonderful historical knowledge you bring to all of us history buffs!!!!! Also hopefully at least some young people will become interested in history because of your informative videos!!!! Thank you very much!!!!!!

[@markgorhk]

Great to see you back!! hope you are recovering from your loss in Athens...

[@ED-ti5tc]

Ive seen The Band of Brothers quit a few times. Wish i could remember everything but i do remember the guns and the trenches. That was amazing seeing the gun position and that trench. This is such a great history channel! Thank y'all!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@BenitaGrattan]

You two guy's told this story with such honor and respect...❤️❤️❤️

[@jimcronin2043]

Another excellent episode! Your work in Normandy has been superb.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@MrSebfrench76]

Great, briliant job as always. As a Norman, thank you for putting things into context, especially regarding the civilians. Much appreciated.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@danielsibley2723]

Nobody else can do this that I know of JD..thank you so much for an insiders look at such an amazing part of world history.....Take care buddy.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@dannyb9140]

Currently re-watching Band of Brothers and this video is an incredible source of more information.

[@bradbalderson8172]

So glad you and Erik went back to do this and having Charles there makes it so much better and seeing inside the manor gives another view of what had happened. Great job JD, Erik and Charles.

[@troykauffman3963]

Another great video JD, thank you. I had the honor of walking the field where the guns were and where assault took place last year, amazing place. Didn’t get to meet Charles, but he invited the tour group over to the Manor, but our historian chose not to since Charles had COVID at the time. Erik, awesome donation sir to Charles and Utah Beach Museum🫡.

[@robmisener2786]

Awesome video, so glad you have some Normandy footage! You and Eric are a credit to the preservation of history and it is greatly appreciated.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Our pleasure!

[@MrOmgwtflmfao]

Such amazing content! Thanks alot and keep up the amazing work! Love from the Netherlands🇳🇱🇳🇱

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@joshuabrande2417]

What a fantastic gesture of respect and friendship by giving Charles those documents.

[@jeffreym.keilen1095]

Absolutly THE BEST episode I have watched. The history tid bits are awesome, but the creme d'creme is Major Winter's copy of the events. The fact of BOTH copies surviving alone is tops, but to have one AT the place it happened is unfathomable. Well played gentlemen. Keep up the fabulous work!🇺🇸🇨🇵

[@tedbeaver2394]

Great to see your content again! Nice job & very moving giving Dick’s description of the battle to the Utah Beach History Museum! 👌

[@eamo106]

He thanked you and said he was happy to have the papers as part of the Special friendship he had with Major Dick Winters. You are years too late for the originals but do good work and we thank you.

[@richardyoder3646]

Another outstanding video

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@terryadams1951]

JD, you mentioned that your Grandpa was an Engineer in the Korean war. I just wanted to tell you that my dad was a member of the 320th Engr. Battalion, Company A in WWII. Just this week, I found a picture of his Lieutenant. I had kept his name in my memory banks all these years. I was searching Army records and there he was: Lt. Glasser. It was kind of overwhelming to look into his face. I had heard many things about him from my father when I was very young. My Dad died when I was nineteen. To put a face to the stories brought the reality of it all hitting me like, so all at once, a giant haymaker .

[@chadkeller2144]

Thank you for all you do to bring this treasure trove of history to your viewers, JD! Your hard work and dedication to your craft is evident and very much appreciated!

[@mikecasale9360]

That was great that Eric gave that paper work to the man. that was beautiful!. That made my hair stand up on my arms. called goosebumps. the museum that Eric has is great in Gettysburg, love going there when I go up there..

[@OTDMilitaryHistory]

Great video JD! It's always nice to see organizations and museums working together to share stories and artifacts.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

So jealous! Fantastic video/production as always

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks so much!

[@fixfalcon2628]

Wow, it's so awesome that you guys have a rapport with the owner of that property.

[@Dylantuning1995]

My favorite video on this channel so far! The history that place has seen and the memories still kept there are amazing. The blood stains are a special thing to keep but just adds to the place. The way you present things is just amazing. Stood there at Brecourt at the 101st memorial and Maj. Winters memorial down the road last year June 4th in the storming rain thinking about these great men. Thank you and Erik yet again for an amazing history lesson.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that we could share it. Thanks for watching.

[@keithmitchell6918]

Glad you are back in the saddle, Recondo. And you got invited inside. Very very cool.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@keithmitchell6918]

@@TheHistoryUnderground 🤜

[@jbellos1]

Wow! The DSC got me a little choked up. Amazing artifact return. And, what a fitting presentation of the letter. Great job, you two.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@Nyllsor]

Really cool to read the real typewrited page 6 of Winters report. And i feel honord our community here got to see inside the Brecourt manor and meet Charles again hearing some new stories. I really reccomend the other episode on the Brecourt manor and Utha beach museum story. Much thanks and god bless you all!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Our pleasure!

[@douggoss4855]

Thanks for the updated video Erik and JD. We were there in 2017 on BOB tour , but only had a brief time to tour the site and visit with Charles. Thanks for adding the additional information.

[@SoCal780]

What an amazing story! Thanks so much JD and Erik. You guys did a fabulous job on this one.

[@fordguy3032]

JD and Eric, you guys are the best at keeping history alive! Its unbelievable that the same family still lives there and has not repaired the damage from the battle. If this happened in the US there would be no trace it ever happened!

[@johnnymaclq]

gives me goose bumps watching these .......

[@DmG2007]

Great and moving video again, I loved how it looked like the family left the battle damage (e.g. ceiling bullet and blood stain from German soldier) and not tried to repair them, to tell a story. I have had an interest in things WW2 for quite a few years, but watching your videos has inspired me to want to go over to Normandy etc from here in England and visit all these locations and pay respects etc.

[@kswalker75]

As always, another outstanding video!!! You never disappoint my friend!!!

[@therampanthamster]

Great to see you back in business sir. Love the content.

[@JakeHurtt1994]

The blood stained tile. What a powerful piece of footage. The man who was hit there may be long gone, but that is a more grim reminder of the lasting effects of war. The obvious bullet holes are a reminder. But the blood stained tile hits deeper.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely.

[@ebola1974]

I'm going to Normandy next May and I'm already looking forward to reading that report! Simply amazing

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@HumanLikeMan]

J.D & Eric, than you so much for bringing this to us. I enjoy seeing these areas since my Dad & 4 brothers served in WW2 with the Canadian army.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@Demon_Outlaw]

Share history with younger generation of 🇫🇷 that is amazing great job.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@robinburke2036]

This is the first episode that actually made me tear up! Wonderful--thank you!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙂

[@ianlast6722]

Brilliant! Great video and a lovely idea to share a copy of Dick Winters report with Charles and his Museum

[@Smoshy16]

What a privilege to be invited into the home! Thank you Charles de Vallavieille.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙂

[@NoelG702]

Amazing! That was so nice of Eric to give the other copy to Charles and the Utah Beach Museum. Maybe I'm a softy, but it made me tear up. Great job once again JD.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙂

[@judygrandstrand9784]

What a beautiful gesture to gift the Utah Beach Museum.

[@willdouglas77]

JD…you and Eric absolutely killed this one . What gem of a video 😎👍🙌🏼🙏🏼🇺🇸

[@emilysaxton1247]

The Band of Brothers series is really awesome. Me and my dad are watching it now. I am a history guru and nut. Lots of love JD. Keep on doing what your doing

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@historyinyourhand1787]

Wow - what a great video 👏

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@thenikonjones]

Excellent work as always JD. I get these pulses of excitement every time I see you have a new video! You and Erik are such a great team and the level of access you are afforded is second to none!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad to share the experiences. Thank you.

[@thinghammer]

That's one of the best properties I've ever seen! Thank you to all involved who brought this to us. Remarkable stuff.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@garyaugust1953]

Outstanding episode with a fitting finale' presenting Winters document to the Utah Museum. Hopefully, that will be on display when we visit next month.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@saj8937]

Getting to see the behind-the-scenes look at history. This is why this is such a great channel.

[@SueProv]

Onion paper? That must be why I have some tears here. Just beautiful all around. Thanks JD and thanks Eric and Charles.

[@joshh8245]

That was really cool to watch Erik present that copy of Winter's diary account of the battle. I could tell that meant a lot to everyone.

[@dannybartlett4225]

As part of the ultimately unsuccessful Operation Market Garden, E Company was assigned to support the British forces around Eindhoven by defending the roads and bridges that would allow British armored divisions to advance into Arnhem and force a crossing over the major bridge across the Rhine in September 1944

[@jaypee1010]

Great Channels guys, thank you. Wishing you the best on your endeavors.

[@bugdrvr1971]

Very Nice, very honorable to present these items to the Utah Beach Museum. Thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@joshh8245]

Great video! Thanks for sharing! That must've been cool and humbling to have that opportunity to walk the ground where that battle took place.

[@Tuleyne]

RIP Dick Winters and all the great Americans who have passed.

[@peteschiavoni]

Awesome video. Thank you Charles for sharing your family history.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@ElainesYT]

Onion skin. Haven't heard that term for many years. What a wonderful gesture to donate the copy 🙏🏼

[@lyndabarnaby5253]

Truly amazing content … thank you for going back … very moving!

[@dnldcow]

Thank you JD and Erick for presenting this video giving The Diary to the Utah beach museum is the right place for it, I did wonder what happened to the machine gun nest , just can't imagine being in the manor with the bullets flying thank the family for showing the inside of the manor .I'm ready for your next adventure.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you.

[@walterecklund1502]

I was on a day tour in 2008 and when we visited Brécourt manor we were shown one of the support legs from one of the German artillery pieces that was kept in the shop area to the left of the manor as you face it from the field where the guns were. I hope they still have it.

[@tracym9225]

What a nice thing for Eric to do! Now people in that part of the workd can see it first hand in the useum there. Bravo!

[@BevSantini]

Getting better and better! Loved the addition of graphics helping us to get the overall view of placements. Well done! I’ve only been out on the road near the memorial and appreciate Charles allowing you an inside view. Great stuff!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. Glad that we could share it.

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

fastest 15 mins ever. Love this channel so much and good news, it was once again automatically recommended to me as where this hasn't been recommenced to me for many weeks.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Good deal! Hopefully, we're getting back on track here.

[@randystolz]

Couple of very cool moments, JD. Ty for sharing those, and for extending the Easy story beyond the BoB series. Obviously, while the actors went back to their trailers and the crew broke down one scene to move on to the next shot, Malarkey and the rest of the 506 moved on to their next fight... Was Malarkey in a heavy weapons platoon during Normandy, then??

[@darkoflight4938]

Great stuff here, as usual! A fascinating place with history! Thank you guy´s for this!

[@tnarggrant9711]

This was a good one. Thank you.

[@lappin6482]

Very kind of Charles to show inside the home 👏

[@douglascat774]

You guys do such a great job. Thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching!

[@blackdogexcavator21]

I was so curious as to what the inside of the manor looked like since I was there in 2014. The battles are pretty well documented in most cases, but I'm always curious about the ancillary stories that we seldom hear. Thanks for sharing.

[@jaynoyd]

Thanks for sharing. .The most beautiful manor!

[@thedude1316]

I am reading Beyond Band of Brothers by Dick Winters. I can not put it down. Great video.

[@michaelhayden5264]

There was a post some years back, written by a US soldier who survived Utah Beach landing. He recalled the damage those 105mm guns were doing. He often wondered why the fire stopped. It was only after B of B screened that he learned the full story. He was most grateful to the men of Easy.

[@reloadncharge9907]

Thank you, another epic upload! Thx, Andrew

[@tommyking2344]

This was an awesome episode. Thank you

[@Wilders53]

Very neat and interesting stuff guys! Ty

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulbfields8284]

Words escape me.. Hallowed Ground.. no different than any other place of warfare displays of distinction Thank you

[@ProjectPast1565]

Alright, that’s it! What do we have to do to get you to take over the History channel? I’m tired of ancient aliens. Seriously JD, your content is incredible.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😂

[@Infinitegrowth-zt1mh]

This is awesome. Thanks for this