Then & Now pictures of WW2. The woman in the first picture!

[@travelling_stephen]

I've said it before and I'll say it again these before and after pictures are so powerful.

[@timbrandt4981]

You say the pictures are powerfull the first pic shows a man in belgium netherland or luxembourg how shave womans complete hair because she had a german boy friend as a german i say fuck of and all say we are free now from germans today we rule over europe again because we say the eu what the countrys have to do and all need our money thats the life without germany europe have nothing no technics no weapons no scients no food

[@oe4270]

I have a similar thought and I appreciate this fantastic work.

[@alandio4996]

Deep 👍

[@davew.7115]

Yes absolutely right , they hit me hard .

[@J.Wolf90]

I saw one where the before and after were both in colour. It was even more powerful

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this video. If you appreciate what I’m doing please watch the long form videos and leave a comment, it genuinely helps KZbin to promote the channel. I don’t need your money, I just want to share the channel 🙏

[@Dan-xx5jq]

'will do! It is so important to spread this information that just takes a few of their time to see how dumb war is! It destroys lives forever but the world carries on. What a waste. We must never repeat the past!! Only when young people see these images they are reminded of what war is, and to avoid it all times. This education is very much needed. Keep up the excellent work!

[@jeanpierredelbecq9475]

Where to watch the long videos?

[@thehistoryexplorer]

@@jeanpierredelbecq9475 go to my home page and take a look. There are lots of videos on WW2 in Normandy

[@danmart1879]

Thank you for your beautiful work. God bless.

[@jennifermckinney8891]

❤

[@gordoncrowther7913]

What I love is that most of the buildings were restored to how they were

[@hyperunboxing9304]

Me too 😊

[@RicardoSilva-mz9lu]

It is not only the pictutes. It is not only the music. Is them both together that makes you fell nostalgic. ❤

[@joerock8705]

The music is from the series, The Pacific. And I agree, it’s powerful.

[@user-jx7dg7ci9g]

Grabs my gut ,down to the pit of my very soul. Notice,unlike U.S. major cities, there is reverence for historical architecture ; not letting ugly war have the final say if their village,town or city. Things are restored,not torn down to make way for parking lots .

[@arielevangelio9753]

!yes!! brother....i agree with you..actually everything in this video is nostalgic especially the music?!it's like its relacing all my emotions 😢😢😢👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🤗🤗🇵🇭

[@F_YT2023]

Beyond nostalgic… something deeper than that. I wish I could stand in one of those places today with someone in those pictures and talk about that time and place.

[@tibzig1]

Absolutely Agree! It is the combination of both that transports you.....

[@billharpster7968]

It’s an absolute wonder than any structure in Europe survived both wars at all.

[@punkinpie2]

Yes , and a remarkable job of restoring it back ! A real labor of love to preserve for the country men . War hurts everyone and everything . G

[@jodidavis6595]

Yeah yeah I was thinking the same thing. Which gives me even MORE goosebumps 🇺🇸🥺

[@F8888f8]

3 wojna która ma się wkrótce zacząć, nie pozostawi na ziemi już nic....

[@Benjiesbeenbetter.]

Reminds me of a TV programme I once saw about Indian troops in the First World War. One wrote home from somewhere in Belgium "What a place this is. No building stands above waist height."

[@susanfaulkner2304]

Beautiful buildings, everyone of them.

[@gary8022]

The work involved in finding those spots deserves an accolade on its own let alone the awesome thought provoking message it delivers -simply superb

[@sirsydneyknuckles7923]

All of your videos break my heart.

[@douglaswilkinson5700]

These photos brought tears to the eyes of my almost 90 year old Dutch client. She remembers the horrors of the Nazis occupation of Amsterdam.

[@nugget9245]

These pictures show the sacrifices our soldiers made. They will never be forgotten. ❤

[@alba7519]

Love these videos. ❤ Respect to the Men & Woman who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Opandort]

I wish the sky could speak and telling me how beautiful memories have passed

[@joerock8705]

What’s so striking to me, is that most of these “men” who fought the war, were kids; 18-25 years old. It’s simultaneously heartbreaking and inspiring.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You know the young fight wars

[@larak4144]

Those 18 to 25 year olds were ÑOT kids. They were young MEN. Courageous, selfless, and patriotic. I think that a MAJOR problem in our American society today is that too many of our young men have been emasculated and allowed to stay "kids" for too long, when they should be out living life on their own.

[@joerock8705]

@@larak4144, as the father of two young adults, I completely disagree. When is the transition from childhood to adulthood? At 62, I don’t look at an 18 year old as an equal, emotionally, intellectually, or having an understanding of the value of a fleeting life. Adulthood in its full maturity, can wait a bit longer when you’re 18. Going off to fight a world war was a hell of thing to ask of those kids. And as for the supposed shortcomings of today’s kids, I have no doubt at all that if asked, if the world needed them, they would make exactly the same heroic sacrifice that their grandparents made.

[@joerock8705]

@@Mike-ke4yp, I don’t disagree with you at all. That was pretty much my point. It was an incredibly traumatic thing for anyone to experience, let alone people so young, in their formative years. Most of the men I knew of my Father’s group of friends and family never really talked about their experiences; certainly not with a kid. Virtually all of them that I learned later in my adult life, never talked about it, except occasionally with each other. I don’t even know if my Dad talked with my Mom about it. She certainly knew that he had his demons, but as is always the case, nobody’s marriage is anybody else’s business. They just went on.

[@deborahk4637]

My Dad was one of those young men. He's my hero.

[@jocelynecomeau6572]

I'm so sad when I see these pictures. Knowing what these soldiers went through lost my great uncle at Vimy and my father died on duty both of them at very young age

[@richardeagan551]

The greatest generation of the country, ever .thank them for the service.

[@fburton8455]

I lost my 19 year old uncle

[@judytodd1904]

I also feel very sad and heartbroken. There's nothing good about war... then it now. The human potential lost in eternity..

[@teller1290]

I'm thankful that none of the five uncles of mine that went to that war were lost or injured. One of them I didn't hardly know died when I was 13 (in '75). I heard he never really adjusted after the war. He was USN and served on something called an assault cargo ship that got real close to beaches and had an additional complement of navy gunners to man a 4" gun or two, plus 40mm Bofors guns. He served in support of Sicily and Okinawa invasions and his ship suffered four casualties off Okinawa from a kamikaze plane. Two more uncles dodged torpedos serving in the Merchant Marine going back and forth in the Atlantic and to Murmansk. One of them underwent sessions from a psychiatrist after the war but lived a long, productive life. One served in the army in an unknown capacity. Another was an enlisted combat engineer in 3rd Army, but became a 90-day Wonder infantry lieutenant and almost was killed by machine gun fire from a German tank in Belgium. He never recovered from seeing bodies in green and grey stacked like cordwood on each side of the road through the ruins of St. Lo. He led a productive life as a civil engineer, star football player at Vanderbilt, three daughters, started natl guard unit post-war in his small N.C. town. My father told me he became an atheist because of that war and what he saw. That saddens and haunts me. He passed at 60 when I was 18. I really wish I'd known him better. And my dad (baby of his family) got a WWII victory medal but didn't get overseas until '46 (a thousand U.S. army personnel were killed in Germany between V-E Day and 12/31/46). He was an MP.

[@AthanTom-nd8no]

I can't ever get enough of this!!!

[@becki4326]

That touches me every time...

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@themonkepro]

🤨

[@fburton8455]

Me too!

[@user-jn3ou3zo4s]

Let us not forget

[@rd9793]

Absolutely

[@darlahamilton7759]

We will never forget 😊

[@teller1290]

Many of us have never known. Those are the ones that will get us in trouble. They are now the majority. Then there is rising isolationism. Yes, I know there are good arguments for it, especially after your own govt fights costly nation building, globalist boondoggle with no plan for victory. I get it...but the same dangers of raising the drawbridge exist now as did in 1939. It cost us dearly then, despite ultimate victory. And it really cost the rest of the world terribly when a handful of powers could e greatly minimized the damage if they'd been led by a majority of men of resolve who'd acted decisively...until waiting for Poland, Pearl Harbor

[@baznongpiur5286]

the background music adds much to these bygone photographs.Memories won't fade easily but they speaks of a war,a war that humanity would be free from all terror.

[@SuperZytoon]

Your comment choked me up. “a war that humanity would be free from all terror”. That is truly what we later generations would experience. Thank you.

[@LifenaDay525]

Hans Zimmer is amazing composer and pianist!

[@jmflyer55]

Wonderful photographs. Thank you! for sharing.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are very welcome!

[@RustyRed17]

There isn’t much that brings tears to my eyes and i’m not ashamed to admit that this is one of them.

[@user-jx7dg7ci9g]

Me too,Sir !

[@janeforst8464]

You're not alone. Tears are healing, for both men and women. ❤❤❤

[@edverdgl4659]

someday we too will turn into history 😊

[@giovanepontes1061]

I'm so grateful to see these extraordinary photos, it's living history

[@ronchapman9212]

To our veterans of the 2nd World War: Thank you for allowing us the time to understand that freedom doesn't come easy. Freedom has to be safe guarded and held in the upmost importance, regard and respect. Thank you for your sacrifice, your service and perseverance to defeat an tough and determined enemy that threatened not only our freedom but that of the world. We now have the opportunity to take up where you have left off to save ourselves from world domination, yet again. May we be as good as the soldiers you have been. Thank you and wish us much luck.😞🇨🇦

[@Gembolisme]

Dunia lebih indah tanpa perang😊 Stop perang hidup damai✌️❤️‍🩹

[@skipper542]

Heart touching 😢😢..brave salute to all the soldiers who fought for their country

[@jrogervaughan]

The music absolutely sets the stage for these memorable & poignant clips. Thank you…

[@user-qw4gg2gy9j]

I wish I can go back and visit me in the past

[@brucenlong]

It is actually amazing how many of the buildings in these pictures are still standing. Great show as always, ty.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Brilliant isn’t it

[@bill9540]

Yes, there’s also the understanding that everyone, except perhaps little children are certainly gone now and the reconstructed buildings are a testament to the continuity of life.

[@SandraKayOlding]

We all seem deeply moved by the content and the beautiful music. The music let’s you see and feel pain fear love etc. thank you

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you

[@RJ-lk5pj]

I’d love to visit these sites.. As my father was in WWII

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Do you know where?

[@irinagorina5760]

я знаю где.

[@RJ-lk5pj]

@@thehistoryexplorer European, African and mid eastern theaters of operation.

[@Gartenlust]

My grandfather was a pioneer on both the Eastern and Western fronts. He experienced the WW I as a child and survived the WW II.

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Same here, but I have no idea where my dad was or what he did, he wouldn’t talk about it. The only words he ever spoke to me about it when I asked was, “yeah, I was there at the end of it”. He was a troubled man, but I don’t know if it was from war or just who he was ?🤷🏼‍♀️

[@adilroma3018]

How I love old buildings because they tell stories from the past. I think about those who passed through them ❤

[@thehistoryexplorer]

If wall could speak

[@daleslover2771]

Station from 1975 to 1978 in Germany, drank many beers at Gusthaus, went fishing at control lakes a lot of laughter from them when we were told that you got to pay for those trouts, , spent Christmas one time with a German family, enjoyed many pizza eating with a fork, (Barbarian American eat with the fingers,😂) Got lost on the trains, Germans were always helping you get on the right train at the Bonhoff, Ran out of fule on the Auto bann, aways somebody would stop and help you, The Army life was a tuff go, but the Germans made it so much more bearable.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Great memories. I was a pad brat in Germany and loved it

[@jonthinks6238]

I was stationed in W. Germany 🇩🇪 for two tours. Our daughter was born there.

[@daleslover2771]

@jonthinks6238 1975 I remember when I entered Germany, I seen for my first time little children carrying these small suite cases on their backs, until I went to orientation, I ask where are the little school kids, going with this luggage.? I dident know it was their books bag. 😃

[@edmundcowan9131]

M

[@edmundcowan9131]

Armored saw the border open in 89 I believe near Hersfeld. A sight to behold.

[@user-is3ld8uf6q]

إنتهت الحرب وبقيت عدة آلات حربيه وذكريات منها لكن للاسف فقط البشر الذي راح ظحيتا لن يبقى له شيء رحم الله جميع الاموات

[@martharamirez6822]

Ver estas fotos se hace un nudo en la garganta. Tristes imágenes.😢 Gracias Them And Now 👍 Bendiciones.🙏

[@G8AR]

Thanks you so much for the freedom we enjoy today. These pictures reinforce the fact these soldiers gave so much and were just common people of the greatest generation.

[@stevenewman1393]

😎👍Very cool and great awesome pictures as always guys!.

[@rd9793]

God bless the greatest generation.

[@JenniferPruitt-vb5qr]

Yeah you're going to get blessed all right

[@rd9793]

@@JenniferPruitt-vb5qr ??????

[@hansmeier3287]

Meine Großväter ebenso. 😊

[@ottoblond666]

The greatest Generation?

[@rd9793]

@@ottoblond666 Are you truly puzzled?

[@neeratinaveen]

Great people who sacrifice thier life for their country

[@user-qf6zz3mr6h]

May we never forget the past. I feel it in my heart.

[@richard4short5]

I travelled by train through the north of France in 1974 and in these fields were many WW2 German tanks painted yellow still waiting for the scrap metal dealers...

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Wow!

[@g.clintongodart6724]

I hope people do realize this kind of music didn't magically play from nowhere all across the globe during WW2.

[@owlgothic248]

Moment has passed but the memories remain

[@Nguyenkhoa12382]

Một thời đau thương.

[@Mxyz1234]

Another beautiful and touching video. It’s sad however to see that Russia may start this war again 😢it seems like some dictators aren’t able to do anything better 😢

[@edmundcowan9131]

Tell that to Biden

[@MeadowDay]

@@edmundcowan9131exactly.

[@rocknral]

??????​@@edmundcowan9131

[@MeadowDay]

Don’t worry about Russia..worry about China

[@user-jx7dg7ci9g]

The Globalists,the " powers that be " We have NO BUSINESSES SENDING UKRAINE a single cent! U.S. taxpayers are paying for this in the trillions. Lett this pound out hearts & minds , " NO MORE WAR ! "

[@ktap11thregion]

Powerful. It brings the sharp realization that things can be rebuilt, and fixed, but life never can be replaced. That's how powerful photos of the past are.

[@sparcsky]

Could you also do WW1?

[@pabloebrard4302]

Excellent images, another video of Berlin would be nice, there must be many images of the destruction

[@thehistoryexplorer]

There are lots. I have many more videos to come

[@pabloebrard4302]

@@thehistoryexplorer ahh ok thanks I will be waiting for your videos, your work is simply excellent

[@thehistoryexplorer]

@@pabloebrard4302thank you my friend

[@StiflerZazs]

Obrigado pelo video

[@richghione461]

So powerful, the ghostly images really do haunt the soul...😢

[@thouhunter8522]

I feel relax after watched those videos ❤

[@brutalplanet1708]

My grandfather used to tell me stories when I was a child. I never paid much attention to them. Now that I'm old enough to understand the magnitude of what he was talking about......I wish he was here to tell me those stories again. 😢

[@nanetteharris615]

Makes me grateful...the music makes me cry. Thank you❤

[@TheJmnewton]

These then and now clips are just incredible. The music Honour is hauntingly perfect for the memories of the war.

[@briantheminer]

Thanks for taking the time to put this together for everyone to see

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are most welcome my friend. So nice to receive a polite and kind comment on social media

[@lembaningthoujam9150]

Why am i feeling nostalgic about something that never hapened to me

[@TimTraggam]

Thank You! Keep the pictures coming. THANK YOU our Hero's

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Will do! Thanks 🙏

[@TheGamingMistake]

Fort Maken in NC is a historical place

[@Phoenix8Rising]

I noticed on thee last photo, the WWI memorial had moved to the right(?)

[@AwesomeNinja1027]

That first picture was taken in Eindhoven. Am I correct?

[@user-uz9cw1dg3z]

It is so mesmerizing and for him to go back and take pictures and recap is unbelievable. Thank you

[@adrianazapata8144]

OMG , you do such a remarkable work . I love it ❤

[@anandk925]

Like in the photographs, all of us will fade away too.

[@nathanduckeorth806]

Love this channel❤

[@Wise-Lady-La-Aura]

Such beautiful and poignant photos. The woman getting her head shaved, if it was in France, right after WWII, was one of the French women who consorted with the enemy. The people punished the women who dated German SS and n@zi soldiers by shaving the women’s hair and parading them through the streets. My father was stationed in Germany, in the “ Hell on Wheels” armored infantry division at the end of WWII. He drove the Jeep for the General. He also was part of the Army battalion that helped concentration camp survivors find their way home or had to be rehoused. He took part in discovering huge warehouses of N@zi plunder and regalia, like tanks, flags, etc. I still have the photos. Great job, I love your work! ⭐️

[@kenbrown9164]

Some of these women who consorted with the Germans were spying for the Allies. Given the heat of the moment…difficult to prove. Hope they were able to get things sorted out.

[@roadlesstraveled7225]

I love seeing all these photos. But, they do bring tears to my eyes.

[@MKYeahBuddy]

My heart races watching these and the music…

[@Tom-ok2rh]

Glad to see even after a war, that these structures have been preserved instead of torn down and new ones built in their place. I always love these before and after photos.Thanks

[@JuliaLi28]

As always, your video is exciting. It's a pity there are no photos from the territories of the USSR

[@Gartenlust]

Maybe there are photos in the German "Bundesarchiv"? I know that photos of German soldiers on the eastern front exist.

[@oneyda777]

It touches my heart and make me cry the music is so beautiful.

[@mcburner3615]

how this soundtrack ALWAYS brings me close to tears... but your talented photo work... gives me the rest. THANKS ... and have a great 2024!

[@016329]

Those videos of collaborators being punished always upset me. They’re often women and the brutality of it is just terrible. You can’t help but think that the people doing things like cutting their hair were just nasty people who wanted an excuse to do something they couldn’t normally do. Then you add in how difficult it is in some cases to define what a “collaborator” is and what level of “collaboration” some of these people actually engaged in. Some of these women may have been prostitutes, may have been trying to provide for their families, may have fallen in love with someone they shouldn’t have. In any case, I always hate seeing this.

[@irinagorina5760]

защитить не могли женщин и детей...но унизить и наказать...в первых рядах!!!

[@4everBlessed1105]

I totally agree with you. Many were young, naive women who fell in love with the enemy or used the enemy for food, comfort and the very basic of necessities. Some were prostitutes. I don't blame them. When the Allies over threw and succeeded in driving the Nazis out of France, I know many women who were known to be wth the Germans were beaten, spit on, shaved bald, and humiliated publicly. They were made to march around the villages and towns. Many had babies on their laps as they waited for the public thrashing. Very sad time for all. I often wondered what happened to these women and their babies. WW2 happened way before my time, but still, I wonder.

[@user-zx4ow9in8z]

Одни вешали звезду Давида на одежду, другие, когда их освободили, начали клеймить по своему. Ничему не научились и урок не извлекли.

[@martingydesenfaldt7866]

Yes, it definitely seems cruel, and maybe even meaningless to some extent. We though also have to bear in mind what the previous years had brought into normal citizens life. The men caught as collaborators in that period where killed instantly which can also seem cruel , but at that time, the most normal, and only both decent and reasonable destiny for them. I am quite sure that a lot of feelings were in play here for all parties and as interesting and educational this period and all the destinies connected here too is and are to me. I am just glad I was not there.

[@016329]

@@martingydesenfaldt7866 I totally get why informers and those who actively hurt other people were often dealt with summarily and violently and that people wouldn’t have been thinking rationally and waiting for a trial. It’s just things like the women being shaved and so on that get to me. I would imagine nearly all of them would have been at most lovers of Nazi officers or similar. I feel like to behave that sadistically, you’d have to have latent malevolent impulses in you to start with

[@headflat449]

Don't know how you ended up in my youtube feed buy I am certainly glad you did. Love your work!

[@JeshuaThomas-gu6lz]

A nation that forgets its defenders will not be forgotten

[@jackieellenbarnes1268]

I Absolutely am glad I found Your Videos. They are So much Fun and Interesting to Me. I Love History. Thank You 😊

[@user-cg3li5uu5s]

Thank you for this,it give us ww2 memories of that place👍🏼

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are welcome

[@user-cg3li5uu5s]

@@thehistoryexplorer 👍🏼

[@andrewheaney6858]

The after picture always in some way looks like a healing

[@MrNastyBlasty]

This footages absolutely blows my mind, thanks so much for sharing it, love your channel

[@cherylwills236]

The music is so good and memorable

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you

[@javaidshafi1462]

Superb thanks

[@bethanylarue7479]

Such amazing transitions. We walk among history daily, it is all truly astonishing what we as a people can endure and overcome with time. 💜

[@BellesDreams]

So powerfully amazing, this is just a short 5 yrs before I was born. The history that goes before us and the world looses track. Thank you for doing these videos, it brings me to tears ❤

[@buelan.6525]

This is so powerful. The images, music, and the knowledge that these people were alive and real. Then, the same location and how it appears more recently. Makes me feel like crying. As humans, we can be so brutal and so compassionate. Let’s stop the killing.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Humans can be very brutal indeed. Well said

[@billkeefe9118]

The woman in the first picture is having her hair cut as as symbol to others that she was a German Sympathizer/Collaborator.

[@cynthiamcgee4829]

They're all very powerful pictures and thanks to my father being in the military I've seen a lot of these places. Brings back a lot of memories.

[@jimfladwood4393]

Makes me wonder about architecture lost in wartime?

[@donethatbefore100]

If buildings could talk......

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Oh that poor woman, I can’t imagine the suffering of those people !

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

Poor woman?! She collaborated with the Nazis and slept with them and lived the high life while that regime lasted. In this picture, she was presented with the bill. Poor woman indeed! 😠

[@ConradoMigueljr-ir4le]

The sound music back ground you fill crying .😢

[@linda6987]

Thank you. ♥️

[@tommysonnier9848]

The people in the pictures are like flowers and so are we but the places remain. The music fits the pics beautifully.

[@maulanatuwo2557]

i like this video New subscribers

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thanks and welcome!

[@eddieriley14]

Just like nothing had happened

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Weird isn’t it

[@saritawilkes2001]

It is such a blessing to have these before and now. Otherwise, we would never know the complete picture.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you

[@user-kq3bo1cz7l]

The Pacific theme song

[@mazhaisaral3212]

watching this only for that great music

[@uuseless3047]

คิดถึงทุกท่าน

[@JoshuaMademan]

It's amazing that the structures look exactly the same today ❤ the places have been well preserved

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Very true! It makes this much easier

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

Cool 👩🏻‍🏫👏🏻🥰‼️ I like seeing these old WWII photos, especially England, Germany and Luxembourg. My great grandmother was from Luxembourg and my great grandfather was from Rheinland, Germany and my mom’s family were British and Irish.

[@shaun5944]

Brilliant. Thank you 👍

[@theangrygamer895]

If only the buildings could talk

[@jackieellenbarnes1268]

Beautiful. Thank You 😢