WW2: 101st Airborne Division in Heidelberg and Merchingen, Germany (April 21, 1945)

111ADC2528
LIB 6025 101ST AIRBORNE DIV Merchingen , Germany21 Apr 1945 LS, 327th Rif Glider Regt troops in dukws cross GarMSs, convoy passes road sign: "Heidelberg"".Seq: Signal Corps troops string wire from jeep to poles in city of Hungheim. Soldier climbs telephone pole and attaches wire. Davidson bridge.
Signal Corps (Cont'd) Merchingen, Germany21 Apr 4.5 (Conttd) Signalman from inside house opens shutters of window and fastens wire toshutter bolt.Seq: Civilians move their belongings from house which is to be used as Exts, US flag is raised on staff from window of new HQ.MSs, soldiers place the following signs throughout area! "G-1",'G-4","Kangaroo CP", "Klaxon Mess Hall," etc.MSs, ox- drawn and horse-drawn wagons moving civilian supplies thru streets. MSs, two soldiers finding glass framed picture of Adolf Hitler destroy it by knocking out glass with pistol butts and tossing it on the ground. MLS, road sign: "Merchingen" to R side of screen.

[@thedonofbgfmakoflatty172]

Great content.. Every time I come across one these 101st airborne videos I keep thinking this is going to be the one I will see my grandpa clear as day.. Thanks for posting

[@papapabs175]

The Don Of BGF Mako Flatty same here, except it’s my old man in Korea, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. I always look out for this tallish young man, never spotted him though.

[@soldtobediers]

The Don Of BGF Mako Flatty & paul eggins Heres to both your Grandfathers services. ''For None are closer to the Author of Sacrifice Himself... Than Those Who Choose to perform it, for the Sake of Others.'' -former recondo sgt. ''rock'' 11b4p 82nd abn. 1/504 inf. '71-'74 2219

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Don’t give up. I spotted my grandfather in a photo from France 1918 a few years ago, plain as day, even named in the caption, pretty cool after 100 years

[@mxplk]

Don of BGF: I thank you for having such a brave grandfather. You should be proud.

[@catiegack5830]

Same. My grandfather was rescued by Americans in '45 from a polish slave camp and joined them out of gratitude. He became a sergeant and was granted a visa after many years to come here to the US and live the American dream. I always have this hope that in one of these videos he will be standing there clear as day.

[@jeffsanders663]

Thanks for the upload!

[@2147B]

This is amazing. My great grandfather was a 1st lieutenant in the 97th signal battalion. Earned a bronze star for establishing communication across the Rhine for XVI corps.. This town name rings a bell too from his papers explaining their day to day. Do you have any other signal videos? I've been studying it for years this is the closest i've gotten to seeing something. Excellent video thank you so much

[@claudiorazzetti8682]

My old landlord back home , his job during the War was to paint and draw signs just like those that are being shown .

[@ChrysanthsMum]

My American father met my German mother in Heidelberg that year. I always wonder if I’ll see their faces in these videos.

[@jimfowler5930]

Die Familie des Mutti's waren aus Heidelberg gekommen!! As a retired Telco Cable Splicer I love the wire-gang running new cable and using makeshift J-hooks and P-clamps to attach the cable.....but, gaffing a pole, yeowwwwww! Ich liebe und genieße alles, Vielen Dank!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrDaiseymay]

Amazing to see life going on in these beautiful old towns, springtime, with the blossoms on the trees, and massive armour speeding through

[@robertbrawley5048]

You go three hours to get. We are taking your house over for company headquarters. You and your childerrn can enjoy the spring apple blossums as you flee along the road

[@dougpage1271]

I have spent time in Heidelberg - a beautiful university town. 👍 - Doug in Iowa

[@cogman62]

Doug Page three and a half years for me. Loved the Alt Stadt.

[@dougpage1271]

Jeff Coghill Good Man, Jeff! 👍

[@craighagstrom1692]

Spent my entire Army enlistment there. I certainly didn't deserve it. Great place. '68-'71.

[@dougpage1271]

CraigHagstrom Yeah - Congrats - you won the lottery being stationed in Heidelberg - especially during those years! 👍

[@americanpatriotism1776]

How far away is that from Landstuhl? My dad was posted there in the US Army back in 77'

[@garybanglebangle7949]

Great history lesson. Keep it up.

[@moistmike4150]

I studied in Heidelberg in the early '90's. Those houses on the Neckar River haven't changed a bit.

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

When you think of the logistics of rebuilding communication lines and feeding not only troops but civilians as well the mind just boggles. It just goes to show the stupidity of war. and yet we still have them today.

[@opoxious1592]

The film is of very high quality. sharp image, and almost no artifacts

[@donjose7759]

I'm actually a inhabitant of Merchingen very Interesting how it looks in the past

[@jeep146]

Do you recognize some of the buildings?

[@donjose7759]

@@jeep146 Many of them.

[@2147B]

@@donjose7759 are there still buildings and walls riddled with bullet holes? Europe is a wonderful place i need to visit before i die..

[@patrickprechtl3313]

@@2147B No

[@bneale]

We kicked your grandfather's a$$, ya?

[@MattMerica76]

Well you just earned a subscriber for finding this gem and NOT putting any marks on it.

[@peace-yv4qd]

The date on the chalk board during the filming was April of 1945. I was born June 2, 1945.

[@jeanettecook1088]

My husband, Robert Parker Cook, was in the 100th Infantry Division US Army in the Vosges Mountains and vicinity in 1943-45. I've never found any footage on their push through the mountains and valley villages of southeastern France and over the border into Germany. Do you know if any films exist of this division?

[@k.s.333]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIa2k4KMisZ0l7c

[@gfexc]

People are like "How did we get to this?"

[@philbryce5398]

The year 2019 was as far from these troops and civilians’ minds and thoughts as I think I can walk on the moon. They wouldn’t have thought that a ‘person from 74 years in thefuture’ would be watching them do what they did.

[@Chrisamos412]

Phil Bryce yes, I think of that often, how strange it is, especially having grown up in the ‘60s and remember having a party line on our phone, pretty crazy!

[@2147B]

@LUIS VELEZ from making V1's and V2's to collaborating with america and putting us on the moon! If germany started making rockets in 1940 when it was proposed who knows how the war would have turned out!

[@ronniebishop2496]

If I told someone in 1945 that we would land on the moon in 1969 I’ll bet not one person would believe it. If I told someone in 2020 that we were created by high intelligence how many would believe that? Really?

[@ronniebishop2496]

Chrisamos412 I saw us go from the horse and buggy to the moon in 1969. My neighbor plowed his last field with horses that year.

[@ricksmith7357]

Best of the Best. Greatest Generation

[@r.w.felton6020]

As I was watching the American troops taking over the old city. I was struck by the difference between the actions of the civilian contact with the troops. There were no smiles from the females in Berlin when the Russian troops occupied that city.

[@ogukuo72]

I don't understand the kangaroo standee at 4:50.

[@MrBurtur]

Its war or turist trip?

[@MirekK]

Please find a film from Falaise, where the Polish armored division of Gen. Maczek grasped the fleeing Germans? The American commander visited this place and a film was made.

[@tonyrains217]

I would love to see this colorized with some sound added.

[@stevenpilling5318]

Heidelberg was to become the headquarters for USAREUR (U.S. Army Europe) during the Cold War. I visited there several times in the early Seventies. It's one of those "must see" destinations when visiting Germany.

[@stevenpilling5318]

@Old man Goat ???

[@readunderthesignofthescorpion]

It seems we cannot mention the m ass mur derers of comm unism without getting our accounts suspended. The world needs to remember these millions of victims.Rest in Peace.

[@josephhensley7144]

what does cp stand for on the sign

[@Patc-n6n]

@foot bru paratroopers had a lot of pockets and pouches.

[@keltonmahan]

Command Post

[@shannonkohl68]

Anyone know why the 101st is riding on DUKWs? River crossing maybe?

[@rancidpitts8243]

The DUKW's are based on the Deuce and a half truck. The cargo bed carried the same volume. Transportation, because they were available perhaps?

[@hansema65]

@@rancidpitts8243 o

[@MrDaiseymay]

no, aerial surveilence

[@scarecrow2885]

Possibly because they had recently crossed the Rhine, which is only perhaps 10-15 miles to the west. Heidelberg itself sits on the Neckar river, which is a major tributary of the Rhine and quite wide at the city. There is a very short, 1-second clip showing the view from the south side of the Neckar across to the north, at 0:21.

[@garypulliam3740]

Because the war was over and they were available in the thousands. So just a matter of convenience. Use the ducks or walk.

[@miguelnascimento4647]

Extraordinário trabalho de recuperação deste país feito pelos aliados ocidentais. Já a parte oriental da Alemanha ficou parada no tempo, e na mentalidade. O mesmo se passou no Japão onde os EUA fizeram uma recuperação da sociedade japonesa deveras impressionante. Prova deste bom trabalho é que estes países, em poucos anos se tornarem potências mundiais pelos seus próprios meios. Extraordinário e um exemplo a seguir, sem a menor dúvida.

[@scarecrow2885]

Heidelbergers were luckier than most German city dwellers, as it was the only city of its size which the Allies deliberately refrained from bombing because they intended to make it their post-war headquarters - which they did. They even dropped leaflets informing the populace of this intention. That's also why there isn't much destruction visible in this film.

[@peterbrown9456]

Once the Allies reached the other side of the river a ceasefire with the local German troops was agreed within 24 hours; they scarpered and the Allies moved in to the great relief and agreement of the civilian population and that is why they look so relaxed in the film

[@MrLemonbaby]

I read that there was an agreement between the Allies and the Germans that Heidelberg and Oxford would not be bombed.

[@swarfscaledrossandflash1884]

I notice the flag at half-staff. Presumably out of respect for Roosevelt's death nine days before.

[@agrimensor6406]

...are they rebuilding the telephone line?...

[@ghazalkhazana3262]

Wao! Allied comanders know Hitler's end is near so their solders are fully prepared to set up their command post and the way they did it amazing. Beautiful village then and now Thanks for posting

[@user-wh7gd1qj6e]

👍 Wonderful and exciting pictures that I see first time in my life. Pity there is no sound 🔊 or music. Efrat. Israel. 🌞

[@kawythowy867]

Wow. Amazing. Most of that great great generation is gone or going. Thank you all. From us all. We wouldn’t have what we have right now if it wasn’t for your enormous sacrifice. All are hero’s. I feel for all who lost something on that war. But that war defined a generation....and what a great generation that was.

[@bubiruski8067]

How could it happen that these guys of poor level were allowed into Germany ?

[@JG-mp5nb]

These streets shown are virtually unchanged today-with friendly University students from all over the world.

[@ronrivers2301]

Wonder if Heidelberg printing factory was damaged,

[@thomaswhelan9474]

No but one of the few bombs dropped on Heidelberg landed very close ,

[@larissa_hfm]

this moment when ur from this region

[@CuriousEarthMan]

does anybody else have sound by any chance? thanks for posting!

[@combatcameraarchives4560]

this film is silent, no sound was recorded.

[@CuriousEarthMan]

@@combatcameraarchives4560 thank you

[@johnstaring3210]

Why the Kangaroo, a decidedly Australian animal ?

[@jobadvbl]

I found a dogtag from their great opponents - the lions of Caretan. (Fallschirmjäger Regiment 6)

[@jourwalis-8875]

What does "CP" mean?

[@harrisonbenson1725]

Command post? Not sure

[@skyhawk61]

Yes...Command Post..

[@godfreyzilla8608]

It breaks my heart to see the German families being evicted from their homes, especially the innocent little children. But, not as much as seeing the Jewish families being evicted from THEIR homes throughout Europe, not just Germany, and led into death camps by comparison. It makes me proud that "The Greatest Generation" of Americans were there to treat the German families respectfully and even kindly. Let us all remember these tragic times as Putin threatens to repeat the past. Hopefully this can be avoided.

[@aubreyaub]

@ 6:21 Skippy watch out for them there yanks. You can come home now mate. Now what the hell is a Kanga- Bloody-Roo, doing in Germany with the 101st

[@zeviono4562]

Yeah I wondered that myself. Town hopping??

[@freddyg.9597]

Possibly a K company command post.

[@abdurrasheed1652]

*Were there Kangaroo Posts before setting up Kangaroo Courts ?????*

[@nedwright5263]

what an asshole

[@user-wh7gd1qj6e]

Vera Lyne wonderful British singer from world war 2, maybe it is possible to hear her singing 🎶 while watching this film. Efrat Israel. 🌞

[@johntaylor1359]

Surely that would not fit?? American troops English singer........more like glen miller

[@richardbowers3647]

Silent movie?

[@azul8811]

You had no sound on yours? Better check your speakers.

[@VictorySpeedway]

Almost all the movies taken by the signal corps were silent. The newsreel (Pathe', other U.S. outlets) people added narration and sound effects for showing in theaters. These films were taken for the benefit of the Army to show locations, etc. Those that were "theater-worthy" had sound added afterwards. Films were taken using small, 16mm cameras. Sound equipment was heavy and bulky, not practical for field use. These "outtakes" are priceless. I've read several comments by individuals who spotted a relative in the films. Can you imagine seeing a father, grandfather, or brother when he was a young man at war?

[@azul8811]

Pete Kessler Excellent points!

[@keithlast1487]

Don't know if anyone remembers, but this is what Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al told us post war Iraq was going to look like. Key difference: large numbers of GIs and no contractors. There were troops fixing things and the roads were safe in post war Germany. That's why the Germans didn't reject American occupation.

[@captaincrunch8523]

US MIL recruits and spends a fortune on training special forces and seals .We then pay contractors a small fortune for these same people whom have become civilians to do the same job as when they were in the MIL . Its nothing more than political sham.

[@MrJm323]

The Arabs, culturally, are a very different people than those of most of Europe. ...I mean, how much tribal identity is there among the Germans, post 1100 A.D.? Was there anything equivalent to local sheiks among the Germans? (And, yes, beneath the very thin layer of provincial governors, mayors, magistrates in Iraq, there were still sheiks, clans, etc.; not to mention that religious denomination is taken far more seriously in Iraq and any Arab society than it is in Germany post-1700.)

[@user-sr2rn4nq1b]

7:10 ОК- Гитлер капут

[@paulsheather7657]

Odd that the Americans are using that kangaroo cut out .

[@bcask61]

paul sheather Paratroopers. They jump. Get it?

[@grahamhunt1902]

No, hop right in mate.

[@blomman43]

What is an airborne division doing with amphibian vehicles.

[@LeeRaldar]

When they heard they were being transported by DUKW maybe they assumed that they could fly.

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Helpful for river crossings

[@garypulliam3740]

There were thousand of unemployed ducks at the end of the war so they were used like buses. Otherwise soldiers would have to walk from billet areas to duty areas.

[@AlexanderJScheu]

@@garypulliam3740 Gary Pulliam . Geman soldiers... marched and walked.. +- 40-KM -each-day... with energy and discipline--- US- did not walk w/o- 6-pack coca cola----

[@aalekks21]

Наших и поляков в это время под Баутценом фигачили(.

[@paulmcwilliams1709]

Heidelberg is where I was born.

[@patross60]

Both Daughter and Son were born at St. Josefs Krankenhaus, Heidelberg. Were you born in the American Hospital (130th Station Hospital, Nachricten Kaserne)?

[@rsterman4966]

@@patross60 I was born at the 130th in 1952. An older brother (1951) and sister (1949) were born there, also. I understand that the 130th Station Hospital was deactivated in 2013.

[@bcask61]

Beautiful city. Had the pleasure of visiting once many years ago.

[@your_royal_highness]

I don’t mind seeing those DUKW’s kicking up dust into the Germans’ faces.

[@bcask61]

The only civilians you see are women and children, all the men are gone.

[@rino19ny]

It's nice to be an aggressor country it seems, the Allies help rebuild your country.

[@Frank-mm2yp]

They wanted to avoid the "mistakes"made by the victors after the end of WWI. Re-build Germany vs impose "punitive" retribution on the losers.That was a key meme used by Hitler to get "revenge" vs the bad people at Versailles who punished them after losing THE GREAT WAR.

[@marcmonnerat4850]

Germany ceased to exist on June 5, 1945.

[@peterthurman9384]

Germany to USA: What the hell happened, between 1945 and 2016????

[@MrJm323]

We let in the neo-Marxist intellectuals Hitler kicked out in the 1930s, and gave them our humanities departments. But, I wouldn't talk too much, Germany. It seems the French (and the Romance-language countries) are exhibiting greater resistance to the disease of wokeness than the Teutonic ones (Germany, Holland, Sweden, etc.). The epicenter of this disease, now, is definitely the USA.

[@jendagesse4524]

I would be so scared to climb up that pole

[@thenevadadesertrat2713]

That was quick. I thought the 101'st and the 82'nd got wiped out at Arnhem. They ran into the SS. (battlegroup Bittrich).

[@johncooper8537]

That was 1st british airborne and a polish brigade. 82nd was at nijmegen. 101st further south.

[@rustyrebar9647]

Nice DUKW's......

[@Dog.soldier1950]

As you sow so shall you reap

[@conveyor2]

Exactly the same mindset is being foisted on every western country. Sow self hatred...get em replaced.

[@MOAONAABE]

jimi hendrix was in the 101st. he was a paratrooper.

[@adrian.warner9247]

Why. Can't. We. Transmit. Electricity. Like. Radio v& telephone. Without. Wires. On. A. Certain. Frequency. Through. The. Airwaves

[@barleyeducated8714]

Are you on your period? :P We can and do, just can't, or won't do more power than radio or tv signal. Power drops significantly over distance, inverse of the square I believe.

[@onceANexile]

I lived there....shit...

[@geoycs]

Germany is so very beautiful. It’s so sad the horror they caused.

[@runeljungstrommer331]

"Kabel-tattare"...

[@bearing44]

A lot of ducks

[@dannyh8288]

Probably artwork the german citizens looted from jewish houses at 2:52

[@barryolaith]

Wow, that's an assumption. What a small-minded, bigoted, un-educated, ignorant comment. Keep it up. What's wrong with you - have you ever wondered?

[@dannyh8288]

@@barryolaith Um....just stating facts. Several years ago the issue of just such works of art went thru the courts to determine if descendants of the original owners (who may have been gassed by perhaps the parents of current owners of the art works) were allowed to pursue legal action to seize their artwork back. So where are we? 1. I am educated on history. 2. I am up to date on current legal issues. 3. I am able to state facts. And you? 1. YOU are the bigot. 2. YOU are uneducated. 3. YOU are ignorant. 4. YOU are small minded. I can just see you now! A little sniveling snot nosed millennial living in your moms basement who now has to run to his 'safe space' to cry.

[@barryolaith]

@@dannyh8288 Danny, you are most certainly not 'just stating facts'. You made a huge assumption and a quite revealing one at that. You see a clip of children at war's end (Jews long gone, possessions long gone Mr history expert) wheeling some bits and pieces in a cart and immediately think it's the theft of Jewish possessions. How ridiculous. I hope you're not a detective. And now you imply that only you know about the theft and appropriation of Jewish property and valuables and the subsequent legal battles to try to get it back to the descendants of its rightful owners. This is a very well know issue, for decades. Glad you think you are 'up to date on current legal issues' and 'able to state facts'. If only. Moving on in this pointless exchange on a slow Monday evening, kindly tell me how anything I wrote makes me a bigot? Or uneducated? Or ignorant? As for your imagined me, I wish I was a millennial, and I wish I had a basement. And I wish i didn't bother my arse replying to incredibly ridiculous comments on KZbin, but I can't help myself. Anyway Danny, that's all for now. If you see any more clips of children acting suspiciously please inform the authorities. I'm sure they'll notify Interpol and fly you in to investigate.

[@dannyh8288]

@@barryolaith "Professing themselves wise, they became fools"

[@barryolaith]

@@dannyh8288 You're the guy who listed his great knowledge of history and current affairs, after displaying the opposite. "He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Shun him". (Old Chinese proverb).

[@TheOpeius]

Tyskland bäst skulle vunnit ww2

[@docma7206]

I så fan heller! Jag tackar de allierade än idag för befrielsen från nazistsvinen.

[@AlaskaErik]

I see that the flag is at half mast following the death of one of the most vile evil monsters ever.

[@AlaskaErik]

@Chloe Wilson The flag wasn't at half mast for them, so your point is irrelevant.

[@sparx180]

@@AlaskaErik What does a flag flying at half mast constitute the murders that Lenin and Stalin did?

[@hughjardon5074]

FDR died on April 14th 1945. Film board has April 1945. That could be relevent to the flag at half staff...

[@AlaskaErik]

@Chloe Wilson...nothing! The flag has nothing to do with Lenin or Stalin.

[@hughjardon5074]

Hitler killed himself on April 30th 1945. The American military would not lower the American flag for such a monster....These films were made before his suicide..