WW2 Turning Point - German Retreat from Normandy

[@adammitchell3462]

Although there are many good ones,you are the absolute best when it comes to WW2 history

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you, that very kind of you to say so! I just enjoy being able to share my passion for this era of history with so many likeminded people!

[@eamo106]

I absolutely see some of the comparisons and trust you the others are valid . I have to give you 100% on the miles walked to find every viewpoint. You must have gone back and forth for many steps and iterations, just for one then and now photo. Just your reconniasance before you set up and take photo! If you were a band of 3 with local guides, it would be amazing. The fact that you do this alone is just crazy ! Amazed and follow you, if 20 years younger I would be there with you helping !

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Brilliant stuff Jon. You and History Explorer are really doing some great output.

[@jas_1959]

Excellent, again Jon. Who needs the History Channel.👍

[@GerPhilip]

Thanks for this awesome video! At 6:20 it is a Flakvierling 38 behind the truck, based on its typical armour plates.

[@troykauffman3963]

Absolutely brilliant. Great job finding these locations and seeing the then & now shots it really brings the shot to life. Thank you as always for what you do Jon. 🫡

[@Mike44460]

All those young lives on both sides lost, yet it continues today some place on the planet. Superb video.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the video and yes I agree, it makes you wonder how far advanced we be if it was for that conflict and the ones since!

[@maryholder3795]

The village who name is impossible for me to pronounce is lovely as she is now, even with her battle scars such as at the Church. Peaceful place with the birds singing and locals going about the lives. The photos and the films from the retreat 80 years again show the tension, the destruction, living history of that time. Thank you.

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous effort as always. God Bless your all. Remarkable opportunity to reimagine, that well deserved Retreat, the Allied Force sweeping Hitler from French Soil.

[@stephenhill560]

Fantastic. It must take some time to track down all the original locations. Your efforts are much appreciated

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Certainly a lot of time in research and driving but well worth it!!!

[@clarkkoch4723]

Jon, your attention to detail is amazing. I really enjoy these then and now videos as I do all of your videos on WW2. Thanks, as always.

[@davidarmstrong7549]

Thank you, Jon, for this excellent video. Can't wait for the next one!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks David. Not sure what the next one will be, I’ve got a few that I’m looking at but might be from my last Italy trip or the 80th anniversary of D-Day!

[@sabii416]

Your narratives are so spot on, the photos themselves paint a picture of withdrawal. With significant losses they were lucky to get this much armor out. With my interest in WW2 armor, this was absolutely the best on an interesting topic. Great work as always, Thanks.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Glad you liked it! I love German armour as the sheer amount of variation is huge compared to the Allied side tracking down these spots is always a huge thrill!

[@ncwoodworker]

Nice discoveries Jon. And thanks for the now and then photos.

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

Had no idea the Jagdpanthers were so rare in Normandy...thank God they didn't have more...

[@afewminutesofhistory]

Superb as always mate! Really enjoyable! The "Then and Now" is always top notch.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks mate! You need to get the jeep over there and tour that area, it’s stunning!

[@afewminutesofhistory]

@@WW2Wayfinder I know man! Definitely on the list of places to go with it!

[@michaelquinn7711]

Absolutely fantastic as usual Jon, excellent commentary interwoven with archive footage gives a real perspective, well done 👏🫡

[@lancebarnes8655]

Thanks!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Wow thank you so so much! I really appreciate the support!

[@RobertEHunt-dv9sq]

Keep up the good work preserving history. Fantastic video. Sooooo interesting. Do need to take some time to get back to Normandy and visit these sites. Did not have enough time on my first visit. Thanks for posting. Cheers from Texas.

[@paulrobinson8263]

Thanks

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Really appreciate it Robbo!

[@dnldcow]

Thank you Jon for your efforts to bring us such informative videos of the retreat of the German's , looking forward to the next one .

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Glad you enjoyed it! I wanted to cover a side of Normandy often brushed over for the rush to get to Market Garden and the September battles

[@dnldcow]

@@WW2Wayfinder Definitely over looked well done Jon

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks mate!

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Excellent match ups and wonderful photos. Great job. Well done. I have Ruckmarsch Then And Now by John Paul Pallud. It has all these photos in. I agree, there is not enough focus on this party of the summer 1944 campaign in France. 👍

[@brokendown63]

I've watched a more than a few WW2 history channels in the years past and this is by far my favorite. Very, very well done and a well deserved thank you!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

That’s very kind of you to say so, and I do really appreciate it!

[@l00t3R]

The way you line up those photos, actually being there compared to just a before and after is what makes your content mind blowing. To see the details that still exist that people would normally ignore. Well done sir 👏🏻

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Largely thanks to the French not altering too much in the past 80 years so certainly makes it all a lot easier!

[@falloutshorts]

Great video! Really enjoy your content! Look forward to next!👌

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Not quite sure what’s coming up next. Got a couple of ideas and I think more stuff from Normandy that needs to go out plus stuff from Italy earlier in the year! Bit of a lucky dip at the moment!

[@VFRSTREETFIGHTER]

Great video as always, very enjoyable. Thanks for making it.

[@donl1846]

Fantastic as always and I wish my dad was still alive to see this, he served in WW-II.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! What unit did your Father serve with?

[@donl1846]

@@WW2Wayfinder he was in the 3rd. Army, 3rd. Armored Division as a tank driver under Patton. He was the second wave in on Omaha, after the "dreaded hedge grove" fight to get out of there his outfit went on into Belgium then into Germany. Crossing the Rhine was a very big deal to them................

[@thewanderers535]

Brilliant Jon, look forward to these wonderfully interesting episodes

[@jeffsquires6620]

Absolutely incredible episode. Many thanks.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this one!

[@orwellboy1958]

Excellent work, again mate. Its been a great mini series. Thanks for all research and leg work you do.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! I won’t lie it was a bit of a trek driving there but completely worth it as these villages the Germans passed through remain so unchanged

[@HeavyDragoon]

Well you certainly did not disappoint. Once again marvellous research and hard work has gone into this and your other productions. One can tell and see the utter interest and passion you have and this is passed onto the viewer. Excellent and long may your success continue and indeed grow.... Looking forward to your next presentation.... Best wishes..Rob from Sussex

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you Rob! I really appreciate that! It’s definitely an obsession that’s only getting worse with age but I’m ok with that😉

[@paulrobinson8263]

Just catching back up on your channel, excellent research and talk through as per normal, Robbo 👌👍

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks Robbo! And thank you for the support, I really appreciate it!

[@Bill-eq5ov]

Enjoyable, informative and clear.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@nigeh5326]

Great as always 👍 I don’t know what the app some use is but it allows you to fade from the original photo to the modern one. That may work better for you. Keep the videos coming

[@mreckes9967]

Well done sir, must have been some serious research involved.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

@@mreckes9967 thank you. The research is all part of the fun! Any excuse to delve into archives and books is always a good thing! Thank you for taking the time to watch!

[@mreckes9967]

@@WW2Wayfinder It was time well spent, cheers.

[@oscarmadison8530]

You did a great job with this one. You're a great storyteller and you get to the point. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Just hope it showed a different aspect to the well known story of Normandy!

[@bgroovin1343]

I like your addition of the side by side comparison. I'm always going back and forth to look at details, but now I can just pause the video. Well done and congratulations on the military retirement. 25 years here 🫡

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!! Someone suggested the side by side shots on a community post I put up a few weeks ago so this is the first attempt but will look to refine it now for future episodes! And congrats on reaching the 25 year point!🍻

[@alastairirvine306]

Thank you for your videos. Your content, as always is absolutely fantastic.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

No worries! Glad you enjoyed this one. Bourgtheroulde is a great spot to visit with some amazing history. The hotel owner and I chatted for a while about the Canadian troops that liberated the village so I need to go back and look at that side of it!

[@rongriffin4905]

I Love to watch your videos. Visiting WWll sites in France is definitely on my bucket list. Please keep making your outstanding videos................

[@markyogapark]

First of all: I love your videos! Very well done and researched and thanks for all the effort you are putting in! I was wondering: I noticed in this video and your last the French people talking/helping and waving with/towards the Germans. Do you have any idea how they felt about them?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! I did speak with the hotel owner where I stayed (ironically the hotel that had the Tiger parked in front of it - couldn’t resist when I saw it on booking.com!) and she did explain that they were relieved when the Canadians liberated the village. I can only assume that any sign of positivity towards the Germans then was maybe in an attempt to placate them to prevent any aggression.

[@johnathan404]

Amazing content! Always a good watch 👍🏻

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@micoma49]

Once again, great work. Simply luv the comment about modern day traffic being an issue when attempting to compare 80 years difference an image.

[@ericscottstevens]

Grandfather missed all of this being in Yugoslavia with SG151 since 1943, it probably saved his life. Don't know why all German units in other quieter sectors of occupied Europe were not rushed into this fray trying to limit the Allies advance before they got across the Seine river.

[@dougkruse1301]

This content is unbelievable, thank you for all the time and work you do making these.

[@David-cq2mz]

I have to say your research of these photos is fastidious….its really impressive that you are able to find the almost exact spot…..truly fascinating….just visting places like this knowing the history is exciting enough,but having photographs of moments in time is sometimes breathtaking….. My father was a WW2 veteran so I have always had a keen interest in it all…..I commend you for sharing your obvious passion.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Who did your Father serve with?

[@David-cq2mz]

@ He had actually joined the Navy as a lad before the war had started due to the early death of his father,so the family needed a bread winner. He was in both the Atlantic laying mines ,his ship was one of the first to go to America for refit in 41.. did that for 3years ,earned the MID ,which I think was for a bogus convoy mission to lure out Tirpitz,which they endured twice with no luck thankfully!! Then was transferred to the Pacific Theatre going as far as Penang and Bali… Could have been much worse as he used to say. I appreciate your interest.

[@popnmeg]

Excellent as always every second is fantastic 👍

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@TI4438]

I try to be creative with my comments. But 'awesome video' usually hits the nail on the head. Keep up the great work.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks mate! Bourgtheroulde is a wonderful place to visit and the hotel where the Tiger parked in front of is still a hotel to this day and that’s where I stayed for the night! Great place spend a few hours

[@timothymabry1960]

Your production, editing, drone work and archival footage are excellent. First class content. Suggestion: Could you do a video on how you do what you do? Especially how you go about finding the Then and Now locations.

[@rrl4245]

Nicely done - Thanks

[@WW2Wayfinder]

@@rrl4245 thank you!

[@timalexander7758]

Nicely done again sir!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@dankorolyk5917]

Another great episode,well done

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@markstone5597]

Amazing, good investigating, Great videos.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@subaruadventures]

Love the new format.

[@WargamingHistory]

Great stuff, I invite you to visit Mayenne and do then and now of the capture of the bridges and fighting in the city.

[@StephenBaird-cp1fc]

Excellent as always

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!!

[@albertbentley56]

It’s fantastic your research on the wartime action, even though it was a horrific time and place. love to see more, and also the poor french people who suffered under the germans 😢 in these villages too.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! This part of the Normandy story is so often forgotten that I really wanted to try and bring it to life and show these areas as they appear today and thankfully they’ve not really changed!

[@coops1964golf]

another brilliant video.....

[@NDB469]

Great video!!

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks!

[@elmsfeuer]

Very interesting, Like every of your Videos. I like the (his)story behind the historic fotographs.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@mikehall5815]

👏👏👏👏👏👏 Thank you.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

My pleasure Mike!

[@terrywoodham8419]

As also just brilliant jon thank you .

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Glad you enjoyed it Terry! A spot in Normandy I highly recommend if you’re able to make it there

[@malcolmroberts121]

I really like the then and now side by side 👍

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Glad you like them! It was suggested on one of my community posts a couple of weeks back by someone so tried to incorporate it as best I could with this one

[@viperbaron1]

I wonder if you could get one of the museums to drag out a tank to show it where the photo shows the older one? And if you had enough money, you could hire some actors to depict, in live action, the moment of the photo from history. Love your videos!!!!

[@giljeep]

Toujours aussi passionnant, et en plus votre prononciation est bonne,merci et à bientôt.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!!! One of these days I really need to spend some time and try and learn some basic French as I’m always worried about getting place names wrong!!!

[@nicensleazy1892]

What I find extremely interesting , I took part in the Tour de Normadie on a few occasions , we passed many of these locations.

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Oh cool! It’s a beautiful area isn’t it! I was amazed at how untouched the whole area was by time and how much of it retains its appearance from 80 years ago. Great that you’ve been there yourself and been able to see it

[@brianford8493]

Wonderful work mate....more please the then and now material is deeply deeply fascinating.✌️

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you! Nothing quite like standing in the spot where wartime images were taken, knowing what events took place there and discovering how those places have changed or remained the same. Something I’ll never grow tired of

[@rw9866]

Very informative video nice work

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@mariuszpl7608]

Świetna robota 👍 🙂

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@mariuszpl7608]

@@WW2Wayfinder To ja dziękuję, że mogę oglądać Pańskie filmy 🙂

[@steveb5341]

Another superb then & now vid jon. Even in German retreat there’s some fascinating imagery 👏🏻🪖

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thanks Steve! It’s a fascinating part of the Normandy story I feel and one that gets overlooked as it’s so far from the beaches so I really wanted to visit these spots and glad I did as the area is stunning and full of incredible history!

[@steveb5341]

@ You’ve done yourself proud mate and us as viewers a service as you say this story gets forgotten. 👏🏻🪖

[@llokkee]

Livin the dream mate, livin the dream 🙂

[@edwinodus]

It seem to me that the germans never realise air superiority is half the battle. Most of the tanks that were suppose to backup Wittman never made it to normandy from germany because of the air raids

[@michaelvalentine4867]

Hard work you due great again English man !

[@johnzajac9849]

The vehicle at 6:09 was prominent in the final escape in the movie, 'The Dirty Dozen'.

[@richardgolger5808]

The image, showing the Sdkfz 7 prime mover (late) is towing a 2 cm Flak - Vierling! You can see this, as it shows the folded back shield. This was to make transport easyer and not to get entangled with anything, especially when turning... That it's a late Sdkfz 7 is distinguished by the wooden, lorry - like side pannels, instead of the better known, early Sdkfz 7's side pannels with the separate entrance for each of the benches behind the driver. It is astounding how many buildings still do exist that have such a historical connection. Your search and identification od those places seems time consuming to me. - How do you know the exact places, where the fotos have been taken? Do you seach the Bundesarchiv - archives, where closer description might be available? - If one knows the exact places, it is quite easy. I have seen this with fotos from Yevgeny Chaldai (the guy who shot the Reichstag flag raising, the Goering portrait from Nuremberg and Field Marshal Shukov un dhe white horse at the Moscow Victory Parade...), who was in Vienna, my hometown, during the soviet campaign there. He accomanyed some troops that came into the city center right through the streets where i grew up and live ever since. - Then it is easy...

[@MrWarrensimmons]

great video but I am not sure I would have used the adverb "sadly" when explainly how one specific Tiger was unable to make the river crossing during the retreat. Nothing sad about that - what is sad is that the Tiger and its crew were able to escape the Falaise encirclement and live to fight another day.

[@maryannallen9885]

It’s amazing that 80 years later the buildings look almost exactly how they did. What is the original age of the buildings? Some especially the post office you showed looks like it was built back in the three musketeer days.😳

[@matthewseawell1667]

That’s Europe for you

[@psychobob169]

Awesome video 😊

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you!

[@maikelvane5185]

I’m sorry, but did you forget to add the recommended books into the description?

[@drmarkintexas-400]

🎖️⭐🙏🏆❤️‍🩹🛐 Thank you for sharing this

[@WW2Wayfinder]

You’re most welcome!

[@mabbrey]

the french have got lovely villages

[@WW2Wayfinder]

It’s the nicest area of Normandy I’ve found to date! I’d definitely recommend a trip out that way if you’re able to go there

[@donl1846]

Agree, looks very peaceful.

[@sbiggs10]

great video if possible can u please add geo tag to the photo as well thanks

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Thank you and I’ll look to include that for future videos😃

[@steveoin818]

the last crusade

[@chrisschultz8598]

Man, those European buildings are built to last. It makes history coma alive.

[@Burninhellscrootoob]

They always color in the FJ pants blue... They were green

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

4:40 sadly it would never be able to actually cross the river. You're sad they had to leave equipment behind that they could have used against the Allies?

[@WW2Wayfinder]

@@gibraltersteamboatco888 yes sadly as I’m an engineer by profession and have a passion for all ww2 vehicles so the thought of any of them being abandoned and destroyed even then isn’t a thought I enjoy. Please don’t infer meaning where there is none to be found

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

@@WW2Wayfinder Fair enough. Myself, every comfort, advantage and weapon denied the enemy is a plus.

[@edwinodus]

Retreating? They thought they were going to push the invaders back into the sea like they did in dunkirk. Reality must have been really sinking in as they head back to Germany

[@edwinodus]

Was that a black guy at 14:35?

[@jas_1959]

Thanks!