Blithe actually survived until 1967, having served in Korea where he won medals. Apparently another Albert Blithe died in 1947 someone from Easy saw that death notice and assumed it was this Blithe
The blame is on Stephen Ambrose, who wrote the best selling popular history book that was the basis for the series. Ambrose is a very talented writer but a sloppy historical researcher. It’s really on him for not doing a thorough fact check. He’s supposed be a trained historian. He also had a bit of plagiarism controversy, but again it was sloppiness: he didn’t properly identify notes and when he finally wrote the book (another one, not BoB), he didn’t realize he’d lifted an entire passage from another book.
Band of Brothers was first broadcast in the beginning of September, 2001, once a week all that autumn. It was broadcast just a few days after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. I live in NY, used to work in the WTC and I knew people who didn't get out alive. Watching this series at that time hit home and took on more relevance after that experience.
they were also used by the Russians threw the lend lease program. Russians don't like to admit how much the US helped them in WWII. if you ask them, they won the war single handedly. they still have some weaponry in service against Ukraine.
Welsh was drinking alcohol, too. You will notice it in the scene where he talks about dehydration being a soldier's worst enemy, then Blithe's reaction to drinking it.
@manueldeabreu1980 The last uses of the Sherman in combat were in the 1980s, by the Iranian Revolutionary Army against Iraq, and by Israeli-backed Maronites in the Lebanese Civil War.
@@dirus3142 Yes, Tipper is the one that expected a quick death, or come through without a scratch. Boy, was he wrong. Everybody thought he wasn't going to survive.
This sibling rivalry in which each one insists they are right and the other is wrong is giving me childhood flashbacks. One thing for sure - Ron, my friend, you need to rely on Ayala when it comes to putting names to faces. She does it well, while you keep missing and missing. Much love!
Blithe had hysterical blindness. He was not making things up. When Winters comforted and reassured him, it assuaged some of his fears. Welsh was drinking water, not alcohol.
Yeah, it's a real thing. It's happened to me a couple of times. None of those times it happened was I afraid of something, nor did I have a head injury. Just really worked up with a bit of adrenaline, and it would just slowly get dark on me.
Don't worry about Tipper. He went home and lived to a grand old age. Got married at age 60 and had a daughter who would become a Colorado state legislator (who would love and adore her daddy).
Mandatory private Blithe didn’t die from his wounds, it was a mistake of the show runners, but was because Blithe didn’t stay in touch with the man of Easy Company afterwards and everyone thought he die. You guys stay safe out there.
A mistake of the writer of the book BoB, Stephen Ambrose. The show runners were relying on the accuracy of a best selling book by a famous historian. The truth is that Ambrose is a sloppy researcher and fact checker. What kind of sucks is that the producers never changed the title card after the true story came out. So they’ve had 20 years to fix it and meanwhile millions of viewers have gotten false information. Mistakes happen, but one should fix one’s mistakes.
The small scene with Welsh and McGrath is one of my favorite. It shows how far into detail the show can go. Those two did movie out into the open with a bazooka to take out a German tank. Welsh did have McGrath hold fire until he could get a shot at the bottom front plate. What really makes the scene great is that the whole sequence of those two was strait out of the textbook for operating a two man bazooka team. How they sat, held the weapon, and how Welsh reloaded the weapon. Right down to attaching the wires of the rocket, to the nodes on the back of the tube. The rocket works just like a model rocket you can by at a hobby shop. There is a battery in the grip, and pressing the trigger completes the circuit. You can find training videos showing the process. An upgrade of the weapon took away the wires, and had the fins of the rocket line up with a slot that was connected to the battery. Those were M4 (Sherman) medium tanks. The main tank of US army, it served in every theater, all over the world. It also was used in the Korean war. It served in other nations as well. Israel used it from the Arab-Israeli war through the Yam Kipper war. Also in the Iran-Iraq war in 1980. During WW2 the US gave it to other allied nations. Britain and the Soviet Union used them heavily. They were well regarded by those nations. Highest survival ratio for a tank crew of the war. It was among the easiest and fastest to maintain/repair. IT could also function in every environment. If you want to know more I highly recommend The Chieftain's channel.
The Chieftain brought my mind around on the Sherman. I never hated it, but didn't really like it till I saw some of his videos on it. Then I looked more into it and it turns out it was a pretty good machine.
@@jordanpeterson5140 Watching his videos made me realize how I fell into the "common knowledge" trap as well. Even my very excellent US military history classes supported the idea. I now have tests answers 20 years ago that I have mild embarrassment over.
Blithe had hysterical blindness. In cases of supreme shock, our bodies can shut down noncritical body functions. It's the brain going into ultimate survival mode. Winter's had a calming presence to him in the clinic. So he was able to come out him shock. Hence also why he was inspired to fire his weapon later on when he saw Winters next to him firing as well. Just shows how much respect and trust Easy had for Winters as their commander.
He's also a drinker so, I mean the scene in that Foxhole? its pissing rain, they and the Germans are staying put so naturally he breaks out his flask to get wasted some.
@@jamesomaha5330 But he's drinking, that's the point, thats why he's speaking cynical to Blythe and theres no reason, motive for him to turn down water vs alcohol, the remark "dehydration is a soldier's worst enemy" when they are LITERALLY COVERED, SURROUNDED BY RAIN WATER, that its a redundant remark, its intentionally ironic because he's sipping booze, like ha ha, dont get dried out here in the rain right? Why would he offder water in this scenario? Its the first time they can relax a bit for the night because of the rain is making everyone, enemy included stay put, hence the sipping of some personal medicinal use if you will, booze, does my deductive reasoning stand for you now?
@@adamscott7354 First it is not a documentary. They took liberty in the portrayel of events. They wanted to show dark humour that develops when serving in the frontlines. Thus was suggested by several of the veterans. Lt Welsh cynical remark is more of dark humour that develops in being in the frontlines. The same kind of humour was used when Nixon made the remark about returning to England. If this scene actually happened, only Welsh would be able to tell. Could be in the book Band of Brothers. I think the production company over did the fear that Blight showed. Knowing later he became a professional soldier, awarded a silver star serving in Korea.
@@jamesomaha5330 Yeah its besides the point, he has every reason to take a drink if he wants one, and thats what the show is depicting, my point is, that AINT WATER
Nobody survived Lt. Meehan's plane. Forrest Guth, armorer in 3rd platoon, carried a forbidden camera and took pictures on a crashed plane with dead paratroopers that was probably Meehan's plane and was of the first combat pictures of the 101st seen by higher ups in England. The original episode was going to be about Guth (pronounces Gooth) and Blithe wears an altered jacket that Guth created (extra pockets, pockets ON pockets).
Strange that Guth in fact did several things that are portrayed in this series as being done by others. He never shows up in this series, he sure as hell showed up in real life though.
@@user-jh7hv3it6t ... Yup, he was. Webster was manning a machine gun to cover their cross back over the water. Also, Guth was one of the men in Easy that defended Norman Dyke saying the reason he acted like he did during the attack on Foy was, he was shot. That whole episode is kind of strange. They way they decided to portray Webster and his reception wasn't correct either. But, never let the facts get in the way of a good story, Hollywood says.
Generally speaking, the British named the tanks while the American G.I.'s referred to them by their designation as M4 or by their variant such as Jumbo or Easy 8 (after the E8 designation). Also, Churchill mandated that the tanks be referred to as Sherman, Lee, Grant, etc. and not General Sherman, etc. to avoid possible confusion with an actual American general.
Harry instructs him to keep waiting for the belly of the tank to be exposed(thinnest part of the armor) while it crests over the ridge until he fires. Not only quick thinking but the correct quick decision too.
It shows that Harry was paying attention to how the terrain and how it was shaped. knowing tha the armor would have to move up and down a few times even after coming over the main hill crest.
True, but Please, it's NOT a Tank! Self-Propelled Gun (Sturmgeschutz) has no turret....you have to turn the whole vehicle to aim in a different direction.
In an interview after the series came out, the commander of Easy CO said that the story of Blithe’s hysterical blindness was historically accurate the way they portrayed it. But he was quick to point out that Blithe volunteered again for the paratroopers in the Korean War and was awarded the Silver Star and another citation for bravery. He also got another Purple Heart I believe (medal for being wounded in combat).
Two soldiers are hunting for lugers (Malarky and Hoobler), you have combined them in your mind. Malarky was the one running for the luger in episode 2, Hoobler was the guy in this episode. Though you're doing better than any first-time watchers at identifying the soldiers I've seen. Sherman tanks are American.
You actually DID see Michael Fassbender in episode 1, he’s Private Christiansen, the man who drank from his canteen and was ordered to repeat the entire night walk, he’s also at the beginning after they’re told “no jump tonight” and we see the men watching a movie, he’s the one the camera stops on after giving us some close shots of them, right before we go back two years to their training.
@@user-jh7hv3it6t Apparently after the war he had some problems with alcohol. He met his third wife who was instrumental in helping him on the road to recovery.
The guy at 12:16 who was walking on two broken legs with blood covering half his face is Edward Tipper, who is the real vet at the start of this episode who says he thought he'd either get a quick death or he'd come through without a scratch. Obviously, not without a scratch, he lost an eye and had to get a glass replacement and had to walk on crutches for a while, but he made it, and he even had a daughter whe was 60 years old!
This episode lends itself to a soldiers question of fear, and life and death on the battlefield. While some of these young men, especially the NCO's, may have had prior battlefield experience which is unknown to me, the majority of the 101st had never experienced the horrors of the battlefield. They now found themselves face to face with their mortality. Death, after all, is the finite end of who we are, of who we were, or who we would have become. In death, we lose absolutely everything we have or were ever going to have. Simply put..., our future ceases..... Blieth, apparently, could not accept or handle reality. Fear took control of him. He did, however, take command of his fear and served honorably in WW2. He served again with the airborne during the Korean War and was twice decorated for gallantry. He eventually rose to the rank of Master Sergeant in the Army. Reaction ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You'd be surprised what war can do to your mind and body. I was attached to an army unit with the marines and I saw an army private scream for like a hour straight after his first fire fight. They finally took him away and I never saw him. I'm guessing he had a complete mental break.
At Carentan Easy Company was attacking a hamlet on the outskirts of the town and did not attack into the centre of it, alot of casualties that occured in other engagements were stuck into that battle, Lipton for example was injured by fragments from an 88mm shell a couple of days later, also Albert Blithe did not die of his wounds, this was an error because he made no effort to keep in touch after the war. He actually went on to fight in Korea as well.
Paratroopers and Rangers were used for special operations. Once they secured the beach head they were removed from the general fighting for the next special operation. Episode 4 will cover it.
A great historical fact about the Sherman: it was used by the IDF through the six day war. Helping the paratroopers liberate Yerushalyim. They were updated shermans called the M50 Super Sherman. Also, regarding histerical blindness it is said that Hitler had this type of blindness at the end of WW1.
The show was mostly shot in Britain around 2000 so a lot of young British (Tom Hardy, Simon Pegg, James McAvoy) and Irish actors (Andrew Scott, Michael Fassbender) had bit parts. You've already seen Fassbender as Christenson. 2 guys were looking for Lugers, Hoobler and Malarkey whom you've mixed up, it was Malarkey who risked his life on D-Day and Hoobler who talked about it in the fist episode and this one.
"I didn't want to let anybody down." Blithe may have thought he could get out of combat, but when push came to shove, he said that. It was the mindset of practically all of Easy Company. All the fighting men, really. One of the reasons we call them The Greatest Generation.
Speirs much later admitted to Dick Winters that he has killed prisoners, but I don’t think he ever said how many. It’s definitely a war crime and against protocol. But it did happen in extreme circumstances. Remember that at the time the paratroopers and the beach forces had not yet linked up. The paratroopers were still behind enemy lines.
Something to think about when watching this show. Every episode has a "theme". This episode was about fear and how soldiers deal with it in different ways.
There were soldiers that died 1 min before Armistice in 1918. My great-uncle was marching between Paris up to the trenches, so he was spared. In general, WWII vets never discussed their experience even with family. I did get a few stories out of my grandfather, who was in WWII.
A lot longer than that actually, soldiers kept dying well into 1919 of Spanish Flu (It was like half of all US deaths in that war) and lots stayed in the field as army of occupation. Not to mention the poor bastards that were sent to the Soviet Union in 1919.
Not sure how to spell your name, Ayella, please correct me, but your compassion for Blithe made me emotional. I'm sure by now , yall's new fans have corrected the story concerning Blithe. You have a new following of people, like myself, who are happy to educate you about more than you ever thought there was to know about WW2. My grandpa served in the Pacific and was a POW for three in a half years. I hope y'all will check out the sequel, The Pacific, when you finish this series.
In a interview with one of the men they said that Blithe actually survived. The show got that detail wrong. Blithe recovered went to war in Korea and won a bunch of metals like a bad ass.
The edelweiss thing was a bit of creative license. They didn't actually climb up the alps to get the live flowers, but they did have an embroidered patch on their uniform that was a stylized likeness of an edelweiss.
Yes, Blithe survives. One of the few mistakes Band of Brothers makes. Then went on to serve, with distinction in the Korean War. "The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.” - Captain Ronald Speirs. He's more than a man of his word and will soon prove it for the entire company. Currahee
I love your “sibling energy” that’s a lovely chaotic touch. I wish you had shown us the scene with the priest in the middle of the firefight and your reaction.
Although the show got Blithe's death wrong (because the surviving Easy company memebers thought he had died) the part where Winters talks to him in the infirmary and calms him down enough to recover really happened.
I have some of the letters my uncle, a 2nd. Lt. in the 116th Infantry, wrote home from England when he was stationed there preparing for D-Day. He says several times in these letters he didn't think he was going to make it back home. He was right. He almost made it to the beach at Normandy but was killed as he got off the lander. 2 weeks later, to the day,he would have been 24.
I love the little white Pesach Bunny.🐰🐇But you got Lt. Harry Welsh all wrong about his drinking--that was water! Sherman tanks were American--and also used by the British (both armies used the American white star as a marking) They were mechanically reliable, tough, and manufactured in massive quantity. The IDF used surplus Shermans very effectively for years.
Based on where the Bazooka hit the tank (technically an StuG III), I believe it hit in the area where the driver would be sitting. Since the bottoms of tanks aren’t as armored as the sides or front, the rocket was able to penetrate. The first rocket they fired deflected off of the tank, but the spaling and shrapnel from the rocket impact killed the machine gunner on top of the StuG. Now, with it immobilized, the vehicle can’t raise it’s gun up high enough to hit the infantry on the ground, so the vehicle is pretty much disabled. Unless it gets towed out, it can’t hurt the US soldiers.
The bottom has thinner armor, and the front is where the driver is, and the transmission and drive cogs are also often in the front in tracks of that time. All in all, the underside of the front of a tank is a pretty good place to shoot.
36:10, none of them expected that they were done with the war, they just thought they’d have more time reconstituting the unit and training to integrate replacements, before they were going to be sent back. Also, left unsaid and unshown, between this episode and the next, they had several times where they were getting ready to go drop into France again, but the Allies were making incredible progress, and every time they got ready for a plane ride and a jump, it was called off because the Allies had overrun the site they were supposed to drop into.
Zeroed means the artillery doesn't have to fire for effect and adjust their fire, they have it already adjusted and dropping it on the position they are aiming at.
Sherman tanks are US made. They are named after General Sherman who was one of the most successful Generals on the Union (or Federal) side of the US Civil War. The USA did export ALOT of these tanks to United Kingdom and Russia as well since we were all allies in WW2
Great reaction, guys. This series is one hell of an emotional rollercoaster, but you will come through it with tremendous respect for our greatest generation. CURRAHEE !!
I remember another reactor had the same problem with spoilers in the comments. She announced that she would no longer read the comments untill the series was finished.
Don't assume that all canteens contain alcohol - their primary purpose is to carry water to prevent dehydration. They're not all running around swigging liquor.
I'm not sure what it's called these days, but blithe was going through what's called hysterical blindness. It's when you go through enough stress that your brain basically tells your eyes, "that's enough for now" n shuts them down. That's a very basic explanation but I'm sure you know what I mean.
Blithe didn't survive a plane crash - Meehan's plane went down in flames and everyone died. Blithe just found himself alone where he landed and fell asleep sometime after landing due to the air-sickness pills. When he woke up, as he told Speirs, he took his time trying to hook up with Easy. Also, they never thought that they were going back to England for good - they were just a little disappointed when Lipton told them they were headed back so soon - they were hoping for a little bit longer break. England was where their main base of ops was - they regrouped and re-deployed from there for a time after D-day.
New subscriber from Ireland here. I'm enjoying your reactions to BoB. I'm a huge fan of it and check out reactions on youtube on a regular basis. I only subscribe when the reaction/discussion are genuinely engaging so thank you for that. Looking forward to future episodes. Shalom agus Sláinte.
7:19 Combat is very odd thing. Very hard to describe. Horror, terror and loss of empathy all rolled up into a knot of memories locked in a box deep inside the psyche.
I will stand on a hill and keep saying "Speirs is one of the best soldiers to have ever lived". When I got trained by the commandos (RMC) I had to learn the commando ethos by heart. One of them is cheerfulness in the face of adversity, who knows if push comes to shove I might have to drop in and give a hand, help in the fight and bring the British fighting spirit with me. I aways equate war to a bad storm, the sky goes dark and you stay inside being miserable. Until you finally see the sun starting to peak through the clouds, war is like a storm but eventually like a storm the war will end, it will pass and the feeling when it does will be unmatched. Stay strong and keep your faith close.
You guys should get someone to curate the comments for you. People get really excited about this show and give away all kinds of things that are better to be surprised by.
I read that Blithe actually spotted the sniper that shot him first, but instead of shooting he just yelled 'bang bang' like they did in practice. Too stressed to think I guess. Funny stuff like that you'd hardly believe it was real if they put it in a movie.
24:40 the M4 Sherman was an American tank. They were lend leased out to the British and other Allied nations during and after the war. The Soviets used them as well. Some lend leased Shermans even took part in the Battle of Berlin. The British did have a special variant of the tank they exclusively used: the famous “Firefly” variant fitted with a British 17 pdr gun on it instead of the normal US 75mm M3 gun. This version was known for being capable of taking down the heavier German tanks thanks to the upgraded gun.
My father was in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division from Feb’41 until Oct’45, and served in North Africa and Europe . He always said that when his unit went overseas to England in early ‘42, he just assumed that he would never make it back home. I think that may have been common among the men.
The actor who played Blithe was British, but the accent he used wasn't right for the actual man who was from Philadelphia, but it was the only 'American' accent he knew. But if you look up a photo of the real Albert Blithe in uniform before they shipped out, the resemblance is uncanny.
When Easy was taken off the line and sent to England they did not think they were done with the war and going home. They knew they were receiving some R and R to recover from combat and would be sent back to the the front lines. at some point. Enjoying your reactions to this great series.
15:17 Hysterical blindness is a real thing. It's caused by psychological trauma. He wasn't faking it anymore than Moon Knight is faking his other personalities.
There are a few errors in this episode about Albert Blithe. As others have mentioned, he survived the war. Two members of Easy Company went to the funeral of an Albert Blithe in 1948, but after the film came out, it was discovered that the funeral was for a different soldier with the same name. Another error is that Blithe was from South Philadelphia, like Sgt. Bill Guarnere, not the American South, like his accent would indicate. And he was not a quiet, gentle soul, but a tough guy who was persuaded to enlist to get out of the gang life of South Philadelphia. His own son called him a "thug" in the book A Company of Heroes by Marcus Brotherton. He served with valor in the Army until 1967 until he died from a burst ulcer, brought on by alcoholism. He did have the hysterical blindless incident but recovered to be a good soldier for Easy Company. One other note: One of the survivors of Easy Company wrote a memoir and described visiting the set of the miniseries. He said a tall blond actor approached him for insights into the soldier’s character. “He wasn’t very liked by his comrades, was he?” The old soldier simply said “No.” The only two actors with noticeably blond hair and prominent roles in the series are Lt. Buck Compton, who was beloved by the men, and Albert Blithe.
While a great episode this one of the few times the show messed up but not for anything malicious just wrong person, blithe survived but didn’t get sent back to easy instead he stayed in army and fought in Korea earning a bronze star (third highest before medal of honor) for his bravery. He would pass away in 1967, in Germany due to burst ulcer, and his kids and fellow soldiers said that the TV portrayal was wrong blithe was a brave and never showed fear throughout the war. I guess the episode was trying to show how different soldiers deal with the stress of war and how they try to survive it Sherman tanks or M4 (the Sherman name is more post war naming then during war) was an American built and designed from the lessons learned from the M3 lee (or grant for the British) and was built in the thousands and later modified. We actually gave the early Israeli defense forces E8 Shermans (or easy eights) which they modified to the super Sherman variant this was used to great effect in 1956-66 wars but was later retired and replaced with the centurions
Yep, it was Buck. I have not been able to find anything to verify the story of Speirs murdering a group of prisoners on D-Day. I did come across an account that Speirs may have killed, or ordered killed, a single prisoner because they were not able to send him back to the rear to be detained and it risked jeopardizing their safety. Maybe the story grew from that. As others have noted, General Taylor ordered no prisoners be taken because the paratroopers would be behind enemy lines and there was no way to hold them (that order was not always followed.) While the legality of such an order may have been dubious, it does happen, sometimes because it's felt there's no choice. I once read about a U.S. commando team from MACV-SOG in Laos during the Vietnam War who were far behind the lines during a mission and unexpectedly came across a communist scout who they took prisoner. They decided they couldn't keep him without risking giving their presence away and compromising both their safety and the mission, so they told him they had to execute him, which amazingly he understood. The prisoner understood the situation and one of the South Vietnamese commandos with them dispatched him. The movie "Lone Survivor" set in Afghanistan deals with this same dilemma and the consequences that can result. Hope it's not a spoiler, but since you expressed admiration for the medics their role will be explored in more detail later on.
There's an interview with Winters where he says he called Spiers and asked him if he'd be okay with them including the story in the series and Spiers flat out said he didn't care and that it indeed true that he shot those prisoners.
Harry Welsh wasn't drinking alcohol in those scenes (you may be confusing him with Nixon) but he was famous for being a tough guy, totally willing to fight anytime.
M-4 Sherman Tanks are completely American made(Except for the Grizzly varient that was made by Canada) the British however chose to name American Lend Lease Tanks after American Civil War Generals. Earlier in the War M-3 Lee/Grant Tanks arrived Africa and allowed the British to defeat Italian and Pre war made German Tanks(including Panzer IIIs), but were unable to effectively deal with Panzer IVs, the Sherman was essentially made to deal with Panzer IVs, while not well armored or particularly well gunned(by late war Standards) the Sherman was by far the fastest and most reliable medium of the war. A sherman breaking down from Transmission problems was almost unheard of, and even if it did, a new power package could be exchanged in about an hour. And they built 49,000 of them. The last war Shermans were in use was the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.
if you can't drink hard liquor every day, there's no point in going to war. Although some Sherman tanks were built in Canada, the design and initial manufacture of Shermans was all a U.S. thing.
Ok that's twice I'm hearing you say that you think Lt. Harry Welsh is drinking alcohol. Although he wasn't afraid to take a drink, he's not drinking alcohol from his canteen. That's water. Nixon would be much more likely to put Scotch in his canteen. 'this guy, someone please notice that's he's drinking', sigh, He's not drinking. That's three times you've said that now, sheesh. He doesn't even look drunk. Ahhhh, what did you see on the screen that made you think Blythe was on Lt. MeHans plane??? He was not. This is not a spoiler. Many of these actors got the chance to meet the actual men they were portraying. All of them who did are fiercely loyal to those men's memories, and their families, and many stay in touch with them to this day. The actors have reunions every year or so and some of the families make it to them too. To a man, the actors have talked about how this show, learning about these men, meeting them in some cases, has changed their entire lives.
Lt. Welsh drank but he wasn't drunk or a drunk, he's the one that ran up to the machine gunner in the building window in Cerentan and threw a grenade inside. Harry was one of their best officers. Lt Speirs is a badass he isn't scary he's a pure soldier.
Another great reaction! I feel that this series just gets better as you become more familiar with the soldiers of Easy Company. BTW: Is there a story behind the plushies? Also (and more importantly): Happy Pesach!
31:24 You can sniff out good officers and good NCO's from the get-go. That leadership quality is not taught in books. As an enlisted man you just know. I was a medic in Iraq, in combat and got the CMB.
No spoilers, there are many future episodes, for one you MAY need a blanket. I don't how, but one episode can make the suggestable feel the cold, even in a well heated room.
The Sherman Tank is from the USA but the British also used them. Named after a general in the USA civil war, 1861 - 1865. "Lieutenant Sobal hates us sir" is Denver 'Bull' Randelman.
Because Sherman was a cavalry guy, I think, and they were like the mobile units of their day. Patton also started off in the army as a cavalry guy if I remember.
Blithe actually survived until 1967, having served in Korea where he won medals. Apparently another Albert Blithe died in 1947 someone from Easy saw that death notice and assumed it was this Blithe
Two vets even claimed they attended that funeral, which probably contributed a long way to the belief Blithe had died.
The blame is on Stephen Ambrose, who wrote the best selling popular history book that was the basis for the series.
Ambrose is a very talented writer but a sloppy historical researcher. It’s really on him for not doing a thorough fact check. He’s supposed be a trained historian.
He also had a bit of plagiarism controversy, but again it was sloppiness: he didn’t properly identify notes and when he finally wrote the book (another one, not BoB), he didn’t realize he’d lifted an entire passage from another book.
Band of Brothers was first broadcast in the beginning of September, 2001, once a week all that autumn. It was broadcast just a few days after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. I live in NY, used to work in the WTC and I knew people who didn't get out alive. Watching this series at that time hit home and took on more relevance after that experience.
Shermans were American tanks but also used by the British. Lt Welsh is drinking WATER to keep hydrated.
they were also used by the Russians threw the lend lease program. Russians don't like to admit how much the US helped them in WWII. if you ask them, they won the war single handedly. they still have some weaponry in service against Ukraine.
Believe it or not a LOT of Shermans and Panzer Mark IVs ended up in Middle Eastern armies in the 1950's and early 1960's.
@@manueldeabreu1980 i don't believe it!!! you're lying!!! lol. if i remember rite some eastern block countrys were making panzers post WWII also.
Welsh was drinking alcohol, too. You will notice it in the scene where he talks about dehydration being a soldier's worst enemy, then Blithe's reaction to drinking it.
@manueldeabreu1980 The last uses of the Sherman in combat were in the 1980s, by the Iranian Revolutionary Army against Iraq, and by Israeli-backed Maronites in the Lebanese Civil War.
Ed Tipper, the soldier wounded in the building explosion, survived his wounds and lived a long life.
He even has a daughter that was born in like 1984, dude was definitely a paratrooper.
He is one of the men in the opening commentary.
@@dirus3142 Yes, Tipper is the one that expected a quick death, or come through without a scratch. Boy, was he wrong. Everybody thought he wasn't going to survive.
This sibling rivalry in which each one insists they are right and the other is wrong is giving me childhood flashbacks. One thing for sure - Ron, my friend, you need to rely on Ayala when it comes to putting names to faces. She does it well, while you keep missing and missing. Much love!
Blithe had hysterical blindness. He was not making things up. When Winters comforted and reassured him, it assuaged some of his fears.
Welsh was drinking water, not alcohol.
The rush of adrenaline is a vasoconstrictor. You literally go blind from the diminished blood supply going to your optic nerves
Pretty sure it was alcohol. Blithe spit it out
@@mikecarson9528 It was definitely alcohol.
Yeah, it's a real thing. It's happened to me a couple of times. None of those times it happened was I afraid of something, nor did I have a head injury. Just really worked up with a bit of adrenaline, and it would just slowly get dark on me.
Don't worry about Tipper. He went home and lived to a grand old age. Got married at age 60 and had a daughter who would become a Colorado state legislator (who would love and adore her daddy).
Mandatory private Blithe didn’t die from his wounds, it was a mistake of the show runners, but was because Blithe didn’t stay in touch with the man of Easy Company afterwards and everyone thought he die. You guys stay safe out there.
A mistake of the writer of the book BoB, Stephen Ambrose. The show runners were relying on the accuracy of a best selling book by a famous historian.
The truth is that Ambrose is a sloppy researcher and fact checker.
What kind of sucks is that the producers never changed the title card after the true story came out. So they’ve had 20 years to fix it and meanwhile millions of viewers have gotten false information.
Mistakes happen, but one should fix one’s mistakes.
The small scene with Welsh and McGrath is one of my favorite. It shows how far into detail the show can go. Those two did movie out into the open with a bazooka to take out a German tank. Welsh did have McGrath hold fire until he could get a shot at the bottom front plate. What really makes the scene great is that the whole sequence of those two was strait out of the textbook for operating a two man bazooka team. How they sat, held the weapon, and how Welsh reloaded the weapon. Right down to attaching the wires of the rocket, to the nodes on the back of the tube. The rocket works just like a model rocket you can by at a hobby shop. There is a battery in the grip, and pressing the trigger completes the circuit. You can find training videos showing the process. An upgrade of the weapon took away the wires, and had the fins of the rocket line up with a slot that was connected to the battery.
Those were M4 (Sherman) medium tanks. The main tank of US army, it served in every theater, all over the world. It also was used in the Korean war. It served in other nations as well. Israel used it from the Arab-Israeli war through the Yam Kipper war. Also in the Iran-Iraq war in 1980. During WW2 the US gave it to other allied nations. Britain and the Soviet Union used them heavily. They were well regarded by those nations. Highest survival ratio for a tank crew of the war. It was among the easiest and fastest to maintain/repair. IT could also function in every environment. If you want to know more I highly recommend The Chieftain's channel.
The Chieftain brought my mind around on the Sherman. I never hated it, but didn't really like it till I saw some of his videos on it. Then I looked more into it and it turns out it was a pretty good machine.
@@jordanpeterson5140 Watching his videos made me realize how I fell into the "common knowledge" trap as well. Even my very excellent US military history classes supported the idea. I now have tests answers 20 years ago that I have mild embarrassment over.
Blithe had hysterical blindness. In cases of supreme shock, our bodies can shut down noncritical body functions. It's the brain going into ultimate survival mode. Winter's had a calming presence to him in the clinic. So he was able to come out him shock. Hence also why he was inspired to fire his weapon later on when he saw Winters next to him firing as well. Just shows how much respect and trust Easy had for Winters as their commander.
What gave you the impression that Lt Welsh was drinking? He was an very courageous officer and one of the better ones.
He's also a drinker so, I mean the scene in that Foxhole? its pissing rain, they and the Germans are staying put so naturally he breaks out his flask to get wasted some.
@@adamscott7354 That was actually his regular army water bottle
@@jamesomaha5330 But he's drinking, that's the point, thats why he's speaking cynical to Blythe and theres no reason, motive for him to turn down water vs alcohol, the remark "dehydration is a soldier's worst enemy" when they are LITERALLY COVERED, SURROUNDED BY RAIN WATER, that its a redundant remark, its intentionally ironic because he's sipping booze, like ha ha, dont get dried out here in the rain right? Why would he offder water in this scenario? Its the first time they can relax a bit for the night because of the rain is making everyone, enemy included stay put, hence the sipping of some personal medicinal use if you will, booze, does my deductive reasoning stand for you now?
@@adamscott7354 First it is not a documentary. They took liberty in the portrayel of events. They wanted to show dark humour that develops when serving in the frontlines. Thus was suggested by several of the veterans. Lt Welsh cynical remark is more of dark humour that develops in being in the frontlines. The same kind of humour was used when Nixon made the remark about returning to England. If this scene actually happened, only Welsh would be able to tell. Could be in the book Band of Brothers. I think the production company over did the fear that Blight showed. Knowing later he became a professional soldier, awarded a silver star serving in Korea.
@@jamesomaha5330 Yeah its besides the point, he has every reason to take a drink if he wants one, and thats what the show is depicting, my point is, that AINT WATER
Nobody survived Lt. Meehan's plane. Forrest Guth, armorer in 3rd platoon, carried a forbidden camera and took pictures on a crashed plane with dead paratroopers that was probably Meehan's plane and was of the first combat pictures of the 101st seen by higher ups in England. The original episode was going to be about Guth (pronounces Gooth) and Blithe wears an altered jacket that Guth created (extra pockets, pockets ON pockets).
Strange that Guth in fact did several things that are portrayed in this series as being done by others. He never shows up in this series, he sure as hell showed up in real life though.
@@buddystewart2020 Very true. In Episode 8, HE was the translator, not Webster, who did not go on the Last Patrol.
@@user-jh7hv3it6t ... Yup, he was. Webster was manning a machine gun to cover their cross back over the water. Also, Guth was one of the men in Easy that defended Norman Dyke saying the reason he acted like he did during the attack on Foy was, he was shot. That whole episode is kind of strange. They way they decided to portray Webster and his reception wasn't correct either. But, never let the facts get in the way of a good story, Hollywood says.
@@buddystewart2020 So Correct. I almost forgot he was the one that said Dyke was hit twice at Foy.
Shermans were American tanks (named for 19th century General William Tecumseh Sherman), but some were provided to the British to use as well.
Generally speaking, the British named the tanks while the American G.I.'s referred to them by their designation as M4 or by their variant such as Jumbo or Easy 8 (after the E8 designation). Also, Churchill mandated that the tanks be referred to as Sherman, Lee, Grant, etc. and not General Sherman, etc. to avoid possible confusion with an actual American general.
Harry instructs him to keep waiting for the belly of the tank to be exposed(thinnest part of the armor) while it crests over the ridge until he fires. Not only quick thinking but the correct quick decision too.
It shows that Harry was paying attention to how the terrain and how it was shaped. knowing tha the armor would have to move up and down a few times even after coming over the main hill crest.
True, but Please, it's NOT a Tank! Self-Propelled Gun (Sturmgeschutz) has no turret....you have to turn the whole vehicle to aim in a different direction.
In an interview after the series came out, the commander of Easy CO said that the story of Blithe’s hysterical blindness was historically accurate the way they portrayed it. But he was quick to point out that Blithe volunteered again for the paratroopers in the Korean War and was awarded the Silver Star and another citation for bravery. He also got another Purple Heart I believe (medal for being wounded in combat).
Two soldiers are hunting for lugers (Malarky and Hoobler), you have combined them in your mind. Malarky was the one running for the luger in episode 2, Hoobler was the guy in this episode.
Though you're doing better than any first-time watchers at identifying the soldiers I've seen.
Sherman tanks are American.
I'm sure someone has already mentioned it, but the TV show got it wrong - Blithe passed away in 1967.
You actually DID see Michael Fassbender in episode 1, he’s Private Christiansen, the man who drank from his canteen and was ordered to repeat the entire night walk, he’s also at the beginning after they’re told “no jump tonight” and we see the men watching a movie, he’s the one the camera stops on after giving us some close shots of them, right before we go back two years to their training.
Nixon was the alcoholic, not Welsh. Welsh had water in his canteen.
Malarkey called Nixon a "lush."
@@user-jh7hv3it6t Apparently after the war he had some problems with alcohol. He met his third wife who was instrumental in helping him on the road to recovery.
@@george217 Absolutely. By the way, she was a Nisei (Japanese American),
@@user-jh7hv3it6t Grace Umezawa Nixon...
@@user-jh7hv3it6t Grace Hideko Umezawa Nixon. She spent a good part of WWII in a "Relocation " camp even though she was born in California...
The guy at 12:16 who was walking on two broken legs with blood covering half his face is Edward Tipper, who is the real vet at the start of this episode who says he thought he'd either get a quick death or he'd come through without a scratch. Obviously, not without a scratch, he lost an eye and had to get a glass replacement and had to walk on crutches for a while, but he made it, and he even had a daughter whe was 60 years old!
This episode lends itself to a soldiers question of fear, and life and death on the battlefield. While some of these young men, especially the NCO's, may have had prior battlefield experience which is unknown to me, the majority of the 101st had never experienced the horrors of the battlefield. They now found themselves face to face with their mortality. Death, after all, is the finite end of who we are, of who we were, or who we would have become. In death, we lose absolutely everything we have or were ever going to have. Simply put..., our future ceases.....
Blieth, apparently, could not accept or handle reality. Fear took control of him.
He did, however, take command of his fear and served honorably in WW2. He served again with the airborne during the Korean War and was twice decorated for gallantry. He eventually rose to the rank of Master Sergeant in the Army.
Reaction ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You'd be surprised what war can do to your mind and body. I was attached to an army unit with the marines and I saw an army private scream for like a hour straight after his first fire fight. They finally took him away and I never saw him. I'm guessing he had a complete mental break.
At Carentan Easy Company was attacking a hamlet on the outskirts of the town and did not attack into the centre of it, alot of casualties that occured in other engagements were stuck into that battle, Lipton for example was injured by fragments from an 88mm shell a couple of days later, also Albert Blithe did not die of his wounds, this was an error because he made no effort to keep in touch after the war. He actually went on to fight in Korea as well.
Blithe was also twice awarded for gallantry in Korea
Paratroopers and Rangers were used for special operations. Once they secured the beach head they were removed from the general fighting for the next special operation. Episode 4 will cover it.
A great historical fact about the Sherman: it was used by the IDF through the six day war. Helping the paratroopers liberate Yerushalyim. They were updated shermans called the M50 Super Sherman.
Also, regarding histerical blindness it is said that Hitler had this type of blindness at the end of WW1.
The show was mostly shot in Britain around 2000 so a lot of young British (Tom Hardy, Simon Pegg, James McAvoy) and Irish actors (Andrew Scott, Michael Fassbender) had bit parts. You've already seen Fassbender as Christenson. 2 guys were looking for Lugers, Hoobler and Malarkey whom you've mixed up, it was Malarkey who risked his life on D-Day and Hoobler who talked about it in the fist episode and this one.
Ross McCall, who plays Liebgott, is a Scots actor.
"I didn't want to let anybody down." Blithe may have thought he could get out of combat, but when push came to shove, he said that. It was the mindset of practically all of Easy Company. All the fighting men, really. One of the reasons we call them The Greatest Generation.
Hysterical blindness. He was just drinking water and Lt. Spears is a good guy. I really enjoy your discussions. Thank guys.
Speirs much later admitted to Dick Winters that he has killed prisoners, but I don’t think he ever said how many.
It’s definitely a war crime and against protocol. But it did happen in extreme circumstances. Remember that at the time the paratroopers and the beach forces had not yet linked up. The paratroopers were still behind enemy lines.
Something to think about when watching this show. Every episode has a "theme". This episode was about fear and how soldiers deal with it in different ways.
There were soldiers that died 1 min before Armistice in 1918. My great-uncle was marching between Paris up to the trenches, so he was spared. In general, WWII vets never discussed their experience even with family. I did get a few stories out of my grandfather, who was in WWII.
A lot longer than that actually, soldiers kept dying well into 1919 of Spanish Flu (It was like half of all US deaths in that war) and lots stayed in the field as army of occupation. Not to mention the poor bastards that were sent to the Soviet Union in 1919.
Not sure how to spell your name, Ayella, please correct me, but your compassion for Blithe made me emotional. I'm sure by now , yall's new fans have corrected the story concerning Blithe. You have a new following of people, like myself, who are happy to educate you about more than you ever thought there was to know about WW2. My grandpa served in the Pacific and was a POW for three in a half years. I hope y'all will check out the sequel, The Pacific, when you finish this series.
In a interview with one of the men they said that Blithe actually survived. The show got that detail wrong. Blithe recovered went to war in Korea and won a bunch of metals like a bad ass.
The edelweiss thing was a bit of creative license. They didn't actually climb up the alps to get the live flowers, but they did have an embroidered patch on their uniform that was a stylized likeness of an edelweiss.
It was a light infantry thing though. The Mountain troops wore it. So it doesn't make sense that armored infantry was wearing it in the show.
If German Mountain troops found German Paratroops wearing Edelweiss, there would have been a beer hall brawl.
Yes, Blithe survives. One of the few mistakes Band of Brothers makes. Then went on to serve, with distinction in the Korean War. "The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it.”
- Captain Ronald Speirs. He's more than a man of his word and will soon prove it for the entire company. Currahee
I love your “sibling energy” that’s a lovely chaotic touch.
I wish you had shown us the scene with the priest in the middle of the firefight and your reaction.
Although the show got Blithe's death wrong (because the surviving Easy company memebers thought he had died) the part where Winters talks to him in the infirmary and calms him down enough to recover really happened.
I have some of the letters my uncle, a 2nd. Lt. in the 116th Infantry, wrote home from England when he was stationed there preparing for D-Day. He says several times in these letters he didn't think he was going to make it back home. He was right. He almost made it to the beach at Normandy but was killed as he got off the lander. 2 weeks later, to the day,he would have been 24.
I love the little white Pesach Bunny.🐰🐇But you got Lt. Harry Welsh all wrong about his drinking--that was water! Sherman tanks were American--and also used by the British (both armies used the American white star as a marking) They were mechanically reliable, tough, and manufactured in massive quantity. The IDF used surplus Shermans very effectively for years.
Love the reactions guys. Hope you are keeping safe given the circumstances, God bless you and your countrymen
I am loving your handling of this series so far guys! Thanks!
Based on where the Bazooka hit the tank (technically an StuG III), I believe it hit in the area where the driver would be sitting. Since the bottoms of tanks aren’t as armored as the sides or front, the rocket was able to penetrate. The first rocket they fired deflected off of the tank, but the spaling and shrapnel from the rocket impact killed the machine gunner on top of the StuG. Now, with it immobilized, the vehicle can’t raise it’s gun up high enough to hit the infantry on the ground, so the vehicle is pretty much disabled. Unless it gets towed out, it can’t hurt the US soldiers.
The bottom has thinner armor, and the front is where the driver is, and the transmission and drive cogs are also often in the front in tracks of that time. All in all, the underside of the front of a tank is a pretty good place to shoot.
36:10, none of them expected that they were done with the war, they just thought they’d have more time reconstituting the unit and training to integrate replacements, before they were going to be sent back.
Also, left unsaid and unshown, between this episode and the next, they had several times where they were getting ready to go drop into France again, but the Allies were making incredible progress, and every time they got ready for a plane ride and a jump, it was called off because the Allies had overrun the site they were supposed to drop into.
Zeroed means the artillery doesn't have to fire for effect and adjust their fire, they have it already adjusted and dropping it on the position they are aiming at.
Sherman tanks are US made. They are named after General Sherman who was one of the most successful Generals on the Union (or Federal) side of the US Civil War. The USA did export ALOT of these tanks to United Kingdom and Russia as well since we were all allies in WW2
Great reaction, guys. This series is one hell of an emotional rollercoaster, but you will come through it with tremendous respect for our greatest generation. CURRAHEE !!
24:41 The Sherman was a US tank. Mechanically reliable and mass produced.
I remember another reactor had the same problem with spoilers in the comments. She announced that she would no longer read the comments untill the series was finished.
Shermans are American tanks but some were sent to England and were used by many countries on the allies side.
Don't assume that all canteens contain alcohol - their primary purpose is to carry water to prevent dehydration. They're not all running around swigging liquor.
The Blithe is alive comment is on every reaction channel I’ve come across.
I'm not sure what it's called these days, but blithe was going through what's called hysterical blindness. It's when you go through enough stress that your brain basically tells your eyes, "that's enough for now" n shuts them down. That's a very basic explanation but I'm sure you know what I mean.
Nowadays, it's called Conversion Disorder, and hysterical blindness is, I believe, just one of the symptoms.
Blithe didn't survive a plane crash - Meehan's plane went down in flames and everyone died. Blithe just found himself alone where he landed and fell asleep sometime after landing due to the air-sickness pills. When he woke up, as he told Speirs, he took his time trying to hook up with Easy. Also, they never thought that they were going back to England for good - they were just a little disappointed when Lipton told them they were headed back so soon - they were hoping for a little bit longer break. England was where their main base of ops was - they regrouped and re-deployed from there for a time after D-day.
New subscriber from Ireland here.
I'm enjoying your reactions to BoB.
I'm a huge fan of it and check out reactions on youtube on a regular basis.
I only subscribe when the reaction/discussion are genuinely engaging so thank you for that.
Looking forward to future episodes.
Shalom agus Sláinte.
5:24 Being laughed at for standing behind something that is inaccurate in is so familiar to me. My sister does the exact same thing to me. Lol
Tipper, the guy who took a mortar, is the same guy was a talking about getting out of the war unscratched or dying
7:19 Combat is very odd thing. Very hard to describe. Horror, terror and loss of empathy all rolled up into a knot of memories locked in a box deep inside the psyche.
Sherman tanks were manufactured in the United States. The only advantages they had over German tanks were speed and numbers.
Each flower represents a young life, plucked in its prime.
I will stand on a hill and keep saying "Speirs is one of the best soldiers to have ever lived". When I got trained by the commandos (RMC) I had to learn the commando ethos by heart. One of them is cheerfulness in the face of adversity, who knows if push comes to shove I might have to drop in and give a hand, help in the fight and bring the British fighting spirit with me. I aways equate war to a bad storm, the sky goes dark and you stay inside being miserable. Until you finally see the sun starting to peak through the clouds, war is like a storm but eventually like a storm the war will end, it will pass and the feeling when it does will be unmatched. Stay strong and keep your faith close.
You guys should get someone to curate the comments for you. People get really excited about this show and give away all kinds of things that are better to be surprised by.
I read that Blithe actually spotted the sniper that shot him first, but instead of shooting he just yelled 'bang bang' like they did in practice. Too stressed to think I guess.
Funny stuff like that you'd hardly believe it was real if they put it in a movie.
Great Reaction !! Hello from Detroit
" I ain't drunk, I'm just drinking."
24:40 the M4 Sherman was an American tank. They were lend leased out to the British and other Allied nations during and after the war. The Soviets used them as well. Some lend leased Shermans even took part in the Battle of Berlin.
The British did have a special variant of the tank they exclusively used: the famous “Firefly” variant fitted with a British 17 pdr gun on it instead of the normal US 75mm M3 gun. This version was known for being capable of taking down the heavier German tanks thanks to the upgraded gun.
Lt. Welsh hasn't been drinking alcohol from his canteen, that was water. He's clearly also not behaving like someone who was drunk.
Like your videos! From Spain, Am Ysrael Chai! God bless you all. And subscribed right now, of course.
My father was in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division from Feb’41 until Oct’45, and served in North Africa and Europe . He always said that when his unit went overseas to England in early ‘42, he just assumed that he would never make it back home. I think that may have been common among the men.
Sherman tanks were named after a Union General William Tecumseh Sherman. A well known general from the American Civil War.
They were used by all the Allies including the British, although they were American built.
Sherman's are American made medium tanks. The British bought many, beginning in the battle for North Africa.
The actor who played Blithe was British, but the accent he used wasn't right for the actual man who was from Philadelphia, but it was the only 'American' accent he knew. But if you look up a photo of the real Albert Blithe in uniform before they shipped out, the resemblance is uncanny.
When Easy was taken off the line and sent to England they did not think they were done with the war and going home. They knew they were receiving some R and R to recover from combat and would be sent back to the the front lines. at some point.
Enjoying your reactions to this great series.
Guaranteed you’ll love Spiers soon
Girl looks so stressed. You remind me of my mom 😅
You guys should read the book Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose on which this mini-series is based.
You've seen Fassbender already. He plays Christenson, the soldier in Ep1 who drank water from his canteen and had to do the 12 miles march again.
Shermans are American tanks. Great reactions so far, seven more episodes.
15:17 Hysterical blindness is a real thing. It's caused by psychological trauma. He wasn't faking it anymore than Moon Knight is faking his other personalities.
Love your reactions. ❤ from California
Well done. I really enjoy your reactions. Wish I was there with you.
There are a few errors in this episode about Albert Blithe. As others have mentioned, he survived the war. Two members of Easy Company went to the funeral of an Albert Blithe in 1948, but after the film came out, it was discovered that the funeral was for a different soldier with the same name. Another error is that Blithe was from South Philadelphia, like Sgt. Bill Guarnere, not the American South, like his accent would indicate. And he was not a quiet, gentle soul, but a tough guy who was persuaded to enlist to get out of the gang life of South Philadelphia. His own son called him a "thug" in the book A Company of Heroes by Marcus Brotherton. He served with valor in the Army until 1967 until he died from a burst ulcer, brought on by alcoholism. He did have the hysterical blindless incident but recovered to be a good soldier for Easy Company. One other note: One of the survivors of Easy Company wrote a memoir and described visiting the set of the miniseries. He said a tall blond actor approached him for insights into the soldier’s character. “He wasn’t very liked by his comrades, was he?” The old soldier simply said “No.” The only two actors with noticeably blond hair and prominent roles in the series are Lt. Buck Compton, who was beloved by the men, and Albert Blithe.
While a great episode this one of the few times the show messed up but not for anything malicious just wrong person, blithe survived but didn’t get sent back to easy instead he stayed in army and fought in Korea earning a bronze star (third highest before medal of honor) for his bravery. He would pass away in 1967, in Germany due to burst ulcer, and his kids and fellow soldiers said that the TV portrayal was wrong blithe was a brave and never showed fear throughout the war. I guess the episode was trying to show how different soldiers deal with the stress of war and how they try to survive it
Sherman tanks or M4 (the Sherman name is more post war naming then during war) was an American built and designed from the lessons learned from the M3 lee (or grant for the British) and was built in the thousands and later modified. We actually gave the early Israeli defense forces E8 Shermans (or easy eights) which they modified to the super Sherman variant this was used to great effect in 1956-66 wars but was later retired and replaced with the centurions
I like how the caption said put sulfur on the wound,that would really hurt.It's sulfa,short for sulfonamide an antibiotic
Yep, it was Buck. I have not been able to find anything to verify the story of Speirs murdering a group of prisoners on D-Day. I did come across an account that Speirs may have killed, or ordered killed, a single prisoner because they were not able to send him back to the rear to be detained and it risked jeopardizing their safety. Maybe the story grew from that. As others have noted, General Taylor ordered no prisoners be taken because the paratroopers would be behind enemy lines and there was no way to hold them (that order was not always followed.) While the legality of such an order may have been dubious, it does happen, sometimes because it's felt there's no choice. I once read about a U.S. commando team from MACV-SOG in Laos during the Vietnam War who were far behind the lines during a mission and unexpectedly came across a communist scout who they took prisoner. They decided they couldn't keep him without risking giving their presence away and compromising both their safety and the mission, so they told him they had to execute him, which amazingly he understood. The prisoner understood the situation and one of the South Vietnamese commandos with them dispatched him. The movie "Lone Survivor" set in Afghanistan deals with this same dilemma and the consequences that can result.
Hope it's not a spoiler, but since you expressed admiration for the medics their role will be explored in more detail later on.
There's an interview with Winters where he says he called Spiers and asked him if he'd be okay with them including the story in the series and Spiers flat out said he didn't care and that it indeed true that he shot those prisoners.
Harry Welsh wasn't drinking alcohol in those scenes (you may be confusing him with Nixon) but he was famous for being a tough guy, totally willing to fight anytime.
Ok when someone offers the flask and they decline like Blythe did, its because its booze...
M-4 Sherman Tanks are completely American made(Except for the Grizzly varient that was made by Canada) the British however chose to name American Lend Lease Tanks after American Civil War Generals. Earlier in the War M-3 Lee/Grant Tanks arrived Africa and allowed the British to defeat Italian and Pre war made German Tanks(including Panzer IIIs), but were unable to effectively deal with Panzer IVs, the Sherman was essentially made to deal with Panzer IVs, while not well armored or particularly well gunned(by late war Standards) the Sherman was by far the fastest and most reliable medium of the war. A sherman breaking down from Transmission problems was almost unheard of, and even if it did, a new power package could be exchanged in about an hour. And they built 49,000 of them. The last war Shermans were in use was the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.
if you can't drink hard liquor every day, there's no point in going to war. Although some Sherman tanks were built in Canada, the design and initial manufacture of Shermans was all a U.S. thing.
Ok that's twice I'm hearing you say that you think Lt. Harry Welsh is drinking alcohol. Although he wasn't afraid to take a drink, he's not drinking alcohol from his canteen. That's water. Nixon would be much more likely to put Scotch in his canteen.
'this guy, someone please notice that's he's drinking', sigh, He's not drinking. That's three times you've said that now, sheesh. He doesn't even look drunk.
Ahhhh, what did you see on the screen that made you think Blythe was on Lt. MeHans plane??? He was not.
This is not a spoiler. Many of these actors got the chance to meet the actual men they were portraying. All of them who did are fiercely loyal to those men's memories, and their families, and many stay in touch with them to this day. The actors have reunions every year or so and some of the families make it to them too. To a man, the actors have talked about how this show, learning about these men, meeting them in some cases, has changed their entire lives.
The canteens contain water, not alcohol; except for Nixon.
A lot of them started smoking during the war because the companies Lucky Strike and Camel sent packs over to the troops in care packages.
No, Shermans are American tanks. We supplied the British with them also, but in this case the U.S.Army is using them.
Lt. Welsh drank but he wasn't drunk or a drunk, he's the one that ran up to the machine gunner in the building window in Cerentan and threw a grenade inside. Harry was one of their best officers. Lt Speirs is a badass he isn't scary he's a pure soldier.
Another great reaction! I feel that this series just gets better as you become more familiar with the soldiers of Easy Company. BTW: Is there a story behind the plushies?
Also (and more importantly): Happy Pesach!
My favorite episode ;-) Best combat, less perfect than prior episode. It is necessary to take combat troops off the line or they get burned out.
The M4 Sherman tank was American made and provided to the allies (Britain, Russia) starting before America's entry into the war.
You have seen Fassbender. It’s Christensen, the guy who drank from his water bottle in episode 1.
31:24 You can sniff out good officers and good NCO's from the get-go. That leadership quality is not taught in books. As an enlisted man you just know. I was a medic in Iraq, in combat and got the CMB.
No spoilers, there are many future episodes, for one you MAY need a blanket. I don't how, but one episode can make the suggestable feel the cold, even in a well heated room.
The Sherman Tank is from the USA but the British also used them. Named after a general in the USA civil war, 1861 - 1865.
"Lieutenant Sobal hates us sir" is Denver 'Bull' Randelman.
Because Sherman was a cavalry guy, I think, and they were like the mobile units of their day. Patton also started off in the army as a cavalry guy if I remember.
Loved it 😊 thanks for sharing with us😊👍✌️🇺🇸🇮🇱
22:23 זה היה מהלך חכם - לנסות לפגוע עם המטול בתחתית של הטנק, איפה שהפלדה הרבה יותר דקה מהחזית.