101st Airborne Liberators on D Day: Sainte-Marie-du-Mont Then and Now
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- čas přidán 20. 07. 2023
- The 101st Airborne Division jumped into Normandy on D-Day near the town of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and they wasted no time liberating the town.
Over the following days numerous photos and films were taken by the men of the Signal Corps units documenting the Allied Landings in Normandy as part of Operation Overlord.
The footage and photos taken in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont makes for some great Then and Now comparisons of this historical French town.
#thenandnow #101stairborne airborne #ddaytour #normandy #history #historydocumentary #historyfacts #bandofbrothers
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Thanks for this. My wife and I were there in Ste Marie du Mont in 1994 with my father in law who came ashore on UTAH Beach on D Day with the 531 Engineer Shore Regiment. When we got to Ste Marie du Mont and when he saw the church he started chuckling. My wife asked him why. He said he recalled there was an outdoor privy right outside the church door and there was an American GI relieving himself there. The upper part of his body was visible. He was wearing an appropriated civilian top hat and every time he saw a female walk by he would tip his hat to her. He said “you know, I haven’t thought about that in 50 years!”
Haha, I love reading those sorts of stories! Soldiers making the best of dire situations! I glad you were able to travel there and spend time in the area where your Father served and hear those stories with him. Must have been an amazing experience!
Thank you so very much. All these years later and the liberated still celebrate that day. Let Freedom Reign!
Im from the United States and it should be remembered that the French were our first allies, both in the War for Independence and the War of 1812. So our nation owed to the the French to invade and free them, along with our second ally, Great Britain. Ironically, I was born and live in one of the two British colonies which did not revolt against King George the 3rd, but we should have. The two colonies were British Ohio which was north of where I live, and British West Florida where I live. In fact, the first boundary is just down the street and I live against the Natchez Trace National Historic Parkway which in about 15 minutes I can walk through the woods and to the historic site where British West Florida is commemorated. The boundary was later moved north to where Mississippi and Alabama (one colony) have their northern borders with the state of Tennessee. George 3rd awarded his loyal Scottish troops well before the revolution with land grants in British West Florida (which did to expand all the way to the Gulf of Mexico which was Spanish territory) so many of the towns in Mississippi and Alabama are named after English and Scottish towns. George decided during the revolution that he needed more troops, as the revolution took place during an actual world war, and so he took the Bristish soldiers out of West Florida to use elsewhere. They had been used to keep the Spanish out. But when he took the troops out, the Spanish moved in and there were lots of small battles between the citizens of West Florida and the Spanish, so much so that by the end of the Revolution, the Spanish were out already. But at the treaty of Paris which brought an end to many wars, George the Traitor gave West Florida to Spain! This infuriated the people who then declared West Florida and republic now known as the Republic of West Florida. This existed for some two decades when it asked to join the United States which accepted it as not one, but two territories before Mississippi and then Alabama became states.
There's something quite eerie about seeing those brave men stood on the exact spot but I find it absolutely fascinating, love your videos,
Thankyou so much 😊
It always brings these places into stark contrast when I’m there knowing what happened and being stood on that exact spot!
Thanks you for watching!
Thank you for all the amizing work, research, $, and time that you put into this channel for us!
It's much appreciated. 👍NJ
You’re most welcome! It’s my passion to do it and to document these incredible places! Thank you for watching!
I wonder looking at those photos which survived the war and those that did.
@@WW2Wayfinderyou know it's really awesome to see some site still on original condition... 😱
@@mulkanmulkan5620 it’s great isn’t it to know that time and greed haven’t taken their toll on the place!
Love your channel. As a Canadian, I loved seeing the Canadian flag flying with the others at the monument. Would love to stand in that square where such heroic men once stood. Our world is much less of a place without them. We must never forget.
Thank you! It’s quite the place to be, especially in June! Thank you for watching!
Bonjour le Canada 🇨🇦 de France 🇫🇷 nous nous souvenons ❤
Love your shows as you bring this amazing part of WW2 history back to life,thank you.
You’re most welcome! Thank you for watching!
Great piece of work mate!
Very interesting story, nice editing and photos.
Keep up the great job ❤😊
Thank you! Sainte Marie du Mont is such a great place and a real party atmosphere during the D-Day commemorations! Thank you for watching!
You certainly have fresh photos and knowing the different manner of troops is a huge plus. It give me goosebumps seeing photos next to their original buildings. Awesome.
Thank you! I’ve been reading about the 101st in Normandy for a long time now so it’s just great to be able to share some that with likeminded people and hopefully bring something new to CZcams. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks again for watching!
This is awesome brother. My Dad was here. As an M P ,he had many a story for me. Even brought home a Germany pistols.
The Greatest Generation.
Oh wow! Amazing that he was able to bring those pistols home!
Thank you for watching 😃
I wish my uncle was still alive to see this video that you made. He was in the 101st and told me he was in this town. We had the conversation back in the mid-nineties, and at the time I told him that I was not familiar with St. Marie Du Mont. He gave me a sideways smile that told me that I was just another knucklehead. The war ended for him after being wounded at Bastogne and receiving the Bronze Star. Furthermore, he went on to fight in Korea and then retiring from the Army in the 70s. He was a great guy and I miss him very much. A real man's man.
Thank you for sharing your Uncles story! If you want to know more about Saint Marie Du Mont I’d recommend the books Mark Bando has written about the 101st during their time in Normandy as they are excellent. They also cover Market Garden and the actions at Bastogne too!
Will do. Thank you.
@@WW2Wayfinder
In Oct of 2004 I had the honor of traveling to Normandy with some members of the 506th PIR, Co. E, aka Band of Brothers. We went every place they did, starting in England, and met many wonderful people. It was like traveling with rock stars. It was a small group. The stories and anecdotes were wonderful. It was the trip of a lifetime! They are all gone now, but I will never forget these men. They were true gentlemen and deserve the title, "The Greatest Generation". I have many mementos and wonderful memories from that trip.
Oh wow!!!! I can only imagine how amazing that must have been! To travel with those men and spend time with them in those iconic places would be out of this world! Very pleased you got to have such an incredible opportunity!
@@WW2Wayfinder Yes, it truly was the trip of a lifetime! Crossed the English channel on a ferry landing near Omaha beach. We went across Europe, visiting every place the 506th Co. E went. Thousands of people in Eindhoven celebration, to Eagle's Nest and Bastogne, only to mention a few. We were treated like royalty wherever we went. Awesome!
Историю нужно помнить, чтобы не совершать ошибок в будущем! Спасибо за обзор места где бравые ребята остались навечно сторожить историю будущих поколений.
Absolutely agree! Thank you for taking the time to watch!
Thank you for the trouble making this video! Its so relaxing watching your videos after a long day!
My pleasure 😊
Great job as always 👍.My aunt (R.IP.) lived with my uncle in the summer in an camper near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, and she was always sending postcards of the place.
Oh wow! It’s a beautiful village and surrounding area. The history clearly adds a huge attraction but as a holiday destination in its own right it’s beautiful
Excellent edition. Very informative. I really liked the quick view of the patches and gear as you mentioned them. While I'm sure everyone knows the 101st the others we helpful and fleshed out the video. 👍👍
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the episode. It’s such a great place to visit and so much history almost everywhere you look!
What a lovely Normandy village. Thanks for making these. You're the Winston Ramsey/JP Pallud of the digital age :)
Thank you! That’s very kind of you to say so! Sainte Marie du Mont is a stunning place to spend an afternoon.
Excellent footage. Learn so much from you. Really enjoy seeing the then and nows!
Really enjoy the little known back-stories you throw in along the way. Couple that with the lesser seen images you present, and the fact that you allow a lot of breathing space in your video framing, I gotta say I'm a fan of your ''channel with a difference''. Keep gettin after it buddy. 💥
I have watched quite a few of these now, and i think they are amazing. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed. 👍
Thank you and welcome to the channel! Lots more still to come too!
Brilliant video! Thank you for producing these videos. 😊
You’re most welcome! Thank you for watching!
Just a brilliant presentation! Thank you Sir!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for taking the time to watch. Saint Marie Du Mont is a beautiful village and the atmosphere on the 5th June was amazing!
Just brilliant thank you !!!
You're most welcome, thanks for taking the time to watch!
Wow ❤❤ thank you so much for this,& thank you so much for keeping history & the memories of these brave souls alive,we shall never ever forget ❤❤
Thank you for watching! I just hope it helps keep the memory of this generation alive and maybe encourages the next generation to take an interest in what they did for us!
Fascinating, thanks very much.
You’re most welcome, thank you for watching!
Such a fascinating video, thank you for capturing this so well and brining such special history back to life. It's so nice to see how little these places have changed, you can really immerse yourself in the location and it's unique and precious past. It really helps you remember what these guys did in times so very different. Thank you for your research!
Thank you for taking the time to watch as I really appreciate it. Saint Marie Du Mont is a wonder place with such rich Airborne history and the atmosphere was amazing when I visited on the 5th June. Definitely one of my favourite places to visit when I’m there!
Another excellent video. Matching images then and now makes thing much clearer. And the image of Easy Company men and Forrest Guth is one I have not seen before. Keep up the great work.
Glad you enjoyed it! Sainte Marie du Mont is a stunning village to visit and coupled with the history it’s a wonderful place to be!
Thanks again for watching!
Interesting to see the 377th PFAB mentioned as I served as a medic with the 2/377th FA in what was then West Germany 50 years ago.
It was a Lance Missile unit activated in the spring of 1974 and then disbanded in 1987. The Battalion is active again and has returned to its Airborne roots first as part of the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and presently with the 2nd Brigade, 11th Airborne Division, Ft. Richardson, AK.
Oh cool! I wasn’t aware they were still active as an Airborne unit! That’s great to hear their legacy lives on today! Thank you!
Thank you for a really awesome video .
You’re most welcome! Thank you for watching!
Excellent, thank you, I really enjoy your videos
Thank you!
Awesome Sir.... thank you very much
You’re most welcome! Thank you for watching!
super vidéo, jolie travail merci a vous de nous remémorer les endroits d'avants, et de maintenant .
You’re most welcome and thank you for watching!!😃
Thank you for showing all your videos to me, and to think I was just three years old at this time. ❤
You’re most welcome! Glad you enjoyed this episode!
nice video. thanks for sharing
Thank you!
Your videos are fantastic thanks for all the hard work put in 👍🏻
You’re most welcome, thank you for taking the time to watch them!
A great episode, thanks for this excellent video. I have been there around June 4th this year and its a great place to be. Missed the bullet holes, that was a great tip, I have to see that next year! The traffic in the town is almost too much, though.
Defiantly check out the church next time you visit! The information boards around the village are well worth a read too, one I should have covered was about a map that flew out a window only to be hidden by one of the villagers!
Hope you’re able to make it back there for the 80th!
Thank you again Sir for wonderful videos!
You’re most welcome!
Loving your vids. Giving us some great locations to visit in November.
Thank you and enjoy your visit later in the year! Sainte Marie Du Mont is a wonderful place to be.
Great video!
Thanks mate!
Thank you!! Please note that many won't take the time to say these words but I'm sure that the sentiments still exists.
It’s appreciated! Hopefully it helps in some small way to keep the memory of that generation alive.
Glad to see
Thank you
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
I appreciate the research behind these videos. I have discovered your channel some days ago and I'm already impressed by the quality of your content. You have won a subscriber :)
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the rest of the channel and still so much more to come (a lot still awaiting editing!)
Thanks again for taking the time to watch!
Great vid mate. Some iconic shots there 👏🏻🪖
Thanks Steve! Never a bad day in Sainte Marie du Mont! I much prefer it to Sainte Mère Église these days, as it feels more informal and less commercialised.
@@WW2Wayfinder definitely on my list to visit is Marie du mont next time get out in Normandy 🪖🍻
Bloody brilliant as usual!!! :)
Thanks you!!!! Glad you enjoyed it!
These are all great. Please keep doing them.
Thank you! And don’t worry still lots more to come!
Great stuff.
Amazing vid ❤
Thank you!
Love the mark 2 cow in 1944 issue Normandy dairy country camo.
🤣 worth thousands now to the right collector!
Thank you sir.
You’re most welcome
Wow! I love this! Thanks for this great content
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! Several more Then and Now episodes from Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge on my channel if you have time to watch!
@@WW2Wayfinder I do indeed! You’ve earned a new subscription from me!
Thank you and welcome to the club! Hope you enjoy the other videos I’ve made and still so much more to come😃
Amazing to see how the celebrate the event. With the vehicles and uniforms--they appreciate their freedom-we should all celebrate that! Great episode! ❤
It’s an incredible sight each year to witness and one I’ll never tire of seeing! Thank you for watching!
@@WW2Wayfinder I wish I could go, it’s not very likely I’ll get that chance…but you can bet if I do that I will!!!!!
@@1psychofan I hope you’re able to. It’s such a beautiful part of the world and it’ll be incredible next year for the 80th Anniversary.
@@WW2Wayfinder right? That would be WONDERFUL! Who knows but that the unexpected will happen ❤️
@@1psychofan I’ll keep everything crossed for you!
Brilliant series
Thank you!
The period vehicles and troops walking around make this vid even better.
The atmosphere was amazing! Sainte Marie du Mont is my favourite village in the US Airborne sector during the commemorations
In America, June 6 rolls around every year with little to no fanfare, except for those of us who are history buffs. It’s great to see that momentous day is still remembered and celebrated in Normandy despite so few survivors remaining after 80 years. Those men need to be recognized and remembered for their sacrifice, always.
This coming year in Normandy will be an exceptional year for it! There’s so much going on it’s unreal! The amount of C-47’s, armour and other displays planned is going to be incredible so I don’t believe it’ll be easily overlooked here for many years to come fortunately!
@@WW2Wayfinder I wish I could be there to see it. I’m saving right now for a European trip with stops at London, Normandy, and Milan, Italy.
Best day I had in Normandy was the first of four days; Angoville, St. Marie du Mont, Brecourt Manor (with a chat with one of the de la Villiavielle’s)
Fantastic! It’s a beautiful part of Normandy isn’t it, especially combined with the history there!
Thank you very much for a fascinating video. From south africa❤
You’re most welcome! Thank you for watching!
Excellent will be there soon, fascinating the photographs, the French like to leave things alone, so for us History buffs a blessing, in England it's more difficult
Thanks for sharing God bless you brother so amazing!!✌️🇺🇲
You’re most welcome!
Excellent. Looks like you were there when we were. We like to hunt then and now scenes as well. That 101st one with the girls by the stone post would be a tough one to ID. Good eye!
Thank you! It was a great atmosphere there on the 5th wasn’t it! Can’t wait to go back!
It’s great to see somebody covering St Marie du mont as it often gets less attention than St Mere Eglise. My great grandfather is supposedly in the photo taken infront of the water pump so it’s nice to see the town get a mention. Loved being there last year and standing in those famous photo spots around the main town centre
Oh wow, I hope it is him in the photo!
It’s a beautiful place isn’t it and I’m glad you’ve been able to visit there.
At 6:35, the motorcycle correctly has a Thompson .45 submachine gun in a leather holster.
It’s great to see the period correct details on the vehicles isn’t it!
4th ID “Steadfast and. Loyal”
This great thank you very much.i hope make video about pegasus bridge on night of d-day I was with cdn ab regt I commando 1976-80 lots talk this.i read lots books and sas send lots title books read when I was with regiment.thank you for what doing this is great.calgary alberta canada.
Thank you for watching! Don’t worry lots more from Normandy to come after next June but lots from Gold, Juno and Sword areas to come!
🥺🥹😇🙏🇹🇭Thank you for sharing vdo..
BTW...the old blue car appears to be a 1955 Ford. Kinda surprised to see that sitting there.
Amazing work I wonder how you managed to match the photo's to the same location ?
I find the images very haunting and wonder what it must have been like having to face day by day if it was there last day on earth.
Just lots of research, reading and some help from Google Maps! Time in reconnaissance is seldom wasted as they say!
@@WW2Wayfinder Google maps are very useful for forward planning saves a lot of leg work.
that church tower is the only one in at least that part of Normandy which is round at the top rather than pointed. It was a landmark for the GIs and the Navy. Even though there were German observers &/or snipers up in the tower, unlike all the other towers in the area, the GI's were told not just blow the top off it and a running gun battle took place in and around the church. When we were there in 2013 our tour guide kept refering us to that tower as we rode around. Many of the other churches in the area had post D-Day photos on display and sure enough all the towers had been destroyed. If you are watching these videos, you need to go there and see for yourself.
It’s a beautiful church isn’t it and so distinctive. I also think it’s the highest in the area thanks to its location.
Glad you’ve been able to see it for yourself and visit those iconic areas in that part of Normandy! Thanks for watching.
As always..👍👍
Thank you!!
Isn't that the very church where they found the dead paratrooper hanging from his parachute the very same paratrooper that the song blood on the risers was created? Or was it a different building that they found that guy on?
Le parachutiste , c'est le cloché de St mère l'église
you can just look at the airborne guys in the picture and see how lean and mean they are in that front row in comparison to the infantry in the back. Just a little tougher. 2:57
They were a breed apart! True warriors all of them!
Just once I'd like to be there for D-Day all geared up.
Hope you can make it for the 80th as next year is going to be incredible
@@WW2Wayfinder #Bucketlist LOL My wife and I are actually considering moving to the area from the States!
damn good canal
Thank you!
.My dad was on Normandy, he was in the war 4 years
May I ask what unit he served with?
Bro i love that solder in the truck i mean the dog
He was a good doggo!
♥️♥️♥️👍👍👍 Une reconnaissance éternelle pour ces jeunes soldats américains et alliés morts pour la liberté de l’Europe. Leur mémoire reste gravée dans nos cœurs. De véritables héros qui ont tout sacrifié pour notre avenir en perdant le leur. 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸♥️♥️♥️🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
An eternal gratitude for these young American soldiers and allies who died for the freedom of Europe. Their memory remains engraved in our hearts. True heroes who sacrificed everything for our future by losing theirs. 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💞💞💞🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Do you know of a good book with pictures like these from the war?
Any of the Michel De Trez books
Do you know where the first battalion of the 506 landed? It’s very important to me.
It depends on which elements of the 1st Bn. But as a Bn they were planned to be dropped on Drop Zone C to the West of Sainte Marie Du Mont.
Is that where the bunker is?
The confessional… as if it happened moments ago.
Incredible isn’t it! Thank you for watching
@@WW2Wayfinder I have to wonder if a priest or a layman or even a soldier was hiding in there or if the spray of bullets was just a precautionary clearing..
essa airborne foram fodas
All gave some.
Some gave all.
Some have called these guys losers and suckers
Hi I'm very aware of this
The reason it wasent the 5th weather ..
Britain declared war on Germany on Sept ..after Germany invaded Poland 1st Sept..
All the Allies are heroes ..❤
Are the reenactors mostly French?
The majority are, or at least we’re this year. Sometimes big contingents from the UK head over but this year it appeared to be mostly French.
What about the 327th Glider Infantry? That was my uncle Glen Carder 's unit.
They are mentioned! Did you watch it?
Ok je comprends pas l'anglais, mais je pense que le votre est avec un accent allemand, je me trompes ?!
I’m English, but if you need them there should be French subtitles you can select to help watch it 😃
@@WW2Wayfinder ?!
@@WW2Wayfinder j'ai compris seulement : i'm english
these soldiers from uk and us war giving there live to liberate eu plus au nz and meny orders regards allan petersen dk
Dobrze że świętują, upamiętniają tych dzielnych żołnierzy. Przynajmniej uświadomią sobie ze to krew i czyjeś życie dalo im tą możliwość. Cieszę się że Kościół ocalał i ma się dobrze.
Thank you for watching and yes agree completely! The church is very beautiful as well and quite distinctive in that area!
@@WW2Wayfinder Francja, córa Kościoła Katolickiego. Oby budynek przetrwał w swoim przeznaczeniu. Żeby nikomu nie przyszlo zamienić go w meczet lub inny hotel - kawiarnię.
Next time in a church, remove your hat dude....😊
I know, sadly I think the state of my hair would be far more offensive!
@@jjlynchee961 What is disrespectful in a Catholic church?
'It is not appropriate to wear shorts or t-shirts at Mass or dress immodestly. Men must never wear a hat or cap while women are allowed to wear something covering their heads. Sunglasses are also inappropriate in the church unless for health reasons. Please do not eat or drink in the church.'
You're obviously not a true Catholic if you don't follow your own rules. These are taken directly from the churches own website....
The sement still until now but the human had gone.