WW2 Historian James Holland Breaks Down Call of Duty: WW2

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  • čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
  • He's back! Historian James Holland breaks down campaigns from Call of Duty: WW2 His book, Brother in Arms, is available to buy now: bit.ly/3ZAk2n4
    The Sherwood Rangers were one of the great tank regiments. They had learned their trade the hard way, in the burning deserts of North Africa. From D-Day onwards, they were in the thick of the action til the war's end. They and their Sherman tanks covered thousands of miles and endured some of the fiercest fighting in Western Europe. Their engagements stretch from the Normandy beaches to the bridges at Eindhoven. They were the first British unit into Germany, grinding across the Siegfried Line and on into the Nazi heartland.
    Through compelling eye-witness testimony and James Holland's expert analysis, Brothers In Arms brings to vivid life the final bloody scramble across Europe and gives the most powerful account to date of what it was really like to fight in the dying days of World War Two.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Komentáře • 255

  • @oliverboisen7475
    @oliverboisen7475 Před rokem +1418

    Okay. We legit all need a James Holland historical gaming channel 😂

    • @alejandroyepez
      @alejandroyepez Před rokem +11

      Did not i need it until today

    • @K_-_-_-_K
      @K_-_-_-_K Před rokem +16

      Need him & Al on hearts of iron 4 :D

    • @oliverboisen7475
      @oliverboisen7475 Před rokem +3

      @@K_-_-_-_K Dan Snow aswell

    • @taylorfusher2997
      @taylorfusher2997 Před rokem +1

      German WW2 5cm mortar shell:
      Shell Impact blast Kill-zone radius: 7 feet 7.732 inches
      German WW2 8cm mortar shell:
      Shell Impact blast Kill-zone radius: 10 feet 7.732inches
      German stick grenade:
      blast Kill-zone radius: 4 feet 2.394 inches

    • @FlippedMercedesW12
      @FlippedMercedesW12 Před rokem

      ​@@taylorfusher2997 and?...

  • @haydenhodgson8716
    @haydenhodgson8716 Před rokem +490

    James has a way of explaining things that is just unrivalled, you can sense his passion for history in his every word

    • @taylorfusher2997
      @taylorfusher2997 Před rokem +2

      German WW2 5cm mortar shell:
      Shell Impact blast Kill-zone radius: 7 feet 7.732 inches
      German WW2 8cm mortar shell:
      Shell Impact blast Kill-zone radius: 10 feet 7.732inches
      German stick grenade:
      blast Kill-zone radius: 4 feet 2.394 inches

  • @friendlym1rifle
    @friendlym1rifle Před 9 měsíci +26

    1:01 fun fact: the soldiers were actually prohibited from smoking on the landing craft due to fire regulations. You can even see “no smoking” written on the ramp in a photo from D Day.

  • @itsmybridgenow6329
    @itsmybridgenow6329 Před rokem +123

    I've rapidly reached the conclusion that I would pay actual money to see this specific man play more of this game

  • @AndrewNiccol
    @AndrewNiccol Před rokem +315

    It's too short, you should make him play whole game start fo finish, I can watch this for 10 hours.

  • @jamyskis
    @jamyskis Před 9 měsíci +7

    "Is that my leg? Oh, no, that's someone else's leg." - That's the point where I was just piddling myself laughing.

  • @vinnieg6161
    @vinnieg6161 Před rokem +81

    I love how he's admiring the detail on some ancient phone or something while the Germans are shooting at him ='D

  • @EliteGhost008
    @EliteGhost008 Před rokem +57

    I laughed when he said " I'm afraid I'm going to get addicted to this". Call of duty can be very addictive.

  • @EliteGhost008
    @EliteGhost008 Před rokem +401

    It's impressive to discover that COD ww2 kept to historical facts even though the game story is fictional.

    • @edm240b9
      @edm240b9 Před rokem +34

      There’s some neat historically accurate points in the game. The most impressive one being that they used the actual radio callsigns for the US 1st Infantry Division. When talking on the radio, they use the callsign “Dagwood White”, which tells us they are part of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment.

    • @jonathansoberano282
      @jonathansoberano282 Před rokem +14

      Yes, better than vanguard which is shit

    • @TheClassicWorld
      @TheClassicWorld Před rokem +4

      Unless you get to the online madness, of course. Madness being a key word, there, sadly.
      P.S. Many novels, movies, and games are pretty accurate in various ways, despite being fictional. This itself is not the barrier. It's more a question of (a) talent (designers); (b) agenda/purpose; and (c) gameplay.
      The moment they let you be 'female' in Call of the Duty is the moment they really gave up on reality. Actually, I think the latest ones let you be some kind of wolf, super non-binary or whatever, like Halo? I'd have to check.
      I remember COD4 being a great one back in 2008-2010 or so.

    • @edm240b9
      @edm240b9 Před rokem +12

      @@TheClassicWorld buddy, CoD: Finest Hour let you play as a female sniper in that game. CoD 3 featured a female resistance character. I’m not saying the Vanguard campaign is good, but this idea that women didn’t have a role in combat in WWII is just poisonous. The OSS and SOE recruited several women for clandestine operations, the USSR utilized female tankers and pilots, you had female resistance fighters in France, Italy, Poland, the Philippines, etc. Hell, some women in the last days of the war were even awarded the Iron Cross in Germany, with one being awarded to a woman who led held off a Russian armored counter attack with Panzerfausts fired by school children.
      Even in the noncombatant roles they faced, there were plenty of times women were under fire. From the UK’s women searchlight operators being targeted by German bombers during the Blitz, to the nurses under fire at the Anzio beachhead, many service women were killed during the war, all whilst trying to save the lives of the men fighting on the ground.

    • @TheClassicWorld
      @TheClassicWorld Před rokem +2

      @@edm240b9 Well, I think there were some female resistance fighters (more so, spies, on both sides), but I meant as a general matter across the entire game.
      But, I did not know that about Finest Hour.
      I know that you could only play as male in COD4, MW2, and so forth. :)

  • @_733t
    @_733t Před rokem +4

    "I've just been hit by a German..."
    I kinda of want to make that my new notification sound.
    It's funny watching a 40-50 year old man discover the joy of gaming for seemingly the first time

  • @j0njn
    @j0njn Před rokem +170

    Being an avid listener to the podcast he has with Al Murray, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, I’m pretty sure this is what would really happen: he’d stop in the middle of combat to point out interesting features 😂
    (Big fan of his books, too. Good mix of the overall picture and the individual stories of some of the people involved.)

    • @roelmartinvandervelde9407
      @roelmartinvandervelde9407 Před rokem +5

      Yes exactly 😂 "Defend yourself James!"

    • @alexperkins9990
      @alexperkins9990 Před rokem +4

      Hey Jon, I'm also a long term WHW listener. I would love to see him and AL play Hearts of Iron 4. It's a grand strategy game where you control a country from Strategic and Operational level. You really develop an appreciation of "If I spend shipping doing this then I have to sacrifice doing something else... and I have to protect them which means my navy has to be withdrawn from somewhere else... oh and is my expeditionary force adequately supplied?... etc"
      Can you imagine.

    • @yankee9niner400
      @yankee9niner400 Před rokem +4

      Brothers in Arms is one of the best books I have ever read.

    • @qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm3937
      @qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm3937 Před rokem +2

      @@alexperkins9990 100% that’s Al’s kind of game

  • @rayvestrayvene5376
    @rayvestrayvene5376 Před rokem +57

    James Holland is the best. Great Historian.

  • @Normally_aspirated
    @Normally_aspirated Před rokem +22

    This is so much fun seeing him geek out about how realistic and immersive video games can be

  • @mateusbrown4215
    @mateusbrown4215 Před rokem +47

    Please make this a series and have him play through all the game missions! Incredible content from one of my favorite historians!

  • @chandlersampson
    @chandlersampson Před rokem +38

    James is a treasure.

  • @Wedsheport
    @Wedsheport Před rokem +36

    This is excellent, I could watch a whole series of these.

  • @RUSH2112RUSH
    @RUSH2112RUSH Před rokem +3

    How refreshing to have someone of my generation, I'm 59, break down games such as this and not complain because it's not quite as graphically impressive as their favourite system/PC. I'm lucky enough to have owned most mainstream systems from the Atari VCS onwards and have never felt the need to denigrate another rival system, whilst good graphics are appreciated I don't lose sleep over pixel count or ray tracing e.t.c
    As an aside I have read many of James Holland's books, and without exception they were all excellent, if ever a name is a guarantee of quality, his is.

  • @ashhawk2346
    @ashhawk2346 Před rokem +30

    This could have been longer, also was massively suprised to see this was made by Penguin Books 😂 wasn't expecting that!

  • @hermanjacobs4425
    @hermanjacobs4425 Před rokem +9

    I played the game before and honestly I think the first level still remains one of the most difficult levels of the game for me. The fact you have little to no cover while moving forward under heavy enemy fire is just a suicidal manoeuvre.

  • @matts5247
    @matts5247 Před rokem +3

    I LOVE JAMES HOLLAND favorite historian

  • @lukeclayton8771
    @lukeclayton8771 Před rokem +1

    James’ knowledge is incredible! Pleasure to watch

  • @vtrix4925
    @vtrix4925 Před rokem +2

    When James get excited at the start of the game made me smile

  • @JS-gc7kf
    @JS-gc7kf Před rokem +13

    Show him the older COD games like the original, World at War, and United Offensive. He's going to have a blast!

    • @dodopod
      @dodopod Před rokem +1

      MoH too, while they're at it.

    • @ziggypop79
      @ziggypop79 Před 2 měsíci

      Yeah that’s the best one for me

  • @gonzalesrafael22
    @gonzalesrafael22 Před rokem +1

    love these types of videos. you sort of wish you had to with you while playing and chiming in with all the details that you wish you knew as a history fan when playing a game like this.

  • @heeggie
    @heeggie Před rokem +6

    would love to have seen his reaction to some of the other levels and especially the epilogue POW camp

  • @cadejohnson3219
    @cadejohnson3219 Před rokem

    Love this guy, need more of these for sure

  • @warsandmilitaria
    @warsandmilitaria Před rokem +11

    I love James Holland. He is in a lot of cool videos.

  • @UnknownUnknown-uc5ty
    @UnknownUnknown-uc5ty Před 11 měsíci +2

    Now just imagine a whole series with James Holland, Jonathan Ferguson and Mark Felton

  • @HECKproductions
    @HECKproductions Před 11 měsíci +2

    older folks seem to have a lot of trouble using both sticks at the same time
    you always see them walking a bit and then stopping to turn their head and then walking another bit

  • @dogmadogma5398
    @dogmadogma5398 Před rokem

    Great stuff. Thanks!

  • @ziggypop79
    @ziggypop79 Před 2 měsíci

    This is great thank you

  • @cory8965
    @cory8965 Před rokem

    Quite possibly the best thing I've ever watched.

  • @paulgill7660
    @paulgill7660 Před 4 měsíci

    Liked your description of the game 🎮 I don't play it often but it is my favorite game thanks again for a brilliant show 😀 thanks Paul 😮😮❤❤❤❤❤

  • @AussieBattleCat
    @AussieBattleCat Před rokem +1

    @6:36, super accurate while holding a PPSH ( James Holland is really god though, Just couldnt help but notice this)

  • @lifeenabled
    @lifeenabled Před rokem

    Do the first call of duty game. That was what made me fascinated with WW2 as a young child and that fascination has never left

  • @Martinspire
    @Martinspire Před rokem +2

    Its pretty obvious that you should play this game and have him narrate the experiences because he can't really use the controls that well and I doubt he wants to put in the hours to actually get further. But its nice to see him spot the details and enjoy it.

  • @raisinmancereal
    @raisinmancereal Před rokem +2

    I thoroughly enjoyed this. Can we have him review the Battlefield games too or even vintage medal of honor games?

  • @MissesWitch
    @MissesWitch Před rokem +3

    "the graphics are stupendously good" they really are for games these days, and it's quite an experience for someone who hasn't played a game for a long time or doesn't play much at all!

  • @FireStormHR
    @FireStormHR Před rokem +16

    So awesome to see this! I would love his view on other chapters in this game, or even from another game like Hell Let Loose

    • @qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm3937
      @qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm3937 Před rokem

      Paul Woodage from WWTV has done episodes on HLL and it’s almost spot on for geography, topography, weaponry etc

  • @JB21832
    @JB21832 Před rokem +4

    Great video, good game

  • @Fafuchess
    @Fafuchess Před rokem

    Love the video!
    But gotta say as someone who has played shotter games fore a decade it is gut wrenching to see someone being shot and just not reacting to the incoming damage lol, my intuition screamed for him to turn and return fire every time

  • @KissTheGreat
    @KissTheGreat Před rokem +4

    This isn’t too far off a lot of genuine gaming channels where they blither on about graphical details rather than playing the games. At least this guy has a good a reason to do it.

  • @djentyman4002
    @djentyman4002 Před rokem +4

    Legend has it James Holland became a gamer after this experience 😂

  • @PedroSantos_83
    @PedroSantos_83 Před 11 měsíci

    Awesome! 😎

  • @James-ju4gj
    @James-ju4gj Před rokem

    Could watch this for hours

  • @cheriefsadeksadek2108
    @cheriefsadeksadek2108 Před rokem +2

    James Holland Is so Cool I really Want to meet him one day

  • @mrsakanarghost-_-8501

    i wish James could see them mentioning Caserine pass on the Hill mission

  • @matts5247
    @matts5247 Před rokem +32

    Would love to see his analysis on more realistic wwii video game gameplay even if it was just videos like of Hell Let Loose or Post Scriptum that are ridiculously more in depth and have elements of command structure and different combat roles and specialities as well as armor and air support

  • @AirQuotes
    @AirQuotes Před rokem

    Fascinating

  • @Enhancedlies
    @Enhancedlies Před rokem

    PLEASE DO MORE - id subscribe to a whole YT show just doing this

  • @thevictoryoverhimself7298

    One thing they never get right about the normandy beaches is they are about 3-5 times longer from shoreline to defenses than is portrayed in movies and games. It reality it took hours to secure them, not 20 minutes of running and hiding behind things.

    • @ultimatestuff7111
      @ultimatestuff7111 Před 11 měsíci

      It’s because it would be super boring to watch in a movie or a video game

  • @AReviewOfAnything
    @AReviewOfAnything Před rokem

    This is great

  • @tomgrude353
    @tomgrude353 Před 11 měsíci

    Absolutely love it james 👍😅

  • @razvanalex3691
    @razvanalex3691 Před rokem

    Respect for this gentleman

  • @mattclarke8791
    @mattclarke8791 Před rokem

    I’m trying to imagine a game where James Holland and Jonathan Ferguson are the technical advisers, maybe with Ian McCollum too!

  • @arpadkocsis7472
    @arpadkocsis7472 Před 9 měsíci

    9:40 "the weaponry is good"
    sure, especially the PPSh41 seen earlier :D

  • @lillydav10
    @lillydav10 Před 11 měsíci

    Can we go back and do all the world war games with James please

  • @georgebettasso1395
    @georgebettasso1395 Před rokem +1

    James Holland. Sicily 43 good read. Most people look at D-day and Sicily is look over.

  • @briandix4633
    @briandix4633 Před 11 měsíci +1

    I want to see a reboot of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. Probably one of the most accurate depictions (if you ignore the storyline) of the invasion of Europe. But since it was early 2000s the graphics don't hold up today

  • @Unabonger420
    @Unabonger420 Před rokem +2

    I would watch every minute of a several-hours long series of James playing this game.

  • @someonesch4361
    @someonesch4361 Před rokem

    There are games that are more than just games, this game is one of those.

  • @davidalexhughes
    @davidalexhughes Před rokem +1

    Can we all take a moment to thank John

  • @minimac721
    @minimac721 Před rokem

    I like his excitement

  • @soloar2007
    @soloar2007 Před rokem +1

    He has great books on audible

  • @garfd
    @garfd Před rokem

    1:20 Now you’ve committed sacrilege, James! The LCAs of company A of the 116th (I assume this is what he is referring to) were never hit with mortars while in the water. One of the six foundered because of a previous accident that occurred (colliding with another craft) as they were being lowered into the water.

  • @JIMMYLEGS_
    @JIMMYLEGS_ Před 9 měsíci

    Hey James. You should also do one on Hell Let Losse 🙂

  • @OVERDOSE210
    @OVERDOSE210 Před rokem

    Yesss!

  • @therookiesplaybook
    @therookiesplaybook Před 2 měsíci

    My grandfather died on D-day. He was shot by a German while admiring the rust.

  • @eastonrobbins1822
    @eastonrobbins1822 Před rokem +1

    “Sorry mate can’t help. It’s.. dog eat dog here” = “skill issue”

  • @jansenart0
    @jansenart0 Před rokem +8

    7:50 The Thompson the Allies used (M1A1) wasn't capable of using a drum magazine; only stick mags. Nor did it have the 1921/28 forward grip.
    Literally unplayable.

    • @russellsage8706
      @russellsage8706 Před rokem +2

      I mean apart from the British commandos using the m1928 version early in the war

    • @Meravokas
      @Meravokas Před rokem +1

      That variant was in use by the Marines the Pacific initially, and many squad leaders that had them didn't want to give them up as the war progressed unless they were forced to by mechanical failure, damage, or actual loss. While there was rarely no more than one drum magazine issued, it was favored as the 'first contact' magazine over the 30 round box magazine. But, it's a video game. The troops on the Atlantic wall weren't going to be using modified 9mm PPSh's, and in many cases for the assaulted areas contrary to what he says (He might be a historian but he's not infallible.) The primary positions on the Normandy section of the line were German manned. Though with inexperienced or less than (Physically fit) men. And there were there might have been emplacements with maxims, but even if not MG-42's they'd have been MG-34's, which were essentially just the heavier, milled precursor to the MG-42 which were falling out of favor and replaced where possible in active front line service due to weight more than anything else. All tanks were still fitted with MG-34's because the weight didn't matter and they could be pulled from the growing stockpile of 'surplus' 34's. Even in combat footage taken from D-Day the rates of fire on impacts in the water or sand do not correspond to a Maxim's fire rate which is basically half that of the 34/42.

  • @PalleRasmussen
    @PalleRasmussen Před 16 dny

    Pierson should also have had the straight magasine on his Tommygun. Drum magasines were not used much in WW2.
    James is a great chap it seems.

  • @NardoVogt
    @NardoVogt Před rokem

    Tickety-Bo... yeah, gonna use that from now on

  • @thecrimsonbubbles
    @thecrimsonbubbles Před 8 měsíci

    Pity you didn't get him as far as the Ardennes with analysis of uniforms and conditions there. Brilliant video though!

  • @stevenwujek6917
    @stevenwujek6917 Před 11 měsíci

    PLEASE have him do world at war

  • @dun0790
    @dun0790 Před rokem +1

    This was hilarious 🤣 him worried about that guys hand then he gets shredded and dosent blink an eye haha

  • @DuaneMARTIN-fj2oe
    @DuaneMARTIN-fj2oe Před 10 měsíci

    Hello. Any info on how much for a signed book? I'll pay of course

  • @MishaElRusito
    @MishaElRusito Před rokem

    My only issue with the game is the terrible sound effect designs. They are just dull and bass enhanced which is annoying.

  • @neverunderstand7472
    @neverunderstand7472 Před rokem

    Iove how he always wearing great jacket😂

  • @wxmyjnsn
    @wxmyjnsn Před rokem

    LOL I love this video! He is admiring the paint chips and gets smoked! ROFL He should do a Twitch playing this game!

  • @cheesyfromindonesia9969
    @cheesyfromindonesia9969 Před rokem +2

    James Holland and Mark Felton gaming confirmed?

  • @nickjackson6905
    @nickjackson6905 Před 2 měsíci

    Paul woodidge pointed out several mistakes even before hitting the beech

  • @Matt-hl5vm
    @Matt-hl5vm Před rokem

    Please get him or his friend or whoever to play Vanguard. I just want to see him tear it to shreds.

  • @dhkdeoen
    @dhkdeoen Před rokem +1

    “Is that my leg? No its someone else’s.”
    Well thats something I would expect from British comedy.

  • @thespicemasta
    @thespicemasta Před měsícem

    Next project, James Holland plays Kards/ meets the developers 😎

  • @d1aLtONE_13
    @d1aLtONE_13 Před rokem +1

    Could you get him to do a video on the war game Hell Let Loose ?

  • @matts5247
    @matts5247 Před rokem +2

    Hate call of duty but I love this shit

  • @e102g2
    @e102g2 Před rokem

    i love that we can have people sit and show it really went, cause games and movies blow it way out of propertions(even if cool xD) btw.. tom holland kinda look like him.. his dad?

  • @clage929
    @clage929 Před 11 měsíci

    Weren't Rommel's asparagus almost vertical, just like those he used for aerial suppression? So far, I rather read "Hemmbalken" or "obstruction beams" for the ones depicted in the game...

  • @derewan07
    @derewan07 Před rokem +2

    11:15 Imagine 1400 Rounds per second 💀💀💀

  • @johnspeak9517
    @johnspeak9517 Před rokem +3

    The story's not so bad, but what would he think of the fantasy uniforms in the online game plays? And by that, I mean all of the uniforms.

  • @RyRy1515
    @RyRy1515 Před rokem

    James Holland rules. I wish I had his job

    • @ctttt7019
      @ctttt7019 Před 6 měsíci

      You can. Just pick a historical interest and write a few books

  • @kingbabybob4868
    @kingbabybob4868 Před rokem +3

    James Hollands reaction to the LVT getting gunned down: “Oh dear” 😂

  • @thatonedude2228
    @thatonedude2228 Před rokem

    Weren’t there also mines strapped to the logs?

  • @slowraceultra
    @slowraceultra Před rokem

    James Holland has a great podcast and his brother has a separate podcast that is great also. I encourage everyone to look them up.

  • @markt3541
    @markt3541 Před rokem

    Would be nice and educational to show what he is talking about such as the uniforms or guns

  • @vokeeu4905
    @vokeeu4905 Před rokem

    James Holland plays hell let Loose

  • @RickyS08
    @RickyS08 Před rokem +1

    James should review COD: World at War

  • @craighouston7014
    @craighouston7014 Před rokem

    Pierson's got the wrong jacket on. Brilliant.😁

  • @flaviapunktexe6924
    @flaviapunktexe6924 Před rokem

    What does a PPSch-41 doing in normandy?

  • @OPEK.
    @OPEK. Před rokem +2

    Show him the original CoD World at War. The graphics arent as good but its better imo