A German WWII Cemetery in Normandy | History Traveler Episode 52
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- The American Cemetery isn't the only one in Normandy. Just down the road is Le Cambe German War Cemetery which holds the remains of over 21,000 German soldiers from WWII. We take a short walk through this place and explore some of the lessons that can be learned there.
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#history #france #WWII #dday #normandy
My grandpa (father of my mother) nearly would’ve landed there.. He commanded a tank as Unteroffizier of the 21. Panzerdivision and his company was the first which was sent towards the beaches when the airborne part of Overlord began. They were operating near escoville, when they had to evade towards St. Honorine and Longueval where they began a new attack towards positions of the Royal Ulsters. During the evasion and the first phase of the new attack, one tank (433) got lost and nobody knew where it was. My grandpa then got the order to search for 433, by advancing with his tank. They breached through a very thin hedgerow, disabling two British AT guns before they quickly got 2 hits. The first one wasn’t dangerous but the second one went through the tank. Three men (Driver, radio operator and loader) died due to fire, my grandpa and the gunner managed to left the tank. My grandpa had an whole in his right calf because part of the shrapnel went through his leg. His gunner, who wasn’t wounded, found him and they tried to get back to german lines, which wasn’t easy because the rest of the platoon fell back. They made a rest because my grandpa heavily lost blood, he said the gunner should try it and get him during a potential second german attack, otherwise, when the brits will advance he’ll go to captivity. Luckily, his gunner refused and said he’ll wait with him. Due to the retreat of their platoon and even the regiment, they came in British captivity.
The tank of my grandpa (435) was the first confirmed tank of his battlegroup (the first tank bg which was sent, when the allied troops began to land by parachutes) destroyed by AT fire. My grandpa knew that he wouldn’t survive the order but luckily he did, nonetheless 3 of his men (who were friends) died right before his eyes and he nearly lost too much blood. His company commander sent a letter to his parent because he thought no one survived.
When he was stillalive he barely talked about it, at least not in detail but after his death, my mother and I found letters. Letters of him, former comrades of his unit and their commander. They reconstructed the happenings of the battle mentioned above, that’s why I know all of this. My grandpa always told a „light“ variant: Tank got hit, he disembarked, got a bullet through his leg and then got pow. But I guess that’s what most veterans do to family members: Not telling the whole truth because they don’t want to bother the others and/or self protection.
We should honor all of the fallen, on both sides. Young men who lost the chance of a normal life and went through hell. I really like how respectful u are, not only on the cemeteries but also at the beaches. You perfectly transferred the feelings and the humbleness I felt, when I visited the beaches at Normandy. It’s just impressive standing there and seeing all the remains.
Stay healthy ✌🏻
Greetings from Germany
Oh my gosh. What an incredible story. Thanks for sharing that. I so wish that there was a way that I could sit down and interview the men who served in the German army. As an American, it would be interesting for me to hear more of that perspective.
Well said Jupp.
Well said. All those fathers, sons, brothers, and boyfriends who never made it home is so sad. God bless them all.
Band of Brothers did it best when a German Commander spoke to his troops, all of Easy Company who knew what he said related to it. In the end War is hell and both sides are losing young Men who shouldn't be in a War in the first place.
The German Army will always be the BEST!
I visited this cemetery 2 days ago and as a 17 year old German it was very sad
So many young soldiers that didnt get to experience much of life rest there...
Even tho they fought for a bad cause Im very proud of them
May they rest in peace
Most soldiers are very young men! My twin brother was killed in action in Vietnam just before his 21st birthday. Drafted into the military at 19. Brave young man who was a patriot!
Your twin brother and his Band of Brothers are true heroes who must be remembered. I salute them!
I am an identical twin. How awful, was the draft not done by DOB. I live in the UK, and my Twin is in the USA. We do not see each other enough. You have lost a whole half of yourself. Peace be with you.
Yes I agree
What this video failed to mention was that 80 percent of these soldiers never saw their 20th birthday. They were boys. My high school son and I visited this cemetery on June 6, 2013. After walking around for a while and reading the names of the fallen soldiers, the math of their birthdays and their recorded deaths overcame me and I wept. Maybe because my son was that age at the time. The 2 figures at the top of the mound on either side of the cross represent a mother and father. For decades after the war, they would visit this cemetery on the birthday of their sons and grieve. Yes, they were the enemy but few of them were Nazis. They believed that they were patriots of the "Fatherland". 80 percent of the 21 thousand buried here were between 17 and 20 years old when they died. The mound actually holds over 200 un-identified remains. Our visit to Normandy made us, as Americans, proud but profoundly sad at the same time. What is up-lifting though, is the way France honors all soldiers who have fallen on French soil.
if they were 19 in 44, they were 8 in 33 when Hitler was elected, so surely THEY didn't elect him.
ydela23 You’re right; it was those same parents who came to grieve that elected him. I don’t mean this in any snarky way. As a mother, if it had been me and I lived to see the error of my ways translate into a cross over which covered my son...I just cannot.
@@mamavswild Hitler was elected with 43.9%.
I agree with every point. Last year I visited Verdun and there was a big German cemetery as well. The French are very kind when it comes to things like that. Sure, the cemetery was not the same like a french one but it was still nice and done with respect.
@comfortableman12 Hitler was elected in 1933 with a minority vote. The majority of WW2 German soldiers didn't vote for him, also because they were too young to vote in 1933 (minimum age was 21) and were drafted in WW2.
One of the best videos from the Normandy series. Even tho they were on the other side, they still deserve to be remembered. We should remember the cost of all lives lost in that terrible war, even the guys that were on the wrong side of the conflict.
Yes. I wish that I had access to some of the those guys who fought for Germany. It would extremely interesting to sit down with them for a few hours and hear about what it was like on the other side. But yes, they do need to be remembered as well. Thanks!
@@TheHistoryUnderground they had familia just like our boys. I wonder if they died knowing or at least wondering or questioning if what they were doing was righteous or not. Great video. 🇺🇸
It depends on the perspective if some foght for the wrong side or not.
For me it would be wrong to fight for the Bank.
@@TheHistoryUnderground interesting video.
This might interest you. 👍🏼
D DAY Through German Eyes - The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1539586391/ref=cm_sw_r_other_taa_AFwTEbBV6F37D
@@spaceskipster4412 - Funny that you mention that. I had another viewer send me a message the other day that he was sending me that book. Looking forward to reading it!
Visited the cemetery several years ago with my dad, we are English. Dad was stunned to see a grave marker where the German had his same date of birth. Dad had lived a life, raised a family. Makes you realise how foolish war is.
There were a lot of good lives wasted in that conflict.
@@TheHistoryUnderground hi there, thanks for your reply. I'm enjoying your videos. I hope that you have enjoyed Europe, I'm told that it can be somewhat of a shock for US visitors. My uncle was in the RAF as a mechanic and was captured by the Japanese on Java in 1942, liberated in summer 1945. Makes you think about Covid lockdown ! Best wishes
The best german army fough incredibly for immposible tasks.. west/ russsia front/ africa//
Its a way if depopulation
Ghost 👻👻👿👻
So correct All history deserves to be remembered, otherwise we may repeat it
Each headstone is a monument against war
Well said.
Sofus should have been last war ever. Since then the Uber wealthy have made an industry of war, one of the saddest things on earth.
@@jeffreyoslin8148 It actually was the last big war we had in the world. We came to have a kind of world peace for the last 76 years, but the true peace we will never see.
Except for Wittmann. His is a shrine to Neo Nazis.
Just looking at some of the ages on the gravestones. Teenagers, early twenties. They hadn't even had the chance at a life. Very sad.
Aitch Mack - Pretty somber place. Such a waste.
That is the typical age of many soldiers throughout the globe.
@@alexanderpatrick4866 - Sad to think about what the world may have lost.
@@TheHistoryUnderground I am german and visited a lot of german graves all around europe. Its not that honored like the winner graves. It makes me sad.
@@rudyratfinger9756 all that fought bravely should be remembered, those that committed atrocities should be forgotten.
I had the opportunity to talk with a German tank crewman in 1985, while I was stationed overseas. He was very open about sharing some of his stories. Right or wrong they all had a job to do. I really enjoyed talking with him. Wish I could remember his name now.
Landon Crane - Oh my gosh. That would have so interesting to talk to a guy like that. I won’t defend the country that they were fighting for, but those guys had to be brave. Especially the ones who fought on the Eastern front.
I remember he was just a Wehrmacht soldier, not SS or nazi. I never asked which front he fought on though I figure it was the eastern front because he mentioned several times about the cold and the affect it had on the men and equipment. He was just a soldier fight for his country the same as our troops. I know how easy it is to have a “strong dislike” for the men facing you but in the end we are all just that, men.
@@gideoncampbell8335 - Well said. Thanks.
WW1 veterans mustard gas lost their lives 😭😭😭😭😭😭😢😢😭😢😢😭😢😢
years back your country was fighting nazi ,nowdays your country support nazi unfortunetly
I really enjoy your ability to show the respect for the common soldier, no matter the political situation that brought their leaders to this end. The soldier in the field is the ones who accepted the cost of the mission, no matter the country or politics , and it was the last full measure of devotion. Thank you for sharing this beautiful site.
Definitely one has to salute a soldier as long as it's.of good conduct not of barbarity and rapine
My Father was in the U. S. Army 109th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Division and landed D-Day+. He was taken prisoner at the Ardennes Offensive, A. K. A., Battle of the Bulge. He always commented, "War is awful. Even your enemy has someone at home waiting for him." He also stated that the innocent victims of war are usually the hardest hit. God Bless all the souls that lost their life in a war.
👊🏻🇺🇸
Thank you for this. It is easy to forget that many soldiers on both sides were just kids who really had no choice
Yeah, as far as the human experience of it, it was just as bad for them and maybe even worse for their families post-war.
I have to say, I don't necessarily agree with your sentiment here, and I say this as an American whose grandfather fought in the Pacific. Most of these guys were young. The average age of the men shown on the gravestones in this video is a little over 26. That's a birth year of 1918, meaning these guys grew up in what was an incredibly chaotic situation. The end of the Monarchy, the massive blow to the egos of one of the most proud peoples on the planet, the uncertainty of what was to come next. Then, there was the Weimar Republic. At it's height, it was a drug-fueled, gangster run utopia where prostitutes roamed the streets all day long. At it's worst, it was barely a country at all, threatening to collapse at a moment's notice due to massive hyperinflation. For the men shown in this video, we're talking about kids who were 15 when the Nazis took power. These kids had known nothing but chaos and confusion for the most part. For someone to come in, restore order and above all, national pride, it was an easy sell. This isn't even taking into account the incredible propaganda campaign under Goebbels, which would be the modern day equivalent of China on steroids. Put your bias aside for just a few moments and try to imagine what life was like for these guys.
What you say is really profound and gives some life to the History books.
That's very true do you think its necessary to stop china before it spirals out of control?
Cossiey M. I understand, I fought in Iraq, two tours. When we go to war, we are thinking in surviving and if someone is shooting at you, you will simply will shoot in return. At the end when the fight is over is when your human part comes out.
@@marckcarbonelloifveteran410 Thank you for the service to your country
Cossiey M. you are welcome..
Amen brother, all history needs to be remembered
👍🏻
Definitely to quote Patrick Henry I find no greater teacher in life than the study of the past
Thank you for this tour. So many young men in this cemetery. Actions have consequences. Words for us all to keep in mind.
I visited this cemetery and it didn't hit home until i saw a picture of the soldier laid at his grave. He was someone's son, probably didnt want to be there, following orders. Again it is part of history many want to forget but it happened.
The Nazis dont deserve graves
“Actions have consequences be careful how we live our lives”.... wow! Excellent summation! Powerful point!
Definitely
A good video. We visited a few years ago, particularly to see the grave of Michael Wittman. It’s a very moving place, especially when you read the plaque at the entrance which says “Until 1947, this was an American cemetery. The remains were exhumed and shipped to the United States. It has been German since 1948, and contains over 21,000 graves. With its melancholy rigour, it is a graveyard for soldiers not all of whom had chosen either the cause or the fight. They too have found rest in our soil of France.”.......
It’s a heavy place to visit.
This is where tank ace Michael Wittmann is buried with his crew
Yes. Thanks!
My respect goes to both sides in this battle. The young German men were not unlike the young American men. They were drafted and trained and put into battle. My respect and prayers go out to them all.
no, one were awesome and others were nazi garbage. god bless america!
@@2ndTimPlayground spoken like a biased Nazi. Most were following orders just like our guys! Most were kids scared shitless like our guys! Only the Dead have seen an end to War. Conscripts are not the same as those who volunteer say like the SS (they were the Nazi garbage) also a majority of troops on the Normandy coast were Polish and Frenchmen serving in the Nazi Army and others low grade soliders aka conscripts. War is hell for both sides, the dead stand as a reminder of the cost of War for humanity! Politicians should just fight one another and be done with it!
The young german men dont deserve graves for their crimes against Europe
My grandpa was with the germans, most of them weren't nazis or the party fanatics, they were just young man going to war for valour and respect for their country and military duty, he was 17 at the time.
Thank you for your video
Giulio Roberto - Thanks for pointing that out. A common misconception is that all Germans were Nazis, which is far from true. I’ve talked to many veterans who have said that once in Germany, they found themselves liking the German people. Regardless, there’s much to learn from all of them and they all should be remembered.
Excellent point. So many dont realize your exact point.
@@scottcrockett8270 - I've had to explain myself a bit more than usual on this one. I probably could have articulated myself a bit better.
I am English, my wife German. I have spoken to people who fought on opposite sides and they suffered equally. Politicians start wars, soldiers and civilians pay the price.
JustLiveInPeace - Especially true in that war.
Man oh man, If only we can learn from what took place so many years ago. We shall never forget the sacrifices that everyman & woman gave for such a costly war. Great work once again my friend and this really brings to life the cost of such self indulgence and greed.
Couldn’t agree more with your comment about history needs to be remembered whether good or bad.
Those German boys loved their country as much as anybody, regardless of the third reich. We should be careful condemning the losing side in any war. Imagine a person examining the Vietnam war Memorial in Washington, and condemning the names embossed on the granite, because they fought on the losing side.
Yeah, it's a fine line to walk on that one. I'm guessing that those same German boys were wishing at the end of the war that Hitler would have been stopped much earlier and that they had made different choices to save their country. I do see the point that you are making though.
@@TheHistoryUnderground Love your video's. War is Hell like General Sherman said. Young boys have to fight these wars, that chest beating polticians, and rich oligarchs start. I've really enjoyed your historical sites and the docs. you've produced. Great job.
Stephens Dygert
As any country in war the young men were called to serve. They were German soldiers, the foot soldiers. I would bet the vast majority did not share a Nazi belief. A soldier does as he’s ordered, tries to stay alive, and keep his buddies alive.
@comfortableman12 Wrong. Actually the US did lose in Vietnam. Historically the US has a terrible record in war. By themselves. The U.S. defeated Mexico, Spain, Granada(the salvation army could of defeated Granada) And of course the US defeated the terrorist servile insurrection, called the Confederacy. The US did not win the the illegal servile insurection against Britain, if it hadn't been French intervention. US lost the war of 1812. US lost the war with Britain, over Canada(thank God) US lost in Vietnam, US got a tie, in South Korea, US lost in Iraq, US is currently in a rediculous war in Afganistan, will be a loss. US has a terrible record in war. US today wants to invade Venezuela. They want the biggest oil supply in the world. That would be another loss. US spends more money than the 36 most civilized countries in the world combined, on its military budget.(780 billion) has approx. 800-1000 miltary bases in the World. The only RIGHTEOUS war the US has been in legally. Was the civil war, WWII. It took 27 countries to defeat Nazi Germany. We would still be fighting Japan today, if it hadn't been for the Atomic bomb. Nobody wins a war. Really! One country runs out of men, and money. If you take up the sword, you perish by the sword. Doesn't matter who you are. Empires come, and thank God almighty, they go.
You can love your country all you want, but fighting for an evil regime is something entirely different. Love, ignorance or whatever you want to call it was not a valid defense then nor is it now.
Michael Wittmann Tiger Tank crew are over to the right hand side from main entrance about 100m, block 47,row 3, grave 120. Gets plenty of attention and flowers during the D Day celebrations. I think that the black basalt used for the crosses was brought in from Germany. Such terrible loss of life on all sides. On your vids keep up the good work 👍
They were all someone’s son, just like the Americans were that died in this war and the numerous other wars they started
Thank you so much to the German people who help us to win the war about the Nazi ❤️❤️ sorry for my English I'm French and thank you for you're video
Nazi are enemies
Its good to remember and respect the fallen, even if it is the FOE.
Like the Japanese, many US
soldiers respected the was
they fought.
Thankfully they are not a foe anymore…
I just wanted to say Thank you. You made a statement at the end of the video that is very true. That all history needs to be remembered. Good, bad and the ugly. Yes, it does. All of it. Love your work.
I'm 3 years late to the comments... but i couldn't help but imagining a German widow, or child of the fallen visiting.
The respect and mercy of burying German war dead with dignity seems like it went a long way with reconciling these peoples.
I visited this December 3 , 2019 late one afternoon after visiting US Cemetary ........just before dark , and I was the ONLY person there. What a somber place to walk around seeing how so young many of these German teenagers were. Interesting to see so many groups at many grave sites , as though tank crews ....very sad. Yes, I also found Micheal Wittmanns grave site , which included he crew of the Tiger 1, and obviously his long term Bobby Wool, who by this time of the war had been promoted to command his own Tiger Tank. Had driven from Munich , Germany 🇩🇪 through into Battle of Bulge area of 🇧🇪 and onto France , Bayeux , Normandy area ..... from Australia 🇦🇺, just to visit and take in some of history of this terrible events of WW2 , when so many young men , from so many country’s gave there life’s with courage 🙏🏻😔
What is so sad is how young were all of the combatants.
When we visited the area from Australia in 2013, we made a point of not only going to the British and American cemeteries but also to the German cemetery to pay our respects. The fact is they were all fathers, sons, brothers, uncles etc just the same as our blokes were and they deserve to be remembered for fighting and dying for the country and many of them were just as young as our blokes. During our visits to the World War one battlefields of northern France we also visited both Allied and
I am humbled by the overwhelming sacrifice of all men of any war, that fight, at unimaginable pain to support their leaders.
"Actions have consequences"...well said brother.......
Its sad to See....
My 2 Great grandfarthers are died or missing in Stalingrad.
Never again war 😔
Wow. That was an awful place.
That last comment was so apt, good point, well said.
Nice video. Im in the UK and have visited Normandy several times but not been to this Cemetery. Bayeux (British & Commonwealth) and Coleville (US) always bring a lump to my throat. All so young. I will get to this place on my next trip. Thanks.
Have to wonder what the world lost in those cemeteries.
Went to a German cemetery in Motta, Sicily in 1978. Very sobering and solemn place. I was in the Navy at the time and the 3 of us didn't speak the entire time.
War is really horrible and always has a consequence to the opposing sides. I feel sorry for those dead German soldiers especially the unknown, wish there comes a time that all people will no longer wage war to one another. Thanks for this video...
Every soldier has a mother who will always miss their boy. When we are young we have such ideals and when we get old we reliase how stupid we were. Your channel (which I have only just found) is brill
Thank you for remembering them. Soldiers don't get the choice of where they go or what battles they fight. They are the grease beneath the wheels of War.
All history deserves to be remembered.
When I was in the Army (eons it seems) I had the opportunity to go to Germany for a 3 week annual training for the reserves. Where we were, near Germesheim, was very interesting. They had a WWII museum there, and I got to see an underground bunker used for civilians in case they needed to escape. I saw the Nazi uniforms there, and many other artifacts. It was intriguing to see how the other side lived and how it affected them.
MiJacFan1 - Oh man. That would be so cool to see. I’m really wanting to get over to Germany at some point to film a bunch of content. So much history there.
@@TheHistoryUnderground I hope you do. Yours is one of my favorite channels!
I have been following this series young man. I think you are doing a great job with the Normandy series. What the world loses in terms of human life can never be measured no matter what side you are on. One of those killed might have died with the potential for finding a cure for some disease or solve a problem that would have solved, let’s say world hunger for instance. War is a nasty business no matter what, but sometimes we have no choice but to war in order to have peace and freedom. Thank you for your effort sir.
🙏🏼
Well said
Thank you for stopping there. As an old man you can ask what it is that drives despots to sacrifice the best of their youth in the name of power. It serves no man well even in democracies. It’s why Americans must consider their leaders carefully. I was struck by how few sites in Germany that even recognize the loss of their people, military or civilian. Your recognizing this monument allows those souls the recognition of their lives. Thank you again.
I was glad to stop there. It deserves more attention than it gets.
it’s sad to know most of these men, young men, died for a war they lost, there lives wasted.
So all the american, british, french, belgian, russian lives were not wasted because the allied won?
RudyVerboven1880 you misunderstood my entire comment. it goes without saying that all those young lives were wasted for a conflict that gained almost nothing. the subject of this video specifically is about a GERMAN Cemetery, hence the lack of mentioning of allied forces.
comfortableman12 your views would probably make me uncomfortable. what was there to gain if you’re so wise.
comfortableman12 neek
@@DubCedSky All communists lives are a waste.
Judging by the names, some of those "German" soldiers were actualy Silesians (Silesia is region in today south Poland with distinct minority and separate dialect) who as a minority were treated as second class German citizens and in the final years of Second World War were forced into Wehrmacht or other brunches of German armed forces (never SS). Their families were hold hostage and there were serious repercusions in case of soldiers desertion or disobedience. In rare cases (mostly on Italian front) silesian deserters, after name changing, were allowed to rejoin Polish Armed Forces in the West.
not only, in 3:04 I see Heinr(ich) Oliwkowski, most probably He is from "Ruhrgebiet" 300k poles emigrated to this area from Greater Poland in late XIX and early XX century, so most probably He was descendent of those emigrants, another think end of word "ski" is typical for Poles not for Silesians, end of word "ok" is much typical for Silesians (like, Drewniok, Grudniok, etc), of course "ski" is also possible but not so often than for poles. Similar story to Silesians is related to Poles from Pomerania, Gauleiter Koch assign German citizenship to them and automatically they were conscripted by force to German army, of course they could refuse and take nice "holiday" in concencation camp.
@@gromosawsmiay3000 that's interesting info. Gives a lot of perspective to these guys lives. 👍🏼
There were a lot of German soldiers who hated Hitler and the SS but was afraid to speak their minds. Nazi Germany, along with other ruthless dictatorships, wasn't a place for free speech and individual liberties were taken away. The typical German citizen of the time was held captive by an evil government who wouldn't think twice about killing their own people. Granted, there were a lot of bad people who killed innocent men, women, and children because of their beliefs, and it was neccessary to bring war upon an evil empire. I am not by any means trying to minimize what had transpired and the Holocaust was real and those who lost their lives should be remembered. All I'm saying is that there were German people who opposed of the Holocaust and tried to hide their Jewish neighbors. There were also Jewish soldiers who hid themselves among the ranks in order to sabotage the war effort as well as to save their own people. They are heroes. God bless!😎
Poor young boys, may they and their comrades rest in peace
Excellent video, thanks. It should be noted that during WWII hostilities Allied and German war dead were both temporarily buried at LaCombe separated by a town road. In 1948 all Allied war dead were relocated to either Colleville-sur-Mer or returned home at the request of their families. Only then was LaCombe designated a German site. My own relative, (1LT Edwin Barbour Hutchison Jr.), was repatriated from LaCombe to Arlington National Cemetery. He was killed-in-action on 6/13/44 at the Battle of Carentan serving with the 101 Airborne/506 PIR.
Great video, and great words to live by - "be careful how you live, because actions have consequences". - Thanks for your great videos.....
Thank you. Appreciate that.
Look at the narrow entrance, only one person at a time can pass and on the door to the left shows the angel passing judgement as they come through. Some go to heaven and some don't. Very moving. The statues on the mound depict a mother and father, showing everyone was loved at some time.
No incident - it’s an architectural trick to surprise the visitor with the huge free field of graves behind the entry.
But it’s also done to make military parades impossible - a try to show antimilitarism.
Those words were well spoken....To see and understand the fury of war from the other side...Thanks....Well Done...
John Kelsey - Thank you. Appreciate that. It was definitely a different feeling being there and I was struggling to articulate myself well.
Great job I'm glad you were able to make it out there. Thank you so much for sharing your videos,.....doing a great job looking forward to the next videos.
Thanks 👍Anxious for people see what's coming.
2:57 Your translation is incorrect. "Ein Deutscher Soldat" is "A German Soldier". "Eins Deutscher Soldat" means "One German Soldier" I lived in Germany for three years. Every town, village, city has a war memorial to the soldiers from their town that died. It usually has two columns: one column lists the names the fallen from WWI, the second column from WW2
While living in Germany, I visited the beaches of Normandy. I visited this cemetery. These soldiers, like all soldiers, fought for the guy next to him. They may have been members of the German army, but, in the end, they fought for each other. I've read the memoirs of a dozen German soldiers. Their individual stories could have been written by any soldier in any war, from the most ancient to modern times. I'm a veteran. I may have worn a different uniform, but these are my brothers.
Yeah, I wish that I would have articulated myself a little better in this one. I should have made the distinction clearer that not all German soldiers were the die hard fanatics. However, I would still contend that the main point stands to be careful how you live. I'm sure every one of them would have made a different choice had they known what was going to happen to their country. Thanks for the correction and added insight.
Very sobering & tragic. Years ago I met a man who's dad was in the German army and was killed at Stalingrad. He was only 5 when his dad died in that fierce battle. Thanks for doing another excellent video, looking forward to more.
Holy smokes. Hard to say what challenges that man faced growing up. I'm sure that his story was echoed by thousands of others. Thanks for sharing that.
Interesting
La Cambe was originally an American Cemetery. If I remember correctly 29000 Americans were buried there, including my relative PVT Glen Standing, K Co, 23rd IR, 2nd ID, kia 6/15/44 at St George's D'Elle. Most of the Americans were repatriated after the war and those that weren't were moved to the St Laurent Sur Mur Cemetery. Originally La Cambe was laid out somewhat differently, there is a service road across the back and the German dead were buried there. The cemetery was fully turned over to Germany around 1960, and that's when it became what you see today. We visited in 2016 to see where Glen had been buried. It's a very moving place.
Awesome videos man I’m glad I found you and follow I love history. A few episodes got me chocked up but thank you keep up the good work
That means a lot. Glad that you are enjoying them and that they are striking a chord with you. Thanks!
You BETTER watch the 6.5hrs. documentary; The Greatest Story NEVER Told! And PLEASE listen to the speech by BENJAMIN H FREEDMAN IN WASHINGTON 1961 ( allready!!! )
The bravest man EVER to walk this PLANET!!! If you can handle the TRUTH!!! You WILL be flabbergasted, Promiss!!!
THANK YOU for this! I was in Normandy in 2016, didn't know that this cemetery even existed until the day we were leaving, so I didn't get a chance to visit.
Glad that I was able to film it for you. Definitely an interesting place to visit. Thanks for watching.
Superb video. Made with due reverence. RIP to all the fallen.
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I hope you had time to visit the small museum just out side the entrance. Very informative about the history of the cemetery and some of those buried there.
Yes, we did. Very interesting. We were in pretty big rush that day so I didn't film any of it, but it was definitely worth going through.
unsere Jugend immer in unseren Gedanken. Nie vergessen.
niemals
I have been here. There is quite the contrast between our cemeteries and the German Soldatenfriedhof. Someone told me that American Battle Monuments went Hollywood after Private Ryan and BoB, while German facilities tend to the somber. Their boys are buried head to head, 2 x 2, no home or unit listed. I also visited the grave of Walter Model, a soldiers general who insisted that he be buried with his men after commiting suicide.
If you ever visit this cemetery, the is a brandy distillery just across the road to the east...highly recommended!
Cheers Jd, perfectly said... although I am a proud Kiwi i am partly of German decent also. I had forefathers who fought on opposing sides in ww2. I appreciate seeing this special place. Thank you greatly for another soul touching video.
Oh wow. That's pretty amazing. Were you ever able to talk with either about their experience?
@@TheHistoryUnderground Unfortunately no, they died when I was very young. I have heard of a couple of stories of my Opa of when he arrived in NZ but apparantly he never spoke of the War.
@@KH-fj8wq - That's the story of a lot of those guys. Experienced much but spoke of it little.
Your words were very profound and very touching . This was an amazing video!!💫
Thank you. Appreciate that. I was really glad that we stopped there. Definitely a different perspective.
Wow Just Wow on this History of Normandy
Thanks! Glad that you are enjoying the videos.
Was wondering if you found Michael Wittman's grave there. When I visited there some time ago someone had left a small cross with a poppy, written on it 'A gallant adversary'.
John Bone - Unfortunately, no. We were in a pretty big rush that day and as you can see from the video, the weather was awful which isn’t the best for camera gear. I really regret that we didn’t take more time while we were there now.
@@TheHistoryUnderground Adolf Diekmann the main perpetrator of the war crime in Oradour sur Glane is also buried there.
Thank you. Lest we forget. May they rest in peace.
100% one of the best video
We visited the US cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer , this one at Le Cambe and the CWGC at Bayeux pretty close to the centre of town, oh 21 years ago now.
Sobering and moving. As noted already, some of the 'German' troops were pressed into service. Many were fighting for their country, they may not have agreed with the regime. Bayeux very moving for me too, Brit. - wept, as the Commonwealth War Gravestones have inscriptions on the headstones from the families.
Every Soldier, Sailor, Airman deserves a final resting place. Lest we Forget
Well said. The vast majority of common soldiers and low level officers in all armies were fighting for their families, their community, and the guys next to them. I think most soldiers think they are on the side of the just.
@@jasonhuiting5193 glad i finally see someone speak sense. Most soldiers just want to feed their families. Sad that they are treated like that.. i find it hard to believe they couldn't identify that many soldiers, they should try harder.
Amen
@@mattbrown5921 It's not hard to see why so many are unidentified after reading about the Battle of Normandy. After the German defensive line collapsed and they went into retreat/got caught in the Falaise Pocket, the dead were left everywhere. There was no one to take care of the bodies or identification, priority would go to allied dead. Many of the dead were maimed beyond recognition by artillery or bombs, and the ones that weren't were probably terribly decayed by the time they were recovered. In one instance before the collapse of the German line, a column of german armor and trucks was caught and strafed by a group of P-47s and completely annihilated. An estimated 700 germans and all the tanks and trucks were left to burn and rot. There was no time to do anything for weeks or months after, there was a war to win. To this day, French people are finding German and even allied dead in their fields or buried under sheds and such.
Funding for such efforts has been an issue as well. Recovery, identification, and burial of German dead has run mainly on donations, contrasted with major funding and efforts from the US government for its dead.
Great video. You’re a excellent history story teller. Thank you.
Mitchell Trivas - Thanks. Probably a mediocre storyteller at best, but I’ll take a compliment wherever I can get it.
Visited there when we stayed in Normandy. As with all the grave sites we visited whilst in normandy it was very well kept and respectful as it should be.
Michael Wittman's grave is in there.
Thought provoking place to walk around.
Another very well done blog.Thank you.
Thanks! Pretty interesting place to visit.
Brilliant analysis. Thank you.
Wonderful content and well done. I have been to many WWII site but never a German WWII cemetary. I will surely put this on my list of sites to see. I want to Thank You for your efforts.
Thanks! Appreciate that. I don't think it's a stop that typically gets made on the WWII tours. Pretty interesting to walk those ground though.
Whenever I see anything like this, I can't help but think how scared all these men, on both sides of the war must've been. It couldn't have been easy facing your own mortality.
Nice to see that you show the German cemetery as well as the allied ones .I knew a German guy when I was stationed in Germany in the 1980's who served during the war and was proud he did.what he said he hated was being stereotyped as being in the ss he said he got drafted at a young age and fought to defend his country .
Actions do have consequences. They all deserve to be remembered as their leaders pushed them into war. The world was a different place then and it is hard for our modern eyes to understand what was happening them. I hope we learn from it and be better.
I remember visiting this German cemetery and the US cemetery at Omaha on the same day. It was evident who won the battle. Two sad places to visit.
Very much so
What a great series, thanks man!!
Glad you like them!
When the dead were being buried after the Great War, the Belgians were not prepared to give the Germans as much land as to their allies for burials. The Germans solved this with the "Comrades in Death" system and buried two men in one grave". They stuck with it ever since.
Perfectly put at the end .love these videos
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Love your work! Please come (back) to Belgium to discover all about WW1 as well! A lot of opportunities for some more great episodes from our beautiful country, which was unfortunately at the forefront of so much suffering...
I was there this summer, dark atmosphere. But bothered by the noise of the cars, and by the abandonment of the cemetery (it begins to be abandoned)
On the Band of Brothers Tour we went to a German Cemetery in Belgium, there 3 soldiers were buried in each grave, the other thing that stood out was the range of ages, in Belgium I saw a 16 year old and a 50 year old soldier buried there.
I've heard a lot of good things about that tour. I didn't get to visit any German cemeteries when I was in Belgium but we got a surprise up there that I think people will find interesting.
all history deserve remembered.....
Amen to that. That’s why I wanted to cover this place.
Dankeschön for this video.
Well said. Wonderful job
Thanks for this episode. What strikes me is the different looks each country, US, Commonwealth and German, have in the cemetery design, but they all convey the same message of loss.
Greetings! I just discovered your channel today and absolutely love it. Your hobby and passion is one I enjoy myself. Your comments about actions having consequences are certainly true and yes, the lessons of history are not always pleasant. By the way, your comment about number dates is true. Most countries (not just German) use a logical day/month/format when writing dates. The U. S. is one of the few countries that uses the illogical month/day/format. I look forward to viewing your other videos! Much respect!
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Good video. I went visited there in the 1980s. . it was raining when I went too. As to your wrap up commentary. . . . true, but I'll bet most of those boys just wanted to be home with their loved ones. War sucks.
So many stark contrasts between the German and American cemeteries. It's sad and you're totally right... actions have consequences.
If you visit Normandy, you have to visit both cemeteries. It's very compelling to see the contrast.
I have visited La Cambe a couple of times. What struck me was the fact that you can see the Mont St Michel in the bay not far from the cemetery. An odd juxtaposition of heaven and hell.
Interesting
So sad! War cemeteries, the greatest preacher of PEACE!
Even entrance to this cemetery is significant, it's narrow, to make you feel compressed when you enter, to remember those men but to also be aware they was on wrong side of history. Would love to visit one day, by now, only had chance to visit American War Cemetery in Henry Chapele in Belgium.
Very wise words at the end and a very interesting video .
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to of visited La Cambre cemetery (bk in 15') it was certainly one of the most enourmous 🇩🇪 cemetries i'd ever visited and to see so many aswell really did "hit home" of how important (even on the Axis side) life is and was to so many brave men and boys and to see Michael Wittmann's grave too (minus the gravestone at the time) was just incredible and at one moment i just stopped and did a panoramic view of the shear width and length of La Cambre itself was moving and of course its a place to always think that life IS important
Very well said. Thank you.
@@TheHistoryUnderground and the reason of "why" the entrances to a WWII 🇩🇪 cemetery is and are so narrow was to let people in and out one at a time
Brett Greene - Interesting! I didn’t know that.
Sad to see a lot of the German graves are just unknown, lost to time.
Its a good thing though. Forgetting these evil men is the best thing the world can do
« Evil » childish vision of life