WWII Then & Now: Can We Find Young Boy From War-Torn Europe 1944?
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- čas přidán 27. 10. 2021
- The stark black and white image of a sad little boy sitting on a pile of sacks in front of sign indicating the direction of Luxembourg City and Echternach haunted Dutch researcher, Joey van Meesen. The photo was part of a collection of Lee Miller, an American female war correspondent who documented many aspects of World War II. In researching the photograph, van Meesen found out that the child’s name was Raymond Melchers and the image was taken just behind the front line in the village of Bech, Luxembourg.
For several years, van Meesen has been producing WW2 mini-documentaries and videos featuring “Then and Now” shots from Europe on his CZcams channel SNAFU DOCS. Captivated by the idea that the little boy in the photo could still be alive, he set out on a quest to film his search. Raymond Melchers was around the age of seven, 77 years ago in war-torn Luxembourg. This meant that van Meesen would be searching for an older man nearly 84 years old.
The film is captivating as the young researcher starts out with very little clues searching for the old man.
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This documentary is a masterpiece. What an incredible story. Raymond is a delightful fellow. I am blown away.
Me too lol
It's incredible that you found that child in that photograph after so many years, and still had a vivid memories of that era,, congratulations for a job well done
As a now 83 year old whom as a child was evacuated from Salisbury England to South Africa during the war I felt a strong bond with this story …thank you .
Your story needs to be known. So much is lost because the story is never told. Blessings 🙏🏼
Very nice story. Mario fron Argentina
I'm also from South Africa...are you still here or went back to England? Would looove to here your stories of SA back in the day. Kind regards
They sent children all the way to South Africa? Why?
@@westaussie965 Oh dear , you must be very young…but thanks for asking . The intensive bombing of the cities in England meant that to reduce the numbers of children affected the government dispersed them both internally,to supposedly safer locations and externally to commonwealth countries. Many also went to Australia ( even further) and Canada . There was also the belief by some that if U.K. was overrun by the Germans our generation would return and fight back but I think that was more gossip than factual .
My mom was from Hamm, Lux., just outside of Lux. City (the capital). She met my father during the Battle of the Bulge. (He was Swiss-Italian.) He was stationed there as 2nd Lt under Gen. Patton. My dad was with the US Army Corp of Engineers. They were married in Hamm’s little Catholic Church. They were together 57 years and raised seven children in USA ( St. Louis, MO). I was there in Lux in 1976. Met my 92 yo grandmother, stayed in the house my mother grew up in, saw cemetery of great-grandparents, saw US Military Cemetery and Patton’s grave, and the church in Hamm. Met my namesake, my mom’s sister Dina. It was like yesterday. Awesome trip.
That's an amazing family trip such a part of History.
So interesting that your mum's village was an important part of the fighting for freedom and that General Patton js buried there!
My mother was from Amsterdam Holland my daddy was an American Soldier “stationed in Frankfort Germany married my mother after the Liberation’with my mother’s family there !l have heard my mother speak of Luxembourg many times, at 10 years old along with my brothers mom and dad we got to go to Amsterdam and meet my grandma and grandpa, uncle’s aunts cousins my mother came from a large family , my grandfathers dad was German and his mother was Dutch, my mother said that my grandmother was from French descent how far back l didn’t know but she had a French maiden name! Your story seemed kind of similar to mine so l had to reach out , l do have Dutch relatives where you were raised in M wonder if maybe we have a connection? my mother’s maiden name was Lanfermeyer , Many Blessings to you and yours ‘ 🙏🇺🇸🌸
As a Swiss -Italian I found your story amazing ! Viva il Ticino, I wonder if you have some contacts with the lane of your grand parents.
Great work guys, amazing he is still a live and lives around the corner. Time is running out with these kinds of stories, even the kids from the WWII era are now almost 85+ years.
When I was a kid (im almost 35 now) there were still quite a few ww2 vets around and now there are very very few left and it is depressing to think about. Now like you said, the children of that era are getting up into the oldest of age bracket and slowly dying off.
Fantastico trabajo de investigación!!! 🥇
Truth, my dad was a storehouse of info, we lost him is Sept '23. I still think of questions I wished I'd asked.
Damn! I just opened this video and saw your comment before it even started. Don’t need to s see it now.
My dad became friends with a German kid in 1945
That was absolutely fantastic. I can only imagine how Mr. Melcher must've felt really respected by you in the process. What a wonderful way to honor someone.
He has a wonderful sense of humor. What a blessing to revisit such places and see the beauty after the destruction. As a USMC veteran, it gives me chills to learn how well our servicemen were treated. A big “Thank You” for this bit of history 🙏🏼😊
So good to know the young lad was able to live a long and blessed life. I'm certain many fallen hero's have looked down and known they did not fall for nothing. This is why free men must always resist tyrrany.
Great story!
Wow, I worked together with Mr Melchers beginning of 2000 at Credit Suisse Luxembourg! Incredible!
He has not changed much since!
All the best to him and his wife!
That is really cool!
This is an uplifting story. God bless Raymond and his family. Raymond is an example of those millions who emerged from the wreckage of WW2 and went on to lead fulfilling and successful lives. This happy story will receive many thousands more viewings in times to come.
Bravo, Raymond Melchers!!! It was wonderful for him to participate to tell his story! The civilian sacrifice was enormous - thank you to him, and for you, in telling his story! 👍
What a wonderful, wonderful man, is Raymond Melchers. A great sense of humour, active beyond his years. A man that is loved and obviously deserves every token of love shown to him. Thank you for introducing him to us all, regardless of his historical context in that war. A truly great man, the kind that is so hard to find in our times.
A lovely story must have been sad to say goodbye to this special character
That was outstanding. Thank you for doing this. Seriously some incredible work.
Thank you so much my friend!
@@SNAFUDOCS Amazing! God bless you for doing this! Greetings from America!
Thanks for this! Truly amazing. JD thanks for telling us about snafu docs!
He was thrilled to share his story. What a wonderful gift you have given him❤
An absolutely beautiful 'mini-documentary'. Mr. Melchers is a delightful man - thank you for a wonderful video
"I am stand here as a Prisoner" what a talk or memorable Poetry said by Mr.Raymond at the same place of Luxemberg when his photo was taken in the age of 7 during WW II. Your efforts for this documenatry is highly appreciated. My best Wishes to you & Mr.Raymond for his impressive talk.
i love that guy, he's so friendly, i wish all people has an attitude like him
Besides the outstanding documentary, i admire the quality of this elderly gentleman's English. As a fellow Belgian citizen i can ensure you that not many elderly people are good with other languages, other than their motherlanguage. i subbed, great work!
his English proficiency was fueled by having met the GI soldiers and probably enhanced by his work in the international banking industry
Most Luxembourgers speak 4 languages fluently in this small but so versatile country. Mr Melchers having worked in the steel and banking industry would have been very familiar with English as a working language.
When Raymond was speaking about being a kid and adding the powder to the water while his mother looked on doubtfully, and then about the innkeeper who handed schnapps to the Americans as they headed out in their tanks, I felt that I had gone back in time and was just another child on the street with him. To hear history from those who experienced it is truly magical. Thank you to SNAFU DOCS for shining a light on the story of the photo, and THANK YOU to Mr. Melchers' generation for all that you and your families endured to keep democracy alive.
Looks like you found a gem in just one day... it is nice for the villager to help you out...hats off too you for bringing back good memories of the past....Thank you Raymond for sharing your story...
I'm speechless. I was born in '57, in the '60s WWII was still very present, at least for me, in the movies, in books, magazines, etc. There was a powder to make flavored gelatin (Royal) and he brought as a gift collectible figures referring to the war, land vehicles, naval vehicles and airplanes, in plastic. I don't have the slightest idea what it's like to be in the middle of an armed conflict, and I don't want to be. I got so immersed in the video that I stayed on the edge of my chair and the back of my neck bristled. Raymond Melcher is an incredible guy, congratulations and greetings from Mexico.
I was born in 1955, my grandmother kept all her letters from her brave son, a Marine who gave his life at Guam in 1944. He was only 22 years old, the only son. My cousin and I were named for him. I am still reading the letters, and have all his Medals and Purple Heart 💜
This is probably the best story I have seen on Y Tube! I am the same age as Raymond. This made it more interesting..I did my National Service in Germany in 1956-57.. Thank you so much! Ron Hockey.
Raymond is so kindness he accept the interview of this guy who make film and documentary, great work sir❤
Great sleuthing to find Raymond! And hid brother,AND To get such an interesting first hand
Story about war at that time. It must have been like for Two young Boys living through it!
We have to collate as much we can of it, being so lucky to have the chance to record it like this…maybe the last living people from that period is just amazing and thankyoi young man and team For all your research, amazing finds and results! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🔥🔥🔥🔥💐🙏💯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😻👍👍👍💐
Raymond Melchers is a treasure of history. Thanks for taking the time to give us this story it put a human touch on the WW2 that you don’t always get.
Thank you Raymond for sharing your story with the world! At 84 years, you are doing extremely well.
Wishing you & your wife every happiness from Australia!!
You did that so well, you let him speak uninterrupted, you were mindful of his privacy and possible sensitivities. You deserve every success in what you do and if it comes, please don't change your style. Your own personality is a big part of how good these films are. Please don't let some media coach mess with that. By the way, what a happy story from WWII, not too common. Thanks.
Well said!
Err...that's what is supposed to happen
Yes, a rarity these days, interviewers letting the person they are interviewing talk without constant interruptions! Thank you for the great idea and realisation of finding those who can still tell us about the futility of war. Well done!
One of my favourite things is seeing the individual stories of people who lived through such events. You never get to see that in the mainstream documentaries, they always have to focus on the larger stories and the famous characters, often with good reason. I've always been far more interested in the individual experiences of the random person who was thrust into historical events.
Listening to this man is like listening to my grandpa, lovely story guys
As an aside, I was born in Luxembourg in 1950, on the western side of Luxembourg City, in a maternity hospital that was run by an order of French nuns. My father was a GI, and my mother was a Luxembourg citizen (later a US National). Luxembourg is a very small country, so it's a treat to see this video regarding Luxembourg wrapped in a wonderful story to boot !! Thank you !! (US)
What a beautiful older gentleman. A heartwarming individual, who was so kind to share his story.
What a magnificent gentleman. Very gracious. The young people of this world could learn a lot from him.
Good health and long life sir.
A wonderful story told here, Thank-you.
😊
What a privilege to have found Raymond. Him and his wife look so good. Congratulations. Keep up the good work.
Nice that the gentleman was so open to cooperating with you, and being interviewed and photographed.
This was incredible! It gave me goosebumps and made me cry. To see that sweet, sad, little boy in the photo go from begging for bread to being a successful , happy, and charming man was so wonderful! Kudos to you for finding him and treating him with such respect! Thank you for telling this amazing story!
Thank you so much for this lovely comment!
Well said! So wonderful to meet that little boy now. What a nice man who seems to have gone on from the challenges of the war as a child to have a long and happy life….and celebrate a 60th wedding anniversary!
Excellent work showing the ordinary people caught up during the war often forgotten about but have a story to tell, Raymond is for ever a part of history.
I'm amazed by how he can still remember at 84 y o. Great job, sirs.
What a wonderful story, and a wonderful and generous gentleman he is. May he have many more years of good health ahead.
Wonderful that that little boy came through all of that trauma and still has his health and dignity. Love to you from NZ.
I remember seeing that picture in a book on the liberation and the days leading to the battle of the Bulges... amazing you found Raymond there. I too had the chance to meet Belgian veterans who served in the RAF and was amazed by their humility. Thanks for keeping the memories alive for the next generations.
I will like to hear their stories!
@@bobotoksy unfortunately they left us a few years ago. One was a Belgian pilot, the other a former resistance member... the pilot wrote a book. His name was Raymond Lallemand, and the French title is "Rendez-vous avec la chance". He flew with 602 squadron till the end of the war, and was gravely wounded when his Typhoon crash-landed on the return of a mission to Arnhem.
What an amazing man and story. So glad you found him. When I started watching I was pretty sure it would impossible. Great work and thank you Mr Melchers!
What a beautiful story. Raymond is such a lovely person. His kindness and willingness to assist you is getting these photos is a testament to his love of what you are contributing to the history of the region.
Thank you. My father served in the army 3rd armor division, medical core. He is gone now. I do so wish I that I would have asked him more about his time over there. Thank you for an amazing job well done!!!
Excellent video and research - well done. Your perserverance paid off. It’s brilliant that you’ve captured his story and with the greatest respect.
Fantastic story, what a wonderful person Raymond is. I love to hear war time stories, they reflect the hardships the civilians also endured. I find the then and now photos so amazing, how many of the old buildings have been restored and are still in use today. I know you are situated in Europe but if you ever want to expand your horizons, my parents were part of the internment of the Japanese Canadians in 1942. An interesting part of Canadian history that is not well known. Thanks for your great work!
I knew that here in the US, we had internment camps for American Japanese, but I had no idea that Canada had the same. I do hope someone like the Snafu Docs comes out to interview your parents. After growing up on Oahu in the early 1970's, seeing the shell holes still in buildings in downtown Honolulu and playing along the edge of Pearl Harbor and sitting on leftover cement pilings rubble just watching the ships go by with my brother, WWII was significant to me even then. I can't imagine how terrible your parents felt about wanting to help their country and how angry and betrayed they must have felt at the same time, being taken away from their homes until the war's end. I wish them all happiness and I hope that the rest of their lives has been much better. 🌺🌺🌺💝 Hugs from Denton, Texas
I have seen that photo of him sitting on the luggage and sacks before. It is fantastic that you were able to find him and get his perspective of life during the war. Great video!
I just found this channel today, and I'm blown away with this video. The people who lived in that era are passing on, and I believe it's of great importance to have them tell their story before they move on. The fact that you found this man is a real "one-in-a-million shot". Great job - I look forward to more of this content. And this gentleman was amazing to listen to - like he lived it yesterday!
This was so interesting and nice. That little boy turned out to be a nice man. Way to go Raymond! a good job.
He is the MAN!
Thanks for making this heart warming mini doc. it's great to see someone young from a new generation taking such an interest in WWII. Never forget.
Love how respectful and courteous you, your father and camera person were with everyone during the filming. Kudos. Really enjoyed this video. Quite emotional to watch. Thank you.
You won the Internet with this one, seriously...as the son and nephew of WW2 veterans who are long gone, this made my year. My father served in the Pacific Theater, my uncles in Europe. Raymond's facial expression is heartbreaking in the original photo, I'm so glad he prospered in later life. This is an incredible story, thank you so much.
What an outstanding discovery. From Australia, I appreciated someone from Der Nederlands talking to someone from Luxembourg in English.
What a kind, friendly man and what a powerful historical picture that will live forever.
I'm setting here, watching the interview with Mr. Melchers, with tears in my eyes. Great production. I especially like the story about the gentleman passing out shots of Schnaps to men on tanks. My father would have loved to set down with Mr. Melchers and talk about that period of the war. He was in that area during the Battle of the Bulge. Great production. We must never forget that part of history. Thanks Joey and God bless Mr. Melchers for sharing.
Erg goed werk, mijn vader vertelde mij ook vele verhalen, hij was 19 in '44 en kwam zelfs in Bastogne terecht als Sherman chauffeur. Helaas is hij er sinds 2014 niet meer, maar door jou werk blijft alles "in the picture" bedankt joh!
I too, have always been fascinated with WWII. I have seen Raymond's picture. Having to evacuate with two cows.....you can't even imagine what the hardships were like. The dude is a LEGEND. Thank You Raymond. Thank You Team SNAFU DOCS.
Raymond the legend. Amazing!
Incredible. That you were able to locate him after so many decades. So happy for you all.
I’m completely blown away by that mini doc. Chills and smiles abound - what a warm and generous fellow Raymond is, thank you for this. 🍻
What an incredible opportunity you have to keep these stories alive.
Insane!
Incredible. How did you accomplish this in one day? It brought a tear to my eye!
We have no idea ourselves!
Must admit I was welling up a bit myself .Reeled myself in just in time .
I could immediately recognize his face from the picture with the same expression when he came to the door! Wonderful!
I am glad that he survived.. It makes me happy to see people that survived that horrendous war and still living to tell today! God bless them all!
One of the best things I've seen! Very nice work! Mr. Melchers is a remarkable man- thank goodness for his generosity in sharing his experience. WWII history that will be lost to us as first person accounts before much longer- thank you for documenting this!
What a guy, talking with you and going to the place. 👍Great he’s alive and well. Love these kind of stories.
Unbelievable!
Glad you enjoyed it
I really like the civilian perspectives as well. Brings a more complete understanding of the war. Well done (again!)
Very good piece of detective work and very moving documentary. I enjoy watching these.
Dear I'm Mohd Arif from India I don't know why but I'm very very interested in WW1 and WW2 thanks to show us the places of war then and now
When you don't know the reason of your interest may well be related to reincarnation
It's beyond description how incredible it is that you guy's understand the importance of personal stories and experiences connected to WWII. You allow us to meet amazing people while they impart their knowledge of the past and we get to feel a little bit of the trials and triumphs they endured. There is just something really special about then and now photos and you nail it on head every time...thank you so much!
Thanks again buddy! We still can't believe it ourselves.
Thanks for doing these videos. I am 70 years old and had uncles in the war and remember the veterans coming to our house when I was a small by. Their faces were a mirror of all the horror they had witnessed.
These videos are invaluable, captivating and very well produced. Thanks for this.
Thank YOU and your team for this wonderful bit of 'Then and Now'! Mr. Melcher is certainly a character...a joy to listen to him! Again, THANK YOU!
I just discovered your channel and I love it! I live in Washington DC and I've always wanted to travel to Europe to some of the WW II sites, but I'm not financially able to do so. I'll just keep watching your videos instead. This man was so friendly. I could've listened to his stories forever. I know you'll cherish the time you spent with him. Keep bringing the videos. You're awesome.
One of the most underrated channels on YT.
This is excellent! Mr. Melchers is such a wonderful gentleman. I’m so thankful that you took the effort to meet this great guy.
This was so great. How lucky to find him. It is such a wonderful story of something happy in WWII. Well Done!
It couldn't have gone any better. Thank you for watching!
Thank you for doing this. Thank you for caring about the past and preserving it! Thank you for not forgetting!
Amazing story. Raymond is only a couple years older than I. My dad was over there as a U.S. sodier til the end of the war. RAYMOND is so sharp for his age. It gives me hope that I can live on, strong and healthy as he has. Im so glad that he and his family lived on and did so well. This video was exceptinally well done, and I thank those who made it. May the world have peace and not go through another world war. Best wishes from an 82 year old grandmother in Montana, USA.
THANK YOU! DANKE SEHR!! I'm half English half German and it's so good to see these posts. I love both my families as they are all good kind caring loving people. Peace xx
Well done guys, liked the movie and the work you all have done.
I could cry. Got emotional. Thank you for this priceless piece.
I absolutely loved this. My beloved father served in the South Pacific during WWII. I wish I could have done a before and after with him. I think you made this man's day!
What a Precious Man. What a Beautiful Story. Thank you for Bringing the Now & Then Together. I'm so Thankful to have stumbled upon this Story. My Father would have Loved this. He Was in WW2 stationed in the South Pacific. God Bless you for your work. ❤
Another highly polished, well researched and beautifully produced documentary. Always a joy to watch.
Wow, thank you for watching!
Wow wow wow. One of the best independent documental I have seen in CZcams. Thank you so much
Absolutely ONE OF THE BEST videos of war time history. Had a 😢in my eye at the end.
FABULOUS STUFF!!!
Very important work you've done here. Saving the war story's of our ancests for future generations.
The ending was so touching, made me so happy for him, for him to finally be recognized NOW!🇺🇸🤓
One of the best Videos I saw . Raymond is so cheerful and friendly guy. I'm so intrested in IIWW and life after the war . I really appreciate the effort you get took. It was amazing!!! Thank You.
I dare anyone to watch this and not feel emotional, an absolutely brilliant piece of work and research by you all and of course Raymond for agreeing to be involved in the tracing of his past and the connection with the photograph, thank you for posting this, excellent work ! Regards James
This video is amazing, such great luck that you found him and his wife and that he was gracious enough to tell his story and revisit his childhood home, very moving piece of journalism, your father must be very proud of you ! Keep up the great work!
23:05 what a great moment. He seems so happy. A full life still being lived, hard to believe that was him in the picture. I am happy for you that this worked out so well.
You guys have such a talent for catching the 'then' and 'now'. this film was both incredible and moving. I look forward to all of your films, they really capture the moment, and your commentary is very engaging. Thank you and please don't stop.
Glad you enjoyed it!
As The Flying Dutchman said below, time is running out for this type of thing to be done. Thank you very much for doing this. Very glad I found this channel!
I am grateful to you for your work in keeping such pieces of history alive! Thank you. This episode was special. Besides being deeply interested in the Second World War, my grandparents were born and raised in Luxembourg.
This is incredible! Great work guys! Such an interesting story, it is neat to hear the story of those that lived through the war on the civilian side.
Thanks buddy!!
Congratulations on your work on keeping the history alive. It's important for all the next generation to know about what happened in the past.
wow. this was outstanding! amazing you tracked down the man after all this time and how kind he is. truly heart warming.
Thank you for such a delightful fascinating story! What a lovely man to share
his story with you and all of us. Wonderful!
Loved it Joey! You guys do incredible work. It was emotionally touching as well as informative. My thanks also to the Melchers family for being so kind and cooperative.
Thank you Joe!
This is my favorite! I love all your documentaries but there is something so joyful and intriguing about Mr. Melcher. Quality programming right here!
It's amazing what you find when you do a little digging. I found the radioman from my great great uncle's B24 crew. They were shot down in February 1944 over Holland while returning from a bombing mission over Gotha Germany.
That radioman is pushing 100 years old today and is the sole survivor of the crew.