It's always so odd, and in a way so flattering that people who have nothing to do with our little hometown's history take time and energy to learn about it, and make quality content like this, you even stood litteraly right next to my home :D ! So strange, so wonderful, thank you so so much for your interest in our city's history :) Merci beaucoup :D !
@@lemo6761 that's interesting hearing that. I guess I sort of thought that Germans maybe left in large numbers post war. Im from Northern Ireland and remember finding a commonwealth war graves in La Délivrande full of my fellow countrymen who died liberating France in WW2.
@@Roller_Ghoster it is not German but Alsatian, but yes, the grandparents speak it, most of the parents too, and we learn it at school, I often speak Alsatian with my friends, my grandparent or my parents
Amazing work ! My Dad spent 35 months in WWII from being drafted until the end.He talked about the fighting in France,the Battle of the Bulge and into Germany.He would be proud of you.
Thanks so much for this video. About 1985 I visited Hagenau as a tourist with my new French girlfriend (I 'm British and had just started working in Strasbourg). I was intrigued to see little markers on the pavements which designated the front-line of that cold winter. It was a bitterly cold winter's day and I thought how much those brave troops must have suffered dug into ruined houses. I always stop at WW2 monuments to honour the soldiers of that generation .... sometimes they are in such lonely places. That French girl became my wife and our first two children were born in Germany.
Wow, that's unbelievable, I lived my entire life in Haguenau, walking in front of those buildings and houses without knowing anything of that. Thank you !
13 years ago (for my 40th birthday), my 8 year old son and I traveled from Chicago to Normandy for an amazing visit. To keep my son's interest, I made a game of Then and Now pictures. He had fun trying to find the matching picture as we made our way throughout Normandy. We have a great picture album with all our Then and Now pictures. I hope to return to Normandy again with my other son and made new memories and new Then and Now pictures. I love your work and I'm so glad to have found your Channel. Many thanks to you for the work you're doing to preserve history.
Hello I grew up in Haguenau and recognize all the places, what an emotion to see these pictures. My grand mother talked to us about this period but I never saw such great pictures making the link with our recent time. Thank you for this great work and engagement that helps to keep memory for future generations.
I 'm coming from this town and know all this locations , i don't know how i can thank you for your job ! For us , Alsatians , this period of war was very hard , and a lot of emotions are coming out ... thank you and the allied forces !!
Thank you for this very interesting video. My father was wounded near Rosteig, France, about 40 km to the west of Hagenau, on 4 Dec 1944. He was with the U.S. 100th Infantry, 398th Regiment, 3rd Battalion. He lost fingers of his right hand and had deep scars on the right side of his torso. After many surgeries, he married and became a great father, and raised four children. He died in 1998 of natural causes.
Wow! I love the 100th Infantry Division, also known als the Sons of Bitche. When I visited Haguenau I also went to the village of Bitche and took photographs of the monument. American actor Steve Carell's father was also in the 100th Infantry Division! Your father was a true hero. I hope to return to the area and create a video about the 100th
@@eliasparra7777 Thank you, Elias. As the son of a combat veteran, I think other sons and daughters will agree with me, that he should be thanked not only for his service, which was a few months of terrible threat, but even more for a lifetime of living with that, and getting up every morning, and going to work, and being a good husband to my mom, and being a good father to his children. As an older adult now, I can only fully appreciate the life he lead of living 'normal' whilst carrying those memories in his head. Sometimes he would be lost in his head, but that was rare, mostly he would try very hard to 'keep his head in the game' and be there for us. I'm sure at times it was not easy and took great strength. And I truly thank him, and all the other veterans out there, for that. It made a difference to me, his children, which then carried down to his grandchildren, and even now his great-grandchildren, that he never was able to meet. So to the veterans: thank you for your service, but thank you even more for a lifetime of being there for us. It mattered.
I just hope that are children and the children of are children never forget what your father and so many more did for all of us they were truly the greatest generation that ever lived and once more thank you from me and my family for everything that your dad did
Haguenau is my place of birth and I come back quite often to visit my family. I pushed the link of this video to my 80+ year old dad, witness of the events. Great job, research and going all the way to shoot this documentary. Well done!
A fascinating look at the present day Haguenau. Thank you for taking the time to make this video, your efforts in keeping history alive are very much appreciated.
Very emotional to watch. Puts a lump in ones throat. History is everywhere. Very respectfully done young man. Thank you for honoring these brave soldiers. May we never forget.
I love SNAFU Docs, the difference is attention to detail, the story & the tangible passion of those presenting, Then and Now builds such a picture, please keep going with this it is setting you apart from others. Well done.
Wow!! Oh my goodness Joey...thank you for doing this. I'm from Haguenau and I live in Canada, but I have still have lots of family living in Haguenau! Thank you so much!!!!
Amazing video. Very well done. My mother is French and I was raised in central France in an old home that hasn’t changed much. My aunt still lives there. One day, I was exploring the cellars and barn and found several old items including small wine barrels and bicycles covered in mounds of dust and cobwebs. My aunt says those items hadn’t been touched in over 75 years, some of which were moved in order to them hide from the retreating Germans. Wine bottles, furniture, and all sorts of other things are still in the barn and scattered across her place. Amazing how much “untouched” history there is in Europe.
I love these videos. You’re able to do the things I would love to do but am unfortunately not able to. Such a worthwhile project which will be available to others long after we are gone. A great effort guys, keep em comin! 👍🏻
I live in the USA and have been doing my genealogy for the past 25 years. I have found some 8th great grandparents that were born and lived in Haguenau. This short film was most interesting from a genealogical point and a historical one also. Thank you
Mijn leven lang al geïnteresseerd in alles wat met de tweede wereld oorlog te maken heeft en kan dan ook geboeid kijken naar jullie reportage.Mijn zoon en ik gaan regelmatig locaties in België opzoeken op zoek naar geschiedenis.Top doe zo verder
hey! I am from Alsace and I live in a nearby village in Haguenau (niederschaeffolsheim), and my grandmother often tells me what it was like to go to Haguenau between 1939 and 1945. like the Americans who were camping in the forest, a plane crush in the forest, or even the Germans who ask for eggs from my grandmother's grandmother. so naturally i loved this video, i can tell you that you got a subscriber
Wonderful. Thank you for keeping this important part of history open to younger generations. The sacrifices of my father’s generation are honored and not forgotten because of the work you are doing here.
These videos are fantastic. You guys have got these spot on and it’s so special to see exactly where these actions happened. It’s almost like we’re standing right with those guys, all those brave young men, sadly now all gone but this keeps their memory alive. Thanks for doing this. And good luck from Ireland 🇮🇪👍
Your work is so appreciated. My father, all my uncles and my father-in-law all served in WWII. I am myself a Vietnam vet. I was born in 1945 before the war ended. I always enjoyed history especially WWII history. I was fortunate to hear a few stories from my dad, but mostly from my father-in-law. They did not talk much, but I remember a few times in the 1970’s when a few of my father-in-laws old military friends were out on the patio having some whiskey and beers and he invited me out to sit and have a few drinks. I said nothing, just listened. I tell you I heard stuff that these guys did and things they saw, they were the very essence of what a warrior is. These guys were indeed the greatest generation. The toughest most regular Americans that ever were. They preserved our freedom at a time when we either would not be a free country or we would continue to be a free country.
Wow, amazing job, guys. Riveting stuff! Got chills seeing you find the exact same spots where the pics and film clips have preserved WWII history. Hats off!
I'm from Haguenau and have searched and found the same locations before watching your amazing video ! Thank you so much ! That's great ! I have an original patch of the 79th Infantry Division (The Lorrainers) given to my dad by a GI in 1944. Its such a precious gif !
Hi, I'm a dweller of Haguenau, not from there but still very moved by your video reporting and archives pictures. I can't believe that there exist images of this un-famous town Haguenau is ... even unknown by other French people, shot during WWII.. Thanks very much, I'm going to share this.
I Love when Historian's like yourselves really go All the Way in trying to match-up real photos with the actual location's and are Lucky enough to find those streets, building's, fences and fields that are still the same and intact as they were in those photos and film archives taken 70 - 80 years ago. You take Us for the walk with you and the generations whose parents were only children themselves when those event's and the photos that documented them actually took place....BRAVO!! and Thank You for the pleasure of taking us back in time that would not have been possible but for your own passion and interest in bringing ALL of it forward for us to experience for ourselves So Many decades later. Many others are now making this a Real Art Form with the use of current technology practically almost bringing it all to life as if it were only yesterday and it All will only keep getting better with the many more people taking a interest in the past that Wouldn't have happened but for the technology and your interest in it and the enthusiasm of a wider growing audience that Will only continue to expand. O.K., I've rambled on enough and will just say Thank You and Please continue with this as I would Love to see More ♥
Amazing to see those pictures, I live 20km from Haguenau near the german border and my grandmother who offen tells me about these times lives in Haguenau I will show her this video !
Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication in preserving history. It truly shows that you put your heart and soul into making your videos for us !
Well done! I came within a few kilometers of Haguenau in 2019, and regretfully did not remember where I kept seeing that name, Haguenau. A week later, it clicked -- Band of Brothers. Now I want to go back and see your photo sites.
I don’t know what motivates to do that, that must be a monumental task, but I truly appreciates what you doing.. i became emotional once you saw the pics and the places from the past to the present
Wow! Only a few days old and I just came across this! My mothers family is from Alsace, but I had plenty of relatives fight in WWII US. This is great! Thank you for doing this.
I absolutely love this type of history. Then and now shots always blow me away. Thank you so very much for sharing and I look forward to seeing more from your channel ❤
Extraordinary to say the least. Very good presentation and I know now I’ll need to plan for more than 2 weeks for my “bucket list” tour of Normandy and other areas in Western Europe. Thanks for the great historical snapshot there.
Thank you so much for this video! I came to Haguenau today and followed your itinerary + added some more stuff from band of brothers which I managed to find! You were right about those houses about to be demolished in the beginning of the video, they were gone today when I came, but everything else is still there!!
YOU ARE A BEAST !! Your passion for historical moments in history , the long hours of research , and the precision of matching up your photos are simply inspiring. Great job !
OMG you discovered my favorite town in France. Discovered it by accident back in 1993 on my first trip to Europe. I was alone during those 10 days and I just stayed in Haguenau.I met a bunch of people there, was invited to people's homes for dinner. I have stayed in touch with many of those same people and have been back every year or two since. I've been to two weddings and was made a Godfather to my best friend's son in Haguenau. They've since moved to Strasbourg, but when I do go back now. it's like my second home. The Christmas market, Fete d'houblon in August. Always welcomed with open arms.....Haguenau, Alsace, great place! Lot's of fond memories....
I live here , my Neighbour Germain was 20 when the Americans came ( she laughs as I am an American living next door) she is sharp as a Tack love her . This is perhaps the most interesting video I have ever seen due to me always wondering and never the time to research . Thank you for this . Also I heard the heaviest fighting was after the UA left.. then came back. It was not permitted to level with artilliary . Or perhaps there was none. But the fighting on the second return was house to house and it took months to accomplish . Please feel free to comment
Je suis aussi Haguenauvien et fier de l'être 😊 C'est un très beau reportage sur la ville. C'est impressionnant d'apprendre tout ça sur l'endroit ou l'on vit, ou l'on marche quotidiennement. Bravo pour ce reportage formidable
Hello everybody! Take a look at all of the Then & Now photographs of this video on our website: www.snafu-docs.com/then-now-the-liberation-of-haguenau-1944-1945 Are you a descendant of a World War II veteran and would you like to learn more about his or her service? SNAFU DOCS offers WWII research consultancy where we help you find your veteran’s WWII Footsteps. If you were told that your veteran's records were burned in the 1973 fire, we could still help you out. snafu-docs.com/snafustore/
Hi, I was born in Haguenau and still there now. It's mindblowing to see these of footages of my city! Thank you so so much for your work! C'est incroyable
Gentlemen this is an outstanding video , it brings back a lot of memories , I was stationed in Baden _ Baden for 4 yrs ( 1978--- 1982 ) we had many meals in Haguenau , we enjoyed the town and its people very much , thank you very much for the fond memories and keep up the fanstatic work .
Thank you for your amazing work. I was born in this city and have heard of historical events, but you put images and videos of this, and make it way more interesting and educating than the teachers at school.
Great work. Thank you for the ' then and now" approach to history. You honor the sacrifice of those who suffered, both civilian and military. We must never forget how much Freedom costs.
It's fun for me, because Haguenau it's a town right next to my house. I didn't know that Americans want to know more about this city, but i'm proud to see my region on this channel ! And remember : Vive la France ( et vive l'alsace ) !
I personally knew the commander of one of the three regiments that made up the 79th ID. He commanded the regiment from Normandy to the Ruhr Valley, through many tough battles along the way. I've read several accounts of the 79th ID's battle history and his regiment in particular, and the back and forth fighting around Haguenau during that bitterly cold winter was generally viewed as the most challenging period of the war by members of the 79th. He and his wife were in their 80s when I knew them in the 1980s. Both were still very mentally sharp and he especially was still physically active, like someone twenty years his junior. I was in my 20s and active duty military at the time, and my wife worked at a bank near the base. The colonel was a regular customer of the bank, and my wife mentioned to him that I was in the military and very interested in WW2. He invited me to come to his home, which I did with a friend of mine who was also a WW2 buff. We visited with the colonel and his wife for several hours. Their home was filled with mementos from the war, such as his uniforms all the way back to his days as a West Point cadet, his many decorations, framed newspaper clippings about his unit which appeared in US papers during the war, battle flags, and a bust of Hitler his troops had captured and presented to him complete with a big bow around it and a bullet hole in its temple. They were very gracious hosts, and said they were surprised that any young people were interested in the war and their stories. Can you imagine? My only regret in retrospect is that I wish I knew more about the 79th ID's war record back then so I could have asked him more specific questions. Before the Internet there was no easy way to do that kind of research, but in recent years I've read everything I can find about his regiment and division, and I now have so many questions I'd love to ask. He and his wife lived into their 90s in the 1990s, and are buried in the nearby national cemetery.
In the last film of the mortar position, a child can be seen staring out of the first floor window. That being her grandmothers, I suspect that could be one of her parents or relatives watching the men firing mortars from the backyard. It touches one’s soul to witness the innocence and brutality of the time in the same framing of a camera. Thank you!
This is a really interesting video. I have travelled a number of times through this area from Colmar to Bastogne via Haguenau , mainly because of these battles. To see the comparisons of photographs with modern day is really interesting. This is really good comparison and I agree some empty buildings will be lost as people no longer want to occupy them or restore them. This is why this video is important now which is why I have now subscribed. Great work.
Thank you for this video. I have a cousin who was part of the 44th Infantry Division, 71st Infantry Regiment, who was KIA on Dec 3, 1944. According to a US Army 1945 letter, he was moving into a town called Thal, France (Siersthal?) when he was killed. You mentioned the 79th Infantry Division as being in Haguenau on Dec 10th. I believe this was all part of the Rhineland Campaign in which he would have been a part of. It is fascinating to look at the pictures that appear to have been taken within the same time period. Thanks again.
Wow! The 44th Infantry division is so fascinating. Did you see that I put their emblem on that map at 05:48 ? Thanks for sharing the story. May he rest in peace!
Your doing a great service to their memories. You are right, we must never forget. Yet more importantly, never repeat. No more generations lost to a country's political greed. Thank you for your efforts.
A really excellent contribution to history...great that the owners of the house could share a small part of their own history with not only you..but now us..bravo and keep up the great work
Wonderful historical representation . Please produce more. Such a wonderful documentation to the past and honor to those who sacrificed. Both military and civilian.
Fantastic and well researched! Amazing to bring back history to life. Very grateful for your hard work and videos and pictures. All schools should have this information.
I'm from Haguenau too, thanks a lot for all these memories. I always wanted to know more about the story of my town. I'm sorry to tell you about the house in 3.50, it has be destroyed to build appartments...
Hello, I live in Haguenau and your video is very interesting and enriching for my personal culture ! Great job to you ! I myself living in this city did not know half of what is said in this video ! it's incredible ! thank you very much for your work and good continuation !!! ☺️
I live in Haguenau. Thanks for this video. Very good work! I don't know now, but a few years ago there were buildings with bullet holes. Even now, bullet holes can be seen in the college fence, Place Schuman. Thank you to all Americans who fought for freedom in World War II. I remember that the most decorated soldier in the USA was Audy Murphy (after the war, he will also be a film actor) who fought in the vicinity of Colmar.
Thank you so much for your patient and careful research and for the way you interact with local people when the opportunity arises to tell the important stories contained in these images.
Your video of the rotunda at 08:35 - I remember it from BoB's 8th episode, The Last Patrol. It's a long crane shot with Webster's voice saying, "I wondered if people back home would ever know what it cost the soldiers to win this war. In America, things were already beginning to look like peace time. The standard of living was on the rise, racetracks and nightclubs were booming. You couldn't get a hotel room in Miami beach, it was so crowded. How could anyone ever know of the price paid by soldiers in terror, agony and bloodshed.. if they'd never been to places like Normandy, Bastogne.. or Hagenau?" Well thanks Snafu Docs, for helping people to understand.
Thank you. Simply amazing. The homeowners were more than gracious. What a blessing. Our Great Uncle was with a Tank Destroyer Battalion. Very well done.
Hi and thanks a lot for your work. My folks are leaving in North if Alsace since over 500 years and almost participated in each War, on one side, or the other. My daughter leaves west of Haguenau, her grand-father leaves along the Moder, i leave in Strasbourg, and the rest of my family along the Rhine river. On that Time, my grand father was forced to join the Wermacht, or the whole family would has been sent into the Natzwiller concentration camp. Hearing from the battle approaching the Alsace area, je flew with arms and uniform from Tchecoslovaquia on december 44. His aunt leaving in Landau could hire him some days. On january 45, he crossed the Rhine, driven into a General's car. The officers had an order to drive each soldier they could find on the road to the battlefield of Hatten. Once he crossed the river, he went back to its family in Mothern, were my grand mother hired him until the liberation. I still have his "Refractory card" given by the french governement to all those who deserted the german army. From the 134000 "Malgré Nous", 30% died on the east front and 40000 were wounded. This is also a part of our dual History, leaving on the border of 2 nations in perpetual conflict since 1680. Thanks a lot, you saved my grand-parents.
It's always so odd, and in a way so flattering that people who have nothing to do with our little hometown's history take time and energy to learn about it, and make quality content like this, you even stood litteraly right next to my home :D !
So strange, so wonderful, thank you so so much for your interest in our city's history :)
Merci beaucoup :D !
I'm from Haguenau and I just wanted to say thank you to keep our history in memories 💙
Thank you for watching!
Are there any German speakers left in that part of Alsace?
@@Roller_Ghoster yeah of course, the culture is still present and strong even if we are french. We still learn german and since primary school
@@lemo6761 that's interesting hearing that. I guess I sort of thought that Germans maybe left in large numbers post war. Im from Northern Ireland and remember finding a commonwealth war graves in La Délivrande full of my fellow countrymen who died liberating France in WW2.
@@Roller_Ghoster it is not German but Alsatian, but yes, the grandparents speak it, most of the parents too, and we learn it at school, I often speak Alsatian with my friends, my grandparent or my parents
Amazing work ! My Dad spent 35 months in WWII from being drafted until the end.He talked about the fighting in France,the Battle of the Bulge and into Germany.He would be proud of you.
Thanks so much for this video. About 1985 I visited Hagenau as a tourist with my new French girlfriend (I 'm British and had just started working in Strasbourg). I was intrigued to see little markers on the pavements which designated the front-line of that cold winter. It was a bitterly cold winter's day and I thought how much those brave troops must have suffered dug into ruined houses. I always stop at WW2 monuments to honour the soldiers of that generation .... sometimes they are in such lonely places. That French girl became my wife and our first two children were born in Germany.
I was born in Frankfurt , Germany 3/30/57!
Wow, that's unbelievable, I lived my entire life in Haguenau, walking in front of those buildings and houses without knowing anything of that. Thank you !
So cool! Thank you for watching!
American Soldiers chilling while you passing by 👻😅
13 years ago (for my 40th birthday), my 8 year old son and I traveled from Chicago to Normandy for an amazing visit. To keep my son's interest, I made a game of Then and Now pictures. He had fun trying to find the matching picture as we made our way throughout Normandy. We have a great picture album with all our Then and Now pictures. I hope to return to Normandy again with my other son and made new memories and new Then and Now pictures. I love your work and I'm so glad to have found your Channel. Many thanks to you for the work you're doing to preserve history.
Hello
I grew up in Haguenau and recognize all the places, what an emotion to see these pictures. My grand mother talked to us about this period but I never saw such great pictures making the link with our recent time. Thank you for this great work and engagement that helps to keep memory for future generations.
I 'm coming from this town and know all this locations , i don't know how i can thank you for your job ! For us , Alsatians , this period of war was very hard , and a lot of emotions are coming out ... thank you and the allied forces !!
Thank you for the comment and for watching!
Thank you for this very interesting video. My father was wounded near Rosteig, France, about 40 km to the west of Hagenau, on 4 Dec 1944. He was with the U.S. 100th Infantry, 398th Regiment, 3rd Battalion. He lost fingers of his right hand and had deep scars on the right side of his torso. After many surgeries, he married and became a great father, and raised four children. He died in 1998 of natural causes.
Wow! I love the 100th Infantry Division, also known als the Sons of Bitche. When I visited Haguenau I also went to the village of Bitche and took photographs of the monument. American actor Steve Carell's father was also in the 100th Infantry Division! Your father was a true hero. I hope to return to the area and create a video about the 100th
Your dad was a great man and I thank him for his service
@@eliasparra7777 Thank you, Elias. As the son of a combat veteran, I think other sons and daughters will agree with me, that he should be thanked not only for his service, which was a few months of terrible threat, but even more for a lifetime of living with that, and getting up every morning, and going to work, and being a good husband to my mom, and being a good father to his children. As an older adult now, I can only fully appreciate the life he lead of living 'normal' whilst carrying those memories in his head. Sometimes he would be lost in his head, but that was rare, mostly he would try very hard to 'keep his head in the game' and be there for us. I'm sure at times it was not easy and took great strength. And I truly thank him, and all the other veterans out there, for that. It made a difference to me, his children, which then carried down to his grandchildren, and even now his great-grandchildren, that he never was able to meet. So to the veterans: thank you for your service, but thank you even more for a lifetime of being there for us. It mattered.
I just hope that are children and the children of are children never forget what your father and so many more did for all of us they were truly the greatest generation that ever lived and once more thank you from me and my family for everything that your dad did
Thank was cool
Haguenau is my place of birth and I come back quite often to visit my family. I pushed the link of this video to my 80+ year old dad, witness of the events. Great job, research and going all the way to shoot this documentary. Well done!
Excellent work. A fine reminder of all the sacrifices made by these young men and women during these abominable wars.
Thank you.
A fascinating look at the present day Haguenau. Thank you for taking the time to make this video, your efforts in keeping history alive are very much appreciated.
Very emotional to watch. Puts a lump in ones throat. History is everywhere. Very respectfully done young man. Thank you for honoring these brave soldiers. May we never forget.
Thank you for watching :) Really appreciate it
bravo pour vos recherches ,impressionnant , et beaucoup d'émotions de redécouvrir ces endroits!!! merci
Merci!!!!
I love SNAFU Docs, the difference is attention to detail, the story & the tangible passion of those presenting, Then and Now builds such a picture, please keep going with this it is setting you apart from others. Well done.
Thank you Mark! There is no reason for us to stop doing this. We are passionate researchers with the ultimate goal to preserve history. Thanks again!
Absolutely agreement with this comment word by word. I was trying to describe the same feeling. So it´s already done.
Wow!! Oh my goodness Joey...thank you for doing this. I'm from Haguenau and I live in Canada, but I have still have lots of family living in Haguenau! Thank you so much!!!!
Wow that is amazing! Thank you so much for watching!
@@SNAFUDOCS it was a real pleasure watching this...I miss my childhood in Haguenau!
Thank you for you historically significant docs! May we never forget our history. "Those who forget their history are damned to repeat it".
Thank you so much my friend!
I love your comment. Thanks.
Amazing research and photography as usual Joey. May we never forget.
Thanks a lot man!
Amazing video. Very well done. My mother is French and I was raised in central France in an old home that hasn’t changed much. My aunt still lives there. One day, I was exploring the cellars and barn and found several old items including small wine barrels and bicycles covered in mounds of dust and cobwebs. My aunt says those items hadn’t been touched in over 75 years, some of which were moved in order to them hide from the retreating Germans. Wine bottles, furniture, and all sorts of other things are still in the barn and scattered across her place. Amazing how much “untouched” history there is in Europe.
Glad to hear there are many more videos to come. These are excellent!
Having the insert of the historical footage as you film the site now is just incredible - thanks so much for the work you do.
I love these videos. You’re able to do the things I would love to do but am unfortunately not able to. Such a worthwhile project which will be available to others long after we are gone. A great effort guys, keep em comin! 👍🏻
Maybe one day! Thank you for watching!
Nicely done! Far too many people who do these then and now comparisons get in a hurry and don't allow the viewer to soak it in. Bravo!
Loved this. Nothing more visceral than standing in the footsteps. Brilliantly done. Si.
Exactly! Thanks bro
I live in the USA and have been doing my genealogy for the past 25 years. I have found some 8th great grandparents that were born and lived in Haguenau. This short film was most interesting from a genealogical point and a historical one also. Thank you
My father was a Timberwolf. The 104th Infantry Div., Unit 413, Co. C. Thank you again. I very much appreciate your videos.
Another wonderful production .
We are privileged to have you and your crew, documenting this never before seen, photographic history of WWII.
Mijn leven lang al geïnteresseerd in alles wat met de tweede wereld oorlog te maken heeft en kan dan ook geboeid kijken naar jullie reportage.Mijn zoon en ik gaan regelmatig locaties in België opzoeken op zoek naar geschiedenis.Top doe zo verder
hey! I am from Alsace and I live in a nearby village in Haguenau (niederschaeffolsheim), and my grandmother often tells me what it was like to go to Haguenau between 1939 and 1945. like the Americans who were camping in the forest, a plane crush in the forest, or even the Germans who ask for eggs from my grandmother's grandmother. so naturally i loved this video, i can tell you that you got a subscriber
Wonderful. Thank you for keeping this important part of history open to younger generations. The sacrifices of my father’s generation are honored and not forgotten because of the work you are doing here.
These videos are fantastic.
You guys have got these spot on and it’s so special to see exactly where these actions happened. It’s almost like we’re standing right with those guys, all those brave young men, sadly now all gone but this keeps their memory alive.
Thanks for doing this. And good luck from Ireland 🇮🇪👍
Your work is so appreciated. My father, all my uncles and my father-in-law all served in WWII. I am myself a Vietnam vet. I was born in 1945 before the war ended. I always enjoyed history especially WWII history. I was fortunate to hear a few stories from my dad, but mostly from my father-in-law. They did not talk much, but I remember a few times in the 1970’s when a few of my father-in-laws old military friends were out on the patio having some whiskey and beers and he invited me out to sit and have a few drinks. I said nothing, just listened. I tell you I heard stuff that these guys did and things they saw, they were the very essence of what a warrior is. These guys were indeed the greatest generation. The toughest most regular Americans that ever were. They preserved our freedom at a time when we either would not be a free country or we would continue to be a free country.
Wow, amazing job, guys. Riveting stuff! Got chills seeing you find the exact same spots where the pics and film clips have preserved WWII history. Hats off!
I'm from Haguenau, thanks for showing this it's beautiful !
The part in the beginning when following the tank in the pictures was amazing! Great idea! Made you really feel part of it all.
Thanks so much! 😊
Thank You for keeping this history alive. It is so terrific that we can stand right where history and soldiers stood, fighting the war.
Thank you for watching :)
Just found your channel via the history underground. Really love this video. I'll be watching more.
I'm leaving in Haguenau since 20 years and this vidéo is amazing !
Thank you so much!
Hag aussi
I'm from Haguenau and have searched and found the same locations before watching your amazing video ! Thank you so much ! That's great ! I have an original patch of the 79th Infantry Division (The Lorrainers) given to my dad by a GI in 1944. Its such a precious gif !
Wow! What an amazing item. Thank you for watching!
I’m from a small village near to Haguenau. Congratulations to you for this very nice and clever
vidéo... I rediscovered Haguenau thanks to You.
Thank you very much!
Hi, I'm a dweller of Haguenau, not from there but still very moved by your video reporting and archives pictures. I can't believe that there exist images of this un-famous town Haguenau is ... even unknown by other French people, shot during WWII.. Thanks very much, I'm going to share this.
I Love when Historian's like yourselves really go All the Way in trying to match-up real photos with the actual location's and are Lucky enough to find those streets, building's, fences and fields that are still the same and intact as they were in those photos and film archives taken 70 - 80 years ago.
You take Us for the walk with you and the generations whose parents were only children themselves when those event's and the photos that documented them actually took place....BRAVO!! and Thank You for the pleasure of taking us back in time that would not have been possible but for your own passion and interest in bringing ALL of it forward for us to experience for ourselves So Many decades later.
Many others are now making this a Real Art Form with the use of current technology practically almost bringing it all to life as if it were only yesterday and it All will only keep getting better with the many more people taking a interest in the past that Wouldn't have happened but for the technology and your interest in it and the enthusiasm of a wider growing audience that Will only continue to expand.
O.K., I've rambled on enough and will just say Thank You and Please continue with this as I would Love to see More ♥
These WW2 Then and Now videos are awesome. You guys do a great job. Please keep them coming. Thank you!
Just found your channel. Watching from rhe US. Great video! Thank you for keeping the past alive. This is very important work.
Welcome aboard! Thank you for watching
Amazing to see those pictures, I live 20km from Haguenau near the german border and my grandmother who offen tells me about these times lives in Haguenau I will show her this video !
Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication in preserving history. It truly shows that you put your heart and soul into making your videos for us !
Thank you very much!
Well done! I came within a few kilometers of Haguenau in 2019, and regretfully did not remember where I kept seeing that name, Haguenau. A week later, it clicked -- Band of Brothers. Now I want to go back and see your photo sites.
I don’t know what motivates to do that, that must be a monumental task, but I truly appreciates what you doing.. i became emotional once you saw the pics and the places from the past to the present
Passion for the research it is! The goal is preserve history for future generations :) Thank you for watching!
Thank you 🙏🏻 from a Haguenau resident
Thank you too!
Wow! Only a few days old and I just came across this! My mothers family is from Alsace, but I had plenty of relatives fight in WWII US. This is great! Thank you for doing this.
Wow! Thank you for watching!
I absolutely love this type of history. Then and now shots always blow me away. Thank you so very much for sharing and I look forward to seeing more from your channel ❤
Extraordinary to say the least. Very good presentation and I know now I’ll need to plan for more than 2 weeks for my “bucket list” tour of Normandy and other areas in Western Europe. Thanks for the great historical snapshot there.
This is fantastic as always, thank you for your research..
Great story and pictures! TY so much for your appreciation of history and all those who sacrificed so much.
Thanks for watching!
Keep on going with these videos! History cannot be forgotten.
That's the plan!
Thank you so much for this video! I came to Haguenau today and followed your itinerary + added some more stuff from band of brothers which I managed to find! You were right about those houses about to be demolished in the beginning of the video, they were gone today when I came, but everything else is still there!!
Goddamn they didn't waste any time demolishing those houses did they? So sad....
as always, awesome video and love to see those "Then & Now" ... We will remember them
Thank you buddy!
Je vis à haguenau et c est un belle hommage que vous rendez à notre ville !!!! 👍😉❤️
YOU ARE A BEAST !! Your passion for historical moments in history , the long hours of research , and the precision of matching up your photos are simply inspiring. Great job !
You are too kind!! Thank you for watching!
OMG you discovered my favorite town in France. Discovered it by accident back in 1993 on my first trip to Europe. I was alone during those 10 days and I just stayed in Haguenau.I met a bunch of people there, was invited to people's homes for dinner.
I have stayed in touch with many of those same people and have been back every year or two since.
I've been to two weddings and was made a Godfather to my best friend's son in Haguenau. They've since moved to Strasbourg, but when I do go back now. it's like my second home.
The Christmas market, Fete d'houblon in August. Always welcomed with open arms.....Haguenau, Alsace, great place! Lot's of fond memories....
Thank you for sharing this! I hope you may return to this wonderful place very soon. Thanks for watching!
This is the best history channel on youtube. Absolutely amazing work! Well done.
Wow, thank you!
I live here , my Neighbour Germain was 20 when the Americans came ( she laughs as I am an American living next door) she is sharp as a Tack love her . This is perhaps the most interesting video I have ever seen due to me always wondering and never the time to research . Thank you for this . Also I heard the heaviest fighting was after the UA left.. then came back. It was not permitted to level with artilliary . Or perhaps there was none. But the fighting on the second return was house to house and it took months to accomplish . Please feel free to comment
You are correct! I think that the fighting was heavier the second time
Je suis aussi Haguenauvien et fier de l'être 😊 C'est un très beau reportage sur la ville. C'est impressionnant d'apprendre tout ça sur l'endroit ou l'on vit, ou l'on marche quotidiennement. Bravo pour ce reportage formidable
Hello everybody! Take a look at all of the Then & Now photographs of this video on our website: www.snafu-docs.com/then-now-the-liberation-of-haguenau-1944-1945
Are you a descendant of a World War II veteran and would you like to learn more about his or her service? SNAFU DOCS offers WWII research consultancy where we help you find your veteran’s WWII Footsteps. If you were told that your veteran's records were burned in the 1973 fire, we could still help you out. snafu-docs.com/snafustore/
Hi, I was born in Haguenau and still there now. It's mindblowing to see these of footages of my city! Thank you so so much for your work! C'est incroyable
Glad you enjoyed it!
Gentlemen this is an outstanding video , it brings back a lot of memories , I was stationed in Baden _ Baden for 4 yrs ( 1978--- 1982 ) we had many meals in Haguenau , we enjoyed the town and its people very much , thank you very much for the fond memories and keep up the fanstatic work .
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching
Thank you for your amazing work. I was born in this city and have heard of historical events, but you put images and videos of this, and make it way more interesting and educating than the teachers at school.
Another great video, as always a new one is the high point of my morning here in Alaska.
Great to hear that Tom! Thank you for watching :)
Great work. Thank you for the ' then and now" approach to history. You honor the sacrifice of those who suffered, both civilian and military. We must never forget how much Freedom costs.
It's fun for me, because Haguenau it's a town right next to my house. I didn't know that Americans want to know more about this city, but i'm proud to see my region on this channel ! And remember : Vive la France ( et vive l'alsace ) !
Thanks buddy!
A very moving documentary, thank you so much. A wake up call for the everlasting gratitude and respect we owe to the allied forces who set us free.
I live in the house where the soldiers entered . great Video
Wow!!!!!! Thank you so much for watching !
Such an interesting film. Really well done. All this needs to be remembered. Great job.
I personally knew the commander of one of the three regiments that made up the 79th ID. He commanded the regiment from Normandy to the Ruhr Valley, through many tough battles along the way. I've read several accounts of the 79th ID's battle history and his regiment in particular, and the back and forth fighting around Haguenau during that bitterly cold winter was generally viewed as the most challenging period of the war by members of the 79th.
He and his wife were in their 80s when I knew them in the 1980s. Both were still very mentally sharp and he especially was still physically active, like someone twenty years his junior. I was in my 20s and active duty military at the time, and my wife worked at a bank near the base. The colonel was a regular customer of the bank, and my wife mentioned to him that I was in the military and very interested in WW2. He invited me to come to his home, which I did with a friend of mine who was also a WW2 buff.
We visited with the colonel and his wife for several hours. Their home was filled with mementos from the war, such as his uniforms all the way back to his days as a West Point cadet, his many decorations, framed newspaper clippings about his unit which appeared in US papers during the war, battle flags, and a bust of Hitler his troops had captured and presented to him complete with a big bow around it and a bullet hole in its temple. They were very gracious hosts, and said they were surprised that any young people were interested in the war and their stories. Can you imagine?
My only regret in retrospect is that I wish I knew more about the 79th ID's war record back then so I could have asked him more specific questions. Before the Internet there was no easy way to do that kind of research, but in recent years I've read everything I can find about his regiment and division, and I now have so many questions I'd love to ask.
He and his wife lived into their 90s in the 1990s, and are buried in the nearby national cemetery.
In the last film of the mortar position, a child can be seen staring out of the first floor window. That being her grandmothers, I suspect that could be one of her parents or relatives watching the men firing mortars from the backyard. It touches one’s soul to witness the innocence and brutality of the time in the same framing of a camera. Thank you!
These videos are so interesting keep the good work up.Its keeping history alive you guys are fantastic 👍👍👍
This is a really interesting video. I have travelled a number of times through this area from Colmar to Bastogne via Haguenau , mainly because of these battles. To see the comparisons of photographs with modern day is really interesting. This is really good comparison and I agree some empty buildings will be lost as people no longer want to occupy them or restore them. This is why this video is important now which is why I have now subscribed. Great work.
So nice of the people to show them round at 15.00....What an amazing bit of work you guys did here .Class.
Unbelievable right! Thank you for watching buddy!
@@SNAFUDOCS No problem guys .Well done getting out there and making it happen.
Thank you for this video. I have a cousin who was part of the 44th Infantry Division, 71st Infantry Regiment, who was KIA on Dec 3, 1944. According to a US Army 1945 letter, he was moving into a town called Thal, France (Siersthal?) when he was killed. You mentioned the 79th Infantry Division as being in Haguenau on Dec 10th. I believe this was all part of the Rhineland Campaign in which he would have been a part of. It is fascinating to look at the pictures that appear to have been taken within the same time period. Thanks again.
Wow! The 44th Infantry division is so fascinating. Did you see that I put their emblem on that map at 05:48 ?
Thanks for sharing the story. May he rest in peace!
you guys are great keep the memories of history alive and this is definitely on my bucket list can't wait to see and walk on history thank you !
Your doing a great service to their memories.
You are right, we must never forget. Yet more importantly, never repeat.
No more generations lost to a country's political greed.
Thank you for your efforts.
A really excellent contribution to history...great that the owners of the house could share a small part of their own history with not only you..but now us..bravo and keep up the great work
Wonderful historical representation . Please produce more. Such a wonderful documentation to the past and honor to those who sacrificed. Both military and civilian.
We are always working on new stuff!
Fantastic and well researched! Amazing to bring back history to life. Very grateful for your hard work and videos and pictures. All schools should have this information.
I'm from Haguenau too, thanks a lot for all these memories.
I always wanted to know more about the story of my town.
I'm sorry to tell you about the house in 3.50, it has be destroyed to build appartments...
As always guys utterly brilliant work and it's brilliant the way it's keeps the amazing stories alive.
Thanks buddy! That means a lot!
Merci pour ce gros travail de recherche, c'est vraiment intéressant 👍
Merci beaucoup!!!
Thank you for making these videos, you are doing an amazing job. Your attention to detail is amazing.
Thank you very much!
Hello, I live in Haguenau and your video is very interesting and enriching for my personal culture ! Great job to you ! I myself living in this city did not know half of what is said in this video ! it's incredible ! thank you very much for your work and good continuation !!! ☺️
I so appreciate your videos. It is quite interesting to see how little has changed over the years. Thank you!
As a student of World War, I find what your doing spectacular. The then and now photos of your visits intrigue me most. Keep us the great work.
Thanks Bob! Really appreciate it.
Nice. Your doing what I dream to do. I love before & after shots thanks.
Thank you sir for your time and effort!
Much appreciated!
I live in Haguenau. Thanks for this video. Very good work! I don't know now, but a few years ago there were buildings with bullet holes. Even now, bullet holes can be seen in the college fence, Place Schuman. Thank you to all Americans who fought for freedom in World War II. I remember that the most decorated soldier in the USA was Audy Murphy (after the war, he will also be a film actor) who fought in the vicinity of Colmar.
Never seen pictures like this before! thank you!!!!
Thank you so much for your patient and careful research and for the way you interact with local people when the opportunity arises to tell the important stories contained in these images.
Your video of the rotunda at 08:35 - I remember it from BoB's 8th episode, The Last Patrol. It's a long crane shot with Webster's voice saying, "I wondered if people back home would ever know what it cost the soldiers to win this war. In America, things were already beginning to look like peace time. The standard of living was on the rise, racetracks and nightclubs were booming. You couldn't get a hotel room in Miami beach, it was so crowded. How could anyone ever know of the price paid by soldiers in terror, agony and bloodshed.. if they'd never been to places like Normandy, Bastogne.. or Hagenau?" Well thanks Snafu Docs, for helping people to understand.
Thank you. Simply amazing. The homeowners were more than gracious. What a blessing. Our Great Uncle was with a Tank Destroyer Battalion. Very well done.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching! Your great uncle was a hero!
Thank you for the great research. My grandfather was in the 79th and was there.
Hi and thanks a lot for your work. My folks are leaving in North if Alsace since over 500 years and almost participated in each War, on one side, or the other. My daughter leaves west of Haguenau, her grand-father leaves along the Moder, i leave in Strasbourg, and the rest of my family along the Rhine river. On that Time, my grand father was forced to join the Wermacht, or the whole family would has been sent into the Natzwiller concentration camp. Hearing from the battle approaching the Alsace area, je flew with arms and uniform from Tchecoslovaquia on december 44. His aunt leaving in Landau could hire him some days. On january 45, he crossed the Rhine, driven into a General's car. The officers had an order to drive each soldier they could find on the road to the battlefield of Hatten. Once he crossed the river, he went back to its family in Mothern, were my grand mother hired him until the liberation. I still have his "Refractory card" given by the french governement to all those who deserted the german army. From the 134000 "Malgré Nous", 30% died on the east front and 40000 were wounded. This is also a part of our dual History, leaving on the border of 2 nations in perpetual conflict since 1680. Thanks a lot, you saved my grand-parents.
I love your channel and what you do. Thank you for showing us places many of us will never get to see.
Thanks for watching! Really appreciate the comment