I was there 4th to 6th it was a great few days, did'nt visit any museums just lapped up the fantastic atmosphere the reenactors and their vehicles make it such a show of living history. it was a bit crazy at times battling through the traffic even though we were on motorbikes but everyone seemed just happy to be there even the Gendam's were waving back and prompting us to tag on the back of their groups, many of them likely not local as they were taking snaps as we were in some well known locations. Its a strange mixture of commeration of the fallen and joy of the begining of liberation but works really well, was there in 2004, and 14, would love to think I will be on my bike in 34 too. Thanks to all the People who made it what it was last week especially those with itchy uniforms and gas guzzling machines. Special thanks to those that will always be there, and those that went to visit them who made it all happen 80 years ago. Thanks for the vid some was familiar.
Just when I took that shot of the c130s going over POinte du Hoc, I saw a gendarme motorcyclist sitting on someones collection bike. I moved to film it but he got off before i got near enough. There were a thousand police and Gendarme motards, from all over France.
That German truck you mention at 1:53 is actually a French made Laffey. The huge armored truck you mention at 9:15 is a Dragon Wagon and it is usually seen during the war recovering Sherman tanks that were damaged in battle. In Belton Cooper's book Death Traps, he speaks of an over eager commander of a Dragon Wagon going out to collect a Sherman in the middle of a battle which the Germans saw as well, and they began shooing an artillery barrage that destroyed the Dragon Wagon, the Sherman it was trying to collect, and every thing else around the area. By the way, you accidentally called a Bren Gun carrier a Weasel, and the Panzer two is actually called a Lynx.
I was there 4th to 6th it was a great few days, did'nt visit any museums just lapped up the fantastic atmosphere the reenactors and their vehicles make it such a show of living history. it was a bit crazy at times battling through the traffic even though we were on motorbikes but everyone seemed just happy to be there even the Gendam's were waving back and prompting us to tag on the back of their groups, many of them likely not local as they were taking snaps as we were in some well known locations. Its a strange mixture of commeration of the fallen and joy of the begining of liberation but works really well, was there in 2004, and 14, would love to think I will be on my bike in 34 too. Thanks to all the People who made it what it was last week especially those with itchy uniforms and gas guzzling machines. Special thanks to those that will always be there, and those that went to visit them who made it all happen 80 years ago. Thanks for the vid some was familiar.
Just when I took that shot of the c130s going over POinte du Hoc, I saw a gendarme motorcyclist sitting on someones collection bike. I moved to film it but he got off before i got near enough.
There were a thousand police and Gendarme motards, from all over France.
Thank You
Great overview of the recent celebrations Colin. Thanks for sharing. Do you ever work with Paul Woodage of WW2TV?
No. Paul invites authors to go indeptrh on their subject.
That German truck you mention at 1:53 is actually a French made Laffey. The huge armored truck you mention at 9:15 is a Dragon Wagon and it is usually seen during the war recovering Sherman tanks that were damaged in battle. In Belton Cooper's book Death Traps, he speaks of an over eager commander of a Dragon Wagon going out to collect a Sherman in the middle of a battle which the Germans saw as well, and they began shooing an artillery barrage that destroyed the Dragon Wagon, the Sherman it was trying to collect, and every thing else around the area. By the way, you accidentally called a Bren Gun carrier a Weasel, and the Panzer two is actually called a Lynx.
Thanks for those precisions. The Germans used a lot of french vehicles. I was hesitating between a weasel and universal carrier.