Saint-Lô - the Capital of the Ruins in 1944 (in color and HD)

This is how it looked like in July 1944.
After the battle of Normandy (Operation Cobra), the city was almost totally destroyed (90-95%) and was also called "The Capital of the Ruins" by Samuel Beckett. Saint-Lô was a key city for the westwards moving Americans.
Find more impressive videos in our playlist "Spirit of Liberation": goo.gl/Gzeto2
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Footage in original color and HD before restoring for the documentary “Spirit of Liberation" (Kronos Media, 2016)
Watch here the new restored pictures in our film trailer: goo.gl/CU0hUP

[@okrajoe]

Fascinating high-quality, color video of St. Lo during the invasion of Normandy, summer 1944.

[@inoxs623]

Me HORSE st lo me french...

[@linusfotograf]

Thanks for the great work.

[@christineironside9395]

My Uncle, 2nd LT John Spencer died in St Lo in August 1944. I never knew but by all accounts a real sweetheart. Does anyone know more?

[@evelinehaanstra9069]

I admire the French for getting through this...

[@goldenraptor6464]

This is my home

[@antoinevincent507]

I live in Saint-Lô

[@antoinevincent507]

@luaye1764 No

[@brucefisk9431]

My uncle Virgil Fisk was killed in the battle for St. lo , he was 22 years old

[@AvgDude]

My uncle died in the battle for Saint-Lo. He was in the US Army.

[@flyingcat2054]

I’m sorry. There are still tears to be cried. My father came behind these soldiers as a process of elimination, he told me. Entered July 12 at Normandy.

[@saralopez9965]

My great uncle was there to......he made it home (Texas) and lived to be 95 years old. Thank God for men like your father and all the other soldiers that fought so bravely.

[@DavidHarris-jy4pp]

My ex-neighbor (passed away 8 years ago) was there as well and lost his leg in a shelling attack. He said he and his buddy made it to a crater hole from a previous explosion and another round came in or directly around the hole and killed is buddy and took my neighbors left leg at the knee. He obviously survived the war as it ended for him that day. Great stories and a great man! Miss you Fred and the time we would spend drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon on your deck!

[@KrissnJohnson101]

My great uncle Pvt Charles Mayer died on July 28th 1944 in St-Lo. RIP

[@tylerd55555]

My grandpa Eugene Eidenberger survived Saint Lô as well as Omaha Beach and I am assuming into Germany Purple Heart recipient. Sorry for those who lost someone what a time in the world, brings tears to my eyes to think of how these young men fought. God Bless the men who died here.

[@antique7391]

First thing to do is turn the sound off..

[@PeterPan-iz1kk]

View in 0.75 % speed.

[@Dams944]

Priez pour Saint-Lô

[@baronbustin]

The capital of ruins.

[@BrianDHoefs]

What a mess! I wonder how long it took to rebuild that town?

[@pulco50]

Not that long, but today the architecture remains the same, so we have a city that realy look not that great because of fast building techniques

[@1upproductions423]

@@pulco50 I hope they show more love to that City although I love the fact that they kept the Church Tower damaged and leaving some remains of the war

[@pulco50]

@@1upproductions423 yup, there's a lot of leftovers from the war.
There's also a prison that has been half destroyed that is still here

[@1upproductions423]

@@pulco50 yep I've heard very sad stories about that prison

[@philippejenvrin2741]

15 years !

[@philippejenvrin2741]

Arm ST Lô !!!😢😢

[@RobertEHunt-dv9sq]

I think the town was in better shape under German management. 😮

[@millsbuckss]

Massive civilian casualties 😢

[@raibuzatto9565]

Cod 3