Battle of the Bulge: Bastogne WWII Then & Now - 13 EPIC Photographs
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- Опубліковано 18 гру 2020
- The Battle of the Bulge is a term for history buffs that is inseparable with the German Counter Offensive against the US frontlines in Belgium and Luxembourg that started on Decemeber 16, 1944. The offensive was intended to stop the Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy four Allied armies and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers' favor. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle ever fought by the US Army in World War II.
In this episode of WWII Then & Now we travel around the city of Bastogne to take several Then & Now comparison photographs.
➡️Bastogne Then & Now photographs on www.snafu-docs.com/battle-of-...
➡️Then & Now photographs from our 'Blocking the 2nd SS Division Das Reich' video on www.snafu-docs.com/blocking-t...
➡️Battle of the Bulge color photographs: www.snafu-docs.com/official-b...
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★★MORE INTERESTING BATTLE OF THE BULGE STUFF★★
★Armoured Warfare in the Battle of the Bulge amzn.to/2OmMcDb
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★The Battered Bastards of Bastogne: A Chronicle of the Defense of Bastogne amzn.to/38G4ohY
★Those Who Hold Bastogne: amzn.to/3vgBrTg
★Patton at the Battle of the Bulge: amzn.to/3crjOaY
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28th Infantry Division Video: pxlme.me/ZGtYXzFA
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CREDITS
Cameraman: Florent Plana: pxlme.me/ZGtYXzFA
Battle of the Bulge Tour Guide: Bob Konings: www.battletour.be/
Research of location for TEAM SNAFU photos: Erwin Verholen
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Research a Veteran Yourself: www.footstepsresearchers.com
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Sources Used:
Searching for Augusta by Martin King: pxlme.me/82si1i_h
Battle of the Bulge: Then and Now by Jean-Paul Pallud: pxlme.me/MWFCVS21
Alamo in the Ardennes by John C. McManus: pxlme.me/9oG0d1zz
Aid Station Massacre Video by Reg Jans: pxlme.me/mBV98OO1
No Victory in Valhalla: History of 3rd Bn 506th PIR by Ian Gardner: pxlme.me/YMp519hW
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Johannes Bornlof - Hunger Thirst
August Wilhelmsson - Now Is The Time To Leave
Jon Bjork - Cliffhanger
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My father was with the 501st of the 101st in Bastogne. He parachuted into Normandy, and was wounded in Holland going AWOL from the hospital in England to rejoin his outfit days prior to the battle of the Bulge. Dad retired in 1972, as a Colonel and died of cancer in 1989. A true hero.
RIP He was a great man!
What a beautiful human!!! We’ve been to Bastogne in 2009, 2010 and next year too after being on the Normandy beaches…. There are no words…😢
@DaveHolmes, my dad was there too in the 501. He was with Regimental HQ. Wireman. He'd be 100 right now. Died in 2010 with lots of stories from his pen.
Amazing, thanks for sharing. I’d love to visit Bastogne and the beaches at Normandy.
How did he get from the hospital in England to Holland?
My wife’s great uncle John Cox, Jr is still to this day MIA. He was a paratrooper in the 513th parachute infantry, 17th Airborne Division. He died around the town of Flamierge, Jan 7, 1944. Our family will never forget his sacrifice. We visit Texas A&M University annually to place a remembrance near a bronze memorial with his name in the student union. He was 19, a sophomore, with much to live for. I look at his college photo everyday to remind me that my freedoms came with a huge cost.
Dr. Jack Prior was my grandfather and I’m proud and thankful that his story is mentioned. I’m thankful that my uncle Jeff Prior provided the pictures and the journal entries of my grandfather. When I was 15 I got to meet the black Belgian nurse Augusta Chiwy a year before she died. Amazing woman and my grandfather and her held the greatest respect for each other.
What a wonderful story and great legacy. Thanks for sharing.
I was a Medic in the !980's "Our Motto "To Conserve Fighting Strength" God Bless Dr. Prior and Nurse Chiwy. For God and Country.
@@veteransfortrump8916 Its a shame that trump doesn’t return the respect for veterans. Veterans are why we’re free today.
@@TheMonkdad I am a veteran and never felt anything but appreciation from #45. Saw his genuine love and compassion first hand when I attended the 75th anniversary at the Normandy American Cemetery.
@ David no need to reply to MonkDad brother as they are a troll or a commie/democrat. Reality escapes them.
My father, Orris William Porter was in the Battle of the Bulge with the 554th Michigan Engineers. He said he was hunkered in an icy snowy foxhole with rockets singing overhead. He called them screaming mimis. He said he was truly afraid he was going to die. I watch every film, movie or such looking for him. He's been gone now for 18 years, but I miss him.every day. Thank you for sharing these important images!
My father and his unit captured 23 German soldiers, while talking to a German colonel the man told my dad that Hitler could not win the war, but if the US had been on their side they probably would have won! Love and miss you Dad!! You suffered so much, you were offered a ride home more than once, but no not my daddy!! He kept going til the end, then he came home!! What a hero in my eyes.
Still remember the stories of my grandfather that they went into battle without any winterclothes and actually not prepared for icy and cold weather. He told me that they got white sheets from the Belgian people to camouflage themselves when it was snowing. He served with the 82nd airborne big respect for these guys.
The 82nd is very underrated in the Bulge! Thank you for watching, your grandfather was a hero
Same story was told to me by my father about not having winter clothing. He had many stories from the battle. God rest their souls.
82nd airborne?, wow, I salute grandpa..wherever he is now.
Wats the background music called plz
The video is outstanding. I had an uncle, my father's older brother, who was captured by the Germans near Bastogne on December 24, 1944. He drove an M3 Half Track which towed a tank destroyer, probably 75 mm. His name was Quinton Lee McNeill. The family story is that his M3 was disabled and he and his crew stopped by a stream to get a drink of water. The Germans surrounded them and took them into custody. He ended up in a German prison camp, Stalag IVB Muhlberg near Dresden, Germany. He was liberated on April 12, 1945, taken to a Paris hospital due to malnutrition (he weighed less than 100 pounds), and returned to the States in late July 1945. We think he was in a National Guard unit from Sanford, North Carolina that was assigned to the Fifth Infantry Division, Third Army under General Patton. He died in 2001.
Hi Bernie, I see that he was part of the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion am I correct? They helped to stop the Germans from taking Bastogne before the arrival of the 10th armored and 101st Airborne. Thank you for this story and thank you for watching.
@@SNAFUDOCS I am not certain. I have been trying to find info or confirmation but have not been able to obtain Quint's service records. Can you share how you found the info about the 630th?
May he RIP! What a hero
Barry he would have been towing an Antitank gun. Likely the 3" M5 antitank gun...
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-inch_gun_M5
Dec 27, 1944 my dad's cousin was KIA in the same area. Sgt. Michael Ranson
My father, Joseph J. Nudell, was a medic in the 101st Airborne, was captured at the Battle of the Bulge, marched over 300 miles to a prisoner of war camp, and held until he was liberated on April 29, 1945. He was proud to fight for his country and we were so proud of him. He passed away too soon at age 56 in 1973 of a heart attack. He cherished the bonds of friendship he had developed with other paratroopers from his team until his death. Thank you for this video.
My father, Lee Garrett, was with the 3rd Armored Division in WW2. He was wounded January 15, 1945 at the end of the Bulge. He recovered after a month in the hospital. He returned to his unit until the end of the war. Great video, lest we forget.
Your dad was a hero! Thank you for watching
My Uncle David Richard was also with the third Armored and was wounded at the bulge charging a tiger tank with a machine gun... I asked him why he would do such a thing ,he said "I was mad"....apparently the tank killed his buddy and he lost it for a minute ...he was also lost behind enemy lines for 3 days until his unit found him....I wish he was still here...I miss him...
Salute to your father, Mr Garrett. He's earned the Mr part for sure. I was part of 2nd armor and yes I'm a veteran myself. I raise a toast to your father and all the men and women of the greatest generation.
@@markwebster6568 hi
My dad was as well, Tank Commander 3rd Armored Division, Spearhead, Battle of the Bulge.
My Two sons lost their Great Grandfather in the Battle of the Bulge, Pvt Loren Morgan. I have studied this war for most of my adult life and this doc is very well done academically. Im thankful you younger guys are still remembering vividly, just what a generation of people endured on all sides of the war. I, and mine, will forever be thankful to those that fought and died so that we could have the greatest nation one the history of the world. That same nation seems to be under attack internally as it is always under attack from every form. Freedom isn't free and when you are on top, all others want you off. Great job guys.
Watch out for modern fascist. We had 45 in the White House and now he wants back in. Very scary times.
MAGA@@larryherring445
La muerte no es final del camino nada es fácil....
The greatest enemy is always within. Can a kingdom stand that is divided?? No it can’t!!
The decisions by the political correct Supreme Court have changed America in the last 30 years. Course we been on this path for the last 60 years!
@@larryherring445 45 is exactly what this nation requires, NOT the leftist Marxist cheerleaders that long for total control of every aspect of our lives while wiping their collective backsides with the constitution that so many fought and died to defend.
Fabulous to see you young guys so interested in the battle. My father was with the royal artillery in the northern area of the bulge. He would be very proud of you guys doing this. He passed New Year’s Day 2013 Age 92.
What a hero! thank you for sharing and watching!
I thought the same thing 2and that !! Dont ever lose or forget these great men who echo in eternity they should have more attention the all the idiots in holloywierd!
@@rooster68able very true. But I think there are far more of these young history buffs who really do appreciate what happened in the two world wars than we think! Thankyou. 🇬🇧👍
I live closer to Passchendaele and WWI , and we remember it every day 20H00 ( 30,000 times. On 9 July 2015 ) Last post . Never forget
Brave hero...
Thanks for putting this together. My father is 96 now and alive and well. He was hit by shrapnel in the fighting around Chenogne during the Bulge in December. He was in the 11th Armored Div. As soon as he could walk, he was sent to join another unit and went into Germany and Austria. His division liberated a concentration camp outside of Linz, Austria. After the war he spend six months searching for SS Troopers in the mountains around Tegernsee, Germany. He's always said he's not a hero, but that the heroes were the ones that didn't make it home. Thank you for remembering.
The "Battle of the Bulge" was my first report I had to speak about to my class in 5th-6th grade for Social Studies. I remember drawing a Sherman Tank battling a Panther on the report cover. I was quite nervous but as soon as I started I got lost in telling it, being told to slow down. In the end, I had to answer questions from the class and remember being asked about the Sherman tank and quickly rattled off the many details of weapons and armor thickness to the guffaws of my class. But my teacher liked the report. In 2019 I cycled up through France going through the Normandy beaches and up through Belgium. It is surreal to actually visit areas I had read and seen pics and paintings about in Library books as a kid. Thank you for this.
My father fought through the Bulge with the 2nd Armored Div.- never forget! Great research
Hell on Wheels!
My father. Fought as part of snafu was wounded twice in two weeks after second wounding pulled from action from the battle
HES A HERO GOD BLESS HIM
So was my father.
I recently acquired the Silver Star medal group Of local hero Jewel E Clabo of the 87th division. He was a combat medic during the bulge and got shot up real bad. Saved all of his stuff from being sold separately at a local antique mall.
Golden Acorns! Such a fascinating unit
Good for you!!🇺🇸
I love this video! I have a very cool story about being in Bastogne!
I was active duty Air Force stationed in Germany from 84-88. A buddy of mine and I went to Bastogne for the 40th Anniversary weekend celebration. It was a very memorable visit. The first soldiers that were in Pattons army did a reenactment of his driving a keep through the lines into the town!
My most memorable was on Sat night. They had a parade led by the Honor Guard with our flag, US and Belgian flag. My Buddy and I walked next to them through town. As we walked, we were taken aback by the elderly Belgians standing in their doorways applauding and crying at the sight of US flag! To this day it’s the most proud moment as an American I’ve ever had. It still gives me goosebumps even now, all these years later when I think of that sight! My only regret is that we didn’t wear our uniforms that weekend but instead wore jeans and winter jackets.
Thanks for sharing dude!!
My father was in the 53rd AIB, 4th Armored Division, and entered combat for the first time just after the 4th entered Bastogne. In the push beyond Bastogne, he was wounded by a shell fragment near the village. He recovered after two days in a field hospital, and remained in combat until war's end.
My dad was attached to 4th armor during the battle. He originally landed on Omaha with 1st ID and later wounded, the first of three purple hearts.
Héroes del la segunda guerra mundial.honor y gloria para todos los que lucharon.. también para los alemanes.,.
My father was a combat photographer assigned to Patton's Third Army. He was wounded in action, while taking photographs, as Easy Company retook Foy. I have a few photos from his time there.
I would LOVE to see those photo's... maybe you could post them to an online album and share the link?
@@coreyroberts2831 facebook.com/bob.lynch.9849
I made my ww2 Facebook albums public
@@robertlynch7365 I am being censored and blocked from Face Book because I believe in America and did not follow their Socialist Agenda. Can you post them someplace else so I can see them?
Brilliantly put together homage to the brave soldiers, medics, nurses and civilians who fought, worked and died to push back the Germans during the battle of the bulge. Thank you.
Thank you for watching!!
11:04 I knew George Vanderslice, he was from the Mayfair section in Philadelphia and he told me he jumped into Holland and showed me his 1911A1 .45 pistol he brought back. He also got married in his 101st uniform. He has been gone many years now.
Wow!! Thank you for sharing Hans. Do you have a picture of him? Thank you for watching.
@@SNAFUDOCS Sorry I do not but he was a member of the South Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter 101st Airborne Division Association. If that organization exists they might have. They would meet in a large home on Kelly Drive near boat house row in Philly. Good luck.
Oh shit I grew up near Mayfair
I found out George passed July 22, 1983 at age 84 in 2003 laid to rest at Forest Hills cemetery just outside Philadelphia and that his son and daughter still live in the very house in Mayfair, I will attempt to speak to his children and hopefully get a picture of him in uniform and forward it to you in Europe, keep fingers crossed. Spoke to a Vietnam vet who was a member of the Airborne Association with George and he remembered him well, George produced the association news letter for them and was also informed these WWII guys were excellent card players, they won frequently. George was in B Company 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for action in Holland. Keep fingers crossed for pics.
Thank You, thank you so very much; It was my uncle Bernard Patrick O'Hara who died of wounds near Bastogne. He was with 101st. I believe laid to rest at that cemetery; then later placed back in Ohio to rest next to father and mother. He made it through up till Jan 6, 1945- which was one month from his 21st birthday; I did find one daily report thru archives to verify; we have his serial #. I am always grateful for these great citizens who keep the memorials alive for us ! I will continue his memory, and searching for any more details..Merci. Raymond Thomas O'Hara, Jr. Mesa Arizona.
That daily report must be his Serial Nr. I see that according to his gravestone he was with the 83rd Infantry Division, 330th Infantry Regiment and KIA at Lansival. The 83rd is an amazing division and they have a wonderful association group on Facebook.
@@SNAFUDOCS Thank you.My photos of him in uniform wearing 101st eagle and other chest medals. Father had his 101st insignia things. I must believe that Uncle Bernard O'Hara may have been transferred to 83rd division this has been a item of confusion for many years thank you for the referral to the 83rd division Facebook page I will keep searching.
Hello and Thank you for posting this remembrance of The Battle of the Bulge ....My Father served in the 9th Army 13th Corp. with 556th AAA Auto Weapons Btn "C" Battery and the outfit was assigned to 21st Army Group under Gen Montgomery and was in the Northern part of the Battle. Dad said it was the coldest he had ever been in his life several members of the outfit had frostbite.At a reunion 1 member told me had very severely frostbitten feet he didn't lose any toes but had circulation problems and his feet were still discolored and dark to that day.
My father was in Patton’s 3rd army. These people were indeed the greatest generation. I’m so lucky to be raised and to work with many members of their generation.
The story of Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge is a great one. God bless our soldiers and everyone else who held off the beast all while being heavily outnumbered. RIP. Peace from Connecticut (USA)
My father was with the 9th Armored Div Combat engineers. I have his diary of the entire war from Camp Polk, Bastone, building the pontoon bridge at Remagen an then to the end of the war. FYI: You may have seen the interview of him at the Rhine River interviewed by the American War correspondent Walter Cronkite. His diary is the movements locations and mileage advanced with a few notable exceptions....the christmas of '44 and crossing the Rhine River.
WoW! Is it possible to get in touch with you? I'm working as a researcher on a Netflix Documentary that is coming out in 2022. They are looking for diaries and other egodocuments about the bridge at Remagen to tell the story from a personal perspective. But most of all, I'd love to read it myself. Feel free to contact me on Facebook: Joey van Meesen
Use the above email ....feel free to contact me anytime....
My great grandmas brother was killed at the the bulge on December 21st he was in the 506 pir 101st airborne all these men were definitely the greatest generation
Great video. My Grandfather fought from D-Day until the end of WW11. He was with the Canadian army and saw continuous combat.
A museum is cool but... Seeing this brings history so much closer, you feel it... Brilliant!
Thank you. I had a friend that fought in the battle and use to tell me stories about it. Rest in Peace Jack.
Absolutely wonderful work. You are doing a great service to the memory of the heroes that fought and died at all of these locations. Please keep producing these videos.
Thank you, we will!
Amazing! My step grandfather fought in the battle of the bulge. He died when I was very young. Never remember him talking about the war. Thank you.
A hero!
Thank you for sharing this video, and thank you to those who served! We visited Bastogne last year to show our three teenagers the history of WWII and the story of the Greatest Generations. We’re very moved and thankful.
This is another exceptional video produced by you. I really appreciate your investment of resources and time to keep these memories and sacrifices alive for younger generations.
Thank you Bill. We are glad to hear this
Nicely done gentlemen. My father, T5 Richard Coakley, fought in the battle too. 666th FABn, HQ Battery, Patton's 3rd Army. The pictures I have from one of his comrades, Robert Eckford from Lima, OH, looks extremely similar to the great photography in Band of Brothers. Thank you for doing this video. And yes, May we never forget, and God rest their souls.
Humbling. Thank you for sharing this. So very thankful for these brave men and women. May we never forget their sacrifice.
My grandfather was a tank driver in Spearhead 32nd regiment 3rd armored division. Just now finding this information out. It gives me tremendous pride and answers many questions as to his behavior. thank you to all who fought beside him, for everyone's sacrifice, whether those people be your ancestors or the couple who are still living.
Having been to some of these places myself with military units as part of battlefield tours, I tell you it felt like it takes your soul away from walking through the towns and villages, it's like the atmosphere is completely different like you go back in time it was utterly breath taking amongst other feelings, it's brilliant that there's a channel like this one keeping the memory of those that went before us alive wether it's a UK story or US or even both. Massive respect to the guys that make these videos and obviously to those that were there 👊🏻👍🏻
Outstanding video! Thanks so much for making it. My father was a machine gunner with the Headquarters Company of 1st Battlion 506 PIR. He and his platoon leader were manning the gun outside Noville on or about 19/20 December when a German tank approached them. The tank fired a tree burst and took them out. Both my Dad and his platoon leader were wounded but made it back to an aid station. My Dad was evacuated from the aid station as his wounds were more severe. Later that night the aid station was overrun by the Germans and his platoon leader was captured and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. My Dad was evacuated from Bastogne on a half track and learned later it was the last one out as Bastogne was cut off from American lines.
Wow, thank you for sharing this incredible story Eric. That must have been where the whole medical staff was captured West of Basogne. There is a monument at the location!
My Great Grandfather's first cousin was the commanding General of the VIII Corps and gave the order to hold Bastogne. His name was Lt. General Troy Middleton. At first criticized by Patton for holding this little town that became surrounded he was later praised by Patton for the decision to hold what was a critical crossroads. He was no doubt cursed at some point by many of the men who held it.
Middleton was particularly proud to have served with the heroes of the Ardenness and the men of the VIII Corps from Normandy to the Czech border. He had served in WW1 as an infantry soldier and understood the difficulty that the individual soldier had to endure. He wasn't a career military man but instead volunteered at the start of the war. Upon his resignation he had served the greatest number of days in combat of any member of the General Staff in WW2.
My great uncle Frank Regensburg fought along with his brothers in the battle of the bulge. My grandfather Harold Lorenz was a medic in France during this time.
Thank you for making and sharing these videos!!! May God bless you and all of those soldiers always!!!!
Incredible piece of work ....100% lads .Well done .I'm utterly amazed by this.
Thank you very much!
THIS isAMAZING; it’s humbling that foreigners are MORE interested in this history than we are…these men are captivated by this history; I am in awe of this. These men brought out details not well known; the horror AND, personal devastation is a before unknown moment. Thank YOU for making this vid…!! 👍🏼👍🏼👣🩴
J habite à Bastogne et je connais les endroits que vous avez filmés. Mes grands parents paternels et mon père étaient à Bastogne durant la guerre, ils habitaient en face de la caserne où se trouvait le quartier général américain et la fameuse cave Nuts. Ma mère habitait à l'époque dans le village de Bercheux à 18 km de Bastogne, les troupes américaines y ont fait halte avant de repartir au front, ma mère me parlait souvent de la 101 airborne et de ses soldats entre autres un soldat nommé Fred Mac Carty et un autre qui lui avait donné une médaille de la vierge que j'ai toujours, hélàs ma mère est décédée et je ne me souviens plus du nom, je sais juste qu'il avait une origine italienne. Encore merci à tous les soldats américains qui nous ont permis de naître et de vivre libres.
My father fought in the battle of the Bulge 44 th infantry division.
What a hero! What was his name?
Ralph G.Schneider
Check the unit. The 44th did not participate in the bulge. It was farther south.
Both my grandfathers and one of my grandmothers served in WW2 and my one grandfather was in the 101st airborne div. and was a prisoner of war at the battle of the bulge. It’s great to see these pictures and videos from there and then and it gives me a small picture of what my grandfather must of seen or gone thru. You do an excellent job of taking videos and doing the comparison photos as well. (that’s what I like so much about your channel!)
Keep up the great work! Take care now!
Would be amazing to have a book. So few veterans talked about this war, it is amazing to see its history unfold through your eyes and research.
How can there be ppl that don’t like this video? Cmon man this is history.
This is a very well done "before and after" video of that landmark battle. It brought back some family memories and a few personal thoughts. My father's older cousin was seriously wounded in this battle while serving as a machine gunner. The details of his military service in WWII are unknown to me. According to my father thuogh, his cousin returned stateside as a result of his wounds and brought with him a pistol he recovered during the battle in and around Bastogne. It's a French made .32 caliber (7.65mm) MAB Model D and was given to my father as a souvenir of the war. My distant connection to the Battle of the Bulge is this pistol, now in my possession, and serves as a constant reminder of the war, this battle, and the greatest generation that ever served our nation. As a personal sidenote, it was my father's cousin who many years later gave me the inspiration to become a pilot by taking me flying in his aircraft.
So incredibly good. You guys are knocking it out of the park. Thanks for this.
Thanks as always dude. Can't wait to hit the battlefields, archives or hitting some antique stores in the USA with you
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. Makes me realize that even during these trying times we really don't have it so bad.
Thank you so much!
My uncle, from Brooklyn New York, was in Anti-Aircraft Unit and stationed outside of London around 1943. His gun crew shot down the first German V-1 Rocket (Buzz Bomb) ever shot down. Because of this, he and his gun crew were interviewed by NBC Radio. One of the guys, Louis Quattrone from New Jersey said, "It was no big deal, I seen Mosquitoes bigger than that in New Jersey". NBC radio sent a 78 RPM record of the interview back to my grandparents in Brooklyn. He then went over into Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and finally Germany. But after Normandy, the Germans didn't have much of an Air Force left, so he was mostly in defensive positions during the Bulge etc. My father, who was 18 in 1945, was training to go over but got lucky and the war ended three months after he was inducted into the Army. Steve from Brooklyn USA.
I was lucky enough to visit Bastonge while serving in the US Army. We came out of a shop and some school girls in a bus yelled "Americans". They haven't forgotten.
😂😂😂😂😂
I'll never complain about the cold again.
Amen! What those men went through was horrific 😢
Nor the taste of food or lack thereof! What an admirable generation!
Seeing the comparison of what Bastogne & the surrounding region looked like today, in comparison to the actual war photos, & how the battle was portrayed in the "Bastogne" episode of HBO's "Band of Brothers" was very neat. Said episode is one of my favorite episodes from the miniseries, since the nurses were featured in the episode.
That's great to hear buddy!
Beautifully done. Thank you. My Grandpa fought at the Battle of the Bulge. It's a miracle he made it home alive. He walked with a cane for the rest of his life, but he made it through to the end of the war. Doing research about him taught me a lot about life for my Mom growing up in the 30's and 40's. She was a little girl of only 11 years old when her Dad finally came home in December 1945. Astounding history.
Thank you for doing this work and providing this information on your channel. I've studied The Battle of The Bulge since I was a child, among other WWII events. My father and some of my relatives served during the war, including at least one in the Wehrmacht. I do not know if any relatives were in this battle, my father served in the Pacific. I have longed to travel in the Ardennes and see what you have been seeing and doing what you are doing. I don't know if I will ever have that chance, but for now, I have your work and that of Florent Plana. Thank you again!
Great stuff! I had the opportunity to take many Then and Now pictures of Bastogne and Foy 2 years ago. It is true that Easy Company attacked Foy from the woods Southwest of the town. But not from the present-day edge of the woods. I found photographic research that the woods extended more halfway through the current open ground. The woods had been cut down or harvested since 1945 and is now farther away from Foy. So Easy company had to cover half as much open ground as there is today. I drove through the little road that passes through that area... it's roughly just a one-lane road. The ground half-way through the open area is higher and overlooks the town more than the present-day edge of the woods. Thanks for this video. Great stuff.
Terrific job guys!! We were in Foy for the 75th anniversary of the BoB a year ago right about now and though we were in Foy and Noville, and visited the graves of both Chiwy and LeMaire, you still showed me things we didn't see. I would love it if you could put your Then & Now photos in a book! Keep up the great work.
My neighbor when I was growing up was a medic in WWII. He was in the Battle of the Bulge.
My Grandfather Virginio "Vigi" Todisco was at the Battle of the Bulge. He was a Tech Sgt. with the 26th Division (101st Infantry Regiment) the first to land in Cherbourg, France direct from the USA in September 1944. They joined Patton's 3rd Army and traveled West into France. He and his buddy Rico Bergamo kept the service company trucks running as they were mechanics. He wrote that they traveled through many towns, heading South, then the Division was put on rest in Loraine, France. He got a 3 day pass to Paris, but upon his return, in December 1944, the Germans launched a big offensive up North in Bastogne. The Division and Regiment were ordered to drive to Bastogne with black out lights as fast as they could in a convoy. My Grandfather wrote in his memoirs that he was the last vehicle in that convoy. When they arrived, they relieved a Regiment almost wiped out by the Germans. I welcome any history buffs to help me out as my Grandfather described his Regiment fighting against Germans who were located in a fort called "Joan of Arc", which was part of the Maginot Line. He describes the fortifications as "
Absolutely stunning video, had me gripped from start to finish, the quality of filming, attention to detail and then & now pics was immense. Your passion for your subject is tangible, the soldiers would be proud of you, how you keep the history alive and describe events in detail at a personal level, truly inspiring, well done.
Watching from Canada .. thx for your time and energy into this video .. let us never forget the ones that died in battle
Thank you buddy! Really appreciate it
Memorial Day 1990, a friend and myself visited Bastogne on our Harleys. He from Bitburg, myself, Hahn. Parked by the M-4 in square. We'd planned on seeing much more than we did that day but the square was buzzing with activity. Carnival rides, games, incredible food, drink and many happy, appreciative folks. After a few hours of merriment, we sat in a stoop a block or two away to smoke.. An elderly woman ambled up to the stoop which was her family's. Americans? You're eating with us...come in. That home had no less than forty folks in the courtyard having a celebration that would rival any other. After spaghetti & meatballs with laughter, tears & simple enjoyment the woman told us that the basket of bread of she'd been carrying when we first saw her and ate with the meal, had a story. Six days a week for the duration, she'd set that same wicker basket full of bread baked by the same man in the same shop as during occupation & beyond. Incredible, the sights were also but that dinner lives in my memory brighter than the implements and place of war.
Fantastic job guys. I am not related to any one of those HEROES who fought in the Battle of the Bulge but very thankful what they did for us. Thank you so much.
I’ve had a fascination with WW2 since I was a child. My dream has always been to go on a ‘European Tour’ of the battlefields. I’m far away (American) so it probably will never happen. Thank you so much for your hard work, meticulous research, and amazing videos!!
Thank you so much for watching!
These guys did it. So can you. God bless you and your family. Do it.
You do have a long journey to get there but I guarantee it would be an experience you would never forget, Normandy is beautiful anytime of the year and the locals are very friendly but its extra special on the 6th of June, take the plunge and you will never regret it.
It’s 8 hours away from the US. Go for it!
My friend's dad was in the 101st Airborne (made 2 jumps during WW11). He was part of the 101st that defended Bastogne from the German counter-offensive. Mr. Burke, may you Rest In Peace
This video is FANTASTIC. It showed an important part of the II world war, in special the Battle of Bastogne and the difficulties faced by the allies (and civilians) during winter times, lack of food and ammo. Certainly I will watch more videos like that. Thank you for taking the time to prepare it for us. Currahee !!!
My uncle was 101st AB, 502nd PIR, 3Bn. He was in Normandy, Holland and Belgium. He was mortally wounded on January 16th. I am researching to follow his path through WWII and hopefully learn more about how he was wounded. He died on January 21, 1945. Thank you for the video and all the original footage. Thank you for remembering veterans, like my g. uncle and grandfathers. 🦅
if you can get your hands on After Action Reports, the unit journals and morning reports, you can create a great time line!
My uncle Harold was mortally wounded retaking Bourcy.
Harold C. Skipton, PFC, 101st, 502nd, 3Bn, Hq Co 🦅🇺🇲❤
This was amazing! Thank you for keeping these memories alive.
This comment section is the most amazing comment section I have ever read. Thank you to all for sharing the stories of the men and women who served in this battle. They shall never be forgotten and their actions to destroy that evil can never be repaid.
I can't say it enough how unbelievably awesome it is to see these then and now pictures. I am extremely jealous of you being able to stand in sometimes the exact spot where so much bravery, valor, fear and death once took place. Thank you for sharing this, it is much appreciated.
Thank you for watching!
My grandfather Orville was in attendance on a Sherman crew during the battle of the bulge. It's just a terrible shame I know nothing about what he personally went through. Still, footage and videos about the event give me some insight, and make me proud.
Fantastic job! Heroes forever! May their memories be eternal!
Thank you!
Another great video in the superb then and now series! Thank you very much! Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Thanks again buddy! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
My Grandfather U.S. Army 438th Antiaircraft artillery, Automatic weapons Battalion, (mobile.) participated in Normandy Campaign, the race to Paris, the drive across northern France, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Battle of Germany. This video made me go back to find his letters and journals. Thank you, great video.
In December, 2019, when we returned to Bastogne for the 75th Anniversary celebration, we had dinner with some Luxemburger friends at the Cite Wok! Of course we knew the story of the aid station and paused for a moment of silence at the memorial plaque.
A very interesting and well researched video. Thank you very much for keeping this important history to the forefront.
Thank you for watching John!
Your work is knowlegble detailed and perfectly presented the honour and grace you show to these heroes is so beautiful.
Thank you for watching sir!
Massive Goosebumps..What a HISTORY...
My uncle T4 J W Mayes fought at Bastogne with Headquarters Battery, 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. One of the stories that he told me was of the C-47 that crashed sliding over his foxhole, with him in it, after it crashed. Fortunately my uncle survived the war without any major injuries. Great video.
Hello everyone, we've been wanting to share the story of Dr Jack Prior for a long time now. We hope you enjoyed this different 'take' on the Siege of Bastogne and learned something new. Let us know if you had any relatives that served during the Battle of the Bulge. We would love to know in which unit they served!
➡️ Take a look at all the Then & Now photographs of this video on www.snafu-docs.com/battle-of-the-bulge-bastogne-wwii-then-now
I had an uncle that served during the Battle of the Bulge, unfortunately I don't know the unit. Can you give me any direction on finding it? Thanks.
Talk about being EXACT. The first two were spot on. Fantastic work and due diligence my brother!!
OUTSTANDING VIDEO GREAT JOB. MY FATHER IN LAW DONALD BRUMMITT, WAS A COMBAT MEDIC IN THE 28,TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN WORLD WAR TWO AND RECIVED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE I KNOW HE WAS IN FRANCE I'M A ARMY VETERAN MYSELF FROM THE LATE 1970'S I ASKED MY FATHER IN LAW IF HE WAS EVER IN THE ARMY ALL HE SAID WAS THAT HE WAS A MEDIC IN FRANCE IN THE 28,TH INFANTRY DIVISION AND THAT WAS ALL HE SAID HE DIDN'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT I COULD TELL SO I NEVER ASKED HIM ANYTHING ABOUT IT AGAIN I COULD TELL IT BOTHERED HIM. WHEN HE DIED IN 2005 OR 2006 I WAS READING HIS OBITUARY AND IT BLEW ME AWAY WHEN I READ ABOUT HIM BEING AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL I BELIEVE THAT HE HAD BEEN AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL TWICE I'LL HAVE TO FIND HIS OBITUARY I HAVE IT PUT UP SOME PLACE HE WAS A GREAT GUY HAD A HEART OF GOLD MY WIFE DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD BEEN AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY AND THEY GOT HIS MILITARY RECORDS FROM THE VA HE WAS BURIED WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS HE WAS A MINISTER.
Dr. Jack Prior was my grandfather and my uncle is Jeff Prior. I want to say thank you for sharing my grandfather’s story and his experience in the Battle of the Bulge.
My cousin (once removed), 2nd Lt. Daniel Phillips Winegar, Jr. served in the US Army Air Force, 9th Air Force, 1st Pathfinder Squadron during the Battle of the Bulge. After several days of bad weather at the outset of the German offensive, grounding US airplanes, the USAAF resumed sorties. On Dec 23, 1944, he was co-piloting B-26 Marauder "Weary Lera", leading the 322 Bomb Group in a bombing attack on the Euskirchen (Germany) railroad bridge to interdict German supplies to the front. His plane was shot down by flak and crashed. He was killed along with the rest of the crew except for one airman who parachuted safely to the ground. 2nd Lt. Winegar was only 20 years old.
That is great showed the spot aid station where my grandpa was captured on dec 19. He was wounded at the church in foy and taken to that spot for aid so cool to see it.
WOW Brian. What was his name? Thank you for sharing this with us
@@SNAFUDOCS Frank Davis
@@SNAFUDOCS Alpha company 506th 101st
1 st battalion
@@briandavis998 He was with the same guys they made band of brothers from
I´ve been to Foy and Bastogne eight times. That forrest send shivers down my spine every time. You are not alone in there.....
As an avid WW2 history buff your videos are top notch quality and are done with enthusiasm and a real knowledge of the subject matter. I love the then and now format. Merry Christmas and I hope look forward to more content in 2021.
Thank you for watching! Merry Xmas!
Amazing and inspiring. I’m a musician and this gives me lots of fuel for the imagination, so thank you! 💜
Great to hear, thank you!
Great work and I can't wait to see more ! My great uncle was there he was a medic .
Thank you for watching!
@@SNAFUDOCS thank you for your time and hard work 😌
My uncle Johnny served in WWII and fought and survived the Battle of the bulge. He had nightmares decades later and woke up sweating and at times screaming my aunt told me . Can't imagine what it was like to cause reoccurring nightmares decades later up into the 70s and 80s.
I'm a professional road cyclist and often train in the ardennes. Once I was on a forest road going from Houffalize to Bastogne when I came across the Band of Brothers memorial. I had to turn back, get off my bike and pay my respects. Having taken part in the famous LBL race, you often see many remnants of WW11
My dad was a SNAFU, 1 of 225 left of the 52nd Armored Inf. Command Control R of the 9th Armored.. Company C,,, Might possibly in that photo
Wow! Was he part of Taskforce Rose on the days before? I would love to get in touch with you sir. Please send me an email joedemadio@gmail.com.
And to think, at this very time in December, back in 1944 these men were fighting, freezing and dying. Heroes, every of them. And people now complain about wearing a mask.
My Father was a Sargent Scout with the 101st. He started his tour in North Africa, on to Sicily, then on D-day. He jumped behind enemy lines to secure bridges. He went on to Bastogne and finished his tour of duty releasing the victims from concentration camps. He came home with Five Bronze stars and a damaged man. I only found this out a few years ago. It took me many years to find this information because of the fire at the records archives in the 1970s. I was able to visit Bastogne in 2013, I never imagined I would be able to give him thanks for his service. He was not alone in his service to his country. Peter J. Ostrowsky Sgt.
I love that they kept in touch all those years and met up at the 50th Anniversary. What a great story.
We fought The Wrong Enemy in World War II -"General George Patton".
Thank you for documenting and remembering. These men and women were heroes for democracy and freedom . Those who favor totalitarian governments today must be reminded for what the Greatest Generation fought so that sacrifice is not ever in vain.
Thanks to The History Underground for turning me onto Snafu Docs. I am really interested in then and now pictures. Mostly civil war but I am impressed with your format and look forward to see more of your work.
So glad I found this channel, my Wife and I have been to Normandy several times for the D Day commemorations and one of our favourite pass times is locating modern sites depicted in old photos, exactly like yourselves so this is now one of my favourite UA-cam channels, well done guys, that was a great video.
Fantastic work you do by going to these spots and take pictures from then and now ! I Live in Belgium and visited Bastogne last summer. This part of history is to important and may never been forgotten. We thank the freedom of today on the young guys from then. Thanks for your video , it inspire me to visit these places again.
Many thanks!
I had lots of family in every branch. Buy the grace of our lord they all made it back. My respect goes out to all who served. And like my fathers before me iĺl die on my feet before I'll live on my knees. God bless the USA 🇺🇸
I'm history buff.
All the allies are my heroes.
They we're a different breed of men.
They're likes will never come again..
Lest we forget.
Respect.
❤
Thank you for all your hard working keeping the memories of these extraordinary men alive. True heroes.
Thank you so much for all of the photos and information. My wife and I toured the area in June of 2019 on our 75th D-day tour. You told much more information than our tour guide
That means a lot, thank you!