Important note, the helmets they wore in WW2 were just stamped steel, no ballistic stopping ability really for a direct hit - they were meant more to prevent damage from shrapnel and rocks tossed up by artillery damage nearby, with luck a gunshot might glance off the side, but a direct hit would go right through it.
My uncle was hit in the head and survived he remembers the burning pain, ringing it knocked helmet off my uncle passed out and remember being lifted over a small fence by his friend, passed out again woke up in a hospital with rubber tubes coming out of his head. I guess some of the helmet liner went in there. His friend told him after he was hit the helmet was hot to touch.
Anyone being the last of a families male line was taken out of combat, discharged and sent home so that family can continue. Ryan being the families last male was eligible to leave combat, service and go home. It's still that way today.
@@iKvetch558 That was the policy rewrite for the Newly restructured DOD and coming on line Air Force. Ever since the Civil War hardship discharges were allowed for the remaining male heir and or family can petition to have the last male heir discharged. It can be he is the last heir or the only son that can take over the family farm or business. It was used in all wars since. WWII vet relatives said it's always been practiced under Hardship requirements. The 1948 policy extended it into peace time. First hand knew a guy who's brother died in a car accident and he was the only male left in the family. He was given the opportunity to leave or continue service. Saving Ryan is not a true story, but the USS JUNO lost 5 Sullivan Brothers and that started the practice of separating brothers much earlier than the actual policy. Brother separation is still a thing today, if they are of the same career field, they are in different units or bases but can fight in the same theater as I have seen this done with father and son.
I saw a documentary about the Sullivan brothers several years ago and was hit really hard when the daughter of one of the brothers stated "I don't have any first cousins"
I think the, "heartless bitches" comment was uncalled for. Do you know how many of those letters went out to parents, wives, etc? They were looking down, because they were typing notes and handwritten personal comments from the dead soldiers' superiors on to formal letters. They had to maintain a certain emotional distance or they couldn't do their jobs. If you noticed, that woman who brought the letters to her supervisor, actually took the time to check the various notifications and remembered the Ryans all had the same address in common. Also, I think people were just built tougher back then - not half the whining and self-absorption we see these days.
There were teenagers that delivered a lot of the death notices through Western Union, they were never given recognition till long after the war, they saw the heartbreak first hand .
Most of those "heartless bitches" lost husbands,, brothers, fathers and nephews in the war. They were doing a thankless job. Try learning some history.
5:55 Those metal things are called "Hedge Hogs" they were designed to stop tanks but in this case, rip out the bottom of the boats if it was high tide. It's low tide so thats different
Those metal things are the beach are called hedgehogs and they were to prevent both tanks from coming up and prevent the landing crafts from landing further up the beach, which the tanks all sunk and never made it to shore (they were amphibious tanks that were released to far from the shore) There were multiple beach head assaults during Normandy but this is the most dramatic/worse landing at Omaha cause just about EVERYTHING that could've gone wrong did and they still prevailed
They prevailed because of cannon fodder. They sent wave after wave and worn down the germans. Eventually enough of them made it to the beach and the germans became overwhelmed
The movie shows about 17 minutes of Omaha beach, whereas in reality it was hours of this until the US landing force was finally able to gain a foothold and push inland. The biggest issue, as stated by Tom Hank's character on the radio was the tanks never made it ashore. The original plan was for the tanks and landing craft to hit the beach at the same time, with the tanks providing mobile cover for the infantry from the machine gun nests.
It really was a a disaster though as they almost aborted it. Other note and some other commentators commented on this, those bullets wouldn't go under water like that. Staying down by the water actually provided some protection.
The navy was also supposed to bombard the beach to take out the machine guns nests and create creators for the men to use. But they messed that up along with everything else.
Some veterans who were still alive and got to see this movie had to walk out on it because it depicted the landing in Normandy so realistically. The last great generation, you will not be forgotten.
Sad to say but unless people watch movies like this or try to tell this new generation, they have NO understanding of what the WW2 generation did. When I think of the nonsense this generation obsesses about it’s scary. They spend most of their time looking inward and pay no attention to the larger world.
The two German soldiers that were executed trying to surrender were actually not German. They are say that they are Czech and they didn’t shoot anyone. Germany forced captured troops from taken countries to fight for them in Ost (eastern) battalions. There was even a captured Korean soldier on the beach. His story is wild.
They could also have been civilians because the Germans forced people from the occupied countries to help build all sorts of things for the army. However, if they refused, their family would either be sentenced to a concentration camp, no food stamps, etc.
The ladies who typed those letters to notify families of a sons death weren't heartless. They had a job to do and I'm sure reading all of those death notifications haunted them for years
The sniper doesn't shoot Vin again because he wants him mortally wounded but alive. He wants the medic or someone else to come out and tend to him so he shoots more troops and weakens the unit further.
Baiting....ITs effective tool. IT was also a common practice not to KILL the other, but to wound to soak up resources*ie others in treatment and to lure others out into the open...ei, rinse and repeat.
@@who346 I heard something similar about Nam, the VC preferred to injure Americans rather than kill them, because the Americans spent so much more resources tending to the wounded than to the dead. Or in other words, the wounded are more expensive than the dead.🤔
@@mic88ed that's crazy rude - there's plenty to read about beyond war or even WWII history in particular. I agree it is a formative event and people should be more aware, but don't blame those coming to the light, even if they showed up later than you wanted them.
What is rude is not bothering to do a little research to learn about the sacrifices made by superior generations (especially when you’re about to be commenting on a war film). Clearly schools are spending way too much time in activism and not nearly enough on teaching history.@@jw70467
You'd be surprised at what actual veterans of D-Day have said about what it was like. Many of them say that when they're asked what it was like, they say "just watch the beginning of saving private Ryan." The things these young men went through is almost unimaginable. Truly the greatest generation that is unfortunately coming to an end. Also the metal things on the beach are Tank traps/obstacles. It prevents tanks from manuevering effectively if at all.
The "metal things on the beach" were to stop the landing craft. Tanks had never been used to land on beaches at that time period of the war, it was a new idea.
@savannah505 they'd been landing tanks and amphibious assault vehicles in the Pacific for well over a year at this point. There's a small part where during the beach landing scene in this movie where a man comes up to Hanks and says, "Navy beach battalion, sir! I got to clear these obstacles! Make holes for the tanks!"
@@covertius4287 That's true, he did say that....... but in the European theater they were not until D day. They were using flotation skirts which were a new idea there. In the pacific, landing craft could go right up to the beach as it generally had steeper inclines on the beach and the landing craft with tanks could get them off much easier. I will check into your claim, I won't say your wrong, .... no need to as I could be wrong on this. But have a great weekend.
From the water to cross the beach to the cliffs was 300-350 yards. The cliffs were at least 100 feet tall. So wearing at least 70 lbs of gear crossing at least 3 foot ball fields in open ground with zero cover to hide behind, then if you lived you then had to make it up the cliffs and take the beach. If you fell into the water you would sink and drown from the weight of all your gear. Many vets that were in the theaters for the screening left. This scene was so realistic it triggered there PTSD.
I’ve never been able to forget the date and the names of the beaches that were stormed. Also that troops were also dropped in the night before. I remember learning about this stuff I believe in 5th or 6 grade (around 2003) and I still don’t forget this stuff and much more about this and WW1.
2400 Americans died on Omaha Beach on D Day. This was France and the troops had to go through France, Belgium, and Holland before they went into Germany.
For WW2 and Vietnam, the government had a rule for the draft, they have to leave the family with at least 1 boy so they can carry on the family. They didn't want to take every living son from the family. That's why this movie is a big deal about saving 1 soldier.
I'm from Bedford, Virginia. Our town lost 20 young men from our town of 3,400 died on that single day June 6, 1944. I think anyone who has the power to send young men off to die needs to watch this movie.
WOW!!! I just finished some video editing work myself and was pleasantly surprised to see you guys with a new upload on an Amazing Movie! You guys are awesome!
many intelligent people since then have surmised that it took a younger generation(less fear and belief of invulnerabilty that is typical when you are younger) to be able to have a victory on those beaches on d day. it was an incredible testament to the planning and their courage.
The two soldiers surrendering during the D-Day soon were not speaking German. They were speaking Czech and were basically forced to fight. They were trying to tell the American soldiers that they didn't kill anybody and they are force conscripted.
I'm a veteran and seeing you guys smiling sitting together it's what made me serve knowing that it keeps you safe.you have to be devoted to the process love you guys
@@classic-koolplease just shut up and watch the video and save your redundant comments for somewhere else . Just enjoy the reaction and remember our fallen Soldiers
On 6 June 1944 - 'D-Day' - Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. Code-named Operation 'Overlord', the Allied landings on the beaches of Normandy, France marked the start of a long and costly campaign to liberate north-west Europe from German occupation. June 6, 1944, is the day when more than 160,000 Allied forces landed in Nazi-occupied France as part of the biggest air, land and sea invasion ever executed. It ended with heavy casualties - more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded in those first 24 hours - but D-Day is largely considered the successful beginning of the end of Hitler's tyrannical regime. As for the meaning of "D-Day", U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said about it through his executive assistant, Brig. Gen. Robert Schultz: "Be advised that any amphibious operation has a ‘departed date;' therefore the shortened term ‘D-Day’ is used.” He said there were actually several other D-Days during the war - Normandy was just the biggest and most well-known. The Germans had four years preparing to defend the coastline of France from invasion. The Allies spent 2 years in England planning for the invasion to open a western front. Meanwhile the Soviet Union had been fighting on the Eastern Front since June 1941. The Soviet Union lost around 27 million people during the war, including 8.7 million military and 19 million civilian deaths. The largest portion of military dead were 5.7 million ethnic Russians, followed by 1.3 million ethnic Ukrainians.
Operation Overlord or D-day on the 6th June 1944. This was to liberate Europe from German occupation. Five beach different beach landings that day and the biggest amphibious operation. The beach landing you are watching is Omaha beach, which was a disaster, although the position was finally taken. The Americans were on that beach for about 7 hours fighting until it was finally taken. Veterans from D-day said it was the most realistic portrayal of the battle. World War 2 in Europe carried on for another year until Germany was finally defeated. The war with Japan carried on even longer. When people talk of the " Greatest generation" the men who stormed these beaches to liberate Europe gave the greatest sacrifice.
From the sailors of PEARL HARBOR, The Red Ball express, The men of Wake Island, to the sailors & marines of the USS INDIANAPOLIS, We must never forget the sacrifices made for you & I!!! They fought & died so you & I could live!
Over 2500 American soldiers died over 5000 were wounded and 1600 were missing on the first day of D day. That does not include the casualties suffered by the airborne troops dropped behind german lines.The start of the movie is the first day of D day June 6 1944.
Saving Private Ryan is incredibly realistic in most every way, with a very few exceptions...such as bullets not being able to kill you more than a few inches underwater, and flamethrowers not really exploding that way in 1944. One thing to know, pay no mind at all to that man who took off his helmet on the beach at 8:37 and then got shot in the head...that next shot would have killed him even if he had kept his helmet on. The helmets of WW2 would almost never stop a bullet, except under very very rare circumstances. The movie is not a true story, and it differs from the actual history of D-Day in many ways...but the basic plot is loosely based on the 4 Niland Brothers, one of whom served with the 101st Airborne Division. However, when 3 Nilands were reported dead, no mission was sent to get the last brother, and it turned out that one brother that had been thought dead had actually only been captured. There really was a Company C of the 2nd Rangers that landed on Omaha Beach, but they were commanded by Captain Ralph Goranson, and they did not land quite where it was shown in the film. Probably the most important historical thing that Spielberg got wrong is that he had the boats that carried the Rangers to the beach being driven by Americans...they were not. On D-Day, the boats that carried the US Rangers to the beach were driven by UK sailors of the Royal Navy. There are many other things in the film that are not accurate to the real history of D-Day, but that one really fails to honor some of the men that fought and died at Omaha Beach, so it is definitely the one most worth noting.
@s315xx6 Nah...it was D, E, and F companies of the 2nd Ranger Battalion that performed that mission. Companies A, B, and C all landed on Omaha Beach along with the 5th Ranger Battalion and the other troops.
When you see us veterans in public, take the time to find out who are the combat veterans. While most of us served our country, for various reasons, it is the actual combat veteran who deserves the gratitude. I served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, but my personal heroes are the combat veterans.
13:32, these women were far from heartless about their jobs. If anything they are probably trying to be numb at this point. Over 405,000 Americans died and 670,000 were wounded during World War II. That's a lot of letters to type. You have to remember World War II was all hands on deck. If you were an able bodied man (ages 18-26) in America chances are you were being sent overseas to fight. Everyone at home and abroad was asked to make sacrifices and step up. Also food, fuel and certain other value commodities were being rationed to support the war effort. During this time the influx of women into the workforce surged. The reasoning was that if a woman could do a factory job then that freed up a man to go fight. I'm 56 years old and I can't remember in my lifetime ever being asked to sacrifice like this. Hopefully, none of us ever will again.
Truly truly brave men that stormed the beach that day.Yes a true story,this did happen.I find it hard to believe that you don't know history of this tragic day.
“As soon as the landing craft hit the beach and the soldiers tread the ground in France, a shower of shells and machine-gun bullets fell upon them. The first assault wave is in an instant decimated: in the first five minutes of the assault, nearly 90% of its forces are put out of action”
Things on the beach are put there so ships and tanks cant get onto the beach. Thats why the troops had to wade through deep water when they were let out of the boats.
Commanding officers usually write letters to the family of those killed under their command. The typists were transcribing the letters so they could be sent to the family
If you see red, white ribbon, with blue stars in the window, it means, that household has service members servicine, each star represents a person from that household....In the windo it had 4 stars....4 sons serving. THis would be a good time to research WW2....battles, heros, the massacre of ww2 troops, which changed the POW situation with the GERMANS and AMERICANS.....iE, why they didnt take SS Prisoners in the movie FURY.....why they executed them. Alot of history. ALot of sadness...THe 442nd which is the highest AWARDED unti in WW2 european theater, was a ALL Japanese UNIT, which lost almost 90% of all the service members.....God BLESS the 442nd.
We were thinking there were writing fake letters from a template. Our thoughts changed quickly after we learned they were rewriting letters passed down by the captain.
@Dai.Natreacts they are template letters. These women don't know the men or their families. All they do is add the families name, the deceased name, date and place of death. I'm not sure how else it should be done. They don't have time to make up a different letter for each person. I imagine that job was horrible, knowing that each letter you write was breaking a family's heart.
How come Americans doesn't even know about WW2 or D-Day since it is %90 of the American history lol such a respectable well educated couple you are don't you
It’s becoming more and more forgotten here. When I grew up 20 years ago I remember it being common knowledge. I’m 27 now, it’s sad that this history isn’t as common knowledge as it once was.
It's black Americans tbh they don't care and they use slavery to mask their ignorance ab how "your history is not mine" just saying the quiet part out loud folks
Bombers were supposed to take out the German defenses before the troops landed: They missed EVERYTHING. The tanks that were supposed cover the infantry sank and drowned before they even got ashore. The Americans at Omaha Beach walked straight into a hornet's nest. The ones who landed at Utah Beach caught a break. They were sent to the wrong beach, where the Germans weren't expecting them. When someone asked the commanding general if he wanted them to be picked up and moved, he said no: "We're starting the war from right here."
11:48 Sad thing on that scene is that they were not Germans, they were Czech soldiers who were forced to fight for Germany and lot of them tried to make resistance.
The metal barriers on the beach were set there to damage ships and prevent them and tanks from getting too close-especially during high tide . The invasion, however, occurred during low tide and men had to wade in from about 100 yards from the beach carrying full packs, equipment, ammo, etc. A major flaw in the invasion plan occurred during nights before the landing. Paratroopers wee dropped behind the beach enemy lines but the weather was very stormy and most wound up many miles from the target drop points and many were killed from landing in swamps, trees, and from enemy fire. Omaha beach was one of many landing points on Normandy Beach and the troops who landed there were among the hardest hit.
The opening sequence is the most accurate depiction of D-Day ever created. World War 2 Veterans had to leave the movie theatre even knowing what they were going to see. It was that realistic
Remember, they're not in Germany. They landed at Ohama Beach and were trekking through France to find Ryan. The allied forces were taking back France from German occupation one yard at time.
Almost 80 years ago to the day, my grandfather was one of the men on those landing crafts. If it wasn't for men like him, we wouldn't be here enjoying the freedom's we do! He passed away in 1996! Thank you for the reaction!
There called " Dragon's Teeth". They come in a couple of different looks, concrete, metal. They are used to slow down the deployment of Tanks by the enemy...almost completely obsolete now.
This is a classic war film, but my only gripe was that over 2,000 black soldiers stormed Normandy and not even a speck of Blackness in the entire film. 🤔 I would have settled for a few extras in the distant background.
My papa was there, earned 2 purple hearts after moving inland. He never got to see this movie as he died in 1991. He once told us boys the absolute worst part of taking towns was the noise the German tracked vehicles made! It haunted him till the day he died. RIP all who perished and who later died
The first Ryan is played by actor Nathan Filian. He was in one of favorite sci-fi tv show Firefly. It's about a crew transporting passengers from planet to planet. The show is both serious and humorous as the passengers different each week would have their own stories.
Those two surrendering soldiers that you said you would also kill were actually Czech. Germans forced many men from occupied Eastern Europe to serve in their army. Many tragic stories. My grandfather, who like me was a Pole, was also forced to serve in Kriegsmarine (german navy) but managed to escape from training camp and luckily never got caught.
This movie stamps a sharp memory in my mind. I come from a long line of soldiers. My grandfather though, he stormed Normandy on D-Day in WW2. He was shot twice and beyonetted. Back in the late 90s when this movie came out, he got a copy and popped it in the VCR. He hadn't even made it through the the full beach scene before ejecting the tape and giving it to my father and I. He couldn't watch it, it was too much like the real thing. He passed away a couple years later. On 09/13/2001. He was in the hospital on 9/11. I remember him seeing what was on the news, which was nothing but the twin towers falling. The last words he ever said were "what the hell is going on in the world anyways".
Helmets aren’t designed to stop bullets like rifle rounds. They’re designed to protect your head from schrapnel & flying debris that could injure you. They can also stop smaller, slower handgun rounds (at least nowadays. I’m not sure about these old steel pots).
Remember the Germans had four years to build those defenses as part of the Atlantic wall those bunkers had MG42 machineguns (Known to Allied soldiers as Hitler's Buzz Saw) with interlocking fire and could strafe the beaches with tons of fire as well as artillery behind the beaches it was brutal for the first wave no cover they were sitting ducks and had no chance the fact that any of these brave men survived the landing is a miracle. I don't know if I could do what they did truly and rightfully so to be called the Greatest Generation. Also this part of the Wall was not as heavily defended as other parts of the Atlantic Wall they ( The Germans ) expected the invasion to take at the narrowest part of the Channel at the Pas-de-Calais Hitler as well as the rest of the German High Command all thought this was a diversion for the real invasion Hitler had taken a sleeping pill and slept through the invasion with orders not to wake him and the Airborne drop being missed dropped was also a blessing in disguise as it confused the Germans with them being scattered all over Normandy.
One of the inspirations for this film was the Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa. All 5 Sullivan boys served on the same ship in the Pacific Theater. They all died when the ship was sunk by the Japanese.
Great movie! Some additional notes: those MG42 machine guns (German) wouldn’t really be able to fire off long bursts like that. Well… they COULD… but it would melt the barrels right off those suckers. The Germans had a cadence with that weapon but I’ll let you study up on that yourself. The actual beach attack was worse than shown. The Germans had sighted criss-cross along the length of the beach big 88 guns so they’d fire right into troops. It was hell. Also, the beach was a lot deeper than shown. This was filmed in Ireland (I think) and it’s not nearly as long a fun from shoreline as it was in actual Normandy. As another commenter noted here: securing an exit off the beach actually took hours. It was a bloodbath. Great film, though!
The long wooden logs going up the beach was made to stop boats or vehicles from coming onto the shore, and those metal 'X' looking things were called hedgehogs, and did the same job
Before they landed on the beach....there were two orders given to all troops. 1) the infantry was told not to stop on the beach, and not stop to help the wounded because it was vital for them to get inland before everyone behind would get log jammed preventing reinforcements. 2). The soldiers were given orders to not take prisoners, to kill every enemy they see. They didn't have the manpower or infrastructure to hold prisoners. A Veteran from Omaha Beach explained this in a DDAY documentary.
The invasion of Normandy was the invasion of France, June 6th 1944. The Germans had poles with mines that were hidden at higher tides. In case a landing craft came in and struck it. The Allies came in at low tide. The X metal objects you asked about are tank traps. If they Allied landed tanks or any of their DD tanks (Special aquatic tanks) it would block them from moving forward.
You guys do movie reactions but there's a 20min video called *(The Fallen of World War II)* shows the ungodly number of people killed in each country. I'm sure the numbers will surprise you
I had five great uncles that stormed the beaches on D-Day. 3 were paratroopers. All five survived. The metal on the beaches were obstacles to prohibit boats and heavy equipment such as tanks from coming ashore.
The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.
Actually, they're still in German occupied Normandy, France... not Germany, itself. The beach assault was "D-Day".
Important note, the helmets they wore in WW2 were just stamped steel, no ballistic stopping ability really for a direct hit - they were meant more to prevent damage from shrapnel and rocks tossed up by artillery damage nearby, with luck a gunshot might glance off the side, but a direct hit would go right through it.
My uncle was hit in the head and survived he remembers the burning pain, ringing it knocked helmet off my uncle passed out and remember being lifted over a small fence by his friend, passed out again woke up in a hospital with rubber tubes coming out of his head. I guess some of the helmet liner went in there. His friend told him after he was hit the helmet was hot to touch.
Yup.., not much more protection than a tin foil hat has to offer...
The term "bulletproof" is a huge misnomer.
They could probably stop some rounds but not a 7.92x57mm.
@@SamJackson-xu1py Nope. They could not stop any combat rounds.
It was France, DDay , Omaha Beach, American soldiers , those barriers at the beach were to prevent tanks,,keep learning,
You have to have a third grade mentality for this to sink in SO......She's done!! lmao
Anyone being the last of a families male line was taken out of combat, discharged and sent home so that family can continue. Ryan being the families last male was eligible to leave combat, service and go home. It's still that way today.
That is the Sole Survivor Policy, but it did not become official until 1948.
@@iKvetch558 That was the policy rewrite for the Newly restructured DOD and coming on line Air Force. Ever since the Civil War hardship discharges were allowed for the remaining male heir and or family can petition to have the last male heir discharged. It can be he is the last heir or the only son that can take over the family farm or business. It was used in all wars since. WWII vet relatives said it's always been practiced under Hardship requirements. The 1948 policy extended it into peace time. First hand knew a guy who's brother died in a car accident and he was the only male left in the family. He was given the opportunity to leave or continue service. Saving Ryan is not a true story, but the USS JUNO lost 5 Sullivan Brothers and that started the practice of separating brothers much earlier than the actual policy. Brother separation is still a thing today, if they are of the same career field, they are in different units or bases but can fight in the same theater as I have seen this done with father and son.
However it has not always been used ... my husband the last male was sent to Vietnam .... his mother lodged a complaint at the time to no avail.
I saw a documentary about the Sullivan brothers several years ago and was hit really hard when the daughter of one of the brothers stated "I don't have any first cousins"
That moment when you don't pay attention in history class lmao
I think the, "heartless bitches" comment was uncalled for. Do you know how many of those letters went out to parents, wives, etc? They were looking down, because they were typing notes and handwritten personal comments from the dead soldiers' superiors on to formal letters. They had to maintain a certain emotional distance or they couldn't do their jobs. If you noticed, that woman who brought the letters to her supervisor, actually took the time to check the various notifications and remembered the Ryans all had the same address in common. Also, I think people were just built tougher back then - not half the whining and self-absorption we see these days.
When she made that ignorant comment is when I stopped watching
Yes You should APOLOGIZE SINCERELY fir calling them bitches.
But after all, it takes one to think they know one
There were teenagers that delivered a lot of the death notices through Western Union, they were never given recognition till long after the war, they saw the heartbreak first hand .
Most of those "heartless bitches" lost husbands,, brothers, fathers and nephews in the war. They were doing a thankless job. Try learning some history.
5:55 Those metal things are called "Hedge Hogs" they were designed to stop tanks but in this case, rip out the bottom of the boats if it was high tide. It's low tide so thats different
Those metal things are the beach are called hedgehogs and they were to prevent both tanks from coming up and prevent the landing crafts from landing further up the beach, which the tanks all sunk and never made it to shore (they were amphibious tanks that were released to far from the shore) There were multiple beach head assaults during Normandy but this is the most dramatic/worse landing at Omaha cause just about EVERYTHING that could've gone wrong did and they still prevailed
Not everything went wrong, though. Germany knowing where they would land would have been a lot worse.
@@chrisk.7418 true but they still didn't remove as many men as originally intended.
One might argue that everythjng went right. I have no idea how they prevailed.
They prevailed because of cannon fodder. They sent wave after wave and worn down the germans. Eventually enough of them made it to the beach and the germans became overwhelmed
Yeah they assumed they'd land at high tide and those hedgehogs would rip open the landing crafts as they approached the beach.
Service for greater good than ourselves is the foundation of humanity.
The movie shows about 17 minutes of Omaha beach, whereas in reality it was hours of this until the US landing force was finally able to gain a foothold and push inland. The biggest issue, as stated by Tom Hank's character on the radio was the tanks never made it ashore. The original plan was for the tanks and landing craft to hit the beach at the same time, with the tanks providing mobile cover for the infantry from the machine gun nests.
It really was a a disaster though as they almost aborted it. Other note and some other commentators commented on this, those bullets wouldn't go under water like that. Staying down by the water actually provided some protection.
The Navy was also supposed to bomb the beach beforehand to provide ditches for infantry to take cover in, but most of the ordinance fell short.
The navy was also supposed to bombard the beach to take out the machine guns nests and create creators for the men to use. But they messed that up along with everything else.
Not knowing what D-day was is wild lmao
Wait? Did we say we didn’t know what D-day is?
@@Dai.NatreactsHe mentioned that this really happened, and she seemed to be surprised
@@rang4life1she knows of the war and the events just not the intricate details. Or what this movie was depicting in the opening scene.
@@DAYBlackNoOther I get you, good reactions btw enjoying the channel
@@rang4life1 glad you’re enjoying them! part 2 of this reaction dropping soon
Some veterans who were still alive and got to see this movie had to walk out on it because it depicted the landing in Normandy so realistically. The last great generation, you will not be forgotten.
I remember one said it was very realistic depiction expected the sound. Why said imagine it 100 times louder.
Sad to say but unless people watch movies like this or try to tell this new generation, they have NO understanding of what the WW2 generation did.
When I think of the nonsense this generation obsesses about it’s scary. They spend most of their time looking inward and pay no attention to the larger world.
Baby Boomers are the GREATEST Generation.
We had to put up with PTSD fathers
The two German soldiers that were executed trying to surrender were actually not German. They are say that they are Czech and they didn’t shoot anyone. Germany forced captured troops from taken countries to fight for them in Ost (eastern) battalions. There was even a captured Korean soldier on the beach. His story is wild.
They could also have been civilians because the Germans forced people from the occupied countries to help build all sorts of things for the army. However, if they refused, their family would either be sentenced to a concentration camp, no food stamps, etc.
The ladies who typed those letters to notify families of a sons death weren't heartless. They had a job to do and I'm sure reading all of those death notifications haunted them for years
The sniper doesn't shoot Vin again because he wants him mortally wounded but alive. He wants the medic or someone else to come out and tend to him so he shoots more troops and weakens the unit further.
Baiting....ITs effective tool. IT was also a common practice not to KILL the other, but to wound to soak up resources*ie others in treatment and to lure others out into the open...ei, rinse and repeat.
@@who346 I heard something similar about Nam, the VC preferred to injure Americans rather than kill them, because the Americans spent so much more resources tending to the wounded than to the dead. Or in other words, the wounded are more expensive than the dead.🤔
That either of you were not more aware of D-Day, is something I didn’t expect
@@mic88ed that's crazy rude - there's plenty to read about beyond war or even WWII history in particular. I agree it is a formative event and people should be more aware, but don't blame those coming to the light, even if they showed up later than you wanted them.
What is rude is not bothering to do a little research to learn about the sacrifices made by superior generations (especially when you’re about to be commenting on a war film). Clearly schools are spending way too much time in activism and not nearly enough on teaching history.@@jw70467
All you had to do is turn on the history channel at any point in the 90s.
Yeah I was 10 when I learned many facts about operation Neptune
There is no reason any american that has went through our school system is not aware of fucking d-day @jw70467
You'd be surprised at what actual veterans of D-Day have said about what it was like. Many of them say that when they're asked what it was like, they say "just watch the beginning of saving private Ryan." The things these young men went through is almost unimaginable. Truly the greatest generation that is unfortunately coming to an end.
Also the metal things on the beach are Tank traps/obstacles. It prevents tanks from manuevering effectively if at all.
At high tide they would be under water, so Rommel had mines attached to the top for landing craft. You can see them in a few shots
The "metal things on the beach" were to stop the landing craft. Tanks had never been used to land on beaches at that time period of the war, it was a new idea.
@savannah505 they'd been landing tanks and amphibious assault vehicles in the Pacific for well over a year at this point.
There's a small part where during the beach landing scene in this movie where a man comes up to Hanks and says, "Navy beach battalion, sir! I got to clear these obstacles! Make holes for the tanks!"
@@covertius4287 That's true, he did say that....... but in the European theater they were not until D day. They were using flotation skirts which were a new idea there. In the pacific, landing craft could go right up to the beach as it generally had steeper inclines on the beach and the landing craft with tanks could get them off much easier. I will check into your claim, I won't say your wrong, .... no need to as I could be wrong on this. But have a great weekend.
Many vets got up and left the movie,it was too realistic.
From the water to cross the beach to the cliffs was 300-350 yards. The cliffs were at least 100 feet tall. So wearing at least 70 lbs of gear crossing at least 3 foot ball fields in open ground with zero cover to hide behind, then if you lived you then had to make it up the cliffs and take the beach. If you fell into the water you would sink and drown from the weight of all your gear. Many vets that were in the theaters for the screening left. This scene was so realistic it triggered there PTSD.
11:42 The two surrendering are not German soldiers but prisoners pleading to not shoot them. The Fog of War is hell.
Yup they’re actually speaking Czech.
I’ve never been able to forget the date and the names of the beaches that were stormed. Also that troops were also dropped in the night before.
I remember learning about this stuff I believe in 5th or 6 grade (around 2003) and I still don’t forget this stuff and much more about this and WW1.
2400 Americans died on Omaha Beach on D Day. This was France and the troops had to go through France, Belgium, and Holland before they went into Germany.
For WW2 and Vietnam, the government had a rule for the draft, they have to leave the family with at least 1 boy so they can carry on the family. They didn't want to take every living son from the family. That's why this movie is a big deal about saving 1 soldier.
The metal things are tank traps. Designed to keep tanks from landing on the shore.
I'm from Bedford, Virginia. Our town lost 20 young men from our town of 3,400 died on that single day June 6, 1944. I think anyone who has the power to send young men off to die needs to watch this movie.
The Normandy landings scene at the beginning of the movie tells you all you need to know about the phrase "War Is Hell"
WOW!!! I just finished some video editing work myself and was pleasantly surprised to see you guys with a new upload on an Amazing Movie! You guys are awesome!
many intelligent people since then have surmised that it took a younger generation(less fear and belief of invulnerabilty that is typical when you are younger) to be able to have a victory on those beaches on d day. it was an incredible testament to the planning and their courage.
The two soldiers surrendering during the D-Day soon were not speaking German. They were speaking Czech and were basically forced to fight. They were trying to tell the American soldiers that they didn't kill anybody and they are force conscripted.
Yea we read up on that!! Truly heartbreaking scene
Saving Private Ryan is the greatest war film ever made. Great reaction! 👍🏿
I'm a veteran and seeing you guys smiling sitting together it's what made me serve knowing that it keeps you safe.you have to be devoted to the process love you guys
Bossman, we were liberating France, not invading Germany and around 4400 men died on the beach that day - Momma looking beautiful as usual : )
More than one ignorant comment made by these two......
@@classic-koolplease just shut up and watch the video and save your redundant comments for somewhere else . Just enjoy the reaction and remember our fallen Soldiers
@@Andrewtatesbutt- LoL...😂... ANOTHER genius...
When this came out Theaters had the VA crisis line number posted because combat veterans would have panic attacks due to the opening scene
Really?!!!! That’s wild
The veterans that landed on that beach, saw this film and said, it so accurate.
On 6 June 1944 - 'D-Day' - Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. Code-named Operation 'Overlord', the Allied landings on the beaches of Normandy, France marked the start of a long and costly campaign to liberate north-west Europe from German occupation. June 6, 1944, is the day when more than 160,000 Allied forces landed in Nazi-occupied France as part of the biggest air, land and sea invasion ever executed. It ended with heavy casualties - more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded in those first 24 hours - but D-Day is largely considered the successful beginning of the end of Hitler's tyrannical regime. As for the meaning of "D-Day", U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said about it through his executive assistant, Brig. Gen. Robert Schultz: "Be advised that any amphibious operation has a ‘departed date;' therefore the shortened term ‘D-Day’ is used.” He said there were actually several other D-Days during the war - Normandy was just the biggest and most well-known. The Germans had four years preparing to defend the coastline of France from invasion. The Allies spent 2 years in England planning for the invasion to open a western front. Meanwhile the Soviet Union had been fighting on the Eastern Front since June 1941. The Soviet Union lost around 27 million people during the war, including 8.7 million military and 19 million civilian deaths. The largest portion of military dead were 5.7 million ethnic Russians, followed by 1.3 million ethnic Ukrainians.
Operation Overlord or D-day on the 6th June 1944. This was to liberate Europe from German occupation. Five beach different beach landings that day and the biggest amphibious operation. The beach landing you are watching is Omaha beach, which was a disaster, although the position was finally taken. The Americans were on that beach for about 7 hours fighting until it was finally taken. Veterans from D-day said it was the most realistic portrayal of the battle. World War 2 in Europe carried on for another year until Germany was finally defeated. The war with Japan carried on even longer. When people talk of the " Greatest generation" the men who stormed these beaches to liberate Europe gave the greatest sacrifice.
4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.
From the sailors of PEARL HARBOR, The Red Ball express, The men of Wake Island, to the sailors & marines of the USS INDIANAPOLIS, We must never forget the sacrifices made for you & I!!! They fought & died so you & I could live!
God bless all of those brave souls 🙏🏿🙏🏼🇺🇸
Over 2500 American soldiers died over 5000 were wounded and 1600 were missing on the first day of D day. That does not include the casualties suffered by the airborne troops dropped behind german lines.The start of the movie is the first day of D day June 6 1944.
This isn't Germany, It's france
James Arness of Gunsmoke fame was sent out of his landing craft first,he was 6ft7"t he was used to judge the depth of the water for shorter troops.
Saving Private Ryan is incredibly realistic in most every way, with a very few exceptions...such as bullets not being able to kill you more than a few inches underwater, and flamethrowers not really exploding that way in 1944. One thing to know, pay no mind at all to that man who took off his helmet on the beach at 8:37 and then got shot in the head...that next shot would have killed him even if he had kept his helmet on. The helmets of WW2 would almost never stop a bullet, except under very very rare circumstances.
The movie is not a true story, and it differs from the actual history of D-Day in many ways...but the basic plot is loosely based on the 4 Niland Brothers, one of whom served with the 101st Airborne Division. However, when 3 Nilands were reported dead, no mission was sent to get the last brother, and it turned out that one brother that had been thought dead had actually only been captured.
There really was a Company C of the 2nd Rangers that landed on Omaha Beach, but they were commanded by Captain Ralph Goranson, and they did not land quite where it was shown in the film. Probably the most important historical thing that Spielberg got wrong is that he had the boats that carried the Rangers to the beach being driven by Americans...they were not. On D-Day, the boats that carried the US Rangers to the beach were driven by UK sailors of the Royal Navy. There are many other things in the film that are not accurate to the real history of D-Day, but that one really fails to honor some of the men that fought and died at Omaha Beach, so it is definitely the one most worth noting.
I always look for your comments on history reaction vids lol
They climbed up Pointe du hoc on grappling hooks to destroy German gun positions right?
@s315xx6 Nah...it was D, E, and F companies of the 2nd Ranger Battalion that performed that mission. Companies A, B, and C all landed on Omaha Beach along with the 5th Ranger Battalion and the other troops.
When you see us veterans in public, take the time to find out who are the combat veterans. While most of us served our country, for various reasons, it is the actual combat veteran who deserves the gratitude. I served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, but my personal heroes are the combat veterans.
13:32, these women were far from heartless about their jobs. If anything they are probably trying to be numb at this point. Over 405,000 Americans died and 670,000 were wounded during World War II. That's a lot of letters to type.
You have to remember World War II was all hands on deck. If you were an able bodied man (ages 18-26) in America chances are you were being sent overseas to fight. Everyone at home and abroad was asked to make sacrifices and step up. Also food, fuel and certain other value commodities were being rationed to support the war effort.
During this time the influx of women into the workforce surged. The reasoning was that if a woman could do a factory job then that freed up a man to go fight.
I'm 56 years old and I can't remember in my lifetime ever being asked to sacrifice like this. Hopefully, none of us ever will again.
My mother built aircraft for the war in Chicago at a Ford factory.
Truly truly brave men that stormed the beach that day.Yes a true story,this did happen.I find it hard to believe that you don't know history of this tragic day.
I like the style you two do your reactions in. A bit of humor and limited talking/interruption. Good stuff. Subbed.
Thank you! Welcome to the Channel!
Omaha Beach, the one depicted, was one of 5 landing zones on D-day . . . it was the hardest fight with 2000 American deaths.
“As soon as the landing craft hit the beach and the soldiers tread the ground in France, a shower of shells and machine-gun bullets fell upon them. The first assault wave is in an instant decimated: in the first five minutes of the assault, nearly 90% of its forces are put out of action”
That was brutal as hell feel sorry for those first guys they didn't stand a chance !
Things on the beach are put there so ships and tanks cant get onto the beach. Thats why the troops had to wade through deep water when they were let out of the boats.
back in the day this event was taught in elementary school.
Commanding officers usually write letters to the family of those killed under their command. The typists were transcribing the letters so they could be sent to the family
If you see red, white ribbon, with blue stars in the window, it means, that household has service members servicine, each star represents a person from that household....In the windo it had 4 stars....4 sons serving.
THis would be a good time to research WW2....battles, heros, the massacre of ww2 troops, which changed the POW situation with the GERMANS and AMERICANS.....iE, why they didnt take SS Prisoners in the movie FURY.....why they executed them.
Alot of history. ALot of sadness...THe 442nd which is the highest AWARDED unti in WW2 european theater, was a ALL Japanese UNIT, which lost almost 90% of all the service members.....God BLESS the 442nd.
2:11 i would like to see u guys be in that situation and care about vomit when death awaits😂😂
At Utah Beach to the west, things went a little better. The British and Canadians landed a little further east up the coast from Omaha.
I can't imagine why you would call the women typing the letters heartless. They are doing what needs done.
We were thinking there were writing fake letters from a template. Our thoughts changed quickly after we learned they were rewriting letters passed down by the captain.
@Dai.Natreacts they are template letters. These women don't know the men or their families. All they do is add the families name, the deceased name, date and place of death. I'm not sure how else it should be done. They don't have time to make up a different letter for each person. I imagine that job was horrible, knowing that each letter you write was breaking a family's heart.
Those metal things makes it difficult for tanks and crafts landing on the beach.
How come Americans doesn't even know about WW2 or D-Day since it is %90 of the American history lol such a respectable well educated couple you are don't you
It’s becoming more and more forgotten here. When I grew up 20 years ago I remember it being common knowledge. I’m 27 now, it’s sad that this history isn’t as common knowledge as it once was.
It's black Americans tbh they don't care and they use slavery to mask their ignorance ab how "your history is not mine" just saying the quiet part out loud folks
ignorant euro alert?
Because the American public education system stinks.
14:56 I love that you are so happy that she knew that. Her response. Priceless
That's why they are called the "greatest generation".
Bombers were supposed to take out the German defenses before the troops landed: They missed EVERYTHING. The tanks that were supposed cover the infantry sank and drowned before they even got ashore. The Americans at Omaha Beach walked straight into a hornet's nest.
The ones who landed at Utah Beach caught a break. They were sent to the wrong beach, where the Germans weren't expecting them. When someone asked the commanding general if he wanted them to be picked up and moved, he said no: "We're starting the war from right here."
11:48 Sad thing on that scene is that they were not Germans, they were Czech soldiers who were forced to fight for Germany and lot of them tried to make resistance.
The metal barriers on the beach were set there to damage ships and prevent them and tanks from getting too close-especially during high tide . The invasion, however, occurred during low tide and men had to wade in from about 100 yards from the beach carrying full packs, equipment, ammo, etc. A major flaw in the invasion plan occurred during nights before the landing. Paratroopers wee dropped behind the beach enemy lines but the weather was very stormy and most wound up many miles from the target drop points and many were killed from landing in swamps, trees, and from enemy fire. Omaha beach was one of many landing points on Normandy Beach and the troops who landed there were among the hardest hit.
The opening sequence is the most accurate depiction of D-Day ever created. World War 2 Veterans had to leave the movie theatre even knowing what they were going to see. It was that realistic
Remember, they're not in Germany. They landed at Ohama Beach and were trekking through France to find Ryan. The allied forces were taking back France from German occupation one yard at time.
Almost 80 years ago to the day, my grandfather was one of the men on those landing crafts. If it wasn't for men like him, we wouldn't be here enjoying the freedom's we do! He passed away in 1996! Thank you for the reaction!
Yes. They did retrieve the bodies after the first invasion. It was my grandfather's job. He didn't like to talk about it much!
That is why they were called to greatest generation.. Lets not forget them.. they saved to world..
We agree 100 percent!!!
There called " Dragon's Teeth". They come in a couple of different looks, concrete, metal. They are used to slow down the deployment of Tanks by the enemy...almost completely obsolete now.
This is a classic war film, but my only gripe was that over 2,000 black soldiers stormed Normandy and not even a speck of Blackness in the entire film. 🤔 I would have settled for a few extras in the distant background.
My papa was there, earned 2 purple hearts after moving inland. He never got to see this movie as he died in 1991. He once told us boys the absolute worst part of taking towns was the noise the German tracked vehicles made! It haunted him till the day he died. RIP all who perished and who later died
You got to remember some of these soldiers were 15, 16,17 years old in the D Day scene
It was a bigger deal because that military always wanted to leave a family with one man at home safe to support the family, even in Vietnam
hello from Greece!! nice reactions, important movie!
1995-2005 .. the supreme beautiful movies era
Wow Greece !! We agree!!
Ребята учите историю и скажите спасибо этим парням за то что сейчас вы живёте в свободной стране без сегригаций черно кожого населения.
what are you talking about? segregation had nothing to do with WW2
This was about my unit, excellent movie
The first Ryan is played by actor Nathan Filian. He was in one of favorite sci-fi tv show Firefly. It's about a crew transporting passengers from planet to planet. The show is both serious and humorous as the passengers different each week would have their own stories.
Those two surrendering soldiers that you said you would also kill were actually Czech. Germans forced many men from occupied Eastern Europe to serve in their army. Many tragic stories. My grandfather, who like me was a Pole, was also forced to serve in Kriegsmarine (german navy) but managed to escape from training camp and luckily never got caught.
I just read up on this today!!! So sad , we take back our comments on that!!
Subscribed love it guys! Fire movie and our history is important.
This movie stamps a sharp memory in my mind. I come from a long line of soldiers. My grandfather though, he stormed Normandy on D-Day in WW2. He was shot twice and beyonetted. Back in the late 90s when this movie came out, he got a copy and popped it in the VCR. He hadn't even made it through the the full beach scene before ejecting the tape and giving it to my father and I. He couldn't watch it, it was too much like the real thing. He passed away a couple years later. On 09/13/2001. He was in the hospital on 9/11. I remember him seeing what was on the news, which was nothing but the twin towers falling. The last words he ever said were "what the hell is going on in the world anyways".
Helmets aren’t designed to stop bullets like rifle rounds. They’re designed to protect your head from schrapnel & flying debris that could injure you. They can also stop smaller, slower handgun rounds (at least nowadays. I’m not sure about these old steel pots).
Your aluminimum frying pan had more balistic protection than those stamped steel helmets.
Our current us helmets can stop rifle rounds. However the inevitable spinal injury you'd receive from that will most likely kill you anyways.
So many reactions I’ve seen and not one realized that it was chewing tobacco 😂
This is as close as you're going to get to what our guys went through on D-Day without being there yourself
helmets were not designed to stop bullets they are designed to stop shrapnel from explosions and any other objects such as rocks wood concrete etc....
Any one remember the 5 Sullivan brothers who all died in the Pacific during WW2? That is a true story.
Remember the Germans had four years to build those defenses as part of the Atlantic wall those bunkers had MG42 machineguns (Known to Allied soldiers as Hitler's Buzz Saw) with interlocking fire and could strafe the beaches with tons of fire as well as artillery behind the beaches it was brutal for the first wave no cover they were sitting ducks and had no chance the fact that any of these brave men survived the landing is a miracle. I don't know if I could do what they did truly and rightfully so to be called the Greatest Generation. Also this part of the Wall was not as heavily defended as other parts of the Atlantic Wall they ( The Germans ) expected the invasion to take at the narrowest part of the Channel at the Pas-de-Calais Hitler as well as the rest of the German High Command all thought this was a diversion for the real invasion Hitler had taken a sleeping pill and slept through the invasion with orders not to wake him and the Airborne drop being missed dropped was also a blessing in disguise as it confused the Germans with them being scattered all over Normandy.
"They was trying to invade Germany." - I don't believe I just heard that.
Now that you've watched this, you guys have to check out Band Of Brothers. A miniseriers with 10 episodes. One of the best shows I've ever watched.
The cemetery at the start of the movie is the real Normandy cemetery.
One of the inspirations for this film was the Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa. All 5 Sullivan boys served on the same ship in the Pacific Theater. They all died when the ship was sunk by the Japanese.
Any reaction to saving Private Ryan is an automatic thumbs up from me👍👍👍....watching your video from Australia
wow i had to stop watching you two the wife is mean hearted
Great movie! Some additional notes: those MG42 machine guns (German) wouldn’t really be able to fire off long bursts like that. Well… they COULD… but it would melt the barrels right off those suckers. The Germans had a cadence with that weapon but I’ll let you study up on that yourself. The actual beach attack was worse than shown. The Germans had sighted criss-cross along the length of the beach big 88 guns so they’d fire right into troops. It was hell. Also, the beach was a lot deeper than shown. This was filmed in Ireland (I think) and it’s not nearly as long a fun from shoreline as it was in actual Normandy. As another commenter noted here: securing an exit off the beach actually took hours. It was a bloodbath. Great film, though!
You let them study? No one asked you to explain anything you clown.
The long wooden logs going up the beach was made to stop boats or vehicles from coming onto the shore, and those metal 'X' looking things were called hedgehogs, and did the same job
5:54 your question is called a hedgehog, they were used to prevent tanks and other vehicles to go down a path
Before they landed on the beach....there were two orders given to all troops. 1) the infantry was told not to stop on the beach, and not stop to help the wounded because it was vital for them to get inland before everyone behind would get log jammed preventing reinforcements. 2). The soldiers were given orders to not take prisoners, to kill every enemy they see. They didn't have the manpower or infrastructure to hold prisoners. A Veteran from Omaha Beach explained this in a DDAY documentary.
The invasion of Normandy was the invasion of France, June 6th 1944. The Germans had poles with mines that were hidden at higher tides. In case a landing craft came in and struck it. The Allies came in at low tide. The X metal objects you asked about are tank traps. If they Allied landed tanks or any of their DD tanks (Special aquatic tanks) it would block them from moving forward.
You guys do movie reactions but there's a 20min video called *(The Fallen of World War II)* shows the ungodly number of people killed in each country. I'm sure the numbers will surprise you
I had five great uncles that stormed the beaches on D-Day. 3 were paratroopers. All five survived.
The metal on the beaches were obstacles to prohibit boats and heavy equipment such as tanks from coming ashore.
The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.
Glad I found your channel. You two are adorable.
They were invading France. Not Germany.
Liberating France