Camouflage in Normandy 1944 | WWII Then & Now
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- Опубліковано 30 тра 2024
- On July 28, 1944, a US Soldier in a camouflage uniform, by the name of Joseph Defreitas, was preparing his food right after a heavy battle that took place in the town of Pont Brocard in Normandy, France. As he was doing so, a US Army photographer took a photograph of him. It is one of our most favorite pictures, because it’s so personal. The whole scene with his rough beard just speaks a thousand words. In this video we travel with Normandy Tour Guide Florent Plana to the area where this photograph was taken with the goal to stand in the exact spot as where Joseph Defreitas was preparing his food.
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CREW - www.snafu-docs.com
Joey van Meesen: Producer & Editor:
Florent Plana: Tour Guide & Presenter:- http//www.ww2veteransmemories.org
Glen Mallen - 2nd Armored Division Expert & Historical Advisor
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SOURCES USED:
NARA
Photographs of Joseph DeFreitas: Courtesy of Family of Joseph DeFreitas
Glen Mallen - 2nd Armored Division Expert
Lt Col E. A. Trahan - A History of the 2nd Armored Division
www.dday-overlord.com/
www.17th-engineers.nl/
SOURCES FOR HBT RESEARCH
Glen Mallen - Historical Advisor
laststandonzombieisland.com/
blog.eastmanleather.com/
AAR 67th Armored Regiment
AAR 48thh Armd Med Bn
Operation Reports Second Armored Division
Operation History Second Armored Division: Operation Cobra
Monograph: Second Armored Division at St. Lo by Lt Col B. P. Johnson.
Mark R. Henry, The US Army in World War II (3) North-West Europe (2001 Osprey)
THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS: THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY history.army.mil/html/books/0...
THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS: TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT history.army.mil/html/books/0...
The Quartermaster Corps: Operations in the War Against Germany
history.army.mil/html/books/0...
The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services, Volume I history.army.mil/html/books/0...
The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services, Volume II history.army.mil/html/books/0...
Thomas N. Pitkin, QMC Historical Studies No 16. Clothing the Soldier of World War II (1946) hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$c195000
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Like & Share this video to keep the memory of Joseph DeFreitas alive!
And thanks to them, they preserved our memory alive.
We are once again celebrating D-Day landing in Normandy and trying to prevatize the victory over the Nazis and the Wehrmacht! And if you remember that there was a Russian red flag over the defeated Reichstag! Not the British flag and not the American! The main battle was won by Russia and it was Stalingrad! The backbone of the Wehrmacht was broken there and not in Europe! And the tank of victory is not Sherman, but T34! Sherman is a tin can and nothing more!
Thank you so much for this beautiful video of my grandfather. We are honored.
His story deserved to be told. Thank you very much for sharing everything with us.
Your GrandFather Left money in NY unclaimed Property!! Hope that helps the Family!! JJ Dad Was 101st and 82nd in WW2. He also worked for the PO for 30 years in Harrisburg Pa!!
What a lovely video
A good looking man, with great hair and a great smile...I hope he passed on his looks....LOL"
Superbly done Joey and all who helped make this. Truly a fantastic episode on a man who got home. Wearing the first full camouflage of any allied troops. Hope Joseph had a good life after the war. They gave everything they had and more in getting nations freedoms. The scars and horrors they seen, is something he carried all his life is the tragic thing about any war. Courageous every one of them in doing something I couldn’t do. They were the greatest generation. Lest we forget.
Your love of history and America is greater than so many Americans these days. THANK YOU SO MUCH for letting Americans like me see these places and hear the stories. So much effort goes into what you guys do and I am touched by it. So many nations people died to liberate France and Europe and you are part of it by never letting us forget it. I hope to visit Normandy in 2022 and if I am blessed enough to be able to do that I would love to look you up and maybe learn more from you. Again, thank you and God bless.
Bravo. Well done young men. Thank you for keeping these men alive
My grandfather was in the 41st. Thanks for this incredible video.
Thanks
I had two Uncles that served in Europe. One in the 299th engineers. He made it out alive. Uncle Paul was a Lieutenant in the 317th infantry, killed crossing the Rhine 3/28/45. Went in as a private 1942 and rose through the ranks with battle field promotions.
My dad was in the pacific, USS Alaska.
Wow! 317th, 80th Division. Such a fascinating unit. I believe there's a book about the 317th with the title: You Can't Get Much Closer Than This
Thank you for watching!!
@@SNAFUDOCS 80th Div. was in Normandy to Bavaria Germany . The Smoky Mtn Div. ;I think .
My grand pa was a medic with captains rank ; had the option of carrying a weapon , which he did a .30 cal carbine. He fought through the grim struggle of the Hedgegrows of Normandy , which he jumped after 1am 6/6/44 (DDay). He's I Operation Market Garden where the Brit paratroos were chewed up , and spit out @ Arnhem Holland ; one of Field Marshall's General Bernard Montgomery's near failure of a plan to end the WW2 in the ETO in Europee via Holland xing the Rhine . The 101 , and 82nd faired slightly better in meager gains and high casualties , unsuccessfully xing the Rhine River.
He later was wounded in going to the Àrdennes , and picked up by an American patrol, and lucky , for Joachim Piepers Waffen SS known for their murdering American GI @ Malmedy.
He was reluctant to talk about not too nice a time period.
@@SNAFUDOCS The Waffen SS were one of the 1st to wear camouflage in WW2.
I am an Aussie WW2 history nut and I have been following you guys for a long time. The lengths you go to in your painstaking search for WW2 areas through Europe is incredible.
I particularly love "then and now" imagery and your guided tours are right at the top of my travel bucket list. I just hope I can fulfill what is now a very distant dream due to ill health and covid!
I've only travelled to Guadalcanal to walk along Bloody Ridge.
Thanks guys for sharing your amazing then and now videos.
An excellent tribute to Joesph Defreitas and your family heritage and story of America's sons and daughters alive. Bravo!!
Thank you!
My uncle died in the war. To honor him and all the others, American and European, please be sure our “National WWII Museum”in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA is aware of your videos. I’m sure they will treasure your work-and have extensive archives of photographs. The D-Day + 80 in 3 years certainly must be a huge commemoration since we in the US were fighting our own fascists during the 75th in 2019. Thank you. My Uncle James thanks you.
I hope they are aware. We have more to come! Thank you for watching and your Uncle James was a real hero!
I will donate!
If you are referring to those who refer to themselves as 'Antifi' as being the actual 'Fascists' you are indeed correct.. The German Fascists were known as National Socialist Workers party. Fascists were Socialists, and totalitarian, very similar to commie totalitarian..Just as this video referred to the use of camo uniforms, Leftist totalitarians use the language to camo their intent..and activities..
Thank you for the respect you show to all the people on all sides in this tragedy. Every one was a son, a brother, a father, a husband.
Thanks my friend!
Thanks for making me cry!. As we say in Australia...At the going down of the Sun, and in the morning, we will remember them...Lest We Forget.
Lest We Forget!
Onya, Geoff. Made me teary as well.
Very moving account, especially the picture of his lunch break. The cat connection brought a tear to my eyes; it was a very touching reminder of the simple pleasures of life, despite what he was going through at the time.
You guys do a wonderful job relating personal stories to the then and now photos.
That's our goal! So I guess mission accomplished. Thanks for watching!
Thank you PATRIOT. You are doing work that will live on for generations. Your videos and stories will live on. Thanks for those who write history down, so the future will remember.
Glad to hear that. Preserving history is our goal. Thank you for watching!
Long live the inflation of the word "patriot" *. . .*
Aah, what an awesome story of the Service of this Soldier Joseph! Thank you SNAFU for all your great videos and documentaries. I love to see the before and after pictures. ❤️🙏
The photos and story you are telling are simply sobering.
Thank you! What a great compliment :)
You are a very special young man! The films you make, and the men and women you honor, are spectacularly moving. From Minnesota with gratitude and love. Joseph was part of the group of the true last American heroes. Will never be another like him, or his era.
It was quite spooky that the cat was sitting in that exact position - almost a bit like an omen. Well done guys - you do a good service to those of us who find viewing such scenarios and shots after the battle to compare to today very fascinating. Thank you for your dedicated and hard work . . . . 👍🙏😎
They kept photobombing us! And then afterwards hearing about Joseph's love for cats was crazy! Thank you for watching!
As a proud former member of the 2nd Battalion 41st Infantry 1985-1990, I had the opportunity to participate in their reunion at Fort Hood. AWESOME GUY'S.
it sobers me to note I am now the age they were back then when I was a new butterbar.
They were very patient with us.....
Thank you for your service
Well done gentlemen!
My dad was in the 2nd Armored with the 92nd Fld Btln. from ‘42 through the end in Germany. He passed in ‘99 - he would have loved your work…
Great video! Just found your channel and can’t stop watching. I live in Southwest France, but every time I’m in the Normandy region I look for new WW2 site. Le Pont Brocard is on my list now. Joseph DeFreitas is the definition of what America is truly about. Thanks for the great content and keep going!
I was absolutely not expecting what I got from this video, and I am lost for words to convey my admiration for what lies behind it. You are very special people to have taken so much trouble to honour those wh fought in Europe, in WW2
I was fully expecting a geeky piece on "how come US troops wore camo in Normandy" - and you gave this to me/to us
You have honoured this soldier, and his comrades, and I thank you
What a lovely comment. Thank you so much!
@@SNAFUDOCS U R most welcome. It was well deserved, and I thank you again.
I find these then and now videos fascinating, but when a personal story is added too it makes it even better. My grandfather served with the BEF (fortunately made it back via Dunkirk) and was then sent to Burma to fight the Japanese. After all that he came home and picked up his trade, also as a carpenter. Whilst most were conscripted, it still amazes me that ordinary people did this extraordinary thing and then just melted back into society. 👍
The honor and sacrifice of these men is humbling to me!
Hats off to you guys. You all do an amazing, respectful job.
Thanks so much!
This is a beautiful WW11 story about Joseph's life and military service. Once again you have brought to the surface another story of WW11 that otherwise would have gone unknown to most. Keep up the great work and thank you.
Thank you so much!
my dad served from 42 to 46 . 41st recon ,11th armored div. i hav his camo shirt, n pants. he brought them home, used them deer hunting. hes the greatest man, the bravest man. than married n raised 8 kids. i hav 3 brothers n 4 sisters. im very proud n thankful for mom n dad . my mother was trained by army nurses very young. by the time she finished her training ,war was over.
At 10:44 Joey you can actually see where the wall was built up with the two different colours of the wall. That at the end was a stunning wedding photograph not carrying the pain of what he had been through. It’s so nice to hear of a story of love for so long. ❤️
Awesome work! FYI: my uncle was a Marine serving in the Pacific Theater. His unit was issued camouflaged uniforms and said their experience was when the uniforms were brand new they worked great. After only a short time, the uniforms faded and then became a very light color which made them stand out and easily seen.
Yes! Heard that too. Thanks for the input. Glad you can somewhat relate this video to your uncle! The marines are so fascinating and I hope to make it to Okinawa one day again.
@@SNAFUDOCS it is a very interesting video with a nicely added personal touch. 👍
Wow the government standards were lousy!!
Another beautiful memory for the brave soldiers who served… I hope your family are as proud of you as I am for keeping these important memories alive.. thank you 🙏
This is so perfect & personal. As i’m living in Amsterdam i’m always aware of those events that took place here in Europe and how “ordinary” people from far away did amazing things for us here. I never forget,, people like Joseph. Thanks SNAFU 👏🏿
Thank you for watching! Greetings from Rotterdam ;)
@@SNAFUDOCS … your from Roffa ?
Thanks for doing this video. I served in 1st Bn-41st Infantry 2AD during the Cold War in the 80s. Great to see film and pictures of those who went before us in the earliest days of the unit. A day after this picture was taken and Sgt. Cermak's Distinguished Service Cross actions, on 29 July roughly 6 miles away in Grimesnil, Sgt. Hulon B. Whittington's heroic actions would result in him being awarded the first Medal of Honor awarded to a 41st Infantry Regiment soldier. Straight and Stalwart!
Phenomenal job guys! Keep up the great work. You are appreciated
Thank you!
Fantastic work you guys! Keep it up. Would love if you did a ‘Then and Now’ on Dunkirk sometime soon. Thanks so much.
Brave and courageous young men, American and Europeans owe them a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice, they must never be forgotten . 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇳🇿🇨🇦🇦🇺
Great video thanks for the effort. My father served in the 3rd Inf Div and made the landing in southern France on Aug 15th and was seriously wounded on Sept 15th in the village of Vy Les Lure.
3rd Inf Div, Rock of Marne! I was southern france at the landing zones of the 3rd ID in 2014. Would love to go back and do Then & Nows. Your dad was a hero!
Thanks to him and all that served , with a special thank you for those who gave their lives for us !!
Mr. Van Meesen and the SNAFU DOCS team, thank you for keeping these historical moments alive. As time passes people tend to forget that these titanic struggles were made up of millions of individual moments which are often lost in time as the participants pass. It was interesting to see not only the now locations but you have context to what those soldiers were looking at and why. Keep up the good work.
Excellent story. Love the original footage and maps. Really cool. Glad Joe survived the war and returned home. Neat to retrace his steps.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for honoring the US Military. I served in the US Army for 24 years and was part of the 2nd Bn 66th Armored Regt 2 Armored Division from 1976 to 1986. Once again thank you so much for the great videos that you make.
Thanks for this video. I made my first visit to Normandy in 1999 and was armed with photos from WW2 to find the locations. My favorite was of Joseph DeFreitas at Pont Brocard, which I visited. I had a hard time finding the exact location as many times photos were reversed when printed and that was the case with the DeFreitas pic, until I discovered that the US on his shovel cover was reversed! I always wondered about his fate, thanks for providing that information. Oddly again, in 2016 my wife and I cruised to Funchal in Madeira and then returned back to Southampton for a trans-Atlantic voyage to the US. We didnt end at New York as did DeFreitas but ended the voyage at Boston. Great connection to this photo for us!
Woow! What an interesting journey and how that matches up Joe's trip
Absolutely incredible videos!! Thank you so so so much for making these! 👌🙌🔥❤️
What a gift you give to all of we viewers. Thank you for such a personal story. We are a melting pot here in the US. Each of us immigrants at some point in time Thank you to these gentlemen for their service. What a beautiful story.
Glad to hear that and what a compliment, thank you so much!
Thanks to Joseph and all the men like him. Very well done.
I am portuguese and didn't know this history. You are like me; obcessed with WW2 and love history. Just a great and a sencite work. Congratulentions.
Merci tous pour ces formidables documents qui permettent de nous souvenir de ces gens simples qui ont sacrifier leur jeunesse pour la liberté, vous faites un travail de mémoire énorme, chapeau bas !
Merci!
Joey and Crew , you do such Honor to these men and their History....GREAT WORK TO ALL THERE !!!!!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!!
One dislike from the lady that was bitter about you taking pictures in front of her house.
Great work as always, SNAFU DOCS.
Outstanding research and storytelling.
Haha!!! Thank you for watching.
Thank you everyone involved in the production of this video clip. It's very touching.
Fantastic buddy! Love your video's like this!
Glad you like them!
I love the bawling goat in the background!
While other channels stay focused on the collective war efforts, You guys highlight the personal stories with a great attention for detail.
Every video is a real treat to watch, especially with the wonderful music in the background. What a wonderful channel...
Thank you so much! Connecting the personal stories to the collective war effort is our goal.
This is important history, the kind that can't be recorded in any history book, because it's personal, family history. Good work.
Great job guys! This was both interesting and moving to watch. So may brave men; so many lives lost.
Joseph served his country well!
Perhaps the little kitten is the spirit of soldier Joseph DeFreitas who greets you gratefully for reliving his memories.
I enjoy every video you all do. I had an uncle who landed in France sometime in late 1944, with 75th Infantry Division. Not sure where he saw combat, France, Belgium and Germany.
Wow! The 75th ID first saw action in Belgium during the battle of the bulge. My friend is an expert in the division, you might want to contact him: grandmenil.com
Another excellent video Joey. May you keeping what you can to remember these men who all gave our freedoms we have today. And it directly has had an effect on your blood line, under occupation. Remembering these men is so so important when Americans have less respect, or care about these once boys or young men that died giving Europeans of today their freedoms! Amazing gents just amazing your work! 🙏🏻👏🏻❤️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another stunning video bringing these heroes and the events back into the light for future generations to be able to honor and understand their sacrifices! Thank You!
Thank you so much for this beautiful video and honoring the memories of our veterans. God bless you all.
Thank you too!
These videos are exceptional and are beyond gold. More like diamonds!
This is very interesting, I have been viewing WWII photos since the age of 4 in 1957....I have never seen US TROOPS in camouflage in Europe. I have seen the camouflage my father wore in New Guinea though....thank you for making a great history video, cheers from Florida, Paul
Thank you for watching!
Most US troops prefer not to wear camo. uniforms because they always shoot soldiers with camo. uniforms (due to widespread use of camo. by the German forces). The US usually shoot first & ask questions later. There r cases of American shooting fellow soldier due to mistaking their comrades 4 German soldiers.
Amazed by the amount of work and dedication put into the making of this and other videos to keep the legacy alive of these heroes who fought in WWII.
Thank you for the great work each of you is doing to follow in the footsteps of these combatants' journey depicted by the pictures/films taken of them.
Absolutely amazing! You guys did a fantastic job putting all of this together. Great work as always! 👍
Thanks buddy, really appreciate it!!
Respect from Portugal to all war veterans.
✌🏼🇺🇸😃🇵🇹👍🏼
and when the cat stood up for the pic my jaw hit the floor lmao that was so perfect, glad you included it.
Very well done. Thank you for honoring the world’s heroes.
Thank you Joseph for my Freedom! You are in our hearts forever. Thank you to these men who made this possible!
Patrick Noveski. Carpinteria Ca. 🇺🇸
Excellent video. I enjoy seeing the then and now photos. Keep up the great work.
Thank you very much!
Outstanding video guys… thanks for bringing history back to life!!
Fantastic presentation a credit to you and a worthy tribute to the subject and his service and life Bravo to you for shining the spotlight on him
great story. thankyou for keeping these heros alive in memory
You guys are amazing, thank you for bringing these stories to us and for keeping their memories alive!
Absolutely fantastic guys,this must not be forgotten,always remember,never forget ❤️
Thank you!
I wish I had found your years ago. These are great videos of men that stood so tall and we could use today. Thanks. Great to hear some from his family. Loved the kittens too.
So very awesome. Thank you, as always. RIP Joseph.
A great story of someone’s piece of war 👍🏻👏🏻
Thanks!
Thank you for this video. My father served in the 41st. Armored Infantry regiment of the 2nd Armored Division. It was very heartwarming to see where he fought.
What a wonderful story!.. I absolutely love it.. Thank you for sharing this with us!.. You pay homage to the men who saved the World fighting Nazi tyranny.. That is totally awesome in my book!
Thank you for watching!
I really appreciate your videos. So interesting. I love the then and now comparisons. Thanks for the respect and honor you show these brave Americans.
Enjoyed this video very much! Loved the detail of your research. I knew a gentleman that belonged to Co. B, Paul Andert. He most certainly knew Joseph. And my grandfather was in Co.G right before the Bulge started. Thank you for putting this together!!
Thank you a ton for watching!
Prachtig eerbetoon aan deze held Joseph DeFreitas! Dank hiervoor Joey van Meesen en SNAFO DOCS team.
Jullie maken ontzettend mooie docu's met een persoonlijke "touch", super!
Thank you ! Love so much theses vidéos!
He had a great life. Thanks.for his service.
Lest we forget!❤
I like a story with a happy ending. It's good to know Joseph went home, married and had children and lived a long life after the war.
Thank you for your great work. Wonderful story. He gave great service to this country and was rewarded with a long, healthy life.
Another great video thank you again for sharing things that none of us will ever see.
Thanks buddy!
Happy to see the memories which are connected to ww2,specially France, Normandy.
What a magnificent journey back in time. You’re video brings it all to life. Very somber and sobering moment.
Wow, thank you!
Remarkable...thank you so much for making these videos.
Merci pour ce doc vraiment émouvant et merci a Joseph pour nous avoir aidé ! bravo les mecs, c'est un trés bon travail .
Thank you Joseph!
What an outstanding tribute to yet another one of our American Hero's. Thank you for all that you're doing to keep the memories alive.
Thank you for watching!
Absolutely fantastic, well done its great to watch what you guys do , I really enjoy your stuff 👍👍👍
Another great video, one of my bucket list is to come to Normandy and see all you all talk about. You all are making alot of people happy doing these videos. My uncle was there in the army.he was a sniper, heard him talk of it many times..
Wow fascinating. In what unit did he serve?
Beautiful. Thank you. We will remember them.
Another amazing production! Well done, guys!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderful story and video. Truly the Greatest Generation !!
I never knew they wore those types of cammies, excellent work guys, that was moving and tear jerking..."
As always, amazing! Thanx for all u do🇺🇲
Of course, I never knew Joseph, but ur story of & about him made it very real & unexpectedly, very personal to me; ur narration, done with such heartfelt emotion & sincerity, was indeed a tribute to this fine gentleman; so cheers to u for that🇺🇲
That means a lot! Thank you so much
A great piece! Photos are so telling. The whole personal story is always the best. Did not know some camo was used in Europe by GIs. Interesting. My Dad was Navy (SACO) stationed in China. Training Chinese soldiers in guerrilla warfare. Alot of great photos.
77 years have passed since those events. And thanks to this comparison, you can feel as if it was just yesterday ...
I have great respect for these people.