Holdy Battery: The Sister Gun Battery of Brecourt Manor | History Traveler Episode 187

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As a former paratrooper with the 82nd we learned a lot of history of actions in ww2. Of course didn't learn them all but was fortunate enough in the early 90's to meet some ww2 vets from division. Truly an honor to chat with them about their time over there. Thank you JD for your awesome presentation of these and all your other videos.

“Ordinary men doing extraordinary things”….That pretty eloquently sums it up. Thanks again.

Hey JD, hope you are feeling better. Well said… ordinary men sent to do extraordinary things..which turned them into extraordinary heroes. Could you imagine if those fields could talk…..great video. Thank you.

Bravo to History Underground. In June 2010 I floated the Atlantic from Houston to Antwerp on a container ship MSC Flaminia to sort of replicate the troop crossing experience, and spent 3 months from Caen to Berlin. Spending almost 3 weeks in Normandy from Cherbourg to Calais running up and down the Assault Areas and beyond, stopping wherever I saw casemates and museums. These videos and stories are so spot on. I took over 9,000 digital photos that summer. The stories I heard and encountered, the people I met, the help I received along the way. The near death experiences I had like walking up on the open bunker atop Omaha bluffs in the cornfield above Ruquet Beach that is now a bee-honey colony cabinet farm and the mare and her foal that were sheltering in the casemate at Fermanville that galloped right by me after I had startled them in the dark. Finding Dead Man's Corner, the Chapelle de la Madeleine outside St Lo and the story of Major Howie there, La Coupole, Blockhaus, Val Ygot mobile launch site, finding Rommel's house in Herrlingen (Ulm) and the yard tour by the current resident, the Bulge area, the 506th foxholes out on the road to Foy, the local gendarme who got me to the Elsenborn Ridge, finding the "Malmedy Massacre" was in Baugnez not Malmedy, the mom and pop museum at La Gleize Belgium, the bridge at Remagen where my Dad was in 1945 with the 738th Tank Battalion Spcl, Nuremberg's Zeppelin Field; the Kongresshalle Center, the Luitpoldhain Ehrenhalle, the Justiceplatz, getting a tour of the actual judge's chambers and courtroom which was in 2010 a jury vor dire screening room, and finally wrapping up with a week in Berlin, Bendlerblock, the Flak Tower tour, Reichstag, accidently driving thru the Brandenburg Gate behind a city public works truck into the pedestrian square, the eerie Plotzensee Prison, the Olympic facilities, Tempelhof Airport, the Wilhelmstrasse, Luftwaffe Ministry, the Wannsee House. Checkpoint Charlie..... so many experiences you have brought to life and back into my memory, truly overwhelming and outstanding!

I love how this channel makes every episode feel like a personal experience

Well done, JD. I wish YouTube had a two thumbs up button! When you pointed out the old landing strip parts used in the fencing, it is very symbolic of how D-Day is truly woven into the Normandy region's history.

This is definitely the most underrated channel on YouTube

My mom and I had the opportunity to stay at the Holdy battery for a few nights in August, and the people who live there are incredible. Even with the language barrier, we learned tons of information about what went on there. Would highly recommend to anyone who gets the chance to travel to Normandy!

Not 100% sure if it’s true but we believe my great grandad may have been at the fight at holdy. It’s mentioned in articles about the engagement that members of the 506th were also there along with majority being 502nd and I recall hearing he told my dad that he was there as he dropped somewhere near Eglise by st marie du mont

The atrocities you mention at 03:00 are tragic. As a paratrooper myself I can understand that an enemy soldier taking the opportunity to swiftly kill his enemy in war ( such as paratroopers rendered useless by being caught up and suspended in trees) but to torture them enemy first is unacceptable and that type of behaviour creates hate between nations to be repeated forever.

Another awesome video, please keep up the great work. One thing I need to clarify is that it IS confirmed that there were US troops in the St. Come-du-Mont church tower that morning, NOT Germans. It is mentioned in a book or two, but also my friend Larry Lopes of Service Company, 506th PIR, 101st ABD was one of about five paratroopers in that tower early in the morning, firing on Germans below in the town square. After being up there for a little while, they came down. About 30 minutes after they did, the tower was hit by the round from Captain Patch at the Holdy Battery. I've been up on the balcony of that tower, and it has an awesome view of the area, including Utah Beach.

Just woke up, ready to study for my exams, and then i'm blessed with this!! <3 thank you!

I couldnt seem to fall asleep tonight and out of sheer boredom I checked YouTube to find this gem. JD hope you feel 100% soon but thank you for the amazing content!

So interesting, I love learning about history especially, the stories that have been lost. Thanks for bringing them to life.

Another place kind of off the beaten path but still part of the story. I certainly never heard of Holdy Battery. Amazing how all the pieces were coordinated together to make the overall plan a success. It was probably unintentional, but thanks for the early video drop. 😉 Something good to wake up to. Feel better soon JD.

The Generals would be in their 50's , the majors and lieutenants in their 30's the troops in their 20's( roughly ) . A lot of young people committed to the cause . How brave they all are and were

I was just about to go to bed, and this showed up on my computer.... What a great watch for going to bed to, Work in the AM......

Another WELL done video! I can’t thank you all enough for doing so much to keep our history alive. There aren’t too many of these great men remaining with us today, and y’all are doing so much to make sure they are never forgotten. 👏🏼🇺🇸

Great job and very well done 👏!!! If those Soldiers could be there with you today , I'm sure they be giving you a big hug and pat on the back and telling their stories. But you are keeping their history and memories alive . Enjoy very much what yall are doing . Thank-you again and God Bless . ARMY ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!