How One Raid Changed The Course Of The War! (Operation Biting)

Рет қаралды 584,571

2 ай бұрын

In December 1941, a daring recon mission skimmed the French coast. A Spitfire, its camera locked on target, captured the image of a mysterious device that would send shivers down the spines of Allied commanders. This single photograph ignited a sequence of events leading to one of the most audacious raids of World War II: Operation Biting, also known as the Bruneval Raid.
Join us on a journey through history, where veterans' firsthand accounts, original wartime footage, and cutting-edge technology bring the Bruneval Raid to life.
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Written References:
General Sources:
Imperial War Museum Sound Archive (IWMSA)
US National Archives (NARA)
National Library of Scotland Image Collection (NLS)
Australian War Memorial Image Archive (AWM)
War Diaries of the Battalions (NMP)
British Newspaper Archive (BNA)
The National Archives, Kew (TNA)
Google Earth Pro & Web Versions
Maptiler Pro (Desktop Version)
ParaData
Image Sources:
Credits:
Research: Dan Hill
Script & Narration: Dan Hill
Editing: Shane Greer
Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
Music & Sound Effects: Shane Greer

Пікірлер: 390

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

A huge thanks to Findmypast (one of our favorite resources!) for helping us uncover some fascinating details we incorporated into this documentary. Start building your own FREE family tree on Findmypast today and see what you discover!battleguide.co.uk/findmypast

@markbailey3508 2 ай бұрын

The RAF aircraftsman who accompanied the paras was Charlie Cox who came from Wisbech Cambridgeshire after the war he set up a little electrical shop selling electrical goods and spares. His son married my late mother's cousin, he never really talked about it! But that's common with that generation, he always said he was only doing the job he'd trained for. Most unassuming

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!

@nigelparish2631 2 ай бұрын

Charlie was a lovely fella. His daughter is my aunt, having married my father's brother. He could repair literally anything

@johnallen7807 2 ай бұрын

Was lucky enough to jump at the 3oth anniversary of the raid, after the drop we had a briefing from General Frost himself, an amazing chap!

@kevindorland738 2 ай бұрын

Very nice

@johnallen7807 2 ай бұрын

@@kevindorland738 It was a great experience! now we struggle to find 4 aircraft for D Day 80!

@nucleargaz1 2 ай бұрын

I was privileged to jump at the 71st anniversary (the 70th we were fogged in) we used a civilian aircraft & round canopies the wind was very high, I was concussed and spent the night in Le Havre General! But what a DZ to drop I could see all the features described on the way down… 😮

@johnallen7807 2 ай бұрын

@@nucleargaz1 Bad luck but if you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined lol. We had a whole battalion drop, must have been at least 9 Hercs now I read we can only find 1 A400 for the D Day 80! God help our country, even the Labour Party spent more on defence than the Conservatives!

@EvoraGT430 2 ай бұрын

@@johnallen7807 Labour ALWAYS spend more on defence than the Conservatives.

@RonettePick 2 ай бұрын

My father was one of the pilots of the Whitleys that dropped the parachutists. He didn't return to New Zealand from the war. I was just over a year old when the Bruneval raid took place.

@MBCGRS 2 ай бұрын

My Dad's friend was a tail gunner on Whitleys. We are also kiwis. He became a mechanic with the NZ Forrest service after the war. Was an alcoholic by all reports. I'm a professional pilot, and I think of these men sometimes and what they gave up. Bless them all, including your father.

@Marcfire75 2 ай бұрын

That is a sad and amazing story in one. Your dad was a hero and you can be proud of him. Leaving his family to travel across the world and risk and even give his life to fight for freedom, that is the ultimate sacrifice. Sorry that you did not have the chance to grow up with him around.

@twotone3070 Ай бұрын

:'(

@abatesnz Ай бұрын

Nana's brother, also a Kiwi pilot, didn’t return from the War. A mechanic didn't properly secure his propeller so he crashed shortly after take off in Tunisia. Saved his crew.

@maryholder3795 2 ай бұрын

The raid may have been a small raid but the dividends where mind changing. It was one of those raids that made a difference to D-day and the the RAF amd US airforce day and night raids. Brave men thank you for your service.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment!

@mhpjii 2 ай бұрын

Superb production, gentlemen! All honor to Pvt. Scott & Pvt. McIntyre who gave their lives for our freedom.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

We are glad you enjoyed the video!

@AB-mw8oz 2 ай бұрын

For the closing moments of the video, it would have been worth mentioning John Frost. He was leading the 1st Airbourne Division Spearhead at Arnhem until eventually the Paras ran out of ammunition and after 4 days of fighting he had to surrender spending the next 6 months in a POW camp until liberated by the Americans in March 1945

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Hi, interesting point, we actually didd have that in at the end but took it out as it was getting a bit long-winded. Arnhem vid coming soon though!

@davidmccarter9479 2 ай бұрын

He was actually leading 2 Para , only battalion to reach the bridge and wait in vain for ground forces to arrive from Nijmegen….hence the “bridge too far.”

@007ndc 2 ай бұрын

Col. John Frost is a true hero and was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the film A Bridge Too Far

@KittyK. 2 ай бұрын

Nowadays there is a bridge over the Rhine in Arnhem, called John Frost Bridge.

@wr1120 Ай бұрын

For that he had a bridge named after him in Arnhem.

@ealingwest5750 2 ай бұрын

Did you know that Charlie Cox because of his knowledge of British microwave technology was escorted by two men who were under strict instruction to shoot him if there was a possibility he was about to be captured. He was told they would be his personal body guards and help him dismantle the radar unit. Some months later he learnt what his 'friends' true mission orders were and was shocked to think there was no POW option and if he had known this he would never have volunteered.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Great fact... thanks for sharing!

@philiprice7875 2 ай бұрын

yea in his autobiography RV jones told this piece and when he met Sgt cox 6 months later expressed shock to see him alive then told him about the orders he did not tell us what Sgt Cox's reaction was,

@wr1120 Ай бұрын

Never trust the government.

@oldandintheway9805 Ай бұрын

The Navajo code talkers were under the same threat. Gary Powers, flying a U2 spy plane over Russia had an eject button that he knew was actually a destruct button. Instead of ejecting when he was hit, he crawled out on the wing and jumped, manually opening his chute. Imagine being in a position that you had to shoot one of your own men, who probably you knew personally. Men had HUGE gonads back then.

@HeavyH2006 2 ай бұрын

Fabulous show! Big admirer of the Bruneval raid. Frost actually commanded the 2nd Para Battalion at the Arnhem bridgehead of Operation Market Garden. An amazing individual.

@craigdonald551 2 ай бұрын

Met Professor Jones in the late 1970’s when I was a student , he gave me loads of information on the different aspects of the electronic measures and counter measures employed by him and other scientists during the war. Very interesting man ended up discussing with him for over two hours. Window, H2S , the Ju 88 night fighter that landed at Dyce airport complete with an advanced aerial radar system. Brilliant man, wish I could remember more.

@climbtherainbow 2 ай бұрын

Me too. University of Aberdeen?

@jsl151850b 2 ай бұрын

The BBC had electronic television from Alexander Palace in 1936. Service was shut down for the duration. The transmitters were turned on again to jam German navigation beams. It was like instrument landing but pointing at the bombing targets. The BBC transmitter made it useless. Churchill called it 'Wizard War".

@stevemorrell4066 2 ай бұрын

I was particularly impressed how you cleverly incorporated the sponsor into your video - very unintrusive and quite natural to the storyline. Well thought out and well done! I always look forward to your videos and this unique technique has made them even more informative of our elders' history.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@micallef87 2 ай бұрын

I agree, it’s actually factually worth watching and entirely relevant to the story. Symbiotic advertisement at its best 👍🏼

@matthewhardesty6872 2 ай бұрын

I mean, they have to advance their revenue past ad blockers somehow but sure.

@rcstl8815 2 ай бұрын

@@BattleGuideVT Most appreciated and likely to be remembered.

@alankemp2354 2 ай бұрын

Incredibly brave men. As were all men and women who fought for freedom. My heart was racing watching this video. Thank you. As a son of a CSM in the Canadian Airborne who dropped into occupied France one Day and fought and survived the entire war it makes me even more proud of all those paratroopers!

@nucleargaz1 Ай бұрын

Great post Sir & what a heritage!

@tim7052 2 ай бұрын

If you're interested in this raid, go read the book about it: "Green Beach" by James Leasor. Flt Sgt Cox was provided with a "bodyguard" squad of 4 men to protect him during the raid. The book mentions that the "bodyguard" were also given secret orders to shoot Cox to prevent him from falling into German hands!!

@karstendoerr5378 2 ай бұрын

The radar that can be seen in the picture(2:11) in front of the house is a “Würzburg” radar. It was named after the city of Würzburg, as the head of Telefunken radar development, Wilhelm Runge, preferred cities as code names (see also "Lichtenstein" radar). And Telefunken was the manufacturer of this type of radar. The “Würzburg” C variant is the exact one.

@GM-fh5jp 2 ай бұрын

Fascinating. I thought I'd heard or read of every important raid etc in WW2 but this is the first time I've seen this one explained. Well done, thanks for posting!

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, glad you liked it!

@bigmoe-specialtylandservic6106 2 ай бұрын

6 men left behind!!! Holy crap. Never heard of this raid before, excellent job.

@Zombie-Tog Ай бұрын

Max Hastings has just released a book on this raid if you want to know more.

@alex4833 2 ай бұрын

Great video! Excellent narration by Dan. The maps, photos, and modern day shots of the beach are all very helpful. I hadn't heard of this raid, but learned a lot. Good discussion of the impact of the raid as well. Superb work! Awesome video, Battle Guide :).

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Many thanks!

@simonmarsden66 2 ай бұрын

Dan, what a tale this one is, absolutely amazing

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

We are glad you enjoyed the video!

@jordanelmhirst7373 2 ай бұрын

Just wanna say, I’ve watched a few of your videos now, and they’re banging . I like your style and the use of satellite images. Keep em coming mate

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

@hernanv.2526 2 ай бұрын

@@BattleGuideVTJust a small note … I think you meant Le Hague not Le Havre on that map. Otherwise, awesome & thanks!

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

@@hernanv.2526 are you sure?

@hernanv.2526 2 ай бұрын

@@BattleGuideVT Google Maps: Le Havre is Southwest of Saint-Jouin-Bruneval where the Memorial is. La Hague is West of Bruneval & both are on the Cotentin peninsula. Perhaps using Saint-Jouin-Bruneval would help clarify things on your map then.

@psbrayshaw 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic video. Thank you so much for making it.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@Reebus.LCU. 2 ай бұрын

That was fascinating. Thank you guys RIP♥ 🇬🇧 Excellent video

@daleupthegrove6396 2 ай бұрын

There is a fictionalized account of this raid published in 1953, Radar Commandos by Bernard Glemser. I read it in high school back in the 70's and its been one of my all-time favorite books.

@pmks4 2 ай бұрын

Mine too. I bought the paperback in 4th grade from the bookmobile that visited my school. No mention of the French boy(Paul?) from the village who was transported to Great Britain and then went on the raid and guided the British troops in his village.

@philiprice7875 2 ай бұрын

i read about it from a pulp war magazine when i was 8yo when the movie "a bridge to far" came out and i heard the name Johnny Frost and his group taking one end of the bridge at Arnhem. i was humbled. then found out a young lady member of the Dutch resistance helped as a runner her name? Audrey Hepburn

@richlutes3480 2 ай бұрын

I have never seen such a remarkable, visually detailed historical account. Well done!

@steve5825 2 ай бұрын

As always this is a superbly researched and crafted video. What a daring raid by some of our finest. So sorry that we’ve let things slide so badly.

@Kevin_Kennelly 2 ай бұрын

20+ years ago, I was on vacation in Como Italy. I met an old man, a German, named Arno. Arno was one of the 'radar technicians' captured in this raid. His details about the capture, the interrogation, the POW experience, and his postwar life were enough to convince me that he was the real deal. That may be Arno at 12:22.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!

@olibanks3846 Ай бұрын

What made him talk?

@charlieyerrell9146 2 ай бұрын

The parachute regiment called by the Germans the red devils. This regiment showed the yanks the way to go in parachute warfare. Also the British commandos showed the American ranger battalion regiments how to do it. The American rangers trained in Scotland with the British commandos.

@CncrndCtzn Ай бұрын

More British propaganda

@Ranjanwatson 2 ай бұрын

Excellent content. Thank you for the well researched production.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@montarakid1943 2 ай бұрын

Must admit I had not previously heard of this raid. Now I have. Now I pretty much know everything. 👍

@clementaut7287 2 ай бұрын

really great story telling ! I love commandos raids videos

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you like them!

@maryholder3795 2 ай бұрын

@@BattleGuideVT The Campbell (I think) crashing the old destroyer in the dock gates. St Naziar I think. That was a remarkable raid. Navel and commandos they all knew there was a good chance they may not return home.

@robinkoenjer1030 2 ай бұрын

It seems that the radio problems didn't end there for Frost

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Yeah Frost and radios didnt mix in WW2!

@smithgov 27 күн бұрын

Geez, what a great video production. Thank you

@MrPlankinton 2 ай бұрын

Excellent research, narration and pertinent photos, maps, diary entries.

@pluki1357 2 ай бұрын

Except for that map at 0:56 . It's a wrong map for they year discussed. You can tell by the shape of Poland - nowadays map. A bit unfair as well to put a nazi symbol on modern days Germany. 😉 But other than that - I agree with you; very good content.👍

@MrPlankinton 2 ай бұрын

@@pluki1357 🤗 it took the smart Pole to catch the map detail. 😉 The world bends its knee to the historical intelligence of the Polish people, who used Latin as their parliamentary language until at least until 1939.

@musicman53 Ай бұрын

I have just stumbled on this video, and it's gripping and brilliantly well done thanks!

@colinvanoverdijk5855 2 ай бұрын

Great video. Super pictures, great narration and love the 3-d-ish additions. Thank You!!

@martinluton6513 Ай бұрын

Excellent mini documentary, many thanks for making this.

@darrenmerritt2744 2 ай бұрын

Awesome clip, fantastically explained. Understand with more clarity. Well done

@MonkeyBanjo7 2 ай бұрын

I’m always wishing to learn something new and this is why I love KZfaq, sometimes I can’t read a book for a long time but a video really helps with visuals and audio!

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment!

@debrareplogle651 Ай бұрын

Amazing!! Thank You for sharing this piece of history I never heard of. Such very brave men.

@trig1900 Ай бұрын

Thank you for this. It was informative and educational - I very much enjoyed watching it.

@GazpachoTabletop 2 ай бұрын

Really interesting video. The graphics, testimony and photos were great. And the sponsorship was really interesting too

@markdavies2825 2 ай бұрын

Just brilliant

@tscott6843 Ай бұрын

Excellent video.

@01bigtrev 2 ай бұрын

First time hearing of this thanks for bringing another mission from the war to life.

@tysonator5433 2 ай бұрын

I am sure there is a black and white film about this raid, well worth a watch. Big thanks to BG for this very interesting video on some of the unsung hero's of our armed forces.

@Free-Bodge79 2 ай бұрын

Love this channel. They always put out quality content. ! 👊💛👍

@killercrabman Ай бұрын

Brilliant doc, very nicely told.

@JoeytheJerk 2 ай бұрын

Great job KZfaq team as always

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Appreciate it!

@davewright8206 2 ай бұрын

what a raid . and one i was not fully aware of. jolly good show

@derin111 2 ай бұрын

Rather negligent of the Germans to leave such an important and technologically advanced piece of equipment so blatantly exposed and with no attempt to camouflage or disguise it!

@Eric-kn4yn 2 ай бұрын

Or defended it properly.

@negativeindustrial 2 ай бұрын

At this point they had steamrolled everyone they attacked aside from the British islands. They were overconfident and assumed it was only a matter of time before Britain fell, too.

@Kevin-mx1vi 2 ай бұрын

Just goes to show that the Germans were not the infallible military machine that the wehraboos would have you believe. Of course, they had no idea they would be attacked by a determined and very capable raiding force, either.

@itaca4861 2 ай бұрын

@@negativeindustrial plus, there wasn’t the same technology of today. I think the brits won at the lottery snapping that pic.

@localbod 2 ай бұрын

German hubris.

@TheOsfania 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video!🎉👍🏽🤙🏼

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Any time!

@claymor8241 2 ай бұрын

Excellent production, research and presentation. Top quality.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@eddydelrio1303 Ай бұрын

Never knew this! Thank you!

@GGdeTOURS37 Ай бұрын

TY from France for this great history of those heroes! Guillaume Gleize - City of Tours - Loire valley

@PeterOConnell-pq6io 2 ай бұрын

Turned out the German's Wurzberg radar transmitted in the 50cm UHF band, which had far lower signal:noise ratio discriminationhan than the new British cavity magnatron transmitter, which operated in the 3cm microwave band.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Epic knowledge!

@michaelshore2300 2 ай бұрын

@@BattleGuideVT But incorrect 50 cm was best Germans could do. radar discrimination much better at 10 cm the whole point of the raid was to obtain German Equipment and copy it( Type 11) Then if Germans jammed the frequency they jammed themselves.. Type 11 refurbished sent to Cyprus for Suez

@markchapman2585 2 ай бұрын

Great video I did not hear of this before

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@TaskForce_Raccoon 2 ай бұрын

U guys deserve a million subs at least.

@stevehilton4052 2 ай бұрын

As an ex RN serviceman I quickly learned that the new generation carried the responsibility of being a part of a great and proud history. I was always mindful of not letting the memory down.

@rogermorris8737 Ай бұрын

It is difficult to imagine how much we owe to those few men. Churchill referred to 'The Few' but maybe a similar acolade applies to these men - amazingly brave and resourceful.

@nigelbarrett4741 2 ай бұрын

Nice video, the 3D map really helped. I never knew 6 guys got left behind. I wonder how that happened.

@GaveMeGrace1 2 ай бұрын

Way cool! Never heard that story-movie worthy. Thank you.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@Zombie-Tog Ай бұрын

Nicely put together - the aerial footage and maps really help understand what went on and the locations. Max Hastings has just released a new book on this raid if people want to know more

@Roberto-tu5re 2 ай бұрын

Amazing story, thank you.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment!

@erwinvrielink8631 2 ай бұрын

Incredible story❤

@jackcameback 2 ай бұрын

Brilliant - simply brilliant - well put together - just like a pro history channel!!

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

We wish we had the funding of a pro history channel. :) Thanks for your kind comments!

@66gtb 2 ай бұрын

Well done!

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thanks

@TimPrice-km9sk 2 ай бұрын

I remember him coming to our house to mend our TV which regularly went wrong. He only seemed to need a screwdriver, which I believe was all he used in the raid.

@davedocker1195 2 ай бұрын

I read a book in grade school about this in the mid sixtes. Good book and factual. The Radar Commando's

@gwine9087 2 ай бұрын

Amazing!

@h4ll4m1s 2 ай бұрын

Night Raid by Taylor Downing is a really good in depth account of this raid if anyone is interesting in learning more about this raid. It delves quite deeply into the history of radar and elaborates on a lot of the topics raised in this video.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment!

@nucleargaz1 Ай бұрын

I dropped on this DZ from a Cessna 208 using a military round as part of a re-enactment display team on the 71st anniversary (we were to do the 70th the year before but were fogged in) It was a bloody hard landing due to high winds but worth doing to say I'd jumped on the Biting DZ!!

@guillaumepare9651 2 ай бұрын

It's amazing to see the radar was in plain sight (probably needed for the operation of the radar) and not that well guarded.

@hachimaru295 2 ай бұрын

That was brilliant - many thanks - no gongs where mentioned but I'm sure awarded

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@rod4095 2 ай бұрын

What an incredible story of bravery

@HelenKempster 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for putting together this excellent video . They were the best generation! I feel so guilty a one of their children's generation that we failed to live up to their standards. And my heart bleeds for what the US and some of Europe is becoming. They were decent brave British men.

@johnhewett9483 2 ай бұрын

very interesting thank you

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Very welcome

@SuperPirate100 Ай бұрын

What a heroic tale

@richardsawyer5428 2 ай бұрын

I've read a book about Operation Biting so it was on my list when I visited Normandy (my favourite part of a beautiful country.) There seemed to still be some of the barbed wire fence remaining if you looked carefully. I understand that the villa was once owned by a champagne producer.

@BBQDad463 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this video. More importantly: Thanks to those brave men who carried out the raid, I did not have to grow up speaking German. The British put forth a certain air of genteel refinement, lifted pinky and all that, but when the moment comes, they are sharp as their daggers. God Bless them all!

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment!

@ronylauwers8140 Ай бұрын

It would be great to make a film about this event!

@gm006b4 2 ай бұрын

Excellent 👍

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@kennethvenezia4400 Ай бұрын

Very interesting piece of history. Nicely done. Thank you my British cousin, or UK cousin.

@user-kt4zo1dw3l 2 ай бұрын

The other significance of this raid was the use of the Para's. This was to be the very first major raid launched by the Para's and was seen as a major morale booster and proof the raids could be completed successfully,from the air

@uwe1969 2 ай бұрын

Exvellent Video. Thank you

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@uwe1969 2 ай бұрын

I read about the radar raid. The Video makes IT very vivid and gives a 3D view. Exvellent indeed. Thank you very much 😂

@robinc6324 2 ай бұрын

Very interesting video

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it

@jimomaha7809 2 ай бұрын

There was an other RAF sergeant supposed to go on the raid. Both sergeants were told, when chosen for this raid that they needed to attend jump training. The other sergeant considered jumping out of an aircraft was a bad idea and stepped down. Fortunatly for the planners Cox had no problems with jump training! In a movie called "The Red Beret" (1953) This operation in a condensed form is part of the movie. Also to be found on youtube.

@jwillisbarrie 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf

@rolandwhittle8527 2 ай бұрын

That Colonel Frost was the same one that held out at Arnhem bridge played by the Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins in the epic film Bridge to Far. Also if my memory serves me right when i was a youngster use to watch Mastermind on BBC with quizmaster Magnus Magnusson im sure Professor R V Jones was on it once or twice as a contestant cant remember his specialized subjects how well he did.

@richardbarkwill Ай бұрын

Read Winning the Radar War by Jack Nissen for his account of a similar radar intelligence gathering operation during the Dieppe raid. He was the expert with 11 guards with him ordered to shoot him rather that let him be captured. Of the 12 of them who were to try and take the radar station, only he and one other returned. They did not capture the station but did get valuable intelligence.

@ty2124 2 ай бұрын

Outstanding thank you and God bless our brave forces, Amen.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

We are glad you enjoyed the video!

@Griboslaw 2 ай бұрын

Than you for your work, this story is fascinating when you gave more details and photos. I do have a question however, what happened yo the team that was told to hold forces at le presbitere? Were they among the captured/left behind you mentioned at the end? Greetings from Poland, your movies are both heartbreaking and uplifting. We feel the war right next to us and some of us are there, with a new stories being made.

@BattleGuideVT 2 ай бұрын

Hi, no they generally managed to withdraw with the rest. Thanks for watching!

@jimmyandtheresurrection7247 2 ай бұрын

This story needs a movie.

@TheBackslash66 2 ай бұрын

totally agree!!

@petesoneone 2 ай бұрын

Lots of detail regarding this event in the book 'Most Secret War', by R. V. Jones

@huw3851 2 ай бұрын

I remember a story based on this raid in The Victor Comic (for boys) long long ago. It makes me wonder how much history there was hidden away in those stories but I guess events like this were better known at the time. Heck, John Frost was still around and appearing on This is your life! Perhaps now his name is more familiar following Anthony Hopkins performance in A Bridge Too Far?

@caractacusbrittania7442 2 ай бұрын

Used to love the Victor, And the hotspur, And the small one called commando.

@Sugarmountaincondo 2 ай бұрын

A couple of critiques for you to consider; #1 A map showing the locations of the Wurzburg Radar sites on D-Day would have been helpful. #2 Of the 8 men left behind in the dark, how many of them were from the 20 men that were dropped in the wrong position? Or were these 8 men part of the Defensive Screen?

@mikeryan3701 2 ай бұрын

You can add this to the umpteen other raids that changed the course of the war.

@andree.b4723 2 ай бұрын

Many, Many respects for those fallen and brave men, Less we forget what they did for you and I. God bless.

@johnmcmickle5685 Ай бұрын

Radios not working that is a theme in the military that lasted until at least 1985.when I got out and probably still is a problem today.

@prof_kaos9341 2 ай бұрын

Gen. Frost, as a Major jumped into Arnhem on Market Garden, the bridge was renamed John Frost Bridge. His battalion was the only one to get to the city & capture the bridge's eastern end. This meant they faced the terrible street fighting as the Nazi Pz Divs (said to not be there) flattened this area. My friend's mother, 12 yrs old, was there & said, as in the movie, she had to build barriers using the dead bodies of her family, friends, neighbours & soldiers.

@SwanOnChips 2 ай бұрын

Awesome raid!

@niallpadden 2 ай бұрын

The problem with the radios persisted. The Arnhem debacle 3 years later was in no small part due to the failure of the radios.

@JPS1000 Ай бұрын

Seems to have been a common component of many battles during WWII. Maybe someone can put together a video discussing why they so often failed to work?