Website is LIVE! Book your tour today!
https://www.ww2wayfinder.com/
On the morning of June 6th, 1944, as the landings unfolded across Normandy, a small force of U.S. Army Rangers was given one of the most dangerous missions of D-Day.
Their objective: climb the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc and destroy the German Battery.
Scaling 100-foot vertical rock faces under fire, these men from the 2nd Ranger Battalion had one task — destroy a battery of German guns that threatened the Allied Invasion Fleet.
But when they reached the top… the guns were gone.
Cut off, outnumbered, and under relentless counterattack from elements of the German 352nd Infantry Division, the Rangers would hold their ground for two days — isolated behind enemy lines, running low on ammunition, and taking heavy casualties.
This is the story of one of the most daring and brutal small-unit actions of D-Day.
Chapters:
00:00 – 09:38 – The Mission at Pointe du Hoc & Why It Mattered
09:39 – 21:30 – The German Battery, Atlantic Wall & Ranger Selection
23:06 – 25:16 – Bombing the Battery & The Guns Are Moved
25:17 – 45:40 – D-Day Morning, The Landing, Climbing the Cliffs & the Rangers at Omaha Beach
45:40 – 50:30 – Reinforcing the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc
50:31 – 01:02:02 – Omaha, Counterattacks, Relief & The Cost of the Mission
#dday #normandie #normandy #WW2 #ww2history #militaryhistory #omaha #utahbeach #dday80 #ww2wayfinder #thenandnow #warhistory #historyyoutube #ww2documentary #ww2facts #normandy1944 #rangers #ddaylandings #SecondWorldWar #historicbattles #warstories #dday82
Like what I do? If you’re able to, you can support the channel here:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WW2Wayfinder?l=de
WW2 Wayfinder Merch: https://www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/ww2-wayfinder
Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ww2wayfinder
Follow WW2 Wayfinder On:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WW2Wayfinder
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ww2wayfinder/
Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ww2wayfinder
Music: https://www.epidemicsound.com
21 Comments
Have you visited Pointe du Hoc and experienced the battlefield fought over by the 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day?
Superb content as usual. Drone footage was brilliant. Thanks for posting.
Stood at the top of the cliff overlooking the beach it’s just amazing such brave men using London fire brigade ladders and ropes, this was 2001 now you can’t get near the edge they’ve fenced it off to protect the public!!
Absolutely superb video. Thank you
Not just the most dangerous, but the most deadly in terms of casualties. The guts to continue with the mission, even when they found the guns weren't in place is beyond nuts. They knew it was likely a suicide mission and still went. It was either they do the mission or the success was very much in doubt. I 🫡 the rangers and every sailor, marine, pilot and anyone else involved who made it possible to end the war by 1945 and not push it through 1948
I knew about 85% of this story before watching but the way you explained and laid it out, and showing the modern day locations of the positions, really made it feel like I was relearning this! Excellent work as always, definitely the gold standard of content.
I’m so fortunate to have been there several times before they fenced it all off.
An insanely detailed presentation. Fantastic, thank you
Thank you Jonathan! Outstanding work again.
Amazing keep up the good work
Thank you sir! I'm always impressed by the details, accuracy, and direct present day footage of the actual sites. I never connected that the primary objective of the assault were WWI era 155mm French GPF pieces. As you mentioned the US had license built these weapons and for WWII had mounted some of them on modified M3 tank chassis fitted with a rear stabilizing blade. 75 of these M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriages and their supporting M30 ammunition carriers saw service in Northwest Europe, beginning with action in Normandy. The old 155mm GPF guns in this new self propelled role were devastating against the Wehrmacht. Had the Wehrmacht been able to use their GPFs against the invasion forces at Utah and Omaha, the effect could have also been devastating. Therefore the American effort to silence them was justified.
You have one of the best WW2 history channels I have ever seen. Thanks for making these
Another great episode! Wow,this was an hour long, filled with great facts and interesting maps and plans! Very well done, thank you for all the efforts you have put into this one.
Really an amazing site to go to. Was there in 2014 for the first time. Luckily, back then without those chicken fences, when it was still possible to explore the area on your own, with more bunkers still accessable to get into.
Natural erosion taking it's toll, nowadays almost everything is being fenced up.
I heard there are plans to move the Ranger Monument more inland, because there are worries about the observation bunker becoming unstable in terms of breaking off the cliffs.
Plus that, I heard there are plans to build a bridgelike runway across the site, to preserve it and still give visitors the chance to visit the site. This year, the ABMC started a big renovation and preservation project.
That was an excellent episode. Obviously, a lot of thought and time went into that one. Much appreciated. Thank you
13:38 "Pointe du Hoc such a danger to the invasion fleet that they pushed the Omaha Beach transport area further out to sea just beyond the estimated range of its guns."
This is probably the best accounting of the overall assault force from the 2nd and 5th Ranger battalions I've ever seen! I was just at Pointe du Hoc this last Sunday (29th March) for the fifth time, and would have loved to watch this first. I was a former member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 98-00, and had the privilege of meeting and speaking with Len Lommel and Sidney Salomon in January 1999 at the 2nd Ranger Battalion Dining In. Len was the guest speaker, and I was fortunate enough to sit with him for over an hour and hear his stories, not only about PdH but also about Huertgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and much of his time fighting in Europe. What an amazing man! Thanks again for another outstanding video!
Great debrief, thanks
SOrry , wife not allowing me all night to watch all- yet,
Why did the Germans withdraw the guns ? Were they reestablished ?
Man I played Hell Let Loose, I cannot IMAGINE how terrifying it must be to have to fight people around these hedgerows in real life. It's insanely difficult to keep a coherent line even with like 70 people
Ho pianto per onorare qs eroi,i ns liberatori
Wow, a tour de force!!! Very well produced. Thoughtful, excellent, unique video. Great job!