1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,480 {\an7}[ARTILLERY FIRE] 2 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,360 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT WAS THE TURNING POINT OF WORLD WAR II-- 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,200 {\an7}THREE MILLION SOLDIERS, 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\hHUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SHIPS, PLANES, AND TANKS, 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,760 {\an7}A LOGISTICAL COMPLEXITY \h\h\h\h\hUNPRECEDENTED 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,960 {\an7}IN A MILITARY OPERATION. 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,400 {\an7}THIS WAS THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY. 8 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:28,960 {\an7}♪ 9 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,160 {\an7}\h\h\hMORE THAN 75 YEARS SINCE THE END OF THE WAR, 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,280 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hCERTAIN DETAILS OF THIS TREMENDOUS BATTLE 11 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,480 {\an7}HAVE GONE UNTOLD. 12 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,080 {\an7}\h\h\hMan: VERY FEW PEOPLE COULD TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:40,840 {\an7}IN JUNE AND JULY AND AUGUST 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,880 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND HOW THE BATTLE FOR NORMANDY ACTUALLY ENDED. 15 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,320 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW UNPUBLISHED ARCHIVES, 16 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,080 {\an7}20 YEARS OF RESEARCH, 17 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,520 {\an7}EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED STATES, \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE UK, AND CANADA 18 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,640 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBRING TO LIFE THE BOOTS-ON-THE-GROUND REALITY 19 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,840 {\an7}OF NORMANDY’S 85 DAYS OF HELL. 20 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,080 {\an7}\h\hMan: LIBERATION HAS COME TO NORMANDY, BUT SO HAS WAR. 21 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,560 {\an7}Narrator: THREE MONTHS \h\hOF SAVAGE COMBAT... 22 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,600 {\an7}\h\h\hMan: IF WE CAN DESTROY THE GERMAN ARMY IN NORMANDY, 23 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,120 {\an7}THEN THE REST OF FRANCE \h\h\h\hWILL BE SAVED. 24 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,320 {\an7}Narrator: ...DURING WHICH THE ALLIES AND THE GERMANS 25 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,720 {\an7}WILL FIGHT MERCILESSLY. 26 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,080 {\an7}\h\h\hMan: IT’S A BATTLEFIELD WHERE THEY LIVE AND THEY DIE 27 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,400 {\an7}AND WHERE THEY FIGHT AND WHERE THEY KILL. 28 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:22,880 {\an7}Man: FROM THE AVERAGE SOLDIER’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPOINT OF VIEW, 29 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,480 {\an7}THIS JUST SEEMS TO BE A HOPELESS SITUATION. 30 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,360 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 31 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,200 {\an7}Man: IT WAS A VERY DIRTY BATTLE, A SCHMUTZIGER BUSCHKRIEG, 32 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,640 {\an7}A DIRTY BUSH WAR. 33 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\hMan: EVERYONE PAID A HECK OF A PRICE FOR THIS. 34 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,280 {\an7}Narrator: D-DAY WAS JUST THE BEGINNING. 35 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,600 {\an7}JUNE 6th, 1944, \hEARLY MORNING. 36 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,480 {\an7}\hTHOUSANDS OF SHIPS EMBARK FROM ENGLAND, 37 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,040 {\an7}HEADED TO THE FRENCH COAST \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF NORMANDY. 38 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,160 {\an7}TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING, IT’S AN ALLIED OPERATION 39 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,400 {\an7}TO TAKE BACK FRANCE \hFROM THE GERMANS. 40 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:12,120 {\an7}THEY CALL IT OVERLORD. 41 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,280 {\an7}John McManus: RARELY IN HISTORY \h\h\h\h\hWILL YOU FIND A TIME 42 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,360 {\an7}WHERE THESE MAJOR POWERS \h\h\h\hARE ALL MOBILIZED 43 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,120 {\an7}ALMOST TO THE FULL EXTENT \h\h\h\hOF THEIR STRENGTH 44 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:22,880 {\an7}TO HAVE THIS CONFRONTATION 45 00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:26,200 {\an7}\h\hOVER WHAT IS TO HAPPEN WITH THE NORMANDY INVASION. 46 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,760 {\an7}Narrator: ALLIED SOLDIERS \h\hWILL FACE A TERRITORY 47 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,960 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THE GERMANS HAVE OCCUPIED FOR FOUR YEARS. 48 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,880 {\an7}CAEN, CHERBOURG, SAINT-LÔ-- 49 00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:42,680 {\an7}ALL THE GREAT CITIES OF NORMANDY ARE UNDER NAZI CONTROL. 50 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,560 {\an7}THE LANDING ZONE CHOSEN \hIS 80 KILOMETERS LONG. 51 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,640 {\an7}\hPLACED UNDER THE COMMAND OF U.S. GENERAL EISENHOWER, 52 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,840 {\an7}THE TROOPS WILL LAND \h\hON FIVE SECTORS. 53 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,640 {\an7}UTAH AND OMAHA BEACHES 54 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,200 {\an7}\h\hWILL BE TAKEN BY THE AMERICANS; 55 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,840 {\an7}GOLD, JUNO, AND SWORD BEACHES 56 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,000 {\an7}BY THE BRITISH AND CANADIANS. 57 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:07,960 {\an7}♪ 58 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,160 {\an7}AROUND 6:30 A.M., 59 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,680 {\an7}\h\hTHE FIRST WAVES OF ALLIED SOLDIERS LAND ON FRENCH SOIL. 60 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:19,360 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 61 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,720 {\an7}DURING THE FIRST HOURS \h\h\h\hOF THE LANDING, 62 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,960 {\an7}THE ALLIES SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES 63 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,840 {\an7}FROM THE ENTRENCHED \hGERMAN DEFENSES. 64 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,480 {\an7}\hBUT SOLDIERS AND ARMORED VEHICLES CONTINUE TO LAND, 65 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,480 {\an7}PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE ENEMY. 66 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,440 {\an7}Antony Beevor: THE VITAL PART \h\hOF ANY SEABORNE INVASION 67 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,920 {\an7}\hLIKE OPERATION OVERLORD WAS TO GET GROUND RAPIDLY 68 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:46,320 {\an7}BECAUSE ONLY THEN COULD YOU START TO PUSH BACK THE ENEMY 69 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:51,840 {\an7}\h\hSO THAT THEY COULD NOT KEEP FIRING AT THE BEACHES. 70 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,440 {\an7}♪ 71 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,680 {\an7}Narrator: AFTER JUST ONE DAY, 72 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,040 {\an7}THOUSANDS OF ALLIED SOLDIERS \h\hHAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED, 73 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,160 {\an7}BUT THE WIDE SCOPE \h\hOF THE LANDING 74 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,800 {\an7}HAS BEEN FATAL TO THE GERMANS. 75 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,680 {\an7}THE FIRST PHASE OF OPERATION \h\h\hOVERLORD IS COMPLETED. 76 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,040 {\an7}SCATTERED THROUGHOUT \hTHE LANDING ZONES, 77 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:17,560 {\an7}THE ALLIES MUST NOW REGROUP THE \hDIFFERENT UNITS ON THE GROUND. 78 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,160 {\an7}McManus: YOU’VE GOT TO LINK UP \h\h\h\h\h\hTHOSE FIVE BEACHES 79 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,000 {\an7}AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN. 80 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:22,520 {\an7}IF THEY’RE NOT LINKED UP, 81 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,360 {\an7}\hTHEN THE GERMANS CAN FILL THE GAPS 82 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,000 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND CAN BEGIN ATTACKING THE ALLIES 83 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,440 {\an7}FROM ANY DIRECTION THEY WANT, 84 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,520 {\an7}FROM WHAT MILITARY PEOPLE \h\h\h\hCALL THE FLANKS. 85 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:33,560 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTom Cook: EISENHOWER AND HIS GENERALS 86 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,040 {\an7}NEEDED TO CREATE A BUFFER ZONE 87 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,600 {\an7}\h\h\hTO PROTECT AGAINST THE GERMAN COUNTERATTACK 88 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,240 {\an7}THAT WOULD COME, 89 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:41,960 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND, IN FACT, THEY PREPARED FOR THAT. 90 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,280 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBeevor: THE PLAN FOR SEALING OFF NORMANDY 91 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,280 {\an7}WAS CALLED TRANSPORTATION, 92 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,560 {\an7}AND THIS MEANT BOMBING \h\hALL OF THE BRIDGES 93 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,320 {\an7}OVER THE RIVER SEINE \h\h\h\h\hTO THE EAST 94 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,160 {\an7}AND OVER THE RIVER LOIRE \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE SOUTH 95 00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:00,120 {\an7}SO THAT THE WHOLE OF THE NORMAN \hAREA WAS COMPLETELY CUT OFF. 96 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:05,440 {\an7}\hBUT ALSO IT MEANT SMASHING HOUSES AND TOWNS AND VILLAGES 97 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,880 {\an7}AT CRUCIAL CROSSROADS AND PLACES TO PREVENT THE GERMANS 98 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBRINGING UP REINFORCEMENTS AND SUPPLIES. 99 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:17,840 {\an7}♪ 100 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,160 {\an7}THE AMERICAN PHRASE, WHICH HAD \h\h\h\hBEEN INVENTED IN ITALY, 101 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,080 {\an7}WAS CALLED PUTTING THE CITY \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE STREET, 102 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,200 {\an7}\h\hWHICH BASICALLY MEANT SIMPLY BLOCKING THE ROADS 103 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,960 {\an7}\h\h\h\hSO THAT TRAFFIC COULD NOT GET THROUGH. 104 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:34,760 {\an7}♪ 105 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,560 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: EVEN BEFORE THE FIGHTING STARTS INLAND, 106 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,080 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNORMANDY IS PARTIALLY DESTROYED-- 107 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:45,320 {\an7}NO WATER, NO ELECTRICITY, \h\h\h\h\hNO PHONE LINES. 108 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,480 {\an7}\h\hAND NOW, AFTER TAKING THE FIVE LANDING BEACHES, 109 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,840 {\an7}THE ALLIES MUST ADVANCE, \h\h\hWHATEVER THE COST, 110 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,000 {\an7}TO PUSH THE GERMANS BACK 111 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,320 {\an7}AND OCCUPY ENEMY TERRITORY. 112 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:08,760 {\an7}♪ 113 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,280 {\an7}\h\hTHE FIRST OBJECTIVE OF GENERAL MONTGOMERY, 114 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,120 {\an7}COMMANDER OF THE BRITISH \h\hAND CANADIAN FORCES, 115 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,520 {\an7}\h\h\hIS TO SEIZE THE CITY OF CAEN, 116 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,200 {\an7}LOCATED NEARLY 20 KILOMETERS FROM SWORD AND JUNO BEACHES. 117 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON DAY 2, MONTGOMERY IS CONVINCED 118 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:30,600 {\an7}\h\h\hTHAT HE WILL SUCCEED IN RAPIDLY CAPTURING CAEN. 119 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:34,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT FACING HIM IS GENERAL ERWIN ROMMEL, 120 00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:39,320 {\an7}\hKNOWN FOR HIS FEATS IN AFRICA AND NICKNAMED "THE DESERT FOX." 121 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,760 {\an7}ROMMEL MOBILIZES HIS MOST POWERFUL ARMORED DIVISIONS 122 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:47,040 {\an7}\hTO MEET THE BRITISH-CANADIAN FORCES ADVANCING TOWARDS CAEN 123 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,000 {\an7}AND BLOCK MONTGOMERY’S \h\h\hALLIED OFFENSIVE. 124 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:58,400 {\an7}[ARTILLERY FIRE] 125 00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:03,920 {\an7}\h\hTHE FIRST DAYS OF FIGHTING NORTH OF CAEN ARE DEVASTATING. 126 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,440 {\an7}THE PERFECTLY ORGANIZED \h\h\h\hGERMAN DEFENSES 127 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:10,680 {\an7}INVARIABLY REPEL ALL ENGLISH \h\h\hAND CANADIAN ATTEMPTS. 128 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:15,120 {\an7}FACING THE GERMAN MARK IV, \hMARK V, AND TIGER TANKS, 129 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,240 {\an7}THE AMERICAN SHERMAN TANKS \h\h\h\hUSED BY THE ALLIES 130 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,320 {\an7}ARE JUST NOT UP TO THE MARK. 131 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:21,760 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMcManus: WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS 132 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,480 {\an7}EVERY AMERICAN SHERMAN TANK 133 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,880 {\an7}\hHAS TO BE SHIPPED TO THE BATTLEFIELD, 134 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,400 {\an7}SO IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO \h\h\hPRODUCE SOMETHING 135 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,520 {\an7}THAT’S REASONABLY LIGHT ENOUGH \h\h\h\h\h\hTO BE ABLE TO SHIP 136 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,000 {\an7}AND SMALL ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN \h\h\h\h\hGET IT ON THE SHIP. 137 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,320 {\an7}IT’S A REASONABLY GOOD TANK, 138 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:39,880 {\an7}BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO BE \hIN A TOE-TO-TOE BATTLE 139 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,480 {\an7}WITH A GERMAN TANK HEAD-ON. 140 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: 33 TONS FOR THE SHERMAN. 141 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,640 {\an7}\h\hMORE THAN 43 TONS FOR THE GERMAN TANKS. 142 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:55,760 {\an7}MORE ROBUST, WITH ARMOR SUPERIOR TO THE AMERICANS’, 143 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,960 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHEY DELIVERED DEVASTATING CANNON POWER. 144 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:00,920 {\an7}[BOOM] 145 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,960 {\an7}[EXPLOSION] 146 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,480 {\an7}McManus: THE MUZZLE VELOCITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THOSE TANKS 147 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,120 {\an7}MEANT THAT IF IT HIT YOU, 148 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,080 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHAT SHELL WAS GOING TO PENETRATE YOUR ARMOR PROBABLY, 149 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:11,880 {\an7}YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY \h\hALONG THE SIDES, 150 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,960 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND EITHER GO STRAIGHT THROUGH OR WORSE, 151 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,520 {\an7}RATTLE AROUND INSIDE \h\h\h\hAND EXPLODE. 152 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:22,680 {\an7}Narrator: WHILE THE BRITISH \h\h\h\h\hAND THE CANADIANS 153 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:24,960 {\an7}ARE DEFEATED ON THE EAST FLANK, 154 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,360 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE AMERICANS START ADVANCING ON THE OTHER SIDE. 155 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,160 {\an7}\h\h\hGENERAL BRADLEY COMMANDS THE TROOPS. 156 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,400 {\an7}\h\h\hTHEIR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS 17 KILOMETERS FROM THE COAST-- 157 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,320 {\an7}THE SMALL TOWN OF CARENTAN 158 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,320 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND ITS NETWORK OF ROADS AND RAILWAYS. 159 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:45,480 {\an7}McManus: CARENTAN IS REALLY THE KEY 160 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,920 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTO SEAL OFF THE COTENTIN PENINSULA 161 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,600 {\an7}AND THEN CAPTURE CHERBOURG, 162 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,360 {\an7}WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE GREATEST HARBOR IN NORMANDY. 163 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:54,000 {\an7}BUT ALSO IN TANDEM WITH THAT, 164 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,200 {\an7}YOU’RE GONNA START \hMOVING SOUTHWARD 165 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,400 {\an7}TOWARDS THE TOWN OF SAINT-LÔ. 166 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,920 {\an7}[ARTILLERY FIRE] 167 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,640 {\an7}\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE 101st AMERICAN AIRBORNE DIVISION 168 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:11,720 {\an7}SURROUNDS CARENTAN ON JUNE 9th, 1944. 169 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:13,680 {\an7}[BOOM] 170 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,440 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE FIGHTING, RUTHLESS AND SAVAGE, 171 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,960 {\an7}WOULD LAST FOUR DAYS \h\hAND FOUR NIGHTS. 172 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:30,040 {\an7}\h\h\hON JUNE 12th, CARENTAN FALLS INTO AMERICAN HANDS... 173 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,280 {\an7}[BLOWS WHISTLE] 174 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,320 {\an7}...WITH HEAVY LOSSES \h\h\hON BOTH SIDES. 175 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT THE ALLIES HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR GOAL. 176 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,880 {\an7}SIX DAYS AFTER THE LANDINGS, 177 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,320 {\an7}ALL THE COALITION FORCES \hARE FINALLY LINKED UP. 178 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,800 {\an7}THE TROOPS OCCUPY A BEACHHEAD \h\h\h\h\h80 KILOMETERS LONG, 179 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,880 {\an7}REACHING AT CERTAIN POINTS 10 TO 30 KILOMETERS DEEP, 180 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,920 {\an7}WHILE ON THE WEST SIDE, \hTHE AMERICANS ADVANCE 181 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,840 {\an7}TOWARDS CHERBOURG \h\hAND SAINT-LÔ, 182 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:57,520 {\an7}ON THE EAST SIDE, 183 00:09:57,560 --> 00:10:00,520 {\an7}\h\hTHE BRITISH AND CANADIANS STILL CLASH WITH THE GERMANS, 184 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:03,240 {\an7}WHO MAINTAIN THEIR POSITIONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAROUND CAEN. 185 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,800 {\an7}THESE REPEATED DEFEATS \h\h\h\hPUT MONTGOMERY 186 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,240 {\an7}IN A DIFFICULT POSITION \hWITH THE U.S. COMMAND. 187 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,480 {\an7}\h\h\hHE’S DESPERATE TO WIN A FIRST IRREFUTABLE VICTORY 188 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:16,960 {\an7}ON THE BATTLEFIELD. 189 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,400 {\an7}ON JUNE 12th, HE ATTEMPTS \hAN ENCIRCLEMENT MANEUVER 190 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,840 {\an7}BY SKIRTING CAEN FROM THE WEST TO TRAP THE GERMAN DIVISIONS. 191 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,160 {\an7}THE 7th BRITISH ARMORED DIVISION 192 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,800 {\an7}IS SENT TO THE SMALL TOWN \h\h\hOF VILLERS-BOCAGE. 193 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,640 {\an7}\h\hBUT THE GERMANS ANTICIPATE THE MOVE 194 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:39,440 {\an7}\h\hAND AMBUSH THE BRITISH WITH A TIGER TANK BATTALION 195 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,240 {\an7}COMMANDED BY MICHAEL WITTMANN, 196 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,440 {\an7}\hTHE MOST IMPRESSIVE TANK COMMANDER OF WORLD WAR II. 197 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:51,840 {\an7}♪ 198 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,800 {\an7}ONE BY ONE, THE BRITISH TANKS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE DESTROYED. 199 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:04,080 {\an7}♪ 200 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,360 {\an7}\h\h\hBeevor: THE FAILURE TO CAPTURE VILLERS-BOCAGE 201 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,760 {\an7}BY THE 7th ARMORED DIVISION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND XXX CORPS 202 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,800 {\an7}DID IMPACT BADLY ON MORALE. 203 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,880 {\an7}THEY JUST REALIZED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A FAR TOUGHER JOB 204 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,400 {\an7}\h\hTHAN THEY HAD THOUGHT ABOUT OR IMAGINED WHEN THEY SET SAIL. 205 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:26,040 {\an7}♪ 206 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,000 {\an7}Narrator: IN THESE CONDITIONS, \hTAKING THE PORT OF CHERBOURG 207 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:33,480 {\an7}BECOMES AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE ALLIES. 208 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,440 {\an7}\hAFTER CAPTURING CARENTAN, THE AMERICANS TAKE TEN DAYS 209 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,960 {\an7}TO TRAVEL 50 KILOMETERS \hAND REACH CHERBOURG. 210 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,160 {\an7}THE 4th, 9th, AND 79th \h\h\h\hU.S. DIVISIONS 211 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,200 {\an7}FINALLY REACH THE CITY \h\h\h\h\hON JUNE 21st. 212 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,600 {\an7}THEY LAUNCH THE ATTACK \h\hTHE FOLLOWING DAY. 213 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:56,360 {\an7}[EXPLOSIONS] 214 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,880 {\an7}McManus: THREE U.S. DIVISIONS \h\h\hARE ALL JUST ADVANCING 215 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:00,680 {\an7}NORTH TOWARD CHERBOURG 216 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,040 {\an7}AND TRYING TO GET INTO THE TOWN \h\h\h\hAS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN. 217 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:08,000 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 218 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,720 {\an7}Narrator: THE CITY IS DEFENDED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY 30,000 TROOPS 219 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:13,520 {\an7}TRAPPED BY THE ALLIES. 220 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:18,840 {\an7}[ARTILLERY FIRE] 221 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,040 {\an7}McManus: THEY’RE DOOMED BECAUSE THE ALLIED NAVY 222 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,520 {\an7}FROM THE SEAWARD SIDE \h\h\hCAN POUND THEM, 223 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:27,240 {\an7}\hAND THEN THE AMERICAN ARMY COMING FROM THE LANDWARD SIDE 224 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,640 {\an7}\h\h\hCAN KINDA JUST CATCH THEM IN A VISE. 225 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:34,800 {\an7}\hSO, THE WHOLE THING KIND OF JUST DEVOLVES 226 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,480 {\an7}\h\hINTO THIS SORT OF BLOCK BY BLOCK FIGHT. 227 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:48,080 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 228 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:49,120 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS 229 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:50,640 {\an7}BEFORE THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS 230 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:53,800 {\an7}\h\h\hDRIVE OUT ALL POCKETS OF RESISTANCE IN THE CITY. 231 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:57,600 {\an7}♪ 232 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:04,120 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 233 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,600 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hON JUNE 26th, THE GERMANS SURRENDER. 234 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,920 {\an7}THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS \hARE TAKEN PRISONER. 235 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,160 {\an7}AFTER FOUR LONG YEARS \h\h\hOF OCCUPATION, 236 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,800 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hCHERBOURG FINALLY TASTES FREEDOM ONCE AGAIN. 237 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,800 {\an7}[APPLAUSE] 238 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:36,360 {\an7}♪ 239 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,240 {\an7}McManus: CHERBOURG IS CERTAINLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE BIGGEST CITY 240 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,840 {\an7}\h\h\hAT THAT POINT THAT IS LIBERATED. 241 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,520 {\an7}THERE IS THIS LARGER \h\hGERMAN SURRENDER, 242 00:13:42,560 --> 00:13:44,600 {\an7}AND THE ALLIES THEN HAVE IT. 243 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,120 {\an7}AS AN AVERAGE SOLDIER, 244 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT STILL WASN’T NECESSARILY YOUR TYPICAL DAY, 245 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,560 {\an7}SO THOSE WHO WERE THERE, \h\h\hSAY, AT CHERBOURG, 246 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:51,720 {\an7}TENDED TO REMEMBER THAT. 247 00:13:55,000 --> 00:14:01,080 {\an7}♪ 248 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,920 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: DESPITE THIS FIRST VICTORY IN CHERBOURG, 249 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:08,880 {\an7}THE CASUALTIES AFTER THREE WEEKS OF FIGHTING ARE STAGGERING. 250 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,480 {\an7}\h\hTHOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED. 251 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:17,800 {\an7}ON THE BATTLEFIELD, \hTHE MEDICAL TEAMS 252 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:22,320 {\an7}\h\h\hTRY TO INTERVENE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 253 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,640 {\an7}THEY TRANSPORT BLOOD, 254 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,040 {\an7}SET UP FIELD HOSPITALS. 255 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,760 {\an7}A COMPLEX ORGANIZATION \h\h\h\hIS ESTABLISHED 256 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,560 {\an7}TO FOLLOW THE TROOPS \h\hAS THEY ADVANCE. 257 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\hIN SPITE OF THE LOSSES, THE ALLIES KEEP MOVING FORWARD 258 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,000 {\an7}DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY. 259 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,880 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER THE AMERICANS TAKE CHERBOURG, THEY HEAD SOUTH. 260 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:53,160 {\an7}THE NEXT ALLIED TARGET IS 261 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,640 {\an7}LESS THAN 90 KILOMETERS AWAY-- 262 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:57,480 {\an7}THE CITY OF SAINT-LÔ. 263 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,440 {\an7}BUT THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS FACE 264 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:05,920 {\an7}\h\h\h\hONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS REGIONS FOR INFANTRY AND TANKS-- 265 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,920 {\an7}THE NORMANDY BOCAGE. 266 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,720 {\an7}THE BOCAGE IS MADE UP \hOF CULTIVATED FIELDS 267 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:16,840 {\an7}SEPARATED BY DITCHES \h\hAND EMBANKMENTS, 268 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:20,120 {\an7}CANOPIED BY HEDGEROWS \hSEVERAL METERS HIGH. 269 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:28,760 {\an7}♪ 270 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,360 {\an7}\h\hMcManus: IT’S BASICALLY A MAZE OF THESE HEDGEROWS, 271 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,480 {\an7}MOST OF WHICH ARE ABOUT 8 FEET \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO 13 FEET HIGH, 272 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,480 {\an7}THAT THICK NORMAN SOIL, \h\h\h\hCLAY-LIKE SOIL, 273 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,840 {\an7}PACKED AROUND FENCES AND STONE 274 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,560 {\an7}\hTHAT CERTAINLY INDIVIDUAL SOLDIERS CAN’T GET THROUGH, 275 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,760 {\an7}SO THE HEDGEROW OPENING \hBECOMES A KILL ZONE. 276 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:53,840 {\an7}\hNarrator: THE GERMANS HAD FOUR YEARS TO PREPARE THEIR DEFENSE. 277 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:55,440 {\an7}HEAVY MACHINE GUNS \h\hWERE POSITIONED 278 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,680 {\an7}IN THE CORNERS OF EACH FIELD. 279 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:05,560 {\an7}MORTARS TARGET EVERY SPOT \hTHE ALLIES MIGHT CROSS, 280 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:09,720 {\an7}\h\hAND MINES HIDE IN THEIR PATHWAYS. 281 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,920 {\an7}WITH A VISIBILITY OF NO MORE \h\hTHAN A COUPLE OF METERS, 282 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,720 {\an7}THE AMERICANS ADVANCE BLINDLY. 283 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:17,840 {\an7}[ARTILLERY FIRE] 284 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:26,160 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 285 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:27,960 {\an7}UP AGAINST THE GERMANS, 286 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:32,880 {\an7}\h\h\h\hDOZENS OF ALLIED SOLDIERS DIE TAKING BACK A MERE MEADOW... 287 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,640 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 288 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,000 {\an7}...OR A SINGLE HEDGE. 289 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,440 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 290 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:50,400 {\an7}[ARTILLERY FIRE] 291 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,800 {\an7}\hMcManus: THE U.S. ARMY FINDS ITSELF IN NORMANDY 292 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,880 {\an7}IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLOODBATH, \h\h\h\h\hABSOLUTE BLOODBATH. 293 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,800 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hDAY BY DAY, HEDGEROW BY HEDGEROW, 294 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,600 {\an7}\h\hCHOKE POINT TOWN BY CHOKE POINT TOWN, 295 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,840 {\an7}EVERY ONE OF THEM \hWHERE YOU FIGHT, 296 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,360 {\an7}\h\hYOU’RE GOING TO SUFFER CASUALTIES. 297 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:10,560 {\an7}FROM THE AVERAGE SOLDIER’S \h\h\h\h\h\hPOINT OF VIEW, 298 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:13,280 {\an7}THIS JUST SEEMS TO BE A HOPELESS SITUATION. 299 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:17,960 {\an7}\h\h\h\hYOU JUST KNOW THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE 300 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,440 {\an7}KIND OF THE ROAD TO NOWHERE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN NORMANDY. 301 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:31,400 {\an7}♪ 302 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,160 {\an7}Narrator: AS THE AMERICANS \h\h\h\h\h\hTRY TO NAVIGATE 303 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:34,640 {\an7}THE NORMANDY HEDGEROWS, 304 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,040 {\an7}THE BRITISH AND CANADIANS 305 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:37,280 {\an7}ARE STILL ATTEMPTING 306 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,320 {\an7}TO BREAK THE GERMAN STRONGHOLD 307 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:41,600 {\an7}AROUND THE CITY OF CAEN. 308 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:48,400 {\an7}\hTHE BRITISH GENERAL MONTGOMERY DECIDES TO CHANGE HIS OFFENSIVE. 309 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,440 {\an7}HE LAUNCHES OPERATION CHARNWOOD. 310 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,440 {\an7}ON JULY 7th, 467 ALLIED PLANES 311 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,760 {\an7}\h\hDROP MORE THAN 2,500 TONS OF BOMBS 312 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,680 {\an7}ON ENEMY-OCCUPIED AREAS \h\h\h\h\hAROUND CAEN. 313 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:14,680 {\an7}[EXPLOSIONS] 314 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,200 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAFTER HAVING BEEN HEAVILY BOMBED ON JUNE 6th, 315 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:22,120 {\an7}THE CITY OF CAEN IS DECIMATED. 316 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:32,080 {\an7}♪ 317 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:34,040 {\an7}♪ 318 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,000 {\an7}ON JULY 9th, THE BRITISH \h\hAND CANADIAN SOLDIERS 319 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,280 {\an7}FINALLY ENTER THE CITY \h\h\h\hFROM THE NORTH. 320 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:46,040 {\an7}♪ 321 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,720 {\an7}\h\h\hCook: AS THE CANADIANS AND BRITISH FOUGHT INTO CAEN, 322 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:57,560 {\an7}\h\h\hTHROUGH THE RUBBLE, THEY SAW FRENCH CIVILIANS 323 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,080 {\an7}WHO HAD SURVIVED THE BOMBING 324 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:03,200 {\an7}BUT WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS \h\h\h\hHAD BEEN KILLED. 325 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,720 {\an7}THEY TALKED ABOUT HEARING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SCREAMS 326 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,920 {\an7}OF THE FRENCH CIVILIANS \h\h\hWHO WERE TRAPPED. 327 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,200 {\an7}\hNarrator: BUT FOR THE ALLIED COMMAND, 328 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:18,800 {\an7}THE ANNIHILATION OF CAEN 329 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:20,920 {\an7}\hAND THE THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS KILLED 330 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,480 {\an7}UNDER THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH BOMBS 331 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,840 {\an7}WAS A NECESSARY EVIL-- 332 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,880 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE PRICE TO PAY IN WINNING THE BATTLE. 333 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,120 {\an7}\h\hBeevor: IT’S ALWAYS HARD TALKING ABOUT ENDS AND MEANS 334 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,560 {\an7}AND WHAT JUSTIFIES WHAT \h\h\h\h\h\hIN WARFARE. 335 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,840 {\an7}\h\hA MORAL DECISION WOULD BE THAT THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS 336 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,000 {\an7}IS, ALMOST BY DEFINITION, \h\h\h\h\h\hA WAR CRIME. 337 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,760 {\an7}BUT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE \h\h\h\hTO AVOID IT IN REALITY. 338 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE PRIORITY WAS WE’VE GOT TO DEFEAT THE GERMANS 339 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:59,160 {\an7}BECAUSE, IN A WAY, WE ACCEPT THAT NORMANDY IS GOING TO BE 340 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,280 {\an7}REALLY THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB \hFOR THE WHOLE OF FRANCE. 341 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,480 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIF WE CAN DESTROY THE GERMAN ARMY IN NORMANDY, 342 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,880 {\an7}THEN THE REST OF FRANCE \h\h\h\hWILL BE SAVED. 343 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:16,000 {\an7}Narrator: WHILE THE BRITISH \h\h\h\hAND CANADIAN TROOPS 344 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,760 {\an7}GRADUALLY LIBERATE THE CITY OF CAEN, 345 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:20,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE AMERICANS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE 346 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,280 {\an7}\hAGAINST A STRONG GERMAN RESISTANCE 347 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:25,280 {\an7}ON THEIR WAY TO SAINT-LÔ. 348 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,240 {\an7}THOUSANDS OF ALLIED SOLDIERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE TRAPPED 349 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,160 {\an7}IN THE NORMANDY BOCAGE. 350 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:45,120 {\an7}\h\hTHE INCESSANT RAIN AND MUD SLOW THEIR PROGRESS EVEN MORE. 351 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:51,400 {\an7}TO ESCAPE THIS FATAL LABYRINTH, THEY TRY AN INGENIOUS STRATEGY. 352 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:52,840 {\an7}McManus: WE’VE GOT TO CREATE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA NEW OPENING 353 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,600 {\an7}THROUGH THE HEDGEROWS, BECAUSE THE MAIN ONE, 354 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:55,880 {\an7}THE GERMANS HAVE COVERED, 355 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:56,880 {\an7}AND THEY’RE GOING TO \h\h\hKILL EVERYBODY 356 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,640 {\an7}WHO MOVES THROUGH THERE. 357 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,840 {\an7}SO, THEY BEGIN TO WELD, \h\hIRONICALLY ENOUGH, 358 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE REMNANTS OF GERMAN BEACH OBSTACLES, 359 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,880 {\an7}THE METAL, ONTO THE FRONT \hOF TANKS WITH PRONGS... 360 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,640 {\an7}...AND BEGIN TO USE \h\hTHE TANKS THEN 361 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,040 {\an7}TO PUNCH A NEW OPENING THROUGH THE HEDGEROW. 362 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:34,240 {\an7}♪ 363 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,240 {\an7}\hNarrator: WITH THESE SO-CALLED RHINO TANKS, 364 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,360 {\an7}THE ALLIES TAKE THE GERMANS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY SURPRISE. 365 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,200 {\an7}BUT FOR EVERY HEDGE CROSSED, 366 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,840 {\an7}THEY REMAIN AT THE MERCY \hOF THE ENEMY SOLDIERS. 367 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:47,480 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 368 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,400 {\an7}McManus: AS THE GERMANS HAVE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE DITCHES, 369 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBEYOND THE HEDGEROW, A LOT OF PANZERFAUST GUNNERS. 370 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,520 {\an7}IT’S A ONE-TIME, ONE-SHOT \hKIND OF ANTI-TANK WEAPON 371 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,160 {\an7}THAT CAN BLOW UP YOUR TANK, 372 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,200 {\an7}SO THE INFANTRYMEN HAVE TO MOVE \h\h\h\hVERY CLOSE TO THE TANK 373 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,600 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BASICALLY WHAT THE MILITARY CALLS "CLEAN OUT" 374 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:05,000 {\an7}THE GERMANS IN THE DITCHES. 375 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:06,520 {\an7}THAT BASICALLY MEANS KILL THEM. 376 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,120 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND VERY CLOSE, FACE-TO-FACE QUITE OFTEN. 377 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:10,560 {\an7}AND THEN THE TANKERS \h\h\h\hWILL LAY DOWN 378 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:12,560 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWHAT’S CALLED WHITE PHOSPHOROUS FIRE, 379 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,000 {\an7}\hAND WHITE PHOSPHORUS IS A TERRIBLE WEAPON. 380 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:19,240 {\an7}\h\h\hIT’S BASICALLY A CHEMICAL THAT WILL JUST BURN THROUGH YOU 381 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:22,760 {\an7}AS LONG AS IT HAS OXYGEN. 382 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:24,560 {\an7}[BOOM] 383 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:26,880 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBeevor: IT WAS A VERY DIRTY BATTLE. 384 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:28,640 {\an7}I MEAN, THE GERMANS THEMSELVES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDESCRIBED IT 385 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,280 {\an7}AS A SCHMUTZIGER BUSCHKRIEG, \h\h\h\h\h\hA DIRTY BUSH WAR. 386 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,080 {\an7}AND GENERAL COLLINS, WHO’D BEEN \h\h\hFIGHTING IN THE FAR EAST, 387 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:36,560 {\an7}SAID THIS WAS WORSE \hTHAN THE JUNGLE. 388 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,280 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 389 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:47,440 {\an7}♪ 390 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:55,640 {\an7}♪ 391 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,160 {\an7}Narrator: ON JULY 18th, 392 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,280 {\an7}\h\h\hAFTER THREE WEEKS OF RELENTLESS FIGHTING 393 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,400 {\an7}SINCE THE CAPTURING \h\h\hOF CHERBOURG, 394 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,520 {\an7}THE ALLIED SOLDIERS FINALLY ENTER THE CITY OF SAINT-LÔ. 395 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,080 {\an7}BUT UPON ARRIVAL, NOT MUCH REMAINS. 396 00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:18,120 {\an7}♪ 397 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:21,360 {\an7}THE SOLDIERS HAVE TO ADVANCE \h\h\h\h\h\hEXTREMELY SLOWLY 398 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,800 {\an7}AS THE GERMANS HAVE MINED \h\h\h\hTHE ENTIRE CITY. 399 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,080 {\an7}A FEW CIVILIANS EMERGE \h\hFROM THEIR SHELTERS 400 00:23:31,120 --> 00:23:34,520 {\an7}TO SEARCH THE RUBBLE FOR OBJECTS THAT MIGHT HAVE SURVIVED 401 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:36,640 {\an7}THE ONSLAUGHT OF ALLIED BOMBS. 402 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:47,440 {\an7}\hAFTER CHERBOURG, SAINT-LÔ IS THE SECOND GREAT VICTORY 403 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,200 {\an7}FOR THE ALLIED COMMAND. 404 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:51,640 {\an7}BUT THE STATE OF THE CITY, 405 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,640 {\an7}WHICH IS LATER NICKNAMED "CAPITAL OF THE RUINS," 406 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:58,600 {\an7}EXEMPLIFIES THE HIGH PRICE \h\hOF LIBERATING NORMANDY. 407 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:14,360 {\an7}♪ 408 00:24:14,360 --> 00:24:19,720 {\an7}♪ 409 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:21,920 {\an7}AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF \h\h\h\h\h\hOF FIGHTING, 410 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,560 {\an7}\h\hTHE TROOPS’ MORALE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. 411 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:27,880 {\an7}\hEVERY FOOT GAINED AGAINST THE GERMANS 412 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,560 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOMES AT THE COST OF INTENSE AND MERCILESS COMBAT. 413 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:38,000 {\an7}♪ 414 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,920 {\an7}McManus: THERE’S THE STRESS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF NOT KNOWING 415 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,520 {\an7}WHEN THE NEXT GERMAN SHELL \h\h\h\hIS GOING TO COME IN 416 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:51,000 {\an7}AND WHETHER IT’S GOING TO HIT \h\h\h\h\h\hNEAR YOU OR NOT. 417 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,040 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hCook: THEY SEE A VERY LIMITED BATTLEFIELD. 418 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,400 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIT’S A BATTLEFIELD WHERE THEY LIVE AND THEY DIE 419 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,560 {\an7}AND WHERE THEY FIGHT AND WHERE THEY KILL. 420 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:03,240 {\an7}♪ 421 00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:13,040 {\an7}♪ 422 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,560 {\an7}\h\hNarrator: FOR THE SOLDIERS, THE WARM WELCOME OF THE LOCALS 423 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:20,560 {\an7}REMINDS THEM WHY THEY CAME HERE \h\h\h\h\hTO RISK THEIR LIVES. 424 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:30,640 {\an7}♪ 425 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:35,960 {\an7}♪ 426 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:50,000 {\an7}♪ 427 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:58,240 {\an7}♪ 428 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,800 {\an7}A LITTLE ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES, 429 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,400 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSIMPLE GIFTS THAT LIFT THE MEN’S SPIRITS 430 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,440 {\an7}BEFORE THE NEXT ADVANCEMENT, 431 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:08,680 {\an7}THE NEXT MORTAR FIRE, 432 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,480 {\an7}THE NEXT DEAD. 433 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,320 {\an7}Cook: OVER TIME, MANY OF THEM REALIZE THAT THE ONLY WAY OUT 434 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:17,800 {\an7}WAS TO BE KILLED OR WOUNDED, 435 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,720 {\an7}EVEN AS REINFORCEMENTS \h\h\hCAME BEHIND THEM. 436 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:29,320 {\an7}♪ 437 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:31,640 {\an7}THEIR WORLD BECAME VERY SMALL. 438 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,480 {\an7}BATTLE STRESS BECAME A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM 439 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,840 {\an7}IN THE FIGHTING IN NORMANDY, \hAND IN JULY AND IN AUGUST, 440 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,000 {\an7}AS THE STRAIN CONTINUED, 441 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,480 {\an7}BETWEEN ABOUT 20 AND 30 PERCENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE CASUALTIES 442 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,560 {\an7}WERE COMBAT STRESS. 443 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:53,600 {\an7}♪ 444 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:55,520 {\an7}Narrator: TO COMPENSATE \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR LOSSES, 445 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,640 {\an7}REINFORCEMENTS LAND DAILY \hON THE NORMANDY BEACHES 446 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:00,760 {\an7}\h\hAND ARE IMMEDIATELY SENT TO THE FRONT LINE. 447 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,560 {\an7}AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF \h\hOF INTENSE FIGHTING, 448 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:09,320 {\an7}THE MAIN CITIES OF NORMANDY 449 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:12,400 {\an7}HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE HANDS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE GERMANS, 450 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,760 {\an7}BUT THE BATTLE IS FAR FROM OVER. 451 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:22,040 {\an7}♪ 452 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:27,320 {\an7}♪ 453 00:27:27,360 --> 00:27:29,040 {\an7}TO PIERCE THE GERMAN DEFENSES 454 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,280 {\an7}\h\h\hAND ACCELERATE THE TROOPS’ MOVEMENT, 455 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,920 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE ALLIED COMMAND LAUNCHES OPERATION COBRA. 456 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:40,480 {\an7}♪ 457 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:48,040 {\an7}♪ 458 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,240 {\an7}McManus: COBRA IS CONCEIVED \hAROUND THE IDEA OF, GOSH, 459 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:52,000 {\an7}WE HAVE ALL THESE GREAT BOMBERS, 460 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,440 {\an7}\hALL THIS AIRPOWER WE’VE BEEN USING TO PUMMEL GERMAN CITIES. 461 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:56,640 {\an7}WHAT IF WE CARPET-BOMBED 462 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,200 {\an7}A PART OF THE GERMAN LINES \h\h\h\hIN THESE HEDGEROWS 463 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,760 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTO PUNCH A HOLE AND HAVE AN OPENING NOW 464 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:03,960 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR OUR ARMOR AND ALL OF OUR OTHER TROOPS 465 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,040 {\an7}TO GET THROUGH HERE \h\h\hVERY QUICKLY? 466 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,720 {\an7}IT MAKES A GREAT DEAL \hOF SENSE ON PAPER. 467 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:11,320 {\an7}IT’S IN THE IMPLEMENTATION 468 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:13,160 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHAT IT CREATES SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS. 469 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,960 {\an7}WHY? BECAUSE THE BOMBERS \hARE NOT THAT ACCURATE. 470 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:18,920 {\an7}YOU’RE ASKING THEM \h\hTO DO SOMETHING 471 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:20,440 {\an7}THEY’RE NOT REALLY CAPABLE OF DOING, 472 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,840 {\an7}WHICH IS TO BOMB CLOSE, 473 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,200 {\an7}WITHIN ABOUT 1,000 \h\hTO 2,000 METERS 474 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,040 {\an7}OF THEIR OWN GROUND TROOPS. 475 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,640 {\an7}THEY’RE LUCKY TO HIT A TARGET \h\hWITHIN THREE MILES OR SO. 476 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:41,720 {\an7}♪ 477 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:47,560 {\an7}♪ 478 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:55,200 {\an7}♪ 479 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:03,600 {\an7}[EXPLOSIONS] 480 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:10,520 {\an7}♪ 481 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:13,320 {\an7}Narrator: FOR TWO DAYS, \h\hTHOUSANDS OF BOMBS 482 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:16,360 {\an7}\h\hHIT THE FRONT LINE SOUTHEAST OF SAINT-LÔ. 483 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,440 {\an7}♪ 484 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:24,280 {\an7}[EXPLOSIONS] 485 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:31,480 {\an7}♪ 486 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:32,480 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMcManus: OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS, 487 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,360 {\an7}JULY 24th AND 25th, 1944, 488 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,920 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE HEAVY BOMBERS COME OVER FROM ENGLAND 489 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,400 {\an7}\h\h\hAND THEY BOMB IN FRONT OF THE U.S. ASSAULT DIVISION. 490 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,760 {\an7}THEY BOMB SHORT, AND THEY KILL \h\hSEVERAL HUNDRED AMERICANS. 491 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,760 {\an7}THIS IS, I BELIEVE, THE GREATEST FRIENDLY FIRE INCIDENT 492 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:54,800 {\an7}\h\h\hIN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 493 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:01,760 {\an7}BUT ALSO THE GOOD NEWS IS IT DOES TREMENDOUS DAMAGE, 494 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,320 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF COURSE, TO THE PANZER LEHR DIVISION, 495 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:06,280 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE GERMANS WHO WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THIS, 496 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:10,880 {\an7}\h\h\hAND SO COBRA DOES WHAT IT’S DESIGNED FOR. 497 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:19,360 {\an7}♪ 498 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:20,600 {\an7}Beevor: THE PANZER LEHR \h\h\h\h\h\h\hDIVISION, 499 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:21,960 {\an7}OTHER GERMAN DIVISIONS, 500 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,920 {\an7}WERE SO BADLY THROWN BY THE HEAVY BOMBING 501 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:26,840 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THEY WERE IN A COMPLETELY DAZED STATE 502 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:28,920 {\an7}WHEN THE AMERICANS GOT TO THEM. 503 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,720 {\an7}\h\h\hWITHIN TWO DAYS, THE REAL BREAKTHROUGH HAD BEEN ACHIEVED. 504 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:37,680 {\an7}Narrator: IN JUST A FEW DAYS, 505 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:40,360 {\an7}THOUSANDS OF GERMANS ARE TAKEN PRISONER. 506 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:43,920 {\an7}THE REICH FORCES HAVE SUFFERED ONE OF THEIR HEAVIEST DEFEATS 507 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:45,840 {\an7}SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR. 508 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:47,800 {\an7}DESPITE THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE, 509 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,600 {\an7}THE MILITARY SUCCESS \hOF OPERATION COBRA 510 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,920 {\an7}BRINGS THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY \h\h\h\h\h\hINTO A NEW PHASE. 511 00:30:53,960 --> 00:31:00,440 {\an7}♪ 512 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:10,040 {\an7}♪ 513 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:12,040 {\an7}ON JULY 28th, 514 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:16,400 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE TOWN OF COUTANCES IS CAPTURED BY THE ALLIES. 515 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:19,800 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SAME DAY, A NEW COMMANDER ARRIVES-- 516 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,400 {\an7}GENERAL PATTON. 517 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,560 {\an7}\h\h\hFAMOUS FOR HIS FEATS IN NORTH AFRICA AND SICILY, 518 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:29,600 {\an7}PATTON HAS JUST TAKEN COMMAND \h\h\hOF THE THIRD U.S. ARMY. 519 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:33,360 {\an7}HIS MISSION--MAKE A BREAKTHROUGH TO THE SOUTH OF NORMANDY. 520 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:39,280 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBeevor: THE GERMANS FEARED PATTON 521 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:41,920 {\an7}MORE THAN ANY OTHER \h\hALLIED GENERAL. 522 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:45,200 {\an7}PATTON’S NEW JOB, WHICH HE WAS \h\h\hEXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT, 523 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,240 {\an7}WAS THE PROSPECT OF TAKING OVER, HAVING HIS OWN ARMY, 524 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:50,720 {\an7}\hONCE THE BREAKOUT CAME FROM NORMANDY. 525 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:57,960 {\an7}♪ 526 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,840 {\an7}Narrator: IN JUST FOUR DAYS, 527 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:02,400 {\an7}\h\h\h\hPATTON’S TROOPS WILL RETAKE THE CITIES 528 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:04,760 {\an7}BETWEEN COUTANCES AND AVRANCHES 529 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,080 {\an7}\h\h\hAND ADVANCE MORE THAN 50 KILOMETERS TO THE SOUTH 530 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,880 {\an7}AT A PACE NOT YET SEEN \h\h\h\hIN THIS BATTLE. 531 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:21,440 {\an7}♪ 532 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:22,960 {\an7}AS THEY PROGRESS, 533 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,160 {\an7}THOUSANDS OF GERMAN SOLDIERS \h\h\h\h\hARE TAKEN CAPTIVE. 534 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,000 {\an7}Beevor: THIS REALLY \hTOOK THE AMERICANS 535 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:30,600 {\an7}ALL THE WAY THROUGH, DOWN PAST AVRANCHES, 536 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:34,760 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND OUT OF NORMANDY, EVEN INTO NORTHERN BRITTANY. 537 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:42,800 {\an7}IT WAS A SPECTACULAR SMASHING OF THE GERMAN ARMIES IN NORMANDY. 538 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:49,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHIS WAS DEFINITELY THE START OF TAKING THE FIGHT 539 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:51,760 {\an7}RIGHT THE WAY THROUGH \h\h\h\hINTO FRANCE. 540 00:32:51,800 --> 00:33:00,840 {\an7}♪ 541 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,560 {\an7}Narrator: ON JULY 31st, \hPATTON AND HIS TROOPS 542 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:08,040 {\an7}RECLAIM THE PONTAUBAULT BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE SÉLUNE RIVER. 543 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:12,280 {\an7}\hTHEY GAIN DIRECT ACCESS TO THE WEST OF FRANCE AND TO BRITTANY. 544 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:19,720 {\an7}♪ 545 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:21,320 {\an7}THE FOLLOWING DAY, 546 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,040 {\an7}\hTHE AMERICANS ARRIVE AT MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, 547 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:26,480 {\an7}COMPLETELY ABANDONED \h\h\h\hBY THE ENEMY. 548 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:36,560 {\an7}♪ 549 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:41,600 {\an7}♪ 550 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:43,840 {\an7}PATTON’S BREAKTHROUGH \hIS A SERIOUS SETBACK 551 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,600 {\an7}FOR THE GERMAN ARMY. 552 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,120 {\an7}\hMcManus: THE GERMANS ARE IN AN EXISTENTIAL SITUATION 553 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:52,160 {\an7}IN NORMANDY. 554 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:53,720 {\an7}AND THE LOGICAL THING TO DO 555 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:55,480 {\an7}WOULD BE TO SIMPLY \hRETREAT EASTWARD 556 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:58,720 {\an7}\h\hAND GET OUT OF THERE AND FIGHT SOMEWHERE ELSE, 557 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:00,200 {\an7}\h\h\hBUT WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LOGIC 558 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,560 {\an7}\hWHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE LIKE ADOLF HITLER. 559 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:09,160 {\an7}Narrator: INSTEAD OF ORDERING \h\h\hHIS TROOPS TO RETREAT, 560 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,160 {\an7}\h\hHITLER DECIDES TO COUNTER-ATTACK. 561 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:17,720 {\an7}HIS PLAN--SEND HIS TANKS TO THE TOWN OF MORTAIN, 562 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:21,000 {\an7}\h\h\h\hCLOSE TO WHERE SEVERAL AMERICAN UNITS HAVE JOINED UP. 563 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:24,560 {\an7}THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A BREACH \h\hIN THE ALLIED CONFIGURATION 564 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:26,440 {\an7}MEANT TO REACH AVRANCHES 565 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:28,760 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY CUTTING THE AMERICAN ARMY IN TWO 566 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,360 {\an7}AND REGAINING CONTROL \h\h\h\hOF THE AREA. 567 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:38,280 {\an7}♪ 568 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:41,080 {\an7}RELUCTANTLY, THE GERMAN \hGENERALS ON THE GROUND 569 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:43,280 {\an7}PREPARE THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE. 570 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,360 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBeevor: THEY HAD THESE FIRM ORDERS FROM HITLER, 571 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,400 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hEVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE COMMANDERS 572 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,160 {\an7}OF THE GERMAN PANZER UNITS 573 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:53,880 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE DUBIOUS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR OPERATION. 574 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,360 {\an7}BUT THEY HAD NO OPTION, BUT THEY HAD TO GO AHEAD AND ATTACK. 575 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,360 {\an7}Narrator: ON AUGUST 7th, 1944, 576 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:08,120 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE GERMANS LAUNCH A COUNTERATTACK IN MORTAIN, 577 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:11,040 {\an7}CODE NAME--OPERATION LÜTTICH. 578 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:22,080 {\an7}♪ 579 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,160 {\an7}\h\h\hCOLUMNS OF PANZERS ATTACK THE 30th U.S. INFANTRY DIVISION 580 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:27,640 {\an7}WITH FULL FORCE. 581 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:32,160 {\an7}♪ 582 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE GIs RESIST THE POWERFUL GERMAN TANKS 583 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:38,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND MANAGE TO SLOW THE NAZI TROOPS’ PROGRESS, 584 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:41,680 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGIVING TIME FOR REINFORCEMENTS TO ARRIVE. 585 00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:44,800 {\an7}[GUNFIRE] 586 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:48,720 {\an7}WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE MASSIVE \h\h\h\hINFLUX OF ALLIED FORCES 587 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:51,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPUSHES BACK THE GERMAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE. 588 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:56,640 {\an7}HITLER’S OPERATION LÜTTICH \h\h\h\hIS A TOTAL FAILURE. 589 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:58,800 {\an7}\h\hMcManus: THE GERMANS SUFFER AT LEAST 50 PERCENT CASUALTIES, 590 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:01,120 {\an7}PARTICULARLY ALONG THE ROADS \h\h\h\hTHAT KIND OF ENVELOP 591 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:03,480 {\an7}ON EITHER SIDE OF MORTAIN. 592 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:05,680 {\an7}IT’S REALLY A DISASTER \h\h\hFOR THE GERMANS. 593 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:15,880 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: BY MID-AUGUST, THE GERMAN FORCES ARE DEFEATED. 594 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:20,880 {\an7}\h\h\hON AUGUST 15th, 1944, HITLER THROWS IN THE TOWEL 595 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:24,120 {\an7}AND ORDERS HIS TROOPS \h\hTO FLEE NORMANDY. 596 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:29,760 {\an7}ARRIVING FROM THE WEST, 597 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:30,800 {\an7}THE AMERICANS ADVANCE 598 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:33,040 {\an7}AT FULL SPEED TOWARDS ARGENTAN 599 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:36,080 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO JOIN FORCES WITH THE BRITISH AND CANADIANS. 600 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:42,400 {\an7}VILLAGE AFTER VILLAGE, \h\h\h\h\h\hONE BY ONE, 601 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:44,360 {\an7}THEY OCCUPY ENEMY POSITIONS. 602 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:51,320 {\an7}THEY ANNIHILATE THE AREAS \h\hOF GERMAN RESISTANCE. 603 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:56,800 {\an7}THE SMALL VILLAGE OF RÂNES, 604 00:36:56,840 --> 00:37:00,520 {\an7}TIRELESSLY HELD BY THE WEHRMACHT AND AN SS UNIT, 605 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:02,600 {\an7}IS REDUCED TO RUBBLE. 606 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:10,840 {\an7}♪ 607 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:14,000 {\an7}DOZENS OF CIVILIANS ARE KILLED. 608 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,000 {\an7}BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO EXPEL 609 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:20,160 {\an7}\h\h\h\hEVERY LAST STANDING GERMAN SOLDIER IN NORMANDY. 610 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:27,680 {\an7}♪ 611 00:37:27,720 --> 00:37:29,160 {\an7}[BOOM] 612 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:30,680 {\an7}BRADLEY AND MONTGOMERY 613 00:37:30,720 --> 00:37:34,120 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOORDINATE THE ALLIED TROOPS’ MOVEMENT. 614 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:35,440 {\an7}IN THE WEST, THE AMERICANS 615 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:37,400 {\an7}ADVANCE TOWARDS THE SEINE. 616 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:38,400 {\an7}IN THE NORTH, 617 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:39,480 {\an7}THE BRITISH AND CANADIANS 618 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:40,760 {\an7}INCREASE THEIR PRESSURE 619 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:42,240 {\an7}ON FALAISE. 620 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:43,360 {\an7}IN THE SOUTH, 621 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:44,360 {\an7}THE FRENCH ARMORED DIVISION 622 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:45,960 {\an7}OF GENERAL LECLERC, 623 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:50,240 {\an7}ALONG WITH THE AMERICANS, HEAD BACK UP TO ARGENTAN. 624 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,080 {\an7}\h\h\hBETWEEN THE CITIES OF FALAISE AND CHAMBOIS, 625 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:54,960 {\an7}A POCKET STARTS TO FORM, 626 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:58,800 {\an7}TRAPPING NEARLY 100,000 \h\h\hGERMAN SOLDIERS. 627 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:02,560 {\an7}IF THE ALLIES MANAGE TO CLOSE \h\hTHE GAP ON THE EAST SIDE, 628 00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:05,480 {\an7}\h\h\hTHEY WILL CUT OFF ANY CHANCE FOR ESCAPE. 629 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:09,920 {\an7}\h\h\hBeevor: BRADLEY BOASTED TO VISITORS TO HEADQUARTERS, 630 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:13,360 {\an7}\h\h\h"NEVER DOES A GENERAL GET AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE WE HAVE NOW 631 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:16,680 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CLOSE THIS GAP AND BASICALLY TO SEAL THEM OFF." 632 00:38:16,720 --> 00:38:19,600 {\an7}Cook: THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAD BEEN FOUGHT 633 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:22,600 {\an7}OVER HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES, 634 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:25,800 {\an7}BUT IT SEEMED TO FUNNEL \h\hAT THE FALAISE GAP. 635 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:31,880 {\an7}AND THIS ENORMOUS BATTLEFIELD \h\h\h\hOF HUNDREDS OF MILES 636 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:36,480 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hGETS FOCUSED DOWN TO A VERY SMALL DEADLY PLACE. 637 00:38:36,520 --> 00:38:40,000 {\an7}♪ 638 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:42,400 {\an7}[BOMBS WHISTLING] 639 00:38:42,440 --> 00:38:45,640 {\an7}\h\h\h\hNarrator: TO WEAKEN THE ENEMY’S FINAL DEFENSES, 640 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:49,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE ALLIED AIR FORCES HAMMER THE GERMAN POSITIONS. 641 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,840 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE GROUND, THE FIGHTING IS UNPRECEDENTED. 642 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:59,600 {\an7}[ARTILLERY FIRE] 643 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:01,760 {\an7}THE CANADIANS TAKE FALAISE 644 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:03,440 {\an7}ON AUGUST 17th, 645 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:05,120 {\an7}TRUN, THE 18th. 646 00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:06,800 {\an7}LITTLE BY LITTLE, THE VISE 647 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:08,480 {\an7}TIGHTENS ON THE GERMANS. 648 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:10,360 {\an7}THEY HAVE A CORRIDOR OF NO MORE 649 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:12,200 {\an7}THAN SEVEN KILOMETERS WIDE 650 00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:14,360 {\an7}TO FLEE TO THE EAST. 651 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:24,720 {\an7}♪ 652 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:30,560 {\an7}Beevor: THE MASSACRE INSIDE THE POCKET AT FALAISE WAS HORRIFIC. 653 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:32,440 {\an7}THE FIGHTER BOMBERS \hKEPT ON COMING IN. 654 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:34,480 {\an7}ALL OF THE GERMAN TRANSPORT HORSES, 655 00:39:34,520 --> 00:39:38,280 {\an7}DRAGGING FIELD HOSPITALS \h\hOR GUNS OR WHATEVER, 656 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:41,520 {\an7}WERE JUST SIMPLY MACHINE-GUNNED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THEIR TRACES. 657 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:44,520 {\an7}THE SMELL, THE STENCH OF CORPSES FOR WEEKS AFTERWARDS 658 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:47,720 {\an7}WAS SIMPLY APPALLING. 659 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:50,120 {\an7}\hIT WAS A TURKEY SHOOT, AS THE AMERICANS WOULD HAVE CALLED IT. 660 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:56,160 {\an7}Narrator: ON AUGUST 21st, 661 00:39:56,200 --> 00:40:00,840 {\an7}\hTHE FALAISE POCKET IS CLOSED ONCE AND FOR ALL IN CHAMBOIS. 662 00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:09,960 {\an7}TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GERMANS \h\h\h\h\hARE TAKEN PRISONER, 663 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:12,080 {\an7}AND THOUSANDS LAY DEAD. 664 00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:21,680 {\an7}THE BATTLE WILL LATER BE KNOWN AS THE STALINGRAD OF NORMANDY. 665 00:40:23,720 --> 00:40:26,600 {\an7}McManus: YOU HAVE THOUSANDS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF DEAD BODIES, 666 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:29,200 {\an7}\h\hANIMALS AND HUMANS, THAT ARE IN THAT AREA. 667 00:40:29,240 --> 00:40:30,960 {\an7}EISENHOWER WILL LATER \h\hWALK IT FAMOUSLY 668 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:32,200 {\an7}AND SAY IT WAS POSSIBLE TO WALK 669 00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:33,920 {\an7}FROM ONE SIDE OF A FIELD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO ANOTHER 670 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:36,880 {\an7}\h\h\hWITHOUT EVER STEPPING ON ANYTHING BUT DEAD FLESH. 671 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:44,040 {\an7}♪ 672 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:48,880 {\an7}Cook: I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING \h\h\hTO TRY TO IMAGINE TODAY, 673 00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:52,280 {\an7}\hTHAT FALAISE GAP FILLED WITH CORPSES 674 00:40:52,320 --> 00:40:54,560 {\an7}AND WOUNDED, SCREAMING MEN. 675 00:40:54,600 --> 00:41:00,160 {\an7}♪ 676 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:01,920 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND THAT WAS THE PRICE OF VICTORY. 677 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:10,760 {\an7}♪ 678 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:12,640 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IN THE CITY OF ARGENTAN, 679 00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:17,000 {\an7}\h\h\hLIBERATED THE DAY BEFORE BY THE 80th U.S. INFANTRY DIVISION, 680 00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:19,040 {\an7}CAMERAS IMMORTALIZE THE MEETING 681 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:21,840 {\an7}\hBETWEEN THE SOLDIERS AND THE CITY’S MAYOR. 682 00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:25,960 {\an7}IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUBBLE, 683 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:30,120 {\an7}\h\hSOME CIVILIANS FINALLY DARE TO EMERGE FROM THEIR SHELTERS. 684 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:37,040 {\an7}♪ 685 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:40,200 {\an7}THE FALAISE-CHAMBOIS BATTLE \h\h\hWILL BE THE LAST ONE 686 00:41:40,240 --> 00:41:44,040 {\an7}\h\hIN THESE THREE MONTHS OF FIGHTING IN NORMANDY. 687 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:49,600 {\an7}\h\h\hON THE ALLIED SIDE, 220,000 SOLDIERS WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED, 688 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:53,000 {\an7}AND 20,000 CIVILIANS \h\h\h\hWERE KILLED. 689 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:57,960 {\an7}\hON THE GERMAN SIDE, THE REICH ARMY LOST MORE THAN 200,000 MEN 690 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:00,720 {\an7}AND ANOTHER 200,000 WERE TAKEN PRISONER. 691 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:04,400 {\an7}♪ 692 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:06,760 {\an7}\h\hBeevor: ON AVERAGE, A BATTALION AND A HALF 693 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:08,840 {\an7}WERE BEING GROUND DOWN \h\h\h\h\hOR DESTROYED 694 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:10,920 {\an7}ROUGHLY EVERY SINGLE WEEK. 695 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:12,560 {\an7}IN MANY CASES, 696 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:15,840 {\an7}A DIVISION WOULD LAST NO LONGER \h\h\h\h\hTHAN, SAY, TWO WEEKS. 697 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:20,320 {\an7}WELL, THIS GIVES ONE AN IDEA OF \hHOW MUCH NORMANDY CONTRIBUTED, 698 00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:23,280 {\an7}I THINK, TO THE OVERALL \h\h\h\hALLIED VICTORY, 699 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:25,880 {\an7}JUST PURELY IN THE CASE \h\hOF THE DESTRUCTION 700 00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:28,000 {\an7}OF GERMAN FORMATIONS. 701 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:34,760 {\an7}♪ 702 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:36,400 {\an7}Narrator: BY THE END OF AUGUST, 703 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:40,240 {\an7}HORDES OF SOLDIERS AND VEHICLES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLAND AT CHERBOURG 704 00:42:40,280 --> 00:42:43,920 {\an7}AND HEAD EAST TO ERADICATE THE REST OF THE NAZI ARMY. 705 00:42:46,240 --> 00:42:53,520 {\an7}♪ 706 00:42:53,560 --> 00:42:57,160 {\an7}\h\h\hCook: EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE LANDINGS ON THE 6th OF JUNE. 707 00:42:57,200 --> 00:42:58,520 {\an7}VERY FEW PEOPLE COULD TELL YOU 708 00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:00,840 {\an7}WHAT HAPPENS IN JUNE AND JULY AND AUGUST 709 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:03,720 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND HOW THE BATTLE FOR NORMANDY ACTUALLY ENDED. 710 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:08,720 {\an7}♪ 711 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:10,320 {\an7}AND I THINK TO THIS DAY, 712 00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:15,280 {\an7}\h\h\h\hWE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THOSE BATTLES, THAT WAR, 713 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:18,640 {\an7}TRYING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH IT, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT, 714 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:24,480 {\an7}TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE RUINS \h\h\hOF NORMANDY 75 YEARS AGO. 715 00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:31,760 {\an7}♪ 716 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:34,280 {\an7}Narrator: AS FEW AS 50 CAMERAMEN 717 00:43:34,320 --> 00:43:38,360 {\an7}TIRELESSLY SHOT EACH DAY OF THIS HISTORIC BATTLE. 718 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:41,640 {\an7}THEY LEFT BEHIND HUNDREDS \h\hOF HOURS OF FOOTAGE, 719 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:44,920 {\an7}SOME OF WHICH ONLY SURFACED \h\h\h\h\h\hDECADES LATER. 720 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:48,320 {\an7}♪ 721 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:50,080 {\an7}FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, 722 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:53,720 {\an7}THESE IMAGES WILL REMAIN \h\h\hTHE FINAL WITNESSES 723 00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:57,320 {\an7}OF NORMANDY’S 85 DAYS OF HELL.