The first guy being interviewed is my grandfather! So proud!

@PurpleMonkey554

7 күн бұрын

when was this filmed?

@serpico1616

7 күн бұрын

@@PurpleMonkey554 I believe it was when that show Band of Brothers came out. They would show segments of this documentary during when the show would normally have commercials. I was quite surprised to see this pop up while randomly scrolling through KZread!

@jannisares

4 күн бұрын

Excellent! Every WWII veteran needs to be heard before they're gone forever.

The fact these men saw parachute failures in training and still went through with it just shows the determination and pure balls of steel these men had.

@user-tc9ft8fs3e

26 күн бұрын

Same kind of stupidity that makes astronauts today

@faithfulservantofchrist9876

26 күн бұрын

It was training they didn't need to have a gun; they should have had the extra chute. LOL it almost is laughable stupidity. If it was too low fly higher and bring the extra. I would be embarrassed to write your son died in training letters to the family.

@juliemerritt5144

26 күн бұрын

​@@user-tc9ft8fs3eno not stupidity. Heroism.

@davidboysel4509

26 күн бұрын

My father did his training at fort benning georgia when he was at the jump tower 3 men died before they stopped because of the wind 😢

@dabsafe

23 күн бұрын

@@user-tc9ft8fs3e It wasn't "stupidity", it was determination and the kind that will never be seen again. Certainly not from the N.American youth of today. I worked with many men in the early 70s that had seen action (from both sides) during the war. They didn't put up with any BS and we owe each one of them a debt of gratitude.

I’m a ex Royal Marine Commando Corporal, my next door neighbour was Brigadier James Hill (Speedy Hill) an officer and a gentleman. He always talked about his Canadian Paratroopers with affection ,pride and their professionalism. We used to just sit in his garden drinking tea chatting about everything and nothing,I visited him for the last time a couple of days before he died. I miss the chats,he was a Brigadier with a maroon lid ,I was a corporal with a green lid such a gentleman.

@colemanblack

15 күн бұрын

Thank you sir. I'm sorry for your friend's passing. Men like you are very inspiring.

@christo0187

11 күн бұрын

Lest we forget

@PaulSpencerImages2012

8 күн бұрын

Thank you Sir for your service I am also sorry for the loss of your friend who was indeed a great leader.

My cousin was among these paratroopers. He dropped behind enemy lines in the early hours of June 6, and survived the first few weeks, but was killed in late August 1944. He was a farm boy, aged 22, and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.

What the presentation didn't make clear but needs to be noted is that the reason that the Battalion was rushed up to intercept and stop the Soviets was that the USSR had designs on capturing Denmark. Their armies in the region had orders to push as rapidly northwest through Germany as possible and occupy Denmark. SHAPE HQ became aware of this and needed to get a tough unit in place before the Red Army arrived to prevent that move. Thanks to the bravery and resolute character of the Canadian Airborne Demark remained free. An amazing achievement: imagine saving and entire country and people.

@Axemantitan

5 күн бұрын

Mark Felton has an excellent video on this very topic.

We stand on the shoulders of giants! Thank you for everything that you have done for Canada and the freedoms we have enjoyed. I am a Canadian Veteran and pray that our future will continue to be bright. 🇨🇦

From a multiple tour Afghan Vet and a Canadian army Parachutist I got nothing on you guys! Your what made this country great. AIRBORNE!

@kevinwalker3546

17 күн бұрын

Much Respect and Thank you .

@johndurston6792

12 күн бұрын

Thank you for your service. Cheers 🇨🇦

My Grandfather tried to join the Canadian Airborne. They didn't let him in because all of his fingers were the same length. He did join the Canadian Army though, and died at Normandy in 1944.

@winstonsmith8482

24 күн бұрын

What kind of condition results in fingers all the same length? And/or why did they not let him in because of that?

@glencochrane901

24 күн бұрын

@@winstonsmith8482 I don't know what it's called, certainly some sort of birth defect that the Airborne thought he couldn't perform properly with. But, he did get into the Army.

@davidlord7364

23 күн бұрын

✝️🙏🏻

@willemvanlent6955

23 күн бұрын

WOUW, that sounds like a serious warning, NOT to join the PUPPET armed forces of the evil elite selfproclamed upperclass psychopathic parasithic authoreties and their secret society's

@327JohnnySS

20 күн бұрын

He was determined to do his effort to serve his country and mankind. I thank him for his service and sacrifice being a man of honor.🇨🇦

Thank you 🇨🇦 for standing with us when the world needed it most.

@randalsiggson7178

24 күн бұрын

Canadian service brothers, My sincere condolences for your family’s of service men fought gallantly for democracy, an freedoms from WWI an WWII. Plus more that history left out. Your black watch men in WWII fighting the nazi’s story is incredible. My honor to write this message…..

@philiprufus4427

23 күн бұрын

My late father was Royal Navy,The Royal Canadian Navy were Right Up There, in the U Boat War as far as he was concerned. He often mentioned them when I was a little kid and he talked about the war at sea. I am seventy now.

@tombrunner8181

21 күн бұрын

As it should be as a colony

@PaulSpencerImages2012

8 күн бұрын

100% agree amazing men standing shoulder to shoulder with Britain in her time of need.

My son is taking the Cdn Basic Parachute Course next month. I took mine 39 years ago. .... These guys had a level of toughness I don't think could be replicated in the current generation or my generation.

@Alan-pv2bi

26 күн бұрын

Thank you for your service and I'm certain your son will excell 🇨🇦 💪

@thatcanada

23 күн бұрын

Good times; been almost 20 years for me. As for the generational comment - nope. Every generation thinks they were tough and the next is not. Tough times create tough men no matter the time.

@HughTube-ni6kb

23 күн бұрын

Every soldier that does it is an absolute credit to the nation. ...And this is a sailor talking! LOL!

@serpentines6356

17 күн бұрын

Bless all these amazing men, and their families. May we always remember the great will, determination, spirit and sacrifice of the courageous ones! Go in peace brave men, go in peace. 🙏 💜 🌿

@TheAmbex

8 күн бұрын

​@@thatcanada 100%, every generation has people who step up. It's how we've survived this long.

The Canadian content makes me feel good. Thank you.

@NiSiochainGanSaoirse

24 күн бұрын

I suspect you are also a Canadian, as as such, I urge you to visit the Canadian battlefields in France should you ever get the opportunity. Vimy Ridge, where the Canadian forces fought a most heroic battle and wrote their proud names into the annals of history, is a truly spine tingling site. The huge, towering granite angels monument is a must visit place for any Canadians with the means. At Vimy ridge, your Canadian Grandfathers fought like lions, as they did everywhere they went, and many German memoirs cite Canadians as the enemy units they feared the most, of all allied armies. If you are, as I suspect, Canadian, then you have one of the greatest honours possible to have. You are of these men.

@327JohnnySS

20 күн бұрын

My prayers are for the real Canadian people as trudue has really messed up Canada.

@gregheard9425

15 күн бұрын

​​@@NiSiochainGanSaoirsevery well said as myself a Canadian whos grandfather fought in the 2nd war I'm very proud of my grandfather told of how the Dutch he said were so incredibly happy to see the Canadian men and brought it clear to the men why they were there incredible stories I miss that most about him he could sure tell a story

@mdsf01

5 күн бұрын

@@327JohnnySS Stop politicizing. These gentlemen laid their lves on the line for their country... PERIOD!

My respect for these men who gave their lives for the freedom we have today. We will not forget them❤

@user-io6pj8bz8h

25 күн бұрын

What a drone comment, they fought on the wrong side, now we live with maxixt agents.

As a footnote, medical services for the Canadian Paras were provided by the British 224 Parachute Field Ambulance RAMC. My late father, a conscientious objector from London, was unlucky enough to be captured along with most of his unit early on D Day when a German patrol stumbled across them setting up their field hospital in Varaville. Later in the war he rejoined the unit and saw action with the Canadians in the Ardennes and the the Rhine crossings, ending the war facing the Russians on the Baltic. Being a rather quiet, gentle Englishman he always referred to the Canadian Paras as 'bloody mad'! We will remember them.

From MT - USA... ... Thank you, Canada... ... For saving us, too. Very impressed - you are remembered.

@badgermacleod5588

25 күн бұрын

Thank you for the recognition. My grandfather was one of the men who landed with the 1st Canadian Para at Normandy.

@NiSiochainGanSaoirse

24 күн бұрын

As a side note, it's always worth highlighting how the Germans feared Canadians more than any other armies. That's not to minimise our allied efforts, but serves to clarify just how fearsome and effective the Canadians were in he eyes of the enemy. I read a memoir from a German soldier who had been the first units attacked with the new tactic of rolling artillery barrages, which the Canadians pioneered, and which terrified the germans so thoroughly that there are countless German memoirs which single out the Canadians as the enemies they feared more than any other. The Canadians aren't just remembered in France. The French people actively lionize their memories, and hold Canadians in the highest regard for their exploits in liberating Europe. God bless the Canadians.

@nicholaspatton1742

22 күн бұрын

As are yours, they are all remembered!

To ask a man child to jump out of a perfectly good plane and kill anybody in a uniform is incredible. These Men who fought World War 2 are truly the greatest people who have ever walked the surface of the Earth.The families and women who supported them made an incredible sacrifice to help humanity.

@daniellysohirka4258

23 күн бұрын

What about the people who discovered how to make fire with a stick and some brush, or a rock. There are many generations that have great tools to help man with everyday life, such as the bow and arrow even. These ones are just more relevant and known. Heat is the most important thing for humans on Earth as well as shelter.

My wife and I are planning to attend the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, at Juno Beach while part of an organized memorial tour. After the tour concludes we will be travelling on our own to tour the 1 Can Para DZ and objectives in Normandy, then to Holland and Belgium where my father first entered combat with the Battalion. We will then follow his route from the Canadian Varsity DZ to Wismar, with a stop at Bergin- Belsen. He told me about coming upon the concentration camp, the "strike" in England, stopping the Soviets in Wismar, and several other stories. He was 20 yrs. 4 mos. on VE day. "We will remember them."

@alex1975uk

20 күн бұрын

I’ve followed the route from the DZ to Wismar. My grandad was in 7 Para. If you need any help with locations let me know!

@ArbutusWVI

20 күн бұрын

@@alex1975uk Thanks for the offer. I have the driving route planned out using my father's copy of "Out of the Clouds" , "The History of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion". I hope that the driving takes us over less traveled country roads for the most part. I don't enjoy driving on unfamiliar motorways/freeways with confusing entrances and exits. Wish we could be travelling by motorbike instead of automobile!

@alex1975uk

20 күн бұрын

@@ArbutusWVI excellent. You got all the info for the DZ area?

@ArbutusWVI

20 күн бұрын

@@alex1975uk Not much specific info in the book. A map shows the DZ in the vicinity of Wesel, text says "1 Can Para was expected to drop near the westerly end of the DZ, then move to rendezvous points. Enemy fire caused a certain amount of scattering to the sticks, but most were dropped in the general vicinity of their targets". The wife and I plan to drive to Wesel and have a look at the countryside before moving on to Lembeck. Do you have more detailed information?

@HerrLindstrom

20 күн бұрын

My grandmother was a little girl in holland during the war. She used to tell me of how good it was to have real chocolate for the first time in years when Canadians came and liberated the town in Friesland she was temporarily living in with family because the winter 44 famine was harsh on the towns closer to the front (she originally was born in Delft). The liberation was one of the main inspirations her parents had to come to Canada later in the mid 50's. Thanks to men like your Father my grandmother survived the horrors of the german occupation and built a new life here in Canada cheers 🍻

American paratrooper, I look at these men in awe

@327JohnnySS

20 күн бұрын

Thank you for your service.🇺🇸

Wow. This was my first Canadian story on WWII. The Paras were truly bad Azz troops. I can’t imagine what they went through. I just want to thank my Northern brothers and sisters for everything they did for us and for the sacrifices they made for our Allies. Bless you all.

@daveyboy_

22 күн бұрын

We stand with u guys always. Unless it's a conflict we can't agree on. Like Nam' I or Iraq. But we were with ya during Korea Afghanistan and Desert Storm eh !

When I go to graveyard to visit my grandparents,each time I take Chester my golden retriever and we always visit the veterans and straighten out their little flags and maple leaf markers! I'm so grateful for our freedom which so many unselfishly gave their young lives for our freedom! Thank u all veterans ur the real heroes!

My grandfather was a Canadian paratrooper on D-Day. We still have his combined ops patch (gold stitching). Watching this gave me chills, and allowed me to witness a little bit of what he had to live through. Truly amazing video.

I am proud Canadian. My grandfather and great-grandfather were in WW1 WW2. I asked my grandfather a few questions about the war, but he really didn't talk about it. My grandmother later told me he got hit in the side and leg with shrapnel from hand grenade, and he lost his brother.

@nmr6988

22 күн бұрын

Canadians were brave and incredible warriors. I've watched many documentaries about Canadian troops and the tank corps. I never felt like Canada celebrated them enough.

@markchapman2585

22 күн бұрын

@@nmr6988 Agee with you 100%

@dennis2376

6 күн бұрын

My Grandmother told never talk to the vets because of what they went through. In some ways I wished I had talk to my Uncle about his service.

What makes me sad, other than the loss of life of some of Canada's finest. It the fact that the parade up Bay Street that was held in their honour, would never happen today. I want our country back.

@clarkeshannon9563

6 күн бұрын

we need a change of government first

amazing. hats off to my canadian brothers up north

The 1st Paras were the Elite of a very special Army. Thanks to all of these men from the bottom of my heart. God bless us all.

Greatful thank you so much God bless from (Holland) The Netherlands

@ronmailloux8655

26 күн бұрын

My Uncle now passed on for 20 years was in France and Holland not a para though. Just a private that saw too much death as a young fellow . He often would speak of Holland and how they treated the Canadian soldiers so fondly.

@55swordninja

26 күн бұрын

My great grandfather served in the liberation of the Netherlands. He passed just after i was born. But from what my grandfather told me growing up I'm just summing it up here but he was just happy to help those who truly needed it. 😊😊

@badgermacleod5588

25 күн бұрын

My grandfather brought back a pair of children's clogs he purchased in the Netherlands. He spoke fondly of the Dutch people. 🇨🇦 & 🇱🇺 are forever friends.

Great video. Thank God someone is making the effort to tell the stories of Canada's contribution to the war effort - often overlooked. I've met some of these fine gentlemen and am sad to say they are all gone now. Videos like this give them a chance to tell their story before it's too late. One complaint: the title. The use of the word 'disastrous' is an insult. These brave men achieved all their objectives. Nothing 'disastrous' about it.

@webleypug

18 күн бұрын

lib556 - They did achieve their objective, but 340 casualties out of 600 men is indeed a disaster.

Paras were new to the Canadian army. My Dad was one of the first to volunteer and like so many others, he was injured in training in Canada and transferred to tanks where he didnt have to march. He still saw lots of action in Sicily, Italy, Belgium, Holland and N.W. Germany.

My son was a paratrooper. Now he’s in the skies forever looking down at us

My respect to al Canadees vetrans the liberait my home town deep bow tho you all respect gratiings from Holland

@badgermacleod5588

25 күн бұрын

🇨🇦 & 🇱🇺 are forever friends. The Dutch are held in high regard in Canada. I don't see that changing anytime soon. Cheers.

Thanks for this Canadian contents. My dad trained for the infantry in WW2. It was an uncaring industrial sausage factory. That's where that generation learned not to complain.

Oh man the amount of servicemen on this day 😢 R.I.P to those who served

@tombergins8215

26 күн бұрын

These aren't just service members, these are true real life Super-Heroes. They're called The Greatest Generation for a reason, They Literally SAVED the world from Nazism. To think little twerps college students call these Heroes Racist & "Old white males" as a derogatory term. Truly makes my blood boil, when I was a kid we looked up to them, we practically worshipped them.

Thank God for these wonderful and brave men...the greatest generation!!!!

My old Dad was RN (and a Boxer) and he said that the only squadies they would'nt get in a bar brawl with was the Canadians. They had max respect for the Canadians. Everyone else was fair game 🤣🤕

Thanks to these Paratrooper Veterans for their Service 🙏🇨🇦

Thank god we had men like this.

My father served twice in ww2. He signed up under age. Was sent to Italy. My.grandfather was inspecting the new recruits. Leaned into my dad and asked him...wtf are you doing here. Was sent home to Canada. Trained more and landed at Normandy Dday +5.

@austinporter6701

9 күн бұрын

You should write a book about his story.

The Greatest Generation. Thank you for all you did and all you gave.

The Canadians seem to have been forgotten for their part in the military and industrial contributions in the war but they were there in Dieppe paid the price and everywhere else till the end 🫡🫡🫡

@daveyboy_

22 күн бұрын

WW 1 and the Boer war also. The thing is they were fighting for and under the British Empire. It was later during Korea & Afghanistan where they were under the Canadian flag

@webleypug

18 күн бұрын

They've been forgotten because of our educational system. Kids are hardly taught a thing about our notable history or the sacrifices of those who died for our country.

@vicromano1199

18 күн бұрын

​@@webleypugI'm a teacher and it's because our provincial governments across the country have neglected our education system to such an extent where most kids only have one history class through their entire high school career. Funding for education continues to be laughable and the money only seems to go to maths and sciences.

@dennis2376

6 күн бұрын

@@daveyboy_ The Canadian service goes back further, to the Crimean War. I got newspaper clippings from the Boar War.

@daveyboy_

6 күн бұрын

@dennis2376 believe it or not one of the earliest statues in Canada is in Montreal in Dorchester Square. Commemorating the Boer War . How its still there I don't know .

A better soldier I could never have been. These men were a different breed.

Wonderful film! My uncle, Steve Kowbel, was in the Paras in WW II. He was traumatized by his combat experiences and wouldn’t talk about them until late in life, when he started going to regimental reunions. I spoke with him in August of 1998, at my other uncle’s funeral, and he told me how proud he was to have been part of the 1st Canadian Paratroop Battalion in the war. He died less than a year later, but I am grateful he was able to connect with his fellow veteran Paras and come to terms with his past. As Canadians, we should all be proud of the accomplishments of this unit.

Parachute units were very new in WW2 & there was a lot to learn! The fact that people were dropped in the wrong place was hardly surprising.

What would have happened to the world if Commonwealth nations hadn't stood with Britain before the USA became involved in the war? I think the world would have been a far different place today. Canada, Australia, India and all the others who fought beside britain all deserve to be remembered.

@bunzeebear2973

25 күн бұрын

To be a "Commonwealth nation" is you fought for Britain First. The CN were not independent countries on their own yet. They were subservient to Britain. Great Britain discovered these countries so they were property of the Crown. That was the way it was. WW2 made many more of them INDEPENDENT from the Crown which knocked out the "Great" part out of Britain as many of the colonies decided to be a country of their own and not be a colony anymore. It was a negotiated break up of Britain(not a war). They still "loosely" associate with other former colonies. Around 54 countries gained independence from the United Kingdom throughout its history, the most in the world, showing you how big an empire it was. BTW The Brits were winning after the Canadians beat back the Germans on the most fortified beach front Juno Beach. Without the U.S. it would just take LONGER. Still the outcome would be the same. Germany would be defeated.

@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen

24 күн бұрын

@@bunzeebear2973 Some were independent some were not. WWII certainly sped up the push for independence is those who weren't. Australia was already independent and did not initially fight Britain so generalisations can be inaccurate.

@nicohands9171

24 күн бұрын

Sure but to a lesser extent then the Americans 🇺🇸 TRUMP 2024

@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen

23 күн бұрын

@@nicohands9171 Trump is a vile human being. If he gets elected, expect WW3 soon afterward.

@OldWolflad

20 күн бұрын

Absolutely, the commonwealth troops contribution was very important. We recognise that in Britain. Conversely we needed each other, without the British contribution the commonwealth armies would have been crushed.

It was a wonderful historical coverage video about Canadian paratroopers' missions in D.Day operations during WW2.

A pleasure to watch the Canadians. It is a shame that for 60 years we could see the dead and the living in the concentration camps in a documentary - but not on YT today.

@casario2808

23 күн бұрын

well it is YT afterall...free, accessible to everyone including young kids. I dont think it changes the impact and anyway those images are out there , on some YT channels but certainly on the non-free platforms etc

'We stand up and hook up. So now it's getting pretty serious' got to absolutely love the Canadians 🇬🇧🍻🇨🇦

@jasompinard4576

24 күн бұрын

😆 We have a thing for understatements. 🍻🇨🇦🇬🇧

Loving the Canadian content! Love seeing the comments from the other allied nations about how they’re learning new things about our contribution.

I am happy whenever I see my nations war history in a documentary, our Warriors deserve more credit in documentaries and film.

@dennis2376

6 күн бұрын

We, those that have served and current members, also need more respect from the government.

I know that every Canadian was a volunteer, Real Heroes! 🤕👍

@banzi403

19 күн бұрын

We did have the draft. But drafted soldiers aka zombies were not used for combat.

I love learning about other Allied efforts in World War II, especially the Canadian stories 🫶🏽 God bless all who serve and who have served 🙏🏽

Great video, important for everyone to know of this history and the mentality of these vets. True north strong and free. Greatest generation.

From a long-retired member of the Canadian Army I was privileged to serve under men like BGen Rockingham who years earlier led Canadians in the Korean War, and Col Don Holmes who commanded Canadian troops on UN Peacekeeping in Egypt circa 1974. Holmes impressed us in Egypt as a tough natural leader. He was also a paratrooper who jumped the Rhine in WW11. I can relate to the fellow early in the video who said the second jump was harder because you’re more aware of what you’re about to do. I made only five jumps with a civilian club and also found the later jumps harder. I read a book by a former member of the French Foreign Legion who said much the same about members of 2 REP. Some simply were unable to continue jumping and so were posted to other FFL regiments. A bit of black humour I remember being told is that when people on the ground look like ants, all is well, but when the ants look like people, then you’re in trouble. Respect to the men in this video. They made Canada proud.

To all these men and all who were there we say thankyou.and bless you.to all your comrades that never left there may you rest in.peace and bless you for your sacrifice. Blesd you all

Love the story of getting drunk with the Russians then returning back to tell their general that they're friendly and they have peace.

My uncle was in the American Paratroopers of the group he dropped with on D-Day only he and his lieutenant made it back. He carried his lieutenant out on his back and was sent home with an injured wrist that he never had full use of. Diz had one of the shortest tours you could have.

To bad the Canadian contribution in WW 2 is not more recognized. But we are a humble people. Not looking to be glorified. We Know who we are.

@24meandyounothing

26 күн бұрын

He Shoots He Scores!

@neiloflongbeck5705

25 күн бұрын

What does anyone know of the part Denmark or any of the other smaller nations played in WW2? More people will know what contribution the Canadians played than what the Danes did.

@HankD13

23 күн бұрын

Always been very well aware of the massive part Canada, with Australia, New Zealand and most numerously, India played in the WW2, thank you. Anybody who has the slightest interest in the history will always be aware. I grew up in Kenya, and the East and West African soldier made their own significant contributions, from Ethiopia to Burma. Poland - never forget Poland either.

@chucktheperson1063

23 күн бұрын

@@HankD13 Yes, the whole of the British Commonwealth answered the call to arms in both big wars. As did resistance fighters in occupied countries. Kudos to them all.

@neiloflongbeck5705

23 күн бұрын

@@chucktheperson1063 not all. Under the statute of Westminster of 1932 the Irish chose not to tazke up arms as a nation as a nation, but as individuals stood against oppression as they had against the British.

Such bravery and modesty combined, thank you for all you did.

The greatest and most generous generation ever! Volunteer to fight and die for someone else and country other than yours! They have my greatest respect and aspiration!

My Uncle was with A Company and is mentioned in the book " Holding Juno " 🇨🇦

Well done! And you stopped the RushkiesToo!!

So tragic and sad, war. So many young men getting blown to bits. Unimaginable horror. Such heroism, too. 😢

Excellent! A new (to me) video about a topic I'd never heard of before. Also, remembrances of Canadian veterans! Wonderful!

Wow ,just wow, I knew you Canadians were there but never knew how up front you guys were... absolutely amazing,even when the video was on the older today's persons,,, I saw warriors.... thank you Canada, heroes absolute ✌️ from liverpool uk ❤

I've never heard about this before.More and more of these stories are coming out.Usually 2nd World War is told from the.American perspective.I had an American customer who thought that the Korean War was fought only by Americans. " I thought we were on our own there!" He said.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to this generation!

Danemark 🇩🇰 OWES IT TO Canada 🇨🇦 ‘s Sons to NOT EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND the niceties of a soviet red liberation. Wonder how the 🇳🇴 citizens of Kirkenes felt about the soviet liberation then.

@casario2808

23 күн бұрын

Cam on nhieu. Its true that Denmark came close to being under the Iron Curtain. The story of Canadians liberating Holland in WWII is fairly well known, but not so well know was their role in keeping the Russians from occupying Denmark. And quite interesting that they drank vodka with them to ease the tensions :) I bet most of those Russians, orders or not, were just happy to see the war over and Germany defeated.

War Stories, You're so talented! I had to hit the like button!

@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen

26 күн бұрын

These channels don't make the doccos, they just show them with permission.

Feel so proud of our forces Thankyou for everything! So Respected!

God bless you lads! From a grateful Englishman.

I met a couple of Ex-British Paratroopers and other Ex-British Servicemen as a teenager in the 50s and 60s, and later as a young Doctor in the 70s. A wonderful generation. Brave beyond my ken. Post Thatcher? Greed and kudos. ☘👿

Definitely the Greatest Generation. Much respect. 👊🏻

My uncle was in the 82nd, 505 PIR. So many had experiences similar to these Canadians. So good to learn of their experiences. The unheard of tough training, weeding out of stranglers, comradeship, valor, were shared by all of the airborne groups. We owe them all our eternal gratitude. I’d never heard of the standoff with the Russians, BTW.

Truly amazing men. They really were the 'Greatest Generation'.

just hearing that man say hes from the same town as me gives me so much pride

My 7th grade teacher was in this battalion.

My late uncle was part of this unit in Normandy. He wouldn't talk much about his combat experiences, but relayed a story of the brutality of combat. While conducting a night operation, they surprised and captured a small group of young Germans. One of the Germans (a young Leutnant) was hysterical with fear, and wouldn't stop screaming. Obviously the paratroops wanted to be as quiet as possible, so the prisoner had to be silenced. My uncle didn't tell me who actually did it, but someone quickly drew a dagger and cut his throat. He said that's just the way it was. They didn't think twice about what needed to be done. They couldn't afford to draw attention to their position.

The word "Disastrous" in the title is an insult to the soldiers whether they were killed or survived. We weren't there.❤ 🇨🇦

@webleypug

18 күн бұрын

Militarily, 340 casualties out of 600 is a disaster.

Years later when the book Tip of the Spear: An Intimate Account of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was published, I was amazed to find a picture of my uncle in the book. He would have been very proud.

It's great to see Canadian paratroopers recognized for their glory and not over their less than honourable disbanding over mishandling prisoners in Africa.

@savagemax9091

19 күн бұрын

What would you expect when you use professional trained killers to keep peace and not do what they were trained to do. Shame, and not on them.

@webleypug

18 күн бұрын

@@savagemax9091 Yes. It's always the sycophantic military higher-ups & queasy civilian types who love to pontificate on common soldiers in a combat theatre.

@robertwarner5963

17 күн бұрын

Last March (PIA Symposium) and summer Operation Pegasus Jump, I hung out with veterans of the Canadian Airborne Regiment and they blamed their problems in Somalia on a failed pharmaceutical trial. Mefloquin caused a lot of problems. I also chatted with a Kenyan doctor who was returning home after a conference about malaria. He reassured me that mefloquine is no longer used because it is toxic and has too many nasty side-effects.

@cbinet123

12 күн бұрын

@@savagemax9091 I was with the Airborne Regiment in Somalia and that mission was a fail from the beginning. You're right, it wasn't our place to be, it's a shame that the actions of a few tarnished the reputation of thousands of Canadian Paratroopers and most importantly those who served during WW2 .

It's outrageous that a historical film about my country is censored by Google. Show the images of the Canadian men whose parachutes didn't open.

Merci à tous ces héros canadiens. Vous êtes tous des héros. Merci !!!! RIP !

another excellent video. keep up the good work. thaqnk you.

The Canadians where deployed in every tough and odds stacked against them battles after the D Day landings . Those brave and courageous men had balls of steel and not just the Parachute troops , the infantry and tank regiments where outstanding against all odds . I salute each and every one of those SUPURB warriors, thank you for all you did , thank you so much .🫡🙏🫡

Will we have Market Garden documentary?

@webleypug

18 күн бұрын

Montgomery's initial plan called for the 1st Canadian army to take part, but when the actual operation got underway it was only the US & Brits.

@blackberrythorns

13 күн бұрын

@@webleypug and it failed. the canadians were sent in later and succeeded.

Thank you for your service. Heroes all.

Thank-you for this documentary. My mother was born in Germany. She would recount her memory as a 12-year-old child about the “Americans” she saw passing through Oldenburg (northwest Germany) just before the war ended. Today, I realize that she is mistaken, as these “Americans” were in fact Canadians. She with my father, immigrated to Canada in the late 50s, where we all still live today.

My grandfather, Robert Abbott, was part of 1 Can Para. He was part of one of the first groups to join the Battalion before they had developed a Canadian version of the para qualification. He did his training with the US airborne and initially was issued with US jump wings. He used to tell a story of being held back after basic training and being promoted to Lance Corporal and ordered to be an instructor at the basic training camp in Brampton, Ontario. By November of that year he had become so fed up with living in a tent as the temperatures started to fall below freezing that he felt like the notice on a mess hall bulletin board proclaiming "Paratroopers Wanted" nearly went unnoticed by him, but the location of training listed at the bottom caught his eye as it read "Fort Benning, GA". He said " Georgia!? It's warmer in Georgia!" And skipped the meal that day to report to his CO to volunteer for the Paras. He said he had no idea what a para was, he just wanted to be warm! He jumped in D-day and landed on a house miles away from th3 intended LZ. The man of the house came out with a shotgun believing him to be a German paratrooper on a training jump. He had to explain to them in high-school French he was Canadian and that the invasion had started. Years ago in the late 1960s he went back to Normandy, found the house and had dinner with that family. I am always thankful for the years of his youth that my grandfather and other men like him sacrificed to free the world and experience the horrors of war so we didn't have to. He and his friends could have been chasing girls, starting families, and being young men, but instead they were fighting and dying for us. Bravo Zulu.

I went to Europe with Jan DeVries and stood on the DZ with him . The farm house still riddled with bullets.. He showed us where they were dug in during Operation Varsity. The crossing of the Rhine. Where Jeff Nicklin was found. He was a cool guy. RIP Jan. AATW.

Hi, as old as you are, there is a certainty in your life “once a Para, always a Para!”. Utrinque Paratus, cheers mate. Harera

Thank You Canada , one of you is still here in England , my Grandad .

@alex1975uk

20 күн бұрын

He was in 1 Canadian Para in the war?

@ianperry9914

19 күн бұрын

No he was RCE mostly new Aerodromes in England then into ALG in France .

Love this! Wasn't aware there were Canadian paratroopers on DDay.

Marvelous documentary! Heroes one and all! 🎖🎖🙌🙌

Show this in our schools .Grade 8. Inspire the young!!

Respect!

The person in the intro picture is my uncle Armand Therien, Canadian Royal Marine Commando, note the Lanchester smg used only by the Navy if I recall correctly, the picture was taken while training and I'm told it was the cover of an army magazine. His father Hermas Therien was in WW1 with the 22nd regiment and received 8 medals, he later served as a prison camp guard during WW2. As a young child I remember my mother removing dark specks from his back, artillery shrapnel that had been in his body for the last 60 years. I tried to follow in their footsteps and served for 10 years in the CF and got my Airborne wings. We will forever be grateful for the peace and prosperity these men and others like them gave Canada and most of the world.

Such a well done program.To be honest I did not know very much about the Canadian Paras….now I do! Thank you.

Wish I could give more than a thumbs up for this video. What an amazing tribute, worthy of a tv series ❤️

Thank you for protecting the free world. I’m an American, but we owe it to these brave Canadians for defending the free world we all belong to. Today we wonder about our free world today. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

British stock who then became frontiersmen. 40 below no central heating, neighbor miles away. Cleared the land homesteading. All very common. They all became tough.

@jeffchilds3105

20 күн бұрын

British stock? Everything else you said is accurate but Canada is made up of people of French, British, First Nations and other ethnicities, from Ukrainians, Germans, Italian, Japanese and many others… all of whom are Canadians and served.

Excellent film

Thank you all😮😮😮