1 00:00:21,499 --> 00:00:23,327 [suspenseful music] 2 00:00:23,327 --> 00:00:25,155 - [Narrator] June 6th, 1944. 3 00:00:25,155 --> 00:00:25,808 D-Day. 4 00:00:27,462 --> 00:00:29,203 As the Allies are storming the beaches 5 00:00:29,203 --> 00:00:32,206 in the largest amphibious invasion in history, 6 00:00:32,206 --> 00:00:34,164 a group of light infantrymen are 7 00:00:34,164 --> 00:00:37,472 in the midst of a dangerous operation behind enemy lines 8 00:00:37,472 --> 00:00:39,474 that will be critical to the success of D-Day. 9 00:00:41,171 --> 00:00:42,520 The mission? 10 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,261 To capture and defend two bridges 11 00:00:44,261 --> 00:00:46,742 near the Orne River in Northern France. 12 00:00:46,742 --> 00:00:48,657 A crucial point in both the Allies' 13 00:00:48,657 --> 00:00:51,268 and the Nazis' battle plans. 14 00:00:51,268 --> 00:00:53,183 Although small in stature, 15 00:00:53,183 --> 00:00:55,490 these bridges will prove immensely important 16 00:00:55,490 --> 00:00:57,579 in the battle for Northern Europe. 17 00:00:57,579 --> 00:00:59,885 - D-Day is the beginning of the end for the Nazis. 18 00:00:59,885 --> 00:01:02,888 And pretty much hinges on these two small bridges. 19 00:01:02,888 --> 00:01:04,151 - It's got all the elements 20 00:01:04,151 --> 00:01:05,761 of a really cool secret operation, 21 00:01:05,761 --> 00:01:06,675 'cause it is. 22 00:01:06,675 --> 00:01:09,547 - This was a feat of daring do. 23 00:01:09,547 --> 00:01:12,202 It was a specific enemy target 24 00:01:12,202 --> 00:01:16,946 and one, crucially, that had to remain intact. 25 00:01:16,946 --> 00:01:17,555 - [Narrator] But how did they get there? 26 00:01:17,555 --> 00:01:20,123 And how long can they hold out? 27 00:01:20,123 --> 00:01:22,560 [dramatic music] 28 00:01:40,752 --> 00:01:44,495 [suspenseful music] 29 00:01:44,495 --> 00:01:48,108 June 5th, 1944, just before midnight. 30 00:01:48,108 --> 00:01:51,154 Only hours before the planned start of D-Day, 31 00:01:51,154 --> 00:01:54,766 six Horsa gliders, towed by Halifax bombers, 32 00:01:54,766 --> 00:01:57,639 take off from RAF Tarrant Rushton in Dorset, England. 33 00:01:59,684 --> 00:02:01,164 They are embarking on a mission 34 00:02:01,164 --> 00:02:03,819 that could decide the fate of D-Day. 35 00:02:03,819 --> 00:02:05,516 - The weather's bad. 36 00:02:05,516 --> 00:02:06,735 It's overcast. 37 00:02:06,735 --> 00:02:08,040 It's drizzling. 38 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:09,912 It's windy. 39 00:02:09,912 --> 00:02:12,044 They gotta be able to get behind enemy lines safely 40 00:02:12,044 --> 00:02:13,959 and in a stealthy manner. 41 00:02:13,959 --> 00:02:14,873 - [Narrator] Their mission is to capture 42 00:02:14,873 --> 00:02:17,441 two strategically located bridges, 43 00:02:17,441 --> 00:02:19,182 vital to ensuring an Allied victory. 44 00:02:19,182 --> 00:02:22,316 - If this early mission is detected, 45 00:02:22,316 --> 00:02:24,056 it could undermine the secrecy 46 00:02:24,056 --> 00:02:27,451 and element of surprise for all of D-Day. 47 00:02:27,451 --> 00:02:29,149 - [Narrator] The Allies aim to change the course 48 00:02:29,149 --> 00:02:30,933 of World War II, 49 00:02:30,933 --> 00:02:32,456 beginning with the liberation of France. 50 00:02:33,588 --> 00:02:36,373 [suspenseful music] 51 00:02:36,373 --> 00:02:39,159 With the invasion of Poland in 1939 52 00:02:39,159 --> 00:02:40,986 marking the start of the war, 53 00:02:40,986 --> 00:02:43,641 the Germans are on the offensive. 54 00:02:43,641 --> 00:02:45,991 Hitler has his eye on France. 55 00:02:45,991 --> 00:02:48,690 This strategic location will provide a tactical base 56 00:02:48,690 --> 00:02:49,734 for air and sea attacks against Britain. 57 00:02:51,997 --> 00:02:54,043 In March of 1940, 58 00:02:54,043 --> 00:02:57,873 the Germans begin their campaign against France. 59 00:02:57,873 --> 00:03:01,050 The French army has been weakened by World War I 60 00:03:01,050 --> 00:03:03,313 and France is officially under German control 61 00:03:03,313 --> 00:03:04,619 just two months later. 62 00:03:04,619 --> 00:03:05,750 [suspenseful music] 63 00:03:05,750 --> 00:03:07,883 Amidst German occupation, 64 00:03:07,883 --> 00:03:09,841 an elaborate resistance network is created 65 00:03:09,841 --> 00:03:11,887 by French patriots. 66 00:03:11,887 --> 00:03:14,324 - They're the unsung heroes of World War II. 67 00:03:14,324 --> 00:03:16,457 Men and women, regular people, 68 00:03:16,457 --> 00:03:19,024 now fighting against Nazi occupation, 69 00:03:19,024 --> 00:03:21,026 belonging to organized resistance groups 70 00:03:21,026 --> 00:03:23,377 like the Maquis or Allez Ons. 71 00:03:23,377 --> 00:03:24,987 - [Narrator] These operatives are essential 72 00:03:24,987 --> 00:03:28,469 to inform the Allies of German activity in the area. 73 00:03:28,469 --> 00:03:30,819 - Aerial reconnaissance, at least at that time, 74 00:03:30,819 --> 00:03:34,126 could only go so far because we are about observing things 75 00:03:34,126 --> 00:03:35,737 from thousands of feet away 76 00:03:35,737 --> 00:03:37,217 from very high up. 77 00:03:37,217 --> 00:03:39,871 There were certain details which would be available 78 00:03:39,871 --> 00:03:41,003 only to people on the ground. 79 00:03:41,003 --> 00:03:42,874 [suspenseful music] 80 00:03:42,874 --> 00:03:45,921 - [Narrator] By 1943, the tides of war are changing 81 00:03:45,921 --> 00:03:47,227 for the Germans. 82 00:03:47,227 --> 00:03:49,577 - This is not Germany of 1939. 83 00:03:49,577 --> 00:03:52,014 This is a nation ravaged by war. 84 00:03:52,014 --> 00:03:54,625 Allied bombing has taken a significant toll. 85 00:03:54,625 --> 00:03:57,019 And their resources are seriously depleted. 86 00:03:57,019 --> 00:03:58,890 [suspenseful music] 87 00:03:58,890 --> 00:04:01,806 - [Narrator] After a string of victories throughout 1943, 88 00:04:01,806 --> 00:04:04,896 the Allies regain territories occupied by the Nazis. 89 00:04:04,896 --> 00:04:07,159 - The more successes you have, 90 00:04:07,159 --> 00:04:10,902 the more you believe that you can continue to be successful. 91 00:04:10,902 --> 00:04:13,731 And so you tend to go to bolder and bolder actions. 92 00:04:13,731 --> 00:04:15,342 [suspenseful music] [explosions booming] 93 00:04:15,342 --> 00:04:17,866 - [Narrator] The Allies formulate a plan to liberate France 94 00:04:17,866 --> 00:04:19,824 and bring an end to the war: 95 00:04:19,824 --> 00:04:21,957 Operation Overlord. 96 00:04:21,957 --> 00:04:25,613 339 Allied divisions commit to this battle. 97 00:04:25,613 --> 00:04:28,093 Over 1 million troops in total. 98 00:04:28,093 --> 00:04:31,227 - Resources are coming from virtually everyone 99 00:04:31,227 --> 00:04:33,011 who opposes the Nazis. 100 00:04:33,011 --> 00:04:35,057 So you have Free French soldiers. 101 00:04:35,057 --> 00:04:37,320 You have Canadians, the Americans, the British. 102 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,627 And you have assorted persons 103 00:04:39,627 --> 00:04:42,804 from a variety of occupied countries. 104 00:04:42,804 --> 00:04:46,155 - [Narrator] On June 6th, 156,000 of these men 105 00:04:46,155 --> 00:04:48,940 will attempt to land on the beaches of Normandy 106 00:04:48,940 --> 00:04:51,203 in what would become known as D-Day. 107 00:04:51,203 --> 00:04:53,205 - We're talking about the greatest amphibious operation 108 00:04:53,205 --> 00:04:56,121 in history, and there's no guarantee it's gonna work. 109 00:04:56,121 --> 00:04:58,820 - The resource allocation for D-Day is like nothing else. 110 00:04:58,820 --> 00:05:00,082 There is no precedent for it. 111 00:05:00,082 --> 00:05:01,649 Certainly not on that scale. 112 00:05:01,649 --> 00:05:03,694 It takes years in preparation. 113 00:05:03,694 --> 00:05:08,308 - 156,000 men, 5,000 ships, 11,000 aircraft. 114 00:05:10,179 --> 00:05:11,963 This is gonna change the course of the Second World War. 115 00:05:11,963 --> 00:05:13,704 [suspenseful music] 116 00:05:13,704 --> 00:05:14,923 - [Narrator] Supreme Allied Commander, 117 00:05:14,923 --> 00:05:16,968 General Dwight Eisenhower, 118 00:05:16,968 --> 00:05:18,927 draws up plans to invade five beaches 119 00:05:18,927 --> 00:05:21,277 on the coast of Normandy, 120 00:05:21,277 --> 00:05:24,933 paving the way for an inland advance on the eastern flank. 121 00:05:24,933 --> 00:05:27,109 - You are landing a force 122 00:05:27,109 --> 00:05:29,590 the like of which the world has never seen before. 123 00:05:29,590 --> 00:05:31,766 If you can't get them out 124 00:05:31,766 --> 00:05:33,855 from the beaches upon which they've landed, 125 00:05:33,855 --> 00:05:35,552 you've got a problem. 126 00:05:35,552 --> 00:05:38,294 You need to ensure you have your routes 127 00:05:38,294 --> 00:05:39,513 into mainland France. 128 00:05:39,513 --> 00:05:42,820 So you need to secure bridges out. 129 00:05:42,820 --> 00:05:44,518 [suspenseful music] 130 00:05:44,518 --> 00:05:46,520 - [Narrator] Eight kilometers in from the Normandy coast, 131 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,565 a bridge over the Caen Canal 132 00:05:48,565 --> 00:05:50,175 will allow the invasion force 133 00:05:50,175 --> 00:05:52,613 to quickly move east after landing. 134 00:05:52,613 --> 00:05:55,572 Another bridge just 470 meters east 135 00:05:55,572 --> 00:05:58,836 over the Orne River will provide a continued path inland 136 00:05:58,836 --> 00:06:00,011 from the beaches. 137 00:06:00,011 --> 00:06:02,231 - We have to hold the bridge 138 00:06:02,231 --> 00:06:04,842 so that the thousands and thousands of men and trucks 139 00:06:04,842 --> 00:06:07,671 and supplies can move their way toward Paris 140 00:06:07,671 --> 00:06:09,978 and, ultimately, Berlin. 141 00:06:09,978 --> 00:06:13,198 Secondly, we have to hold the bridges as a choke point 142 00:06:13,198 --> 00:06:15,679 so that the Nazis can't reinforce 143 00:06:15,679 --> 00:06:17,725 their overrun troops at Normandy. 144 00:06:17,725 --> 00:06:20,031 [suspenseful music] 145 00:06:20,031 --> 00:06:21,424 - [Narrator] Major General Richard Gale 146 00:06:21,424 --> 00:06:24,253 of the 6th Airborne Division is tasked 147 00:06:24,253 --> 00:06:27,604 with formulating a plan to complete this critical task. 148 00:06:27,604 --> 00:06:29,954 Gale selects Major John Howard 149 00:06:29,954 --> 00:06:31,869 to lead the operation on the ground. 150 00:06:31,869 --> 00:06:34,306 - Major John Howard is the pinup 151 00:06:34,306 --> 00:06:36,396 of the so-called people's war. 152 00:06:36,396 --> 00:06:38,876 He's the guy who's climbed up through the ranks, 153 00:06:38,876 --> 00:06:42,445 through dint of personal endeavor and military acumen. 154 00:06:42,445 --> 00:06:43,577 And he's a team player. 155 00:06:43,577 --> 00:06:45,013 He looks out for his boys. 156 00:06:45,013 --> 00:06:47,058 He's the man you want at the helm. 157 00:06:47,058 --> 00:06:48,886 [suspenseful music] 158 00:06:48,886 --> 00:06:50,758 - [Narrator] The initial plan was to capture the bridges 159 00:06:50,758 --> 00:06:53,761 using paratroopers, an idea that quickly falls 160 00:06:53,761 --> 00:06:56,372 by the wayside in favor of gliders. 161 00:06:56,372 --> 00:06:57,765 - Transport plane can come in 162 00:06:57,765 --> 00:07:00,289 and drop down hundreds, thousands of men. 163 00:07:00,289 --> 00:07:02,857 But they're like dandelion seeds in the wind. 164 00:07:02,857 --> 00:07:04,293 Where are they gonna end up? 165 00:07:04,293 --> 00:07:06,426 A glider, on the other hand, 166 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:11,082 you're all landing in the same aircraft in the same place. 167 00:07:11,082 --> 00:07:12,040 You get out together. 168 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:13,128 You're still one unit. 169 00:07:13,128 --> 00:07:15,391 Not a minute is lost. 170 00:07:15,391 --> 00:07:17,959 - The glider is quiet and it has no engines. 171 00:07:17,959 --> 00:07:20,309 And it will be dropped off by a tug, 172 00:07:20,309 --> 00:07:22,180 that is a bomber pulling it, 173 00:07:22,180 --> 00:07:24,531 a fair distance away from where it's actually gonna get to. 174 00:07:24,531 --> 00:07:26,054 But of course, a bomber makes noise. 175 00:07:26,054 --> 00:07:28,186 And the Allies had a cunning plan. 176 00:07:28,186 --> 00:07:31,233 The bombers continue on a slightly separate course 177 00:07:31,233 --> 00:07:33,801 and then drop as if they're on a bombing run. 178 00:07:33,801 --> 00:07:35,890 And this, of course, was completely credible 179 00:07:35,890 --> 00:07:38,283 because that part of the coast was being bombed, 180 00:07:38,283 --> 00:07:41,156 day after day after day, in preparation for D-Day. 181 00:07:41,156 --> 00:07:42,592 - It's a really smart decision by the British 182 00:07:42,592 --> 00:07:45,639 and starts this chain of events 183 00:07:45,639 --> 00:07:48,772 that certainly plays out very famously on the beaches 184 00:07:48,772 --> 00:07:51,079 on the morning of June the 6th. 185 00:07:51,079 --> 00:07:52,559 But a lot was going on 186 00:07:52,559 --> 00:07:54,996 on the ground overnight further inland. 187 00:07:54,996 --> 00:07:56,345 And it really does start 188 00:07:56,345 --> 00:07:59,348 with those 181 guys taking off from Dorset. 189 00:07:59,348 --> 00:08:01,219 [suspenseful music] 190 00:08:01,219 --> 00:08:03,352 - [Narrator] The force is comprised mostly of D Company 191 00:08:03,352 --> 00:08:06,094 of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry: 192 00:08:06,094 --> 00:08:07,878 The Ox and Bucks. 193 00:08:07,878 --> 00:08:10,968 They're reinforced by two platoons from B Company, 194 00:08:10,968 --> 00:08:14,581 plus 20 Royal Engineers and 12 glider pilots. 195 00:08:14,581 --> 00:08:17,018 The gliders will land southeast of Sword Beach, 196 00:08:17,018 --> 00:08:18,759 where the British landing force 197 00:08:18,759 --> 00:08:21,457 is due to arrive hours later. 198 00:08:21,457 --> 00:08:24,416 Once the bridges are seized and ready to be reinforced, 199 00:08:24,416 --> 00:08:27,115 Major Howard will tip off intelligence officers 200 00:08:27,115 --> 00:08:29,378 with the code words, ham and jam. 201 00:08:29,378 --> 00:08:31,336 As they approach their targets, 202 00:08:31,336 --> 00:08:34,470 Major Howard in the lead glider recognizes the area 203 00:08:34,470 --> 00:08:36,690 from reconnaissance photographs 204 00:08:36,690 --> 00:08:39,954 and knows exactly what the German defenses are down below. 205 00:08:39,954 --> 00:08:41,782 At this stage of the war, 206 00:08:41,782 --> 00:08:45,263 the Allies control the skies and take every opportunity 207 00:08:45,263 --> 00:08:48,789 to take aerial photographs of potential invasion sites. 208 00:08:48,789 --> 00:08:52,140 - 17 million photographs. 209 00:08:52,140 --> 00:08:53,533 Every gun emplacement, 210 00:08:53,533 --> 00:08:54,577 every bridge, 211 00:08:54,577 --> 00:08:56,274 every infantryman, 212 00:08:56,274 --> 00:08:59,103 every pole to prevent the landing of a parachute. 213 00:08:59,103 --> 00:09:02,585 Each and everyone was noted. 214 00:09:02,585 --> 00:09:04,500 - And, of course, 215 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:06,067 we're also getting information from agents on the ground, 216 00:09:06,067 --> 00:09:07,982 from resistance leaders, 217 00:09:07,982 --> 00:09:09,461 all putting together this picture. 218 00:09:11,507 --> 00:09:13,422 - Certain number of ways in which you can attack a bridge. 219 00:09:13,422 --> 00:09:16,207 The Germans set up all the defenses 220 00:09:16,207 --> 00:09:18,296 in order to prevent that. 221 00:09:18,296 --> 00:09:21,343 - They've got relatively formidable defensive positions. 222 00:09:21,343 --> 00:09:23,519 They've got machine gun nests on both bridges. 223 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:26,304 On one bridge, they've got an anti tank gun. 224 00:09:26,304 --> 00:09:27,784 - [Narrator] Barbed wire and a trench system 225 00:09:27,784 --> 00:09:29,960 are set up around the bridges, 226 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,268 manned by 50 riflemen and machine gunners. 227 00:09:33,268 --> 00:09:37,751 The 736th Grenadier Regiment of the 716th Infantry. 228 00:09:39,535 --> 00:09:41,450 This unit is largely made up of poorly equipped men 229 00:09:41,450 --> 00:09:43,626 from German-occupied nations, 230 00:09:43,626 --> 00:09:46,498 with some older Germans mixed in. 231 00:09:46,498 --> 00:09:48,370 The German soldiers have instructions 232 00:09:48,370 --> 00:09:50,677 to destroy the bridges if necessary 233 00:09:50,677 --> 00:09:54,419 to stop them from ending up in Allied hands. 234 00:09:54,419 --> 00:09:56,987 At seven minutes after midnight on June 6th, 235 00:09:56,987 --> 00:09:59,511 the bombers, towing the British gliders, 236 00:09:59,511 --> 00:10:02,514 cast off their lines in preparation for landing. 237 00:10:02,514 --> 00:10:04,255 - Three gliders are gonna land next to one bridge 238 00:10:04,255 --> 00:10:07,476 and three next to another bridge, 400 meters away. 239 00:10:07,476 --> 00:10:10,261 So it's a relatively tiny strip of land 240 00:10:10,261 --> 00:10:11,611 that they've got to land in. 241 00:10:11,611 --> 00:10:13,395 And they've got to land one after the other 242 00:10:13,395 --> 00:10:14,570 in synchronized order. 243 00:10:14,570 --> 00:10:15,832 [suspenseful music] 244 00:10:15,832 --> 00:10:16,746 - [Narrator] Major Howard instructs 245 00:10:16,746 --> 00:10:18,443 the glider pilots to land 246 00:10:18,443 --> 00:10:20,924 with the nose right against the barbed wire 247 00:10:20,924 --> 00:10:23,274 surrounding their assigned bridges. 248 00:10:23,274 --> 00:10:25,581 - You don't have as much control 249 00:10:25,581 --> 00:10:28,845 of the aircraft as you would with an engine. 250 00:10:28,845 --> 00:10:33,023 So it's a great challenge, particularly to do it at night. 251 00:10:33,023 --> 00:10:34,808 [suspenseful music] 252 00:10:34,808 --> 00:10:35,939 - [Narrator] In order to pinpoint 253 00:10:35,939 --> 00:10:38,507 this exact location in the dark, 254 00:10:38,507 --> 00:10:40,901 the glider pilots must execute the dangerous 255 00:10:40,901 --> 00:10:43,730 and risky task of performing a dive approach 256 00:10:43,730 --> 00:10:47,298 and pulling up at the very last moment, 257 00:10:47,298 --> 00:10:50,258 slamming the glider into the ground as smoothly as possible 258 00:10:50,258 --> 00:10:52,434 and hoping for the best. 259 00:10:52,434 --> 00:10:54,915 But as the glider landings begin, 260 00:10:54,915 --> 00:10:56,743 things don't go to plan. 261 00:10:56,743 --> 00:10:59,310 - And the very first glider with Major John Howard comes in 262 00:10:59,310 --> 00:11:01,530 and sort of crash lands. 263 00:11:01,530 --> 00:11:04,185 The good news is it crash landed right next to the bridge. 264 00:11:04,185 --> 00:11:06,013 - They were going too fast when they came in 265 00:11:06,013 --> 00:11:08,319 and then the final violent stop. 266 00:11:08,319 --> 00:11:10,017 So violent, in fact, 267 00:11:10,017 --> 00:11:12,672 that the two pilots are thrown out of their seats 268 00:11:12,672 --> 00:11:14,195 and up against the windshield. 269 00:11:14,195 --> 00:11:15,587 And yet, despite this, 270 00:11:15,587 --> 00:11:17,502 they land at exactly the right place. 271 00:11:17,502 --> 00:11:19,417 It couldn't have been more perfect. 272 00:11:19,417 --> 00:11:21,550 If you'd written that sequence of events in a novel, 273 00:11:21,550 --> 00:11:22,899 people wouldn't have believed it. 274 00:11:22,899 --> 00:11:24,248 [suspenseful music] 275 00:11:24,248 --> 00:11:26,250 - [Narrator] With the bumpy glider landing, 276 00:11:26,250 --> 00:11:28,600 Major Howard's seatbelt is broken 277 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,515 and he bashes his head on the ceiling, 278 00:11:30,515 --> 00:11:32,648 rendering him unconscious for a few minutes 279 00:11:32,648 --> 00:11:34,650 and with a possible concussion. 280 00:11:34,650 --> 00:11:38,132 - When you're concussed, you're dizzy, headaches. 281 00:11:38,132 --> 00:11:42,397 Sensory information, lights, and sounds can cause pain 282 00:11:42,397 --> 00:11:46,444 that would make it very difficult for him to concentrate 283 00:11:46,444 --> 00:11:49,447 and very difficult to be efficient in his decision making. 284 00:11:49,447 --> 00:11:51,058 - [Narrator] Despite his injury, 285 00:11:51,058 --> 00:11:53,974 Howard leads his platoon out of the glider. 286 00:11:53,974 --> 00:11:56,933 Two other gliders, filled with infantrymen and engineers, 287 00:11:56,933 --> 00:11:59,327 land nearby for the attack, 288 00:11:59,327 --> 00:12:02,025 all within 42 meters of the Caen Canal bridge. 289 00:12:03,505 --> 00:12:05,986 If the Germans attack the gliders now, 290 00:12:05,986 --> 00:12:07,901 the loss of life could be catastrophic 291 00:12:07,901 --> 00:12:10,381 to the success of the mission. 292 00:12:10,381 --> 00:12:11,905 But, luck is on their side. 293 00:12:13,602 --> 00:12:16,126 The German sentries, only meters away, 294 00:12:16,126 --> 00:12:19,216 disregard the sounds of the landing gliders, 295 00:12:19,216 --> 00:12:20,783 assuming they're hearing falling debris 296 00:12:20,783 --> 00:12:22,654 from a crashing bomber. 297 00:12:22,654 --> 00:12:24,526 East of the canal, 298 00:12:24,526 --> 00:12:27,007 the three gliders approaching the Orne River bridge 299 00:12:27,007 --> 00:12:29,096 are not so lucky. 300 00:12:29,096 --> 00:12:31,620 Two of the three gliders land successfully, 301 00:12:31,620 --> 00:12:33,927 but the third glider takes a wrong turn. 302 00:12:33,927 --> 00:12:35,319 - This is the glider 303 00:12:35,319 --> 00:12:36,668 that contains Howard's second in command, 304 00:12:36,668 --> 00:12:40,063 Captain Priday, and this goes completely off beam. 305 00:12:41,804 --> 00:12:44,067 - [Narrator] Although he's missed his target, 306 00:12:44,067 --> 00:12:47,549 fate will hand Captain Priday a different role on D-Day. 307 00:12:47,549 --> 00:12:51,292 [suspenseful music] 308 00:12:51,292 --> 00:12:53,294 Meanwhile, at the Caen Canal, 309 00:12:53,294 --> 00:12:55,470 Major Howard's D Company troops 310 00:12:55,470 --> 00:12:56,863 rush towards the canal bridge. 311 00:12:56,863 --> 00:12:59,387 [suspenseful music] [guns popping] 312 00:12:59,387 --> 00:13:01,955 Leading the charge is Lieutenant Den Brotheridge, 313 00:13:01,955 --> 00:13:03,913 commanding the first platoon across. 314 00:13:03,913 --> 00:13:06,350 - He wants to be first across that bridge. 315 00:13:06,350 --> 00:13:07,787 He knows it's gonna be dangerous, 316 00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:10,093 but he's gonna be the man doing it. 317 00:13:10,093 --> 00:13:12,704 - There are two German sentries. 318 00:13:12,704 --> 00:13:14,794 One of them manages to fire a flare 319 00:13:14,794 --> 00:13:16,447 and then he's shot and killed. 320 00:13:16,447 --> 00:13:17,579 The other one runs. 321 00:13:17,579 --> 00:13:19,537 [suspenseful music] 322 00:13:19,537 --> 00:13:21,670 - [Narrator] As they continue across the bridge, 323 00:13:21,670 --> 00:13:23,715 Brotheridge and his platoon are attacked 324 00:13:23,715 --> 00:13:26,893 by machine gunfire coming from the far side of the canal. 325 00:13:26,893 --> 00:13:29,809 - And one of those bullets sadly goes 326 00:13:29,809 --> 00:13:32,855 through Brotheridge's throat and he's mortally wounded. 327 00:13:34,248 --> 00:13:35,553 - [Narrator] Lieutenant Brotheridge 328 00:13:35,553 --> 00:13:38,295 becomes the first battle casualty of D-Day. 329 00:13:38,295 --> 00:13:41,298 But his men are so dedicated to seizing the bridge 330 00:13:41,298 --> 00:13:42,822 that they don't even notice he's fallen 331 00:13:42,822 --> 00:13:44,954 until minutes later. 332 00:13:44,954 --> 00:13:48,044 Brotheridge's platoon continues across the bridge 333 00:13:48,044 --> 00:13:51,047 to take a defensive position on the west bank 334 00:13:51,047 --> 00:13:53,658 as the Royal Engineers search for explosive charges 335 00:13:53,658 --> 00:13:56,531 on the bridge and cut their fuses. 336 00:13:56,531 --> 00:13:58,750 - It's pretty much standard operating procedure 337 00:13:58,750 --> 00:14:01,666 that if you're assigned a key bridge like that, 338 00:14:01,666 --> 00:14:02,972 if you cannot hold it, 339 00:14:02,972 --> 00:14:04,800 you blow it up. 340 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,367 - The engineers would have to come in 341 00:14:06,367 --> 00:14:09,196 and secure those explosives 342 00:14:09,196 --> 00:14:11,763 so that the Germans could not do that. 343 00:14:11,763 --> 00:14:13,853 It would've been extremely dangerous. 344 00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:15,550 When you're working with explosives 345 00:14:15,550 --> 00:14:19,423 that any wrong move could potentially be set off, 346 00:14:19,423 --> 00:14:22,252 or the Germans could just go ahead 347 00:14:22,252 --> 00:14:24,559 and actually blow up the bridge if they were so inclined. 348 00:14:26,213 --> 00:14:27,910 - [Narrator] On the east bank, 349 00:14:27,910 --> 00:14:30,478 Howard's other two platoons clear bunkers and trenches 350 00:14:30,478 --> 00:14:31,958 with grenades and gunfire. 351 00:14:31,958 --> 00:14:35,483 The German defenders are overmatched. 352 00:14:35,483 --> 00:14:37,877 By 21 minutes after midnight, 353 00:14:37,877 --> 00:14:41,228 German resistance on the Caen Canal bridge is over 354 00:14:41,228 --> 00:14:43,186 and Major Howard's D Company, 355 00:14:43,186 --> 00:14:45,493 The Ox and Bucks, have full control 356 00:14:45,493 --> 00:14:47,582 of this critical throughway. 357 00:14:47,582 --> 00:14:50,628 Howard soon gets word that the nearby Orne River Bridge 358 00:14:50,628 --> 00:14:53,240 is also fully captured by his men. 359 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,156 - Fortunately, the defenders to that bridge don't put up 360 00:14:56,156 --> 00:15:00,116 even as much of a fight as they do on the Caen Canal bridge. 361 00:15:00,116 --> 00:15:02,684 And they flee before there's even a shot fired. 362 00:15:04,294 --> 00:15:05,992 - [Narrator] But a lone German soldier manages 363 00:15:05,992 --> 00:15:07,819 to survive the bridge attack 364 00:15:07,819 --> 00:15:10,997 and retreats to headquarters to inform his commander. 365 00:15:10,997 --> 00:15:13,695 Major Howard knows he's in for a tough night 366 00:15:13,695 --> 00:15:15,827 defending these bridges. 367 00:15:15,827 --> 00:15:19,092 The Allied invasion of France is just hours away. 368 00:15:19,092 --> 00:15:21,964 And the Germans haven't got a clue about what's coming. 369 00:15:21,964 --> 00:15:23,661 - It was a nasty night. 370 00:15:23,661 --> 00:15:25,359 They assumed that nobody he was going to land 371 00:15:25,359 --> 00:15:27,578 and boy, did they assume wrong. 372 00:15:27,578 --> 00:15:30,016 [suspenseful music] 373 00:15:30,016 --> 00:15:32,496 - [Narrator] The Germans predict an Allied assault on France 374 00:15:32,496 --> 00:15:34,890 as early as 1942. 375 00:15:34,890 --> 00:15:36,587 But they are unable to predict exactly where 376 00:15:36,587 --> 00:15:38,633 and when it might be. 377 00:15:38,633 --> 00:15:41,723 So they bolster the defenses across the Western Front. 378 00:15:41,723 --> 00:15:43,072 - For the last two years, 379 00:15:43,072 --> 00:15:44,813 one of the great obsessions of Hitler 380 00:15:44,813 --> 00:15:47,207 had been reinforcing this Atlantic Wall. 381 00:15:47,207 --> 00:15:50,079 This extraordinary concrete fortification 382 00:15:50,079 --> 00:15:51,951 that ran from Norway right down 383 00:15:51,951 --> 00:15:55,128 to the Franco-Spanish southern coast. 384 00:15:55,128 --> 00:15:58,087 - That is a massive defensive structure. 385 00:15:58,087 --> 00:16:00,655 Thousands and thousands of landmines, 386 00:16:00,655 --> 00:16:02,004 thousands of machine gun nests, 387 00:16:02,004 --> 00:16:03,266 thousands of artillery. 388 00:16:03,266 --> 00:16:04,137 [suspenseful music] 389 00:16:04,137 --> 00:16:05,965 - [Narrator] In early 1944, 390 00:16:05,965 --> 00:16:08,271 Hitler assigned one of his best men, 391 00:16:08,271 --> 00:16:10,143 Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, 392 00:16:10,143 --> 00:16:11,796 to improve the wall's defenses 393 00:16:11,796 --> 00:16:14,495 in preparation for an Allied attack. 394 00:16:14,495 --> 00:16:16,453 The highly decorated Rommel had earned the nickname 395 00:16:16,453 --> 00:16:18,847 the Desert Fox for his exploits 396 00:16:18,847 --> 00:16:21,763 as commander of the German forces in North Africa. 397 00:16:21,763 --> 00:16:23,895 [suspenseful music] 398 00:16:23,895 --> 00:16:27,073 The Germans suspect the attack will come at Pas de Calais, 399 00:16:27,073 --> 00:16:31,338 350 kilometers east of the actual D-Day landing sites. 400 00:16:31,338 --> 00:16:33,688 - Ideally, you want the shortest crossing. 401 00:16:33,688 --> 00:16:36,778 And that was this crossing from Dover to Pas de Calais. 402 00:16:36,778 --> 00:16:39,650 So it was identified as being the location 403 00:16:39,650 --> 00:16:42,436 where the Allies would hit back 404 00:16:42,436 --> 00:16:44,177 at German occupation in France. 405 00:16:44,177 --> 00:16:47,745 And, of course, we played to that presumption. 406 00:16:47,745 --> 00:16:48,920 - [Narrator] The section of the Atlantic Wall 407 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,966 at Pas de Calais is strengthened 408 00:16:50,966 --> 00:16:53,490 with an enormous amount of concrete and steel. 409 00:16:53,490 --> 00:16:56,450 And the Nazis install three major gun batteries, 410 00:16:56,450 --> 00:17:00,367 pointing their 406-millimeter cannons at Dover, England. 411 00:17:00,367 --> 00:17:03,239 - There were things called hedgehogs wedged down 412 00:17:03,239 --> 00:17:06,242 into the ground with a sharpened spike at the top. 413 00:17:06,242 --> 00:17:08,418 The boats would've been hung up on the hedgehogs, 414 00:17:08,418 --> 00:17:11,117 which would've caused a massive water traffic jam 415 00:17:11,117 --> 00:17:13,554 and prevented the Allies from landing. 416 00:17:13,554 --> 00:17:15,599 - [Narrator] In the months leading up to D-Day, 417 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:18,950 the Allies launch a massive disinformation campaign 418 00:17:18,950 --> 00:17:22,258 aimed at keeping the Nazis attention on Pas de Calais. 419 00:17:22,258 --> 00:17:25,087 But the actual attack will happen in Normandy. 420 00:17:25,087 --> 00:17:27,176 And the first Allied troops are already on the ground. 421 00:17:27,176 --> 00:17:28,699 [suspenseful music] 422 00:17:28,699 --> 00:17:30,310 30 minutes after the gliders first left 423 00:17:30,310 --> 00:17:32,051 for the coast of Normandy, 424 00:17:32,051 --> 00:17:33,748 the capture of the bridges is complete. 425 00:17:35,402 --> 00:17:37,230 Major Howard sends the magic words back 426 00:17:37,230 --> 00:17:40,233 to British intelligence operations, "ham and jam." 427 00:17:41,886 --> 00:17:43,149 This signifies that reinforcements can begin 428 00:17:43,149 --> 00:17:44,672 to move in to bolster the troops. 429 00:17:47,196 --> 00:17:48,980 But one of the six gliders is still missing. 430 00:17:50,591 --> 00:17:53,768 Major Howard's second in command, Captain Priday, 431 00:17:53,768 --> 00:17:57,250 realizes that they have landed in the wrong place. 432 00:17:57,250 --> 00:18:00,079 The nearby bridge is not the one he's meant to capture. 433 00:18:00,079 --> 00:18:01,906 - First of all, they're let off in the wrong place 434 00:18:01,906 --> 00:18:03,821 by the tug. 435 00:18:03,821 --> 00:18:06,868 And then the pilot of the glide mistakenly identifies 436 00:18:06,868 --> 00:18:09,262 the Dives River as the location where he should be. 437 00:18:09,262 --> 00:18:11,394 Now, this group have now got a problem. 438 00:18:11,394 --> 00:18:14,528 - He's going to be feeling the level of anxiety. 439 00:18:14,528 --> 00:18:16,878 So he's operating in a vacuum 440 00:18:16,878 --> 00:18:18,532 where he doesn't know what's happening 441 00:18:18,532 --> 00:18:21,012 and he bears responsibility as second in command 442 00:18:21,012 --> 00:18:23,537 for making it successful. - He has to make good. 443 00:18:23,537 --> 00:18:25,843 Luckily, he's used to having a bit of military authority. 444 00:18:25,843 --> 00:18:27,236 He's clearly got his wits about him. 445 00:18:27,236 --> 00:18:29,238 And he buckles down and secures a bridgehead 446 00:18:29,238 --> 00:18:31,066 on the Dives River. 447 00:18:31,066 --> 00:18:32,067 - [Narrator] Although this isn't 448 00:18:32,067 --> 00:18:34,025 Priday's original objective, 449 00:18:34,025 --> 00:18:36,724 he decides to capture the bridge anyway. 450 00:18:36,724 --> 00:18:38,639 The Germans put up a fight, 451 00:18:38,639 --> 00:18:41,120 but they're are no match for Captain Priday and his men. 452 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:42,860 And the bridge is taken. 453 00:18:42,860 --> 00:18:45,036 - This was a job that has actually been assigned 454 00:18:45,036 --> 00:18:46,908 to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. 455 00:18:46,908 --> 00:18:48,736 And once they've secured that bridge, 456 00:18:48,736 --> 00:18:51,565 they then begin to move back towards their actual location, 457 00:18:51,565 --> 00:18:52,609 which is Ranville, 458 00:18:52,609 --> 00:18:52,870 and then those two bridges. 459 00:18:55,569 --> 00:18:56,918 - [Narrator] Around the time that Howard and Priday 460 00:18:56,918 --> 00:18:58,659 are securing their bridges, 461 00:18:58,659 --> 00:19:00,878 other Allied missions are beginning, 462 00:19:00,878 --> 00:19:04,665 paving the way for the D-Day landings later that morning. 463 00:19:04,665 --> 00:19:07,842 A 1,200-airplane assault heads to the coast of France 464 00:19:07,842 --> 00:19:09,104 to target the Atlantic Wall. 465 00:19:09,104 --> 00:19:10,584 - Where you send in the bombers 466 00:19:10,584 --> 00:19:12,194 in advance of the land invasion 467 00:19:12,194 --> 00:19:15,545 to compromise as best you can the German defenses. 468 00:19:15,545 --> 00:19:17,460 The more damage that you can inflict from the air, 469 00:19:17,460 --> 00:19:18,809 the more likelihood for success 470 00:19:18,809 --> 00:19:20,289 you have on that beach invasion. 471 00:19:21,899 --> 00:19:23,205 - The bad news is there's terrible weather. 472 00:19:23,205 --> 00:19:25,120 There's a lot of cloud cover, 473 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:27,949 which makes bombing really tricky at best. 474 00:19:27,949 --> 00:19:30,821 And, of course, you still have anti-aircraft defenses, 475 00:19:30,821 --> 00:19:32,214 which the Germans are manning, 476 00:19:32,214 --> 00:19:33,955 which makes your life a little bit of a nightmare. 477 00:19:33,955 --> 00:19:35,304 [suspenseful music] 478 00:19:35,304 --> 00:19:37,741 - [Narrator] Meanwhile, at the Caen Canal 479 00:19:37,741 --> 00:19:39,178 and Orne River bridges, 480 00:19:39,178 --> 00:19:41,223 Major Howard and his men are braced 481 00:19:41,223 --> 00:19:43,660 for a German counter attack. 482 00:19:43,660 --> 00:19:44,705 - They need to hold them long enough 483 00:19:44,705 --> 00:19:46,707 for the 7th Paratroop Battalion 484 00:19:46,707 --> 00:19:49,100 to get there in time to reinforce them. 485 00:19:49,100 --> 00:19:51,015 - [Narrator] At around 50 minutes past midnight, 486 00:19:51,015 --> 00:19:52,843 the 600 paratroopers, 487 00:19:52,843 --> 00:19:55,585 led by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Pine-Coffin, 488 00:19:55,585 --> 00:19:57,848 start to land in their designated drop zones 489 00:19:57,848 --> 00:19:59,676 east of the bridges. 490 00:19:59,676 --> 00:20:02,810 - They're expecting 7th Para to arrive within the hour. 491 00:20:02,810 --> 00:20:03,985 But, of course, 492 00:20:03,985 --> 00:20:05,508 as is the way with parachute troops 493 00:20:05,508 --> 00:20:08,076 who tend to be dropped over a dispersed area 494 00:20:08,076 --> 00:20:10,121 and it takes them a long time to finally all meet up 495 00:20:10,121 --> 00:20:11,862 and then get on the march. 496 00:20:11,862 --> 00:20:14,256 That one hour is gonna string into more like two. 497 00:20:14,256 --> 00:20:16,389 So you've got this crucial period 498 00:20:16,389 --> 00:20:19,435 that can this small group of force hang on 499 00:20:19,435 --> 00:20:20,871 until the paras come to their rescue? 500 00:20:20,871 --> 00:20:23,004 [suspenseful music] 501 00:20:23,004 --> 00:20:25,441 - [Narrator] While Howard is waiting for the 7th to show up, 502 00:20:25,441 --> 00:20:27,661 he gets a welcome visitor who had parachuted 503 00:20:27,661 --> 00:20:30,490 into Northern France an hour earlier. 504 00:20:30,490 --> 00:20:33,057 Brigadier Nigel Poett is on a mission 505 00:20:33,057 --> 00:20:36,409 to set up a base in the small French village of Ranville. 506 00:20:36,409 --> 00:20:39,673 He was accompanied in his jump by a pathfinder unit, 507 00:20:39,673 --> 00:20:41,979 a small advanced force of paratroopers 508 00:20:41,979 --> 00:20:45,200 tasked with setting up the drop zones for the 7th. 509 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,333 As Poett confers with Howard, 510 00:20:47,333 --> 00:20:49,291 they can hear the sounds of German vehicles 511 00:20:49,291 --> 00:20:52,251 in the nearby villages of Bénouville and Le Port. 512 00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:54,644 If reinforcement don't arrive soon, 513 00:20:54,644 --> 00:20:57,038 they will lose their hold on their bridge. 514 00:20:57,038 --> 00:20:59,345 - What they're concerned with is what's gonna happen 515 00:20:59,345 --> 00:21:02,217 if the 21st Panzer Division comes into play. 516 00:21:02,217 --> 00:21:03,697 [suspenseful music] 517 00:21:03,697 --> 00:21:05,351 - The Germans build some impressive tanks: 518 00:21:05,351 --> 00:21:08,789 The Panzer, The Tiger, The Leopard. 519 00:21:08,789 --> 00:21:11,095 These tanks are larger and much more powerful 520 00:21:11,095 --> 00:21:12,271 than what the Allies have. 521 00:21:13,707 --> 00:21:15,230 There were multiple battles 522 00:21:15,230 --> 00:21:19,103 where it would take two, three, four, five Sherman tanks 523 00:21:19,103 --> 00:21:21,584 to neutralize one of these massive German tanks. 524 00:21:21,584 --> 00:21:24,457 [suspenseful music] 525 00:21:24,457 --> 00:21:27,286 - [Narrator] The commander of the German 716th Infantry 526 00:21:27,286 --> 00:21:30,419 is informed at 1:20 that the British are in control 527 00:21:30,419 --> 00:21:32,943 of the Orne River and the Caen Canal bridges, 528 00:21:32,943 --> 00:21:34,597 which are fully intact. 529 00:21:34,597 --> 00:21:36,817 To stop the allies from encroaching, 530 00:21:36,817 --> 00:21:39,950 the commander attempts to order the 21st Panzer Division 531 00:21:39,950 --> 00:21:42,039 to defend the bridge landing areas. 532 00:21:42,039 --> 00:21:43,214 - Now, if he could have counterattacked, 533 00:21:43,214 --> 00:21:45,782 they could have probably reclaimed them. 534 00:21:45,782 --> 00:21:47,262 But they couldn't 535 00:21:47,262 --> 00:21:49,177 because of this very complex command chain 536 00:21:49,177 --> 00:21:50,961 going right back to Berlin. 537 00:21:50,961 --> 00:21:53,355 - One person has insisted no Panzer divisions 538 00:21:53,355 --> 00:21:55,183 will be moved without his order. 539 00:21:55,183 --> 00:21:56,227 And that, of course, 540 00:21:56,227 --> 00:21:58,099 is the dictator Adolf Hitler. 541 00:21:58,099 --> 00:22:00,971 He's asleep and no one has the courage to wake him up. 542 00:22:00,971 --> 00:22:03,670 - We know that this person had bouts of anger 543 00:22:03,670 --> 00:22:07,064 and would lash out sometimes at the bringers of bad news. 544 00:22:07,064 --> 00:22:10,154 So understandably, his staff was a bit concerned 545 00:22:10,154 --> 00:22:11,895 about waking him up. 546 00:22:11,895 --> 00:22:14,594 - Hitler's unwillingness to allow other people 547 00:22:14,594 --> 00:22:16,813 to make decisions speaks to a couple things. 548 00:22:16,813 --> 00:22:19,729 One, his just total ego 549 00:22:19,729 --> 00:22:21,949 that he would not allow anybody else to do that. 550 00:22:21,949 --> 00:22:23,472 His also distrust 551 00:22:23,472 --> 00:22:25,474 of a lot of the people who were around him. 552 00:22:25,474 --> 00:22:29,217 Therefore, he had to be the one who made all the decisions. 553 00:22:29,217 --> 00:22:31,480 And ultimately, that was to the detriment 554 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,264 of the German forces, 555 00:22:33,264 --> 00:22:35,963 because that is not a sustainable model 556 00:22:35,963 --> 00:22:38,618 for military decision making. 557 00:22:38,618 --> 00:22:40,054 - [Narrator] Although the Germans are aware 558 00:22:40,054 --> 00:22:43,362 that the Allies may attack Northern France anytime, 559 00:22:43,362 --> 00:22:46,408 they have no idea that June 6th is D-Day. 560 00:22:46,408 --> 00:22:48,105 And as the weather has taken a turn 561 00:22:48,105 --> 00:22:50,107 for the worst in early June, 562 00:22:50,107 --> 00:22:52,980 they're led into a false sense of security. 563 00:22:52,980 --> 00:22:55,374 They were so unconcerned that Nazi commander Erwin Rommel, 564 00:22:55,374 --> 00:22:57,419 in charge of the forces in Normandy, 565 00:22:57,419 --> 00:23:00,335 is not even in France at the time. 566 00:23:00,335 --> 00:23:03,469 - He pops back to Germany to give his wife a pair of shoes 567 00:23:03,469 --> 00:23:05,122 for her 50th birthday, 568 00:23:05,122 --> 00:23:07,647 because he thinks that the weather simply isn't going 569 00:23:07,647 --> 00:23:10,998 to invite this unprecedented amphibious attack. 570 00:23:10,998 --> 00:23:12,956 And he gets it very wrong. 571 00:23:12,956 --> 00:23:14,654 - [Narrator] The German forces are left in the hands 572 00:23:14,654 --> 00:23:16,351 of lower ranked officials. 573 00:23:16,351 --> 00:23:17,265 - If Rommel had been there, 574 00:23:17,265 --> 00:23:18,788 he may have ignored the fact 575 00:23:18,788 --> 00:23:20,355 that Hitler wasn't able to give an order 576 00:23:20,355 --> 00:23:22,052 or no one was prepared to wake him up. 577 00:23:22,052 --> 00:23:23,489 But he wasn't there 578 00:23:23,489 --> 00:23:24,838 and his more junior commanders were not prepared 579 00:23:24,838 --> 00:23:25,969 to take that risk. 580 00:23:25,969 --> 00:23:29,277 [suspenseful music] 581 00:23:29,277 --> 00:23:30,452 - [Narrator] Although the German commanders 582 00:23:30,452 --> 00:23:33,368 are not permitted to order the Panzers to move, 583 00:23:33,368 --> 00:23:36,284 they are able to move the support units assigned to them. 584 00:23:36,284 --> 00:23:38,199 And so begins the German counter offensive 585 00:23:38,199 --> 00:23:39,635 to recapture the bridges. 586 00:23:41,463 --> 00:23:43,987 The 125th Panzergrenadier's is ordered to assemble 587 00:23:43,987 --> 00:23:46,250 just to the east of the Orne River 588 00:23:46,250 --> 00:23:48,122 to wait for further instructions. 589 00:23:48,122 --> 00:23:51,212 The 192nd Panzergrenadier's is ordered to move in 590 00:23:51,212 --> 00:23:53,693 from the west, recapture the bridges, 591 00:23:53,693 --> 00:23:55,564 and attack the parachute landing zones. 592 00:23:57,261 --> 00:24:00,003 These troops don't have any heavy armor or tanks. 593 00:24:00,003 --> 00:24:02,658 So they are reinforced here by two other units, 594 00:24:02,658 --> 00:24:04,921 the First Panzerjäger Company 595 00:24:04,921 --> 00:24:07,228 and parts of the 989th Heavy Artillery Battalion 596 00:24:07,228 --> 00:24:08,925 from the north. 597 00:24:08,925 --> 00:24:10,710 - And they do have some armor, actually. 598 00:24:10,710 --> 00:24:13,974 And they eventually put together a small column of tanks. 599 00:24:13,974 --> 00:24:16,237 - [Narrator] The Germans head towards the bridges. 600 00:24:16,237 --> 00:24:18,457 But having had a few hours to dig in, 601 00:24:18,457 --> 00:24:20,676 Howard's men are ready for an attack. 602 00:24:20,676 --> 00:24:21,198 And they got a good bit of luck. 603 00:24:23,897 --> 00:24:26,987 One of the weapons at Howard's disposal is the PIAT, 604 00:24:26,987 --> 00:24:29,380 a handheld anti-tank gun. 605 00:24:29,380 --> 00:24:30,686 As the first tank comes into view, 606 00:24:30,686 --> 00:24:33,820 one of the troops from D Company fires. 607 00:24:35,561 --> 00:24:38,085 - And incredibly, this charge explodes inside the tank 608 00:24:38,085 --> 00:24:39,608 and it blows up the ammunition. 609 00:24:39,608 --> 00:24:42,002 So there's an enormous explosion. 610 00:24:42,002 --> 00:24:44,352 And this so terrifies the Germans 611 00:24:44,352 --> 00:24:47,094 that not only does the rest of that column back up, 612 00:24:47,094 --> 00:24:49,009 they're now convinced that there's a much stronger force 613 00:24:49,009 --> 00:24:50,793 at the bridge 614 00:24:50,793 --> 00:24:53,100 with really effective six-pounder anti-tank guns, 615 00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:54,928 which they don't have. 616 00:24:54,928 --> 00:24:59,062 And this gives the airborne troops crucial breathing space. 617 00:24:59,062 --> 00:25:00,499 - [Narrator] The 192nd heads back 618 00:25:00,499 --> 00:25:03,502 to headquarters in Bénouville to regroup. 619 00:25:03,502 --> 00:25:06,113 The German commander needs to assess the situation 620 00:25:06,113 --> 00:25:08,376 before attacking again. 621 00:25:08,376 --> 00:25:10,683 But the 192nd will return to the bridges. 622 00:25:12,815 --> 00:25:14,513 Having fought back the first attack, 623 00:25:14,513 --> 00:25:16,297 Howard and his men are relieved 624 00:25:16,297 --> 00:25:18,299 to see the first group of paratroopers 625 00:25:18,299 --> 00:25:22,085 from the 7th Battalion finally arriving at the bridge. 626 00:25:22,085 --> 00:25:23,739 - That's the moment where the squaddies, 627 00:25:23,739 --> 00:25:25,262 the ordinary soldiers on the bridge, 628 00:25:25,262 --> 00:25:26,525 can breathe the first sigh of relief. 629 00:25:26,525 --> 00:25:29,745 Because most of the defensive heavy lifting 630 00:25:29,745 --> 00:25:31,138 from this point is gonna be carried out 631 00:25:31,138 --> 00:25:32,879 by the 7th Parachute Battalion. 632 00:25:32,879 --> 00:25:35,098 - [Narrator] Sometime later, the regiment commander, 633 00:25:35,098 --> 00:25:38,232 Lieutenant Colonel Pine-Coffin arrives with more men 634 00:25:38,232 --> 00:25:40,843 for a total of 200 men in three companies, 635 00:25:40,843 --> 00:25:42,758 fewer than 50% of the men expected. 636 00:25:42,758 --> 00:25:45,152 - Ultimately, a lot of those missing guys 637 00:25:45,152 --> 00:25:46,762 do trudge in later on. 638 00:25:46,762 --> 00:25:48,764 But it's all about getting the maximum amount of force 639 00:25:48,764 --> 00:25:51,027 into the right place at the right time 640 00:25:51,027 --> 00:25:53,029 so that they can take up positions 641 00:25:53,029 --> 00:25:55,423 and defend it against the counter attack. 642 00:25:55,423 --> 00:25:57,294 - The 7th A and C companies are positioned 643 00:25:57,294 --> 00:25:59,427 just outside of Bénouville, 644 00:25:59,427 --> 00:26:01,908 facing south towards the city of Caen. 645 00:26:01,908 --> 00:26:04,519 And B Company in Le Port, facing Ouistreham 646 00:26:04,519 --> 00:26:06,173 to the north near Sword Beach 647 00:26:06,173 --> 00:26:09,089 where the British troops will soon be landing. 648 00:26:09,089 --> 00:26:11,657 Howard's D Company is pulled back as reserved 649 00:26:11,657 --> 00:26:14,442 to hold the area between the two bridges. 650 00:26:14,442 --> 00:26:17,576 The 7th will bear the brunt of German counterattacks 651 00:26:17,576 --> 00:26:20,448 on the west side of the Caen Canal throughout the whole day. 652 00:26:20,448 --> 00:26:22,102 - You've got 200 paratroopers, 653 00:26:22,102 --> 00:26:23,843 so they don't have any big guns. 654 00:26:23,843 --> 00:26:25,627 All they've got are handheld anti-tank weapons, 655 00:26:25,627 --> 00:26:28,761 and Gammon grenades to stop an armored attack. 656 00:26:28,761 --> 00:26:31,024 But you've got a potential force 657 00:26:31,024 --> 00:26:32,199 of thousands bearing down on you. 658 00:26:34,810 --> 00:26:35,637 {\an8}- [Narrator] While the men at the bridge 659 00:26:35,637 --> 00:26:37,770 {\an8}are busy holding off the Germans, 660 00:26:37,770 --> 00:26:40,120 {\an8}eight kilometers away at Sword Beach, 661 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:43,210 the British begin their aerial and naval assault, 662 00:26:43,210 --> 00:26:46,300 targeting the German artillery and coastal defenses 663 00:26:46,300 --> 00:26:48,476 in preparation for the beach landings. 664 00:26:48,476 --> 00:26:49,912 - The landing on Sword Beach, 665 00:26:49,912 --> 00:26:51,087 as far as the Pegasus Operation is concerned, 666 00:26:51,087 --> 00:26:53,568 is absolutely crucial because this is where 667 00:26:53,568 --> 00:26:55,526 the relief is going to come. 668 00:26:55,526 --> 00:26:56,527 They don't know quite how long it's gonna take 669 00:26:56,527 --> 00:26:59,052 for them to get through those defenses. 670 00:26:59,052 --> 00:27:01,358 So although they estimate they might be able 671 00:27:01,358 --> 00:27:03,578 to relieve the bridges by midday, 672 00:27:03,578 --> 00:27:04,927 possibly a few hours later, 673 00:27:04,927 --> 00:27:06,755 they don't know for sure. 674 00:27:06,755 --> 00:27:09,192 [suspenseful music] 675 00:27:09,192 --> 00:27:10,759 - [Narrator] The first beach landings in Normandy 676 00:27:10,759 --> 00:27:11,368 are only a few hours away. 677 00:27:14,502 --> 00:27:16,547 To ensure that the Germans have no idea 678 00:27:16,547 --> 00:27:19,463 where the actual planned invasion will occur, 679 00:27:19,463 --> 00:27:21,814 the Allies create one of the biggest deceptions 680 00:27:21,814 --> 00:27:24,033 ever carried out in military history. 681 00:27:24,033 --> 00:27:26,079 - I think one of the keys to the success of D-Day 682 00:27:26,079 --> 00:27:28,647 is actually this incredibly sophisticated 683 00:27:28,647 --> 00:27:31,258 and ultimately very successful subterfuge operation 684 00:27:31,258 --> 00:27:33,129 known as Operation Fortitude. 685 00:27:33,129 --> 00:27:35,131 - [Narrator] Operation Fortitude is a component 686 00:27:35,131 --> 00:27:37,351 of a massive disinformation campaign 687 00:27:37,351 --> 00:27:39,048 called Operation Bodyguard. 688 00:27:39,048 --> 00:27:41,268 - In order to secure the truth 689 00:27:41,268 --> 00:27:42,617 {\an8}that the Allies are planning 690 00:27:42,617 --> 00:27:45,054 {\an8}this massive assault for Normandy, 691 00:27:45,054 --> 00:27:47,927 {\an8}they have to go through an elaborate series of lies 692 00:27:47,927 --> 00:27:51,234 to convince the Germans that the attack is coming at Calais. 693 00:27:51,234 --> 00:27:53,933 And it requires significant moving parts, 694 00:27:53,933 --> 00:27:55,325 a lot of details, 695 00:27:55,325 --> 00:27:56,849 double agents working for the British 696 00:27:56,849 --> 00:27:58,111 who have cover stories, 697 00:27:58,111 --> 00:28:01,114 and then all of those military assets. 698 00:28:01,114 --> 00:28:02,506 - [Narrator] To create the illusion 699 00:28:02,506 --> 00:28:04,465 of troops building up near Southeast England, 700 00:28:04,465 --> 00:28:05,684 a phantom fighting force is created, 701 00:28:05,684 --> 00:28:09,426 led by American General George Patton. 702 00:28:09,426 --> 00:28:12,125 - We had intercepted a German communication saying, 703 00:28:12,125 --> 00:28:13,692 Patton is the most gifted general, 704 00:28:13,692 --> 00:28:15,432 the one they're most afraid of. 705 00:28:15,432 --> 00:28:18,392 {\an8}So they knew Patton was gonna be the tip of the spear. 706 00:28:18,392 --> 00:28:20,394 {\an8}The point that led the invasion. 707 00:28:20,394 --> 00:28:21,961 And Patton's fake army, 708 00:28:21,961 --> 00:28:25,921 it was inflatable tanks, balloons, wooden structures. 709 00:28:25,921 --> 00:28:26,400 It was like a Hollywood movie set. 710 00:28:28,968 --> 00:28:30,621 - [Narrator] In the months leading up to D-Day, 711 00:28:30,621 --> 00:28:32,885 decoy fleets of landing craft, 712 00:28:32,885 --> 00:28:36,062 simply painted canvases covering steel frames, 713 00:28:36,062 --> 00:28:37,759 are placed around the River Thames 714 00:28:37,759 --> 00:28:40,109 and other important waterways. 715 00:28:40,109 --> 00:28:42,546 Inflatable Sherman tanks are deployed 716 00:28:42,546 --> 00:28:45,332 and moved to different locations at night. 717 00:28:45,332 --> 00:28:47,421 Rollers are used to simulate tire tracks 718 00:28:47,421 --> 00:28:49,205 to keep up the pretense. 719 00:28:49,205 --> 00:28:52,121 To further ramp up the disinformation campaign, 720 00:28:52,121 --> 00:28:55,298 the Allies increase aerial attacks on Pas de Calais. 721 00:28:55,298 --> 00:28:57,648 They also hire an Australian actor, 722 00:28:57,648 --> 00:29:00,129 Lieutenant M.E. Clifton James, 723 00:29:00,129 --> 00:29:02,828 to pose as General Bernard Montgomery, 724 00:29:02,828 --> 00:29:05,787 the commander of all Allied ground forces. 725 00:29:05,787 --> 00:29:08,703 Dressed in one of Montgomery's uniforms, 726 00:29:08,703 --> 00:29:11,314 Lieutenant James, who bears a striking resemblance 727 00:29:11,314 --> 00:29:14,927 to the general, flies to Gibraltar and then Algiers, 728 00:29:14,927 --> 00:29:18,408 where he's sure to be spotted by German intelligence. 729 00:29:18,408 --> 00:29:20,410 It's hoped that the Germans will think Montgomery 730 00:29:20,410 --> 00:29:22,021 is in Africa. 731 00:29:22,021 --> 00:29:23,762 They won't be expecting the Allies 732 00:29:23,762 --> 00:29:26,416 to attack mainland Europe without him. 733 00:29:26,416 --> 00:29:29,419 {\an8}- And we knew from our extraordinary levels of intelligence 734 00:29:29,419 --> 00:29:31,334 {\an8}that, in fact, 735 00:29:31,334 --> 00:29:33,815 the Germans had fallen for our plan, hook, line, and sinker. 736 00:29:33,815 --> 00:29:36,252 And those cannon, the Panzer reinforcements, 737 00:29:36,252 --> 00:29:39,734 the big guns, literally, on Germany's Western Front 738 00:29:39,734 --> 00:29:42,781 were pointing in the wrong direction, in the wrong place. 739 00:29:42,781 --> 00:29:46,785 - There were multiple divisions redeployed to Calais. 740 00:29:46,785 --> 00:29:48,743 If they had been deployed at Normandy, 741 00:29:48,743 --> 00:29:50,397 that could have changed the whole nature 742 00:29:50,397 --> 00:29:51,354 of the D-Day landing. 743 00:29:53,269 --> 00:29:55,489 - [Narrator] But ultimately, the success of D-Day 744 00:29:55,489 --> 00:29:57,752 could be significantly set back 745 00:29:57,752 --> 00:30:00,755 if the bridges come back under enemy control. 746 00:30:00,755 --> 00:30:03,802 This is now a strong possibility as, just after 03:00 hours, 747 00:30:03,802 --> 00:30:07,327 the Germans launch another attack. 748 00:30:07,327 --> 00:30:10,417 The newly arrived 7th Paratroopers are facing an onslaught 749 00:30:10,417 --> 00:30:12,375 from a well-armed battalion 750 00:30:12,375 --> 00:30:15,770 of the 192nd Panzergrenadier Regiment. 751 00:30:15,770 --> 00:30:19,252 As the battle rages, the 7th holds their own. 752 00:30:19,252 --> 00:30:20,775 But it's only a matter of time 753 00:30:20,775 --> 00:30:22,472 before the Germans receive permission 754 00:30:22,472 --> 00:30:23,909 to mobilize their Panzers. 755 00:30:23,909 --> 00:30:27,260 And there's no way the 7th can defeat them. 756 00:30:27,260 --> 00:30:29,871 - Every time they rebuff a German incursion, 757 00:30:29,871 --> 00:30:31,438 it depends on the toll it takes on them. 758 00:30:31,438 --> 00:30:33,135 {\an8}As long as the toll is light, 759 00:30:33,135 --> 00:30:36,704 {\an8}then you're going to continue to feel a series of successes. 760 00:30:36,704 --> 00:30:38,749 And it's going to strengthen your resolve 761 00:30:38,749 --> 00:30:40,316 and make you feel like this is doable. 762 00:30:40,316 --> 00:30:41,709 On the other hand, 763 00:30:41,709 --> 00:30:43,102 they're also in a hyper-alert state 764 00:30:43,102 --> 00:30:45,104 that is going to wear on them. 765 00:30:45,104 --> 00:30:47,280 This leads to what's called operational fatigue. 766 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:49,021 The longer you're on, 767 00:30:49,021 --> 00:30:50,805 the more likely you are to make mistakes. 768 00:30:52,546 --> 00:30:54,548 - [Narrator] As the battle for the bridges continues, 769 00:30:54,548 --> 00:30:55,854 French families in the dwellings 770 00:30:55,854 --> 00:30:57,812 dotted around the canal and river 771 00:30:57,812 --> 00:30:59,161 take cover in their houses. 772 00:31:01,207 --> 00:31:05,341 One such home on the west bank of the canal is Café Gondrée, 773 00:31:05,341 --> 00:31:07,169 which is about to earn its place in history. 774 00:31:08,954 --> 00:31:11,130 {\an8}- It's a cafe which has served as a bit of a refuge 775 00:31:11,130 --> 00:31:13,480 {\an8}for this German sentries who go in there 776 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:15,961 to take break from their sentry duty. 777 00:31:15,961 --> 00:31:18,050 - [Narrator] As soon as the fighting started, 778 00:31:18,050 --> 00:31:21,444 the cafe's owners, Georges and Thérèse Gondrée, 779 00:31:21,444 --> 00:31:24,665 took shelter in the cellar with their two young children. 780 00:31:24,665 --> 00:31:27,798 - Monsieur and Madame Gondrée are actually sympathizers. 781 00:31:27,798 --> 00:31:28,930 They are in touch with the resistance 782 00:31:28,930 --> 00:31:29,800 and they've been handing over 783 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:31,802 a certain amount of information. 784 00:31:31,802 --> 00:31:33,979 - The information that would be gathered 785 00:31:33,979 --> 00:31:35,458 in these types of cafes 786 00:31:35,458 --> 00:31:37,896 would be through the conversations 787 00:31:37,896 --> 00:31:40,463 that were taking place between the German soldiers. 788 00:31:40,463 --> 00:31:43,118 They were excellent sources of intelligence. 789 00:31:43,118 --> 00:31:45,729 And this intelligence would then be carried 790 00:31:45,729 --> 00:31:47,035 to the French resistance, 791 00:31:47,035 --> 00:31:49,255 who could utilize it themselves 792 00:31:49,255 --> 00:31:52,345 or transmit it across the Channel to the Allies. 793 00:31:52,345 --> 00:31:54,129 [suspenseful music] 794 00:31:54,129 --> 00:31:56,958 - [Narrator] Not knowing who's prevailing outside, 795 00:31:56,958 --> 00:31:59,265 {\an8}they're apprehensive when they hear a knock at their door. 796 00:32:00,875 --> 00:32:03,878 {\an8}They're relieved to see three British soldiers. 797 00:32:03,878 --> 00:32:06,620 The Gondrées are eager to help the British liberators 798 00:32:06,620 --> 00:32:08,448 in any way they can. 799 00:32:08,448 --> 00:32:11,277 And the cafe is converted into an aid station 800 00:32:11,277 --> 00:32:13,322 as casualties are brought inside, 801 00:32:13,322 --> 00:32:15,194 away from enemy fire. 802 00:32:15,194 --> 00:32:17,936 Café Gondrée becomes the first house in France 803 00:32:17,936 --> 00:32:20,895 {\an8}to be liberated by the Allies as the beach landings begin. 804 00:32:22,897 --> 00:32:27,293 {\an8}At 6:26, the Americans land on Omaha and Utah beaches. 805 00:32:27,293 --> 00:32:29,121 Their main objectives are to secure 806 00:32:29,121 --> 00:32:31,645 an eight-kilometer beachhead between Port-en-Bessin 807 00:32:31,645 --> 00:32:33,429 and the Vire River, 808 00:32:33,429 --> 00:32:36,519 and to take the Cotentin Peninsula to the west. 809 00:32:36,519 --> 00:32:38,217 The force at Omaha is expected 810 00:32:38,217 --> 00:32:41,002 to battle a single German regiment. 811 00:32:41,002 --> 00:32:45,920 But instead, they're up against the entire 352nd Division 812 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:49,663 and suffer the most casualties of all the beach landings. 813 00:32:49,663 --> 00:32:52,013 - The way the German defenses were organized, 814 00:32:52,013 --> 00:32:53,841 one regiment would be in charge 815 00:32:53,841 --> 00:32:55,886 of this part of the Normandy coast, 816 00:32:55,886 --> 00:32:58,367 another regimen in this part and so forth. 817 00:32:58,367 --> 00:33:00,761 Right where the Allies came ashore at Omaha, 818 00:33:00,761 --> 00:33:04,460 it constituted the division between two different regiments. 819 00:33:04,460 --> 00:33:07,289 So instead of fighting one, they ended up fighting two. 820 00:33:07,289 --> 00:33:09,770 But they somehow managed to come ashore and take the beach. 821 00:33:11,815 --> 00:33:13,992 - [Narrator] Having failed to recapture the bridges, 822 00:33:13,992 --> 00:33:15,994 the Germans try a new tactic. 823 00:33:15,994 --> 00:33:18,039 - The main hazard they had through the morning 824 00:33:18,039 --> 00:33:20,041 was from sniper fire. 825 00:33:20,041 --> 00:33:21,782 - [Narrator] But D Company fights back. 826 00:33:21,782 --> 00:33:24,567 Ironically, using a German weapon against them. 827 00:33:24,567 --> 00:33:26,656 - They bring the anti-tank gun into action 828 00:33:26,656 --> 00:33:28,310 and actually manage to knock out a water tower 829 00:33:28,310 --> 00:33:30,747 that they're convinced the sniper is hiding in. 830 00:33:30,747 --> 00:33:32,358 - [Narrator] D Company does their best 831 00:33:32,358 --> 00:33:35,491 to take cover from the snipers and maintain their positions. 832 00:33:35,491 --> 00:33:37,363 But they do suffer casualties 833 00:33:37,363 --> 00:33:40,105 and the wounded are taken to Café Gondrée. 834 00:33:40,105 --> 00:33:42,194 Thérèse Gondrée is a trained nurse 835 00:33:42,194 --> 00:33:44,761 and works with the troop doctor to treat the wounded. 836 00:33:44,761 --> 00:33:47,199 - And you see this actually throughout France 837 00:33:47,199 --> 00:33:48,983 during the liberation. 838 00:33:48,983 --> 00:33:52,073 There's an excitement to help in whatever way they can. 839 00:33:52,073 --> 00:33:53,944 And certainly this is a great example of that. 840 00:33:53,944 --> 00:33:54,858 Where she's there, 841 00:33:54,858 --> 00:33:55,903 she wants to assist, 842 00:33:55,903 --> 00:33:57,818 use her skills as a nurse. 843 00:34:00,038 --> 00:34:01,822 - [Narrator] But Café Gondrée isn't the only thing 844 00:34:01,822 --> 00:34:03,345 to be liberated. 845 00:34:03,345 --> 00:34:06,566 Outside, Georges Gondrée is digging up his yard, 846 00:34:06,566 --> 00:34:08,959 unearthing 90 bottles of champagne, 847 00:34:08,959 --> 00:34:12,876 buried since the German occupation began in 1940. 848 00:34:12,876 --> 00:34:14,008 - We know from accounts of German occupation 849 00:34:14,008 --> 00:34:16,663 that they had a tendency to appropriate, 850 00:34:16,663 --> 00:34:19,361 basically steal, luxury goods. 851 00:34:19,361 --> 00:34:21,972 They certainly did not want the average French person 852 00:34:21,972 --> 00:34:23,278 to enjoy such luxuries. 853 00:34:23,278 --> 00:34:25,976 - If you're a French nationalist, 854 00:34:25,976 --> 00:34:28,718 what has happened from the time the Germans came in, 855 00:34:28,718 --> 00:34:30,372 that's not France. 856 00:34:30,372 --> 00:34:31,591 That's not French culture. 857 00:34:31,591 --> 00:34:33,158 {\an8}That's not French life. 858 00:34:33,158 --> 00:34:35,247 {\an8}And once the Germans are out, 859 00:34:35,247 --> 00:34:36,683 bring up the champagne. 860 00:34:36,683 --> 00:34:38,728 And it's sort of a symbolic acknowledgement 861 00:34:38,728 --> 00:34:40,252 that this is France again. 862 00:34:41,688 --> 00:34:42,819 - [Narrator] But for Major Howard, 863 00:34:42,819 --> 00:34:44,778 there's no time for celebration. 864 00:34:44,778 --> 00:34:48,042 He's worried about his second in command, Captain Priday, 865 00:34:48,042 --> 00:34:49,913 and the other men who he now must report 866 00:34:49,913 --> 00:34:51,437 as missing in action. 867 00:34:51,437 --> 00:34:53,352 - The position of Priday and the missing platoon 868 00:34:53,352 --> 00:34:54,831 is very hazardous 869 00:34:54,831 --> 00:34:56,746 because they're behind enemy lines, basically. 870 00:34:56,746 --> 00:34:59,662 You never know whether Germans are gonna pop up. 871 00:34:59,662 --> 00:35:00,794 - [Narrator] After securing the bridge 872 00:35:00,794 --> 00:35:02,535 across the Dives River, 873 00:35:02,535 --> 00:35:05,581 some 10 kilometers east of their intended destination, 874 00:35:05,581 --> 00:35:08,323 Captain Priday and his men continue moving, 875 00:35:08,323 --> 00:35:11,065 constantly checking their surroundings for the enemy, 876 00:35:11,065 --> 00:35:13,589 as they head towards Allied headquarters in Ranville. 877 00:35:14,808 --> 00:35:16,157 As they push forward, 878 00:35:16,157 --> 00:35:19,029 they face enemy fire from the woods. 879 00:35:19,029 --> 00:35:21,031 To keep his men safe from the Germans, 880 00:35:21,031 --> 00:35:23,860 Captain Priday leads them off the road. 881 00:35:23,860 --> 00:35:25,079 - It's water logged. 882 00:35:25,079 --> 00:35:26,254 They're coming through dykes and ditches. 883 00:35:26,254 --> 00:35:28,604 So it takes Priday an awful long time 884 00:35:28,604 --> 00:35:31,825 to slowly but surely work his way to the bridges. 885 00:35:31,825 --> 00:35:34,349 [suspenseful music] 886 00:35:34,349 --> 00:35:35,698 {\an8}- [Narrator] An hour after the Americans land 887 00:35:35,698 --> 00:35:38,440 {\an8}on Omaha and Utah beaches, 888 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:41,269 the British and Canadian forces are faced with choppy seas. 889 00:35:43,097 --> 00:35:44,533 At Gold Beach, 890 00:35:44,533 --> 00:35:46,927 the British 50th Infantry Division decides 891 00:35:46,927 --> 00:35:51,497 that instead of using tank landing crafts 500 meters out, 892 00:35:51,497 --> 00:35:54,021 they will run their tanks to the beach directly. 893 00:35:54,021 --> 00:35:55,283 The British secure a beachhead 894 00:35:55,283 --> 00:35:58,243 and take out the big guns in the area 895 00:35:58,243 --> 00:36:01,028 with relatively light casualties. 896 00:36:01,028 --> 00:36:03,683 But the Canadians due to land at Juno Beach 897 00:36:03,683 --> 00:36:05,163 will be delayed until 07:45. 898 00:36:06,338 --> 00:36:07,600 In the meantime, 899 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:09,428 {\an8}the British and Free French forces 900 00:36:09,428 --> 00:36:11,125 {\an8}are starting to land at Sword Beach. 901 00:36:11,125 --> 00:36:13,780 The British 3rd Infantry Division 902 00:36:13,780 --> 00:36:16,174 is tasked with the assault. 903 00:36:16,174 --> 00:36:18,959 Fortunately, German fortifications at Sword Beach 904 00:36:18,959 --> 00:36:20,308 are lighter than the other landing sites. 905 00:36:20,308 --> 00:36:23,181 - The Allies were expecting barbed wire 906 00:36:23,181 --> 00:36:25,444 {\an8}and an array of anti-tank defenses, 907 00:36:25,444 --> 00:36:27,576 {\an8}which is consistent with the Atlantic Wall. 908 00:36:27,576 --> 00:36:29,839 {\an8}Well, turns out the Germans don't do very much here, 909 00:36:29,839 --> 00:36:33,016 but their fortifications need to be cleared and secured. 910 00:36:33,016 --> 00:36:35,367 - [Narrator] Two squadrons of Royal Engineers worked 911 00:36:35,367 --> 00:36:36,890 to clear the beach, 912 00:36:36,890 --> 00:36:39,414 allowing the troops to penetrate the coastline. 913 00:36:39,414 --> 00:36:42,591 Facing moderate fire from German machine gun nests, 914 00:36:42,591 --> 00:36:44,985 the troops advanced to capture the beachfront villas 915 00:36:44,985 --> 00:36:47,988 and resorts with little difficulty. 916 00:36:47,988 --> 00:36:50,164 - Fortunately, Sword Beach is the beach 917 00:36:50,164 --> 00:36:51,209 where some of the fewest casualties 918 00:36:51,209 --> 00:36:54,603 are taken by the Allied landing forces. 919 00:36:54,603 --> 00:36:56,431 - [Narrator] Success at Sword Beach is critical 920 00:36:56,431 --> 00:36:58,607 to Major Howard and his team, 921 00:36:58,607 --> 00:37:01,044 who are waiting for these troops to relieve them. 922 00:37:01,044 --> 00:37:02,524 The men at the bridgehead are able 923 00:37:02,524 --> 00:37:05,397 to hear the landing action from their positions, 924 00:37:05,397 --> 00:37:07,964 just eight kilometers away from Sword Beach. 925 00:37:07,964 --> 00:37:10,532 - Can you imagine it's a sort of festival of noise. 926 00:37:10,532 --> 00:37:11,968 And you're sitting there, 927 00:37:11,968 --> 00:37:14,449 bedded in in a gun pit under a bridge. 928 00:37:14,449 --> 00:37:16,495 Knowing that you're outnumbered by the enemy, 929 00:37:16,495 --> 00:37:19,933 hearing your own guys at sea, in the air overhead, 930 00:37:19,933 --> 00:37:21,587 doing what they need to do 931 00:37:21,587 --> 00:37:25,243 to try and make sure your gains are gonna be held onto. 932 00:37:27,506 --> 00:37:28,768 - [Narrator] Amidst the activity, 933 00:37:28,768 --> 00:37:31,466 two Spitfires fly over the bridges. 934 00:37:31,466 --> 00:37:33,990 - And they amazingly drop the morning's newspapers, 935 00:37:33,990 --> 00:37:35,427 which, of course, announced D-Day. 936 00:37:35,427 --> 00:37:37,603 It's extraordinary to think, isn't it, 937 00:37:37,603 --> 00:37:39,169 as they're making history, 938 00:37:39,169 --> 00:37:40,693 the news of that history is actually dropping down 939 00:37:40,693 --> 00:37:42,347 on their location. 940 00:37:42,347 --> 00:37:44,436 - [Narrator] With the quick victory at Sword Beach, 941 00:37:44,436 --> 00:37:46,655 the British troops begin their advance towards 942 00:37:46,655 --> 00:37:48,744 the Orne River and Caen Canal bridges. 943 00:37:50,180 --> 00:37:52,661 {\an8}While the British are taking Sword, 944 00:37:52,661 --> 00:37:55,142 {\an8}the delayed Canadians finally land at Juno. 945 00:37:55,142 --> 00:37:57,275 During the first hour of fighting, 946 00:37:57,275 --> 00:37:59,146 the Canadians face heavy resistance 947 00:37:59,146 --> 00:38:02,105 from the German 716th Division. 948 00:38:02,105 --> 00:38:05,152 Suffering, a 50% casualty rate, 949 00:38:05,152 --> 00:38:09,156 comparable to their American counterparts on Omaha Beach. 950 00:38:09,156 --> 00:38:11,811 - That stands out to me when I think about that day. 951 00:38:11,811 --> 00:38:14,640 Whose story ended on that beach 952 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:16,381 for no other reason than they just happened 953 00:38:16,381 --> 00:38:19,471 to be at that place, at that time? 954 00:38:19,471 --> 00:38:21,995 And the person who was maybe a foot two to the right 955 00:38:21,995 --> 00:38:25,085 or the left, their story continued. 956 00:38:25,085 --> 00:38:26,739 - [Narrator] Once the beach is secured, 957 00:38:26,739 --> 00:38:28,567 the Canadian forces will move inland 958 00:38:28,567 --> 00:38:31,221 to capture the nearby seaside towns 959 00:38:31,221 --> 00:38:31,874 before pushing south into Normandy. 960 00:38:33,528 --> 00:38:36,618 At the time of the D-Day beach landings, 961 00:38:36,618 --> 00:38:38,272 Hitler is still asleep. 962 00:38:38,272 --> 00:38:40,143 None of his generals dare 963 00:38:40,143 --> 00:38:43,146 to reposition the Fuhrer's troops without his permission. 964 00:38:43,146 --> 00:38:44,887 Vital hours are lost 965 00:38:44,887 --> 00:38:46,019 as the German Supreme Commander slumbers. 966 00:38:48,630 --> 00:38:50,980 The exhausted 6th Airborne Division 967 00:38:50,980 --> 00:38:54,157 has been holding the bridges for hours amidst enemy fire. 968 00:38:54,157 --> 00:38:56,943 At 09:00 hours, Brigadier Poett 969 00:38:56,943 --> 00:38:59,728 returns from Allied HQ in Ranville, 970 00:38:59,728 --> 00:39:02,122 along with Major General Gale, 971 00:39:02,122 --> 00:39:04,080 who had arrived in Normandy by glider just after 3:00 AM. 972 00:39:06,648 --> 00:39:08,868 They brought with them the news that reinforcements 973 00:39:08,868 --> 00:39:10,130 are on their way, 974 00:39:10,130 --> 00:39:11,871 though it would be a few hours yet. 975 00:39:11,871 --> 00:39:13,829 [suspenseful music] 976 00:39:13,829 --> 00:39:15,831 Although cheered by the news, 977 00:39:15,831 --> 00:39:18,573 the troops defending the bridges suddenly have an unexpected 978 00:39:18,573 --> 00:39:20,749 and dangerous visitor. 979 00:39:20,749 --> 00:39:23,273 Plowing up the river from the Normandy coast, 980 00:39:23,273 --> 00:39:26,668 they spot two powerful German gunboats. 981 00:39:26,668 --> 00:39:29,584 All the victories and sacrifices that had been achieved 982 00:39:29,584 --> 00:39:31,499 could be wiped out in a matter of moments. 983 00:39:31,499 --> 00:39:34,023 - They don't have long-range weapons. 984 00:39:34,023 --> 00:39:36,504 They have hand grenades and they have STEN machine guns, 985 00:39:36,504 --> 00:39:39,594 which have an effective range of only about 100 meters. 986 00:39:39,594 --> 00:39:42,380 So they can't hit the boat, until it's close. 987 00:39:44,294 --> 00:39:47,341 - [Narrator] The lead boat gets dangerously close, 988 00:39:47,341 --> 00:39:50,083 but a weapon that had been successfully employed earlier 989 00:39:50,083 --> 00:39:52,302 is again put to good use. 990 00:39:52,302 --> 00:39:54,740 - And they open up on it, not with the anti-tank gun, 991 00:39:54,740 --> 00:39:56,437 which they can't swivel around to get into position 992 00:39:56,437 --> 00:39:58,178 to fire up the canal. 993 00:39:58,178 --> 00:40:00,876 But with a PIAT, this handheld anti-tank weapon. 994 00:40:00,876 --> 00:40:02,225 And it's a brilliant shot. 995 00:40:02,225 --> 00:40:03,749 Goes straight through the wheelhouse. 996 00:40:03,749 --> 00:40:05,751 Explodes, knocks the boat out. 997 00:40:05,751 --> 00:40:07,492 The boat kinda slews around onto the coast. 998 00:40:07,492 --> 00:40:10,495 And they capture the occupants of the boat. 999 00:40:10,495 --> 00:40:12,410 [suspenseful music] 1000 00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:14,586 - [Narrator] As the Germans are marched off to captivity, 1001 00:40:14,586 --> 00:40:17,415 the second boat turns around and heads back to the coast. 1002 00:40:19,112 --> 00:40:21,854 The bridges and beaches remain in Allied control. 1003 00:40:21,854 --> 00:40:23,464 [suspenseful music] 1004 00:40:23,464 --> 00:40:25,945 But German opposition is ramping up. 1005 00:40:25,945 --> 00:40:27,599 - If you're the Allies, 1006 00:40:27,599 --> 00:40:29,818 you're thinking that you're in a very good spot. 1007 00:40:29,818 --> 00:40:31,646 The Germans do have people in the area 1008 00:40:31,646 --> 00:40:33,300 who weren't on the beach, 1009 00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:35,911 who can certainly attack the beach 1010 00:40:35,911 --> 00:40:40,002 or retreat and head inland and go to the bridges. 1011 00:40:40,002 --> 00:40:41,787 - [Narrator] Just to the east, 1012 00:40:41,787 --> 00:40:44,006 there are over 2,000 German troops waiting for permission 1013 00:40:44,006 --> 00:40:46,182 from Hitler to attack. 1014 00:40:46,182 --> 00:40:48,446 Other German threats are less than a day's march away. 1015 00:40:48,446 --> 00:40:52,624 The 12th SS Panzer Division in the Lisieux 1016 00:40:52,624 --> 00:40:54,713 and the Panzer Lehr Division in Chartres. 1017 00:40:56,192 --> 00:40:58,717 At 10:00 hours, the D Company men 1018 00:40:58,717 --> 00:41:00,632 on the canal bridge face another challenge. 1019 00:41:00,632 --> 00:41:04,157 - After holding the bridges all night long, 1020 00:41:04,157 --> 00:41:06,333 turning away tanks, turning away infantry, 1021 00:41:06,333 --> 00:41:07,813 dealing with snipers. 1022 00:41:07,813 --> 00:41:09,728 In the sky, a lone German bomber appears. 1023 00:41:09,728 --> 00:41:13,209 They have no weapons that can deal with this. 1024 00:41:13,209 --> 00:41:16,430 And the bomber flies directly overhead and releases a bomb. 1025 00:41:16,430 --> 00:41:19,346 And that bomb sails directly down and strikes the bridge. 1026 00:41:19,346 --> 00:41:22,131 [suspenseful music] 1027 00:41:23,568 --> 00:41:26,092 - [Narrator] This is a rare bombing 1028 00:41:26,092 --> 00:41:29,182 on a day in which the Luftwaffe was mostly absent. 1029 00:41:29,182 --> 00:41:31,967 - The head of the air force, Hermann Göring, 1030 00:41:31,967 --> 00:41:36,581 grotesquely mismanaged the Luftwaffe in all aspects. 1031 00:41:38,234 --> 00:41:39,845 And he fell out of favor with Hitler as a result. 1032 00:41:39,845 --> 00:41:41,586 - The whole Luftwaffe, 1033 00:41:41,586 --> 00:41:43,892 which was the pride and joy of the German Armed Forces 1034 00:41:43,892 --> 00:41:45,198 at the beginning of the war 1035 00:41:45,198 --> 00:41:47,156 has been really eroded and depleted. 1036 00:41:47,156 --> 00:41:49,158 The Germans just don't have the capacity 1037 00:41:49,158 --> 00:41:50,856 to churn out airplanes like they did 1038 00:41:50,856 --> 00:41:52,510 in the early stages of the war. 1039 00:41:52,510 --> 00:41:54,729 And they also don't have the pilots. 1040 00:41:54,729 --> 00:41:57,776 - With a thousand ships at anchor off the coast. 1041 00:41:57,776 --> 00:42:00,561 And thousands of men on a beach, 1042 00:42:00,561 --> 00:42:02,737 had the Luftwaffe come in with bombs 1043 00:42:02,737 --> 00:42:04,434 and strafing with machine guns, 1044 00:42:04,434 --> 00:42:06,088 D-Day would've been a bloodbath. 1045 00:42:06,088 --> 00:42:07,742 [suspenseful music] 1046 00:42:07,742 --> 00:42:10,092 - [Narrator] But bombs are still dropped. 1047 00:42:10,092 --> 00:42:12,617 D Company and reinforcements at the bridge 1048 00:42:12,617 --> 00:42:15,576 do their best to take cover from the incoming bombs. 1049 00:42:15,576 --> 00:42:17,273 - Can imagine their hearts must have been in their throats. 1050 00:42:17,273 --> 00:42:19,188 {\an8}You know, all that work for nothing. 1051 00:42:19,188 --> 00:42:20,146 {\an8}And then that is gone. 1052 00:42:20,146 --> 00:42:21,887 {\an8}Piff, paff, poof. 1053 00:42:21,887 --> 00:42:23,410 - But with incredible good fortune, 1054 00:42:23,410 --> 00:42:25,455 it hits, doesn't detonate, 1055 00:42:25,455 --> 00:42:28,154 {\an8}and bounces off into the waters. 1056 00:42:28,154 --> 00:42:31,461 {\an8}- So now you've got a number of very lucky events. 1057 00:42:31,461 --> 00:42:33,202 {\an8}So it's gonna be a big morale boost, 1058 00:42:33,202 --> 00:42:34,813 but you still have a job to do. 1059 00:42:34,813 --> 00:42:35,901 But now you start thinking that you're lucky 1060 00:42:35,901 --> 00:42:38,381 that you're gonna succeed no matter what, 1061 00:42:38,381 --> 00:42:39,469 that you can beat the odds. 1062 00:42:39,469 --> 00:42:40,732 [suspenseful music] 1063 00:42:40,732 --> 00:42:41,907 - [Narrator] Even while the Allies 1064 00:42:41,907 --> 00:42:44,039 are attacking in Normandy, 1065 00:42:44,039 --> 00:42:46,607 they continue their mission to convince the Germans 1066 00:42:46,607 --> 00:42:49,567 that an even bigger assault is imminent at Pas de Calais 1067 00:42:49,567 --> 00:42:50,959 to the east. 1068 00:42:50,959 --> 00:42:53,266 To reinforce this subterfuge, 1069 00:42:53,266 --> 00:42:55,094 Allied aircraft drops hundreds 1070 00:42:55,094 --> 00:42:57,139 of dummy paratroops in the area. 1071 00:42:57,139 --> 00:42:59,054 - We had what were called Ruperts. 1072 00:42:59,054 --> 00:43:00,882 Like a crash test, dummy. 1073 00:43:00,882 --> 00:43:03,537 {\an8}They would fly over a part of Europe in a bomber, 1074 00:43:03,537 --> 00:43:05,191 {\an8}put parachutes on these Ruperts, 1075 00:43:05,191 --> 00:43:06,627 and throw 'em out the window. 1076 00:43:06,627 --> 00:43:08,455 - And when they hit the ground, 1077 00:43:08,455 --> 00:43:11,501 they would trigger off gunfire and crackers. 1078 00:43:11,501 --> 00:43:13,242 They even landed special operations troops 1079 00:43:13,242 --> 00:43:14,983 to play phonograph records, 1080 00:43:14,983 --> 00:43:17,246 to make it seem like you could hear their voices. 1081 00:43:17,246 --> 00:43:19,466 Incredibly sophisticated. 1082 00:43:19,466 --> 00:43:21,076 And this, of course, happened well away 1083 00:43:21,076 --> 00:43:23,296 from the Normandy landings. 1084 00:43:23,296 --> 00:43:25,515 - The Germans had spotters literally 1085 00:43:25,515 --> 00:43:27,605 from Norway down to Spain. 1086 00:43:27,605 --> 00:43:31,347 And they would see and radio back, it's here. 1087 00:43:31,347 --> 00:43:34,568 I imagine the Germans charging out into the field 1088 00:43:34,568 --> 00:43:37,876 and holding up these little dummies with parachutes on. 1089 00:43:37,876 --> 00:43:40,661 And being duped time and time again by it. 1090 00:43:40,661 --> 00:43:42,010 {\an8}- [Narrator] Around 10:00 AM, 1091 00:43:42,010 --> 00:43:44,578 {\an8}Hitler finally emerges from his slumber, 1092 00:43:44,578 --> 00:43:47,363 greeted with the news of the Allies' amphibious assault. 1093 00:43:47,363 --> 00:43:49,452 He's excited by this news, 1094 00:43:49,452 --> 00:43:52,020 believing Germany can achieve an easy victory. 1095 00:43:52,020 --> 00:43:55,110 - I think this is the success of Operation Fortitude. 1096 00:43:55,110 --> 00:43:56,851 He's still not entirely convinced this is the main landing. 1097 00:43:56,851 --> 00:43:58,940 So although he does give the go ahead 1098 00:43:58,940 --> 00:44:00,638 for some counter attacks, 1099 00:44:00,638 --> 00:44:03,075 he doesn't order all the other Panzer divisions 1100 00:44:03,075 --> 00:44:05,599 located further north in the Pas de Calais 1101 00:44:05,599 --> 00:44:07,514 to move towards the Normandy beachhead. 1102 00:44:07,514 --> 00:44:09,037 And this, of course, is another mistake. 1103 00:44:10,430 --> 00:44:11,387 {\an8}- [Narrator] But unfortunately 1104 00:44:11,387 --> 00:44:13,389 {\an8}for Major Howard and his troops, 1105 00:44:13,389 --> 00:44:16,349 around midday, the Germans mobilized 17 tanks 1106 00:44:16,349 --> 00:44:18,786 towards the town of Bénouville. 1107 00:44:18,786 --> 00:44:21,746 - Imagine being out on the road to try to meet them. 1108 00:44:21,746 --> 00:44:25,053 And seeing these multiple ton gigantic tanks 1109 00:44:25,053 --> 00:44:26,751 with very thick armor 1110 00:44:26,751 --> 00:44:31,103 and guns the size of a telephone pole headed toward you. 1111 00:44:31,103 --> 00:44:32,844 - [Narrator] After hours of staving off attacks 1112 00:44:32,844 --> 00:44:34,323 to hold their positions, 1113 00:44:34,323 --> 00:44:36,021 the British 6th Airborne Division 1114 00:44:36,021 --> 00:44:38,501 is exhausted and depleted. 1115 00:44:38,501 --> 00:44:40,547 {\an8}- Physically and emotionally, mentally, 1116 00:44:40,547 --> 00:44:42,331 {\an8}they would've been absolutely spent. 1117 00:44:42,331 --> 00:44:44,638 And then you have 17 German tanks roll in. 1118 00:44:44,638 --> 00:44:47,162 Must have been a very intimidating sight. 1119 00:44:47,162 --> 00:44:48,773 - [Narrator] But although exhausted, 1120 00:44:48,773 --> 00:44:50,775 the troops resolve to keep the Germans 1121 00:44:50,775 --> 00:44:53,342 from retaking the bridges hold strong. 1122 00:44:53,342 --> 00:44:55,257 As the tanks bear down on them, 1123 00:44:55,257 --> 00:44:57,346 they manage, against all odds, 1124 00:44:57,346 --> 00:45:00,523 to destroy the lead tank using an improvised grenade 1125 00:45:00,523 --> 00:45:02,351 called a Gammon bomb. 1126 00:45:02,351 --> 00:45:04,745 - A Gammon bomb kind of looks like an oversized gourd. 1127 00:45:04,745 --> 00:45:06,486 It's like a bottle, basically. 1128 00:45:06,486 --> 00:45:08,923 And it is a hand grenade, at the end of the day. 1129 00:45:08,923 --> 00:45:11,447 The difference is that it can be adapted 1130 00:45:11,447 --> 00:45:15,234 to have an explosion that's small, medium, or large, 1131 00:45:15,234 --> 00:45:16,278 basically speaking. 1132 00:45:16,278 --> 00:45:18,106 For things like tanks, of course, 1133 00:45:18,106 --> 00:45:19,412 you're gonna pack it full of explosives 1134 00:45:19,412 --> 00:45:20,892 and it can do sizeable damage. 1135 00:45:20,892 --> 00:45:22,676 And it does the trick. 1136 00:45:22,676 --> 00:45:24,199 - [Narrator] The other tank gets stuck in a traffic jam 1137 00:45:24,199 --> 00:45:25,984 behind the destroyed tank, 1138 00:45:25,984 --> 00:45:29,422 giving the men the opportunity they need to attack the rest. 1139 00:45:29,422 --> 00:45:34,035 - They somehow managed to neutralize 13 of the 17 tanks. 1140 00:45:34,035 --> 00:45:37,082 So, yet again, they managed to hold the bridges. 1141 00:45:37,082 --> 00:45:38,866 It's a one in a million situation, but they did it. 1142 00:45:38,866 --> 00:45:41,695 - And it's at this point that Howard is asked 1143 00:45:41,695 --> 00:45:44,437 {\an8}by the commander of the 7th Parachute Battalion 1144 00:45:44,437 --> 00:45:45,960 {\an8}if he will send some of his men and back across the bridge 1145 00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:48,658 to help bolster the defense on the west side 1146 00:45:48,658 --> 00:45:51,400 of the Caen Canal bridge. 1147 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:53,446 - [Narrator] While Howard's men are covering the bridges, 1148 00:45:53,446 --> 00:45:56,579 the 7th push forward to the town of Bénouville 1149 00:45:56,579 --> 00:45:58,494 and engage in house-to-house fighting 1150 00:45:58,494 --> 00:46:01,759 to clear the lurking Germans occupying houses. 1151 00:46:01,759 --> 00:46:04,065 - There were frontline soldiers who were billeted 1152 00:46:04,065 --> 00:46:05,153 in French homes. 1153 00:46:05,153 --> 00:46:06,938 That's what occupying forces do. 1154 00:46:06,938 --> 00:46:10,506 The Germans used those towns as defensive networks. 1155 00:46:10,506 --> 00:46:13,858 And also to rig them, to line them up with explosives 1156 00:46:13,858 --> 00:46:15,773 so that you hinder the enemy's advance. 1157 00:46:15,773 --> 00:46:18,645 So these towns become really critical. 1158 00:46:19,864 --> 00:46:21,735 {\an8}- Just after midday, 1159 00:46:21,735 --> 00:46:24,825 {\an8}the German 21st Panzer Division finally receives permission 1160 00:46:24,825 --> 00:46:27,088 to attack the Allied forces advancing 1161 00:46:27,088 --> 00:46:29,177 from the Normandy beach landings. 1162 00:46:29,177 --> 00:46:30,875 - The Germans are slow off the mark. 1163 00:46:30,875 --> 00:46:32,877 If they'd been allowed off the leash sooner, 1164 00:46:32,877 --> 00:46:33,965 they would've had a chance to drive all the way 1165 00:46:33,965 --> 00:46:37,925 into Sword Beach and possibly beyond. 1166 00:46:37,925 --> 00:46:40,623 - The 125th Panzergrenadiers are ordered 1167 00:46:40,623 --> 00:46:43,409 toward the Orne River and Caen Canal bridges. 1168 00:46:43,409 --> 00:46:45,367 But they are easily spotted by British troops 1169 00:46:48,109 --> 00:46:49,937 To keep morale high at the bridges, 1170 00:46:49,937 --> 00:46:51,765 {\an8}Georges Gondrée has a plan. 1171 00:46:51,765 --> 00:46:53,636 {\an8}- In a very French style, 1172 00:46:53,636 --> 00:46:56,378 the cafe owner brings out the secret store of champagne 1173 00:46:56,378 --> 00:46:59,381 to celebrate the Allied invasion. 1174 00:46:59,381 --> 00:47:00,774 {\an8}- [Narrator] Gondrée hands out the champagne 1175 00:47:00,774 --> 00:47:01,862 {\an8}to the British troops. 1176 00:47:03,081 --> 00:47:04,996 {\an8}This gesture is well received 1177 00:47:04,996 --> 00:47:07,563 and many of Major Howard's men find excuses 1178 00:47:07,563 --> 00:47:10,784 to get their free drink at various points during D-Day, 1179 00:47:10,784 --> 00:47:12,786 amidst constant enemy fire. 1180 00:47:12,786 --> 00:47:14,396 - Probably quite warm, you'd imagine. 1181 00:47:14,396 --> 00:47:16,355 Been sitting in the June soil. 1182 00:47:16,355 --> 00:47:18,531 But anyway, any tipple, I guess, is welcome 1183 00:47:18,531 --> 00:47:19,575 once you've been through a night 1184 00:47:19,575 --> 00:47:20,881 like the 5th and 6th of June. 1185 00:47:23,101 --> 00:47:24,972 - [Narrator] Major Howard and his men have been holding on 1186 00:47:24,972 --> 00:47:26,887 for over 12 hours. 1187 00:47:26,887 --> 00:47:29,107 But Captain Priday is still missing. 1188 00:47:29,107 --> 00:47:32,675 Priday and his men continue onwards to Ranville, 1189 00:47:32,675 --> 00:47:34,982 the location of Allied headquarters. 1190 00:47:34,982 --> 00:47:35,940 On their route, 1191 00:47:35,940 --> 00:47:37,463 they encounter elements 1192 00:47:37,463 --> 00:47:39,769 of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion 1193 00:47:39,769 --> 00:47:41,554 and are invited to join their attack 1194 00:47:41,554 --> 00:47:44,252 on the German-held town of Bavent. 1195 00:47:44,252 --> 00:47:46,820 But Priday declines in favor of bringing his men 1196 00:47:46,820 --> 00:47:49,127 to the bridges as strong as possible 1197 00:47:49,127 --> 00:47:50,650 and completing his mission, 1198 00:47:50,650 --> 00:47:52,739 although somewhat late. 1199 00:47:52,739 --> 00:47:55,350 After swift success on Sword Beach, 1200 00:47:55,350 --> 00:47:57,918 the British push further into France, 1201 00:47:57,918 --> 00:48:01,487 dealing with pockets of German resistance as they meet them. 1202 00:48:01,487 --> 00:48:04,229 The troops are now free to head towards the Caen Canal 1203 00:48:04,229 --> 00:48:08,059 and Orne River bridges and the anxiously waiting soldiers. 1204 00:48:08,059 --> 00:48:10,539 Their arrival at 13:30 is announced 1205 00:48:10,539 --> 00:48:12,541 {\an8}by the sound of bagpipes, 1206 00:48:12,541 --> 00:48:14,543 {\an8}played by piper Bill Millin 1207 00:48:14,543 --> 00:48:16,763 {\an8}of the 1st Special Service Brigade, 1208 00:48:16,763 --> 00:48:18,591 who had played his pipes constantly 1209 00:48:18,591 --> 00:48:20,680 since arriving at Sword Beach. 1210 00:48:20,680 --> 00:48:23,161 - I'm sure it was a very sweet sound for all those 1211 00:48:23,161 --> 00:48:25,293 who were at the bridge to hear that 1212 00:48:25,293 --> 00:48:28,601 and to have that signal that reinforcements were coming. 1213 00:48:28,601 --> 00:48:31,125 But it also is a sign that what was happening 1214 00:48:31,125 --> 00:48:34,259 at the beach had gone according to plan. 1215 00:48:34,259 --> 00:48:35,869 - It's a bit of a taunt, 1216 00:48:35,869 --> 00:48:37,915 saying, we can do this because we're in control. 1217 00:48:37,915 --> 00:48:39,481 We're gonna keep these bridges. 1218 00:48:39,481 --> 00:48:41,179 We're gonna take back France. 1219 00:48:41,179 --> 00:48:43,703 {\an8}This is just the start of a whole series of dominoes, 1220 00:48:43,703 --> 00:48:45,879 {\an8}and everybody's gonna be in a huge positive morale 1221 00:48:45,879 --> 00:48:46,967 and a lot of happiness. 1222 00:48:49,100 --> 00:48:51,363 - [Narrator] But the Germans still haven't given up. 1223 00:48:51,363 --> 00:48:53,974 At 15:00 hours, yet another gunboat approaches. 1224 00:48:53,974 --> 00:48:57,630 This time from Caen in the south. 1225 00:48:57,630 --> 00:49:00,459 - And they attack this with the anti-tank gun, 1226 00:49:00,459 --> 00:49:02,156 because that can swivel into a position 1227 00:49:02,156 --> 00:49:03,766 that it can engage the boat coming up. 1228 00:49:03,766 --> 00:49:05,333 [suspenseful music] 1229 00:49:05,333 --> 00:49:06,944 - [Narrator] They miss their first shot, 1230 00:49:06,944 --> 00:49:10,817 but the second round hits from over 200 meters away. 1231 00:49:10,817 --> 00:49:14,125 - It knocks out this boat, forces it to turn around. 1232 00:49:14,125 --> 00:49:17,258 But it just goes to show how vital the capture 1233 00:49:17,258 --> 00:49:19,957 and therefore the counter destruction of the bridges was 1234 00:49:19,957 --> 00:49:21,871 for the Germans. 1235 00:49:21,871 --> 00:49:22,698 They realized they needed to knock out those bridges. 1236 00:49:22,698 --> 00:49:24,962 [suspenseful music] 1237 00:49:24,962 --> 00:49:27,486 - [Narrator] Through the late afternoon and early evening, 1238 00:49:27,486 --> 00:49:30,315 German attacks on the bridgehead taper off. 1239 00:49:30,315 --> 00:49:32,708 Just after 21:00 hours, 1240 00:49:32,708 --> 00:49:35,059 as hundreds of British airplanes and gliders 1241 00:49:35,059 --> 00:49:38,627 {\an8}are flying overhead, dropping men and supplies, 1242 00:49:38,627 --> 00:49:41,979 {\an8}the Second Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1243 00:49:41,979 --> 00:49:46,461 {\an8}of the 150th Infantry Brigade marches in from Sword Beach. 1244 00:49:48,289 --> 00:49:50,248 Howard hands over the bridges, intact and secure. 1245 00:49:50,248 --> 00:49:52,598 - They're finally relieved completely. 1246 00:49:52,598 --> 00:49:54,774 And this is the moment where they can relinquish 1247 00:49:54,774 --> 00:49:57,255 all responsibility for those two bridges 1248 00:49:57,255 --> 00:50:00,606 and go into reserve in the town of Ranville. 1249 00:50:00,606 --> 00:50:02,956 - [Narrator] And after briefing the new commander, 1250 00:50:02,956 --> 00:50:05,654 Major Howard and his exhausted men are finally able 1251 00:50:05,654 --> 00:50:08,266 to depart for battalion headquarters, 1252 00:50:08,266 --> 00:50:10,659 a full day after taking off from England. 1253 00:50:10,659 --> 00:50:12,618 When they reach Ranville, 1254 00:50:12,618 --> 00:50:14,576 Major Howard is pleasantly surprised 1255 00:50:14,576 --> 00:50:16,535 to see his second in command, 1256 00:50:16,535 --> 00:50:19,712 Captain Priday, who has just arrived after a waterlogged 1257 00:50:19,712 --> 00:50:21,583 and woodsy trek from Varaville. 1258 00:50:23,890 --> 00:50:26,110 - D-Day's an overwhelming success. 1259 00:50:26,110 --> 00:50:27,154 There are objectives which aren't achieved 1260 00:50:27,154 --> 00:50:29,069 on the initial day, that's for sure. 1261 00:50:29,069 --> 00:50:31,898 And there are mistakes that are made. 1262 00:50:31,898 --> 00:50:33,073 But it is the beginning of the end 1263 00:50:33,073 --> 00:50:36,468 for the Nazis in the Western Europe. 1264 00:50:36,468 --> 00:50:39,688 - [Narrator] Over 150,000 troops arrive on D-Day. 1265 00:50:39,688 --> 00:50:43,649 And by June 17th, over 500,000 soldiers are on the ground 1266 00:50:43,649 --> 00:50:45,172 to push the Germans out of France 1267 00:50:45,172 --> 00:50:48,306 and move inland to liberate Europe. 1268 00:50:48,306 --> 00:50:49,959 [solemn music] 1269 00:50:49,959 --> 00:50:51,787 A month after D-Day, 1270 00:50:51,787 --> 00:50:54,355 the two bridges are renamed to honor the British 1271 00:50:54,355 --> 00:50:57,141 who held them strong throughout the long battle. 1272 00:50:57,141 --> 00:51:00,622 - The bridge at the Orne is renamed for the gliders. 1273 00:51:00,622 --> 00:51:04,757 And the bridge over the Caen Canal is renamed Pegasus 1274 00:51:04,757 --> 00:51:08,065 for the logo on the airborne uniforms. 1275 00:51:08,065 --> 00:51:09,588 And the road leading to them 1276 00:51:09,588 --> 00:51:10,719 is now named for Major John Howard. 1277 00:51:12,591 --> 00:51:13,983 - [Narrator] For his leadership 1278 00:51:13,983 --> 00:51:15,637 during the capture of the bridges, 1279 00:51:15,637 --> 00:51:17,378 Major Howard is nominated 1280 00:51:17,378 --> 00:51:19,250 for the Distinguished Service Order 1281 00:51:19,250 --> 00:51:21,078 and presented with a medal 1282 00:51:21,078 --> 00:51:23,689 by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery on July 16th, 1944. 1283 00:51:26,474 --> 00:51:29,216 The Gondrées continued to run their cafe, 1284 00:51:29,216 --> 00:51:32,437 renamed Pegasus Cafe to this day. 1285 00:51:32,437 --> 00:51:35,831 Paraphernalia from the battle is displayed on their walls, 1286 00:51:35,831 --> 00:51:38,225 including Major Howard's beret. 1287 00:51:38,225 --> 00:51:40,488 - Pegasus Bridge is not as well known 1288 00:51:40,488 --> 00:51:42,316 as many of the other stories of the Second World War. 1289 00:51:42,316 --> 00:51:44,318 And yet it should be better known. 1290 00:51:44,318 --> 00:51:46,842 The course of the Second World War hinged 1291 00:51:46,842 --> 00:51:50,019 on the success and the incredible professionalism 1292 00:51:50,019 --> 00:51:52,065 and determination of that small force 1293 00:51:52,065 --> 00:51:55,764 of soldiers in capturing and holding that bridge. 1294 00:51:55,764 --> 00:51:58,289 [dramatic music]