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The Battlefield Explorer

@battlefieldexpl • 10,811 subscribers

WWII battlefield guide based in The Netherlands. I lead tours across Europe, sharing the stories of the men who fought, where they fought.

Shorts

Staring straight down the barrel of an 88mm KwK 36. This is what Allied tank crews never wanted to see. The Tiger I could knock out a Sherman at over 2,000 metres. But Allied troops reported facing Tigers far more often than was possible. Intelligence officers called it Tiger-mania. Of roughly 1,347 ever built, never more than a few hundred were operational at any one time. Mechanical failure and fuel shortages destroyed more Tigers than Allied guns did.

Staring straight down the barrel of an 88mm KwK 36. This is what Allied tank crews never wanted to see. The Tiger I could knock out a Sherman at over 2,000 metres. But Allied troops reported facing Tigers far more often than was possible. Intelligence officers called it Tiger-mania. Of roughly 1,347 ever built, never more than a few hundred were operational at any one time. Mechanical failure and fuel shortages destroyed more Tigers than Allied guns did.

56,454 views

The Panther Ausf. D tank in Breda is one of the very few surviving examples of this early Panther variant. In 1945, the tank was presented to the people of Breda by their Polish liberators to commemorate the liberation of the city by the 1st Polish Armoured Division, commanded by Stanisław Maczek. As far as is known, only one other Ausf. D survives in intact condition, and it is located in Switzerland.

The Panther Ausf. D tank in Breda is one of the very few surviving examples of this early Panther variant. In 1945, the tank was presented to the people of Breda by their Polish liberators to commemorate the liberation of the city by the 1st Polish Armoured Division, commanded by Stanisław Maczek. As far as is known, only one other Ausf. D survives in intact condition, and it is located in Switzerland.

27,518 views

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The weapons display at the 101st Airborne Museum in Bastogne has some very interesting pieces!

The weapons display at the 101st Airborne Museum in Bastogne has some very interesting pieces!

The Battlefield Explorer

190,551 views • 3 days ago

German war cemetery in Berchtesgaden, Germany.

German war cemetery in Berchtesgaden, Germany.

The Battlefield Explorer

101,713 views • 2 months ago

Today we visited the Eagles nest in Berchtesgaden with the National WWII museum and it was snowing!

Today we visited the Eagles nest in Berchtesgaden with the National WWII museum and it was snowing!

The Battlefield Explorer

56,904 views • 1 month ago

A retaining wall is about all that is left of the Berghof, and you have to know where to look to find it. The house was bombed by the RAF in April 1945 and the surviving ruins were demolished in 1952, specifically to stop the site becoming a shrine.

A retaining wall is about all that is left of the Berghof, and you have to know where to look to find it. The house was bombed by the RAF in April 1945 and the surviving ruins were demolished in 1952, specifically to stop the site becoming a shrine.

The Battlefield Explorer

46,720 views • 2 months ago

During the Battle of the Seelow Heights in April 1945, Reitwein sat directly in the path of the Red Army’s advance. Artillery fire shattered the village church, leaving it roofless and gutted. The ruin you see today is the result of days, not centuries.

During the Battle of the Seelow Heights in April 1945, Reitwein sat directly in the path of the Red Army’s advance. Artillery fire shattered the village church, leaving it roofless and gutted. The ruin you see today is the result of days, not centuries.

The Battlefield Explorer

51,471 views • 4 months ago

Dieppe Raid, 1942. A landing that never stood a chance. On 19 August 1942, the Royal Regiment of Canada hit Blue Beach at Puys, the easternmost sector of the Dieppe Raid, tasked with silencing German guns overlooking the harbor. The assault ended in disaster. More than 90 percent of the roughly 556 men who landed were killed, wounded, or captured.

Dieppe Raid, 1942. A landing that never stood a chance. On 19 August 1942, the Royal Regiment of Canada hit Blue Beach at Puys, the easternmost sector of the Dieppe Raid, tasked with silencing German guns overlooking the harbor. The assault ended in disaster. More than 90 percent of the roughly 556 men who landed were killed, wounded, or captured.

The Battlefield Explorer

41,307 views • 4 months ago

WWII weapons display in the Airborne museum in Oosterbeek.

WWII weapons display in the Airborne museum in Oosterbeek.

The Battlefield Explorer

25,260 views • 3 months ago

Merry Christmas everybody! On Christmas Eve thousands of Dutch people gather all over the Netherlands ar the local war cemeteries and light candles on the graves of the fallen. A tradition that started decades ago at the Canadian War Cemetery at Holten and has since spread all over the country. I’m proud to have participated with my family at the CWGC cemetery in Uden where the fierce wind made it a big challenge to light the candles.

Merry Christmas everybody! On Christmas Eve thousands of Dutch people gather all over the Netherlands ar the local war cemeteries and light candles on the graves of the fallen. A tradition that started decades ago at the Canadian War Cemetery at Holten and has since spread all over the country. I’m proud to have participated with my family at the CWGC cemetery in Uden where the fierce wind made it a big challenge to light the candles.

The Battlefield Explorer

33,000 views • 6 months ago

Two Sturmgeschütze III and a little surprise at the end. Filmed in the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands, be sure to add a visit to this museum to your bucket list, you will not be disappointed.

Two Sturmgeschütze III and a little surprise at the end. Filmed in the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands, be sure to add a visit to this museum to your bucket list, you will not be disappointed.

The Battlefield Explorer

35,064 views • 7 months ago

The Bastogne Barracks, home of the NUTS! reply

The Bastogne Barracks, home of the NUTS! reply

The Battlefield Explorer

13,857 views • 2 months ago

Beneath the Obersalzberg: the original WWII tunnel system, now part of the Berchtesgaden Documentation Centre. One of the most striking underground sites I visited with my Swedish tour group today on a battlefield tour of the area.

Beneath the Obersalzberg: the original WWII tunnel system, now part of the Berchtesgaden Documentation Centre. One of the most striking underground sites I visited with my Swedish tour group today on a battlefield tour of the area.

The Battlefield Explorer

15,844 views • 2 months ago

On the 22nd of December 1944 the Germans demanded the surrender Bastogne. General McAuliffe replied NUTS and made himself immortal. Listen to McAuliffe tell the story in his own words here.

On the 22nd of December 1944 the Germans demanded the surrender Bastogne. General McAuliffe replied NUTS and made himself immortal. Listen to McAuliffe tell the story in his own words here.

The Battlefield Explorer

21,513 views • 6 months ago

A destroyed Westwall bunker in the woods near Orscholtz (Germany). This section was known as the Siegfried Switch line and was a particularly strong because it was defending the approaches to Trier.

A destroyed Westwall bunker in the woods near Orscholtz (Germany). This section was known as the Siegfried Switch line and was a particularly strong because it was defending the approaches to Trier.

The Battlefield Explorer

16,420 views • 6 months ago

The C-47 is taxiing for take off with a full load of paratroopers. Second flight to the Ginkel Heath near Arnhem today and two 13 person sticks on board. That will be quite the sight to see!

The C-47 is taxiing for take off with a full load of paratroopers. Second flight to the Ginkel Heath near Arnhem today and two 13 person sticks on board. That will be quite the sight to see!

The Battlefield Explorer

19,759 views • 1 year ago

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