National Infantry Museum & Livingbattlefield to co-produce WWI series.

WWI Battle of Soissons part of National Infantry Museum Last Hundred Yards Diorama


New WWI Documentary to be Filmed Near Fort Benning

Public television series to premiere on 100^th anniversary of American involvement

Columbus, Georgia – September 28, 2012    Filmmakers are scouting locations on or near Fort Benning, Georgia, for an upcoming documentary about the ‘War to End All Wars.’

     Over There: Doughboys in The Great War will be a four-part series for public television hosted by Hollywood actor-trainer Captain Dale Dye (Ret. USMC). Dye, famous for the HBO series Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan, says the series will be “an in-depth, intriguing and inspiring look at one of the most pivotal and costly conflicts in the history of mankind. It will give our audiences a feel for the brutal, dehumanizing experience of static war in muddy, bloody trenches.”

     The series will be completed by 2017, in time for the 100^th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I. It is a co-production between independent filmmakers Livingbattlefield and the National Infantry Foundation, the non-profit organization charged with the operation of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia. Viewers will be treated to an on-location battlefield experience in Northern Europe, while seeing the actual battle scenes acted out near the home of the U.S. Army Infantry.

     “This is an exciting opportunity for us,” said Foundation President Ben Williams. “We are thrilled to be part of a production that will explain how young Americans fought in the ugliest of wars.”

     The filmmakers hope the trench that will be built for filming could remain open for visitors after production is complete.

     The state-of-the-art museum already features a life-size diorama from the bloody battle of Soissons on the ‘Last 100 Yards’ ramp, a recreated trench ‘immersion experience’ and a vast array of memorabilia on display in the WWI gallery.

     “Rats, waterlogged trenches, barbed wire and shell holes will add to the authenticity of the series. Our re-enactors will be young U.S. Army veterans,” says Director and Executive Producer Richard Lanni.

     Livingbattlefield forged a partnership with the National Infantry Foundation after the filmmaker’s groundbreaking World War II series – The American Road to Victory – aired nationwide on PBS stations. Adopting a quirky and engaging style, Livingbattlefield has rekindled an interest in history among families. “We expect this upcoming World War I project to provide an enlightening explanation of a little-known period of American history,” says Lanni.

    Work on the production will begin in Spring 2013. The series will be distributed by American Public Television.

     For more information, please contact Rachael Wilson/Livingbattlefield Development, at Rachael@livingbattlefield.org

The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Patriot Park, a 200-acre tract linking Columbus, Georgia, and Fort Benning, the Home of the Infantry, is the first world-class site to pay tribute to the U.S. Army Infantryman and those who fight alongside him. As the only interactive Army Museum in the United States, the museum showcases the contributions of the Infantry Soldier in every war fought by the U.S. by offering immersive participation and engaging visitors in the unique experiences of the Infantry Soldier. The complex also includes a parade field, memorial walk of honor, authentic World War II Company Street and 3-D IMAX^® Theatre. For more information, visit www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com.

D-Day +70

  After the Germans were routed at Mortain, some of the enemy divisions continued to make probing attacks towards Avranche in the vain hope of achieving at least a stalemate.

The other units, battered and bruised, were in headlong retreat towards the town of Argentan in the Orne region of Normandy.

They still had plenty of fight, but that fight would be used in a defensive mode as a means of enabling their escape.

August 12th, 16th

Bradley was excited, his forces had thrashed the Germans at Mortain and his confidence was at an all time high. The other Allies were making progress and now he could see a real chance of trapping and annihilating the remainder of the German 7th Army. Montgomery's 21st Army Group, which consisted of British, Canadian and Polish forces, had finally broken out of their beachhead around Caen and were now pressing the German forces from the North, while Bradley's own U.S forces had moved in a wide arc under the retreating Germans. He had initially proposed a much wider encirclement, but now he could see a real opportunity to tighten the noose and trap the enemy in an area between Falaise and Argentan. He had instructed Patton to swing his forces to the left, take the town of Argentan and prepare to close the pocket.

Argentan War Memorial

Patton was elated, the opportunity to deliver this knock out blow was just what he wanted to do.

He committed 5 Divisions to the task, including the Free French 2nd Armored Division under General Leclerc, a unit totally equipped by the Americans, but lacking discipline.

General Leclerc

French 2nd Armored Div. caused many traffic jams

Leclerc frequently exceeded his orders, crossed boundary lines, which were forbidden to him, and caused all kinds of foul ups. His forces fought with elan, they were brave and their exuberance was astonishing. Taking part in the long awaited liberation of their country was an emotional experience, one that they prayed for these past 5 years. Patton was a Francophile, he liked Leclerc and he was always prepared to make allowances for him.

Argentan today

Argentan, same view, August 1944

Just as the American Divisions arrived in the Argentan area, Bradley had a change of heart. His initial excitement turned to trepidation, as the prospect of his forces rushing headlong into the guns and aircraft of the other Allies, pushing down from the North, seemed a real possibility. He lost his nerve and with it his ability to annihilate an entire army.

There were of course some concerns at the prospect of further friendly fire incidents, but the Canadians were still miles away from Argentan, so no immediate threat. Patton was horrified and Bradley would come to regret this decision for the rest of his life; although he would continue, in time honored fashion, to pass the blame. His decision would give the Germans an opportunity to hold a defensive shoulder at Argentan, thus allowing thousands of enemy soldiers, complete with their equipment, to escape certain destruction.

French Sherman in Foret d'Ecouvres

South of Argentan, the main obstacle was the Foret d'Ecouvres, the clearing of which was given to Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division. This was achieved effectively and in short order after which, a group of these vengeful Frenchmen entered Argentan on the afternoon of August 13th. The Germans were ready for them and opened fire with tanks and artillery just as the civilian population came out to rejoice at their final liberation. It would be almost a week before this strategic town would be firmly in American hands, by which time it's total destruction would have been well and truly achieved.

German panzer grenadiers retreating on foot

The job of holding the Americans at Argentan had been given to the 1st SS and 2nd panzer Divisions, which had originally been committed to launching an all out attack against the thinly spread American front. As it happens, these units would play a major role in enabling a significant number of their comrades to escape.

The U.S 5th Armored Division tried a flanking maneuver around Argentan, but well sited German artillery and tanks wrought havoc on the advancing U.S and French Divisions.

Once Bradley's stop order had been received, commanders on the ground halted their advance and prepared to attack in another direction, which was yet to be decided. It was perhaps the most serious blunder of the Normandy campaign. The following day, he changed his mind again and split the forces gathered around Argentan. The French 2nd Division and the U.S 90th Division would stay in the Argentan area. They were to be bolstered by the 80th Division moving up in support. Valuable time and considerable momentum had been lost.

A decisive action by the 5 Divisions of 3rd Army could have changed the course of events, but now this strategically timid harassing approach was to lengthen the process, enabling the Germans to fight many 'other days.'

Ancient dungeons in the square of Chambois

The natural escape point for the Germans centered on the tiny Norman town of Chambois.

Between Argentan and Chambois, lies the Foret de Gouffern, a sprawling mass of forestry, which provided great cover for the retreating Germans. From the Goufferm they were able to make a dash across open terrain to the heights and freedom.

Foret de Gouffern

One escape route centered on the tiny town of le Bourg-St-Leonard, which straddled the Argentan Chambois road.

The 90th Division positioned a roadblock in the town and sited artillery and tank destroyers on the crest of a hill overlooking this German escape route. American forces, although still effective, had lost much of their strength, as more than 50% of their force had been sent away, to attack in another direction.

Bourg-St.-Leonard, route of German retreat

When the Germans decided to make their dash, it was unlikely that these thinly spread units could hold them. On August 16th, the first group of Germans, well organized and highly motivated, left the sanctuary of the Gouffern Forest and attacked the 90th at le Bourg-St-Leonard. The 90th were beaten back by an enemy who was prepared, remarkably well equipped and determined.

Was it the 'rat in the trap' syndrome, or were these 'supermen' still a force to be reckoned with? 

French monument to the liberation of Le Bourg-St.-Leonard

This Tiger 1 escaped the encirclement, then returned to help others before running out of fuel and being destroyed by its crew.

The Making of the Challenge Coin

The American Road to Victory Collector’s Edition includes a specially crafted challenge coin made in by Northwest Territorial Mint, the same facility that strikes the prestigious National Medal of Honor. Livingbattlefield’s coins follow a long tradition said to date back to the Great War.

Blanking the brass strip

Each coin begins as a solid sheet of metal, pressed and drawn until they reach the ideal weight to size ratio. The precise thickness of these strips is measured by a micrometer.

Ready to strike

These sheets are next run through a blanking machine that punches out blank discs of metal, which are then cleaned and polished. The blanks are then placed in a finishing machine to smooth any rough spots. They are hand-dried in preparation for striking.

A newly minted coin

Each coin is secured in the minting press and is struck with our unique design. The result is a deep relief that you can see and feel.

The antiquing process

The coins are then applied with an antiquing solution, giving them a classic, vintage finish.

One side of our challenge coin celebrates our partnership with the National Infantry Museum Foundation and bears both symbols. The other side displays images from each of the three films: a paratrooper from The Americans on D-Day, the Nijmegen Bridge from The Americans on Hell’s Highway, and an infantry soldier of The Big Red One, from The Americans in the Bulge.

Collector's Edition Challenge Coin

D-Day +56

By August 1st, 56 days after D-Day, American GI's were in Avranches, the city from which they could spring into Brittany. Combat Command B of General Wood's 4th Armored Division had swept into Avranches on the afternoon of July 31st.

Bradley well might have felt pleased with himself. His troops had traveled farther in seven days than they had in the preceding seven weeks. The Germans were routed, at least for the time being, and the memories of GI's blown to bits during the short bombing were now overshadowed by the glory of his achievements.

After the initial debacle of the bombing, and the mopping up of pockets of remaining German resistance, twenty-one American Divisions were finally on the move.

Traffic jam

Narrow road in the area

By this point, traffic jams had become as big an obstacle as the Germans. 'The Breakout' got underway despite these obstacles, a climate of "now we are getting somewhere!" started to prevail amongst the troops.

Clarence R. Huebner

The U.S. 1st Infantry Division, under the command of General Clarence R. Huebner, had been given the job of taking the strategically important town of Marigny before wrestling the main highway to Coutances. The further American soldiers moved west from the bombing line, the more they witnessed just how effective the Cobra bombing had been.

Adrenalin pumped amongst the American armored divisions. They could see a way forward at last and they exploited every available opportunity to race ahead.

Landscape change from hedgerow country to open, rolling hills

The 82nd Recon, part of 2nd Armored Division, charged through the village of Dangy, while the regimental HQ of Fritz Bayerlein, commander of the decimated Panzer Lehr Division, was still operating there. Bayerlein's division had fared the worst during the chaos and carnage, neither side noticed the other.

Village of Dangy, modern day

Recon units rushed through villages considered by the Germans to be well within their safe zones. German soldiers, often arm in arm with French girls, ducked into doorways as these crazy convoys raced past without firing a shot.

Coutances finally fell to the Americans on July 28th, with a dramatic thrust by the 4th Armored Division. Facing the onslaught were mixed elements of infantry, armor and SS. They were thrown into an absolute disorganized retreat. The town had been systematically bombed during the previous weeks and the final Liberation put the finishing touches to the destruction of virtually every ancient building.

American armored divisions, buoyed by the success of the initial phases, probed every gap, and in many cases, finding openings in the German positions, they raced on ahead.

Dead Germans in a truck

Although in disarray, the Germans continued to be deadly, determined fighters. Small but stubborn pockets of resistance accounted for losses of many American lives. Like rats caught in a trap, they often fought to the death, which in most cases came to them in a most violent manner.




So complete was the Allied control of the skies, and so devastating the effect of the fighter bomber strikes, that any German armored movement within the battle zone was detected immediately and swiftly dealt with.

Private First Class Anthony Blazus, of the 41st Armored Infantry of the 2nd Armored Division, had been made a prisoner of an SS armored column near Roncey. He describes an attack on this group by P47's.

"Everyone took cover. They lost interest in guarding me. The P47's swooped in and blew the whole outfit to hell. I stood up after the attack, sure that I was the only survivor, but to my amazement 80 Germans stood up, approached me begging for me to take them prisoner. I obliged and marched them up the road, back to our lines." (from The American's at Normandy, by John C. McManus)

Roncey Square, modern day

German half tracks blown off the road

The Roncey pocket became a pocket of death for the 2nd SS division, 'Das Reich.' The town square filled up with armor, supply vehicles and mechanized infantry, trying to escape the unstoppable American thrusts.





Fighter bombers had swooped and dived on this throng, setting the whole place ablaze. Ammunition trucks exploded, tanks were completely upended and the screams of the burning Germans filled the air.

Carnage in Roncey

Carnage in front of Roncey church

One cunning German officer made good his escape from Roncey with a bunch of tanks and comrades. Fritz Langanke, a panther commander in the Das Reich, in an interview with WWII magazine said,

"I set up a march formation. First my tank with grenadiers on the left side and about 50 to 60 paratroopers on the right side as a safeguard against close combat fighters with bazookas. Then the two assault guns, the wheeled vehicles of our task force, various stragglers, self-propelled infantry guns and mobile flak followed. The rear was brought up by the Panzer IV and my second Panther. The frequency of our radio communication was set, and at 2200 hours we started. Of course, no scouts had moved at all before this."

For his part in ensuring that hundreds of soldiers and their equipment managed to escape from the Roncey Pocket, Fritz Langanke was recommended for the Knight's Cross on August 7, 1944.

Marigny cemetery

Most of the German dead from Cobra and it's immediate aftermath are buried in the cemetery at Marigny. There are some 9100 graves. One of the most illustrious residents of this quiet Norman resting place is SS Lieutenant Colonel Christian Tychsen.

Much contoversy surrounds the death of this highly decorated German panzer ace. Author and historian, Mark Bando discusses Tychsen's ambush and subsequent death, at the hands of the 2nd Armored Division, in his excellent book, 'The Breakout at Normandy'

The fighter bombers did their utmost to ensure that all escape points were barred. Frenchman Joel Lebarbachon, then only a thirteen year old boy, describes watching a group of aircraft carefully drop bombs at each road intersection of a crossroads on the highway from Coutances to Gavray.

"I sat in a field by the main highway. It was just about dusk. There had been a frantic flow of Germans passing by all day. I had watched the columns of trucks and tanks pouring past, then all of a sudden, out of the sky came 4 silver aircraft. They each dropped a bomb in just the right places to stop the traffic. Then came more aircraft. They fired on the vehicles that had screeched to a halt. Everything was burning and the Germans ran for their lives."

Pont de la Roque monument

At Pont de la Roque south of Coutances, 20 attempts were made to bomb the ancient bridge and stop the German exodus toward the coastal town of Granville. One pilot, a Canadian even lost his life while trying to dive bomb, but when the 6th Armored Division arrived on July 29th, Germans who had managed to get across the damaged structure, opened fire on them.

Pete Queseda

One of the most important technological advances during the breakout was the co-ordination of air cover. The system developed by Air Force General Pete Queseda involved VHF radio sets installed in tanks with which tankers could talk to fighter bomber pilots, calling in air strikes at will.

Bradley had no choice now but to task his nemesis, George Patton, to exploit the breakout with his Third Army. He did insist, allegedly on the orders of Eisenhower, that the Third Army under Patton should maintain a low profile and that there should be no triumphant press releases or briefings as this battle group swept forward.

As in the rest of Normandy, visitors can follow both the signs and markers to see the sites of this amazing German rout.

‘Operation Ignite’ Teaches Students the Real Story of D-Day

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Documentary Filmmakers Seek to ‘Ignite’ a Passion for History in Students

(July 3, 2012) – Livingbattlefield and the National Infantry Museum Foundation (NIMF) together are launching educational initiative ‘Operation Ignite’ to educate students nationwide about World War II in an engaging way. The initiative features historical documentary The Americans on D-Day, seen more than 3,000 times on public television stations nationwide, and highly recommended by historical sources. LB and NIMF hope to set a new trend nationwide for how students learn American history.

The Americans on D-Day is different from your average documentary; it’s made to engage viewers, especially young people, with easily understandable American history. Host Ellwood von Seibold (U.S. Army Honorary Captain and top European battlefield tour guide) passionately runs and jumps through the same exact European battlefields American troops fought on in Operation Overlord in 1944. His presentation is underpinned with powerful veteran testimonies, archival footage, and period uniforms and weapons. Filmmaker Richard Lanni says this ‘battlefield tour’ format makes the film an effective teaching tool. “We’ve heard that students like Ellwood, and the exciting way he makes the battle come alive -- this is no ordinary history lesson."

Operation Ignite has caught the attention of teachers nationwide and the film is already used in select classrooms. The documentary is supported by a lesson plan developed by Doug Barber, who teaches history at the Centerville City Schools in Ohio. “Students remain engaged and come away with an understanding of these relatively complex events. Anyone who teaches WWII as a unit of study will find them essential,” Barber said. Operation Ignite features two DVDs of The Americans on D-Day and detailed lesson plans for every school sponsored.

Ben Williams, NIMF President, said that Operation Ignite could make a real impact in classrooms, "because we're bringing the story of D-Day to high schools and middle schools throughout America. We'll be teaching our youth about the sacrifices our 'Greatest Generation' made on D-Day, and how the Normandy Invasion was absolutely critical in defeating Hitler and ending World War II in Europe."

“We need to make sure our younger generation knows what happened on D-Day," Williams said, "so they will remember for the rest of their lives. That's why our foundation is partnering with Livingbattlefield to make this film and lesson plan available to teachers nationwide. It is a lesson too important to forget."

The Livingbattlefield-NIMF partnership is seeking patriotic American businesses, corporations and civic groups to support Operation Ignite. The cost is $50 per school. For more information, contact Livingbattlefield at (917) 231-1231 or Rachael Wilson at Rachael@livingbattlefield.org.

Donate now to place Operation Ignite into the school of your choice 
for just $50 per school.

D-Day: Special School Edition

The cover of Livingbattlefield's The Americans on D-Day, school edition

Our mission at Livingbattlefield is to produce educational documentary films which help young citizens connect with our nation's glorious history. Our current World War II series, The American Road to Victory, has aired more than 3,000 times on PBS stations nationwide. The three films follow American soldiers from the blood-soaked beaches of D-Day, through Operation Market Garden in Holland, to the Battle of The Bulge in Belgium. Unique in presentation and content, the films take viewers to the exact locations of battle and were made to engage students.

Teacher, Kiernan H. Butz says, "As a lifelong historian and avid student of World War Two, I find the realism and historical accuracy of this series remarkable. These films are a fantastic classroom aid.

The first film in the trilogy, The Americans on D-Day, has particular significance in the high school classroom and has been welcomed by many educators. Described by the American Legion as “the next best thing to being there,” our D-Day film gives students a real time look at the events of that momentous day and the impact it made on world history.

We are currently seeking sponsors who will help ensure that every high school teacher and student has access to this important learning aid.

Each special "school edition" of the film will be accompanied by a lesson plan, map, lifetime public performance rights, and will be branded as donated by our sponsors.

We propose to provide 2 films and associated learning materials to each high school. The cost will be $50 per high school, and we are seeking sponsors for units of 20. Livingbattlefield will handle all fulfillment.

Help us to ensure that the achievements of the "Greatest Generation" are never consigned to the dusty archives of ancient history; rather, brought to life in classrooms for our students through your sponsorship.

As a secondary school history teacher for 23 years I've used a number of documentaries on WWII.  I've shown none that are more accessible to students (or general viewers) than your films.  The overall concept and general approach of the films and Ellwood's engaging narration make each of these complex engagements understandable for the learner.   --Doug Barber Centerville,OH