WW2TV | The Liberation Line: The Untold Story of how American Engineering and Ingenuity won World War II @WW2TV | Uploaded May 2024 | Updated October 2024, 16 hours ago.
The Liberation Line: The Untold Story of How American Engineering and Ingenuity won WWII
With Christian Wolmer
Part of our Build up to DDay and Operation Overlord series
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDG3XyxGI5lBlaXq7ONDh7UmxTaQ8-U5R&si=jQUXH3giSrUnpTf7
The Liberation Line tells the thrilling story of the British and American railway engineers who, in the months after D-Day, worked around the clock and in great danger to rebuild the ravaged railways of Europe and keep the Allied forces fuelled as they pushed on into Germany. As territory was taken, these soldier-railroaders were close behind, rebuilding the lines, putting up telegraph wires, replacing bridges and laying track, all the while dodging bullets, shells and booby traps.
Tales of extraordinary feats and heroism abound, including how 10,000 men rebuilt a 135-mile-long railway in just three days; the reconstruction of the bridge over the Seine in two weeks while under bombardment; and the use of cigarette lighters as improvised signalling systems.
Despite being critical to Allied victory, the role of the railwaymen has been largely forgotten or ignored. In a vivid and gripping narrative, Christian Wolmar brings to life this colourful cast of generals and engineers, without whose extraordinary bravery the liberation of France and invasion of Germany might well have foundered – and the course of history changed.
Christian Wolmar is a British journalist, author, railway historian and Labour Party politician. He is known for his commentary on transport, especially as a pundit on Britain's railway industry, and was named Transport Journalist of the Year in the National Transport Awards in 2007.
Buy the book:
UK uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/9781838957520
USA uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/9781838957520
For US signed books bityl.co/Pdz7
Christian's previous appearance:
Engines of War: How Wars Were Won and Lost on the Railways
youtube.com/live/TXV8GkRy1Ac
Links to Nancy Cunningham's website:
Military Railway Service militaryrailwayservice.com
Request for US books, question on if anyone is connected to one of these US units
Contact militaryrailwayservice.wordpress.com/contact1
You can become a YouTube Member and support us here youtube.com/channel/UCUC1nmJGHmiKtlkpA6SJMeA
You can become a Patron here patreon.com/WW2TV
Please click subscribe for updates also "like" the video - it really helps!
Social Media links -
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WW2TV Bookshop - where you can purchase copies of books featured in my YouTube shows. Any book listed here comes with the personal recommendation of Paul Woodadge, the host of WW2TV. For full disclosure, if you do buy a book through a link from this page WW2TV will earn a commission.
UK - uk.bookshop.org/shop/WW2TV
USA - bookshop.org/shop/WW2TV
Patreon Brigadiers: Susan Yu, David Keahey and Tom Mullen
Become a WW2TV Brigadier and become part of this Hall of Fame
patreon.com/WW2TV
The Liberation Line: The Untold Story of How American Engineering and Ingenuity won WWII
With Christian Wolmer
Part of our Build up to DDay and Operation Overlord series
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDG3XyxGI5lBlaXq7ONDh7UmxTaQ8-U5R&si=jQUXH3giSrUnpTf7
The Liberation Line tells the thrilling story of the British and American railway engineers who, in the months after D-Day, worked around the clock and in great danger to rebuild the ravaged railways of Europe and keep the Allied forces fuelled as they pushed on into Germany. As territory was taken, these soldier-railroaders were close behind, rebuilding the lines, putting up telegraph wires, replacing bridges and laying track, all the while dodging bullets, shells and booby traps.
Tales of extraordinary feats and heroism abound, including how 10,000 men rebuilt a 135-mile-long railway in just three days; the reconstruction of the bridge over the Seine in two weeks while under bombardment; and the use of cigarette lighters as improvised signalling systems.
Despite being critical to Allied victory, the role of the railwaymen has been largely forgotten or ignored. In a vivid and gripping narrative, Christian Wolmar brings to life this colourful cast of generals and engineers, without whose extraordinary bravery the liberation of France and invasion of Germany might well have foundered – and the course of history changed.
Christian Wolmar is a British journalist, author, railway historian and Labour Party politician. He is known for his commentary on transport, especially as a pundit on Britain's railway industry, and was named Transport Journalist of the Year in the National Transport Awards in 2007.
Buy the book:
UK uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/9781838957520
USA uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/9781838957520
For US signed books bityl.co/Pdz7
Christian's previous appearance:
Engines of War: How Wars Were Won and Lost on the Railways
youtube.com/live/TXV8GkRy1Ac
Links to Nancy Cunningham's website:
Military Railway Service militaryrailwayservice.com
Request for US books, question on if anyone is connected to one of these US units
Contact militaryrailwayservice.wordpress.com/contact1
You can become a YouTube Member and support us here youtube.com/channel/UCUC1nmJGHmiKtlkpA6SJMeA
You can become a Patron here patreon.com/WW2TV
Please click subscribe for updates also "like" the video - it really helps!
Social Media links -
twitter.com/WW2TV
facebook.com/WW2TV
instagram.com/ww2tv
WW2TV Merchandise ww2tv.creator-spring.com
WW2TV Bookshop - where you can purchase copies of books featured in my YouTube shows. Any book listed here comes with the personal recommendation of Paul Woodadge, the host of WW2TV. For full disclosure, if you do buy a book through a link from this page WW2TV will earn a commission.
UK - uk.bookshop.org/shop/WW2TV
USA - bookshop.org/shop/WW2TV
Patreon Brigadiers: Susan Yu, David Keahey and Tom Mullen
Become a WW2TV Brigadier and become part of this Hall of Fame
patreon.com/WW2TV
