What Happened Behind a Photographer's Lens on D-Day

Roberta Capa has gone down in history as one the most groundbreaking war correspondents in all of journalism. His account of what happened on D-Day was something we wanted to share with all of you.

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Hosted by: Spartacus Olsson
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson
Creative Producer: Marek Kamiński
Community Management: Ian Sowden
Written by: Spartacus Olsson
Research by: Spartacus Olsson
Map animations by: Daniel Weiss
Map research by: Sietse Kenter
Edited by: Iryna Dulka
Artwork and color grading by: Mikołaj Uchman
Sound design by: Marek Kamiński
Colorizations by: Mikolaj Uchman and Daniel Weiss

Image sources:
Source - Image Name/Number

Soundtracks from Epidemic Sound:
Title - Artist

A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

[WorldWarTwo]

This account by Robert Capa is the first in a mini-series of D-Day testimomials we're bringing you in the buildup to our 24 hour programme on June 6th. If you want to be a part of the D-Day project you can join us at DDay.TimeGhost.tv

[rickglorie]

Besides a gifted photographer, he was a gifted story teller.

[indianajones]

Can’t thank you enough for doing this D-Day documentary, my great grandfather was in the Big Red One in the first wave on Omaha Beach

[gunman]

Robert Capa was actually one of my inspirations that made me start out photography as a long term hobby and enthusiast (with the occasional freelance) for more than a decade now. I actually have a photo book on his photographs (Robert Capa: The Definitive Collection) which I do still enjoy looking through it from time to time.

One of his quotes is something that I still live by even while doing photography: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough." Thank you so much for this wonderful video team, this is something I have a special interest in.

[hankw]

"... spoiled my return" THE understatement of the(longest) day.

[rkmurphy]

My Western Civ professor made sure to include a little bit in the lesson about Robert Capa and his story. Im glad he did, and it's nice to see it here too. Thanks!

[NikHYTWP]

Man I still remember watching the Pearl Harbor coverage like it was yesterday. Wishing you all the best for this series!

[marthag]

I live in Bedford County Virginia where the National DDAY Memorial is located. Every time I visit I learn new information about that remarkable day.

[glenmartin]

😊Thank you.
I had older friends who were injured during DDay, patched up and sent back into the fray. Sent to rest in Ardennes and survived the Battle of the Bulge.

[docslappy]

Im a big fan of Capa and have also re-enacted WW2 US Military Cameramen.
Its a terrible shame that the military photographers and camera men get so little recognition compared to the press photographers like Capa, Miller, Hardy, etc.
They were trained soldiers and were usually sent in ahead of any offensive. Including parachuting into D-Day with the Airborne troops in the first wave (carrying a Speed Graphic!). (There was a whole section of the D-Day plan concerned with where different military photographers would be and how thier photos would be collected and sent back).
Most of the ww2 pictures you see are actually taken by these Cameraman of the Signal Corp rather than press photographers.
On (at least) one occaision they snuck into the town that was due to be attacked (Harry Downard at Saint-Malo). They spent all night hiding from the Germans, then spent the day getting shot at and shelled by their own side; just to get good pictures.
Most are unknown as Army policy at the time was not to credit them with published pictures, whereas civilian photographers were credited. One of the first USA Army photographers to have his photos credited (Martin Lederhandler) was via a German newspaper after his film had been captured.
These guys had great autonomy and, in France, generally travelled around in twos or threes in jeeps. This meant they were on the front line most days and regularly in the action. Sadly this resulted in a higher than average casualty rate.
They carried the photographers blue badge and even senior officers were instructed to co-operate.
Anyway, if you're interested in military photography, I strongly encourage you to dig out some of the (sadly) few books written on the subject of the Military's own Combat Camera men and women.
"Armed with Cameras" is a good place to start. "Darkness Visible" gives a more personal account.

[johndoe-jlpq]

Great piece !! I was ducking behind my computer trying to stay safe

[paigetomkinson]

Goosebumps. Robert Capa was an extremely talented person, who died too young from a landmine in 1954 in Vietnam. He was only 40.

[babsathome]

After hearing this description of the beach at D-Day I don't know why but it is emotional. I spent more than 20 years in the military and never had to go thru anything like that. Just the words of someone that was there and their descriptions touch my heart and I have to dab my eyes. Can't wait for the 24 hours of D-Day.

[danielwillens]

Thank you for including the war correspondents in the mix. They were exposed to all the dangers of the combatants while being, by international accord, unarmed. Talk about courage!

[JacobT-]

So excited for the special. I did donate and was happy to do so.

[davidwright]

There is a story that when Churchill was shown one of the waterproof rifle covers for D-day he suggested that dropping a box labelled “British military issue: Small” over Germany might shorten the war

[meddy]

"F8 and be there." Robert Cappa Best photography advice ever given.

[LeonardCooperman]

Amazing. I can’t but help believe I would have been frozen with fear. What those young boys did is unbelievable.

[marycampbell]

Robert Capa did take some of the iconic photos on D-Day. The photo at 0:40, known as "Into the jaws of death" was taken by Robert F. Sargent of the US Coast Guard.

[waltertomashefsky]

Capa was a pretty damn good writer as well as a photographer.