Preliminary shooting for this production will start on September 17th in Holland, when our crew will capture some of the 65th anniversary commemorations including veterans dropping in by parachute at Groesbeek , veterans making the Waal river crossing at Nijmegen and celebrations and parades in both Eindhoven and Nijmegen.

Nijmegen Bridge

Grave Bridge

Filming of the battlefield tour will commence on October 5th, it will feature action on the Drop Zones , the taking of the Grave bridge , British XXX Corps advance from Belgium to link up with the 101st at Eindhoven ,the blowing of the bridge at Son in the face of the 506th p.i.r ,actions on Hellʼs Highway and the final dramatic seizureof the Bridge at Nijmegen by the 82nd airborne and British Armored units.

Ellwood will be traveling in his famed Dodge command car ʻDeadly Diʼ, he will takes us on a ride in a Sherman tank, cross the Waal river by boat , cross streets and rooftops in Nijmegen and explain in his inimitable action packed way, how all the American objectives were achieved, but how the any jubilation was short lived, as the British advance stalled on the north side of the Nijmegen bridge and the courageous paratroopers of the British Ist airborne division, who had held out against 2 mighty SS panzer divisions for 10 days and were never relieved. Failures of intelligence , tactical blunders and a complete underestimation of the enemies will to fight all feature heavily in this production, We will be joined by veterans of the campaign whose first hand on the ground experiences, will bring a sobering reality to the film.

With unseen archive footage, re-enactment ,special effects and music from JohnAddison (A Bridge too Far) ,

The Americans on Hellʼs Highway will be another unmissable tour on The American road to VE Day.

The Americans on D-Day; See Press  page for DVD launch.
Ellwood Von Siebold had been collecting military vehicles and militaria for 20 years and a few years ago moved to Sainte Mere Eglise, from where he started offering tours around the battlefields. He wanted to take his passion for D Day to another level and embarked upon a remarkable project.In as much secrecy as the real Normandy landings, Ellwood filmed, presented and produced a very different documentary which is released on May 8^th. He takes us on a comprehensive tour of the US landing areas in his Dodge Command Car. But this is no “amateur enthusiasts” project,  this is a highly professional and innovative film.

“….The boys from Easy Company came right through this hedge….”  says our intrepid presenter as he struggles his way through a medieval hedgerow, fully equipped as a paratrooper. With endless costume changes, we are given detailed insights into what happened on precise spots  - the film actually being made at the right time of day for even greater effect.

“….This is scary – you have got to be young, fit or stupid to do this in the face of determined resistance….” says Ellwood as he appears dressed as a breathless Ranger, scrambling over the top of the cliffs at Point du Hoc. This is how history needs to be portrayed – it’s visual, exciting and very informative.

With innovative graphics and use of original footage – much of which is rare and unseen, Ellwood interviews veterans to tell their stories of the invasion. It is well planned, superbly narrated and Ellwood’s enigmatic presentation style makes The Americans on D Day an unmissable film for both the serious enthusiast or those with just a casual interest.

Saving Private Ryan spearheaded a new genre of high quality war films and without doubt The Americans on D Day has set a new benchmark for documentaries.
If you want to get the best from your Normandy visit, this film will make a huge difference and take you to places you could otherwise miss. But it doesn’t stop at the end of D Day – the extra features on the DVD include Ellwood’s special features on the weapons, uniforms and equipment the GI’s used and an insight into how the film was made.
The Americans on D Day is truly outstanding.

The Americans on D-Day is the first in a series of tour videos planned by WW2 Reflections. Others include : The American Breakout in Normandy and The Americans in The Bulge. Running time 45 minutes approx

Photography By Mike Forster