Band Of Brothers
Some consider the miniseries Band of Brothers to be the best WWII depiction on TV, if not the best TV series period. There’s a good reason for this, as just like the book of the same name, the story comes from the true experiences of E Company—also known as “Easy” Company.
As the story depicts, this paratrooper unit overcame the most grueling and insurmountable challenges, significantly impacting the tide of WWII and saving many lives.
1. He Was Chosen
A million stories of great valor and brutality came out of WWII—often going hand in hand—and the exploits of E Company were no different. However, even the most famous units all started in the same place as this one—in basic training.
Established in 1942 at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, and commanded by 1st Lieutenant Herbert Sobel, Easy Company was in the 2nd battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. While Sobel may have been the right choice, he sure was tough.
Band of Brothers- Sobel Inspecting Easy Company, Sul
2. He Was Hard On Them
To say Sobel put his unit through the wringer would be an understatement. Even before they trained as paratroopers, Sobel’s rigorous and reportedly tyrannical drills turned his unit into some of the most physically fit servicemen, albeit bitter ones. In fact, the company ended up skipping their physical training at Jump School, as they were already in such good shape.
Following this, they spent a lot of time in preparation.
Band of Brothers- Sobel Inspecting Easy Company, Sul
3. They Waited
After completing their training in Georgia, E Company shipped off across the pond and posted up in Wiltshire, England, in late 1943. By then, the planning for Operation Overlord was already underway, and the Allied forces were readying their men and resources to invade Normandy. As such, E Company spent most of its time waiting for the operation.
During this time, though, concerns began to bubble to the surface.
Band of Brothers | Start Operation - D Day, KrzYsieK ChiggY
4. He Had Some Qualms
Just below Sobel was 2nd Lieutenant Richard Winters, who began to worry whether his superior was up to the task. Beyond Sobel’s tendency to harshly discipline the men at the drop of a hat, Winters had concerns about his leadership. While Sobel was a strong training officer, several issues, such as poor decision-making, didn’t inspire much confidence.
He wasn’t alone in this thinking either.
Band of Brothers | Start Operation - D Day, KrzYsieK ChiggY
5. They Backed Him Up
Naturally, Sobel’s domineering leadership tactics only earned him hatred from his men. This disdain grew to a point where not only did Winters wonder if the 1st Lieutenant would be trustworthy in battle, but the other men as well. Not to mention that many of the men in E Company openly preferred Winters’ command.
Of course, Sobel wasn’t too happy about this.
6. He Tried To Get Him In Trouble
The rough dynamic between Sobel and Winters was hard to ignore—and eventually, Sobel decided to do something about it. After Winters neglected to carry out Sobel’s orders for latrine inspection, Sobel unnecessarily escalated the conflict, bringing up the 2nd Lieutenant on a charge of “failure to carry out a lawful order”.
Winters wasn’t about to just let this go, though.
Exploring Boss Vs. Leader Through HBO's Band of Brothers, Heroes and Villains: Leadership Fables
7. He Asked For A Second Opinion
Winters knew that Sobel had it out for him and believed the severity of the discipline handed to him was unjustified. Therefore, he escalated the problem further and requested that a court-martial review the charge. As a result, battalion commander Major Robert L Strayer decided to set the issue aside. However, Sobel remained unsatisfied.
B.O.B "Day of Days" - Nice ride, mykerex
8. He Kept Going
With the charge being set aside, Sobel could have left the tense situation alone and continued professionally. However, the bitterness between the two officers was too strong, and Sobel filed another charge against Winters the very next day. Due to this, Winters got a bit of distance during the investigation as he transferred to the Headquarters Company.
Thankfully, Winters had his loyal supporters.
Band of Brothers - Captain Sobel lost Easy Company, coolboy35
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9. They Demanded Action
The hatred of Sobel among Easy Company’s men and their support of Winters didn’t go unnoticed as the investigation into the charge went on. As it happened, a small group of the unit’s non-commissioned officers came up with a shocking ultimatum: They threatened to resign if the higher-ups did not replace Sobel with a new commander.
While this loyalty was admirable, not everyone viewed it that way.
Band of Brothers - Captain Sobel lost Easy Company, coolboy35
10. They Paid For It
Although many believed the threat made by the NCOs was justified, it still amounted to an attempted mutiny. Two platoon sergeants led this decision, and as such, the man who received this ultimatum—Colonel Robert Sink—punished them accordingly. He demoted Terrence Harris and Myron Ranney to privates and assigned them to other companies.
Still, he had heard their concerns.
Band of Brothers - Get out of my office... GET!, monolegis
11. He Made A Change
While he couldn’t stand for the actions of E Company’s NCOs, Colonel Sink also couldn’t ignore the unit’s major leadership problem. The men weren’t shy about their complaints, and Sobel’s exaggerated charges against Winters did nothing to improve his reputation. So, Sink transferred Sobel to a command position at a new airborne school in Chilton Foliat, England.
This eliminated the tense dynamic among the company’s lieutenants.
Band of Brothers - Get out of my office... GET!, monolegis
12. He Came Back
Ultimately, as with the first time, Sobel’s second charge against Winters didn't go much further than its investigation. Colonel Sink set the court-martial aside and allowed Winters to return to Easy Company, where he resumed his position as a lieutenant. Even through all this, Winters couldn’t deny Sobel’s impact.
Exploring Boss Vs. Leader Through HBO's Band of Brothers, Heroes and Villains: Leadership Fables
13. He Gave Him Props
Although the animosity between Winters and Sobel was clear, according to Winters, it was much more one-sided than it appeared. He would later speak about how he never considered himself in competition with Sobel and actually credited much of E Company’s success to the rigorous training the 1st Lieutenant had put them through.
While Winters’ humility and leadership earned him respect, he didn’t receive command initially.
14. They Got A New Leader
Winters was back with his unit, but despite the respect and admiration the other men had for him, he was not granted command of it. In February 1944, as a replacement for Sobel, 1st Lieutenant Thomas Meehan joined E Company as its new commander. Of course, with Winters' return, others wanted to do the same.
Band of Brothers - Planning D-Day, Knight 2760
15. He Wrote To Him
Following their transfers out of Easy Company, former NCOs Harris and Ranney became Pathfinders. This meant they would be among the first on the ground during the Normandy invasion, which Ranney wasn’t happy with. Just five days before the mission, thanks to his writing to Winters and asking to return, Ranney transferred back to E Company.
But perhaps if he knew the horror that awaited him, he might not have been so eager...
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16. They Had Their Objective
E Company had an integral part to play in the larger scope of Operation Overlord. The Allied forces chose a route near Utah Beach for the men arriving by boat, referring to it as “Causeway 2”. A few hours before the invasion, E Company’s job was to land in the area, eliminate any obstacles, and take its entrances.
Of course, some men didn’t take the planning as seriously.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 3 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
17. They Took Some Time Off
1st Lieutenant Meehan helmed much of the planning for E Company’s mission with three other senior officers. One such officer, Sergeant Carwood Lipton, would later divulge that while he and the others spent the day before the invasion agonizing over battle plans and possible situations, the men of Easy Company did something quite surprising: They went to the movies.
Finally, it was time to launch.
Band of Brothers - Planning D-Day, Knight 2760
18. They Divided Into Groups
Prepared to launch the invasion, E Company separated into several groups or “Sticks” before boarding their respective planes. The higher-ups that formed E Company’s headquarters section, including Meehan, received assignments to Plane #66 and embarked on their mission. Unfortunately, that’s when everything took a turn.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 3 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
19. They Went Down
Arriving ahead of the Allied amphibious invasion, Plane #66 flew at the front of a diamond formation of three other planes. Horrifically, their formation broke when anti-aircraft fire over France hit #66, causing the plane to collide with a hedgerow. A devastating explosion followed, and tragically, there were no survivors. Fortunately, the other planes were more successful.
Band of Brothers | Start Operation - D Day by KrzYsieK ChiggY
20. He Saw Everything
The three other aircraft in Plane #66’s formation carried several other company members, one of whom witnessed the crash first-hand. After jumping out of Plane #69, Easy Company’s 2nd platoon member Ed Mauser had his perspective turned around when the force of the plane’s propeller blasted him in the face, causing intense whiplash but giving him a chilling view of #66's sad fate.
This unfortunate event led to a change in leadership.
Band of Brothers C-47 Drop Scene, Tyler Painter
21. He Stepped Up
Despite not witnessing the plane crash and therefore not knowing that 1st Lieutenant Meehan had perished, Winters knew his superiors were at least missing. As the highest-ranking officer present, he took command of Easy Company as they gathered and pushed forward into Causeway 2.
Then, they proceeded with the mission.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 3 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
22. They Took Care Of Business
D-Day was underway, and amid the chaos of everything, Winters became the de facto leader of his unit and received Easy Company’s next order. Given the simple statement of “There's fire along that hedgerow there, take care of it,” Winters and his company targeted a nearby German battery and disabled four pieces of heavy artillery.
Of course, they faced stiff opposition.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 5 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
23. They Knew About This Advantage
Next up on the docket was for the Allies to overtake the town of Carentan, which would allow the Allies to transport supplies between the Utah and Omaha beaches. Of course, the German forces weren’t ignorant of this tactical advantage, so they made the town’s defense one of their top priorities. Naturally, the Allies ran into some stressful issues.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 5 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
24. They Were Ambushed
Beginning four days after D-Day, the Battle of Carentan lasted from June 10th to 14th, during which E Company’s advance on the town slowed due to a deadly ambush. Having made serious headway in their mission, E Company and two others were heading southwest outside Carentan on June 12 when enemy fire stopped them in their tracks.
All of a sudden, things got worse.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 6 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
25. They Took Heavy Fire
E Company and its allies scrambled to defend against the German surprise attack, something which soon became all the more difficult. Joining the fire of the enemy squads, the companies then had to deal with the added tank and mortar barrages. However, all they could do initially was dive for cover.
Though this reportedly didn’t last long, the attack's brevity didn't make it any less nightmarish.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 6 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
26. It Was Quick
The Germans hit the advancing companies hard and fast—but by the end of the day, Easy Company and its allies outlasted them. They had captured Carentan and paid for it dearly, with the cacophony of screams and artillery quickly replaced by the “moans and groans” of their wounded men as Sergeant Donald Malarkey would later write.
Even then, E Company wasn’t one to be messed with.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 5 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
27. They Stood Firm
By June 13, Allied forces had captured Carentan, but the battle wasn’t over yet. The Germans launched a counterattack, breaking through the Allied lines, including the Dog and Fox Companies, who initially traveled with Easy Company. However, E Company’s defense held, stalling long enough for American tanks to arrive and drive the enemy off for good.
This didn’t come without a high price.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 6 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
28. He Caught One
Strengthening the reputation of Winters’ admirable leadership, he wasn’t the type to send his men into danger while he stayed behind. This became evident by the end of the battle when he hadn’t emerged unscathed, having been injured by a ricocheted projectile shard to his right leg.
Of course, others had it much worse.
BAND OF BROTHERS Episode 6 Breakdown & Ending Explained, BrainPilot
29. They Suffered Losses
Through the chaos of D-Day and the subsequent Battle of Carentan, E Company sustained a significant hit. Ultimately, by the time the unit came back, the final count had 74 of its original 139 men still alive and well. Of the 65 casualties, 22 men had perished in action and 43 were left wounded.
However, before long, they were back in the thick of it.
30. The Battle Of “The Island”
In the Fall of 1944, the ultimately failed Operation Market Garden led to several engagements as the Allies tried to break Germany’s hold in the Netherlands. One occurred in the area between the Waal and Lower Rhine rivers, where Easy Company and its allies stood in the way of two German companies and forced them to retreat.
Fortunately, the higher-ups recognized their achievements.
Band of Brothers Crossroads The Island Charge, royalfool1195
31. They Were Awarded
Although the two routed German companies later revealed themselves as part of a diversion, E Company still successfully pushed back an enemy force of 300 men. To commemorate their "daring act and skillful maneuver against a numerically superior force," Colonel Robert Sink issued a citation for their gallantry in action.
Their exploits didn’t stop there, though.
Fix Bayonets - Band of Brothers, Johnny's War Stories
32. They Tried To Save Them
Also, as part of Operation Market Garden, the Battle of Arnhem occurred in September 1944, at the end of which the Allies lost. This resulted in thousands of British and Polish paratroopers being captured, while over 100 remained stranded and in hiding behind German lines. The following month, the Allies devised Operation Pegasus to rescue them.
Unfortunately, they had to do so under the cover of darkness.
Band of brothers (Episode 4) - Entering the market garden (Scene) by Deimos!
33. They Saw Their Signal
After crossing the Lower Rhine on October 22 and meeting up with the stranded men after nightfall, a group of Royal Engineers and American paratroopers brought them back to the river for extraction. Despite them being several hundred meters upriver, a patrol of Easy Company men and engineers spotted their V-shaped torch signal, launching their boats immediately.
It was mostly a success.
The Red Devils - Band of Brothers, Johnny's War Stories
34. They Got Almost Everyone
After 20 minutes, E Company reached the enemy side of the river and headed upstream. There, they met the group of escapees, now including several Dutch civilians, and a group of turncoat Russian men. Returning to the crossing point, E Company helped nearly everyone evacuate across the Lower Rhine, except for one Russian man whom the Germans unfortunately captured.
Still, their most miserable battle was yet to come.
The Red Devils - Band of Brothers, Johnny's War Stories
35. The Battle of the Bulge
In what was America’s largest and bloodiest single battle in WWII, the Battle of the Bulge lasted from December 16, 1944, to January 28, 1945. Initiated when Germany launched its final major Western Front offensive, they took the Allies by surprise, now spread out between Belgium and Luxembourg.
Of course, they didn’t account for such strong resistance.
Band of Brothers- Battle of the Bulge, lpjuunin
36. They Were Running Low
To reach the roads integral to their campaign’s success, German forces advanced through the Ardennes near the village of Bastogne. Fortunately, Easy Company was in the area and received orders to hold their position and halt the enemy’s progress. Despite their diminished food, ammo, and warm clothes, they did not falter.
When the time came, E Company went on the offensive themselves.
Band of Brothers- Battle of the Bulge, lpjuunin
37. They Got A New Assignment
A month later, the Allies had already proven that Germany was on the losing end of their campaign. Having secured the Bois Jacques woods, E Company received orders for the next step in the Allied counterattack—capturing the nearby town of Foy, Belgium. This effort was under new leadership.
38. He Lost Them
Under new command by Lieutenant Norman Dike, Easy Company began its assault on Foy at 9 am. As the rest of the unit advanced, Dike ordered the 1st Platoon to head left. Unfortunately, seeing as the 1st Platoon had no radio, Dike couldn’t communicate with them without yelling for them to come back.
Then, things started to fall apart.
39. He Stopped Them
While the 1st Platoon separated from the pack, the rest of Easy Company tried to advance upon the town until they came under heavy fire from the Germans. Lieutenant Dike then ordered his men to stop and take cover, which might have been a good decision if there had actually been any substantial cover around them.
Of course, his men weren’t shy about their objections.
Band of Brothers : Lieutenant Dike Goes for help scene, World War TV
40. They Advised Him
Seemingly, everyone in E Company realized that staying put while the Germans fired at them was a bad idea—except Lieutenant Dike. So, his men tried to convince him to continue the advance on Foy, as continuing to “take cover” like sitting ducks would likely lead to all of them quickly losing their lives. It wasn’t just them who felt this way.
Band of Brothers : Lieutenant Dike Goes for help scene, World War TV
41. He Supported Them
The lack of progress during E Company’s assault on Foy got the attention of Winters, who, although not in the middle of the battle, was now acting battalion commanding officer. Validating the protests of the other men, he immediately contacted Dike via radio and ordered him to continue pushing forward.
Dike's response, however, was diabolical.
42. He Went Rogue
Instead of ordering the rest of E Company to resume their advance as Winters commanded, Dike called the 1st Platoon back and told them to go around the town and flank it. Following this, he allegedly lost all sense of command or stability. After finding cover, he just shut down, freezing in place. However, according to another witness, he only stopped because he sustained an injury.
Regardless of why, they needed a change.
43. He Was Replaced
Not only was Easy Company now pinned down and floundering under the German defenses, but two other companies were waiting to advance on Foy from different directions. Realizing that Dike was no longer fit to command E Company, Winters took him off the front line and replaced him with 1st Lieutenant Ronald Speirs.
Immediately, he showed his quality—his actions shocking the enemy.
44. He Did It Himself
Now under new leadership and with the men eager to get on with the mission, the other companies needed to know the orders to move into Foy. However, Speirs couldn’t radio Item Company, so he put his own life on the line. Without hesitation, he ran straight into the town, through the heavy German forces, and met up with the company on the other side.
But that wasn't all.
Band of Brothers - Speirs takes the next gun, Johnny's War Stories
45. They Were Stunned
After delivering the new orders to Item Company and risking his life in a seemingly impossible feat, Speirs did it again. Sprinting back through the town and German defenses, he returned to Easy Company. As First Sergeant Lipton would later state, Speirs only survived because the Germans were too stunned by his feat to pull their triggers.
Understandably, this action didn’t go unnoticed.
Band of Brothers Scary Lieutenant Speirs, MrTysta
46. He Proved Himself
Showing an incredible ability to keep a level head under pressure and lead by example, 1st Lieutenant Ronald Speirs demonstrated that he was a born leader. Following the assault on Foy, his superiors reassigned him as Easy Company’s commander, and he continued to hold that position for the duration of WWII.
Of course, he wasn’t the only one to make a difference.
Band of Brothers Scary Lieutenant Speirs, MrTysta
47. They Made An Impact
When all the dust and smoke cleared, Easy Company and its allies had driven the Germans out and captured Foy. With this win, the Americans broke the Axis presence in Bastogne, contributing to the larger victory by the end of the month, when the Allies stopped Germany’s campaign on the Western Front.
Afterward, they just kept going.
Band of Brothers - The surrender of a German Colonel, Mojo Pin
48. They Continued
Now that the Allies had pushed Germany’s offensive back, it was time to take the fight to the enemy. With boosted morale and renewed momentum, Easy Company joined the rest of its regiment and advanced into Germany. Ultimately, the 101st Airborne Division, to which E Company belonged, received a citation for its actions at Bastogne.
As fate would have it, WWII would soon end.
# Band Of Brothers # EASY COMPANY, U.S. Army 101st airborne division in WOrld War II, JUM ENTERTAIN
49. They Waited Again
As WWII neared its completion, E Company didn’t go on many missions as dangerous as their previous ones. After a few occupation duty assignments, including in Berchtesgaden, where the Führer’s Eagle's Nest house was, they bided their time attending several patrols until 1945, when WWII ended and their regiment disbanded.
However, their story still wasn't over quite yet.
Band of Brothers Eagles Nest, Stephen Mangion
50. They Returned
Following their disbandment, the company’s legacy lived on as its acts of valor received acclaim and respect, but it went even further than that. Almost a decade later, in 1954, the army reactivated Easy Company to be a training unit. More recently, in 2001, the book and series Band of Brothers brought E Company’s story into the spotlight, featuring real interviews with the unit’s survivors.
Band of Brothers - Trailer - Official HBO UK, HBO UK
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