INTERVIEW: The Paratroopers Who Fell into a Trap

They dropped miles off target — straight into Nazi territory.

Historian Stephen Rabe tells the story of the “lost paratroopers” of D-Day and the villagers of Graignes who risked everything to protect them from SS reprisals.

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened

00:46 – Meet Stephen G. Rabe

02:02 – The lost paratroopers of Normandy

02:45 – Chaotic D-Day landings

06:43 – Villagers encounter the paratroopers

10:07 – Resistance & solidarity in Graignes

20:30 – The Rigault family’s heroism

23:45 – Honoring the Rago family

25:32 – Ordinary people, extraordinary courage

27:30 – Nazi atrocities & reprisals

28:54 – Aftermath & documentation

29:53 – Women’s role in resistance

31:57 – Paratroopers’ survival struggle

41:18 – Legacy of the 101st Airborne

43:58 – Reflections & projects

#DDay #82ndAirborne #101stAirborne #WWII #Resistance #WhyWarsHappened