@zulubro The Japanese did not have good small tactical radios. One of their great failings during the war. They really didn't do much in the way of research and improvements to radio or radar.
@ebusitanus Actually, while a lot of this footage is not Tarawa, it is all actual footage. Bloody Tarawa was made using all actual footage of the battle and used footage from Hatch and other correspondents.
HI! okay so im in NJROTC at my high school. and my commander gave the NS3's(3rd year of naval science)a project to do a huge research paper on anything military (i.e. battels, wars, important people, commisoned ships, etc) and i decided to to the Battle of Tarawa since my grandpa served in it as a Marine. what i want to do with my project is to interview someone who served in it. but he passed 9 yrs ago. so if you know any one who has served in it email me at
The following is clearly re-enactment footage: 2:29-2:34; 2:36-2:40; 3:46; 5:16-5:36; 5:48-5:54; 6:02; 6:07-6:14 It's well made, but I guarantee you they never filmed such dramatic footage. Generally I don't like documentaries that use footage from other battles, or bogus footage all together.
For real TARAWA battle footage, search YouTube for "Maurice Bell Watches Tarawa"
At 1:03 you see a dead Jap soldier being cut to pieces by a machine gun. That's a real glimpse of Tarawa
@gradepoint You are close, but the parts that look like reenactment are really footage from the movie "The Sands of Iwo Jima". Required viewing for all Marine recruits during boot camp (at least it used to be). Looking at your page I would have thought you would have caught that as a movie buff.
@Toddinfantry Thanks for enlightening me Todd. While I’ve seen “Sands,” I’ll admit I don’t remember this particular footage as being from that movie. I’ll have to watch it again. I guess the colorization and the palm trees threw me. I have nothing but respect for the Marine Corps. Semper Fi!
Truly breathtaking footage. You know combat cameraman died getting this footage. We're watching in color, footage of men dying. I can't think of the words I want to use to describe it.
Did anyone else notice that on the map of Betio were the landing beaches were was absolutely insane!? It gave the Japanese positions to fire on the landing crafts from 3 sides!
@Elvisdogg No it isn't. God gave us all freewill. It isn't God's responsibility what we choose to do with this freewill. You can't blame God for your actions just as you can't blame your brother for robbing a bank if you were the one who did it.
Over 65 yrs ago this battle took place and unfortunately many people today have no idea it even existed.Yesterday was the 68 anniversary of Pearl Harbour and all I saw was a 2 minutes dedicated to it on the news. And little mention of it on the radio. It makes you just want to cry.
Also, if you catch the clip just right at the beginning of the 5:27-5:28 second, you see where the shell is hitting behind the group of Marines scrambling to pier. It looks like the last 2 Marines on the backside may have got their legs clipped by an incoming shell or picked up several wounds.
They were a great generation. Tough, patriotic, God fearing honorable people. I think that those born after the war should remember, and have more respect. I know that I am too soft, and spoiled to be a good American.
lots of Japs were waiting for the marines after the bombings..alot..but marines fucked them up in 72 hrs or so.
jandean61 3 weeks ago
Every time I see "protect a cow" at the end of these videos, it makes me want to eat a bacon cheeseburger.
daw162 1 month ago
the Japanese didn't have a wireless radio contingency plan in place in case the land line was cut? seems like an inexcusably negligent oversight
zulubro 2 months ago
@zulubro The Japanese did not have good small tactical radios. One of their great failings during the war. They really didn't do much in the way of research and improvements to radio or radar.
0341MarineInfantry 1 month ago
War in India appears really tough stuff. Thanks for your comparison.
gord8881 3 months ago
2:35 Marine shot by machine gun fire on right side of screen. SF, bro
MelbShufflerInTheUS 4 months ago
@MelbShufflerInTheUS That was a scene taken out of "Bloody Tarawa" not actual real footage.
ebusitanus 3 months ago
@ebusitanus Actually, while a lot of this footage is not Tarawa, it is all actual footage. Bloody Tarawa was made using all actual footage of the battle and used footage from Hatch and other correspondents.
0341MarineInfantry 2 months ago
Semper Fi !
nitroknobby 4 months ago
jewwwww
ClionalovesRory 10 months ago
alot of the japanese are just spliced in
ROLNTERD 10 months ago
it looked like a big party with lots things getting blown up
gg2000gg2000 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
HI! okay so im in NJROTC at my high school. and my commander gave the NS3's(3rd year of naval science)a project to do a huge research paper on anything military (i.e. battels, wars, important people, commisoned ships, etc) and i decided to to the Battle of Tarawa since my grandpa served in it as a Marine. what i want to do with my project is to interview someone who served in it. but he passed 9 yrs ago. so if you know any one who has served in it email me at
kmward22@gmail.com THANK YOU
22kmward 1 year ago
not hell just the reality
foceptik 1 year ago
The following is clearly re-enactment footage: 2:29-2:34; 2:36-2:40; 3:46; 5:16-5:36; 5:48-5:54; 6:02; 6:07-6:14 It's well made, but I guarantee you they never filmed such dramatic footage. Generally I don't like documentaries that use footage from other battles, or bogus footage all together.
For real TARAWA battle footage, search YouTube for "Maurice Bell Watches Tarawa"
At 1:03 you see a dead Jap soldier being cut to pieces by a machine gun. That's a real glimpse of Tarawa
gradepoint 1 year ago
@gradepoint You are close, but the parts that look like reenactment are really footage from the movie "The Sands of Iwo Jima". Required viewing for all Marine recruits during boot camp (at least it used to be). Looking at your page I would have thought you would have caught that as a movie buff.
Semper Fi !
Toddinfantry 1 year ago
@Toddinfantry Thanks for enlightening me Todd. While I’ve seen “Sands,” I’ll admit I don’t remember this particular footage as being from that movie. I’ll have to watch it again. I guess the colorization and the palm trees threw me. I have nothing but respect for the Marine Corps. Semper Fi!
gradepoint 1 year ago
without war one can never know peace. without suffering one can never know happiness.
EichEiEmIhEs 1 year ago
Truly breathtaking footage. You know combat cameraman died getting this footage. We're watching in color, footage of men dying. I can't think of the words I want to use to describe it.
420Guitar420 1 year ago
Did anyone else notice that on the map of Betio were the landing beaches were was absolutely insane!? It gave the Japanese positions to fire on the landing crafts from 3 sides!
420Guitar420 1 year ago
war is proof that there is no god
Elvisdogg 1 year ago
@Elvisdogg No it isn't. God gave us all freewill. It isn't God's responsibility what we choose to do with this freewill. You can't blame God for your actions just as you can't blame your brother for robbing a bank if you were the one who did it.
420Guitar420 1 year ago
Is this all real footage? If so, Wow.
askjiir 1 year ago
Looks like another Marine gets hit @ exactly 5:48 - goes limp.
ch8nt8ls 1 year ago 4
@ch8nt8ls wait why did i just thumbs up your comment...
IMCrawford 3 weeks ago
Over 65 yrs ago this battle took place and unfortunately many people today have no idea it even existed.Yesterday was the 68 anniversary of Pearl Harbour and all I saw was a 2 minutes dedicated to it on the news. And little mention of it on the radio. It makes you just want to cry.
aliveonbackfeed 2 years ago
Also, if you catch the clip just right at the beginning of the 5:27-5:28 second, you see where the shell is hitting behind the group of Marines scrambling to pier. It looks like the last 2 Marines on the backside may have got their legs clipped by an incoming shell or picked up several wounds.
ch8nt8ls 2 years ago
Notice at 2:35-2:36, an artillery shell comes in and blows a Marine off the sea wall - then the footage switches.
ch8nt8ls 2 years ago
@ch8nt8ls Hah, nice seen!
SweixNOR 2 years ago
poor tarawa...
MrAMerang 2 years ago
5:31-5:34 is badass
punkrockxzz 2 years ago
war is hell
fragmaster14 3 years ago 9
The most brutal WWII footage ive ever seen.
jabbathehutt7869 3 years ago
@jabbathehutt7869 Same here and I've seen hundreds of documentaries and such.
420Guitar420 1 year ago
They were a great generation. Tough, patriotic, God fearing honorable people. I think that those born after the war should remember, and have more respect. I know that I am too soft, and spoiled to be a good American.
tld5500 3 years ago
imagine being a soilder in ww2.. away from home, knowing you could die at any time, and many other terrible things.. forever honor Veterans of war
Jcashrulez 3 years ago
First is the worst, second is the best
jabbathehutt7869 3 years ago
FIRST!!! AND FIRST VIEW!!!!!!!
theoutsiderisme 3 years ago