My grandfather was working on the development of the Borgward BIV in the final months of the war, with the addition of 6 88mm rocket tubes. We stumbled upon his picture during an inspection by some higher ranking German personnel. You can find this picture by Googling "Borgward BIV Crew" and he is the crew man nearest the camera on the right side of the photo. He was fighting two blocks from the fuhers bunker. He lived a life time and a half prior to leaving Germany and creating a new legacy. Remarkable men were forged in that era, on both sides.
It may take time to find more stories from that point in the war without running out soon in the short term. There’s still a *TON* we don’t know about WWII even nearly 80 years since it ended.
A good friend of mine and former teacher of mine farther was a British combat engineer and in april 1945 after crossing the reine he went for a walk with 2 friends they stumbled across a tiger mk 1 tank and crew all he had was a flare pistol he raised his pistol and ordered them to surrender to amazement they did
@@Theshropshireratter I'd say they would have been really happy to surrender to him, even though he wasn't heavily armed, because it meant the war was over for them, and this also ended the possibility that they may have to later fight against, then surrender to, the Soviets.
Very interesting! The tank at 4:03/4:24/4:46/4:54/4:59 is located at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The Deutsche Bank-building at 4:54 is still existing, I had my office in the 1st floor of the building for 10 years. The building at 4:59 is still existing as well, it is housing a police department.
Can this tank/turret still be seen at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz in Berlin-Charlottenburg? ...or is it inside a building? Would be interested to know. Thanks.
@@martinjohnson9316 There is no tank at that place anymore. Nearly 80 years after the end of the war you will barely find remains of the battle of Berlin.
It seem like there's almost unlimited amount of things about WW2 Dr. Felton can explain in detail and in addition get film and images about. Really impressive, educating and specially entertaining for those of us with no TV. Thank you, and have a nice weekend everyone! 🙂
The information, images and film have been widely available for years in both books, websites and various archives. I've had the original orders to form the Kompanie on my PC for at least 5 years as they are freely available to download from the Bundesarchiv-Militararchiv in Freiburg.
@@malcolmhunt7108 Also much in the Imperial War Museum archives. All the Allies had teams of specialists going in with the initial assault troops to save and recover as many Nazi documents as possible for the then future War Trials. Unfortunately a lot captured by the Soviets stayed hidden to the west if not used in a trial until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the USSR. A lot stayed classified until the 70's and 80's in the west.
Once again Dr. Felton comes up with something I had never heard about before. It must have been a very frightening prospect to the 3 man crews in these static pillboxes. Knowing either they run out of ammo and then get captured , killed or wounded. I learn something new everytime I watch one of your outstanding videos. Thank you Dr. Felton
@@Aquafyreou qualify as a historian not a historian of a specific thing. He has obviously used his abilities to deeply study ww2. Plus he did not even call his channel war stories with Dr. Mark Felton, just with mark Felton so does not constantly use the title
What an interesting story. It seems odd that the Nazis never installed large calibre gun bunkers in Berlin (other than the flak towers) even though they would be easy to build and likely much better than these ad-hoc static tanks. Nonetheless the extremely low profile of these tanks shows just how tiny a target they would have been. Many thanks to Prof Felton for this bit of history.
Doing such would have undermined their domestic propaganda. It's important to remember that they told the civilian population that they were winning even as the bear was knocking down their doors.
I think that might have been due to civilians seeing land defenses in the capital city might lower moral. It’s one thing to expect the air eases but another to anticipate a land attack, if your military is supposed to be winning. That, and perhaps there was not enough time for the concrete to dry in preparation for the battle.
Yeah Hitler would never have allowed the civilians to think they were even close to losing. He certainly didn't want a civilian uprising on his hands when the reds were closing in.
The doctrine of war changed by the time the Soviets were taking back territory. Static defences just weren't worth the resources over air power, flak, atrillery, armor etc.
I was lucky enough to be able to visit Berlin many times before Reunification. The main area in which I lived was Wedding, which had the Wall running about three quarters of the way round it. There were many road tunnels which ran under the S-Bahn (surface railway, usually raised up). These underpasses had been boarded up when the wall was built, and inside everything had been left as it was. Posters, grafitti and litter were everywhere. There were literally many thousands of places where the battle for Berlin had left clear traces - but now almost all of that has been covered up or removed. I much preferred it as it was!
Fascinating narrative (as always) but your photographs that illustrate your narrative put this video in the outstanding category. Dr. Felton you never fail to provide something new and interesting!
@@bennyboogenheimer4553 Sorry to dispell your statement, but no Panther turrets nor complete tanks were ever shipped to North Africa by the Germans in WW2. It just didn't occur.
they were desperate and horrified of russian vengeance since they knew what they did to russia. if it were americans coming they prob wouldve just surrendered.
they wanted to stop the russians so the Americans could take them I guess... as the russians could and did take those prisoners they caught to siberia.. like they promised my grandfather if he didn't get a german frauline pregnant and leave (he emigrated to australia)
To anyone interested in this topic I strongly recommend the book "Panzers in Berlin" by Archer, Kraska and Lippert. A thorough read with awesome pictures and illustrations. I was born and raised in Berlin and it’s fascinating to realize what tragic fighting raged in the areas I know and live in.
Mark, your video brings back a memory, not from the Berlin battles of '45, but from my time in West Germany in the late '70s. Back then, our mechanized infantry company went to Berlin for urban warfare training. The instructors from the Berlin Brigade did an excellent job of teaching us the unique tactics required for urban combat, quite different from our usual training for the Fulda Gap scenario. Your video reminded me of a lesson about the panzer tank turret defense that one of the instructors shared. He also suggested that we should either weld manhole covers closed or, if we intended to use a sewer, storm drain, or utility tunnel for movement, we should place a vehicle tire or track over the manhole cover when it wasn't being used.
makes perfect sense. If you see the cover has been removed and no one from your unit is responsible for it...likely the enemy has breached your "hole" lol.
I can’t begin to imagine the sheer desperation to consider this as an option. Imagine burying the latest Abrams tank variants in the streets of Washington DC to try and stop some advancing enemy. Worse, imagine being trained to crew an Abrams, only to wind up commanding a turret sticking out of the ground. THAT BEING SAID, this is honestly a very good idea to create an instant AT bunker while also utilizing permanently disabled armor.
Another awesome video from Mr. Felton! Thank You so much for the content that rarely gets any attention and I love it! Thanks again and bravo sir bravo!
Would love to hear about more last ditch weapons! My grandfather was working on the development of the Borgward BIV in the final months of the war, with the addition of 6 88mm rocket tubes. We stumbled upon his picture during an inspection by some higher ranking German personnel. You can find this picture by Googling "Borgward BIV Crew" and he is the crew man nearest the camera on the right side of the photo. He lived a life time and a half prior to leaving Germany and creating a new legacy. Remarkable men were forged in that era, on both sides.
@@bramesque correct, my bad. It is the black and white image where the BIVs are being inspected, and there is white writing of "Ausf C" with an arrow pointing to the tank behind my grandfather and his crew mate friend (who unfortunately passed away in the Borgward BIV, they had a couple in the final months).
@@beauwille2294 Thanks, Found him! nice to see the picture! i believe it is a series. When you open the page there is another BIV picture taken from the left hand side with some of the same people inspecting. Could it be your grandfather standing on the mudguard?
@@bramesque awesome! They were working on a remote-control function of the BIVs as well. That second photo was his crew mate/friend. Following his friend's death he was quite heavily injured and captured by Russians. He was sent to a POW in Germany and thought that may very well be his end. Then, during the Potsdam Conference, lesser camp security presented an opportunity to escape (and as he thought, the only one he'd ever have). So he was able to escape and the story/series of events after is not clear. Though it involved assistance from nuns, diving underwater to avoid passing patrols, and bearing a grenade behind his back when close to recapture as he had no intentions of ever returning to the POW camp. He was later able to find and reconnect with his girlfriend (my Grandmother) from the beginning of the war, and then they left Germany in the early 1950s to begin a new life elsewhere. Thank you for your interest!
During the Cold War Austria made these Panzerturm bunkers at strategic locations across eastern Austria. They appeared in the videos I’ve seen operational in the ‘90s judging from the interior of some. They also had commando bunkers that were cylindrical with orange plastic seats that looked 1980s style. The doorways underneath the bunkers were color coded so you would be oriented correctly.
BIG TY to Dr. Felton ! I have been at study on German armor for many years, and these "static panzer Batt." is new to me. The Panther turrets on cement casings in the Italian front are known in several books, both axis, and allied sources, but the static hulled Panthers are something fresh, and interesting. This makes you the top of my choices, Thank You, TY.
As a 1/35 scale armor model builder I want to know where Dr. Felton is finding these scale models to use in his still cover shot of the video! There are some outstanding builders around the world. It's a fascinating hobby
Absolutely!! I was an avid model builder as a kid. I build dozens of WWII ships before I got into German armor. I built quite a few dioramas, and had a Tamiya example of each from the Pz1 through the TigerII. My parents cringed every time I wanted a new $35 tank kit (in the 1980s)!! Fun childhood though, and my models were displayed all over locally, from winning ribbons at the fair, to being displayed in the library and even the local Navy recruiting office...
You might consider A longer version of these improvised defense ideas, seems worthwhile! Thanx again anyway for this great episode Mark, Greetz from Groningen
I visited a bar in Berlin in 1998 with some Army buddies on furlough. An old German Soldier drunk told us how he fought off the Red Army using anti-aircraft guns. He was absolutely horrified by his memories
I'm Swedish and we actually did this during the cold war. In peace time, to "protect" our air bases. Though mostly, we simply took the turrets off the older tanks and placed them on bunkers.
As much of a WWII and German armor nerd as I am, how is it that this is the first time Ive heard of or seen these??? Thanks to Mark for continuing to dig up and explain these fascinating topics!!!
@@Arthur-f1i I never claimed i "knew a lot"... But thanks so much for the semi polite, yet douchey comment. Ill get back to reading and studying right away!!!
@@wheels-n-tires1846 well, the fact you call yourself a nerd suggests you know something about it…. This is really basic knowledge if you know anything about the last days of the third reich, I just thought it was a remarkable but hollow statement, thats all
@@RandomDudeOneimprovising when you're critically short of parts, men, fuel and ammo seems impressive to me. Maybe they could have placed the turrets on horses?
The weaknesses of static armored turrets are artillery and running out of ammunition. Apart from that, armor on the turret can be increased as long as the turret can still rotate.
It's called research and all you need is to know where to look e.g. books, websites or in the archives, I have over 1 million pages of German wartime documents on my PC which includes the original order for setting up Pz.Kompanie (bo) "Berlin" which I've had for at least 5 years now.
A wonderful historical coverage video about that matter ( Panzer pillboxes) for defining Berlin against USSR invading in 1945 ....that matter rarely labeled by other historical records....thank you Sir (Mark Felton ) ...
since the very first Roman mentions of them, the Germanic tribes are known to be fearsome warriors... nobody ever doubts that, and facing them in battle was always our last resort...
Dr. Felton, Thank you for publishing this video! I recall seeing a film documenting a single German tank operating in a public park in Berlin that devastated Soviet forces. I wish I had more information about that tank and it's crew. Thank you again, from Texas!
Excellent video once again Mr. Felton. You never cease to amaze. Even though Germany's last ditch effort to defend Berlin Tanked. You have to give them credit for trying. Especially because they had all known for quite some time they'd lost the war and they were finished.
Yes, you have to give the Nazis credit for killing hundreds of thousands of people on all sides even after they knew the war was lost, just so they themselves could live a couple days longer.
@@TRUMP20Z4 well it wasnt like hitler ever realized how sick murdering people is he just didnt have time to murder more. of course what tyrant ever did besides the apostle paul
My grandfather, an East Prussian farmer and father of four young children, was conscripted into the Wehrmacht in late 1944. He strongly considered desertion-but my grandmother didn’t want him hung in front of the children. After fleeing East Prussia, to Denmark, by way of the Baltic Sea, she received word that my grandfather died as a POW of disease (diphtheria) and neglect in Russian captivity somewhere in Lithuania. M. Also a casualty, my mother’s little sister died of measles in the refugee camp. One my mother’s brothers became separated from the group during the chaos before reaching the Baltic Sea. A kind Danish man helped my grandmother find her missing son in an orphanage. They kept in touch and she married him after the war. They eventually immigrated to the US. Remarkably, now all in their 80’s, my mother and two brothers are all still alive. Perhaps like most ethnic Germans after the war, my grandmother described herself as ardently against the Nazis-that my grandfather decided it was better to be in the army than the SS. From her sister in Cologne-she knew that German propaganda about the war was patently false.
Having watched some of these tanks being restored on the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum channel, I recognised some features of tanks in the photos.
It would have been tough attacking defences like this. Years ago I used to read books in the Wheels of Terror series. I remember one story there where they dug a hole to drive their tank into before defending against an attack.
These tank bunkers were a well-known concept by this point in time. The Belgians and French used them in the interbellum as a way to reuse obsolete tanks to strenghten their static defences and the Germans liked the concept enough to use it with their atlantic wall. Of course these ones in particular would be extra fearsome because they were using high end tanks with big caliber guns instead of obsolete ones with smaller calibers. Though the thing you describe is simply the tank going into a 'hull down' position. Basic concept is the same though the tank is less protected whilst retainng the ability to move.
Mr. Felton the fact you made a comprehensive study/video about dug-in static panther positions during the German's final stand against the Soviet communist hordes is absolutely why I wholeheartedly love your content. Bravo Mr. Felton...Bravo 😁👏
Interesting video! I really enjoy the short informative videos. A side note to the term bodenständig: It may translate to "standing on ground" or "static" but bodenständig can also describe a persons trait of being down to earth. Kinda ironic since the crew was actually physically way down to earth in their position, but on the other side thought to win the war in a burried, immobilized tank.
Yeah, I was meaning to say that. It's actually pretty tongue in cheek, the Nazis had a thing for inventing hilarious words and phrases for all things war 🥴 especially facing defeat.
To be honest I had this exact same idea for a while now. I wondered if the tank could not move, but could still shoot, then why not use it as a pillbox/bunker and just bury then into the ground. I didn't actually think anyone did this until I saw this video.
You would think they would have more ammo than a typical tank since they had one less crew member. And you could cut out the wall between the crew compartment and the now empty engine compartment and turn it into a small bunker with room for rotating sleep schedule and more stowage
Thanks Mark. Absolutely love your videos of one of the most pivotal times in human history! I've learnt loads about military history from watching your content! Keep up the great work sir!
Somehow this story and the images brought home to me what a knock-down-drag-out the battle was. Would recommend The Last Battle by Cornelius Ryan for those with further interest. Here's one for you Mark. Read many years ago that when J. Robert Oppenheimer was in university in GB he tried to poison one of his professors. But he was of such a high intellectual level that they let it pass without involving the police.
The Germans had a more standardized version of this for the Italian Campaign. The remains of one can be seen in the painting: 'The Hitler Line' (1944) by Charles Comfort. The destruction of the emplacement with the detonation of its ammo supply due to Allied action was part of the inspiration for his painting. "One gun created a fantastic sight," wrote Comfort in his diary, "sticking perpendicularly into the air, like a gigantic pylon memorializing the disasters of war. A direct hit had detonated its magazine, the resulting blast tearing the whole turret from its casemate and tossing it in the air. There it was, a vast, inert steel probe, blindly challenging the heavens."
I recall seeing a picture from the fighting in Italy, showing a knocked out Panther turret mounted on some kind of pillbox, but to the front of it was this long line of allied tanks, jeeps, and other vehicles it had taken a heavy toll of, before finally being disabled. It was hard to believe one turret had done all that damage.
You dont have nothing,all that German improvisation are just proof they are been amateurs from start of ww2...They are look funny compared to Soviets...
Thank you Mark, I have seen pictures of those turret pillboxes, but I thought they tanks were buried for protection. The actual story is much more interesting.
My father in law was in New Zealand 19th armoured Corp driving sherman tanks and came up against them, said hard to see when camouflaged but what scared them was the flak 88s which could sit on back side of a hill, 2 km s away. His tank got hit dad and machine gunner was punched out of tank, only ones to survive. Spent one month in hospital
Couldn't tell that there was much difference from their previous Tobruk turrets except for the models used and maybe that they kept most of the hull as well.
Fascinating as always. Has there even been a more detailed account of the battle for the Reichstag? Every account I've read just gives the same vague mention of a 1-2 day battle within the building, but little more other then the Russian flag on the roof story.
We need more last ditch 1945 videos, shows the true struggle of the last months of the war
My grandfather was working on the development of the Borgward BIV in the final months of the war, with the addition of 6 88mm rocket tubes. We stumbled upon his picture during an inspection by some higher ranking German personnel. You can find this picture by Googling "Borgward BIV Crew" and he is the crew man nearest the camera on the right side of the photo. He was fighting two blocks from the fuhers bunker.
He lived a life time and a half prior to leaving Germany and creating a new legacy. Remarkable men were forged in that era, on both sides.
Why?
It may take time to find more stories from that point in the war without running out soon in the short term. There’s still a *TON* we don’t know about WWII even nearly 80 years since it ended.
A good friend of mine and former teacher of mine farther was a British combat engineer and in april 1945 after crossing the reine he went for a walk with 2 friends they stumbled across a tiger mk 1 tank and crew all he had was a flare pistol he raised his pistol and ordered them to surrender to amazement they did
@@Theshropshireratter I'd say they would have been really happy to surrender to him, even though he wasn't heavily armed, because it meant the war was over for them, and this also ended the possibility that they may have to later fight against, then surrender to, the Soviets.
Very interesting!
The tank at 4:03/4:24/4:46/4:54/4:59 is located at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The Deutsche Bank-building at 4:54 is still existing, I had my office in the 1st floor of the building for 10 years. The building at 4:59 is still existing as well, it is housing a police department.
Would love to know the story of the tank shown at 4:35 with all the expended shell casings. Did the crew survive? Run out of ammo?
J 5409 ................the way things are going , the tank , will stay , Deutsche Bank will be kaput ??????
@@dannycalley7777 😊😊😊😊
Can this tank/turret still be seen at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz in Berlin-Charlottenburg? ...or is it inside a building? Would be interested to know. Thanks.
@@martinjohnson9316 There is no tank at that place anymore. Nearly 80 years after the end of the war you will barely find remains of the battle of Berlin.
It seem like there's almost unlimited amount of things about WW2 Dr. Felton can explain in detail and in addition get film and images about. Really impressive, educating and specially entertaining for those of us with no TV. Thank you, and have a nice weekend everyone! 🙂
WW2 was an unlimited war.
I do have a tv but if i watch it 30 minutes a month it's much......
Great comment and articulation, way above my skill level, no wonder you got a love heart.
The information, images and film have been widely available for years in both books, websites and various archives. I've had the original orders to form the Kompanie on my PC for at least 5 years as they are freely available to download from the Bundesarchiv-Militararchiv in Freiburg.
@@malcolmhunt7108 Also much in the Imperial War Museum archives. All the Allies had teams of specialists going in with the initial assault troops to save and recover as many Nazi documents as possible for the then future War Trials. Unfortunately a lot captured by the Soviets stayed hidden to the west if not used in a trial until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the USSR. A lot stayed classified until the 70's and 80's in the west.
Once again Dr. Felton comes up with something I had never heard about before. It must have been a very frightening prospect to the 3 man crews in these static pillboxes. Knowing either they run out of ammo and then get captured , killed or wounded. I learn something new everytime I watch one of your outstanding videos. Thank you Dr. Felton
I think Dr Fenton collaborate with Marty McFly. Otherwise no way the Dr could extract so many nuggets
@@weetak "GREAT SCOT!"
@@Aquafyreou qualify as a historian not a historian of a specific thing. He has obviously used his abilities to deeply study ww2. Plus he did not even call his channel war stories with Dr. Mark Felton, just with mark Felton so does not constantly use the title
Yeah I guess they were crewed by the fanatics.
@@raypurchase801Good one Doc
What an interesting story. It seems odd that the Nazis never installed large calibre gun bunkers in Berlin (other than the flak towers) even though they would be easy to build and likely much better than these ad-hoc static tanks. Nonetheless the extremely low profile of these tanks shows just how tiny a target they would have been. Many thanks to Prof Felton for this bit of history.
Doing such would have undermined their domestic propaganda.
It's important to remember that they told the civilian population that they were winning even as the bear was knocking down their doors.
I think that might have been due to civilians seeing land defenses in the capital city might lower moral. It’s one thing to expect the air eases but another to anticipate a land attack, if your military is supposed to be winning. That, and perhaps there was not enough time for the concrete to dry in preparation for the battle.
Yeah Hitler would never have allowed the civilians to think they were even close to losing. He certainly didn't want a civilian uprising on his hands when the reds were closing in.
Steiner's attack was to destroy the Red Army!
The doctrine of war changed by the time the Soviets were taking back territory. Static defences just weren't worth the resources over air power, flak, atrillery, armor etc.
I was lucky enough to be able to visit Berlin many times before Reunification.
The main area in which I lived was Wedding, which had the Wall running about three quarters of the way round it.
There were many road tunnels which ran under the S-Bahn (surface railway, usually raised up).
These underpasses had been boarded up when the wall was built, and inside everything had been left as it was.
Posters, grafitti and litter were everywhere.
There were literally many thousands of places where the battle for Berlin had left clear traces - but now almost all of that has been covered up or removed.
I much preferred it as it was!
Geisterbahnhofs were also sealed this way and had advertisements from 1961 on walls.
Would have been great to see.
I saw it before and after. Much preferred after.
Dr. Felton does it again - Another lesser known WW2 story I wasn't aware of either.
Mark Felton seems to do the best accounts of WW2. Fills in many gaps in my knowledge.
Fascinating narrative (as always) but your photographs that illustrate your narrative put this video in the outstanding category. Dr. Felton you never fail to provide something new and interesting!
I often wondered how these Panthers were turned into pill boxes. I built a diorama long ago of one of these vehicles. Well done as always Dr Felton😀👍
I am always amazed by the enormous amount of materials ( steel, iron , concrete , wood ..,) used in ww1 and ww2.
My father and his platoon captured one of these Panther turrets at Rimini Airfield, Italy 1944. 22 Battalion 2NZEF.
Thanks Mark Felton. It's not just the history, but the way you tell the story. You feel as if you're there living it.
Thanks as always!
The Germans also had way more new Panther turrets than tank chassis. These were put on top of concrete pillboxes
I think I read somewhere that Panther turrets were used as pillboxes in Italy as well.
@@dp-sr1fd North Africa first.
@@bennyboogenheimer4553 Turrets from many different tanks were used throughout the war-- Panzer 1, Panzer 2, 35T, 38T, French British Russian turrets.
@@bennyboogenheimer4553 Sorry to dispell your statement, but no Panther turrets nor complete tanks were ever shipped to North Africa by the Germans in WW2. It just didn't occur.
Yes my father in law came up against them in italy, he was a sherman tank driver, 19th NZ armoured Corp, R'I'P, To all WW2 Veterans
A fascinating story and I for one have never heard of it before.
Thanks once again Dr. Felton!
I always look forward to more great history from Dr. Felton! Thanks for adding the unusual and obscure to the historical record!
All those defences might have been not enough in the end but you have to say at that stage of the war it was a seriously impressive attempt.
they were desperate and horrified of russian vengeance since they knew what they did to russia. if it were americans coming they prob wouldve just surrendered.
Like that last piece of sh*t that clings on when you just want to finish
It was suicide.
@@ahappyimago😂😂😂😢
they wanted to stop the russians so the Americans could take them I guess... as the russians could and did take those prisoners they caught to siberia.. like they promised my grandfather if he didn't get a german frauline pregnant and leave (he emigrated to australia)
You always manage to find such interesting topics to report about.
To anyone interested in this topic I strongly recommend the book "Panzers in Berlin" by Archer, Kraska and Lippert. A thorough read with awesome pictures and illustrations. I was born and raised in Berlin and it’s fascinating to realize what tragic fighting raged in the areas I know and live in.
Mark, your video brings back a memory, not from the Berlin battles of '45, but from my time in West Germany in the late '70s. Back then, our mechanized infantry company went to Berlin for urban warfare training. The instructors from the Berlin Brigade did an excellent job of teaching us the unique tactics required for urban combat, quite different from our usual training for the Fulda Gap scenario. Your video reminded me of a lesson about the panzer tank turret defense that one of the instructors shared. He also suggested that we should either weld manhole covers closed or, if we intended to use a sewer, storm drain, or utility tunnel for movement, we should place a vehicle tire or track over the manhole cover when it wasn't being used.
makes perfect sense. If you see the cover has been removed and no one from your unit is responsible for it...likely the enemy has breached your "hole" lol.
Tanks for another great story Doctor Felton.
Oh dear
You're very wehrmacht.
I can’t begin to imagine the sheer desperation to consider this as an option. Imagine burying the latest Abrams tank variants in the streets of Washington DC to try and stop some advancing enemy. Worse, imagine being trained to crew an Abrams, only to wind up commanding a turret sticking out of the ground. THAT BEING SAID, this is honestly a very good idea to create an instant AT bunker while also utilizing permanently disabled armor.
The real surpise is that such a low cost easily installed option was not used earlier and in more places.
@@amblincorkThe French did something similar using outdated tank turrets on the Maginot line.
04:33 Those dudes were BUSY!
Outstanding work, Doc Felton 😉
Another awesome video from Mr. Felton! Thank You so much for the content that rarely gets any attention and I love it! Thanks again and bravo sir bravo!
I never knew anything about this, but it doesn't surprise me at all. Another perspective of the desperation of the last battle. Thank you, Dr. Felton.
Would love to hear about more last ditch weapons! My grandfather was working on the development of the Borgward BIV in the final months of the war, with the addition of 6 88mm rocket tubes. We stumbled upon his picture during an inspection by some higher ranking German personnel. You can find this picture by Googling "Borgward BIV Crew" and he is the crew man nearest the camera on the right side of the photo. He lived a life time and a half prior to leaving Germany and creating a new legacy. Remarkable men were forged in that era, on both sides.
I get more hits than one when googling "Borgward BIV crew"
@@bramesque correct, my bad. It is the black and white image where the BIVs are being inspected, and there is white writing of "Ausf C" with an arrow pointing to the tank behind my grandfather and his crew mate friend (who unfortunately passed away in the Borgward BIV, they had a couple in the final months).
@@beauwille2294 Thanks, Found him! nice to see the picture! i believe it is a series.
When you open the page there is another BIV picture taken from the left hand side with some of the same people inspecting.
Could it be your grandfather standing on the mudguard?
@@bramesque awesome! They were working on a remote-control function of the BIVs as well.
That second photo was his crew mate/friend. Following his friend's death he was quite heavily injured and captured by Russians. He was sent to a POW in Germany and thought that may very well be his end. Then, during the Potsdam Conference, lesser camp security presented an opportunity to escape (and as he thought, the only one he'd ever have). So he was able to escape and the story/series of events after is not clear. Though it involved assistance from nuns, diving underwater to avoid passing patrols, and bearing a grenade behind his back when close to recapture as he had no intentions of ever returning to the POW camp. He was later able to find and reconnect with his girlfriend (my Grandmother) from the beginning of the war, and then they left Germany in the early 1950s to begin a new life elsewhere. Thank you for your interest!
Pretty interesting Vehicle
Very interesting. Not surprising at the end. Thank you
I'm always impressed with the images you have to share! Really amazing and most of which I've never seen. Thank you Sir.
Quite impressive that Mark Felton can still find new topics that he conveys in an interesting way.
Excellent video ! Thanks Mark !
Thanks for all the amazing content!
Thanks much for this little gem! Very enjoyable as always!
During the Cold War Austria made these Panzerturm bunkers at strategic locations across eastern Austria. They appeared in the videos I’ve seen operational in the ‘90s judging from the interior of some. They also had commando bunkers that were cylindrical with orange plastic seats that looked 1980s style. The doorways underneath the bunkers were color coded so you would be oriented correctly.
Do you know where one could find an image of said bunkers?
BIG TY to Dr. Felton ! I have been at study on German armor for many years, and these "static panzer Batt." is new to me.
The Panther turrets on cement casings in the Italian front are known in several books, both axis, and allied sources, but the static hulled Panthers are something fresh, and interesting.
This makes you the top of my choices, Thank You, TY.
Always love your uploads mark, I’m a WW2 Junkie and I learn so much I never even knew from your videos.
Incredible bits of ww2 history..you are as always "The best of the best". Ty Mark Felton
Best wishes from Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
They fought to the bitter end..even the ware wolfs never gave up.. Mark Felton great video as always!
As a 1/35 scale armor model builder I want to know where Dr. Felton is finding these scale models to use in his still cover shot of the video!
There are some outstanding builders around the world. It's a fascinating hobby
Absolutely!! I was an avid model builder as a kid. I build dozens of WWII ships before I got into German armor. I built quite a few dioramas, and had a Tamiya example of each from the Pz1 through the TigerII. My parents cringed every time I wanted a new $35 tank kit (in the 1980s)!! Fun childhood though, and my models were displayed all over locally, from winning ribbons at the fair, to being displayed in the library and even the local Navy recruiting office...
Of all my ww2 watching I've never heard of this. Mark Felton always finding interesting things in history
Just joined your Patreon at the Lieutenant tier. It’s long overdue. Your programming is beyond amazing.
Another treasure of a video! Cheers, Mark!
Thanks Mark for another great episode! ❤
Going by the amount of shell casings surrounding that Panther "Pillbox"... it got plenty of use!
💨
Another gem by Mark Felton :)
You might consider A longer version of these improvised defense ideas, seems worthwhile! Thanx again anyway for this great episode Mark, Greetz from Groningen
Always a terrific program.
I visited a bar in Berlin in 1998 with some Army buddies on furlough. An old German Soldier drunk told us how he fought off the Red Army using anti-aircraft guns. He was absolutely horrified by his memories
Another well done Mark👍👍👍
This seems like an incredible idea for a minature model
Awesome Dr. Felton. I always learn something new when I watch your content.
I'm Swedish and we actually did this during the cold war. In peace time, to "protect" our air bases. Though mostly, we simply took the turrets off the older tanks and placed them on bunkers.
As much of a WWII and German armor nerd as I am, how is it that this is the first time Ive heard of or seen these??? Thanks to Mark for continuing to dig up and explain these fascinating topics!!!
Well, it s because you think you know a lot, but actually you don’t….this is not some kind of hidden information or something🤦♂️
@@Arthur-f1i I never claimed i "knew a lot"... But thanks so much for the semi polite, yet douchey comment. Ill get back to reading and studying right away!!!
@@wheels-n-tires1846 well, the fact you call yourself a nerd suggests you know something about it…. This is really basic knowledge if you know anything about the last days of the third reich, I just thought it was a remarkable but hollow statement, thats all
@@Arthur-f1i Don't be a douche.
I always thought these were a cool, innovative, and resourceful use of tanks. I love your videos.❤
@@RandomDudeOne That's a quote, I've never heard from him, thanks.
@@RandomDudeOneimprovising when you're critically short of parts, men, fuel and ammo seems impressive to me. Maybe they could have placed the turrets on horses?
The weaknesses of static armored turrets are artillery and running out of ammunition. Apart from that, armor on the turret can be increased as long as the turret can still rotate.
Just wanted to say that your clips are the highlight of my day. Love history!
Awesome content as always! I don't know how you keep this stuff coming but I'm so glad you do.
It's called research and all you need is to know where to look e.g. books, websites or in the archives, I have over 1 million pages of German wartime documents on my PC which includes the original order for setting up Pz.Kompanie (bo) "Berlin" which I've had for at least 5 years now.
I am very grateful of your research and information on WWII. The history you give to us in video format is invaluable.
A wonderful historical coverage video about that matter ( Panzer pillboxes) for defining Berlin against USSR invading in 1945 ....that matter rarely labeled by other historical records....thank you Sir (Mark Felton ) ...
since the very first Roman mentions of them, the Germanic tribes are known to be fearsome warriors... nobody ever doubts that, and facing them in battle was always our last resort...
Amazing channel. If only some of my WWII serving relatives were alive to discuss what’s in Dr Felton’s channel.
Oh Panzer of the bunker, please share with me your wisdom!
Knapp dabei ist auch daneben außer bei Atomraketen
Dr. Felton,
Thank you for publishing this video! I recall seeing a film documenting a single German tank operating in a public park in Berlin that devastated Soviet forces. I wish I had more information about that tank and it's crew. Thank you again, from Texas!
The Germans also used Panther turrets on a concrete base in the fighting in Italy.
Hell yeah 😎 I discovered these a few weeks ago and have been waiting to see if the Doc would do a video about them 😎 Dr Felton never disappoints!
Excellent video once again Mr. Felton. You never cease to amaze.
Even though Germany's last ditch effort to defend Berlin Tanked. You have to give them credit for trying. Especially because they had all known for quite some time they'd lost the war and they were finished.
Yes, you have to give the Nazis credit for killing hundreds of thousands of people on all sides even after they knew the war was lost, just so they themselves could live a couple days longer.
@@RincetheWindWell said,too bad the assignation attempt july 20 44 failed
@@TRUMP20Z4Is there anything really funny about Hitler and Stalin?
@@TRUMP20Z4 well it wasnt like hitler ever realized how sick murdering people is he just didnt have time to murder more. of course what tyrant ever did besides the apostle paul
i guess they were just horrified of russian vengeance considering what they did to russia. so many ruusians died bc of the german invasion.
My grandfather, an East Prussian farmer and father of four young children, was conscripted into the Wehrmacht in late 1944. He strongly considered desertion-but my grandmother didn’t want him hung in front of the children. After fleeing East Prussia, to Denmark, by way of the Baltic Sea, she received word that my grandfather died as a POW of disease (diphtheria) and neglect in Russian captivity somewhere in Lithuania. M. Also a casualty, my mother’s little sister died of measles in the refugee camp. One my mother’s brothers became separated from the group during the chaos before reaching the Baltic Sea. A kind Danish man helped my grandmother find her missing son in an orphanage. They kept in touch and she married him after the war. They eventually immigrated to the US. Remarkably, now all in their 80’s, my mother and two brothers are all still alive. Perhaps like most ethnic Germans after the war, my grandmother described herself as ardently against the Nazis-that my grandfather decided it was better to be in the army than the SS. From her sister in Cologne-she knew that German propaganda about the war was patently false.
Having watched some of these tanks being restored on the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum channel, I recognised some features of tanks in the photos.
Thanks Mark for a Friday upload....and Thanks for an early start to my weekend.
It would have been tough attacking defences like this.
Years ago I used to read books in the Wheels of Terror series. I remember one story there where they dug a hole to drive their tank into before defending against an attack.
These tank bunkers were a well-known concept by this point in time. The Belgians and French used them in the interbellum as a way to reuse obsolete tanks to strenghten their static defences and the Germans liked the concept enough to use it with their atlantic wall. Of course these ones in particular would be extra fearsome because they were using high end tanks with big caliber guns instead of obsolete ones with smaller calibers.
Though the thing you describe is simply the tank going into a 'hull down' position. Basic concept is the same though the tank is less protected whilst retainng the ability to move.
Very cool episode
That's just the thing when you're waiting for Steiner's counter attack to bring the situation under control.
Thanks Dr. Felton!
Mr. Felton the fact you made a comprehensive study/video about dug-in static panther positions during the German's final stand against the Soviet communist hordes is absolutely why I wholeheartedly love your content. Bravo Mr. Felton...Bravo 😁👏
I'm freaking amazed, thank you Mark.
Interesting video! I really enjoy the short informative videos.
A side note to the term bodenständig:
It may translate to "standing on ground" or "static" but bodenständig can also describe a persons trait of being down to earth. Kinda ironic since the crew was actually physically way down to earth in their position, but on the other side thought to win the war in a burried, immobilized tank.
Yeah, I was meaning to say that. It's actually pretty tongue in cheek, the Nazis had a thing for inventing hilarious words and phrases for all things war 🥴 especially facing defeat.
@@greggoog7559
gallows humor. you would know if you had served in the military of your country.
Wow, thanks Mark !
This is yet another thing l knew nothing about from that era.
They also used many French and Czeck Turrets as strongpoints in Normandy
Mark did it again! Investigating another subject i didn't know about!
To be honest I had this exact same idea for a while now. I wondered if the tank could not move, but could still shoot, then why not use it as a pillbox/bunker and just bury then into the ground. I didn't actually think anyone did this until I saw this video.
Well produced and informative video, thanks
You would think they would have more ammo than a typical tank since they had one less crew member. And you could cut out the wall between the crew compartment and the now empty engine compartment and turn it into a small bunker with room for rotating sleep schedule and more stowage
Mark has answered many questions I had, that others failed to even address.
Imagine being stuck in that knowing a tidel wave of Red Army was going to inevitably crash on top of you
Thanks Mark. Absolutely love your videos of one of the most pivotal times in human history! I've learnt loads about military history from watching your content! Keep up the great work sir!
Somehow this story and the images brought home to me what a knock-down-drag-out the battle was. Would recommend The Last Battle by Cornelius Ryan for those with further interest.
Here's one for you Mark. Read many years ago that when J. Robert Oppenheimer was in university in GB he tried to poison one of his professors. But he was of such a high intellectual level that they let it pass without involving the police.
Tanks for the upload !
The Germans had a more standardized version of this for the Italian Campaign.
The remains of one can be seen in the painting: 'The Hitler Line' (1944) by Charles Comfort. The destruction of the emplacement with the detonation of its ammo supply due to Allied action was part of the inspiration for his painting.
"One gun created a fantastic sight," wrote Comfort in his diary, "sticking perpendicularly into the air, like a gigantic pylon memorializing the disasters of war. A direct hit had detonated its magazine, the resulting blast tearing the whole turret from its casemate and tossing it in the air. There it was, a vast, inert steel probe, blindly challenging the heavens."
I had heard of these, but never seen pictures. Thanks for the information, and pictures Dr. Felton!
I recall seeing a picture from the fighting in Italy, showing a knocked out Panther turret mounted on some kind of pillbox, but to the front of it was this long line of allied tanks, jeeps, and other vehicles it had taken a heavy toll of, before finally being disabled. It was hard to believe one turret had done all that damage.
Imagine a 4 way intersection being guarded with 4 of these 1 looking down each street, you have a mini Berlin flak tower, but mini flak bunker now
You dont have nothing,all that German improvisation are just proof they are been amateurs from start of ww2...They are look funny compared to Soviets...
@@Tom-uk2ow Then why are the Russians using T-72's as similar bunkers in Ukraine and getting destroyed by toy drones? ...seems funny. 🤔
@@Tom-uk2owCalm down Ivan...
@@Jreb1865 seems your father called Ivan
Must be a biden Democrat
Thank you Mark, I have seen pictures of those turret pillboxes, but I thought they tanks were buried for protection. The actual story is much more interesting.
These warriors were extremely creative and dedicated to the extreme.
Desperate as well.
Awesome video Dr Mark! Cheers Friend! JJ
My father in law was in New Zealand 19th armoured Corp driving sherman tanks and came up against them, said hard to see when camouflaged but what scared them was the flak 88s which could sit on back side of a hill, 2 km s away. His tank got hit dad and machine gunner was punched out of tank, only ones to survive. Spent one month in hospital
Perfect complement to reading Beevor’s ‘Berlin’ - superb visuals as always.
Couldn't tell that there was much difference from their previous Tobruk turrets except for the models used and maybe that they kept most of the hull as well.
WOW! I never knew that! thank you Mr Felton.
Germany in 1940: “HA HA! Why would anyone build something as stupid as the Maginot Line?”
Germany in 1945: “So we have this idea…”
The only dumb part of the Margot line was not extending it along the Belgium border.
mark never gets old, i love these videos
Fascinating as always. Has there even been a more detailed account of the battle for the Reichstag? Every account I've read just gives the same vague mention of a 1-2 day battle within the building, but little more other then the Russian flag on the roof story.