If my least favourite author Wilbur Smith had written this tale I would have called it BS. However if Felton's account is right it still sounds almost impossible. The truth is often strange it doesn't mean it isn't true.
@@philhawley1219 It's true alright. His food-bombings were financed by several charity collections run by swedish evening papers during the early 70's.
Somehow "mercenary" doesn't seem like an appropriate term for a man who continually used his flying skills and his wealth for humanitarian missions. He was a great man! Thank you for bringing his story to us Dr Felton.
G'day, You should try to listen more carefully. Anybody who buys themself a 2- engined Airliner, pays to have it converted to carry and drop bombs, repainting it, and then swanning off to fight in some other Country's War - is NOT ANY KIND OF "HUMANITARIAN" Unless you are thinking that Humanitarians are to Humans what Vegetarians are to Potatos and Cabbages. Then, when he grew bored with killing Slavs, he migrated to AfriKa - and spent another couple of decades in his privaty acquired and converted Air Force, bombing and strafing Blackfullas. He was a Mercenary Killer, who would fly "Humanitarian " Missions into War-Zones and Combat Areas - apparently because he was a Danger-Junkie and he got off on being shot at. Some people are like that. Such is life. Have a good one..... Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !
@@WarblesOnALotAnyone who is a professional soldier, as in, say, the US Army, is a mercenary, according to thee. But serving for free, and buying your own plane, that's not a mercenary, now, is it? Doing good but dangerous work - you say that's a "junkie." What an odd dictionary your mind is. Guess you're a "cynical naysaying scold."
@@WarblesOnALot You frame it as if the guy just wanted to kill Slavs and Africans. To me it looks like the guy simply didn't care where the combat zone was or who he'd be fighting, he just wanted the action. To the point he was willing to sign up with the RAF and drop bombs on Germans and fight his uncle's Luftwaffe.
@@spitfire1962 I understand this sentiment, but we won't even do that anymore. He will have to be black, doesn't matter if American or not, probably not since they hate our country anyway, and he will probably have a gay British sidekick.
Fun fact: One of Gustav Von Rosens sons (Eric, born 1950) teached me history in a private highschool in northern Sweden back in 2003-2004. He had countless of stories to tell about his father, who unfortunately didnt had much time to see his children. Erics father had told him how the plateaus on the Ethiopian highlands kept the Italian mustard gas from dispersing, creating an extremely lethal environment for anyone being around there. Apparently Gustav von Rosen was really angry about the Italians using mustard gas, and kept saying it was a war crime. Eric also told me about his fathers adventures in Biafra, that he had told his son about how he had blew up a silo containing air fuel (with soldiers on it) at an airbase at close range, and that he had almost crashed the plane from the huge explosion that followed. When i asked why he did all this, Eric told me that his father for his whole life had been an adrenaline-junkie that didnt fear death, and that is what eventually got himself killed. He had apparently been taken by surprise when the deadly attack happened in Ethiopia in 1977. As long as he stayed in the air he was safe, but on the ground he was apparently more fragile.
The use of mustard gas, aerosolised by modified crop duster aircraft over Ethiopia, was indeed a heinous war crime. One of the most horrible of the many committed by the occupying Italian forces. It poisoned many tracts of arable and grazing lands for decades to come and was deliberately intended to exterminate the Ethiopian people. Even with all their mechanisation and force of conventional arms, Mussolini's forces could not gain the upper hand against Ethiopia until they deployed this despicable, cowardly tactic. If you still have a contact for your former teacher, please invite him to come to Britain and visit Fairfield House in Bath where Emperor Haile Selassie lived and recieved treatment for His mustard gas burns while He was in exile here. We would love to record his testimony about his father for posterity.
A man who fought fascists, communists, and imperialist puppets. As an Ethiopian who is well read in our history I’m shocked that I’ve never heard of this noble man. When you were describing his feats it sounded like things you would expect from a James Bond film. I thank Gustav Von Rosen for his service to Ethiopia. May he rest in peace. Glory to the martyrs
A slightly related sidenote: A late 1930s Finnish far right magazine had a story about far right Finns who went to Ethiopia to fight, on the Ethiopian side against Italy. This is the logic: Finland has had so much problems because of greedy Russia, and now Italy was doing the same thing to Ethiopia. So, a handful of Finns decided to go to help you guys. They were far right, but focused on traditional values, nationalism and anti-Communism, and obviously not obsessed with race.
Far right Finna are different to what he refer to as far rights in general. Context is what matters. I wish the far rights of today are like people in the old. Stand for what you believe around the world
One of the things I absolutely love about this channel is how Dr. Felton refuses to ignore African relevance in world history. Its an extremely rare quality to be found amongst even the best educated and trained historians. If that weren’t enough, he has excavated a delicious morsel of history that reveals the complexity and irony of family relationships. Absolutely marvelous piece of work.
It was his father, Count Eric Von Rosen. The Cont had donated the first aircraft to the Finnish “whites” during the Finnish civil war in 1918 and was therefore considered tobe the founder of the Finnish airforce. The count had the swastika as his personal symbol so the Finnish airforce adopted the swastika on their aircraft and used it until 2020. Count Von Rosen became a Nazi during World War Two but his use of the swastika was older than that of Hitler and the NSDAP.
Wow! This man is inspirational to pilots all around the world. He helped starving civilians, fought communism on multiple occasions, flew for the Red Cross, and created a nation's air force. What a life to live! His adventures reminds me of when I read the accounts of Sir Carton Adrian de Wiart.
@@Luke-eo3bp It is. Considering all the harm communism (or any other branch of Marxism) has done everytime it's been attempted, there is no better cause to fight for.
The Nigerian civil war was debatable. Certainly Nigeria was no peach then or now. But the Bifarian separatists weren't either and got a lot of their people killed via direct violence and starvation.
@@M167A1 That's not true at all. I'm an Igbo so I would know. The civil war happened because there were anti-igbo (biafran, Igbos are Biafrans) pogroms, and because some accords weren't respected. Starvation was weaponised by the then Nigerian head of State Yakubu Gowon to kill off the Biafrans since the war was prolonging itself. Over 2 million Biafrans died as a result.
Intresting fact: the count's father count Eric von Rosen gifted the white army of Finland her very first aircraft on the 6th of march 1918 today celebrated as the foundation date of the Finnish air force it being the first independent air force in the world. Count von Rosen had painted his personal luck symbol of blue swastika, which he had encountered on his travels in Asia, on the Thulin Typ D he gifted the Finns. The symbol was adopted as the symbol of the Finnish air force and used until the allied Control Commission forced the Finns to discontinue it's use in 1945 being replaced by the Finnish roundel. The symbol is fowever still used on the flags of the three air commands aswell as on the flag of the air force academy.
As mentioned in the video, Eric Von Rosen was a Nazi. And he believed the symbol to be of Viking origin and thus appropriate for his fascist movement. While it’s true the Finnish Air Force did not, and does not, use the symbol as an endorsement of fascism, it did have its origins in that political movement.
@@uingaeoc3905you are totally correct . The same point is a repeated debate amongst aviation buffs . If ,as an individual ,I declare myself as a one man army I don’t think the British army would consider me as an army 😂
I have just written a similar comment without reading yours... At least I must say they are not equal and I swear I didn't copy. The only disagreement is that I thought Count Von Rosen bought three planes instead of one, but I am not 100,% sure.
@@hrungnir1231918 march 6. So.. Where is the Black standing on one foot Swastika ? Austrian corporal is a messenger in WW 1 West front trench.. Rosen enblem maybe Göring got with him in 1920’s to Bavaria. So 5-8 years later.
I have been watching Mark Felton's historical videos for quite a while. Mr. Felton's research and narrative are truly impressive, a most rewarding learning experience.
I'm loving the new content about Ethiopia. Out of all the many colourful characters of the world who fought for Ethiopia during its conflict with Italy, Carl Von Rosen was one of the most dedicated. He was the personal pilot of Emperor Haile Selassie on multiple occasions and probably acted as a secret agent on His behalf at times as well. Of the Emperor's supporters from abroad, maybe only Sylvia Pankhurst and Orde Wingate were as committed to Ethiopia's independence. Though Von Rosen was often paid handsomely for his services, he always chose to fight for causes he saw as just and gave more than he was ever paid to. When you come to Fairfield House, you can see the Orders Von Rosen was awarded with in person Mark.
You have outdone yourself sir! An outstanding biography of a man and pilot who devoted his military and civilian adventures to helping people in need. If only his uncle had followed the same path.
Thanks for showcasing the man who selflessly helped my Biafran bloods during the 1967 - 1970 genocide against the Eastern Nigerian Republic (Biafra) by Nigeria, the British and it's allies.
I remember fondly first reading about Von Rosen way back in 1986. He was featured in "Soldiers of Fortune", part of Time Life's "Epic of Flight" book collection. I was fascinated by his use of MFI-9s to attack the Nigerian Air Force. The artwork of one of these raids left an indelible impression on me.
Same here. It also mentioned that while the MFI-9 was marketed as a civilian aircraft, it had been designed for military purposes and therefore had reinforced wings with hardpoints for ordnance. Von Rosen knew this and that is why he selected these aircraft.
Eric Von Rosen donated the first serviceable aircraft to the Finnish White Army, the Thulin Typ D, on March 6, 1918 and this date has been celebrated as the anniversary of the Finnish Air Force since 1923. Eric Von Rosen had painted the plane's wing with his lucky symbol, a blue swastika, which he had become familiar with on his long trips. The swastika became the emblem widely used by the Finnish Air Force, which, however, was changed after the Second World War in April 1945 to the white-blue-white national emblem at the request of the Allied Control Commission. - Wikipedia Also the bought DC-2 plane which Carl Gustav Von Rosen flew during the Winter War is now restored to it's 1944 colors and it's on display in Hämeenlinna's Tuulos Shopping Center.
I owned and flew a 1964 Bölkow 208 Junior for 3 years…it is the West German built under license version of the SAAB MFI-9…It is still flying and owned by a gentleman in Washington state, N23AA. It was a wonderful aircraft to own and fly, powered by a 100 hp Continental aircraft engine…the aircraft was comfortable for pilots under 5’10” approximately…I’m 6’ and the legroom and angle of your hips, knees, and ankles during flight was uncomfortable after 30-40 mins of flight…but it sure was a lot of fun to fly and a great conversation starter at the airport…I always called it a “VW THING with Wings” Dr Felton, thank for featuring this unique piece of history on the Count and his exploits. With regards to the Biafra Babies, I believe that there were also a few American Pilots who had flown in WWII, that flew the little MFI-9’s During the Biafra Civil War. If memory serves me right, only one pilot was shot down and killed during combat, an African Pilot, who I believe was Biafran and/or Nigerian? Thanks again
Rosen was a man who worked tirelessly to others in need, spending almost all of his money and every other cent he could get doing so. The world needs more men like him.
Another interesting and less known connection that brings the war in East Africa together with the well known theatres. Illustrating the related Decorations awarded by the Emperor etc adds another historical dimension. So thank you again Dr Felton.... and now to Operation Gideon!
Reminds me of a Norwegian Veteran we would walk down to the Cenotaph in Vancouver, BC every Memorial Day. By the time he was in his late nineties, his medals weighted almost as much as HIM.
You can't choose your family, Herman Goring was among the most infamous people to live the 20th century. Yet his nephew, the Good Count von Rosen was a great humanitarian.
MFI= Malmö Flyg Industri , and I actually remember hearing on Swedish radio broadcasting when he was fighting/bombing i the Biaffrian/Nigerian war in 1970, Many thanks for bringing this person up Mr Felton! Cheers from Sweden
The MFI-9 is a variation of the Bolkow 208C Junior, a civilian plane manufactured in the early 1960s. It’s hard to imagine a 100 hp rocket-firing 2-seat trainer but it actually did happen and was successful in attacking enemy airfields. There are about 100 of the civilian Bolkow 208C’s still flying - mainly in the EU. About 6 are in the US (including the one I own, N7003V).
He’s one “Merck” who wasn’t a jerk and Goering was never boring.. what a great story thanks Dr. F for another banger! He definitely saw the raids in Africa
Count Carl Gustaf von Rosen was one of my fathers closest friends, they were childhood friends. He was always called CG in the inner circle. One lesser known thing about him is that he loved ice racing, he competed on motorcycles. I once saw a speedway world championship, in Malmö with him and my father. My grandfather was a famous garden architect (Norrviken Trädgårdar) and made the gardens for the von Rosen's castle Rockelstad. CG was gifted a coffee farm from Emperor Haile Selassie, that he kept until the Communist take-over. I am sorry Dr Mark, but there were no food bombing with MFI airplanes in Biafra. Wiki is a bit unclear on the topic unfortunately. As you said this came later with the successor to MFI-9B. It was the MFI-15/17 that did the food bombings in Ethiopia. In need for funding for the food bombings in Ethiopia, CG attended the Formula One race in Anderstorp, Sweden. My father and I in one MFI 15/17 and CG in another landed in parallel on the long straight of the racetrack. CG then taxied his aircraft around the circuit with the food bombing sacks hanging under the wings. In his last years my father reminded me that it was actually my idea that CG should taxi around the racetrack with the food bombing sacks, I had totally forgotten that🙂 Back to the Biafra operation. Claes Smith (former chief test pilot of Saab and chief pilot of Transair airlines), a friend of both my father and CG flew among other aircrafts DC-6 just above the tree tops into Biafra with food supplies. It often happened that they landed with new bullet holes. CG then turned to his old friend my father and asked if he could deploy the weapon system (MiniCOIN) developed by my father. My father was the founder of Malmö Flygindustri AB, MFI AB. The rest is history as they say Dr Mark!! On Carl Gustaf von Rosens death. He was not killed by Somalian soldiers. He died by a 12cm grenade launcher shell in his bedroom. I have that first hand from his son, Eric von Rosen.
@rudolfabelin383 Interesting story from firsthand! I just want to say that i have also met his son, Eric, when he was tutoring for a swedish private school in Östersund (Primrose) this was around 2003-2004. Eric told me about Bogota and Colombia which he had lived in for many years apparently. I was excited to hear about the country as i at that time was interested in the civil war there between the government, FARC and the paramilitary groups. I also did my last year project work about the conflict, and Eric was the first to read my essay. Today Colombia is more at peace, luckily. If you happen to meet Eric again, please say hi from Per, one of the highschool students from Primrose in Östersund. Maybe he doesnt remember me, but i remember him well :)
He is a hero. A world humanitarian. The fact that he supported Biafra as a white man and cared for its people makes me very proud of him. Absolute great post! RIP Sir X
The Biafrans got huge amounts of support from Europe and their leader was often wined and dined and haled as a hero. Millions were donated and European intelligence agencies smuggled weapons into Biafra on Red Cross aircraft. But he used child soldiers and abused his own people. The reason he got so much attention and support was because he promoted it as a Christian vs Muslim conflict and Europeans supported the defense and spread of Christianity in Africa.
Albert could only do so (and survive despite the gestapo was after him) because of a certain protection by his mighty brother. So, if you honor Albert you will indirectly honor Herrmann, too. Here lays the problem.
Thank you for making this video Mark. Truly a remarkable man whom l had never heard of. His wealth and position meant that he could have chosen a more "playboyish" life. Instead, he chose to do the right thing regardless of cost to himself. A fine example for others to follow. The Swedes are a remarkable people.
Heartfelt thanks for this film. My mother was Finnish. I have business links to Nigeria, and studied the Biafran Independence conflict decades ago. I had a vague ideas about DC2's in the WinterWar, and Saab's bombing Nigeria, , but this film puts those memories in context. Your videos almost always add context, and I thank you for that.
Truly a man's man, whose action spoke much louder than anything. That is until Dr. Mark F. comes along and reminds us of The Man. Thank you both for the history, and the re-telling of the history.
This was a good and accurate synopsis about a hero of a man who is relatively unknown. I came to first know him while researching unusual airplane designs and from there took a deep dive into Carl’s life and the surrounding history. Following is additional information that I’d like to share. At one time between the wars Goring flew for a charter company in Stockholm. On a snowy stormy day in February 1920 Goring flew Carl’s father (Eric) home. Carl was 10 years old at the time. Goring stayed that night and it is when he first met Carin. On first entering the home Goring noted the andirons with the swastika. Long before the Nazis this was a good luck symbol and it was on the von Rosen’s coat of arms. Eric was also a pilot and his airplanes had the symbol. Because of Eric’s association with the Finnish air force they also used the swastika on their airplanes. Carl had dyslexia which made school difficult for him and he was often beaten by his father for his poor studies and his resistance to authority. The family once had considerable wealth but lost almost all of it in the late 20s and early 30s. All of significance that remained was tied up in the land that they still owned. Carl was anti-Nazi and therefore no friend of his uncle Hermann during WWII. Carl married a Dutch woman and Goring suggested that Carl get out of Holland just before the Nazi invasion. His first wife chose to stay behind to work with the resistance. The Gestapo captured and tortured her but she survived the war. However the emotional and physical toll eventually led to suicide. The detail above comes from a definitive source. The author is Heli von Rosen, Carl’s daughter in-law. The book is entitled “Carl Gustaf Von Rosen:An Airborne Knight-Errant”. It was written in Swedish and later translated to English. It is still in print and available (in English) from “A” where I have also written a lengthy review. Carl’s life was an interesting, dangerous, and adventurous one. His stories are worthy of a true life movie if and when he becomes better known. Mark - your video might be one of those sparks :)
Thank you Mark. We need to hear more stories about the exploits of men of such high caliber. In todays world they are, sadly, all too few. All the best.
I was a third-grader at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School during Biafra's unsuccessful battle for independence. We regularly collected funds at school to send non-lethal aid to Biafra. The Igbo people are the largest ethnic group in that area, and most of them are Roman Catholics due to the missionary work of Irish clergy during Britain's colonial rule of Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria's patron saint is St. Patrick - an homage to the Irish missionaries. How ironic that a nephew of the #2 Nazi - a philosophy which holds that Africans are inferior to Aryans - not only spent much of his life training African war pilots, but is laid to rest in Addis Ababa, which is not only Ethiopia's capital, but one of the headquarters of the African Union.
It's a shame such a fine pilot could not find a home with the RAF. This man deserved better than life dealt him, but made the most of it anyway, and that, of itself, is remarkable. Thanks for sharing a glimpse at his life with us!
Great video Mark, but a small point of order: The MFI-9B "MiniCOIN" wasn't developed by SAAB, it was developed by Malmö Flygindustri (MFI), a seperate small company. SAAB later bought MFI and renamed the MiniCOIN the SAAB Supporter. The other white pilot in the Biafra Babies was Canadian Lynn Garrison, another man with a very colourful career that would make a good video.
Also, the plane shown dropping food in the video is an MFI-17 or SAAB Supporter, the larger version that was used in Ethiopia. In Swedish called "vetebombaren" which for a person with a Stockholm accent can mean both "the wheat bomber" and "the hydrogen bomber".
The other swedish pilots were Gunnar Haglund och Martin Lang along with local pilots Willy Murray-Bruce and Augustus Opke. Garrison was not part of the Biafra Babies according to Haglund's book as there were only 5 pilots flying the MFI9 in Biafra. I think he flew for the Biafran government. Some years ago, i was on a DC-3 flight with Carl Gustaf's daughter as cabin crew!
I had the pleasure of hearing this gentleman himself tell his life story at a lecture shortly after the Biafra events. A more humble, friendly person had to be looked for. That he so often risked his life to help underdogs, he took for granted. as far from National Socialism and dictatorships as he was, one must probably look for an equivalent
What a remarkable life!
100%
Indeed, very much a life well, honourably, and fully lived.
If my least favourite author Wilbur Smith had written this tale I would have called it BS. However if Felton's account is right it still sounds almost impossible.
The truth is often strange it doesn't mean it isn't true.
@@philhawley1219 It's true alright. His food-bombings were financed by several charity collections run by swedish evening papers during the early 70's.
He’s white. Hollywood will never make a story about him.
Somehow "mercenary" doesn't seem like an appropriate term for a man who continually used his flying skills and his wealth for humanitarian missions. He was a great man! Thank you for bringing his story to us Dr Felton.
Indeed. These are the men that makes me know racism is a mental desease, and group identity is a retardation of the mind.
100% with you
G'day,
You should try to listen more carefully.
Anybody who buys themself a 2- engined Airliner, pays to have it converted to carry and drop bombs, repainting it, and then swanning off to fight in some other Country's War - is NOT
ANY
KIND
OF
"HUMANITARIAN"
Unless you are thinking that Humanitarians are to Humans what Vegetarians are to Potatos and Cabbages.
Then, when he grew bored with killing Slavs, he migrated to AfriKa - and spent another couple of decades in his privaty acquired and converted Air Force, bombing and strafing Blackfullas.
He was a Mercenary Killer, who would fly "Humanitarian " Missions into War-Zones and Combat Areas - apparently because he was a Danger-Junkie and he got off on being shot at.
Some people are like that.
Such is life.
Have a good one.....
Stay safe.
;-p
Ciao !
@@WarblesOnALotAnyone who is a professional soldier, as in, say, the US Army, is a mercenary, according to thee.
But serving for free, and buying your own plane, that's not a mercenary, now, is it?
Doing good but dangerous work - you say that's a "junkie."
What an odd dictionary your mind is. Guess you're a "cynical naysaying scold."
@@WarblesOnALot You frame it as if the guy just wanted to kill Slavs and Africans. To me it looks like the guy simply didn't care where the combat zone was or who he'd be fighting, he just wanted the action. To the point he was willing to sign up with the RAF and drop bombs on Germans and fight his uncle's Luftwaffe.
Seems like he was motivated by desire to do good, not money. Seems a bit unfair to call him a mercenary. Fascinating story, thanks for telling it.
More of a Mercy-nary!
i mean he was a soldier for hire
@@tavish4699 It sounds more like Von Rosenberg hired his causes, not the other way around.
It could always be both.
@@barahngYou'd all be surprised to learn how many times that's true.
Where is the movie? What a life. Daring, humble service, conviction, positive attitude.
+amazer747. Von Rosen didn’t rescue any Jews nor helped any Allied POWs to escape. So Hollywood isn’t interested.
The Americans will probably only make it if the can pretend he was a yank.
Then why don't the Swedes make it. Other countries make movies too you know... jesus. @@spitfire1962
@@spitfire1962 I understand this sentiment, but we won't even do that anymore. He will have to be black, doesn't matter if American or not, probably not since they hate our country anyway, and he will probably have a gay British sidekick.
The PC crowd will never have it. the Bifaria conflict was against the UN, which was backing Nigeria, Ironically so was Sweden.
Fun fact: One of Gustav Von Rosens sons (Eric, born 1950) teached me history in a private highschool in northern Sweden back in 2003-2004. He had countless of stories to tell about his father, who unfortunately didnt had much time to see his children. Erics father had told him how the plateaus on the Ethiopian highlands kept the Italian mustard gas from dispersing, creating an extremely lethal environment for anyone being around there. Apparently Gustav von Rosen was really angry about the Italians using mustard gas, and kept saying it was a war crime. Eric also told me about his fathers adventures in Biafra, that he had told his son about how he had blew up a silo containing air fuel (with soldiers on it) at an airbase at close range, and that he had almost crashed the plane from the huge explosion that followed. When i asked why he did all this, Eric told me that his father for his whole life had been an adrenaline-junkie that didnt fear death, and that is what eventually got himself killed. He had apparently been taken by surprise when the deadly attack happened in Ethiopia in 1977.
As long as he stayed in the air he was safe, but on the ground he was apparently more fragile.
and somewhat cheesy to be taken out by Somalians, who never had a real country, and don't have one now.
Epic addendum. Thank you.
Your epitaph reminds of Steve Irwin dying underwater.
Nice additional information. Thx
The use of mustard gas, aerosolised by modified crop duster aircraft over Ethiopia, was indeed a heinous war crime. One of the most horrible of the many committed by the occupying Italian forces. It poisoned many tracts of arable and grazing lands for decades to come and was deliberately intended to exterminate the Ethiopian people. Even with all their mechanisation and force of conventional arms, Mussolini's forces could not gain the upper hand against Ethiopia until they deployed this despicable, cowardly tactic.
If you still have a contact for your former teacher, please invite him to come to Britain and visit Fairfield House in Bath where Emperor Haile Selassie lived and recieved treatment for His mustard gas burns while He was in exile here. We would love to record his testimony about his father for posterity.
A man who fought fascists, communists, and imperialist puppets. As an Ethiopian who is well read in our history I’m shocked that I’ve never heard of this noble man. When you were describing his feats it sounded like things you would expect from a James Bond film. I thank Gustav Von Rosen for his service to Ethiopia. May he rest in peace. Glory to the martyrs
A slightly related sidenote: A late 1930s Finnish far right magazine had a story about far right Finns who went to Ethiopia to fight, on the Ethiopian side against Italy. This is the logic: Finland has had so much problems because of greedy Russia, and now Italy was doing the same thing to Ethiopia. So, a handful of Finns decided to go to help you guys. They were far right, but focused on traditional values, nationalism and anti-Communism, and obviously not obsessed with race.
Far right Finna are different to what he refer to as far rights in general. Context is what matters. I wish the far rights of today are like people in the old. Stand for what you believe around the world
His father Eric von Rosen was a Nazi and a friend of many high rank Nazis.
A man who lived life on his own terms. Inspirational.
Formed his own squadron like The Red Baron. Interesting.
Von Rosen was a hero even for us young Swedes and I am so grateful you made this video about him.👍👍👍👍
Seems von Rosen was "the most interesting man in the world". A great example of how to create your own history. Thanks Dr. Felton.
Yes the world's most interesting man.
One of the things I absolutely love about this channel is how Dr. Felton refuses to ignore African relevance in world history. Its an extremely rare quality to be found amongst even the best educated and trained historians. If that weren’t enough, he has excavated a delicious morsel of history that reveals the complexity and irony of family relationships. Absolutely marvelous piece of work.
36 years later, Finland would name their last Valmet-built Draken after him, 'Kreivi von Rosen"
Didn't know that, thanks!
Are you sure it's after him and not his father, Eric von Rosen, whose donation of an aircraft to Finland in 1918 created the finnish airforce?
@@lavrentivs9891 in all honesty it’s likely both. They are both from the same name and they both served Finland one way or another)
Indeed it was his fathers namesake. And Finnish Airforce swastika emblem also came from count Rosen.
It was his father, Count Eric Von Rosen. The Cont had donated the first aircraft to the Finnish “whites” during the Finnish civil war in 1918 and was therefore considered tobe the founder of the Finnish airforce. The count had the swastika as his personal symbol so the Finnish airforce adopted the swastika on their aircraft and used it until 2020. Count Von Rosen became a Nazi during World War Two but his use of the swastika was older than that of Hitler and the NSDAP.
One of history's maddest lads, and a true humanitarian
A good and decent man, with an amazing story!! Thank you for bringing it to light Mark!!
My grandfather flew with him in biafra. He was also with him Helping to build the ethiopian airforce
Can you tell us his name please and maybe some stories from your grandfather? Thanks
😂😂😂@@ionflorea2601
Mark is on a ROLL with all the great new content lately. Thank you for the enjoyable and interesting Episodes !
Just because he was related to Herman Goring by marriage. The guy had his own views about the world.
same thoughts
Wow! This man is inspirational to pilots all around the world. He helped starving civilians, fought communism on multiple occasions, flew for the Red Cross, and created a nation's air force. What a life to live! His adventures reminds me of when I read the accounts of Sir Carton Adrian de Wiart.
i dont know if "fighting communism" is really a remarcable aspect, but alr
@@Luke-eo3bp It is. Considering all the harm communism (or any other branch of Marxism) has done everytime it's been attempted, there is no better cause to fight for.
Straight out of his uncle's gob.@@IamOutOfNames
@@IamOutOfNames ik that most communist leaders were evil, but the phrase "fighting communism" just sounds like american propaganda
Count Von Rosen managed to pick the morally just side of every conflict he became involved in. What a life.
The Nigerian civil war was debatable. Certainly Nigeria was no peach then or now. But the Bifarian separatists weren't either and got a lot of their people killed via direct violence and starvation.
@@M167A1 That's not true at all. I'm an Igbo so I would know. The civil war happened because there were anti-igbo (biafran, Igbos are Biafrans) pogroms, and because some accords weren't respected. Starvation was weaponised by the then Nigerian head of State Yakubu Gowon to kill off the Biafrans since the war was prolonging itself. Over 2 million Biafrans died as a result.
@@E_Moon-1wait wtf ? The Nigerian head of state killed 2 million of his own people ? Didn't he want to even understand what his people demanded ?
The sheer number of videos you've released illustrates just how much history surrounds WW2. It's unbelievable, and yet enthralling.
I always say that you can never learn all there is to know about WW2.
The fate of france would have changed if they took the briefcase of a german officer doing laundry for his wife seriously
Intresting fact: the count's father count Eric von Rosen gifted the white army of Finland her very first aircraft on the 6th of march 1918 today celebrated as the foundation date of the Finnish air force it being the first independent air force in the world.
Count von Rosen had painted his personal luck symbol of blue swastika, which he had encountered on his travels in Asia, on the Thulin Typ D he gifted the Finns. The symbol was adopted as the symbol of the Finnish air force and used until the allied Control Commission forced the Finns to discontinue it's use in 1945 being replaced by the Finnish roundel. The symbol is fowever still used on the flags of the three air commands aswell as on the flag of the air force academy.
As mentioned in the video, Eric Von Rosen was a Nazi. And he believed the symbol to be of Viking origin and thus appropriate for his fascist movement. While it’s true the Finnish Air Force did not, and does not, use the symbol as an endorsement of fascism, it did have its origins in that political movement.
@@uingaeoc3905you are totally correct . The same point is a repeated debate amongst aviation buffs . If ,as an individual ,I declare myself as a one man army I don’t think the British army would consider me as an army 😂
Awesome thank you
I have just written a similar comment without reading yours...
At least I must say they are not equal and I swear I didn't copy.
The only disagreement is that I thought Count Von Rosen bought three planes instead of one, but I am not 100,% sure.
@@hrungnir1231918 march 6. So.. Where is the Black standing on one foot Swastika ?
Austrian corporal is a messenger in WW 1 West front trench.. Rosen enblem maybe Göring got with him in 1920’s to Bavaria. So 5-8 years later.
Such a fantastic and interesting subject to cover.
As all ways, a heck of a good story about a heck of a good guy. Thanks Dr Felton
As an Ethiopian, this video is eye-opening. It uncovers a part of our history I never knew about. Thanks for expanding my awareness
Many thanks to you Mark for such a tribute to a hero of Ethiopia and Africa
I have been watching Mark Felton's historical videos for quite a while. Mr. Felton's research and narrative are truly impressive, a most rewarding learning experience.
Yes Mr. Mark Felton is top dog on my historical WWII needs. He got it together like that.
Man lived a life....
TRUTH !
And that is what we are to do.
Fear God, who can destroy both body and soul.
For man can only kill you once.
I'm loving the new content about Ethiopia. Out of all the many colourful characters of the world who fought for Ethiopia during its conflict with Italy, Carl Von Rosen was one of the most dedicated. He was the personal pilot of Emperor Haile Selassie on multiple occasions and probably acted as a secret agent on His behalf at times as well. Of the Emperor's supporters from abroad, maybe only Sylvia Pankhurst and Orde Wingate were as committed to Ethiopia's independence.
Though Von Rosen was often paid handsomely for his services, he always chose to fight for causes he saw as just and gave more than he was ever paid to.
When you come to Fairfield House, you can see the Orders Von Rosen was awarded with in person Mark.
You have outdone yourself sir! An outstanding biography of a man and pilot who devoted his military and civilian adventures to helping people in need. If only his uncle had followed the same path.
In my opinion, this story would make an exciting movie. Thanks for posting, cheers.
I red about this storytelling some 40 years ago. Nice to see mark made it more compelling and a full story line
It would, if the right people were allowed to direct it without any political correctness interference.
Too much of a life it would be multiple movies.
In 2024 the lead would be played by a sassy black lady, LaQueesha von Rosen.
Thanks for showcasing the man who selflessly helped my Biafran bloods during the 1967 - 1970 genocide against the Eastern Nigerian Republic (Biafra) by Nigeria, the British and it's allies.
When you think you’ve seen and heard it all ……. Dr Felton amazes you once again ! What an awe inspiring story . Thank you .
I remember fondly first reading about Von Rosen way back in 1986. He was featured in "Soldiers of Fortune", part of Time Life's "Epic of Flight" book collection.
I was fascinated by his use of MFI-9s to attack the Nigerian Air Force. The artwork of one of these raids left an indelible impression on me.
That's where I first heard of him, too.
@@DonaldRilea Same here.
Me too.
Same here. It also mentioned that while the MFI-9 was marketed as a civilian aircraft, it had been designed for military purposes and therefore had reinforced wings with hardpoints for ordnance. Von Rosen knew this and that is why he selected these aircraft.
"The Flea with Sharp Teeth"
Eric Von Rosen donated the first serviceable aircraft to the Finnish White Army, the Thulin Typ D, on March 6, 1918 and this date has been celebrated as the anniversary of the Finnish Air Force since 1923.
Eric Von Rosen had painted the plane's wing with his lucky symbol, a blue swastika, which he had become familiar with on his long trips.
The swastika became the emblem widely used by the Finnish Air Force, which, however, was changed after the Second World War in April 1945 to the white-blue-white national emblem at the request of the Allied Control Commission.
- Wikipedia
Also the bought DC-2 plane which Carl Gustav Von Rosen flew during the Winter War is now restored to it's 1944 colors and it's on display in Hämeenlinna's Tuulos Shopping Center.
I owned and flew a 1964 Bölkow 208 Junior for 3 years…it is the West German built under license version of the SAAB MFI-9…It is still flying and owned by a gentleman in Washington state,
N23AA.
It was a wonderful aircraft to own and fly, powered by a 100 hp Continental aircraft engine…the aircraft was comfortable for pilots under 5’10” approximately…I’m 6’ and the legroom and angle of your hips, knees, and ankles during flight was uncomfortable after 30-40 mins of flight…but it sure was a lot of fun to fly and a great conversation starter at the airport…I always called it a “VW THING with Wings”
Dr Felton, thank for featuring this unique piece of history on the Count and his exploits.
With regards to the Biafra Babies, I believe that there were also a few American Pilots who had flown in WWII, that flew the little MFI-9’s
During the Biafra Civil War. If memory serves me right, only one pilot was shot down and killed during combat, an African Pilot, who I believe was Biafran and/or Nigerian?
Thanks again
Still flying relief missions at 68 years old. Remarkable!
Rosen was a man who worked tirelessly to others in need, spending almost all of his money and every other cent he could get doing so.
The world needs more men like him.
Another interesting and less known connection that brings the war in East Africa together with the well known theatres. Illustrating the related Decorations awarded by the Emperor etc adds another historical dimension. So thank you again Dr Felton.... and now to Operation Gideon!
Reminds me of a Norwegian Veteran we would walk down to the Cenotaph in Vancouver, BC every Memorial Day. By the time he was in his late nineties, his medals weighted almost as much as HIM.
You can't choose your family, Herman Goring was among the most infamous people to live the 20th century. Yet his nephew, the Good Count von Rosen was a great humanitarian.
Wow i never knew of him. What a hero he was😊
What a wonderful human being behalf of my Ethiopian community wanted to say thank you for your service Mr. Rosen may your soul rest in peace🙏🏾✊🏽
Another GREAT tidbit of interesting history. Thanks Dr. Mark.
He sounds like a principled and brave gentleman. May he rest in peace.
What an amazing life....a march through history...a man of principle. Thanks
Another fascinating video! Cheers Dr. Felton!
MFI= Malmö Flyg Industri , and I actually remember hearing on Swedish radio broadcasting when he was fighting/bombing i the Biaffrian/Nigerian war in 1970, Many thanks for bringing this person up Mr Felton! Cheers from Sweden
The MFI-9 is a variation of the Bolkow 208C Junior, a civilian plane manufactured in the early 1960s. It’s hard to imagine a 100 hp rocket-firing 2-seat trainer but it actually did happen and was successful in attacking enemy airfields. There are about 100 of the civilian Bolkow 208C’s still flying - mainly in the EU. About 6 are in the US (including the one I own, N7003V).
Two great documentaries on Ethiopia.Thanks Dr Mark 🙏
Your videos always amaze and educate.
Cheers!
🫡
He’s one “Merck” who wasn’t a jerk and Goering was never boring.. what a great story thanks Dr. F for another banger! He definitely saw the raids in Africa
I hear Goering's brother was also a pretty good guy
Hell yes. Read the book "The 34" by William Hastings Burke. What a guy.
Actually that person was Albert Goering, he was basically the opposite of Georing personality
Most people are good, until they are given too much power
@@milesbrown8016or money
What an adventurer! And a good humanitarian too. Imagine the stories he could have told!
Von Rosen's grandmother was Huldine Beamish, from the family who brewed Beamish & Crawford stout (beer) in Cork, Ireland.
Thanks for another " I didn't know that!" video, Mark Felton Productions!
Count Carl Gustaf von Rosen was one of my fathers closest friends, they were childhood friends. He was always called CG in the inner circle. One lesser known thing about him is that he loved ice racing, he competed on motorcycles. I once saw a speedway world championship, in Malmö with him and my father.
My grandfather was a famous garden architect (Norrviken Trädgårdar) and made the gardens for the von Rosen's castle Rockelstad.
CG was gifted a coffee farm from Emperor Haile Selassie, that he kept until the Communist take-over.
I am sorry Dr Mark, but there were no food bombing with MFI airplanes in Biafra. Wiki is a bit unclear on the topic unfortunately. As you said this came later with the successor to MFI-9B. It was the MFI-15/17 that did the food bombings in Ethiopia. In need for funding for the food bombings in Ethiopia, CG attended the Formula One race in Anderstorp, Sweden. My father and I in one MFI 15/17 and CG in another landed in parallel on the long straight of the racetrack. CG then taxied his aircraft around the circuit with the food bombing sacks hanging under the wings. In his last years my father reminded me that it was actually my idea that CG should taxi around the racetrack with the food bombing sacks, I had totally forgotten that🙂
Back to the Biafra operation. Claes Smith (former chief test pilot of Saab and chief pilot of Transair airlines), a friend of both my father and CG flew among other aircrafts DC-6 just above the tree tops into Biafra with food supplies. It often happened that they landed with new bullet holes. CG then turned to his old friend my father and asked if he could deploy the weapon system (MiniCOIN) developed by my father. My father was the founder of Malmö Flygindustri AB, MFI AB. The rest is history as they say Dr Mark!!
On Carl Gustaf von Rosens death. He was not killed by Somalian soldiers. He died by a 12cm grenade launcher shell in his bedroom. I have that first hand from his son, Eric von Rosen.
@rudolfabelin383 Interesting story from firsthand! I just want to say that i have also met his son, Eric, when he was tutoring for a swedish private school in Östersund (Primrose) this was around 2003-2004. Eric told me about Bogota and Colombia which he had lived in for many years apparently. I was excited to hear about the country as i at that time was interested in the civil war there between the government, FARC and the paramilitary groups. I also did my last year project work about the conflict, and Eric was the first to read my essay. Today Colombia is more at peace, luckily. If you happen to meet Eric again, please say hi from Per, one of the highschool students from Primrose in Östersund. Maybe he doesnt remember me, but i remember him well :)
@@cubismo85 I will certainly do so!
What an adventurous, eventful and honourable life! Salute to him!
He is a hero. A world humanitarian. The fact that he supported Biafra as a white man and cared for its people makes me very proud of him. Absolute great post! RIP Sir X
The Biafrans got huge amounts of support from Europe and their leader was often wined and dined and haled as a hero. Millions were donated and European intelligence agencies smuggled weapons into Biafra on Red Cross aircraft. But he used child soldiers and abused his own people. The reason he got so much attention and support was because he promoted it as a Christian vs Muslim conflict and Europeans supported the defense and spread of Christianity in Africa.
@@N17C1 Really? You’re making an opinion on your ideas about that conflict and opinions are like ar$e holes, everyone has got one.
No person's story is missed from history with Dr Felton.
Maybe make a video about his brother Albert Goering who saved many Jews and got no honor after the war.
Sounds like a traitor.
@@GooseEggBobby...traiter or hero...sometimes just a matter of time...!
...and b.t.w....
...hero...!
@@GooseEggBobby So do you.
Albert could only do so (and survive despite the gestapo was after him) because of a certain protection by his mighty brother. So, if you honor Albert you will indirectly honor Herrmann, too. Here lays the problem.
@@ras6016 perspective. Where do u live and what’s ur ethnicity?
Quite surprised so few know about him. His exploits in the Biafra are legendary.
We remember a time when comments weren't systematically censored.
Yeah, it's gotten out of hand.
It's an election year, Google has picked a side, so expect the censorship to get even more out of hand.
What are you talking about? Half the comments are Nazi remnants talking about why they lost
The Count deserves his own big budget movie. What an incredible life.
Imagine the propaganda value of Goerings nephew fighting for the RAF! ?
Admired this man from the first moment I read about him…. Well explained, thank you
Thank you for making this video Mark.
Truly a remarkable man whom l had never heard of. His wealth and position meant that he could have chosen a more "playboyish" life. Instead, he chose to do the right thing regardless of cost to himself. A fine example for others to follow.
The Swedes are a remarkable people.
It's always a joy listening to Mark's stories. You just know it tells us something we never knew or is totally forgotton.
Heartfelt thanks for this film. My mother was Finnish. I have business links to Nigeria, and studied the Biafran Independence conflict decades ago. I had a vague ideas about DC2's in the WinterWar, and Saab's bombing Nigeria, , but this film puts those memories in context. Your videos almost always add context, and I thank you for that.
A remarkable man, completely unknown to me before now. Thank you, Dr. Felton.
Another Fascinating story!
A completely new piece of history I knew nothing about. Fascinating. Thanks Mark.
Another gem from Mr Felton
Another rare historical gem, layed at our doorstep, amazing!
Thank you for this video. Thank you for remembering these wonderful men. Thank you for remembering me.
Truly a man's man, whose action spoke much louder than anything. That is until Dr. Mark F. comes along and reminds us of The Man. Thank you both for the history, and the re-telling of the history.
This was a good and accurate synopsis about a hero of a man who is relatively unknown. I came to first know him while researching unusual airplane designs and from there took a deep dive into Carl’s life and the surrounding history. Following is additional information that I’d like to share.
At one time between the wars Goring flew for a charter company in Stockholm. On a snowy stormy day in February 1920 Goring flew Carl’s father (Eric) home. Carl was 10 years old at the time. Goring stayed that night and it is when he first met Carin. On first entering the home Goring noted the andirons with the swastika. Long before the Nazis this was a good luck symbol and it was on the von Rosen’s coat of arms. Eric was also a pilot and his airplanes had the symbol. Because of Eric’s association with the Finnish air force they also used the swastika on their airplanes.
Carl had dyslexia which made school difficult for him and he was often beaten by his father for his poor studies and his resistance to authority.
The family once had considerable wealth but lost almost all of it in the late 20s and early 30s. All of significance that remained was tied up in the land that they still owned.
Carl was anti-Nazi and therefore no friend of his uncle Hermann during WWII. Carl married a Dutch woman and Goring suggested that Carl get out of Holland just before the Nazi invasion. His first wife chose to stay behind to work with the resistance. The Gestapo captured and tortured her but she survived the war. However the emotional and physical toll eventually led to suicide.
The detail above comes from a definitive source. The author is Heli von Rosen, Carl’s daughter in-law. The book is entitled “Carl Gustaf Von Rosen:An Airborne Knight-Errant”. It was written in Swedish and later translated to English. It is still in print and available (in English) from “A” where I have also written a lengthy review.
Carl’s life was an interesting, dangerous, and adventurous one. His stories are worthy of a true life movie if and when he becomes better known. Mark - your video might be one of those sparks :)
A life well lived for the Count! Thanks for all the treasures you share Dr Felton!
Bravo again, sir! Cheers, Mark!
Thank you for the service you gave for our country's patriots. We will never forget your services.
Thank you Mark. We need to hear more stories about the exploits of men of such high caliber.
In todays world they are, sadly, all too few. All the best.
Thank you sir for these very interesting stories I have enjoyed every one you have posted
Dr Felton never disappoints. Always either something completely new or at least from a completely different viewpoint.
Wonderful!!
Thank YOU!!! Very very MUCH!!!
This was one hell of a interesting story to put it mildly.
I was a third-grader at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School during Biafra's unsuccessful battle for independence. We regularly collected funds at school to send non-lethal aid to Biafra. The Igbo people are the largest ethnic group in that area, and most of them are Roman Catholics due to the missionary work of Irish clergy during Britain's colonial rule of Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria's patron saint is St. Patrick - an homage to the Irish missionaries.
How ironic that a nephew of the #2 Nazi - a philosophy which holds that Africans are inferior to Aryans - not only spent much of his life training African war pilots, but is laid to rest in Addis Ababa, which is not only Ethiopia's capital, but one of the headquarters of the African Union.
It's a shame such a fine pilot could not find a home with the RAF. This man deserved better than life dealt him, but made the most of it anyway, and that, of itself, is remarkable. Thanks for sharing a glimpse at his life with us!
This is the kind of content that has earned you the audience you have. Outstanding.
Incredible and breathtaking. Tribute to count von Rosen
An adventurer who did his way ! Thanks
I love Dr Felton's shortish presentations.
My my my , Doc has done it again ! Thank you
As always a great story❤
Great video Mark, but a small point of order: The MFI-9B "MiniCOIN" wasn't developed by SAAB, it was developed by Malmö Flygindustri (MFI), a seperate small company. SAAB later bought MFI and renamed the MiniCOIN the SAAB Supporter. The other white pilot in the Biafra Babies was Canadian Lynn Garrison, another man with a very colourful career that would make a good video.
Greetings from Canada; so, "notanother" Cdn. pilot on the go!
Lynn Garrison? Good grief...! Yes that'd be another fascinating story to tell...
Also, the plane shown dropping food in the video is an MFI-17 or SAAB Supporter, the larger version that was used in Ethiopia. In Swedish called "vetebombaren" which for a person with a Stockholm accent can mean both "the wheat bomber" and "the hydrogen bomber".
The other swedish pilots were Gunnar Haglund och Martin Lang along with local pilots Willy Murray-Bruce and Augustus Opke. Garrison was not part of the Biafra Babies according to Haglund's book as there were only 5 pilots flying the MFI9 in Biafra. I think he flew for the Biafran government.
Some years ago, i was on a DC-3 flight with Carl Gustaf's daughter as cabin crew!
Truly, a brave man of the highest character.
Thanks Dr Felton
Another EXCELLENT production by the illustrious Mark Felton...keep them coming
Such a complex story…worthy of a movie
Thank you for the interesting post an amazing man
I had the pleasure of hearing this gentleman himself tell his life story at a lecture shortly after the Biafra events. A more humble, friendly person had to be looked for. That he so often risked his life to help underdogs, he took for granted. as far from National Socialism and dictatorships as he was, one must probably look for an equivalent
The thing about all of Mark's videos is the detail & accuracy, well researched unlike many others...
Decent guy , definitely a story worth telling ,thanks Mark .
Bro was an actual chad, we need a movie about him
I can't think of a better example of "every man has a life, but few truly LIVE".
Fascinating,a great humanitarian.One of your best uploads mark thank you 🙏
this deserves a movie
There's nothing like little known history to grab one's attention.
Thanks Mark 👍