Reichswehr - Germany's Forgotten Army

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  • Опубліковано 30 сер 2020
  • The history of Germany's tiny interwar army, the Reichswehr, and its secret planning for war.
    For Military1945 visit:
    / @m1945
    Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
    Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
    Help support my channel:
    www.paypal.me/markfeltonprodu...
    / markfeltonproductions
    Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
    This video is not monetised and all images and film are used in accordance with Fair Use for educational purposes.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,1 тис.

  • @Minboelf
    @Minboelf 3 роки тому +2761

    Allies to Germany:You can only have 100,000 professional soldiers
    Germany: "Professional" you say ?

    • @RonJohn63
      @RonJohn63 3 роки тому +137

      -TBF, the Entente did not say "professional". They just said. "100,000 soldiers".- EDIT: I was wrong; they *did* say "professional", in the form of long-contract soldiers.

    • @mr.j2040
      @mr.j2040 3 роки тому +176

      @Edmund Gotama 200% DISCIPLINE

    • @frien_d
      @frien_d 3 роки тому +66

      ...and they invented roaming biker marauders before ken shiro and mad max

    • @mkoschier
      @mkoschier 3 роки тому +14

      RonJohn63 for a new WH inf div you need approx 1000 Cadre so with the RW the WH could make 100-150 div without over stretching the Off and UOff corps

    • @MarcusHelius
      @MarcusHelius 3 роки тому +41

      Then we shall have 100,000 super-soldiers! :D

  • @Guitcad1
    @Guitcad1 3 роки тому +635

    Reichswehr: We'll just train 100,000 sergeants and senior officers, then when the time is right we'll give them privates and lieutenants.

    • @mihajlovucinic011
      @mihajlovucinic011 3 роки тому +48

      Yeah. Its easy to give basic training to millions but its not easy to make good leaders.

    • @niccolopaganini4268
      @niccolopaganini4268 3 роки тому +12

      How can you have someone be senior officer without being him a junior officer (lieutenant) first?

    • @qboxer
      @qboxer 3 роки тому +32

      @@niccolopaganini4268 they had almost all likely been junior NCOs and junior officers during the war.

    • @niccolopaganini4268
      @niccolopaganini4268 3 роки тому +4

      @@qboxer oh ok, I didn't really get it at first

    • @Burner.Account..
      @Burner.Account.. 3 роки тому +22

      @@niccolopaganini4268 You first train them to their rank, then provide additional training for knowledge for the rank above so you can simply promote all of them at once while filling in the bottom ranks. Say, if you've been a soldat(private) for several years, you'll know how to be a gefreitor(corporal) simply by being used to seeing what he does. The additional training tells you why he's doing what he does. In the German's case, the person has everything he needs to become a corporal, except the army doesn't have enough men for him to lead, until the limit drops and suddenly most of the older soldats become gefreitors and gefreitors become fahnrichs (sergeants). The command structure is still used to working with each other and doing the same things, except now your unit and your play space becomes bigger.

  • @RCAvhstape
    @RCAvhstape 3 роки тому +344

    It's amazing how fast the German military was able to modernize in just a few short years, with all the prep work done in secret or almost secret.

    • @winnienguyen4420
      @winnienguyen4420 2 роки тому +14

      Thanks to the Soviet Union.

    • @sc1338
      @sc1338 2 роки тому

      @@winnienguyen4420 Putin needs to denazify Russia

    • @younes2415
      @younes2415 2 роки тому

      Experience is key in warfare.

    • @franciscouderq1100
      @franciscouderq1100 Рік тому

      Now I understand better how Germany could so quickly rearmed and expend. As usual Fascinating stuff from our Doc.

    • @Justin.Martyr
      @Justin.Martyr Рік тому

      *A Year usuaLLy has 365 days in it!!!*
      *How Hany Days are there is a "short" year????*

  • @otakurt1149
    @otakurt1149 3 роки тому +728

    Allies: we're Limiting your army's *Quantity*
    Germany: **Laughs in Quality**

    • @m1garand903
      @m1garand903 3 роки тому +17

      Otakurt wehraboo

    • @DimBeam1
      @DimBeam1 3 роки тому +13

      Germany lost.

    • @cynthash100
      @cynthash100 3 роки тому +22

      Allies: **laughs in everything**

    • @Cjnw
      @Cjnw 3 роки тому +8

      Normie

    • @generalgta3528
      @generalgta3528 3 роки тому +7

      @@Cjnw YOU'RE HERE, TOO?!?! PLEASE REPLY!!!

  • @Charles_Anthony
    @Charles_Anthony 3 роки тому +1667

    I read about this army, but it's so much more entertaining to listen to Dr. Felton.

    • @gunner678
      @gunner678 3 роки тому +12

      A crucial foetus that would become the most destructive military machine on the planet. New doctrines, weapons, structures, war planning etc all came from this tiny force (although it sounds quite large in today's terms).

    • @steveyoung3245
      @steveyoung3245 3 роки тому +3

      Well said,I have watched for years now.

    • @jewnbugshekelstein5180
      @jewnbugshekelstein5180 3 роки тому +2

      I wonder what Dr. William Pierce would say about this.

    • @schulze25
      @schulze25 3 роки тому +4

      Dr??

    • @Charles_Anthony
      @Charles_Anthony 3 роки тому +13

      @@schulze25 : At this point, even if the man doesn't have a PHD in anything, he has proven his surgical skill in cutting straight to the chase with these obscure but very important historical topics.

  • @No11Scalpel
    @No11Scalpel 3 роки тому +519

    An Arabic proverb says " If you honor the honorable, you'll own his gratitude for ever. If you Honor the dishonorable he'll repel on you " meaning he'll deem you weak. The same poet also said " If you dishonor the honorable he'll never rest until its washed off with blood "
    A lesson how to treat you enemy in defeat to avoid a future tragedy

    • @assassin_rk42
      @assassin_rk42 3 роки тому +18

      The imperial army was certainly good at what they needed to do. But the powers and thinkers at the time did not want to honor their enemy for both bravery and sacrifice like they did their own men.

    • @No11Scalpel
      @No11Scalpel 3 роки тому +30

      @@assassin_rk42 Its not about being decent or showing any appreciation for a fallen foe or worthy opponent .Its about knowing the culture of you enemy & thier ethos. Most of the time & specially in some cultures where pride takes front stage to wealth & life itself showing some "Fake" appreciation might save in the long run .
      Somethings are not forgotten not for generations .

    • @yourstruly4817
      @yourstruly4817 3 роки тому +9

      Honor means something very different in Western culture

    • @SeverityOne
      @SeverityOne 3 роки тому +18

      The thing is, though, that the German Empire, or more accurately Prussia, was a thoroughly militaristic state. What they didn't do after WW1 was to get rid of the old guard. Yes, the Kaiser had gone, but he was never the power in Germany: the military were. So yes, the Versailles Treaty was unfair, and undoubtedly contributed to WW2, but Germany ceased to be a threat and destabilising factor in Europe after they removed anybody who had been culpable, and replaced them with people who actually believed in this thing called "democracy". And today, it's not an exaggeration to say that Germany is a leading moral voice in Europe, perhaps even the most leading of all.

    • @No11Scalpel
      @No11Scalpel 3 роки тому +10

      @@SeverityOne Agreed in regards to Germany leading the "Moral voice "yet sometimes you must tolerate some bad apples, at least for a while , just because they've became symbols for thier nation & you don't want to antagonist everybody .
      And Germany's militarism was mostly a combination of inferiority complex & being looked down upon by the French/English Ala what's happening right now with Russia & Turky each taken separately. Along with restoration of national pride.
      It's easier to think we're better than everybody than realizing that we all have some good & mostly bad .

  • @daswuerti3669
    @daswuerti3669 3 роки тому +141

    You forgot to mention, that the Reichswehr implemented a new way to train the officercorps. In the Reichswehr a new officer has to learn and commit the task of the next higher rank too, resulting in a intense increase of capable officers. This even continued into the Wehrmacht.

    • @CFinch360
      @CFinch360 2 роки тому +13

      Cross training/upskill training. Still of good use in corporations today.

  • @user-ky6vw5up9m
    @user-ky6vw5up9m 3 роки тому +959

    “ what are our troops doing in Vietnam ? “
    “Dont worry Mr President they are just Advisers”
    “ How many Advisers are there?”
    “50,000 Sir”.

    • @laniesenagonia3104
      @laniesenagonia3104 3 роки тому +11

      😂😂😂

    • @kelleysauer1693
      @kelleysauer1693 3 роки тому +20

      It was the president - Johnson - who was the culprit, not the military.

    • @benbaselet2026
      @benbaselet2026 3 роки тому +2

      Oh that time they actually told the politicians what was going on?

    • @Joe-gu6oe
      @Joe-gu6oe 3 роки тому +1

      There was good reason.

    • @michaelcolt4196
      @michaelcolt4196 3 роки тому +21

      @@Joe-gu6oe No, there wasn´t. America lost the war, south vietnam fell and the region didn´t ceased to communism. As much as i hate anything that has to do with the communist and marxist agenda, vietnam was a mistake

  • @maxbowen5605
    @maxbowen5605 3 роки тому +1255

    God please give Mark Felton a netflix show, narrating obscure historical events.

    • @dyveira
      @dyveira 3 роки тому +55

      To me, Mark Felton is the History Channel. I've learned more from him than I ever did from that bloody farce of a television network.

    • @maxbowen5605
      @maxbowen5605 3 роки тому +4

      @John Milton I totally would if it was mark!

    • @hobomeak69
      @hobomeak69 3 роки тому +1

      this is that

    • @RealismAndHonor
      @RealismAndHonor 3 роки тому +6

      I agree it used to be the old school history channel that would solidify the book knowledge i remember but Marky Mark Felton is like main lining straight history facts.

    • @tdolan500
      @tdolan500 3 роки тому +12

      I’d love for someone to professionally produce his videos but I feel this information is too valuable to be put behind a paywall.

  • @bojomay2952
    @bojomay2952 3 роки тому +764

    Teacher: how did you pass history.
    Me: Mark Felton

  • @jochenschmidt1072
    @jochenschmidt1072 3 роки тому +72

    As a german (born 1966) i was very interested in history since my school time. But even as a very young man, i had always the feeling, that not every thing was spoken about - especially when it comes to WW1, the treaty of versaille, the social-democratish world view and their mentioning in every german history book as "the good ones"!
    Imagine my surprise, when i learned, that the weimar republic relied on the "Freikorps" to push back the invading polish and to surpress the bolschevik uprisings in Germany. I can recommend one very good book about those times. It is written by a former Bundeswehr General - no nazi, no nationalist, but a military historian. It is big book, with a lot of sources, nearly all from the allied side.
    The book title: "1939 - Der Krieg der viele Väter hatte". The author : Gerd Schultze-Rhonhof.
    For me, this book was an eyeopener. I don´t agree with some things Schultze-Rhonhof has written. But, its the only book (in german language) wich shows a different point of view. It is refreshingly "different" , because the author tries not to blame the people, who lived in their times, by knowing the outcome. He does not swing his pointy finger from a position 80years after.
    Don´t get me wrong - history should be seen from different angles. I was always interested in what the sovjets, the amercian, the frensh, the british AND the germans where doing in the past - without taking sides.
    Sorry for my bad english - i hope i could give my 2 cents here - and thank you very, very mauch, Mr. Dr. Felton for your wonderful channel.

    • @-BUILT_LIKE_A_BAG_OF_MILK
      @-BUILT_LIKE_A_BAG_OF_MILK Рік тому +3

      I realised the same in my schooling (Scotland) in the 90's when it came to history it left more questions than answers & just made UK out to be angels in any conflict, having teachers who thought my questioning it was me being argumentative put me off history for the rest of my schooling. When I left I, like you liked to dive into the history of all sides of a conflict & if I come to the conclusion my own country carries guilt or done wrong I'm happy to do so (which we have alot to pick from).
      I do prefer to learn of foreign countries history more I must admit, purely because its not what I myself have grew up around its more fascinating. I shall give the book you recommended a look thank you.

    • @vascovideo5678
      @vascovideo5678 9 днів тому

      Next to nothing printed in English on topic. I have many related books. Some in German. I never translated

  • @petitponeydu7727
    @petitponeydu7727 3 роки тому +227

    i'd love to hear Dr Felton talk about how the spanish civil war was used has a testing ground for soviet and german military gear (especially the first few panzers and MG-34s)

    • @thunberbolttwo3953
      @thunberbolttwo3953 3 роки тому +7

      Dont forget Italian military equipment.

    • @matthewclark1529
      @matthewclark1529 3 роки тому +3

      Yeah, that would be cool. I know the Germans gave them early variant BF-109’s and a few Junkers Ju-87.

    • @zefft.f4010
      @zefft.f4010 3 роки тому +5

      The Spanish Civil War is always a fascinating subject. I agree.
      Also, perhaps the German Revolutions? Such as the fighting that occurred after the proclamation of the notoriously chaotic Bavarian Soviet Republic.

    • @petitponeydu7727
      @petitponeydu7727 3 роки тому +1

      @@thunberbolttwo3953 i'm only an expert about german military gear, i just know the basics about italian gear, but they did test out the L3 tankette there right ?

    • @pierrefox5908
      @pierrefox5908 3 роки тому

      I

  • @linkieloos
    @linkieloos 3 роки тому +254

    I was wondering when Felton would cover this. The Reichswehr (and the Weimar Republic as a whole) is grossly overlooked despite being the Wehrmacht's predecessor. It was actually Reichswehr troops who first swore the oath of loyalty to Hitler once he came to power (as shown in the acclaimed World at War tv series). Not long after, the organisation became the Wehrmacht.

    • @TheMasterOfCornedy
      @TheMasterOfCornedy 3 роки тому +13

      Weimar not Weimer

    • @thEannoyingE
      @thEannoyingE 3 роки тому +8

      Also, some Wehrmacht soldiers actually were permitted to wear the old Reichswehr belt buckles.

    • @myparceltape1169
      @myparceltape1169 2 роки тому

      Do you think this military organisation took so much money out of the system that the central bank was forced to print more?
      Increasingy worthless pieces of paper that had to be overstamped ?
      Now the German Government is very worried that anything should lower the value of the Deuchmark.

    • @winnienguyen4420
      @winnienguyen4420 2 роки тому +1

      I highly recommend the series called Babylon Berlin on Netflix. It's a German shoe about the Weimar Republic and I learned quite a bit just watching it.

  • @Freigeist2008
    @Freigeist2008 3 роки тому +300

    Another effect of the 100k men-Heer (Army) was, that hundred thousands of former army members had been unemployed and enbittered. This reservoir was very important for the rise of the national socialists. If they had been soldiers in an army they had been controlled. So they stood in hard opposition to the collaborateur-regimes of the Weimarer Republic, which they saw as traitors.

    • @BELCAN57
      @BELCAN57 3 роки тому +11

      A lot of those men joined the SA.

    • @SturmerSS
      @SturmerSS 3 роки тому +7

      @Fabian Kirchgessner professional army in Germany now?

    • @at6686
      @at6686 3 роки тому +39

      Reminds me of our misadventure in Iraq. We disbanded the army, humiliating a bunch of guys with weapons and now with large chips on their shoulders.

    • @Freigeist2008
      @Freigeist2008 3 роки тому +22

      @@at6686 Additionally a lot of the Freecorps-members had been also discriminated by the leftist governments and labor unions and did not get civil jobs in Germany. This radicalized them and made them the hardcore of SA and other anti-republican forces

    • @user-hz9hu4gh2z
      @user-hz9hu4gh2z 3 роки тому +4

      Well, the people who made the obsure German Worker's Party into the Nazi Party were such soldiers themselves. Like, you know, Hitler, Göring, Röhm and Strasser.

  • @michaelnewton1332
    @michaelnewton1332 3 роки тому +62

    Versailles: Limits German Army to 100,000 soldiers.
    Germany: "I'm gonna do what's called a pro gamer move."

  • @jeffblacky
    @jeffblacky 3 роки тому +76

    one of my great grand uncles turn down a chance go back into service in 1921 , instead he joined the friekorps for a couple of years before travelling around the world and settled in Canada in 1930 where he stayed intil his death in 1999

    • @colasalz2
      @colasalz2 3 роки тому +11

      well I guess... a good choice.. .because otherwise it would be 1940-1945 or someting around that numbers

    • @jeffblacky
      @jeffblacky 3 роки тому +30

      ​@@colasalz2 All three of the family served in WW1 , my great grand father lost both legs in 1916 and Uncle Albert served as a pilot in a two seater unit and was shot down in 1917 and captured. All three lived to old age ( 99 , 87 and 92 ) but all their sons served in Spanish Civil war and WW2 ( 4 KIA , 2 captured and 2 missing and one , my grand father lived through 1940 to 1945 and after release from POW camp , he worked for 7 years in labor and then came to the US and brought my mom and uncle with him to Rapid City , South Dakota and opened a gas station ( he died in 1981 of cancer)

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 роки тому +2

      Making fish and chips in the FrieKorps? Battering juice?

    • @jeffblacky
      @jeffblacky 3 роки тому +3

      @@Ndlanding yuk yuk yuk

    • @KarlDMarx
      @KarlDMarx 2 роки тому

      Good choice ... perhaps a little cold but ..

  • @HarrisonGoldfarb
    @HarrisonGoldfarb 3 роки тому +512

    I remember reading that the Germans would conduct secret tanks test in the Soviet Union under the codename "tractor."
    Edit: Dang, thanks for the likes! The most ever!

    • @Turborulla
      @Turborulla 3 роки тому +44

      And Stalin killed everyone who trained Germans

    • @danielhalachev4714
      @danielhalachev4714 3 роки тому +26

      Leichttraktor

    • @fat_alsgaming
      @fat_alsgaming 3 роки тому +36

      Stxr KillerX at the time stalin probably thought he could turn germany into a communist puppet state, a lot of this training occurred before the nazis

    • @MarkVrem
      @MarkVrem 3 роки тому +55

      @Stxr KillerX The Soviets in return got blueprints on Germany tank concepts ideas and things, and also tactics, how to organize production industrialization lines and etc... The Soviets were way behind everyone else at the time due to financial constraints when it came to tanks. They used this and then purchasing tanks from Britain and the USA also to quickly catch up.

    • @Piddel
      @Piddel 3 роки тому +37

      @@fat_alsgaming ​ @Stxr KillerX I mean Germany and the Soviet Union had pretty good ties, some German Generals were fluent in Russian even because they were training in Moscow military schools. Stalin didn't even think they would attack the SU in 1941 as they were already in war with the allies, had a non-aggression pact and also shared defeated Poland.

  • @jimtalbott9535
    @jimtalbott9535 3 роки тому +17

    at 7:15 - the "rubber gun barrel" seems like that could make an excellent meme of some sort!

  • @TheFarout69
    @TheFarout69 3 роки тому +127

    Mark Felton is like a shoe box of missing puzzle pieces. Brilliant historical research. Well done sir.

    • @TheFarout69
      @TheFarout69 3 роки тому +1

      @Astir01 They do not even teach children how our government works in USA anymore. Cherry picked history of our country does not help either. 2020 is the scariest time I've seen in 50 years. Like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

    • @badcallsign4204
      @badcallsign4204 3 роки тому +1

      Scott Boswell Agreed and well said.

    • @unsharded8503
      @unsharded8503 3 роки тому

      @@TheFarout69 they teach us about the government still. My 8 year old brother is learning about it rn

    • @TheFarout69
      @TheFarout69 3 роки тому +1

      @@unsharded8503 , I was in the last generation to get a proper public education back in the 80's. I was taught civics and proper American history. I studied other history on my own. I've mostly home schooled my children - one goes to University of Hawaii and graduates soon. America may get it together again but I'm not waiting for it.

    • @unsharded8503
      @unsharded8503 3 роки тому +1

      @@TheFarout69 Yeah, most of my studying consists in home on the internet. I DO NOT approve of my country's education system. Anyways, Im really happy for you that one of your kids goes to the University of Hawaii. Hope you have a good rest of your life kind stranger

  • @wonderfalg
    @wonderfalg 3 роки тому +127

    Reichswehr: forgotten army of the past
    Bundeswehr: forgotten army of the presence

    • @wonderfalg
      @wonderfalg 3 роки тому +6

      @kie Learn something: Wehr means defence.

    • @nutzeeer
      @nutzeeer 3 роки тому +1

      @@wonderfalg No, wehr means weir.
      Abwehr is defense.

    • @nutzeeer
      @nutzeeer 3 роки тому +2

      @Solvie german here, i disagree when looking at the word literally.
      in zusammenhang mit etwas ist es defense, aber das wort ganz alleine ist das, was man in einem fluss findet.

    • @Bruh-hq1hx
      @Bruh-hq1hx 3 роки тому +5

      @@nutzeeer wehr does mean that but abwehr is something you use for like a anti air gun in the military. There also is the word wehren which comes from wehr and sich zu wehren means to defend oneself

    • @Bruh-hq1hx
      @Bruh-hq1hx 3 роки тому +4

      @@nutzeeer weißt du was sich wehren bedeutet? Außerdem wehr ist ein altes Wort für Verteidigung oder verteidigen

  • @HistoryHustle
    @HistoryHustle 3 роки тому +67

    One of these topics we all know a little of but not the full story. Thank you, Mark!

    • @tonnywildweasel8138
      @tonnywildweasel8138 3 роки тому +5

      Thought i might meet you here :-)

    • @MrSleepy677
      @MrSleepy677 3 роки тому +3

      There was a movie about the Kasier's last days in the Netherlands.

  • @therealmp40
    @therealmp40 3 роки тому +43

    I love that the Reichswehr in a way was the German Army sticking to it's Prussian roots, with the demanding selection process, an emphasis in quality of each individual soldier and competent officers that were part of the Old Guard, many of them being old Prussian soldiers. It really was wonderful.

    • @proudfirebrand3946
      @proudfirebrand3946 3 роки тому +12

      Fabian Kirchgessner The Bundeswehr is all well and good at face value but deep beneath unlike the problems of the Old Weimar heer, its underfunded, lacking the industrial structure to mobilize effectively, and the most detrimental and heartbreaking of all, the lack Militaristic confidence much less the existence of the Military or the necessity of it and backing the from the People of Germany due to the loss of most of Prussian spirit and mindset.
      Oh Germany, such a loss to the world.

    • @axelpatrickb.pingol3228
      @axelpatrickb.pingol3228 3 роки тому +2

      @@proudfirebrand3946 Germany does not revolve around Prussia....

    • @MsSoulProvider
      @MsSoulProvider 3 роки тому +2

      @@axelpatrickb.pingol3228
      No,- not at all.. what do you think why the german national socker trikot has the colours black & white? Why do teams in the Bundesliga have names like Borussia?

    • @piushalg8175
      @piushalg8175 3 роки тому +2

      @@MsSoulProvider You are only partially right. Sometimes the national soccer team uses black and white colours. Sports teams that use the name Borussia are situated in former Prussian parts of Germany. Prussia existed as a unity at least formally until 1945. And these clubs are older.

    • @proudfirebrand3946
      @proudfirebrand3946 3 роки тому +2

      Ohlourdes Padua there is a saying, it goes “Prussians are German, but not all Germans are Prussians.”
      You may think this means there is division between them, a diversity if you will, youre not wrong to think that, but that is only half truth for Prussia is the yardstick, the standard of all Germanic.
      Yes, its egotistical, and narcissistic. But it is a rightfully earned one, through iron, mud, and blood. In the battlefields surrounded on all sides by foreign threats, but through and through has remained German, for Prussia is Germany.
      But that cure is also poison, and in their hubris it dulled, chipped, and now--
      I refuse to say broken for it is not, I will say it is stagnant, or in a downward spiral towards ruin.

  • @zefft.f4010
    @zefft.f4010 3 роки тому +23

    Dr. Felton: The rest, as they say, is history...
    **Preussens Gloria intensifies**

  • @MikeBison_
    @MikeBison_ 3 роки тому +154

    "Ok, we're gonna make it so the Germans can't have an army bigger than 100,000 men"
    "Good idea ol chap, brilliant"
    >Germany proceeds to selectively craft an army of 100,000 specially selected chad soldiers and officers
    *Allied surprised Pikachu face*

    • @gusargoan
      @gusargoan 3 роки тому +1

      I think you meant Kyle.

    • @EnigmaEnginseer
      @EnigmaEnginseer 3 роки тому

      @@MrDaiseymay the Allies sure were surprised

  • @norgeeric
    @norgeeric 3 роки тому +237

    another hit of juicy historical essays, right in the vains. This is that good stuff

    • @JoeMun
      @JoeMun 3 роки тому +9

      If his videos were illegal drugs, I’d be doing everything I could to get my hands on some 😂

    • @reddirtroots5992
      @reddirtroots5992 3 роки тому +6

      Indeed! Mark's head and shoulders above the rest.

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 роки тому +1

      Morons answering morons in this branch of the comments.

    • @daltonwadeb.4891
      @daltonwadeb.4891 3 роки тому +4

      @@Ndlanding Like you?

    • @shaunbritton939
      @shaunbritton939 3 роки тому +1

      Best dealer around in education 🤔😅😅

  • @Generalfund
    @Generalfund 3 роки тому +54

    I hope Mr Felton understands just how loved and appreciated his videos are. This is by far the best quality content on youtube...

    • @Ystadcop
      @Ystadcop 3 роки тому +8

      Yes, amazing detail and research. He also plainly has no political agenda, how refreshing.

    • @KINGRODP
      @KINGRODP 2 роки тому +2

      You exactly right. I just found it 2 nights ago. Im hooked.

  • @minuteman4199
    @minuteman4199 3 роки тому +3

    I have a now deceased relative who joined the German army on 1933 in the infantry. He fought all the way to Moscow, and then was captured by the Americans in France. When the war ended he trained as an engineer. When the Bundeswehr was formed in the early 50s, the government called him back because he had signed on for a life time contract in 1933. At that point he packed up and emigrated to Canada, where I married his niece.

    • @StevenKeery
      @StevenKeery 3 роки тому

      Minute Man: He fought all the way to Moscow and was captured by the Americans in France? His map reading skills must have been really poor. 😂

    • @minuteman4199
      @minuteman4199 3 роки тому

      @@StevenKeery You are aware that the army moved individual soldiers and entire units from place to place right?

    • @StevenKeery
      @StevenKeery 3 роки тому

      @@minuteman4199 : Yes I am aware of that fact. Sorry! I couldn't resist the cheap laugh at your expense. My apologies.

    • @minuteman4199
      @minuteman4199 3 роки тому

      @@StevenKeery Apologies accepted. Sometimes tone is hard to gauge on the interwebs.

  • @MyLateralThawts
    @MyLateralThawts 3 роки тому +48

    I’ve read that the Reichswehr recruited all their soldiers with the idea that they would later form the officer corps of the expanded German military. I don’t know how many were later commissioned, but I can confirm that both my grandfather and great uncle, who were members of the Reichsmarine and Reichswehr respectively, were later on commissioned from the ranks after both had become Sr NCO’s.

  • @benjaminkoch2380
    @benjaminkoch2380 3 роки тому +161

    Not forgotten at all. In Germany we learn about it in school.

    • @raspytv6684
      @raspytv6684 3 роки тому +37

      Forgotten all around the world , Barr Germany.

    • @benjaminkoch2380
      @benjaminkoch2380 3 роки тому +20

      @@raspytv6684 maybe its no miracle that the World doesn't know the german history in Detail.

    • @annelisemeier283
      @annelisemeier283 3 роки тому +1

      Glaube ich kaum

    • @freshbaboboss1665
      @freshbaboboss1665 3 роки тому +5

      Also wir haben nichts darüber gelernt, mein Gymnasium ist aber auch ne Ausnahme, ist in allem übel Schmutz

    • @benjaminkoch2380
      @benjaminkoch2380 3 роки тому

      @@annelisemeier283 ist aber so...

  • @guffmulderEOD3119
    @guffmulderEOD3119 3 роки тому +3

    Nice birthday treat. A new Mark Felton Production video.

    • @MarkFeltonProductions
      @MarkFeltonProductions  3 роки тому +2

      Happy birthday!

    • @guffmulderEOD3119
      @guffmulderEOD3119 3 роки тому

      @@MarkFeltonProductions Thank You. I enjoyed this video as I find the subject of Reichswehr & the alliance with the Soviet Union to be a very interesting subject.

  • @shauntaylor6040
    @shauntaylor6040 3 роки тому +62

    Rommel was retained by the Army, clearly he showed promise.

    • @PP266
      @PP266 3 роки тому +8

      Ask the Italians. They got to meet him in the WWI.

    • @skdKitsune
      @skdKitsune 3 роки тому +8

      @@PP266 9000 prisoners taken with only 100 men right?

    • @PP266
      @PP266 3 роки тому +4

      @@skdKitsune Right!

    • @Arltratlo
      @Arltratlo 3 роки тому

      try Guderian!

    • @watching99134
      @watching99134 3 роки тому +4

      Well he had already won a Pour le Merite in World War One, so...

  • @cracklingvoice
    @cracklingvoice 3 роки тому +5

    It was the Reichsmarine that figured out the lack of limitation in vessels displacing less than 200 tons, leading to the development of the Schnellboot by the Lürssen boat yard. All before 1933. The Navy had an ax to grind just like the Army.

  • @SgtAndrewM
    @SgtAndrewM 3 роки тому +135

    i wish mark was my history teacher in school

  • @The_Republic_of_Ireland
    @The_Republic_of_Ireland 3 роки тому +25

    Germany pre-WW1: Prussian Military Might reigns
    Reichswehr: Prussian Military Might STILL reigns!

    • @conveyor2
      @conveyor2 2 роки тому

      @@MrDaiseymay Prussian military saved Wellington's butt at Waterloo.

  • @mercomania
    @mercomania 3 роки тому +25

    Just one little note, the Reichswehr, was stockpiling and training not for "foreign adventures" but to adequately defend its borders. the French in particular were wanting to annex large parts of western Germany such as the Saar and Ruhr Gebiet. The newly formed state of Poland was also looking at annexing parts of eastern Germany.

    • @willemvanstaden3292
      @willemvanstaden3292 3 роки тому +5

      I once listened to a speech Hitler made in 1939 before he sent a glorified police force to attack Poland in which he states that "Wir werden Sonden mit Sonden vergeldung!" - "We will answer sin(agression) with sin(agression)!" Few know of the German citizens that were murdered by Poles - Ethnic Germans who were still living in Poland because those parts of Poland used to be Prussia. I tend to agree with Patton - "we defeated the wrong enemy".

    • @Dragon.7722
      @Dragon.7722 3 роки тому +3

      @@willemvanstaden3292 He actually said "Und von jetzt ab wird Bombe mit Bombe vergolten!" which means: "From now on, bombs will be answered with bombs!".
      And no. Hitler was referring to conflicts around Danzig (Gdansk) and the staged attack on the gliwice radio station.
      It was a pretext to justify the attack on Poland.
      That murder part, atleast the way you present it, sounds like you fell for some propaganda. Greetings from Germany.

  • @Hagmire
    @Hagmire 3 роки тому +1

    Liked that end bit with them marching no salute just straight up march.

  • @secretjosh5619
    @secretjosh5619 3 роки тому +147

    Last time I was this early, 'Germany' didn't even exist to begin with.

    • @andrewpestotnik5495
      @andrewpestotnik5495 3 роки тому +9

      @Sahil C he was referencing 1870

    • @secretjosh5619
      @secretjosh5619 3 роки тому +4

      @Ganiscol This is the only thing that came to mind at the time haha. If you have the time, I would request you to please elaborate. I am genuinely interested.
      I get it that there was a North German Confederation, formed with Prussia at its core. Then during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, the southern principalities joined the north to form a collective 'Germany' for mutual defense.

    • @corvusduluth
      @corvusduluth 3 роки тому

      @@secretjosh5619 "German Civil War" North Germans vs Austria, Bavaria, Baden, Swabia etc. The 'South' lost.

    • @avrahamvidal4255
      @avrahamvidal4255 3 роки тому

      LOL 😂

    • @secretjosh5619
      @secretjosh5619 3 роки тому +1

      @@corvusduluthWell. You're talking about the Austro-Prussian war of 1866, not exactly a 'Civil War' (Since 'Germany' still didn't exist) a short war which did take place before the Franco-Prussian war where German states allied according to who they were close to, however I was talking about the unification of Germany(North German Confederation with the southern states) which took place primarily due to the threat of war with their greatest rival, France, in 1870(Of course all of this was Bismarck's calculated plan).
      Surely you dont suggest that unification took place due to the Austro-Prussian War of 1866?

  • @thechlebek901
    @thechlebek901 3 роки тому +3

    an Mark Felton notification always makes me smile, thank you for making amazing videos !

  • @Schnitz13
    @Schnitz13 3 роки тому +6

    Perhaps your most important video yet in helping us understand the future of things to come. Cheers, Mr. Felton.

  • @louferrao2044
    @louferrao2044 3 роки тому +3

    Thank you Mark Felton! This bit of unknown history really clears up many questions of this time period.

  • @casual_boredom7195
    @casual_boredom7195 3 роки тому +4

    You Never Stop Intriguing Me Mr. Felton.

  • @billd.iniowa2263
    @billd.iniowa2263 3 роки тому +113

    The lesson we need to remember, always remember, is that history doesn't happen in big giant swoops. It happens in small, little steps. Inch by inch, it creeps along. Growing slowly, until suddenly it is unstoppable. Unrestrained, it can turn into a monster. A thing that becomes evil incarnate. Yes, we must never forget.

    • @Mountain_Man_
      @Mountain_Man_ 3 роки тому +1

      *1935 Germany after expansion of the army* i love when a plan comes together

    • @jch6275
      @jch6275 3 роки тому

      Like ahurricane beginning with the flap of a butterfly's wings.

    • @silverbird425
      @silverbird425 3 роки тому +4

      You mean like China's salami strategy?

    • @daeph123
      @daeph123 3 роки тому

      OK. Thanks for pointing that out.

    • @daeph123
      @daeph123 3 роки тому +2

      @Hugo Holesch Exactly!

  • @vladdrakul7851
    @vladdrakul7851 3 роки тому

    When a Mark Felton video comes on unlike all others I don't need to wait and watch it to know it deserves a recommend. AS usual not disappointed. You are a historical resource. My highest compliment!

  • @mikeh7860
    @mikeh7860 3 роки тому

    Thank you Mark for spending the time and resources to obtain this awesome footage then allowing us to watch it for free. I checked out that channels website and the cost for some of these materials is high enough that I would never see them on my own. Love your videos

  • @milkapeismilky5464
    @milkapeismilky5464 3 роки тому +18

    Retention of regiments with a single placeholder soldier was brilliant! An odd echo of amalgamation in the UK.

  • @mazzel7073
    @mazzel7073 3 роки тому +13

    Hey Mark,
    Could you make a video about The inundations of the Yser in 1914?
    It was a very important action in halting the German advance in Belgium. I think most people probably never even heard about it and the 2 men, Karel Cogge and Hendrik Geeraert, whi played a key roll in the Inundations.
    Thanks in advance!
    Attempt #1

  • @sheriff0017
    @sheriff0017 3 роки тому +5

    Ah, Preussens Gloria! The perfect musical accompaniment for a stroll through Paris.

  • @robertmoore1742
    @robertmoore1742 3 роки тому +7

    Mark, your informational presentation on this prelude and build up to war is another masterpiece and many thanks for your efforts. I also think a war story featuring the 1936 Olympics would further shed light on the subject in that Hitler was able to demonstrate "Nazi superiority " in the pretext of sport. Yes there was a Jesse Owens, but the rest of that Olympics was all Germany and the effect it had on the preparations to war was palpable. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject in context to the Allies caught napping and we can look back and quite clearly see the true intentions all along. Thanks again and please keep up the effort. Robert

  • @CKC_Productions
    @CKC_Productions 3 роки тому +4

    Mark Felton Prosuctions the true History Channel; thanks again for your brilliant channel and hard work!👍🏽💯😁

  • @ThatC10Guy
    @ThatC10Guy 3 роки тому +10

    I love the forgotten vehicles and army’s series!

  • @ArchCone
    @ArchCone 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you for keeping history alive mark.

  • @jasondaniel918
    @jasondaniel918 3 роки тому +6

    Until this video, I had no idea that Germany and the U. S. S. R. had been so chummy during the 1920's. That (relationship) makes the non aggression pact the two countries would later sign to be logical in some ways. It also accounts for why Stalin and company were so surprised when Germany attacked them. Thanks for the insight, Mark.

  • @johncollins7423
    @johncollins7423 3 роки тому +5

    Thank you for yet another great video, Mark! I enjoy these, because I've always loved history & learn something new every time! Keep up the great work!👍😎

  • @panzerkitsune
    @panzerkitsune 3 роки тому +5

    Its always fun to see a new episode. great narrative and structure of the stories. better than most if not all of my historyteachers in school.

  • @M.L.R.Z.
    @M.L.R.Z. 3 роки тому

    I'm so happy to find your channel, not many history channels are unbiased history tellers... Thank you for all your effort!

  • @jas_1959
    @jas_1959 3 роки тому

    Outstanding, Dr. Felton keeping "History" alive !!!

  • @mmink9336
    @mmink9336 3 роки тому +22

    I will always love that intro.

    • @hossenfeffer4115
      @hossenfeffer4115 3 роки тому +3

      @M Mink/ yes, that intro needs to be played when the American patriots get out and stomp on this Bolshevik revolution!....makes a fella want to kick some Communist *SS!

    • @pulquegc
      @pulquegc 3 роки тому +3

      @John Hostetler
      What?

  • @ahyan14
    @ahyan14 3 роки тому +23

    Allies : what you got there
    Germany : a tractor

    • @Rauschgenerator
      @Rauschgenerator 3 роки тому +8

      It...erm...can shoot the seed into the field...yeah... :-D

    • @proudfirebrand3946
      @proudfirebrand3946 3 роки тому

      Allies: *Stares at BF109 stockpile*
      “Is tha-“
      Germany: “Crop Dusters.”
      Allies: *Stares at fighter design features*
      “It-“
      Germany: “A VERY FAST AND AGILE CROP DUSTER.”

  • @soundknight
    @soundknight 3 роки тому +2

    6:35 "It's a Small World After All" - nice touch there ;)

  • @aaronramsay5688
    @aaronramsay5688 3 роки тому

    Nothing turns my day around like seeing a new mark felton video. Thanks for being the source of so much awesome history content. Your videos have become my favorite UA-cam videos. So much great information

  • @stormthrush37
    @stormthrush37 3 роки тому +6

    Wow. Talk about a major backfire by a treaty that was supposed to prevent another war. If it didn't directly cause it, it certainly helped things along.

    • @KarlDMarx
      @KarlDMarx 2 роки тому

      Well ... perhaps it would have been better to confiscate the factories and fortunes of a few families: Krupp, Stinnes, Haniel, Kloeckner, Thyssen etc.

  • @yoda5565
    @yoda5565 3 роки тому +3

    "Pruessens Gloria" (Prussia's Glory) good choice for closing music.

  • @aldreenbautista2375
    @aldreenbautista2375 3 роки тому +1

    I thought that when Hitler took power, it was too fast for him to build an army like that. Here is the answer! This is a great addition to my knowledge as Russia and other countries actually helped Germany in building tanks and planes and Germany was actually preparing for war right after their defeat. Thank you MR. FELTON!

  • @pottersmiles7238
    @pottersmiles7238 3 роки тому

    No UA-cam when I was in high school. Closest thing was encarta discs. I hope the younger generation appreciates Dr Feltons videos as much as I do

  • @richardmones9617
    @richardmones9617 3 роки тому +4

    I love mark felton channel history...I love it I've learned more...more power idol mark!

  • @marknonnenmacher1918
    @marknonnenmacher1918 3 роки тому +3

    Thanks Mark! This is great clarification in the context of the rapid German re-armament program’s of the ‘30s. Clearly, it had been going on much, much longer.

  • @nborr258
    @nborr258 3 роки тому +1

    I think my favorite thing about this channel is Mark's insistence on using the most grandiose rendition of Preußens Gloria possible

  • @The105ODST
    @The105ODST 3 роки тому +2

    I woke up to a new episode of Mark Felton production. It is a nice day already.

  • @sepaananen2217
    @sepaananen2217 3 роки тому +3

    that ending got a tear in my eye, greetings from finland!

  • @asheland_numismatics
    @asheland_numismatics 3 роки тому +4

    Yes! A great way to start the week! 👍

  • @horusfalcon
    @horusfalcon Рік тому

    This is a chilling example of the old saw, "where there's a will, there's a way". Thanks, again, for the lesson.

  • @TheCaptScarlett
    @TheCaptScarlett 3 роки тому

    Thanks Mark. Useful background and context for any history student covering the inter-War years.

  • @Lostghost-ff8bz
    @Lostghost-ff8bz 3 роки тому +3

    Ah always a great way to wake up and see a new video uploaded

  • @artkoenig9434
    @artkoenig9434 3 роки тому +3

    Well structured and packed with details. Thank you! Was "Gaudeamus Igitur" actually repurposed as a military march?

  • @thomash8501
    @thomash8501 3 роки тому

    Another fascinating and outstanding video! Mark, you and your production team are the best! I'm a half German American and learning this history along with your other videos on German military themes are especially interesting to me as I had a grandfather who fought in the Wermacht during World War 2. Many thanks!

  • @osvaldonoda4368
    @osvaldonoda4368 3 роки тому

    This channel is what the History Channel should be today, great job.

  • @rixa1621
    @rixa1621 3 роки тому +13

    Mark, pls read this!!
    How about video of Finnish winter war / Continuation war ~ Battle of Tali-Ihantala which was biggest battle in Nordic countries ever, which also saved Finland.

  • @JavierCR25
    @JavierCR25 3 роки тому +3

    So, Professor Felton: you mean to tell me that my dog, which I neutered thinking that he’d get more docile and tranquil but ended up getting more unruly, was just pulling a good old German move on me?

  • @jacobfarrell7171
    @jacobfarrell7171 3 роки тому +2

    Mark Felton's voice is like ASMR. So calming and cool. Best channel on UA-cam.
    Also. Hermann Müller looks like Molotov 4:13

  • @joebuchanan3808
    @joebuchanan3808 3 роки тому

    Once again sir you have garnered up another long forgotten gem. Thank you so much.

  • @herrderr1921
    @herrderr1921 3 роки тому +3

    I reccomend Reading the "Outlaws" by Ernst von Salomon ,talks alot about the interwar Years

    • @davidroberts7282
      @davidroberts7282 3 роки тому

      Babylon Berlin is also an interesting TV series psycho-drama that does a decent, maybe sometimes melodramatic interpretation of drudgeries, excesses, squalid, dreary existences and this raging, bitter uneasy conflict from KPD and ultra-nationalist, militaristic Junker generals who scheme to return to power through secret military and airplane training facilities in Soviet Union via Treaty of Lacarno. Two, radical political extremes tearing and vying for political power at the expense of existing, tolerated but never liked Weimar Republic. Hitler and Nazi Party, particularly the SA, aren't discussed or featured prominently until last episode of Season 1 at a train depot confrontation and more frequently throughout Season 3 as convenient muscle men and patsies for head of Berlin's political police.
      The show's main protagonist, really at his core, is a morally and ethically conflicted WWI infantryman/calvary officer who mistakenly thought his brother died and has deep guilt and a sense of shame, "survivor's guilt", if you like.

  • @hanzup4117
    @hanzup4117 3 роки тому +4

    Don't have time to watch this at the moment, but I'll be sure to stop by later :) 👍

  • @jbcheema9883
    @jbcheema9883 3 роки тому +2

    Prussian Gloria in the end was a perfect touch...

  • @johnmike121
    @johnmike121 3 роки тому

    Yes!! Another video! Thanks Mark

  • @mikhailmarzook2165
    @mikhailmarzook2165 3 роки тому +3

    Your work awsome btw keep it up

  • @martyn3538
    @martyn3538 3 роки тому +92

    That music at the end there always makes me want to invade France.

    • @mardiffv.8775
      @mardiffv.8775 3 роки тому +10

      Prussia Gloria is the name of the music.

    • @Cjnw
      @Cjnw 3 роки тому +2

      Family Guy Hitler :…aNd LeT's StEaL aLl ThEiR oBjEcTs De AaAaAaRrT!

    • @wolfgangpagel6989
      @wolfgangpagel6989 3 роки тому +6

      And if you hear the 'Imperial March' you are going to invade the universe.

    • @simonh6371
      @simonh6371 3 роки тому +6

      Is that because, like me, you first heard it on ''The World at War'' in the episode showing German troops marching on the Champs Elysees in Paris, with the Arc de Triomphe in the background? That's what I always think of when I hear it. I'd love to drive down the Champs Elysees with this music blaring out on a massive sound system, in a Volkswagen preferably.

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 роки тому +3

      @@Cjnw If you're going to write frog things, please check your spelink, Objet de Merde!

  • @georgecolumbo6235
    @georgecolumbo6235 3 роки тому +1

    Mark, with your output in only a year, you are easily on level with Ken Burns in my opinion. I try to listen to your War Stories series as I go to sleep, but it’s too well told I have to stay awake. Cheers from Kansas!

  • @keepingitreal6793
    @keepingitreal6793 3 роки тому +1

    There is no better way to start the work week when you receive notification that Doc Felton uploaded a new history lesson. Thanks Mark.
    P.s. No surprise you have almost 875K subscribers. Your channel is excellent! I believe I subscribed when you had 31K. I’m very happy I did!

  • @limarismenos
    @limarismenos 3 роки тому +5

    - 10:00 minute mark of Mark Felton's video: Preusens Gloria.
    - My brain goes: "Well lad, we're pilgrims in an unholy land".

    • @ci1u720
      @ci1u720 3 роки тому

      Do you mean Königsgrätzer Marsch by any chance?

    • @limarismenos
      @limarismenos 3 роки тому

      @@ci1u720 Yes, that's the one, but my brain goes like that every time I hear a german marching tune. :P

    • @SirAntoniousBlock
      @SirAntoniousBlock 3 роки тому

      @@limarismenos You're perfect cannon fodder.

  • @kevinwright3615
    @kevinwright3615 3 роки тому +16

    I would absolutely love to make Mark's opening music my ring tone!

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 роки тому +1

      That's really easy to do!

    • @kevinwright3615
      @kevinwright3615 3 роки тому

      @@Ndlanding how

    • @Ndlanding
      @Ndlanding 3 роки тому

      @@kevinwright3615 Record the sound from the Channel using a YT grabber (Google "Capture music from YT", or similar). Transfer the MP3 to your phone then choose it as your ring tone.

  • @DanielLopez-up6os
    @DanielLopez-up6os 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you for this information man!

  • @joshuaashish9057
    @joshuaashish9057 3 роки тому +1

    Mark I cannot thank you enough for keeping ww2 history alive and interesting. Cheers!

  • @2milk867
    @2milk867 3 роки тому +338

    Im not first
    Im not last
    but most importantly,
    nobody asked

  • @andrewhall7930
    @andrewhall7930 3 роки тому +3

    'Pistol Shrimp help allies win Naval war" One day Mark will make a video about this unknown story of WWII.

  • @EJStormful
    @EJStormful 3 роки тому

    I like Dr. Feltons format of short documentaries, where I found so much interesting issues, concerning the most distorting and traumatic period of time, our grandparents suffered. I had the luck to talk about those times with my grandfather, once a soldier in the 100 000 man force, the Reichswehr, and later on a soldier in Rommels Africa Corps, ending at the eastern front, facing the Russians.
    Mark Felton portraits times and issues neutral, with respect and without ideologic bias. An extraordinary historian, my greatest respect therefore.

  • @Wolshanze
    @Wolshanze 3 роки тому

    Great footage Mark from between the wars thanks mate !

  • @misterjder1.831
    @misterjder1.831 3 роки тому +4

    Literally Noone interested in german history ever forgot the Reichswehr

  • @tulliusagrippa5752
    @tulliusagrippa5752 3 роки тому +7

    Wow. I never knew any of this. I thought rearmament began with Herr Hitler.

  • @militarymarchesclassicalmu7521
    @militarymarchesclassicalmu7521 3 роки тому

    Mr. Felton deserves 1 Million Subscribers for the amazing content he makes.

  • @LouisYates2010
    @LouisYates2010 3 роки тому +2

    I can’t believe I’ve only just discovered this channel