Enjoy handy playlists with all the stories of the soldiers! ua-cam.com/play/PLME26KOruKR3xPuLzIorw0d1RTk7KYoJf.html Waffen SS. Diaries and memories of German soldiers. ua-cam.com/play/PLME26KOruKR3CTzfue93twWQ7k_d4yOzc.html Personal Diaries and Memoirs of Soldiers.
His last comments concerning memories of his time in battle hit home with me. After nearly 60 years I still have vivid memories of my time in a Marine Corps rifle company in Vietnam. They never told us that war would be a lifetime sentence with no possibility of parole.
I'm 80. My time in the military was in the Army during Vietnam. I never had much use for Marines until you guys saved my ass. I caught a million-dollar wound and was on my way home. But as I lay in the bottom of a trench waiting for the medevac, I witnessed some of the most amazing bravery and selflessness I ever saw. Ya did good, Roger. Thanks and Semper Fi, Mac...
What impressed me about the Marines is how they were able to do so much with so little. A lot of the stuff they were issued seemed to be second-hand or obsolete with everything in short supply. Told me all their boots were 10R and had to be stuffed or cut to fit, and when in the field were only give two C-rat meals per day instead of the three we ate. They would do anything to get their hands on claymores which were as rare to them as chicken's teeth.
A very good story, in the small village in Bedfordshire where i grew up was a German called Max, he somehow survived the Russian front and its horrors, he became a POW of the British, eventually marrying the vicars daughter, what i do remember is he always threw wonderful kids parties for us and his own children, my father wounded twice in WW2 became a firm friend of Max.There is much more to tell but for now i will just say this video reminded my of my childhood and a very good German called Max.
I dont know if theyre still there, but in the '80s... Somewhere between R.A.F. Chicksands (Hitchin) and Bedford, when I'd take the bus, there was a huge property with two giant, rectangular Blimp hangars. The buildings were about 50 yards apart. The legend had it that during WW II, German pilots could look down at those two hangars, and use them as a landmark, to affirm that they (the bomber pilots) were going toward London.
I was Stationed at R.A.F. Chicksands, and on my days off would get the early bus to Bedford, and yes! Thats it. I think there was a River Flit? But yes, those hangars were there. Again, i dont know if it was "urban myth" but those two hangars were so long they were said to have made a "=" pointing right toward London. Of course, London was an hour or less by train, so from the sky it probably didnt make much difference. Good old Bedford! Ive often wondered if, like so many American Towns, its become a big dirty place, but some of my older English clients (I have a Barbershop in Florida) have said it might not be too much different now?
My father was at the Eastern Front too. His continious nightmares back home were similar than those described here. At night all of these guys kept fighting and suffering in their vivid dreams. My father was not talking much about this time. "The Army stole my Youth"he repeatedly insisted. I guess he was right.
My father-in-law fought in the German Army 2 1/2 years in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. He was impressed into the German Army on the spot in Poland because he was an ethnic (cultural) German. He was horribly wounded in Nov. 1944, a wound that never totally healed. I lived with the man for over five years and I can't tell you how much war sucks. He would whimper and cry at night in his sleep and his legs shook. I have no respect for the cowards who create these wars, including our CIA, state department and our presidential administration. The job of our so-called "leaders" should be to make friends, avoid war, and make our lives better; not to create enemies, make war and hurt people. MSM is part of the scam.
> Easier said than done, all too often. The Brits and French tried appeasement with Hitler, it didn't work. What would you have done had you been a French or British leader when Germany invaded Poland in 1939? Obama tried appeasement with Putin when Putin grabbed up Crimea in 2014. It didn't work. If you had been Biden, what would you have done when Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022? Interestingly enough, while Trump was President, Putin was GOOD AS GOLD! WHY? I suggest that had Trump been re elected in 2020, there would have been no "Special Military operation" no war in Ukraine, TWO pipelines that would be supplying natural gas to Germany today and no world inflation.
Your disgusting anti-American attitude is exactly the kind of thinking that caused the destruction of Germany and the death of 20 million Germans in WW II. Be careful you don't follow that same path to destruction. The men in my family have served in every single one of America's wars since 1776. Some died, my father lost his right arm, and I survived Vietnam. You "can't tell me" how much war sucks? Maybe that's because you were never in one. We don't need your sad stories of how Nazi soldiers suffered. We Americans have suffered to insure freedom for people like you who have "no respect" for America's leaders. So stuff it, Heinz! And STFU.
Lucky he was, indeed, not only to have survived the war without much physical consequences, but also to have escaped imprisonment by the Russians ! I understand and feel for his nightmares that lasted over 70 years, for fear under extreme conditions never leave one's psyche. Hope he did not have full blown post traumatic stress disorder, and was able to function in different areas of his life. Much appreciated documentary !
This is the best step-by-step description of the day-to-day routines and when a certain type of equipment is used in which situation, even the simple breakdown of how each piece of equipment performed. The genius personal rule of never sleeping in a building, probably saved this guy's life. All the things that he did and his routines were an objective representation of what worked for survival in that situation or what it takes to even make it through more than one battle in the front. True historical levity
Interesting and informative. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what/whom the orator was describing . Class A research project!!! Special thanks to veteran solders sharing their personal information/combat experiences. Making this documentary more authentic and possible. Fighting/perishing/surviving those fierce/intense combat operations. Yet still advanced forward. Regardless of the consequences. That's true grit style determination to succeed. A special shout out to the photographers. Providing still/motion pictures for future archives. I wonder if those 3 soldiers were actually deserting??? The soldier sharing his personal combat experiences. Was very fortunate to have survived & relocated to Indianapolis.
I met a guy in the Chicago area who was in the Luftwaffe, flying a light, twin engine bomber. He shot down a British fighter when the latter went right in front of his plane. He was sent to the Eastern front for basic and they wanted to keep him, so he went AWOL and found his way back to Germany. He talked his way out of being shot when the judge let him off (the judge was a WW1 PILOT). He was shot down three times during the war, all of which were jaw-dropping stories by themselves. He hid out in an insane asylum to avoid capture by the Soviets and managed to get to U.S. lines. He had previously been captured by the Americans but escaped from them.
A ordinary simple wound in the foot 🦶 of this soldier 🪖🎖️ literally saved his life from the Russian Military or Russian Gulags or from his own German officers who are ready to shoot every foot soldier 🪖 on the slightest excuse. This German soldier must be grateful 🥲 to that Russian soldier 🪖 who wounded him because this wound saved his Life.
The wound very likely did save his life. But there is not the slightest suggestion in the video that this soldier was grateful that he was wounded and taken out of the fight. That's the measure of so many German soldiers that kept them fighting until the end of the war.
@@janetannerevans2320 The Soviet military had been busily conquering whatever territory it could, which included Lativia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland. There was eventually a falling out among the thieves Hitler and Stalin, but they were two of a kind in MANY ways.
These videos have opened the German servicemen’s diaries to a new audience. Somehow the last decade seems to be ppl grasping to declare all these men to be war criminals without context nor consideration as to what occurs in every war. It’s wrong. These men also deserve to be remembered & honored as war veterans & human beings who fought for their nations the same way as our war veterans.
@@r.williamcomm7693 I'm very disturbed by the answer I see here and in many other sites. German soldiers were the perpetrators not the victims. The victims were the Jews, Russian civilians, Poles, Czechoslovakians, gypsies, Jehovah Witnesses, political prisoners, POW's, black citizens, and millions of small children. The fact that German soldiers had the stomachs to torture and gas millions of small children tell us that they were the most diabolical people who ever existed.
These videos are brilliant. How cool to hear the perspective of a prospective pilot being reassigned because of the Ploesti bombings. It helps history fans to connect the dots from huge strategic plans to the individual soldiers who were affected by it. Well done!
I worked with a Scottish guy called John when I was 19 .He tlid me about Liberating Belsen and how the bodies were a green/ yellow colour .They took lots of prisoners and he told me how the Germans would give the Scottish guys puzzled side looks as they were all short study guys and the Germans were usually a lot taller .He said he never ever saw any of the boys abusing them .They were just trudging through a war they were bored with.John said he was more interested in trying to make a few quid on the side wherever they went.His funny joke was that when he fixed his bayonet his rifle looked more dangerous than him 😅
Yes the Scottish elites keep them in a permanent state of hunger hence their size.....English did the same....only now through proper nutrition have they become taller. Officers were easy to identify via their height and proper nutrition while at public school.
Meraviglioso racconto , grazie per la condivisione ! Hai avuto una vita avventurosa , hai fatto il tuo dovere di soldato , è giusto che ora ti goda la famiglia , una vita tranquilla e la pensione . Buona vita a te ! ❤❤❤👍👋👋👋
Very interesting. I am surprised by the account of the execution-murder of the three soldiers. I am sure it was a very rare case. The morale of the German Army, in general was very good, because the soldiers knew what would happen to them and Germany in case of losing the war. The brilliant performance of the German army in defeat since 1943 is the most glorious testimony of the skill and courage of its men.
Very rare indeed. The estimate by historians is that during ww2 at least 15,000 German soldiers were shot for desertion, and 50,000 were shot for other offences. During the retreat through the east roving bands of SS shot any stragglers they found. One anecdote described roads in East Prussia lined with trees strewn with the hung bodies of German officers- victims of the SS. Just for comparison the Canadian army shot one soldier for desertion in ww2. Although that particular case also involved a charge of accessory to murder.
Man it sounds like hell. No food, frozen, getting shot at etc. My dad's friend told me he got cut off from his company during a huge blizzard. You couldn't see 3 feet. Took him almost a month to safely return as he'd had frost bite ties and git a piece of shrapnel. Though the hole was small it was infected. He lacked food very quickly was starving. Later his best friend made it to the front. He was captured
Great story. Reminds me of a book i read recently. Very similar in a lot of ways. The book was "Grandma's Attic", and was written by Shane Dietrich. Just if anyone is interested.
@@idonotwantagoddamnyoutubechann I am quoting a famous American General. It is what it is. Any praise in this quote of his is basically non-political and praises their abilities as combat soldiers, not as war criminals. I have never heard of anyone belonging to that unit being charged with war crimes.
It is a perfect comment on the time and place that getting shot in the leg, operated on without anaesthetic, having the wound become infected, and then being evacuated in a floating bomb-target is probably the luckiest thing that ever hapoened to a man.
The man makes reference to. Steel bullets. The man I worked with was in Korea. He said. The Chinese used used wooden bullets ! Men dug them out with pen knife. From arms and legs. !!!
The Herman Goering Division, although ostensibly a Paratrooper Division, was never used as such, as Adolf Hitler had banned them from being used as Paratroopers or any German Paratroopers for the rest of the War after their terrible, although successful attacks on the Island of either Cyprus or Crete, I'm not sure now which, but definitely one of the two!!
Re mortars ( about 4 minutes in) - that's just normal. Most military casualties are indirect fire like shelling or mortars or grenades or disease, not actually being shot. [Ok in some situations that's different, but actual wars, yes].
He must have had his training in Kampfgruppe Schulz which contained the Fallschirm Ersatz und Ausbildings Regiment Hermann Göring (Replacement & Training Rgt. Units). There was a Staff, Armoured Rgt. Reserve of 4 Companies (Eng. , Recce, A-T. & Armoured). 1st. Infantry Btl.: Staff with Staff.Coy. 1st to 5th Coy. 7.Armoured Eng.Coy. 2nd Infantry Btl.: 6.Armoured.Eng.Coy.( minus one Platoon) 8th to 12th Inf.Coy. 3.Btl.: 13 & 14th.( both halve Artillery Training. Batteries) 15th Light Anti Aircraft Battery. 20th Signals Coy. Just prior to Market-Garden the first unit of this Kampfgruppe was send to the direction of Beringen, Belgium. Another to the Arnhem theatre during Market-Garden. Most of the ended up being assigned to Kampgruppe Chill. He must have been sent to Russia before this happened.
Ce militaire allemand a bien servi son pays, même si je hais les nazi. Mais ce militaire était courageux. Il a eu de la chance dans son malheur de revenir du front de l’Est. Salutations de la Suisse 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 au grand peuple Américain. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
This man DID serve in the Luftwaffe. The paratroops were a division of the Luftwaffe. Hence, the Hermann Goering name attached to the division. As the war progressed, the paratroops became more and more conventional troops, due to the decline of the Luftwaffe and fuel shortages.
My Grandfather served in the infantry of the Wehrmacht from 1938 until wounded in Russia in 1943. He got a bullet which passed completely through one thigh and lodged in the other. He threw away his machine pistol and crawled to hiding where lay for a day and a half alone. He said he could hear the Russians all around him and that if they had come near he would have fired at them to the last bullet but saved that one for himself because he too believed that the worst thing that could possibly happen as a wounded German soldier was to fall into Soviet hands. After a day and a half, the Germans recovered that position and found him. He was evacuated eventually to a military hospital in Lithuania. And, although at first they wanted to amputate his legs, he refused and he kept them both! His Mother, a simple illiterate farmer’s wife from the countryside near Hannover, who had never travelled anywhere further than Hannover before (my Mother said she only put shoes on if she came to Hannover!😂), travelled all the way by train to Lithuania with her woven basket on her back to fetch my Grandfather home! 1943 was the end of his military service. this respect, he was one of the ‘lucky ones’! He died in 1979, aged 69, when I was 16.
these diaries are mind blowing. what really surprises me, is how similar their language is to the things Israelis are saying about their neighbours today
No, he didn't. MUCH too young to have voted in 1932 or earlier. I would have liked to hear about his likely participation in the Hitler Youth. He was PRIME Hitler Youth material.
The scariest must have been that the russians used to fire smoke grenades in front of the german lines before they attacked. Not fun for an MG-gunner when the line of sight is 10 meters 😏
What are you talking about? Stalin did not start this horrible carnage by crossing into German territory. Germany started it by crossing into Soviet territory. Stalin was an evil person. But he did not start this conflict. Hitler did. No one else.
I'm not trying to be funny but what were you expecting to find online? Records from back then were obviously written not digitally stored and there was probably not a lot that needed to be updated from that period of this man's records to show online. Again, not trying to be a smartass, I just know from having to search online for my own relatives, that there just isn't much available.
@@ashpitcher3 Most of what I've seen comes from autobiographies, so when I google a name it comes up with the name of the book. If I'm not coming up with anything, how did the creator of this video find it?
I don't see any indication of soldiers running in panic. He describes having a second line of trenches to which to retreat and continue fighting. Unfortunately, German soldiers fought stubbornly right up to the very end of the war.
Enjoy handy playlists with all the stories of the soldiers!
ua-cam.com/play/PLME26KOruKR3xPuLzIorw0d1RTk7KYoJf.html Waffen SS. Diaries and memories of German soldiers.
ua-cam.com/play/PLME26KOruKR3CTzfue93twWQ7k_d4yOzc.html Personal Diaries and Memoirs of Soldiers.
His last comments concerning memories of his time in battle hit home with me. After nearly 60 years I still have vivid memories of my time in a Marine Corps rifle company in Vietnam. They never told us that war would be a lifetime sentence with no possibility of parole.
I'm 80. My time in the military was in the Army during Vietnam. I never had much use for Marines until you guys saved my ass. I caught a million-dollar wound and was on my way home. But as I lay in the bottom of a trench waiting for the medevac, I witnessed some of the most amazing bravery and selflessness I ever saw. Ya did good, Roger. Thanks and Semper Fi, Mac...
Good people jajaja jajaja jajaja 😢
Best wishes to you mate 🇬🇧🏴🇺🇸
What impressed me about the Marines is how they were able to do so much with so little. A lot of the stuff they were issued seemed to be second-hand or obsolete with everything in short supply. Told me all their boots were 10R and had to be stuffed or cut to fit, and when in the field were only give two C-rat meals per day instead of the three we ate. They would do anything to get their hands on claymores which were as rare to them as chicken's teeth.
As we say in French and probably everywhere in the world: Only the dead see the end of the war...
A very good story, in the small village in Bedfordshire where i grew up was a German called Max, he somehow survived the Russian front and its horrors, he became a POW of the British, eventually marrying the vicars daughter, what i do remember is he always threw wonderful kids parties for us and his own children, my father wounded twice in WW2 became a firm friend of Max.There is much more to tell but for now i will just say this video reminded my of my childhood and a very good German called Max.
Hi im from Bedfordshire i moved to Norwich years ago now. Flitwick do you know it?
I dont know if theyre still there, but in the '80s... Somewhere between R.A.F. Chicksands (Hitchin) and Bedford, when I'd take the bus, there was a huge property with two giant, rectangular Blimp hangars. The buildings were about 50 yards apart. The legend had it that during WW II, German pilots could look down at those two hangars, and use them as a landmark, to affirm that they (the bomber pilots) were going toward London.
@@Skipjack7814 yes i know where you mean theyre from Ww1 i think
I was Stationed at R.A.F. Chicksands, and on my days off would get the early bus to Bedford, and yes! Thats it. I think there was a River Flit? But yes, those hangars were there. Again, i dont know if it was "urban myth" but those two hangars were so long they were said to have made a "=" pointing right toward London. Of course, London was an hour or less by train, so from the sky it probably didnt make much difference. Good old Bedford! Ive often wondered if, like so many American Towns, its become a big dirty place, but some of my older English clients (I have a Barbershop in Florida) have said it might not be too much different now?
Good people jajaja jajaja jajaja
You can tell that those who aim to become pilots are elite... his diary is very well written and descriptive.
A lot of the diaries I've read are very well written using an above average vocabulary. Germans revered education and it showed.
My father was at the Eastern Front too. His continious nightmares back home were similar than those described here. At night all of these guys kept fighting and suffering in their vivid dreams. My father was not talking much about this time. "The Army stole my Youth"he repeatedly insisted. I guess he was right.
What an experience. Pray for peace and no wars.
What do you mean? THERES a war going on between russia and ukraine right now, and it possibly could involve NATO troops on the ground!
Pray for people willing to join, joining, and standing ready to get PTSD and their hands dirty, so we civvies can avoid it all.
@@Briselanceyou,sir are a ass!
My father-in-law fought in the German Army 2 1/2 years in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. He was impressed into the German Army on the spot in Poland because he was an ethnic (cultural) German. He was horribly wounded in Nov. 1944, a wound that never totally healed. I lived with the man for over five years and I can't tell you how much war sucks. He would whimper and cry at night in his sleep and his legs shook. I have no respect for the cowards who create these wars, including our CIA, state department and our presidential administration. The job of our so-called "leaders" should be to make friends, avoid war, and make our lives better; not to create enemies, make war and hurt people. MSM is part of the scam.
>
Easier said than done, all too often.
The Brits and French tried appeasement with Hitler, it didn't work.
What would you have done had you been a French or British leader when Germany invaded Poland in 1939?
Obama tried appeasement with Putin when Putin grabbed up Crimea in 2014. It didn't work.
If you had been Biden, what would you have done when Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022?
Interestingly enough, while Trump was President, Putin was GOOD AS GOLD! WHY?
I suggest that had Trump been re elected in 2020, there would have been no "Special Military operation" no war in Ukraine, TWO pipelines that would be supplying natural gas to Germany today and no world inflation.
Your disgusting anti-American attitude is exactly the kind of thinking that caused the destruction of Germany and the death of 20 million Germans in WW II. Be careful you don't follow that same path to destruction. The men in my family have served in every single one of America's wars since 1776. Some died, my father lost his right arm, and I survived Vietnam. You "can't tell me" how much war sucks? Maybe that's because you were never in one. We don't need your sad stories of how Nazi soldiers suffered. We Americans have suffered to insure freedom for people like you who have "no respect" for America's leaders. So stuff it, Heinz! And STFU.
You and your father in law deserved each other.
⁶
What is MSM ?
Lucky he was, indeed, not only to have survived the war without much physical consequences, but also to have escaped imprisonment by the Russians ! I understand and feel for his nightmares that lasted over 70 years, for fear under extreme conditions never leave one's psyche. Hope he did not have full blown post traumatic stress disorder, and was able to function in different areas of his life. Much appreciated documentary !
This is the best step-by-step description of the day-to-day routines and when a certain type of equipment is used in which situation, even the simple breakdown of how each piece of equipment performed. The genius personal rule of never sleeping in a building, probably saved this guy's life. All the things that he did and his routines were an objective representation of what worked for survival in that situation or what it takes to even make it through more than one battle in the front. True historical levity
Great story and photos to back it up!
Makes it so much more interesting than just starting at one picture.
Thanks for sharing your time and effort ❤😊
Interesting and informative. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what/whom the orator was describing . Class A research project!!! Special thanks to veteran solders sharing their personal information/combat experiences. Making this documentary more authentic and possible. Fighting/perishing/surviving those fierce/intense combat operations. Yet still advanced forward. Regardless of the consequences. That's true grit style determination to succeed. A special shout out to the photographers. Providing still/motion pictures for future archives. I wonder if those 3 soldiers were actually deserting??? The soldier sharing his personal combat experiences. Was very fortunate to have survived & relocated to Indianapolis.
I met a guy in the Chicago area who was in the Luftwaffe, flying a light, twin engine bomber. He shot down a British fighter when the latter went right in front of his plane. He was sent to the Eastern front for basic and they wanted to keep him, so he went AWOL and found his way back to Germany. He talked his way out of being shot when the judge let him off (the judge was a WW1 PILOT). He was shot down three times during the war, all of which were jaw-dropping stories by themselves. He hid out in an insane asylum to avoid capture by the Soviets and managed to get to U.S. lines. He had previously been captured by the Americans but escaped from them.
Wow! Incredible life story. Thank you for sharing!
A ordinary simple wound in the foot 🦶 of this soldier 🪖🎖️ literally saved his life from the Russian Military or Russian Gulags or from his own German officers who are ready to shoot every foot soldier 🪖 on the slightest excuse.
This German soldier must be grateful 🥲 to that Russian soldier 🪖 who wounded him because this wound saved his Life.
The wound very likely did save his life.
But there is not the slightest suggestion in the video that this soldier was grateful that he was wounded and taken out of the fight. That's the measure of so many German soldiers that kept them fighting until the end of the war.
Was actually a shrapnel wood behind the knee.
the Russian military was fighting back against the aggressor.
@@janetannerevans2320 The Soviet military had been busily conquering whatever territory it could, which included Lativia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland.
There was eventually a falling out among the thieves Hitler and Stalin, but they were two of a kind in MANY ways.
I must be getting old, as this actually brought a tear to me eye
Thanks for sharing he turned miraculously well. God was good to him in the end.
I knew Gus. Great man. Very humble.
These videos have opened the German servicemen’s diaries to a new audience. Somehow the last decade seems to be ppl grasping to declare all these men to be war criminals without context nor consideration as to what occurs in every war. It’s wrong. These men also deserve to be remembered & honored as war veterans & human beings who fought for their nations the same way as our war veterans.
@@r.williamcomm7693 very well-said
The Germans couldn't feed themselves in the last 2 years of the war no wonder the people they had in then concentration camps died aswell.
@@r.williamcomm7693 I'm very disturbed by the answer I see here and in many other sites. German soldiers were the perpetrators not the victims. The victims were the Jews, Russian civilians, Poles, Czechoslovakians, gypsies, Jehovah Witnesses, political prisoners, POW's, black citizens, and millions of small children. The fact that German soldiers had the stomachs to torture and gas millions of small children tell us that they were the most diabolical people who ever existed.
@@mirquellasantos2716 Exactly, Germans are not human beings but they are racist monsters.
Awesome history, thanks! I like that you change the pictures, very good ones too!
There’s some GREAT footage & pics here! Good job! ✨👏🏼😎✨
These videos are brilliant. How cool to hear the perspective of a prospective pilot being reassigned because of the Ploesti bombings. It helps history fans to connect the dots from huge strategic plans to the individual soldiers who were affected by it. Well done!
That was an eye opener for me as well. It's a measure of the ultimate effectiveness of allied, and especially American bombing of German industry.
I worked with a Scottish guy called John when I was 19 .He tlid me about Liberating Belsen and how the bodies were a green/ yellow colour .They took lots of prisoners and he told me how the Germans would give the Scottish guys puzzled side looks as they were all short study guys and the Germans were usually a lot taller .He said he never ever saw any of the boys abusing them .They were just trudging through a war they were bored with.John said he was more interested in trying to make a few quid on the side wherever they went.His funny joke was that when he fixed his bayonet his rifle looked more dangerous than him 😅
Yes the Scottish elites keep them in a permanent state of hunger hence their size.....English did the same....only now through proper nutrition have they become taller.
Officers were easy to identify via their height and proper nutrition while at public school.
Loved listening to this thanks for sharing 👍
Surviving that war as a german or russian soldier was pure luck.
And great skills too.
That is a remarkable collection of photos. Relevant to the story and not taken from the small pile of photos that everyone uses for everything WW2
Meraviglioso racconto , grazie per la condivisione ! Hai avuto una vita avventurosa , hai fatto il tuo dovere di soldato , è giusto che ora ti goda la famiglia , una vita tranquilla e la pensione .
Buona vita a te ! ❤❤❤👍👋👋👋
Very interesting. I am surprised by the account of the execution-murder of the three soldiers. I am sure it was a very rare case. The morale of the German Army, in general was very good, because the soldiers knew what would happen to them and Germany in case of losing the war. The brilliant performance of the German army in defeat since 1943 is the most glorious testimony of the skill and courage of its men.
they where criminals. And deserved their faith.
Very rare indeed. The estimate by historians is that during ww2 at least 15,000 German soldiers were shot for desertion, and 50,000 were shot for other offences. During the retreat through the east roving bands of SS shot any stragglers they found. One anecdote described roads in East Prussia lined with trees strewn with the hung bodies of German officers- victims of the SS.
Just for comparison the Canadian army shot one soldier for desertion in ww2. Although that particular case also involved a charge of accessory to murder.
@basilmcdonnell9807 I think the word "indeed" is being misused here, based on the rest of what you wrote!
@@atallguynhI think that he was being ironic.
@@gusjackson3658 Makes sense. Good point.
Gustav W. Rewwer, of Chambersburg, PA
Man it sounds like hell. No food, frozen, getting shot at etc. My dad's friend told me he got cut off from his company during a huge blizzard. You couldn't see 3 feet. Took him almost a month to safely return as he'd had frost bite ties and git a piece of shrapnel. Though the hole was small it was infected. He lacked food very quickly was starving. Later his best friend made it to the front. He was captured
Thank you.
Great story. Reminds me of a book i read recently. Very similar in a lot of ways. The book was "Grandma's Attic", and was written by Shane Dietrich. Just if anyone is interested.
This is the sad reality of war. War is not a video game !
Welcome to America. Thank you for the great story. Greetings from Arizona.
"Hermann Goering Division.... toughest outfit in the German Army". - Gen. George Patton, USA
@@idonotwantagoddamnyoutubechann I am quoting a famous American General. It is what it is. Any praise in this quote of his is basically non-political and praises their abilities as combat soldiers, not as war criminals. I have never heard of anyone belonging to that unit being charged with war crimes.
Meine Helden ... My Heroes ...RIP
It is a perfect comment on the time and place that getting shot in the leg, operated on without anaesthetic, having the wound become infected, and then being evacuated in a floating bomb-target is probably the luckiest thing that ever hapoened to a man.
The man makes reference to. Steel bullets. The man I worked with was in Korea. He said. The Chinese used used wooden bullets ! Men dug them out with pen knife. From arms and legs. !!!
The bullets themselves weren’t made of steel, the shell casings themselves were made of steel case. The projectiles themselves were not made of steel.
the Chinese must have been low on regular ammo if they were using wooden training rounds.
I just recently saw that little factoid and something I was watching, and it never occurred to me how using wood is just so clever and simple
Unconfirmed the Chinese using wood bullets but yes Germans did in WW2 though in small numbers.
Thank you for this great video.
great upload thanks
I enjoyed listening to this one .
His last few thoughts- Epic! Wonder if he's alive...?
This is a good documentaire , clear and realistic.
The Herman Goering Division, although ostensibly a Paratrooper Division, was never used as such, as Adolf Hitler had banned them from being used as Paratroopers or any German Paratroopers for the rest of the War after their terrible, although successful attacks on the Island of either Cyprus or Crete, I'm not sure now which, but definitely one of the two!!
Crete
Or kreta was written on a cuff title they could wear
I served in 'nam in 66'/67', so I can relate to this guy's misery... A common man stuck in an
all too common problem....WAR!
GREAT STORIES !! 🙂 👍 👍
Was NOT expecting that ending.
war is Hell
interesting story, good voice for narration
Sounds he's out of breath after each sentence
the diary reader really needs to learn his german abreviations and equipment designations
HELL OF A MEMWARE !!!IT TELLS YOU ACURETLY ??? THE HORROR AND Saddness OF IT ALL !!! g
To all WEHRMACHT soldiers. Your struggle was heroic. I respect you !
Du bist augezeichnet
they participated and initiated a world war. What is wrong with you?
Re mortars ( about 4 minutes in) - that's just normal. Most military casualties are indirect fire like shelling or mortars or grenades or disease, not actually being shot.
[Ok in some situations that's different, but actual wars, yes].
He must have had his training in Kampfgruppe Schulz which contained the Fallschirm Ersatz und Ausbildings Regiment Hermann Göring (Replacement & Training Rgt. Units).
There was a Staff, Armoured Rgt. Reserve of 4 Companies (Eng. , Recce, A-T. & Armoured).
1st. Infantry Btl.: Staff with Staff.Coy.
1st to 5th Coy.
7.Armoured Eng.Coy.
2nd Infantry Btl.:
6.Armoured.Eng.Coy.( minus one Platoon)
8th to 12th Inf.Coy.
3.Btl.:
13 & 14th.( both halve Artillery Training. Batteries)
15th Light Anti Aircraft Battery.
20th Signals Coy.
Just prior to Market-Garden the first unit of this Kampfgruppe was send to the direction of Beringen, Belgium.
Another to the Arnhem theatre during Market-Garden.
Most of the ended up being assigned to Kampgruppe Chill.
He must have been sent to Russia before this happened.
Ce militaire allemand a bien servi son pays, même si je hais les nazi. Mais ce militaire était courageux.
Il a eu de la chance dans son malheur de revenir du front de l’Est.
Salutations de la Suisse 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 au grand peuple Américain. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Very interesting BG 😉
Another great video!
I knew many Americans who fought krauts in WWII. One of them was a POW, and Germans starved them in the camp. He was rescued by Patton's 3rd Army
This man DID serve in the Luftwaffe. The paratroops were a division of the Luftwaffe.
Hence, the Hermann Goering name attached to the division. As the war progressed,
the paratroops became more and more conventional troops, due to the decline of
the Luftwaffe and fuel shortages.
I think he wanted to fly.
@Dman3827 I bet you're right
Cannon fodder is cannon fodder, regardless of the politicians ( which I might add are rarely anywhere near what they haves started)..
and governments using idealistic young men for nefarious purposes are the same regardless...
USA politicians should volunteer to fight in Ukraine..and their children... that'll end it real quick
Damn. Btw I was lucky to visit Osnabrück, a very nice city
Amazing!
The “sewing machine” night attack pilots were mostly female as were a lot of snipers on the Soviet side
The Nazis called them night witches
My Grandfather served in the infantry of the Wehrmacht from 1938 until wounded in Russia in 1943.
He got a bullet which passed completely through one thigh and lodged in the other.
He threw away his machine pistol and crawled to hiding where lay for a day and a half alone.
He said he could hear the Russians all around him and that if they had come near he would have fired at them to the last bullet but saved that one for himself because he too believed that the worst thing that could possibly happen as a wounded German soldier was to fall into Soviet hands.
After a day and a half, the Germans recovered that position and found him. He was evacuated eventually to a military hospital in Lithuania. And, although at first they wanted to amputate his legs, he refused and he kept them both!
His Mother, a simple illiterate farmer’s wife from the countryside near Hannover, who had never travelled anywhere further than Hannover before (my Mother said she only put shoes on if she came to Hannover!😂), travelled all the way by train to Lithuania with her woven basket on her back to fetch my Grandfather home!
1943 was the end of his military service. this respect, he was one of the ‘lucky ones’! He died in 1979, aged 69, when I was 16.
My dad was told a plane with no propeller he thought it was a joke , he was with the RAF as navigate bomb aimer on B25 & B26
M - 242. Speed 580m/hr.
these diaries are mind blowing. what really surprises me, is how similar their language is to the things Israelis are saying about their neighbours today
Many say the Germans then are needed now to save California.
"Heiligenbeil" was one of the hardest battles in WW II..............
I wonder if he voted for Hitler.
Most likely yes- I'm sure 99.9%.
Read up on exactly how hitler came to power
Almost all Germans voted
for him!
If he graduated in 1942, he never voted.
No, he didn't. MUCH too young to have voted in 1932 or earlier.
I would have liked to hear about his likely participation in the Hitler Youth. He was PRIME Hitler Youth material.
9:21 They must be taking about wood gas aka syngas?
At 7 minute mark he says "flutslavin"?? That he wore instead of socks. Does anyone know what that means or is??
0:33 puppy on top😅
It's not the Russians you yet have to worry about breaking in.
To All: WE, the people, MUST LEARN FROM HISTORY , cause if we dont.......''' learn to live together......or, you WON'T . ''' = war. AMEN, to all.
semper fi
Also, no?!
000Uhr 😊
@@markogaudiosi5243 once a Marine,, always a Marine
@@Paulftate Nothing about marines on this video. Why don't you go cheerleading Ukraine war videos?
Yeah yeah....semper Fi bros's!
The scariest must have been that the russians used to fire smoke grenades in front of the german lines before they attacked. Not fun for an MG-gunner when the line of sight is 10 meters 😏
well 8 million Russian dead might inspire you to do all sorts of things to defend yourself.
I need 1000000 of those to buy ok
My grandad was from kustrin
A wonderful memoir. It was Stalins War and though's that fought against the Communist should feel a sense of pride and honer at having done so.
??
What are you talking about? Stalin did not start this horrible carnage by crossing into German territory. Germany started it by crossing into Soviet territory.
Stalin was an evil person. But he did not start this conflict. Hitler did. No one else.
Both my grandfathers fought in ww2..
The best generation ,had their youth stolen from them,and thrown into war.....all for nothing....its tragic.
The German Officers And Russian Officers WERE BRUTAL ????😳g
I only live an hour away from him
Ordinary Infantry, guess that’s as low as you can get
YOUR A BLEST SOLGER FINDING A AMERICAN WIF AND HAPPYNES .
I also wonder how different is it in the Russian trenches in the Ukrainian war
wojna jest straszna i nie ma w niej zwycięzców. a Niemcy powinni o tym pamiętać . w swoim dobrze pojętym interesie.
When I google his name nothing shows up.
I'm not trying to be funny but what were you expecting to find online?
Records from back then were obviously written not digitally stored and there was probably not a lot that needed to be updated from that period of this man's records to show online.
Again, not trying to be a smartass, I just know from having to search online for my own relatives, that there just isn't much available.
@@ashpitcher3 Most of what I've seen comes from autobiographies, so when I google a name it comes up with the name of the book. If I'm not coming up with anything, how did the creator of this video find it?
@@AlaskaErik copies of their books are probably easy to find in German used book stores.
But showing an MG-38, not an MG-42.
....shout-out to Indianapolis.
Ave Ave Ave
Hi, good review however it’s pronounced “Focker” and it’s M E not Me.
MP-44軽機関銃を使って至近距離で味方を処刑、、、考えただけでも恐ろしい。
Pease pease please
Strong ja ja ja ja ja
And now, after 85 years, the story repeats with Western NATO poaking the bear again.
Are there only German stories?
나는 수많은 영혼들을 생각합니다
lost counting how many times u say mg42 while showing mg34
The name is Adolf as in Adam, NOT Aidolf as in Aida - the clue is in how Germans pronounce the name
I hope you sleep very well, on my klapprig Bettgestell ! Need i say more ?
Those german soldiers were running with the tails between their legs!
Its obvious that their morale was already broken.
Tails between their legs? Really?
@@russellgoulding4263 of course ! Their tried by all mens to run to the West to surrender to allied forces.
I'm so happy to see the total humiliation of German soldiers. The hid in between the feet of Americans while running away from their victims.
I don't see any indication of soldiers running in panic. He describes having a second line of trenches to which to retreat and continue fighting.
Unfortunately, German soldiers fought stubbornly right up to the very end of the war.
What would you have done, arm chair hero?
Country people jajaja 🎉