How the Americans Liberated (a part of) Czechoslovakia
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- US troops from the 90th Infantry Division entered Czech territory in April 1945, and along with the advancing Soviet forces from the east, they were facing a ragtag German opposition from Army Group Centre under Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner. However, the disintegration of the German Wehrmacht became visible, and many German soldiers surrendered as the Americans advanced. The Americans were able to liberate various cities and regions in Czechoslovakia, including Pilsen, where the citizens welcomed the liberators despite the mistaken bombing of the local brewery by the US Air Force. Even an American jeep made it to Prague where at that moment the Prague Uprising was taking place. Yet, the Americans were not the ones liberating Prague...
History Hustle presents: How the Americans Liberated a Part of Czechoslovakia.
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SOURCES
- Vlasov and the Russian Liberation Movement. Soviet Reality and Emigré (Andreyev Catherine).
- Americans in West Bohemia in 1945 (Petr Fischer and Roman Kodet).
www.nationalww2museum.org/sit... (25-05-2023).
- The Last 100 Days (John Toland).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
VIDEO
Video material from:
• Američané v Plzni. 6. ...
Američané v Plzni. 6. května 1945 osvobodila Americká armáda Plzeň. Zpravodaj 17/90
• Waffen SS and Wehrmach...
Waffen SS and Wehrmacht surrender to U.S.army in Czechoslovakia
• Pilsen May 1945 - part...
Pilsen May 1945 - part one
• PILSEN May1945 - LIBER...
PILSEN May1945 - LIBERATION- Osvobození
• Květnová revoluce v Pr...
Květnová revoluce v Praze 1945
• PRAGUE UPRISING 1945
PRAGUE UPRISING 1945
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Czechia during WW2:
ua-cam.com/video/T-W2MiYV6_o/v-deo.html
Slovakia during WW2:
ua-cam.com/video/L2vFJDav_AA/v-deo.html
@HistoryHustle will you make a life in german occupied czechoslovakia
Or the benes degrees
✅ 👍
@@LordLlamaa On the protectorate I will. Video is sceduled for this summer.
@@HistoryHustle yo thanks my dude
the big red one was in Czechoslovakia when the war was over and the last American soldier to die was Charley Havlat
I heared that they even protected the local German population from Czech reprisals
Could be the case yes.
After the end of World War II, the Czechs took revenge on the German minority. Being Czech and knowing the context, I understand their indignation - the perception at the time was that the Czech side was trying to integrate the Germans and make them part of the country, only to be betrayed by the Germans. Among other things, we had one of the most liberal constitutions of the time.
Despite the fact that I consider the removal of the German minority (Benes Decrees) to be morally problematic, I still agree with the opinion at the time that it was a necessary step for the security and stability of the country.
What is sad, however, is the manner in which the removal was carried out - it was essentially a forced removal of about 2.5 (to 3) million Germans. Of course, there was confiscation of property, but in addition to that there was also beatings, humiliation, inhuman conditions and, in some cases, executions. For a long time it was taboo to address this in the Czech Republic - however, this has changed in the last decade and the more I know about this part of our history, the more I regret it.
I will add one personal interesting fact - my family bought a cottage in Bartošovice in 1980. Its owner was a Ruthenian who had been moved to the Czech Republic after the Germans had been expelled in an attempt to repopulate the area. For context - Rusyns were an ethnic group living in Transcarpathian Rus (today's Ukraine). Although at the time my family had only limited information about the removal of the Germans (under communism), they probably generally suspected that the property was German.
Bottom line - in 2005, as a child, I suddenly found a group of German pensioners on our "doorstep". Fortunately my grandmother is half German (because she speaks Czech, she wasn't counted among the Sudeten Germans), so she was able to talk to them - well, it turned out they were the former owners (and their family).
Even though I was a child, when I realized what was going on, I was embarrassed. Fortunately the Germans didn't come there for remorse, it was just an effort to reminisce about their youth.
Well, therein lies the sad dimension - although Nazism and the extreme right had high support among the German minority, it was not absolute support. And at the same time, a significant % of that "support" was only symbolic, otherwise life went on as it was. But after the end of ww2 pretty much everyone who spoke German moved out. I recently found a German site on the web where former German residents of Bartosovice (where we bought a cottage) reminisce about the period before the removal - basically they were peasants who one day lost everything.
One last note - I find it interesting to compare the way the Sudeten Germans and the Palestinians dealt with displacement (displacement after the lost war I think 1948-9). While the Germans were able to bridge that period and don't feel any sense of injustice towards the Czechs, the Palestinians couldn't and even now it is this period that drives their hatred of Israel. While the analogy has its limits and of course is not perfect, there are still a number of similarities - most notably the displacement due to the belief that co-existence of multiple ethnic groups is a source of instability + the Palestinians attacked Israel (and like the Germans, the punishment affected everyone without regard to "guilt").
Sorry for the length - I was originally going to write just a few sentences, but I couldn't stop until it became this graphomaniacal monster.
Hartelijk Dank Stef. Central Europe during ww2 is fascinating. A mix of collaboration and resistance
Find it fascinating too. Thanks for your reply.
learning new things for you make me want to travel the world and learn new thing about ww1 and ww2 historian have missed or passed over keep up the great work you're doing cant wait till you do the tales of the Czechoslovakia legion and how their nation came to be
Another great history hustle video
Awesome 👍
GO STEFAN!!!
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Informative, historical interest and enjoyable watching 👀....allot thanks, Sir( Stefan), for sharing this remarkable historical coverage video
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Excellent research Stefan ❤👍
Thanks as always Jesse!
I bet the guy who bombed the beer factory got ragged bout that for the rest of his life!
Definitely a War Crime.
Very interesting thanx
Thanks Peter!
My father went to Pilsen as part of Patton’s 3rd Army, his grandfather and my great grandfather was from the area near Pilsen when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
One thing I learned in Poland, in late 80s/ early 90s from once blacklisted Polish anti-soviet historians is that forward elements of Patton's Army were able to reach as far as outskirts of Racibórz, ( Rattibor until 1945 ) a city that went within postwar borders of "New" Poland. Patton pulled out some time after VE- Day, but still, it was/ it is almost as if western Allies could have reached Poland through Czechoslovakia and Silesia in 1945, not leaving it totally for Soviets to occupy.
Churchhill and Roosevelt threw Poland under the bus at Yalta
the germans in many areas actively surrender to the americans but continued fighting the soviets it was a cake walk for the americans in the last days and a meat grinder for the soviets,...
@@tomhenry897sad but true. The "naughty deal" was cut between Stalin and Churchill. Churchill left the Americans out of the deal for 95% of Greece in exchange for the slavic states. Poland was left out on purpose by Stalin and Churchill. The Americans found out later and not happy.
@@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367Soviets are more tougher than the Americans they been through hell
That is right, the same happyend with Czech. The dividing of Europe was already decided on Yalta and Stalin was not easy to satisfy there.
Excellent. Thanks BZ.
The Willys
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Thank you! 🙂
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@@HistoryHustle As an American who (fortunately) has visited Indonesia repeatedly and also the Netherlands, I really appreciate your channel. If you're a teacher I hope the kids do also. 🙂
Interesting 👌
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Cheers Stefan! My grandfather is from there.
Thanks for your reply!
Now i know why George C Scott says in the movie Patton (something like) "To hell with the Russians,we gave them Prague,we gave then Berlin".
I and my family are from the Czech republic and my grandpa was indeed liberated by americans since he lived in Plžen at that time. When the communist coup came in 1948, he wasn't allowed to say that he was liberated by the americans, cuz yk communism and semi soviet rule. just some story i had in my head for a while...
I hope you had some good pilsners in Pilsen. Can you send me some? Good video. Take care.
😁👍
I had an uncle that was in Yugoslavia , an American aircract mechanic . I wondered why we were so far east . Years later , I found out that the Americans and Soviets had an agreement , to land American bombers in the USSR , then bomb targets important to the red army , on the way back . This agreement alowed the US to use the full range of American bombers , so NO target was safe . My uncle would parachute behind enemy lines , repair a downed allied aircraft , then they would drop a pilot to fly it out . They found two B24s in Yougolslavia , he fixed one , and used the other for parts .........the partizans were feeding them , and looking out for them . They ended up having to blow up the repaired bomber , so the Germans wouldnt get it , after being detected .
Thanks for sharing.
Never knew the Americans where in Czechia! Good video als always stefan
Thanks for watching!
Great presenter, so much better than many native speakers
Thanks for watching.
The Americans only encountered fairly light resistance & suffered relatively few casualties. The Russians on the other hand suffered thousands (at least 50,000 casualties during the Prague Offensive of 5th to 11th May 1945)..
Yes, the Soviets did the brunt of the fighting. In Czechia but also compared to their western Allies in Europe.
@@HistoryHustle It's remarkable to think even in the final days of WWII thousands were still dying on the battlefield.
Hey Stefan, could you do a video about the battle of mojkovac? there were 6,000 Montenegrin's against Austria-Hungary's 30,000, but yet in knee deep snow Montenegro fought ferociously and delayed the Austro-Hungarian army so Serbia could retreat to the Adriatic coast
Did make one about Montenegro during WW1. Love to do the specific battle but won't come to Montenegro anytime soon. This summer it will be Bosnia.
@@HistoryHustle Okay, looking forward to it!
My dad was in the US 5th Division…he said once they got across the Rhine River the only big battle after that was Frankfurt end of March 1945. After that the Germans were much more likely to surrender than fight them. When they crossed into Czechoslovakia in May…he said they could have easily marched into Prague. But Eisenhower told Patton to turn south into Austria. My dad captured a German flag in a Czech school house. He tried to mail it home but it got confiscated.
Thanks for sharing this. Interesting to read.
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LOL My father served with the 94th ID and celebrated VE day in Pilsen. Thanks for the video. I wish dad were alive to see it. He had disagreeable duty. His platoon was tasked with forcing Russian collaborators, at the point of a bayonet, into the waiting hands of the Red Army. I asked him if he felt bad about sending men to certain death. He had no sympathy and said: "**** 'em! We should have shot them ourselves." We're Jews and dad arrived when the crematoriums were still warm.
I can understand. Thanks for your reply Steve.
Lots of other peoples were killed there, but you never hear about them for some strange reason. Poles, Slavs, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses...but the spotlight never falls on them.
@@Heike-- The Nazis themselves put the spotlight on the Jews in all of their propaganda. Most in depth histories mention others being killed as well (including Communists which you dont mention for some strange reason) such as this video.
@@Heike-- What was the Wannsee Conference about? Why are American crypto-fascists so ridiculous?
@@jerseycitysteve You neither addressed nor refuted the point. This is just changing the subject. Understandable, as the point I brought up is extremely uncomfortable and most would rather not talk about it because it challenges the dominant narrative.
Heart breaking to see a whole country condemned to Soviet domination.
It happened...
My father entered Pilzen on May 7 th as a member of the Third Army. The next day he drove 30 miles NW to see his grandfather in Plana. The Cathedral you are front of (st Bartholomew is where my grandparents ,aunts and uncles were all Baptizied😮. My great grandfather had a tailor shop in Pilsen. I have photos from May 7 that my father took
Thanks for sharing this!
My family anchesters came from the area arround Pilsen.They were Sudetengermans and helped an american stay hidden on theire farm for a few years till he was able to return to america safely. They still exchanged letters after the war.
My great grandfather was a soldier in the german army and was wounded at the time the americans came. The chzechoslovakians were like he said animals and executed half of the german people living in there village.
Showing no merci not even for little children.
They had to leave there homes behind and couldnt even bury there friends or family members.
Sadly it is rarely that someone talks about this.
The suffering of the Sudetengermans and the atrocities the chzechs commited shall never be forgotten!
When the shoe was on the other foot, it must have hurt. Nazi sympathizers make me laugh
Yeah well shouting sieg heil as the Krauts marched in had repercussions all over Europe.
lol _ Schadenfreude = German ID
Nice fairy tale. Germans helping americans and brutal Czechoslovakians on the other hand. Quite usual picture in the WW2 , wasn´t it :-)?
Bad luck, you didn´t mentioned a name of the involved village. Your story could be plausible. I´m sure you are an honest person, you only omitted :-).
Nice images.
Super interesting. Hauntingly reminiscent of events in Ukraine today with strong historical connections. Czechoslovakia was betrayed twice it seems. Will Ukraine meet the same fate? PS: my father U.S. 5th Armored Division met the Russians on the Elbe. They too were ordered not to advance, but on Berlin.
Was there such an order? It's just that the American army landed in France too late, only on June 6, 1944, everyone was waiting for the Soviet Army to do the main work.
The Americans would land in Normandy in 1941-1943 and take Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, and they would not have to come up with non-existent orders.
@@user-vv9sl9ln2e
Yes, Eisenhower ordered them to halt on the Elbe even though Patton wanted to advance towards Berlin just 50 miles away. The Americans said they could reach Berlin in EIGHT HOURS because the Germans had most of their troops facing the Russians on the Oder. But Eisenhower submitted to Stalin even though most Germans would have welcomed the Americans as liberators out of fear for the Russian Beast. Wehrmacht troops would probably have turned their guns upon fanatical SS troops to assist the American advance had it come to that.
@@browngreen933
You wrote "fear of the Russian beast" - this is what Goebbels said, and you need to think before repeating it.
“Eisenhower ordered them to stop on the Elbe” - there was no such order, Eisenhower himself said the following: “[Losses in the capture of Berlin will be] too high a price for an object that we want to capture only for the sake of maintaining prestige, especially if we have to leave there by passing captured object to another partner...
... As for Berlin, I am quite ready to admit that it has political and psychological significance, but a much more important object is the German troops concentrated to cover Berlin. It is on them that I am going to focus my attention. Naturally, if there is an opportunity to capture Berlin without heavy losses, I will take it."
"most Germans would welcome the Americans as liberators out of fear of the Russian beast." - yes, all Nazi war criminals fled to the West, to the Americans, and this phenomenon is a disgrace to America.
America and Great Britain had the opportunity to liberate all of Europe in 1941-1943, including Berlin and Vienna, but they decided to wait until the Red Army single-handedly defeated Hitler's troops, and landed in Normandy when the outcome of the war was already clear.
@@user-vv9sl9ln2e
Events in Ukraine prove Dr. Goebbels correct. The Russian BEAST is alive and well.
Your last part is correct. The US-Brit invasion of France did come rather late and yes the Russians did most of the dying. All true. But in the meantime USA was sending Russia vast amounts of material lend lease from boots to locomotives. Stalin himself admitted that without American help, Russia would have lost. Possibly the only true thing he ever said.
Lastly, if Eisenhower didn't give the Elbe halt order, then why did US-Brit stop at all? Patton and Montgomery were raring to charge towards Berlin. Yes, the excuse was American casualties but in fact it would have been more of a rescue mission than a blood bath. Roosevelt at Yalta I believe agreed to let Stalin take Berlin for prestige reasons. Stalin, of course, didn't care how many Russians died in Berlin. Just like Putin doesn't care today how many Russians die in Ukraine. Russian people are great, but except for Gorbachev their leaders suck. Of course US leaders suck too.
@@browngreen933
If you think that Goebbels is right when using the expression "Russian beast", then you are like the Germans of 1933-1945, who believed Hitler, Goebbels and as a result became very similar to animals themselves - sadists without brains.
Yes, America, Great Britain, Australia, Mongolia and other countries helped the Soviet Union in the war. In the late 80s, in a large factory, I saw an American milling machine from the 40s. And after the war, my friend’s father handed over to the Americans cars received under Lend-Lease, the Americans demanded that the car be handed over completely, right down to the last wrench, which was a big problem.
Helping an ally in a deadly fight is okay, that's how you win a war. If the Soviet Union had not resisted in 1941-1945, and Germany would have received a free 6-10 millionth army, then the landing in Normandy would simply not be possible, but the capture by Germany of North Africa, the Middle East, England is very possible.
"Stalin himself admitted that without American help, Russia would have lost." - this has never happened before.
"If Eisenhower didn't give the order to stop the Elbe, then why did the American-British stop at all?" - they didn’t stop, it’s just that Germany is too big, the Americans went to Bavaria and Austria, liberated Leibtsig, and advanced as best they could.
"Patton and Montgomery were eager to attack Berlin." - somehow too slowly they rushed to attack in 41-43, the Red Army had to reach Berlin, but they are our allies and we are grateful to them.
It is Gorbachev and Yeltsin who are the main culprits of the civil war in our country now, and the blood of the dead on both sides is on their hands.
There was a division that surrendered in the Sudentland area at the end of the war but I forgot which one it was...Horst Wessel I think.
Also 5:04 what Hitler said in the movie Downfall wasn't BS after all I guess? when he said he has "4 armies near Prague" ready to attack the Russians from behind haha.
I had no idea Poland stole part of Czechoslovakia. Seems ironical
Only a very small part though.
@@HistoryHustle obviously, but I think in principle, very similar to the Soviet and German behaviour.
I never understood the politics of old men, they desire more and more land.
46FreddieMercury91 A bit of context is that Czechoslovakia took that small region by force in a brief war in January 1919.
Despite that one issue Polish and Czechoslovak governments in exile during WW2 initially had very good and close relationship and there was even a project of forming a Federation after the war.
Yes, they were no angels. It's one reason Britain and France made a defense treaty with them in August 1939 and then totally betrayed them by not even trying to help after German invaded.
@@Artur_M. Wouldn't such a federation have been dominated by Poles?
task force baum
Baum?
I once met a Czech woman who said her grandmother billeted U.S. troops in her house in the border town of Sušice, about 20km from the German border (but not in the Sudetenland area). Her grandmother spoke well of them.
Thanks for sharing this.
Sir so callerd SudeteLand is not any seprate land from Bohemia. Its only be demographycly ocupide b mayorit german speking population and that it
So happy foreign people are interested in those things. I live 10 minutes from our beloved town of Pilsen. We were and still are thankful to our american brothers. We are making huge festivals and celebrating this day as nothing else.
...Why?
Why on earth would Europeans celebrate capitalism? America is a destructive and evil influence in the world. Europeans see America as a threat and our allies are just our allies because they fear us. We get told by Europe that we're racist, sexist, bigoted, uneducated, fat, uneducated homophobes. And worst of all, capitalists.
When the Russians invaded Poland, as well as the Germans, why didn't the European powers declare war on the Russians as well ?
Type this question in YT search bar and find out.
Weil es immer nur um die Zerstörung Deutschlands ging.Leider haben deutsche Spinner keinerlei Lehren aus der Scheiße gezogen und kriechen froh und munter in den Amiarsch.
If it wasnt for the National Socialists then the Communists my family never would of had to flee Czechoslovakia.
I would appreciate using the official name Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic, and if it is a bit long for you, use what the Czech use - Cesko (pronounced chesko) instead of Czechia which resembles the Nazi used name Tchechei (pronounced chekhy).
See title.
0:01 Wow, I wonder how often that monument to capitalists gets vandalized by the Europeans. Weekly?
Please describe your delusions further, I think it will be entertaining
@@scottabc72 Yes, those well-known capitalist lovers and friends of America - Europeans! Say, tell us how much you like the US military, LOL. Your delusions will be entertaining.
The moment seems to be fine...
It is a shame that the American and British forces were not powerful enough to stomp out the Soviet Russian forces. I would have been delighted with such results.
Our GIs, unlike the German and Red Armies, could vote. The Nazis were done and my father and his fellow GIs wanted to leave Czechia and go back to Brooklyn. Also don't forget, the Japanese still continued to fight.
We gave Eastern Europe to stalin
@@tomhenry897 Stalin took Eastern Europe. The US gave him nothing. The issue was fighting Russia to take back Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc. Truman wasn't about to take a million casualties with Japan still undefeated. The troops would have mutinied.
Patton said we fought the wrong enemy.
Here we go again with "liberated"
He was right. Wish they listened to him. We could haved punished the Nazi's and also stop Russia for doing the same thing that Stalin did. Jmo
Patron was an idiot.
Patton made many nonsensical statements. Even bordering on antisemitism. A general despised by many and who contributed to Allied war crimes. Furthermore he was a general and not a politician, so he had no authority on this. And even if he was a politician, just one person stating this bizarre thing is not a valid argument. Revisionists often use his quote for their own agenda.
Please watch this video:
ua-cam.com/video/vB2zZWk9TfU/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/dWL0Nz4g5yk/v-deo.html
@@HistoryHustle Thank you! Pro-Nazi revisionists live in a dark fantasy. Can anybody even imagine Truman asking men like my own father to join with the SS to liberate Eastern Europe. The GIs would have mutinied. Also, for the record, my father didn't like General Patton. He admired General Bradley as "the GI general." As his fellow soldiers said about "Old Blood and Guts" our blood and his guts.
@@HistoryHustle Now there's the disdain and disgust we all expect from Europeans! You show those capitalists who's boss! Crap on their heroes and tell them off when they have independent thoughts!
Still pissed the Americans assassinated Patton.
You have a source on that?
@1:09 - should be - Poland took back lands occupied since war with bolsheviks
Sii
Patton, the " warlord ", who spent 2 and half months to take Lorraine, which was defended by units of people with stomach ulcers, cooks, bakers, postmen, and others suffering from shell shock migraine... 😂😂
Just taking a moment off 'Driven to Distriction' (helpful for ADD History Buffs like me) to tune into this fascinating short. Im not in position to support whst you do, but i do think the style and approach, and the Dutchies accent work well together. Although Scots-Welsh, my partner and I always get mistaken for Nederlanders out on our travels; it even happened in Haarlem. Interesting what happened in Rostov this week. Back in the day, in the Valley of Snakes, there, a leading member of my profession was murdered. Wikipedia says some were still alive when the pit was backfilled; the stuff of nightmares surely. Although peace-minded, we don't forget that our the Norse, Dutch, German Resistance, etc, etc friends thatcsaved us from occupation and an overt problem of how to live and work with collaborators. Be pragmatic, or hand the back to Mossad, or both? The Rom have no Mossad, that I know of though; but engaging, sharp, factual presentations must be a part of the UnFinalising of YouKnowWhat. g
Thanks for sharing.
ua-cam.com/video/or00g6HNeyQ/v-deo.html seems to do similar work. On a more mundane note we have Duchies sites here, all up the East Coast, that could show you where Dutch migrants had to create autonomous communities as, have got their ordinal proposals wrong, and flooded out the locals it was safer to live together under the protect of their landlord Charles 2 through to Wiliam of Orange 🍊 (William 3 an Mary, the just K.Bill 3, the nice guy who didn't "(O No He didn't" - usual Christmas Pantomimes call out here) authorise the Glencoe Maasacre. As a Constutional Monarch, stripped of Cash Funds, how could he??? But the citizens of New Holland, Anchomle Valley, Trent Valley, and Humberhead Levels, were not pleased to þ subjective to Royalty misdemeanors on Crown , assisted my mercenary.-nud master