I can't comprehend mate - in all my Goon-spotting days I've never seen a Goon firing squad that hasn't been annihilated on the job before (unless it was Grey on Grey type of course); it even appeared that Goon command were anticipating things going pear-shaped as usual with all those coffins on standby lol. And being Combat! attuned, the sight of trooper 0:26's bulging sack didn't go unnoticed either - so accustomed I am to seeing those bread bags flapping on empty. Love the troopz' 'Schnell' no-nonsense, tug 'n' shove attitude at the boarding gate of course, and as Mademoiselle meets Yeux Bleus' penetrating gaze I think what a lucky lad he is (to be rubbing shoulders with top-Goon 1:04 of course lol). A salute to the Obergruppenführer-type at 1:13 (who's very accommodating with his charges' demands) as the NCO adjusts a rigid trooper's dress out back - and the shining shafts 'n' achtung stiffness at 1:19 are a striking sight. As is strapping, no nonsense trooper 2:25 right, and the down-the muzzle view at 3:21 as La Marseillaise resounds. Even the GG Goonz couldn't miss those red-ribbon tagged blank canvases mate lol - and that is a cracking set of impacts at 3:25/4:27 (and what a header at 3:34!!). I ain't surprised you chose the 4:01 image of the Goon blazin' squad in all their erect 'n' boots spread readiness for the thumbnail - but Frenchie needs to rework his farewell note to Irene coz he's only facing 8 Goon rifles rather than the predicted douzaine ;-) That was a cracking watch mate - and yet another top-notch, 'first blood' experience I'm indebted to you for. Thank you mate - I really fkn love what you do!!!!
It was definitely an oversight on the part of The Resistance not to have a hit squad on the brow of that hill, riding to the rescue a la the 5th Cavalry as in so many a movie mate, such as 'Edge of Darkness', 'Escape To Athena' or 'Heroes In Hell' - and the results are fatal! We really need to rewrite the script for this one on the remake! I knew I could trust on you fella not to miss that trooper's bulging sac (good on ya!) and the manners of the boarding party kind of remind me of some of the crew on the local trains into the city here mate - a surly, grumpy lot they are too lol. You'll be surprised (not!) that 1:04 caught my attention as well and if that's the kind of company on offer then make room for one more in the back! 1:13 is VERY dashing and has a touch of decency about him (not much mind, he still has them all shot!) but he's in some fine company for sure - not least far right at 2:25. That's not all that's "stiffening up" at 1:19 (:-)) and the impacts show up so much better on white shirts - good of the lads to oblige by dressing for the occasion!!! 3:34 has got to hurt (ouch) and then it's onto the next set. These Goonz don't hang about when on the job do they mate?! I did notice that myself fella, that the lad lost count on the squad numbers - perhaps he was seeing double on a couple of 'em (and you can't blame him for that!) or has Irene led him astray, to the point he can't even count anymore? 4:01 just had to be the thumbnail J, there really was no competition! I'm made-up you enjoyed it fella and there's a bit more to come from it too. Thanks again mate, you make uploading these clips worth the time and effort with your unmatched observations and wit!!!
Yeah! Our firing squad finished the mission very well this time. I like this work - Wearing my leather boots, uniform and helmet, send saboteurs on their way with my 98k. The 3:17 scene is so nice!
@@foreverblueclassics Please excuse me sticking my nose in where it don't belong. In reality, When the Germans had contraol of an area that area was generally under complete control. to include constant patrols. The idea that a resistence group could come in and save those guys is funny. I'll tell you why. First, that is one of a number of places used to commits these kinds of actions. protocol would prevent anyone but the most senior of officers to know where event would take place. At the time, drivers wwould be given directs and all personnel involved would then be moved. Also, this wa something that probably happened daily in the German occupied area. If you noticied in the background at the beginning it looked like a prison. I surmise that prison was probably full. if the commandant was notified a new shipment of prisoners would be arriving, then space would have to cleared. Now prisoners would not be let go. This was a way to handle the space problem. My point is the idea that a resistqance group would jump the Nazi in this hidden walled off area...is funny, but not believable. the Germans are very smart and many learn engineering and so they were precise and efficient in making war. I think you might want to ciponsider them as seiously evil opponents and not scoff at them by saying f=ruitless things like a resistance ggroup could come save the day. Also the idea a single girl is walking down the street in the highlly occupied area is curious. If an attempt would be made to save those prisoners it would have had to be on the way to the location, as in having the road covered, as in knowing where or which way the truck was headed. Ambusing the truck before it arrived would have been the best way to ssave most of them. It looked like only two riflemen in the back of the truck and a motorcycle escort and maybe 3 in the cab of the truck. 7 is a doable number with a small group.
"In the French Resistance, it was considered a high honor to face a Nazi firing squad. Meant you did your job. The highest honor was to smile when they shot you" Paul Kellerman
I've empathized so much with them that just by watching I started to sweat, tremble, and had a weird cold feeling on my legs. I can't believe how brave the men that went through it had to be.
I can only imagine the feeling that was hanging over the men before they were executed. The last few minutes must be the toughest as time was ticking into seconds. Were they savoring the air they were breathing? Something that has been taken for granted. What was going through their minds? Their family? Thinking about what could have been?
Except for SS men I suspect that ordinary soldiers in a firing squad were plagued with remorse. Even in battle it is not easy to shoot an enemy up close and personal according to old soldiers who have. The executed men are at peace but those soldiers would endure years of mental torment if they survived what was coming.
me too. ive never felt so scared during a movie scene. I'm seriously thinking about my family, wife, and life seriously. To appreciate all the things I have now. Even seeing and breathing. Thinking. Knowing. Feeling. Hearing. Touching. We all will die someday like these men, so appreciate what we have now, for soon we will suffer the same fate.
ungrateful way??? this is war, my friend... war isn't fair and he who can be most tough will suffer the least at least they die at once ,and do not suffer (most of the time)
They challenged the current regime and failed. They should be glad they were given the mercy of death in the end. Nothing more or less than they deserved
My uncle in the British Army said they would hang them if enemy forces were near by. Didn't want to give away their position. And the terror inflicted on the troops that came to relieve what they thought was a secured position was irreplaceable. At the end of the war the SS got to know the same fear they inflicted on others.
Just remember this happened to many brave resistance fighters as well as randoms citizens during the war. Bless their memories and bless their sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
@@tomasbraun7270 that’s not wat happened Charles De Gaulle was already there but outside of France. The French Resistance with the help of Britain and maybe America Later help capture Vichy French Colonies
Rest in peace all the men, women and maybe even children shot due to these fireing squads. They will always be remembered for being brave, rest in peace all of you.
And in my opinion, it was even more badass, because they were singing it with cracked voices, occasionally faltering, singing even though they were fully aware of the terrible fate awaiting them. Thus, it seems to be much more realistic, and touching, than it might have been, if done by a different director, who might have them sing at the top of their lungs like singers in an opera..
Such a poignant scene, simultaneously depicting the ruthlessness and tenderness of wartime Europe. Lives... and love... lost at the hands of unimaginable, but real, evil. Powerful stuff, wonderfully filmed.
I give a special kudos to the wardrobe department for this one. The gear looked sufficiently aged with use rather than an artificial process, and they remembered to fill the soldiers bread bags! Not only that, but they took the time to research how the Germans wore their gear. I didn't see anything out of place.
In the Serbian city of Nis, birthplace of the Roman emperor Constantine, 15,000 civilians were shot during the German occupation as reprisals for partisan attacks. This happened in towns and cities across the country. The Germans had ten divisions there but couldn’t hold it. That’s unbelievable bravery right there.
I am so fortunate to realise that I don't live in a period like this. But similar incidents like these are still happening everyday in countries like Myanmar.
This happened all over occupied Europe, France was no exception. I fact most of these Resistane fighters were betrayed /arrested/ tortured by their own countrymen....
I get thrown by the perfect hair, make-up and wardrobe in all historical films. Look at the old photos. I won't even get into the casting - all models seemingly.
@@leannenovak1261 It was all of the UK and the empire, not just England. Excluding the cowardly SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein who collaborated with Nazi Germany. The French have actually always had a good army, unfortunately, most had no idea what was going on and communication was still being dispatched by motorcycle.
I never got it tho if they shoot them again why not just have someone go round point blank with a pistol shooting them all, rarther than haveing to shoot everyone 2 times
Firing squads are given one or more rifles that fire a blank round with a narrower barrel to simulate recoil bc blanks don't have much recoil. This is so no one knows who fired the kill shot, and dissipates responsibility and guilt among the executioners. Try and take an ordinary soldier and tell him to shoot someone unarmed tied to a pole, it's not such an easy thing to do. It helps with the herd mentality so no one hesitates, and no one knows if they fired a lethal round or not
@@tomashstephens3011 the comment i just wrote explained the main concept but this officer probably went and did it as an act of mercy for the men who just shot, as well as for the condemned, i know if i was in the same position, i couldn't forgive myself if I DIDN'T shoot the men a second time knowing my rounds are what guarantee the suffering ending for the executed. I also would do it so that the people I'm in charge of don't suffer mental anguish from seeing someone they just shot, not die and writhe in pain on the pole, possibly blood gurgling through their mouth, it was also for the sake of the firing squad. And to have one man go and shoot someone in the head and move on to the next one as the sole executioner, it takes a sadistic person to do this much like the Russians did at Katyń to the Polish officers
Damn! How would you react if it was you being tied to a pole, looking at the muzzle end of a rifle? Gave me creepy thoughts! It was a fast way to die, but nowhere near fast enough.
@@foreverblueclassics No more like one time I was late for high school because the taxi didn't know where to turn,so I was late late for that "piece of steel" lol
It's a procedure thing but the fact that the officer shot them instantly, that's a gesture of kindness I guess... Usually a doctor would check the signs of life before the officer shooting them to "double check"
Petit enfant en culottes courtes 6-7 ans en 1956 nous allions jouer avec mes petits copains dans une carrière de sable où furent exécutés froidement le 22 Octobre 1941 27 grands patriotes le plus jeune avait 17 ans . A cette époque le monument n’existait pas encore , c’était encore l’ancienne carrière avec neufs poteaux en bois devant le remblai . Nous n’étions que des enfants et combien de fois ne nous sommes mis devant ces poteaux imaginant dans nos petites têtes des choses . Puis bien plus tard j’ai visionné plusieurs fois le film : la mer à l’aube . Connaissant parfaitement tous les recoins de cette carrière , j’ai mesuré alors toute l’ignorance dans nos petites têtes de la tragédie qui s’était déroulée à peine 15 ans au paravent en ces lieux sacrés . Aujourd’hui à plus de 72 ans je mesure que ce n’était rien 15 ans dans une vie . Reposez en paix près de vos familles ou dans les cimetières ou vos cercueils furent déposés alentours le lendemain . Granet , Bastard , Bartolli , Guéguin , Kérivel ,Pourchasse , G Môquet, Michels ,Poulmarch Bouris, Timbaud et tous les autres . Gloire à vous résistants de la première heure et à tous les autres résistants ou non assassinés par la barbarerie des nazis
ca devait etre chateaubriand ou furent executes les dirigeants de la cgt; jean pierre timbaud entre autre et guy moquet d apres une liste dressee par les collabos de vichy
The officer in charge of the firing party was most likely a member of the SD[Sicherheitsdienst]. They did most of the execution of sentences levied, particularly in dealing with resistance fighters[they were regarded as "terrorists" by the Germans]. The officer in question had a 'Death's head' badge on his cap, no Wehrmacht officers would wear those; only SD, SS and RSHA members wore that badge. If he was SD, he would have had a black, diamond shaped patch with 'SD' in silver thread on his left sleeve between wrist and elbow. I didn't see one , so I'm only surmising.
I'm pretty sure a lot of German officers and soldiers didn't want to do this but unfortunately, that's what they were told to do and if they didn't follow the commands then they will be executed as well.
to my knowledge during the beginning years of the war IE 1939-41 (maybe) most soldiers (wermacht) were given the choice of either being apart of the firing squad or they could be sent back to the rest of the unit. So I may be incorrect but overall the normal Heer infantry did have some leanency on the soldiers pertaining to this action, minus the obvious Einsatzgruppen, which were literally made for this exact moment but then again they were SS.
@@luger_Mann Even the men of the Einsatzgruppen would suffer from PTSD. Himmler himself couldn’t handle his first (and only) visit to a KZ where he saw how it all went down on the ground. He ordered his men to kill the unfortunate souls as quickly as possible after witnessing how mentally degrading it was to carry them out.
@@Em-yd9jn exactly he had a job but he made it easier for everyone involved, war ruins lives (Also it’s said most SS war criminals were the psycho unit, the majority’s EEE apparently too busy on frontline)
There was a period after WW2 when A LOT of former Nazis, who had escaped the hangman's noose and were living normal lives, were murdered on their doorsteps. Nobody tried too hard to find the killers. Germany was rebuilding, and resources were tight.
There are a famous sequence of photographs taken covertly from a great height in a French Castle courtyard ( Probably from the Tower keep) window looking down ( presumably taken by a high ranking German officer) at several young French women being executed just like this with their own coffins piled up beside them,it is a remarkable and poignant series of photos which may have influenced this scene,the women are supporting each other as they are marched to their respective poles,then being tied and the last photo shows 6 or 7 of them dead after the executions were carried out,i often think of their bravery and anyone who has seen these infamous "Castle Courtyard execution" photos will never forget them.
this photos was taken in celje; serbia 1942 and the women shots were serbian; french resistance women were not shots in france but guillotined in germany after torture; french heroins resistance francoise bloch serazin; emilienne mopty; simonne schloss olga bancic; suzanne masson and other suffer this martyr
Psalms 23 " The Lord is my Shepherd, I will lack nothing. In grassy pastures he makes me lie down; He leads me to well-watered resting-places. He refreshes me. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name Though I walk in the valley of deep shadow. I fear no harm, For you are with me....
This film was just perfect, from the attitude of the Germans, just another day at the office almost bored expressions, to the absolute hopelessness of the prisoners., realizing that these final moments would be their last. The scene where a condemned man locks eyes with the young women with the emotion of remorse, pity, and final acceptance in deep contrast with the German guard looking at the women with more earthy intentions.
@@chaseroberts3111 It's my pleasure! It actually still gets quite a lot of comments. If you click on the filter "sort by" next to the comment counter you can change it to "newest first".
I find it interesting the way they got killed when they're supposed to, or is singing, the part that goes "Mugir ces féroces soldats?" (meaning "The roar of those ferocious soldiers?") And they didn't have a chance to continue to sing "Aux armes, citoyens! (To arms, citizens!)". It's like this scene signifies that the German army as won over France well that the people of France hadn't had the chance to fight back.
My late Uncle flew missions over Germany towards the end of WWII dropping bombs on cities. He said the look of cities being annihilated from the air at night haunted him the rest of his life. He knew there would be women and children burning below. Honourable men forced to do horrendous acts paid the price. But hopefully he claimed a few direct hits on men such as those depicted doing the shooting in this video.
Which is sad since what these german soldiers doing is not against the genava conventions and did not commited war crimes. Members of Irregular armed forces without uniforms and following hidden warfare were not protected. And they were not considered as prisoners of war.
"You *may hand us over to the executioner,* but in three months time, *the disgusted and harried people will bring you to book and drag you alive through the dirt in the streets"* -Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben, Valkyrie (2008) *"We have to show the world* that not all of us were like him" -Maj Gen. Henning von Tresckow, Valkyrie (2008) *"Look them in the eye. They'll remember you...Long live sacred Germany!"* -Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, Valkyrie (2008)
People like von Witzleben or von Tresckow did not like Hitler and his involvement in operational and tactical affairs of war. However, they still were the "finest" examples of German/Prussian militarism which - for example- brought us WW1.
For 25 years already i am a guard of honor at several monuments for executed people in Haarlem, Netherlands. At one of them there is always one man who has seen the execution in november 1944. Its organized by the local former resistance people in cooperation with the boyscouts, schools, militairy with the guards standing next to us and the red cross. In 1990 i was invited for the first time at a former hiding place. Their where also former resistance fighters. They explained me the weapons hanging there. One of the guys was the man who had to shoot traitor Fake Krist from the Dutch nazi party, if the guy on the street would screw his job to kill Fake Krist ( see google). He told me he was in the school building on the otherside of what was water in those days, to shoot if necessary. The school and the house next to it was set afire as retaliation. The germans just took out of the prison 10 people, not only from the resistance, put them at the place where Fake Krist was killed ( pictures on internet), stopped everybody who was walking there, told those people about what and how, and executed the 10 man. Their names are told every year during the ceremony. Many of these things happened and always people had to watch. And yes, al over Europe.
*I can't imagine how traumatic it would be to be a member of that German firing squad. It took a certain kind of courage to stand there, pull the trigger, then go home and enjoy a nice meal.*
They were pre-programmed to believe they were a master race. I'm not saying all of them felt this way but many did and didn't see their enemy as an equal.
@@foreverblueclassics There was a family of German immigrants in my home town. The man of the house had baked bread for the S.S. He was extremely happy to surrender to the Americans because the Soviets were closing in from the east. He took over a local bakery, renaming it the Dutch Bakery. How clever! Because the word Deutsch (pronounced 'doych') actually means German, not Dutch, but the local townsfolk were taken in. He believed in God a lot and kept warning us of the spread of communism, how unstoppable it was. As for this girls, born in 1940 and 1944, they never spoke about the war, and if you pressed them, they would stutter and stammer. Just imagine! A baby born in 1944 feels far more guilty about the war, and what the Nazis had done, but not their remorseless father. As for me, I did not think much about it as a small child. After all, they would cut up some donuts into small pieces, as free samples. And I would go into their bakery and eat as many as I could get away with. I grew up in the 1950s.
@@hinchlnt Interesting story. It's no wonder the Germans would rather have surrendered to the Americans or British instead of the Soviets, given what went on in the East. You can only wonder what secrets so many of them kept inside their heads after the war.
Somewhere I have a story in one of my numerous history mags, with photos taken at the time, of a German soldier who was part of a firing squad but refused the order to aim and fire. It was in France, possibly in the Dordogne if my memory serves me well.There are a number of black and white pictures of him being led to the wall where he was stood among about a dozen Frenchmen. He was a soldier from what they called a White Bread or Stomach division. Normally units made up of older, less fit men, many with special dietary needs, who were often used as static occupying units, rather than deployed as front line fighters. I do remember that he looked quite fat in the photos.The German was shot along with the French civilians, all of whom had been selected to die as a reprissal for a German soldier killed by the Resistance. The town now has a street named after him and the local people still tend his grave.
@@driftathug They were in a mag that is, I believe up in the loft among dozens of boxes of military, car and modelling mags. Bit of a hoarder I'm afraid. I last saw it about 20 years ago when I was looking for some old slot cars that I had as a kid. It must be from the late 70s or early 80s. I know that another mag also told the story of the WW1 Imperial German Navy Submarine UB65 which was haunted by its first officer, many of the crew being petrified as they encountered him so often. Look that up on U-Tube or elsewhere...Fascinating. If I can find the firing squad article I will try to upload it. Not great on I.T but I will if I can. Sadly, according to many sources, some 77,000 civilians were shot in France, Belgium, Holland and Norway by firing squad during the war. The Russians lost at least 27 million during the war, of whom about 19 million were civilian, many not being, as they were often not in Western Europe, part of any resistance units, just picked out in retribution. The Germans had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and Hiwis (Russian helpers, often armed) helping them protect the rear and the road and railway lines in Russia. To give you an example in White or BelloRussia in mid 1944 their were about 300,000 partisans behind German lines. On the night of 22nd June 1944, when the Russians started Operation Bagration, the vast attack on the German Centre Armies, that would basically crush dozens of German divisions and liberate places such as Vitebsk, Orsha and Bobruisk, the partisans placed explosives and blew up the railway lines in over 10,000 places....all in one night, cutting off supplies from the West. In a month the Russians had destroyed or severely mauled three times the number of German units than had the Allies in the month after D-day in Normandy. Basically 8 out of every 10 Germans who died in WW2 did so in Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Finland (The Ostfront). Try and get a book called War Without Garlands. It is about the German invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) in the summer of 1941 and I guarantee you will be amazed. Some Russian tank crews were, in the first days of the Invasion, when the Germans were running amok and annihilating entire Russian Army Corps, actually being padlocked into the tanks, albeit this was probably only done in one or two units. The reason was that they had no option but to fight as if they fled, as many were doing at the time, they would not be let out and die anyway. The Germans were coming up against the T34 tanks with which they had no gun powerful enough, apart from the 88mm, that was capable of knocking it out. They found that their quadruple 20mm anti aircraft guns could fire so many shells against the Russian tanks that the noise of the numerous hits sent the crews mad and they often fled or even surrendered on the spot. Before the invasion the German Intelligence machine had estimated that the Russians had about 6,000 tanks. Within three months they had knocked out far more than that and they kept coming. They had actually had about 28,000 tanks across the Motherland. Apologies that I have waffled on and taken you to the Eastern Front but always happy to share info on WW2.
I'm not surprised he was an older man. Older people get treated like they're stupid for relying on their own life experience and refusing to accept every modern social trend popular with the naive 20-35 yo demographic. But at least some older people have the courage to not just go with the flow and are later proved right. I have also heard that a German soldier in France refused to be part of a reprisal squad and his superiors just let him do so because they knew that courtmartialing him would bring their own misdeeds to light. It also reminds me of an Australian sergeant and corporal (not sure what their ages were), who after being told by an officer not to take prisoners before a certain battle in WW1, said to each other that they weren't going to kill prisoners.
Grim. Yet, we are all on the way to our deaths, and many of us will meet it suddenly and without warning. But for these, what greater chance for considered repentance and prayer for forgiveness. RIP to all those who have gone before.
People keep saying, “I’d do this,” and “I’d do that,” but we don’t really know until put into that situation and then it’s too late. I can’t say what I’d do. Maybe I’d be a great patriot and cry out a ringing challenge before the bullets struck. Maybe I’d piss my pants and beg for mercy. Was I being executed because I was a freedom fighter and got caught or was I just a random guy that they decided to make an example of? I guess the last thing through my mind would be too terrible to contemplate: I’ll never laugh again, I’ll never wake up again, I’ll never hear a rainstorm again or hold my wife’s hand or listen to my child tell me about her day. I’ve always wondered what the last thought/word written out in my mind would be. Does it always have to be patriotic? Like does your mind automatically think of some ambiguous but legendary word like, “freedom,” “bravery,” “sacrifice,” or “hero?” Or does the sheer terror “reboot” your brain in that last half second so that only simple words form: “boot,” “sky,” “flower,” “poop?” Firing squads have taken on a mystical quality and are usually seen as the virtuous being killed by the oppressive, so we make the victims a bastion of our underlying fears but also our fantasies. No one wants to be the one blubbering while tied to that stake. We always see ourselves as the warrior, staring down the killers as our last act of defiance. There’s a “leveling” with this method of execution. I may be a farmer while the guy on my left is a banker and the one on my right is a bum. I see my executioner; even if his bullet isn’t the one that finishes me off, everything has come down to this moment and it’s one of the most/and the final intimate moment of my life. I see his eyes and my last moment may be wasted asking questions to myself: does ve enjoy this? Does he feel bad? Is he just following orders? What’s his name? What’s the name of the man who will send me to the Hereafter? Will this hurt? Will it be over soon or will my last, last moments be pain until the officer offers the coup de grace? Will they be punished? Will anyone find my body? How long will it take? Does my death matter or am I just another statistic? May none of us ever have to experience it.
😢 ich bin so froh, dass die Franzosen heute unsere Schwestern und Brüder sind. Und ich bete dass die Menschen weltweit verstehen, dass sie alle Schwestern und Brüder sind..!!!!
At least justice it’s still happening , a 100 year old is facing trial for being an accomplice to murder of hundreds . Justice is often served against tyrants and oppression in and end.
My Great Uncle served in the SS. He shot french civilians who were "judged" to pay the price for actions of the resistance. He was 17 at this point of time, out of school. He was asked to join the Wehrmacht, wich means easternfront or the SS wich he assumed to be the better choice. He did not knew what his job will be. And I can tell that he severly suffered and never forgot these horrible and brutal executions of innocent civilians...... He did it cause he had to for not to be shot himself. That was the only reason. As it is said: In war, there are no winner but loser only. And the loser are we. We all. So: NO WAR, NEVER AGAIN!
@@mehrkilo This is complete Bullshit! Please read my comment again! The SS platoon my Greatuncle served in executed mother, children, grandparents, no resistance fighters! Eg 100 Cilivilians for a German Hauptmann, 80 for an OLt etc. And these executed had nothing to do with the resistance or the war. So what? This was living hell!
@@mehrkilo "Innocent" Germans who invaded their country. I'm not sure if you're trolling people but what a crazy comment. Of course individual soldiers deaths are tragic but if they hadn't invaded these countries they wouldn't have been killed. The ultimate villain of the piece is Hitler and his fellow Nazis but I guess you already knew that.
Honor to the partisans!!! Respect to the partisans!!! Long life and and R.I.P !! They had the real soldier resistance e discipline . All respect to then . They pay the most high price for the freedom !!! Viva la resistance!!
The British done the same to a group of young men in Ireland back in 1916. Even shot one lad in his chair because he couldn't stand up from his wounds... It happened on every side. Sad way to go!
as soon as he gave order to fire i would have spun round to other side of post, if they had any sense of humor i would probably last another few hours doing it,, 🤣
Man if i was in 1940 France i would’ve definitely collaborated with the French state (Vichy France) instead of the French resistance as at the time the situation seemed hopeless to fight with the allies. But damn the French resistance had balls to defy a unstoppable army.
7 members of the Groupe du musée de l'Homme, 23 February 1942: Boris Vildé, Anatole Lewitsky, Pierre Walter, Léon-Maurice Nordmann, Georges Ithier, Jules Andrieu, René Sénéchal;
I can't comprehend mate - in all my Goon-spotting days I've never seen a Goon firing squad that hasn't been annihilated on the job before (unless it was Grey on Grey type of course); it even appeared that Goon command were anticipating things going pear-shaped as usual with all those coffins on standby lol. And being Combat! attuned, the sight of trooper 0:26's bulging sack didn't go unnoticed either - so accustomed I am to seeing those bread bags flapping on empty. Love the troopz' 'Schnell' no-nonsense, tug 'n' shove attitude at the boarding gate of course, and as Mademoiselle meets Yeux Bleus' penetrating gaze I think what a lucky lad he is (to be rubbing shoulders with top-Goon 1:04 of course lol). A salute to the Obergruppenführer-type at 1:13 (who's very accommodating with his charges' demands) as the NCO adjusts a rigid trooper's dress out back - and the shining shafts 'n' achtung stiffness at 1:19 are a striking sight. As is strapping, no nonsense trooper 2:25 right, and the down-the muzzle view at 3:21 as La Marseillaise resounds. Even the GG Goonz couldn't miss those red-ribbon tagged blank canvases mate lol - and that is a cracking set of impacts at 3:25/4:27 (and what a header at 3:34!!). I ain't surprised you chose the 4:01 image of the Goon blazin' squad in all their erect 'n' boots spread readiness for the thumbnail - but Frenchie needs to rework his farewell note to Irene coz he's only facing 8 Goon rifles rather than the predicted douzaine ;-) That was a cracking watch mate - and yet another top-notch, 'first blood' experience I'm indebted to you for. Thank you mate - I really fkn love what you do!!!!
It was definitely an oversight on the part of The Resistance not to have a hit squad on the brow of that hill, riding to the rescue a la the 5th Cavalry as in so many a movie mate, such as 'Edge of Darkness', 'Escape To Athena' or 'Heroes In Hell' - and the results are fatal! We really need to rewrite the script for this one on the remake! I knew I could trust on you fella not to miss that trooper's bulging sac (good on ya!) and the manners of the boarding party kind of remind me of some of the crew on the local trains into the city here mate - a surly, grumpy lot they are too lol. You'll be surprised (not!) that 1:04 caught my attention as well and if that's the kind of company on offer then make room for one more in the back! 1:13 is VERY dashing and has a touch of decency about him (not much mind, he still has them all shot!) but he's in some fine company for sure - not least far right at 2:25. That's not all that's "stiffening up" at 1:19 (:-)) and the impacts show up so much better on white shirts - good of the lads to oblige by dressing for the occasion!!! 3:34 has got to hurt (ouch) and then it's onto the next set. These Goonz don't hang about when on the job do they mate?! I did notice that myself fella, that the lad lost count on the squad numbers - perhaps he was seeing double on a couple of 'em (and you can't blame him for that!) or has Irene led him astray, to the point he can't even count anymore? 4:01 just had to be the thumbnail J, there really was no competition! I'm made-up you enjoyed it fella and there's a bit more to come from it too. Thanks again mate, you make uploading these clips worth the time and effort with your unmatched observations and wit!!!
Yeah! Our firing squad finished the mission very well this time. I like this work - Wearing my leather boots, uniform and helmet, send saboteurs on their way with my 98k. The 3:17 scene is so nice!
@@SSSoldat And there were no partisans intervening to spoil the show for once 😀
@@foreverblueclassics
Please excuse me sticking my nose in where it don't belong. In reality, When the Germans had contraol of an area that area was generally under complete control. to include constant patrols. The idea that a resistence group could come in and save those guys is funny. I'll tell you why.
First, that is one of a number of places used to commits these kinds of actions. protocol would prevent anyone but the most senior of officers to know where event would take place. At the time, drivers wwould be given directs and all personnel involved would then be moved.
Also, this wa something that probably happened daily in the German occupied area. If you noticied in the background at the beginning it looked like a prison. I surmise that prison was probably full. if the commandant was notified a new shipment of prisoners would be arriving, then space would have to cleared. Now prisoners would not be let go. This was a way to handle the space problem. My point is the idea that a resistqance group would jump the Nazi in this hidden walled off area...is funny, but not believable.
the Germans are very smart and many learn engineering and so they were precise and efficient in making war. I think you might want to ciponsider them as seiously evil opponents and not scoff at them by saying f=ruitless things like a resistance ggroup could come save the day.
Also the idea a single girl is walking down the street in the highlly occupied area is curious.
If an attempt would be made to save those prisoners it would have had to be on the way to the location, as in having the road covered, as in knowing where or which way the truck was headed. Ambusing the truck before it arrived would have been the best way to ssave most of them. It looked like only two riflemen in the back of the truck and a motorcycle escort and maybe 3 in the cab of the truck. 7 is a doable number with a small group.
@@chrismachabee3128 But no one came in to save them, or even made an attempt to?
"In the French Resistance, it was considered a high honor to face a Nazi firing squad.
Meant you did your job. The highest honor was to smile when they shot you" Paul Kellerman
"took you long enough"
"lol mad ez cope"
More like you failed your job
ª
@@nc6379 In opposite! Why they shot you? Because you dared to resist. Dared!
at this point you might as well say the most weird obscure thing to try and confuse everyone before you're shot.
„Do you know who Joe is?”
I would just smile and laugh in the face of death.
@@tag10 No you wouldn't, that's cringe.
"you don't want to be doing that, mate."
Hey, the Americans have a secret superweapon and its somewhere near here. I know someone who knows about it. His nam-
I've empathized so much with them that just by watching I started to sweat, tremble, and had a weird cold feeling on my legs. I can't believe how brave the men that went through it had to be.
Yes, brave men indeed.
I feel you, my vision goes grey and jiggly and it feels like im wearing an itchy sweater.
Oh no
everytime i see a firing squad aiming to shoot the victim's heart, my heart gets self-conscious
ez kill gg wp noobs
My anxiety can’t comprehend being a target for a firing squad. Just slowly waiting to be killed can’t work for me
Yep, it's beyond comprehension.
Just look them dead in the eyes and smile. You will stay with them forever
@@tag10 If they have a conscience.
it happend 80 years ago.
it happend 30 years ago.
It will happend again
history repeats itself
@@foreverblueclassics good point
I `ve watched this clip numerous times...It`s so profound and moving..I hardly know what to say.
Yes, brave men indeed.
you can say damn
This looks like it is really, really well done.
It's a well made series.
I can only imagine the feeling that was hanging over the men before they were executed. The last few minutes must be the toughest as time was ticking into seconds. Were they savoring the air they were breathing? Something that has been taken for granted. What was going through their minds? Their family? Thinking about what could have been?
It's a frightening thought for sure.
What about la guillotine zut alors?
Except for SS men I suspect that ordinary soldiers in a firing squad were plagued with remorse. Even in battle it is not easy to shoot an enemy up close and personal according to old soldiers who have. The executed men are at peace but those soldiers would endure years of mental torment if they survived what was coming.
i simply would have just yelled at the executors before my death : „ My ghost shall haunt and give you the wirst nightamares ever !”
@@mjograus8800 Juste des pouritures sans âme!
I feel so anxious watching this and scared for the moment they shoot. This is so unbelievable ungrateful way of a sentence.
me too. ive never felt so scared during a movie scene. I'm seriously thinking about my family, wife, and life seriously. To appreciate all the things I have now. Even seeing and breathing. Thinking. Knowing. Feeling. Hearing. Touching. We all will die someday like these men, so appreciate what we have now, for soon we will suffer the same fate.
ungrateful way???
this is war, my friend... war isn't fair
and he who can be most tough will suffer the least
at least they die at once ,and do not suffer (most of the time)
@@imperialgamer6969 that's treu they died for somthing but I still find it a bit ungrateful although war is war
@@berend1301 in war.. all the rules and values you hold or even opinions change like chameleon changing colors.
They challenged the current regime and failed. They should be glad they were given the mercy of death in the end. Nothing more or less than they deserved
Dang, i felt them so hard i though i was shot for a moment.
😈
Shut up
@O.G Autistler Why the sour face 😁
My father told me years ago that in the war if they caught any Gestarpo SS they were shot
Many were, and it's hard to feel sympathy. But then again I suppose each should be taken on their face value. But in war who has the time?!
@@foreverblueclassics l hope this doesn't happen again in the future so sad millions died in that war
@@TheGhost-gx5vd 80-90 million to be exact. More than all other wars in human history combined.
True. My gramps told me the same thing.
My uncle in the British Army said they would hang them if enemy forces were near by. Didn't want to give away their position. And the terror inflicted on the troops that came to relieve what they thought was a secured position was irreplaceable. At the end of the war the SS got to know the same fear they inflicted on others.
Just remember this happened to many brave resistance fighters as well as randoms citizens during the war.
Bless their memories and bless their sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
👍
Just remember that the resistance did not even exist until the arrival of US troops in France.
@@tomasbraun7270 that's compete and utter bullshit
@@tomasbraun7270 that’s not wat happened Charles De Gaulle was already there but outside of France. The French Resistance with the help of Britain and maybe America Later help capture Vichy French Colonies
@@tomasbraun7270 damn that's kinda not even remotely true--
Rest in peace all the men, women and maybe even children shot due to these fireing squads. They will always be remembered for being brave, rest in peace all of you.
In fact, the Resistance wasn't that nice. There have been crimes against women (suspects and possible collaborators) reported.
Maybe? Please watch Einsatzgruppen: The Nazi Death Squads
no woman and children were shot by these fireing squads... mostly marxist jews were executed
Them singing the French anthem was badass
Sure was!
And in my opinion, it was even more badass, because they were singing it with cracked voices, occasionally faltering, singing even though they were fully aware of the terrible fate awaiting them. Thus, it seems to be much more realistic, and touching, than it might have been, if done by a different director, who might have them sing at the top of their lungs like singers in an opera..
@@petermetzger8550 Yes, much more realistic.
An honor to have them on my field and I wish i could follow their paths.
Such a poignant scene, simultaneously depicting the ruthlessness and tenderness of wartime Europe. Lives... and love... lost at the hands of unimaginable, but real, evil. Powerful stuff, wonderfully filmed.
Yes, it's very well done.
I give a special kudos to the wardrobe department for this one. The gear looked sufficiently aged with use rather than an artificial process, and they remembered to fill the soldiers bread bags! Not only that, but they took the time to research how the Germans wore their gear. I didn't see anything out of place.
👍
This is sad
In the Serbian city of Nis, birthplace of the Roman emperor Constantine, 15,000 civilians were shot during the German occupation as reprisals for partisan attacks. This happened in towns and cities across the country. The Germans had ten divisions there but couldn’t hold it. That’s unbelievable bravery right there.
I am so fortunate to realise that I don't live in a period like this. But similar incidents like these are still happening everyday in countries like Myanmar.
This scene is so intense....I feel it in my soul....tough to watch
I've met French resistance veterans as well as White Rose veterans. They were the bravest people whom I've ever had the privilege to meet.
👍
Partisans stay partisans. And that's how a military world reacts. Hasn't changed in two thousand years.
Trump supporters are being branded as partisans and terrorists. This escalates quickly...
@@MacLuckyPTP I know for a fact Trump wants to do something similar to what Hitler did back then
@@alphaares6027 you must be a mind reader. amazing
@@MacLuckyPTP hehe; )
@@MacLuckyPTP what does trump have to do with that
I can't imagine the horror of such an experience. Tough to watch.
For sure.
Nayme of film playse
@@amraneahmed7041 It's a French TV mini-series www.imdb.com/title/tt3587846/
This happened all over occupied Europe, France was no exception. I fact most of these Resistane fighters were betrayed /arrested/ tortured by their own countrymen....
@@maniek5974 wtf?
So sad
@Strifen Beard Your weird, clearly you don't understand the world were you live in. I suppose you are American.
@Strifen Beard You’re really criticizing people for rebelling against nazi occupation, you sound like a nazi sympathizer.
@Strifen Beard bruh nice generalization
I get thrown by the perfect hair, make-up and wardrobe in all historical films. Look at the old photos. I won't even get into the casting - all models seemingly.
Explain
@@whitehorse8832 people looked way scruffier than they portray here
@@TheBanjoShowOfficial sorry that was my past self, i re-read the original comment and understand now, no worries btw past self ded
No one deserves to die like that but war brings out the evil in U innocent people dying my heart goes out to everyone who lost their lives
We all become what we hate in our enemies...the end doesn’t justify the means but the means can always justify the end.
Yup. This is what nationalism does to people.
@@RockPile_ u r right, racism is much better
@@RockPile_ lets fine out those lines
@@duka3214 what
@@RockPile_ Nope this is what Ideology does to people, nationalism has nothing to do with it.
3:35 Incredibly well made effect
It was very realistic!
@@foreverblueclassics do you know how they did it?
@@jantimmer5558 Sorry, I don't.
Except there are no exit wounds which is off course obviously wrong...
@@Martin_919 Gunshots arent the bloodspray that you see in hollywood dude-
People slag on France but the reality is they had bad leadership. The average French soldier and resistance fighter had balls.
It was the French Government that sold out to Hitler!
Look at England, fought them to the end,
@@leannenovak1261 It was all of the UK and the empire, not just England. Excluding the cowardly SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein who collaborated with Nazi Germany. The French have actually always had a good army, unfortunately, most had no idea what was going on and communication was still being dispatched by motorcycle.
@@leannenovak1261 england was not connected to germany, they had sea between them. So probably not the best comparison.
France can't fight for shit.
It was bad planning
For those who think that is harsh to shoot them in the head is bad.
It actually helped them. They might still alive and still feel the pain.
Yes, the reason was to end their suffering.
coup de grâce
I never got it tho if they shoot them again why not just have someone go round point blank with a pistol shooting them all, rarther than haveing to shoot everyone 2 times
Firing squads are given one or more rifles that fire a blank round with a narrower barrel to simulate recoil bc blanks don't have much recoil. This is so no one knows who fired the kill shot, and dissipates responsibility and guilt among the executioners. Try and take an ordinary soldier and tell him to shoot someone unarmed tied to a pole, it's not such an easy thing to do. It helps with the herd mentality so no one hesitates, and no one knows if they fired a lethal round or not
@@tomashstephens3011 the comment i just wrote explained the main concept but this officer probably went and did it as an act of mercy for the men who just shot, as well as for the condemned, i know if i was in the same position, i couldn't forgive myself if I DIDN'T shoot the men a second time knowing my rounds are what guarantee the suffering ending for the executed. I also would do it so that the people I'm in charge of don't suffer mental anguish from seeing someone they just shot, not die and writhe in pain on the pole, possibly blood gurgling through their mouth, it was also for the sake of the firing squad. And to have one man go and shoot someone in the head and move on to the next one as the sole executioner, it takes a sadistic person to do this much like the Russians did at Katyń to the Polish officers
I dig that these dudes were singing 'La Marsilles', so... French Resistance?
Oui!
*"La Marseillaise"
Ouii french resistance parisss ouiii
@@whatsittoyou9944 VIVE LA FRANCE!!
VIVA LA RESISTANCE
Damn! How would you react if it was you being tied to a pole, looking at the muzzle end of a rifle? Gave me creepy thoughts! It was a fast way to die, but nowhere near fast enough.
Yes, very true. They were very brave men indeed.
I think you feel pieces of steel tearing into your flesh!
@@tanktank3874 Lead, but it's the same thing lol.
@@foreverblueclassics No more like one time I was late for high school because the taxi didn't know where to turn,so I was late late for that "piece of steel" lol
@@tanktank3874 LOL!
The fact that the officer shot them again really pissed me off, but I knew he was just checking if they are actually dead.
It's a mix of that and also putting them out of their misery I guess.
@@foreverblueclassics ok thx
@@foreverblueclassics do you really think the Germans cared if they suffered cuz I don't
@@patriotismatitsfinest3543 Who knows.
It's a procedure thing but the fact that the officer shot them instantly, that's a gesture of kindness I guess... Usually a doctor would check the signs of life before the officer shooting them to "double check"
I can't wait for the sequel.
Petit enfant en culottes courtes 6-7 ans en 1956 nous allions jouer avec mes petits copains dans une carrière de sable où furent exécutés froidement le 22 Octobre 1941 27 grands patriotes le plus jeune avait 17 ans .
A cette époque le monument n’existait pas encore , c’était encore l’ancienne carrière avec neufs poteaux en bois devant le remblai . Nous n’étions que des enfants et combien de fois ne nous sommes mis devant ces poteaux imaginant dans nos petites têtes des choses .
Puis bien plus tard j’ai visionné plusieurs fois le film : la mer à l’aube .
Connaissant parfaitement tous les recoins de cette carrière , j’ai mesuré alors toute l’ignorance dans nos petites têtes de la tragédie qui s’était déroulée à peine 15 ans au paravent en ces lieux sacrés . Aujourd’hui à plus de 72 ans je mesure que ce n’était rien 15 ans dans une vie .
Reposez en paix près de vos familles ou dans les cimetières ou vos cercueils furent déposés alentours le lendemain .
Granet , Bastard , Bartolli , Guéguin , Kérivel ,Pourchasse , G Môquet, Michels ,Poulmarch Bouris, Timbaud et tous les autres .
Gloire à vous résistants de la première heure et à tous les autres résistants ou non assassinés par la barbarerie des nazis
👍
ca devait etre chateaubriand ou furent executes les dirigeants de la cgt; jean pierre timbaud entre autre et guy moquet d apres une liste dressee par les collabos de vichy
The officer in charge of the firing party was most likely a member of the SD[Sicherheitsdienst]. They did most of the execution of sentences levied, particularly in dealing with resistance fighters[they were regarded as "terrorists" by the Germans]. The officer in question had a 'Death's head' badge on his cap, no Wehrmacht officers would wear those; only SD, SS and RSHA members wore that badge. If he was SD, he would have had a black, diamond shaped patch with 'SD' in silver thread on his left sleeve between wrist and elbow. I didn't see one , so I'm only surmising.
He prosecuted the case too.
He was a gruppenfuhrer , which would make him really high up in the German occupation.
I'm pretty sure a lot of German officers and soldiers didn't want to do this but unfortunately, that's what they were told to do and if they didn't follow the commands then they will be executed as well.
to my knowledge during the beginning years of the war IE 1939-41 (maybe) most soldiers (wermacht) were given the choice of either being apart of the firing squad or they could be sent back to the rest of the unit. So I may be incorrect but overall the normal Heer infantry did have some leanency on the soldiers pertaining to this action, minus the obvious Einsatzgruppen, which were literally made for this exact moment but then again they were SS.
thats what happens when you resist occupation or your own government
@@luger_Mann Even the men of the Einsatzgruppen would suffer from PTSD. Himmler himself couldn’t handle his first (and only) visit to a KZ where he saw how it all went down on the ground. He ordered his men to kill the unfortunate souls as quickly as possible after witnessing how mentally degrading it was to carry them out.
@@Em-yd9jn exactly he had a job but he made it easier for everyone involved, war ruins lives
(Also it’s said most SS war criminals were the psycho unit, the majority’s EEE apparently too busy on frontline)
German fascist was overhyped their people, so they would kill other people except German
When my grandfather was stationed in France he saw this on a few occasions and it was brutal.
You know that it's gonna end up really bad when the film crew is on site.
There was a period after WW2 when A LOT of former Nazis, who had escaped the hangman's noose and were living normal lives, were murdered on their doorsteps. Nobody tried too hard to find the killers. Germany was rebuilding, and resources were tight.
One SS officer was killed in like the 70s by French vigilantes. Turned out he was the man behind the Marbury Massacre of captured US soldiers.
This happened for real and they did sing at the end , Brave ,brave men !
👍
There are a famous sequence of photographs taken covertly from a great height in a French Castle courtyard ( Probably from the Tower keep) window looking down ( presumably taken by a high ranking German officer) at several young French women being executed just like this with their own coffins piled up beside them,it is a remarkable and poignant series of photos which may have influenced this scene,the women are supporting each other as they are marched to their respective poles,then being tied and the last photo shows 6 or 7 of them dead after the executions were carried out,i often think of their bravery and anyone who has seen these infamous "Castle Courtyard execution" photos will never forget them.
this photos was taken in celje; serbia 1942 and the women shots were serbian; french resistance women were not shots in france but guillotined in germany after torture; french heroins resistance francoise bloch serazin; emilienne mopty; simonne schloss olga bancic; suzanne masson and other suffer this martyr
We need to all learn from history. This will happen again if we allow this kind of hate. Please let us love each other. We are all in this together.
Fine words, maybe you should tell ISIS that?
It’s probably gonna happen again in Europe in just over 30 years when fascist Islam takes over.
China and Islam ignores your comment
It happened just a few years later in French Vietnam and Algeria
@@alexbowman7582 Poland already is starting to have a fascist government and they are not islamic. Try again
"War is hell" - William Tecumseh Sherman.
And he was right.
The tragedy like this is still happening in oir life... who wanna stop this ?
War is no clean! The French soldiers did the same during the Algeria's war in the 50 s !!! A French Man
Shockingly brutal ☹️
Indeed.
Psalms 23 " The Lord is my Shepherd, I will lack nothing. In grassy pastures he makes me lie down; He leads me to well-watered resting-places. He refreshes me.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name
Though I walk in the valley of deep shadow. I fear no harm, For you are with me....
I watched this last night ion PBS... so sad... and this is what actually happend back in WW II.... may we never have to live through this again!
I couldn't agree more.
What movie is this?? I try to find it in this feed but I didn't see it. Thank you
@@terricklee6268 It's a French TV mini-series called 'Résistance', in 6-parts.
@@terricklee6268 its a PBS series in French called "Re'sistance". its about the french resistance during WW2. really interesting!
RIP to all the brave men, women, and children who died resisting Facism during World War 2.
👍
Firing squad are surely to be the best photographers back in the age of the darkest days
This film was just perfect, from the attitude of the Germans, just another day at the office almost bored expressions, to the absolute hopelessness of the prisoners., realizing that these final moments would be their last. The scene where a condemned man locks eyes with the young women with the emotion of remorse, pity, and final acceptance in deep contrast with the German
guard looking at the women with more earthy intentions.
👍
@@foreverblueclassics Thanks for the comment, Didn't realize that anybody was still watching this moving video as the last comment was over a year ago
@@chaseroberts3111 It's my pleasure! It actually still gets quite a lot of comments. If you click on the filter "sort by" next to the comment counter you can change it to "newest first".
@@foreverblueclassics thanks
@@ludogayko2512 thank you
I find it interesting the way they got killed when they're supposed to, or is singing, the part that goes "Mugir ces féroces soldats?" (meaning "The roar of those ferocious soldiers?") And they didn't have a chance to continue to sing "Aux armes, citoyens! (To arms, citizens!)".
It's like this scene signifies that the German army as won over France well that the people of France hadn't had the chance to fight back.
My late Uncle flew missions over Germany towards the end of WWII dropping bombs on cities. He said the look of cities being annihilated from the air at night haunted him the rest of his life. He knew there would be women and children burning below. Honourable men forced to do horrendous acts paid the price. But hopefully he claimed a few direct hits on men such as those depicted doing the shooting in this video.
Which is sad since what these german soldiers doing is not against the genava conventions and did not commited war crimes.
Members of Irregular armed forces without uniforms and following hidden warfare were not protected. And they were not considered as prisoners of war.
The executions of Resistance members weren’t war crimes. But your uncle was a war criminal.
@@גבריאל1994 thanks troll.
@@bobbydazzler1780 it was a pleasant
@@גבריאל1994 it was a pleasure, peasant, trolling in English not your strong suit so it seems.
Bro recieved a 7.92x57mm nap
“ The trial shall not be lengthy.”
"You *may hand us over to the executioner,* but in three months time, *the disgusted and harried people will bring you to book and drag you alive through the dirt in the streets"* -Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben, Valkyrie (2008)
*"We have to show the world* that not all of us were like him" -Maj Gen. Henning von Tresckow, Valkyrie (2008)
*"Look them in the eye. They'll remember you...Long live sacred Germany!"* -Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, Valkyrie (2008)
People like von Witzleben or von Tresckow did not like Hitler and his involvement in operational and tactical affairs of war. However, they still were the "finest" examples of German/Prussian militarism which - for example- brought us WW1.
For 25 years already i am a guard of honor at several monuments for executed people in Haarlem, Netherlands. At one of them there is always one man who has seen the execution in november 1944. Its organized by the local former resistance people in cooperation with the boyscouts, schools, militairy with the guards standing next to us and the red cross. In 1990 i was invited for the first time at a former hiding place. Their where also former resistance fighters. They explained me the weapons hanging there. One of the guys was the man who had to shoot traitor Fake Krist from the Dutch nazi party, if the guy on the street would screw his job to kill Fake Krist ( see google). He told me he was in the school building on the otherside of what was water in those days, to shoot if necessary. The school and the house next to it was set afire as retaliation. The germans just took out of the prison 10 people, not only from the resistance, put them at the place where Fake Krist was killed ( pictures on internet), stopped everybody who was walking there, told those people about what and how, and executed the 10 man. Their names are told every year during the ceremony. Many of these things happened and always people had to watch. And yes, al over Europe.
What a sad story, but thank you for sharing.
Tell them you want to sing a song as a last request........ten million green bottles 🎵🎵........
Lest we forget. RIP ALL soldiers and we should learn .
👍
*I can't imagine how traumatic it would be to be a member of that German firing squad. It took a certain kind of courage to stand there, pull the trigger, then go home and enjoy a nice meal.*
They were pre-programmed to believe they were a master race. I'm not saying all of them felt this way but many did and didn't see their enemy as an equal.
@@foreverblueclassics There was a family of German immigrants in my home town. The man of the house had baked bread for the S.S. He was extremely happy to surrender to the Americans because the Soviets were closing in from the east. He took over a local bakery, renaming it the Dutch Bakery. How clever! Because the word Deutsch (pronounced 'doych') actually means German, not Dutch, but the local townsfolk were taken in. He believed in God a lot and kept warning us of the spread of communism, how unstoppable it was. As for this girls, born in 1940 and 1944, they never spoke about the war, and if you pressed them, they would stutter and stammer. Just imagine! A baby born in 1944 feels far more guilty about the war, and what the Nazis had done, but not their remorseless father. As for me, I did not think much about it as a small child. After all, they would cut up some donuts into small pieces, as free samples. And I would go into their bakery and eat as many as I could get away with. I grew up in the 1950s.
@@hinchlnt Interesting story. It's no wonder the Germans would rather have surrendered to the Americans or British instead of the Soviets, given what went on in the East. You can only wonder what secrets so many of them kept inside their heads after the war.
Writing your entire comment in bold is kinda attention-whore.
Nick, I believe they were given all the Schnapps they could drink
Somewhere I have a story in one of my numerous history mags, with photos taken at the time, of a German soldier who was part of a firing squad but refused the order to aim and fire. It was in France, possibly in the Dordogne if my memory serves me well.There are a number of black and white pictures of him being led to the wall where he was stood among about a dozen Frenchmen. He was a soldier from what they called a White Bread or Stomach division. Normally units made up of older, less fit men, many with special dietary needs, who were often used as static occupying units, rather than deployed as front line fighters. I do remember that he looked quite fat in the photos.The German was shot along with the French civilians, all of whom had been selected to die as a reprissal for a German soldier killed by the Resistance. The town now has a street named after him and the local people still tend his grave.
wow. where can i see these photos ??
@@driftathug They were in a mag that is, I believe up in the loft among dozens of boxes of military, car and modelling mags. Bit of a hoarder I'm afraid. I last saw it about 20 years ago when I was looking for some old slot cars that I had as a kid. It must be from the late 70s or early 80s. I know that another mag also told the story of the WW1 Imperial German Navy Submarine UB65 which was haunted by its first officer, many of the crew being petrified as they encountered him so often. Look that up on U-Tube or elsewhere...Fascinating. If I can find the firing squad article I will try to upload it. Not great on I.T but I will if I can. Sadly, according to many sources, some 77,000 civilians were shot in France, Belgium, Holland and Norway by firing squad during the war. The Russians lost at least 27 million during the war, of whom about 19 million were civilian, many not being, as they were often not in Western Europe, part of any resistance units, just picked out in retribution. The Germans had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and Hiwis (Russian helpers, often armed) helping them protect the rear and the road and railway lines in Russia. To give you an example in White or BelloRussia in mid 1944 their were about 300,000 partisans behind German lines. On the night of 22nd June 1944, when the Russians started Operation Bagration, the vast attack on the German Centre Armies, that would basically crush dozens of German divisions and liberate places such as Vitebsk, Orsha and Bobruisk, the partisans placed explosives and blew up the railway lines in over 10,000 places....all in one night, cutting off supplies from the West. In a month the Russians had destroyed or severely mauled three times the number of German units than had the Allies in the month after D-day in Normandy. Basically 8 out of every 10 Germans who died in WW2 did so in Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Finland (The Ostfront). Try and get a book called War Without Garlands. It is about the German invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) in the summer of 1941 and I guarantee you will be amazed. Some Russian tank crews were, in the first days of the Invasion, when the Germans were running amok and annihilating entire Russian Army Corps, actually being padlocked into the tanks, albeit this was probably only done in one or two units. The reason was that they had no option but to fight as if they fled, as many were doing at the time, they would not be let out and die anyway. The Germans were coming up against the T34 tanks with which they had no gun powerful enough, apart from the 88mm, that was capable of knocking it out. They found that their quadruple 20mm anti aircraft guns could fire so many shells against the Russian tanks that the noise of the numerous hits sent the crews mad and they often fled or even surrendered on the spot. Before the invasion the German Intelligence machine had estimated that the Russians had about 6,000 tanks. Within three months they had knocked out far more than that and they kept coming. They had actually had about 28,000 tanks across the Motherland. Apologies that I have waffled on and taken you to the Eastern Front but always happy to share info on WW2.
I'm not surprised he was an older man. Older people get treated like they're stupid for relying on their own life experience and refusing to accept every modern social trend popular with the naive 20-35 yo demographic.
But at least some older people have the courage to not just go with the flow and are later proved right. I have also heard that a German soldier in France refused to be part of a reprisal squad and his superiors just let him do so because they knew that courtmartialing him would bring their own misdeeds to light. It also reminds me of an Australian sergeant and corporal (not sure what their ages were), who after being told by an officer not to take prisoners before a certain battle in WW1, said to each other that they weren't going to kill prisoners.
@@driftathug he might be talking about Otto schimek
I wish people made more stuff like this
Thank you 🙂
Hollyshit the details with the gun shots is pretty good and realistic. Good job.
Yes, they made it as realistic as possible I think.
Grim. Yet, we are all on the way to our deaths, and many of us will meet it suddenly and without warning. But for these, what greater chance for considered repentance and prayer for forgiveness. RIP to all those who have gone before.
People keep saying, “I’d do this,” and “I’d do that,” but we don’t really know until put into that situation and then it’s too late.
I can’t say what I’d do. Maybe I’d be a great patriot and cry out a ringing challenge before the bullets struck. Maybe I’d piss my pants and beg for mercy.
Was I being executed because I was a freedom fighter and got caught or was I just a random guy that they decided to make an example of?
I guess the last thing through my mind would be too terrible to contemplate: I’ll never laugh again, I’ll never wake up again, I’ll never hear a rainstorm again or hold my wife’s hand or listen to my child tell me about her day.
I’ve always wondered what the last thought/word written out in my mind would be. Does it always have to be patriotic? Like does your mind automatically think of some ambiguous but legendary word like, “freedom,” “bravery,” “sacrifice,” or “hero?” Or does the sheer terror “reboot” your brain in that last half second so that only simple words form: “boot,” “sky,” “flower,” “poop?”
Firing squads have taken on a mystical quality and are usually seen as the virtuous being killed by the oppressive, so we make the victims a bastion of our underlying fears but also our fantasies. No one wants to be the one blubbering while tied to that stake. We always see ourselves as the warrior, staring down the killers as our last act of defiance.
There’s a “leveling” with this method of execution. I may be a farmer while the guy on my left is a banker and the one on my right is a bum.
I see my executioner; even if his bullet isn’t the one that finishes me off, everything has come down to this moment and it’s one of the most/and the final intimate moment of my life. I see his eyes and my last moment may be wasted asking questions to myself: does ve enjoy this? Does he feel bad? Is he just following orders? What’s his name? What’s the name of the man who will send me to the Hereafter?
Will this hurt? Will it be over soon or will my last, last moments be pain until the officer offers the coup de grace? Will they be punished? Will anyone find my body? How long will it take? Does my death matter or am I just another statistic?
May none of us ever have to experience it.
Humans get killed my humans 😢😢
a good video on the meaning to die on your feet or live on your knees
does that go for Muslims too?
@@frankhernandez6883 I don't understand your comment
@@frankhernandez6883 why sounds like racism here...
the members of the French resistance were something out of this world. They did whatever it took to save their homeland
😢 ich bin so froh, dass die Franzosen heute unsere Schwestern und Brüder sind. Und ich bete dass die Menschen weltweit verstehen, dass sie alle Schwestern und Brüder sind..!!!!
Shocking scene but excellent series. Very well made.
Rest In Peace! 🌹💐🍀
At least justice it’s still happening , a 100 year old is facing trial for being an accomplice to murder of hundreds . Justice is often served against tyrants and oppression in and end.
bruh you still reply to almost every comment even tho there are so many what a chad
I appreciate people taking the time to comment so it's the least I can do. And thank you for commenting also! You are very kind 🙂!
How can anyone put a thumbs down? They weren't criminals. They were a victim of sercumstance who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Very definitely.
Daft idea of the filmmakers to put that slo-mo sequence in
So brave, my deepest respect viva la France
👍
Imagine being in such a situation.
Such a shame.
What's the movie?
It's a French TV mini-series: - www.imdb.com/title/tt3587846/
Alguien sabe el nombre de la pelicula por favor agradecería el dato
Es de una miniserie de televisión francesa llamada 'Resistance' - www.imdb.com/title/tt3587846/
Its sad that this brave men was killed trying defending there country against a enemy😢
Indeed.
My Great Uncle served in the SS. He shot french civilians who were "judged" to pay the price for actions of the resistance. He was 17 at this point of time, out of school. He was asked to join the Wehrmacht, wich means easternfront or the SS wich he assumed to be the better choice. He did not knew what his job will be. And I can tell that he severly suffered and never forgot these horrible and brutal executions of innocent civilians...... He did it cause he had to for not to be shot himself. That was the only reason. As it is said: In war, there are no winner but loser only. And the loser are we. We all. So: NO WAR, NEVER AGAIN!
Great post! Thank you for your input!
innocent civilians ??? they were resistance fighters killing innocent Germans following orders
@@mehrkilo This is complete Bullshit! Please read my comment again! The SS platoon my Greatuncle served in executed mother, children, grandparents, no resistance fighters! Eg 100 Cilivilians for a German Hauptmann, 80 for an OLt etc. And these executed had nothing to do with the resistance or the war. So what? This was living hell!
@@mehrkilo "Innocent" Germans who invaded their country. I'm not sure if you're trolling people but what a crazy comment. Of course individual soldiers deaths are tragic but if they hadn't invaded these countries they wouldn't have been killed. The ultimate villain of the piece is Hitler and his fellow Nazis but I guess you already knew that.
@@Barrawitzkaa I think he's on the wind-up mate. Don't let him bother you.
Even on a video looking down the barrel of a gun about to be shot makes me feel vulnerable.especially my face.
This is what needs to happen to people in UA-cam short comment sections
😁
@@foreverblueclassics lol
This is why America will never be disarmed.
I find this satisfying and beautiful!
everyday with every video I watch, I remember how horrible that was was, all of that for, nothing in the end
Yes, war is crazy.
Honor to the partisans!!!
Respect to the partisans!!!
Long life and and R.I.P !!
They had the real soldier resistance e discipline .
All respect to then .
They pay the most high price for the freedom !!!
Viva la resistance!!
Indeed. They were very brave.
This is hard to watch. I watched it and it was hard.
What a brutal movie clip!!!
Allons enfants de la patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!🇲🇫🎶
The British done the same to a group of young men in Ireland back in 1916. Even shot one lad in his chair because he couldn't stand up from his wounds... It happened on every side. Sad way to go!
Both side is bad..either the axis or the allies
Greatest army who defeated by weak supply line
man that seems fun for both sides
😁
as soon as he gave order to fire i would have spun round to other side of post, if they had any sense of humor i would probably last another few hours doing it,, 🤣
😁
Many prisoners died this way just before the allies could save them in Normandy
Man if i was in 1940 France i would’ve definitely collaborated with the French state (Vichy France) instead of the French resistance as at the time the situation seemed hopeless to fight with the allies. But damn the French resistance had balls to defy a unstoppable army.
Yes, brave men and women indeed.
They turned on the Vichy ( Germans) in the end
Well atleast they made sure they are dead to not suffer if a shot was unsuccessful or if somehow they are still alive
I think the coup de grace was standard practice.
Yeah every minute in France a revolution has started
That was big of them alright.
Please movie name??
It's a French TV mini-series - www.imdb.com/title/tt3587846/
7 members of the Groupe du musée de l'Homme, 23 February 1942:
Boris Vildé,
Anatole Lewitsky,
Pierre Walter,
Léon-Maurice Nordmann,
Georges Ithier,
Jules Andrieu,
René Sénéchal;
Vive La Francais mon ami. We British salute you.
And We Dutch !!