My grandfather (on my dad's side) was a German soldier. When he and the others surrendered to to Montgomery he met a British soldier. That soldier was my grandfather on my mothers side. They got to see each other again during my parents marriage
@@123ShadowMario No. They just spent the whole time swapping war stories and arguing which army was better during the war. They even talked about what would have happened if Britain had been an axis member.
Please share more stories about the interaction - What outcomes did they talk about and how did they rate each others armies? Were war crimes also discussed?
Simply an outstanding video and a case study of how history videos on UA-cam should be made. There is nothing produced by the terrestrial channels, with their big budgets, to match the sheer quality, clarity and tone of this. Thank you and Well Done!
False and non factual history is being documented from the evil oppressors from ever century. Goodness in this world isn’t destroyed it’s hidden. UA-cam and google is an oppressive forum of censorship. As is world history. Fascists communists has always been the authoritarian corruption of the elite to destroy freedom of the ppl. And now it’s Back! With murdering intent!
What a wonderful video, full of historical importance. The German surrender conducted by Field Marshall Montgomery with such imposing dignity. This video should be compulsory viewing for those of a younger generation in particular the words of Field Marshall Montgomery ‘s post surrender message. God bless all those who gave their lives so that peace may eventually prevail.
My grandmother told me how she watched the first British tanks to arrive in our hometown on May, 1st, driving along the street. It was also her 14th birthday. We where standing at the window she had looked through that day. It was my room by then.
At 14, it wasn't her war, and it certainly wasn't yours. But it most certainly was your great grandparents. Try to remember that as German history is rewritten.
@@davidh9844 to a little part it was her war, even if her participation was only kitchen duty at the local Fliegerhorst. A taller classmate had to do guard duty on the gate. But after all, with at least 3 close calls from the reaper, it was still a life defining time for her.
@@gleisbauer25 There is no love lost between Germany and me. However, at 14, your grandmother could have been forced to cook for Hitler himself, I could not possibly consider her responsible in any way for what those people did. As an adult, had she exulted her actions for the great German cause, well, that would be something else. There are UA-cam videos of children of Nazis, Nazi officers, who have travelled to Israel to find peace. It kills me inside trying to imagine what those people are going through, knowing what their parents did, and trying to apologize for something they can never apologize for, were not responsible for, and will go to their graves bearing a guilt that is not theirs. "The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with the bones." I cannot fathom how anyone who was willing to wear the swastika had any good in him or her. Oskar Schindler and a very few others, excepted.
@@davidh9844 History is full of horror. And there's a huge amount of history. I'm pleased we can observe WW2 from a distance, without rancour. A bit like recalling the wars of ancient Greece, 2500 years ago.
Several years ago, I watched a UA-cam video that had a wire recoding of the conversations between crew members in a Lancaster bomber, as they were under fire during a mission. I consider myself a stoic fellow for the most part, not one to show my emotions, yet, as I listened to those men, my eyes became moist and a lump formed in my throat. May God bless the men and women from the land of my fathers.
Back in the 80’s I stayed at a small motel on Luneburg, which was a house back in 1945 and in the breakfast area there was a photo on the wall of Montgomery being served food by a young girl. I asked our waitress why it was there and she told me Monty was there, adding, see that little girl serving him? That was me.
This footage is well known. But since most documentaries on TV are from American TV channels, such as the History channel, or Yesterday, etc... they don't like showing film of Montgomery where he gets the glory.
@@neilgriffiths6427 The orange traitor destabilised the Afghan government by acting unilaterally. There was never going to be any consequence for the Taliban because of that.
I prefer obese orange Oompa Loompa. His real parents worked for Willy wonkas chocolate factory but turns out trump was just like Augustus Glue and tried to eat everything and they had to put him up for adoption 💯
This footage always makes me cry. It is always difficult to measure the historical magnitude of this kind of event. The formal surrender by Keitel a few days later is also something to see. Thanks for this video.
neat clip of zhukovs; reception of the keitel crew a color film remake,accurate down tot he russian journo who tripped,, everyone stops to look at the commotion marshal gorgys ' glare at the nazis, grrrr yer asses are mine,
Meanwhile, my uncle Alec, of the 1st Battallion, Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders was still a prisoner of the Japanese after being taken at the fall of Singapore. No hangover for him & his comrades.
@@Kevin-mx1vi Yes. I had an uncle who was in the same position. He'd been a guest of the Japanese since Singapore. The shame of surrendering lasted for the rest of his life, along with the ill-effects of the mistreatment which he had received.... Do, You know, I think there must be an onion near my eye as I type this... He thought that he'd be viewed as a coward when he came home. That he wasn't somehow made it harder for him... He had a long life, though, and died content in 2011. Hope things worked out for your uncle. Best wishes.
@@robertcottam8824 Things worked out well for him, thank you. After he was freed he rejoined the colours and retired from the army in 1960 with the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major, and was recruited into a civil service job that required him to be armed. He never told anyone (including his wife) what the job was, but I think it's safe to assume he was either a political or royal bodyguard. He must have been one of the toughest of the tough but was also humble, kind, and respectful. No finer man ever walked this Earth.
@@Kevin-mx1vi My uncle was a tall bloke. I’m told that he’d been pretty hefty too until you know what. He was a really quiet bloke. The only time I saw him ‘a bit cross’ was when I visited him, driving a Japanese car…. Oops. 😩 Pip pip!
My grandad had a photograph with General Montgomery while my grandad was doing his national service, him and only a few others, its a picture that i will keep until the day i die
All I can tell you., this is the most priceless moment of history and this media should be kept, archived safely and properly for the next generation reference.
Thank God this footage was taken and conserved for posterity. Monty and England deserved this victory. What heroes they all were. Victory at last in Europe.
Keep in mind, that even with the surrender, the allies were clueless as to what they would be uncovering as they rolled through Germany and occupied Europe.
Don't forget the Commonwealth forces such as Canadians New Zealanders and Australians who were in the war from the start and fought so very far from their homelands to the end.Lest we forget.
This is most certainly quite informative and entertaining; the stuff they teach you at school is mostly the general context you need to know and such, but being able to delve into the specifics of this is really interesting. It really shows how the Germans were not only running out of supplies, but also showed how they would rather surrender to the West than to the East because they knew how harsh they would be treated by the Soviets. All in all, I would like to thank you for publishing this video adding to my existing pool of knowledge.
Germans were true cowards who instead of confronting the people they invaded they waived little white flags and hid under the feet of Americans. But again I am not surprised cause only cowards can gas little children.
The Brits were effing fantastic in Schleswig Holstein. In 1944, they started to look for members of the Danish minority from Schleswig among the German POWs. (How that minority cane to be is a looooooong story). But: There were thousands of German citizens, who saw themselves as Danes and were loyal, not to the Fuhrer, but to the Danish king. Anyway - the Danish minority POWs were released and brought to London for debriefing. As the Brits moved up north, they carried with them the names of this group, who saw the Brits as liberators, and installed them in key positions, as mayors or heads of important civilian works. Not only that: A Few hours after this instrument of surrender was signed, a woman knocked at the door of the home of the Editor of the Danish-language paper in Flensburg. When she came in, she quickly changed to an English uniform. She was to be the liason officer for the Danish resistance army with the brits, as they moved north thru Jutland. A few hours later, a British jeep drove up at the Editos adress, she made contact, and the liberation of Denmark could start. I am in total awe at this kind of preparation.
@@MarktheMole Did we? On the Day of the occupation, 420 Danish ships were on the seven seas. They were ordered by the Germans to seek neutral port - but more than 90 pct and 6.000 sailors actually joined the Brits. Together with the Norwegian Nortraship, they kept the supply lines from the US to UK open - 2.200 paid the highest price for joining the war effort. Then there is the Færoe Islands, Greenland and Iceland where the Danish administration worked together with the Allies from april 12th onwards. To quote the last speech of Chilean president Allende, "The people must defend themselves, but they must not sacrifice themselves". That was the dilemma the king confronted on april 9th. In the end, we lived to fight another day. But - when that is said, we should have mined our harbours and airports. Especially the airport in Allborg, which would have given the Norwegians more time to organize their resistance.
Excellent presentation, congratulations. Say what you like about Monty he knew how to command, and he commanded that surrender. His statement at the end was typically short but meaningful.
@@jannisnoltsch2087 That's an interesting observation. Seriously, I was thinking a bit more deeply about this and my feeling is that the Germans were surrendering. They were feeling so defeated, they basically agreed to a junior grade officer, who normally would not be senior enough to operate the HQ coffee machine, because the Allies told them to. Pride was gone. If Monty had demanded that the Corporal driver sign, I reckon the Germans would have simply agreed. Plus the Russians were getting closer and closer. They knew which side their bread was buttered on....!
@@ronti2492 yes, but you obviously need to have to have the authority, to sign such deals on behave of the german armed forces. hitler ofc wouldn't allow that, but he was trapped in berlin and living in his own world obviously. so my guess is, these guys were just the ones that said 'we gonna do it, 'either way what our higher commanders want' or that the higher commanders on the north-western front send them forward to sign this deal with their permission. i would guess the last. but its not of big importancce either way, as the armistice was followed by, it has worked - and no rogue officer claimed that they didn't have authority to sign the contract and kept on fighting ;)
Brilliant video. Have never seen the surrender film in it's entirety before, only snippets or stills. Well presented, and well narrated, without bias or any false "Dramatic Effect". Liveth for Evermore certainly has the edge on other "historic" channels!
It shows FM Montgomery as a person who treated the vanquished with dignity. Helping the Germans with the pen and ink shows what it means to be a gentleman.
When Finland was forced to declare war on UK and USA by Hitler after Pearl Harbour Von Mannerheim Commander of Finnish Army demanded his subordinates dress like Gentlmen as they were now st War with the Briish.
A simple thankyou will never be adequate recompense for the sacrifices and the courage shown by all Allied forces during this terrible time in our history. However inadequate my words, I hope you realise you are forever held in our love and esteem. You have left us a debt we could never repay. To those who lost their lives, to those who returned to the bosom of their families, maimed in body and spirit. From the bottom of my heart I thankyou and your families for their suffering and sacrifice on our behalf. God bless each and everyone of you, you are a shining example to us all.
Grown up watching loads of WW2 documentaries, never seen this footage before & found it really interesting to learn how the surrender process actually happened
This was four months after I was born.. My life was begining in peace thanks to all who fought and gave their lives for me and millions of other greatful people...
I find myself rather moved by these visuals of history. After years of pain and suffering, I can only imagine what utter relief and joy all those soldiers felt at the moment they heard of the surrender. Very moving words from Field Marshall Montgomery as well. Unfortunately the current generation have spineless leaders in Europe and the US who refuse to properly stand up to the new totalitarian threat from the east.
At 7: 04 the truck you see in the background is similar to what Montgomery used from North Africa to Europe It had a camp bed a couple of chairs a table and his trunk This was a General who did not use palaces and villas Who ate with his men and showed his men that he was with them not miles away.
Best version I have seen, out of many clips of this. It always make me smile, at the Way, the over-the top, ceremonial uniforms and Hugely long top class leather clobber of the Nazis, and our Boy Bernard, looking like he's just stepped out of the trenches. The Pen they used, to sign one of history's most important documents. looked like the ones I used in infant school, of the same period.
@@JackSmith-hx8zh At the schools I attended pre-1955, they still used those scratchy pens that needed an attendent* inkwell: so Dickensian, even then. *(sic)
It was entirely fitting that the new German head of state should surrender to the representative of the only allied nation that had been in the war from the beginning right to the bitter end. Monty was also the commander that had delivered the first ever comprehensive defeat on the Axis forces at El Alamein. Yes indeed, entirely fitting that Montgomery should have had this singular honour of accepting Germany’s surrender.
@@stuartkcalvin - ok, fair point. But I was being diplomatic when I deliberately left out the word 'undefeated' allied nation. I am not being unpleasant, simply truthful.
I can't begin to imagine how the Brits had to feel at that moment. What they endured under the Germans, and later their fair weather friends the Americans and Roosevelt. 75 years later, what America did to the UK before, during, and after the war can only be considered an abominable embarrassment.
@@davidh9844 There is no need to be silly. No one is anti - American. On the contrary. The British were then and are now, very grateful to America. I do not know why you raise the issue of the US. Eisenhower, as Supreme Allied Commander, gave Monty orders to accept an unconditional surrender of the German forces facing him and that is what he did. End of story. It was a poignant end to a horrible war.
@@WeMustResist Not silly actually very true. The US immediately post war stopped rations to Britain and sent them to Germany The US set out to make the UK broke and they did. The US were, are and forever will be perfidious allies .
I read a wonderful description of the surrender, which reported that the German delegation, dressed immaculately in long leather boots, standing stiffly, tall and rigid, stood to attention in front of a very small Anglo-Irishman. Wonderful imagery. Monty must have been brimming with excitement!
The best field cmdr in the West his amended plan for D Day and his leadership during the battle for Normandy was instrumental in its success. The British 21 Army Group held in its vice the vast bulk of German amour, the best German troops and ground them down. This gave the American the chance to build up and break out. This was Monty’s plan and it worked.
@MyNameIsJeff 1234 LOL because of Omaha right? It's true Omaha was the bloodiest beach, the British provided the ships, the British tied down the armour, the British launched highly successful glider raids that disrupted communication, destroyed artillery batteries and captured bridge's, provided nearly half of all aircraft, broke the enigma code and was the base for which D-DAY had to be launched. This is why the world hates Americans. You think patriotism is twisting history to whatever you want it to be because of American exceptionalism. You literally think you won WWII nearly singlehandedly it's hilarious.
@MyNameIsJeff 1234 it was russia that won the war in europe u muppet america sat on the side lines for 3 years doing nothing dday was a side show compared to the scope of the battles in the eastern front
This episode must be a first for me, as it slipped under my radar! I just wish that my uncle who died in the battle of Caen had lived to see that signing. BZ LfE
I'm surprised at how moved I am by seeing this momentous event. I liked the way that "Monty" conducted himself, with no hint of gloating despite his enormous ego, and I can only imagine how the German officers must have felt - did they feel humiliated or relieved ?
I have read and seen interviews from interrogators that the senior German commanders showed no regrets except that their leader, Hitler, had failed in his enterprises
@@MagpieOz I think his high opinion of himself is well enough documented that they didn't need to make it up. Anyway, it made him very self-confident which was instrumental in his success. Or did they make that up too ?
Still one of the best video's ever made about this subject. I could not stop thinking about all the horrific crimes of the Nazi's. Thank you so much for making this video.
It also shows FM Montgomery as a person who treated the vanquished with dignity. Helping the Germans with the pen and ink shows what it means to be a gentleman.
@@egverlander Yes, that is true. I was thinking more along the lines of the chronology of events and inventions. In May 1945 the world was just 2 months shy of it’s first atomic bomb yet still was about 10 years shy of adopting the ballpoint pen.
Cool name. BUT did you have the blue Dinky car with Napoleon Solo and Mr. Kuryakin shooting out of the windows as it went along? If not, then you lose 3 Cool Points. 😂😂😂
I bet nobody there would have believed if you told them that British troops would still be garrisoned in Germany 76 years later. Germany has proven to be a good friend of Britain since then, which is more than can be said about the French, who we are still bickering with today. Some things never change.
My father who was in the Polish Air Force as a barely 19 year old trainee pilot on 1 September 1939 when their base was attacked at 6 in the morning managed to get to southern France after marching for a week through the Carpathian mountains and nearly sinking in a cargo ship. He said the French treated them like s**t put them in a filthy camp with Spanish civil war refugees. He got out and was picked up by the Royal Navy at St Jean de Luz. Did five years in the RAF Polish squadrons.
The French respond to British overlords since the end of Napoleonic wars, which is also true for West Germany after WW II and Germany as a whole after the reunification in 1990.
Wow. What powerful last words by Sir Montgomery. I am German and I respect Sir Montgomery though he beat us. I don't like Churchill but Sir Montgomery was a fine man and you can see quality of men even in the enemy. How he helped our Generals with the paper and personally gave everyone the pen, he must have known how hard it is for every General. Everyone saw fine men dying. And he knew that. Definitely a good hearted man where I know that even if we would have been enemies, he wouldn't have treated me bad and full of dignity. Respect.
@@terrysmith9362 no. When Monty signed with the Germans their surrender in the North, Eisenhower in Reihms was furious ( again) because Marshall told him that Monty was not allowed to sign a separate surrender. Just read, ignorant.
@@antoinemozart243 Pillock. He accepted the surrender of all German forces in front of him on behalf of the SAC. What the fucking hell was he supposed to do. Allow the unnecessary loss of.life
@@antoinemozart243 Montgomery had every right to since it was HIS 21st Army Group who were the ones fighting the German soldiers in the areas mentioned in the surrender terms....
One-upmanship among the allied generals. Montgomery accepts the German surrender. The Americans get pissed off, and demand the Germans surrender a SECOND time.
Montgomery’s ego precluded the procedure that should have been followed. What about the Americans, Canadians, Russians and others that should have been included?
I assume this would bring Britain to the equivalent of European Summer Time which would operationally make things less prone to error what with everyone on the same time.
People often describe Montgomery as far too cautious, but they forgot that he had served in the first world war and seen the waste of human life that had occurred through poor planning and bad logistics. He simply tried to make sure that he had given every man under his command the best chance that he could to both win and where possible survive.
Very good! According to another book Colonel James Ewart spoke perfect German & helped interpret Enigma information. From the video footage it seems he was doing most of the interpreting at the meetings.
Very good to see that. My father was in the 21st Army Group, a lowly L/Bdr in 13th Royal Horse Artillery, yet he spent many years of the 1940s in a foreign country fighting to quell the Nazi regime. We need to remember freedom is only won by fighting.
I am saddened that the War had to be fought & so many good men, women & children, lost their lives. I am also saddened that despite this monumental sacrifice, far too few today appreciate what was done so that they may live life in peace. The cost was enormous & the gains appear being frittered away.
I agree. I guess you cannot blame the younger generation, they just don't know, and they all grew up in freedom, peace, and prosperity. So to them, it is normal. As for myself, I will for the rest of my life be thankful to the Allies. My dad is 83, and even now, in 2022, there is a huge US flag hanging in his living room.
@@BelloBudo007 Germany. Both my parents grew up in the rubble of completely annihilated cities, so I guess they were both just thankful to be alive. I really wonder how many people, when they go to the grocery store, think about the immense abundance they are presented with. Everybody takes it for granted, that's just the way it is. Then again, every year, there is a ceremony at the local war cemetery, which contains about 700 Commonwealth burials. A lot of people show up, especially younger people, so that's a positive.
@@BelloBudo007 I don't know which country you are from, but maybe it is comparable to the civil war in the US, or the war of independence. Too long ago for anyone to remember, or care. Seems to me that most younger people these days are, above all, in the latest smartphone model.
This signing of the Instruments Of Surrender by General Monty, brought a tear to my eye why? my grand-uncle an African fighting under the British 8th Army in El Alamein admired Monty and said "he was not intimidated by Rommel's tactics" Monty for that brief seconds before signing The Instruments Of Surrender must have thought about those who served under him in North Africa , who brought the first British Victory for Britain in 1942 in World War 2.There were alot of soldiers from The British Empire, Africans(Sudanese,Nigerians,New Zealanders,Aussies,South Africans,etc
This trashes the American lies that Monty was sidelined after winning the Battle of the Bulge. Far from being sidelined, Monty led the dive into Germany and the first German surrender was to him. Three days before the Germans surrendered to Eisemhower.
I can imagine Monty asking the Germans for the name and address of their tailors. The Germans may have lost the war, but they won the fashion contest hands down.
Well thats a question of taste: I think german uniforms look a bit camp. Self-conscious about their appearance. Insecure, in other words. British battledress on the other hand, looks like a sack of tatties but was very functional and comfy. I like a lass that looks good in dungarees, and I've always instinctively trusted men in boiler suits far more than men in suits.
Dresden, hiroshima, some was killing for the sake of killing, after the war Churchill did not stand by Bomber Harris just used him while the war was on, Bomber Harris went to live in South Africa until he died ,the Bombing at the time was very controversial!!
Was said the Germans would only surrender first to British forces, they never saw US as worthy and no way to Russia. Plus they probably would get treated better.
A more practical reason was that the British forces were located in flat areas of good roads and communications, plus they were relatively static and could be located easily. Conversely, The Americans were in full assault in the south in Austria and Chzekoslovakia and were not in a position opposing German command structure that could make the connection for dialog to begin. But yes, they felt a more close link in terms of knightly association with their closest European peers, the British. All those black iron crosses around the necks of German officers are the sign of having been knighted. Most of them didn't get those for shuffling paperwork.
The Germans surrendered to the Soviets in Stalingrad two years prior. Yes, it didn’t include the entire German army, but it was a major defeat for the Germans.
Oh look a post with General Montgomery. One shot of whisky for everytime patton is mentioned and two for dismissing the sacrifices made by Britain and the commonwealth.
As an American, I have never dismissed Britain in ANY way. Except for perhaps thier feckless present social experiment in cultural death by a thousand cuts.
I bet that was an amazing day for the allies, after 6 years of brutal combat they was ready to go home to there familys and live in freedom. And least forget the ones that died for it.
I watched this early clip at 0:29 many times, it's where a German police officer stands almost as if he is routinely directing traffic as the British tanks roll past him. It's rather like our own police on the Channel Islands who tried their best to "carry on" with the day to day while the Germans did their best to beat the Islanders into submission.
My grandfather (on my dad's side) was a German soldier. When he and the others surrendered to to Montgomery he met a British soldier. That soldier was my grandfather on my mothers side. They got to see each other again during my parents marriage
And I bet they scrapped each over at the wedding😉
@@123ShadowMario No. They just spent the whole time swapping war stories and arguing which army was better during the war. They even talked about what would have happened if Britain had been an axis member.
Please share more stories about the interaction - What outcomes did they talk about and how did they rate each others armies? Were war crimes also discussed?
No waaaaaay
@@r.girouard5886 waaaaaay!
Simply an outstanding video and a case study of how history videos on UA-cam should be made. There is nothing produced by the terrestrial channels, with their big budgets, to match the sheer quality, clarity and tone of this. Thank you and Well Done!
False and non factual history is being documented from the evil oppressors from ever century. Goodness in this world isn’t destroyed it’s hidden. UA-cam and google is an oppressive forum of censorship. As is world history. Fascists communists has always been the authoritarian corruption of the elite to destroy freedom of the ppl. And now it’s Back! With murdering intent!
Amazing video. The history was made. Should be watched in all military academies around the world. Great job.
What a wonderful video, full of historical importance. The German surrender conducted by Field Marshall Montgomery with such imposing dignity. This video should be compulsory viewing for those of a younger generation in particular the words of Field Marshall Montgomery ‘s post surrender message. God bless all those who gave their lives so that peace may eventually prevail.
My grandmother told me how she watched the first British tanks to arrive in our hometown on May, 1st, driving along the street. It was also her 14th birthday. We where standing at the window she had looked through that day. It was my room by then.
NO MORE BROTHER WARS.
At 14, it wasn't her war, and it certainly wasn't yours. But it most certainly was your great grandparents. Try to remember that as German history is rewritten.
@@davidh9844 to a little part it was her war, even if her participation was only kitchen duty at the local Fliegerhorst. A taller classmate had to do guard duty on the gate.
But after all, with at least 3 close calls from the reaper, it was still a life defining time for her.
@@gleisbauer25 There is no love lost between Germany and me. However, at 14, your grandmother could have been forced to cook for Hitler himself, I could not possibly consider her responsible in any way for what those people did. As an adult, had she exulted her actions for the great German cause, well, that would be something else. There are UA-cam videos of children of Nazis, Nazi officers, who have travelled to Israel to find peace. It kills me inside trying to imagine what those people are going through, knowing what their parents did, and trying to apologize for something they can never apologize for, were not responsible for, and will go to their graves bearing a guilt that is not theirs. "The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with the bones." I cannot fathom how anyone who was willing to wear the swastika had any good in him or her. Oskar Schindler and a very few others, excepted.
@@davidh9844 History is full of horror. And there's a huge amount of history.
I'm pleased we can observe WW2 from a distance, without rancour.
A bit like recalling the wars of ancient Greece, 2500 years ago.
Several years ago, I watched a UA-cam video that had a wire recoding of the conversations between crew members in a Lancaster bomber, as they were under fire during a mission. I consider myself a stoic fellow for the most part, not one to show my emotions, yet, as I listened to those men, my eyes became moist and a lump formed in my throat. May God bless the men and women from the land of my fathers.
Back in the 80’s I stayed at a small motel on Luneburg, which was a house back in 1945 and in the breakfast area there was a photo on the wall of Montgomery being served food by a young girl. I asked our waitress why it was there and she told me Monty was there, adding, see that little girl serving him? That was me.
what was the name of the motel?
wow. u r lucky to be served by the same waitress who served Gen, Montgomery
Cool
Very lucky person indeed.
Wow! That’s amazing!
Great video. In all of my studies of WW2, I've never seen this footage before. Great job :)
This footage is well known. But since most documentaries on TV are from American TV channels, such as the History channel, or Yesterday, etc... they don't like showing film of Montgomery where he gets the glory.
@@28pbtkh23 Can't say I've used either as a big resource. But that makes sense why he always seems to be a footnote.
@David Davison The terms of which were broken by the Taliban - and Trump would never have then ordered US forces to flee.
@@neilgriffiths6427 The orange traitor destabilised the Afghan government by acting unilaterally. There was never going to be any consequence for the Taliban because of that.
I prefer obese orange Oompa Loompa. His real parents worked for Willy wonkas chocolate factory but turns out trump was just like Augustus Glue and tried to eat everything and they had to put him up for adoption 💯
This footage always makes me cry. It is always difficult to measure the historical magnitude of this kind of event. The formal surrender by Keitel a few days later is also something to see. Thanks for this video.
neat clip of zhukovs; reception of the keitel crew a color film remake,accurate down tot he russian journo who tripped,, everyone stops to look at the commotion marshal gorgys ' glare at the nazis, grrrr yer asses are mine,
"After a somewhat late start..."
Classic British understatement undented for what was presumably the collective mother of all hangovers.
Meanwhile, my uncle Alec, of the 1st Battallion, Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders was still a prisoner of the Japanese after being taken at the fall of Singapore. No hangover for him & his comrades.
@@Kevin-mx1vi
Yes. I had an uncle who was in the same position. He'd been a guest of the Japanese since Singapore. The shame of surrendering lasted for the rest of his life, along with the ill-effects of the mistreatment which he had received....
Do, You know, I think there must be an onion near my eye as I type this...
He thought that he'd be viewed as a coward when he came home. That he wasn't somehow made it harder for him...
He had a long life, though, and died content in 2011. Hope things worked out for your uncle.
Best wishes.
@@robertcottam8824 Things worked out well for him, thank you.
After he was freed he rejoined the colours and retired from the army in 1960 with the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major, and was recruited into a civil service job that required him to be armed. He never told anyone (including his wife) what the job was, but I think it's safe to assume he was either a political or royal bodyguard. He must have been one of the toughest of the tough but was also humble, kind, and respectful. No finer man ever walked this Earth.
@@Kevin-mx1vi
My uncle was a tall bloke. I’m told that he’d been pretty hefty too until you know what.
He was a really quiet bloke. The only time I saw him ‘a bit cross’ was when I visited him, driving a Japanese car….
Oops. 😩
Pip pip!
@@Kevin-mx1vi Do you know that on Facebook you are not allowed to refer to the Japs as Japs
This is crazy. Never seen this footage before, thanks
Yeah I bet even some people who served in the war haven’t even seen this
My grandad had a photograph with General Montgomery while my grandad was doing his national service, him and only a few others, its a picture that i will keep until the day i die
All I can tell you., this is the most priceless moment of history and this media should be kept, archived safely and properly for the next generation reference.
"Let us now win the peace". That is the kind of magnificent statement that Churchill was famous for.
The background music fits your videos superbly.
" Magnificent statement ' or flowery rhetoric ? Take your pick.
@@crustyoldfart Blow it out your arse Harold, they beat the devil.
@@carbidegrd1 OH yea sure they did .have you taken a look around lately?
@@carbidegrd1 churchill was drunken clown on top of being a war criminal
@@skyrizione8811 Who hurt you lady?
Thank God this footage was taken and conserved for posterity.
Monty and England deserved this victory. What heroes they all were.
Victory at last in Europe.
Keep in mind, that even with the surrender, the allies were clueless as to what they would be uncovering as they rolled through Germany and occupied Europe.
England?
Yes, it's a country just off the coast of Europe/France.
Try Google Maps.
An outstanding video with footage that I have never seen before, pure gem. Thank you.
Great piece of Military History and presented brilliantly. Cheers
Don't forget the Commonwealth forces such as Canadians New Zealanders and Australians who were in the war from the start and fought so very far from their homelands to the end.Lest we forget.
This is most certainly quite informative and entertaining; the stuff they teach you at school is mostly the general context you need to know and such, but being able to delve into the specifics of this is really interesting. It really shows how the Germans were not only running out of supplies, but also showed how they would rather surrender to the West than to the East because they knew how harsh they would be treated by the Soviets. All in all, I would like to thank you for publishing this video adding to my existing pool of knowledge.
Germans were true cowards who instead of confronting the people they invaded they waived little white flags and hid under the feet of Americans. But again I am not surprised cause only cowards can gas little children.
The Brits were effing fantastic in Schleswig Holstein. In 1944, they started to look for members of the Danish minority from Schleswig among the German POWs. (How that minority cane to be is a looooooong story). But: There were thousands of German citizens, who saw themselves as Danes and were loyal, not to the Fuhrer, but to the Danish king.
Anyway - the Danish minority POWs were released and brought to London for debriefing. As the Brits moved up north, they carried with them the names of this group, who saw the Brits as liberators, and installed them in key positions, as mayors or heads of important civilian works.
Not only that: A Few hours after this instrument of surrender was signed, a woman knocked at the door of the home of the Editor of the Danish-language paper in Flensburg. When she came in, she quickly changed to an English uniform. She was to be the liason officer for the Danish resistance army with the brits, as they moved north thru Jutland. A few hours later, a British jeep drove up at the Editos adress, she made contact, and the liberation of Denmark could start.
I am in total awe at this kind of preparation.
A most excellent post. Thank you very much for sharing. Its a little known aspect. 👍
Denmark surrendered after one day.
@@MarktheMole Did we? On the Day of the occupation, 420 Danish ships were on the seven seas. They were ordered by the Germans to seek neutral port - but more than 90 pct and 6.000 sailors actually joined the Brits. Together with the Norwegian Nortraship, they kept the supply lines from the US to UK open - 2.200 paid the highest price for joining the war effort.
Then there is the Færoe Islands, Greenland and Iceland where the Danish administration worked together with the Allies from april 12th onwards.
To quote the last speech of Chilean president Allende, "The people must defend themselves, but they must not sacrifice themselves".
That was the dilemma the king confronted on april 9th. In the end, we lived to fight another day.
But - when that is said, we should have mined our harbours and airports. Especially the airport in Allborg, which would have given the Norwegians more time to organize their resistance.
Excellent presentation, congratulations. Say what you like about Monty he knew how to command, and he commanded that surrender. His statement at the end was typically short but meaningful.
All I can say is that German Major scored a gig well above his pay level.....
"You want me to do what?"
"With whom?"
well obviously nobody really would have liked to sign a decleration of surrender, so they send this guy with the authority i guess
@@jannisnoltsch2087 That's an interesting observation. Seriously, I was thinking a bit more deeply about this and my feeling is that the Germans were surrendering. They were feeling so defeated, they basically agreed to a junior grade officer, who normally would not be senior enough to operate the HQ coffee machine, because the Allies told them to. Pride was gone. If Monty had demanded that the Corporal driver sign, I reckon the Germans would have simply agreed. Plus the Russians were getting closer and closer. They knew which side their bread was buttered on....!
@@ronti2492 yes, but you obviously need to have to have the authority, to sign such deals on behave of the german armed forces. hitler ofc wouldn't allow that, but he was trapped in berlin and living in his own world obviously. so my guess is, these guys were just the ones that said 'we gonna do it, 'either way what our higher commanders want' or that the higher commanders on the north-western front send them forward to sign this deal with their permission. i would guess the last. but its not of big importancce either way, as the armistice was followed by, it has worked - and no rogue officer claimed that they didn't have authority to sign the contract and kept on fighting ;)
@@jannisnoltsch2087 Hitler was cinders in a hole at that time.
Brilliant video. Have never seen the surrender film in it's entirety before, only snippets or stills. Well presented, and well narrated, without bias or any false "Dramatic Effect". Liveth for Evermore certainly has the edge on other "historic" channels!
It shows FM Montgomery as a person who treated the vanquished with dignity. Helping the Germans with the pen and ink shows what it means to be a gentleman.
When Finland was forced to declare war on UK and USA by Hitler after Pearl Harbour Von Mannerheim Commander of Finnish Army demanded his subordinates dress like Gentlmen as they were now st War with the Briish.
Good old Monty.
A simple thankyou will never be adequate recompense for the sacrifices and the courage shown by all Allied forces during this terrible time in our history.
However inadequate my words, I hope you realise you are forever held in our love and esteem. You have left us a debt we could never repay.
To those who lost their lives, to those who returned to the bosom of their families, maimed in body and spirit.
From the bottom of my heart I thankyou and your families for their suffering and sacrifice on our behalf.
God bless each and everyone of you, you are a shining example to us all.
Grown up watching loads of WW2 documentaries, never seen this footage before & found it really interesting to learn how the surrender process actually happened
Thanks
Monty at his most "matter of fact" . British understatement to perfection. Even the Germans could not fail to be impressed.
This was four months after I was born.. My life was begining in peace thanks to all who fought and gave their lives for me and millions of other greatful people...
I was impressed by the decorum and professionalism of all the officers from both sides. Terrific footage. Thank You.
I find myself rather moved by these visuals of history. After years of pain and suffering, I can only imagine what utter relief and joy all those soldiers felt at the moment they heard of the surrender. Very moving words from Field Marshall Montgomery as well.
Unfortunately the current generation have spineless leaders in Europe and the US who refuse to properly stand up to the new totalitarian threat from the east.
At 7: 04 the truck you see in the background is similar to what Montgomery used from North Africa to Europe It had a camp bed a couple of chairs a table and his trunk This was a General who did not use palaces and villas Who ate with his men and showed his men that he was with them not miles away.
Unbelievable footage! Your videos are second to none.
Best version I have seen, out of many clips of this. It always make me smile, at the Way, the over-the top, ceremonial uniforms and Hugely long top class leather clobber of the Nazis, and our Boy Bernard, looking like he's just stepped out of the trenches. The Pen they used, to sign one of history's most important documents. looked like the ones I used in infant school, of the same period.
Yes, and the table covered with an army blanket.
@@JackSmith-hx8zh At the schools I attended pre-1955, they still used those scratchy pens that needed an attendent* inkwell: so Dickensian, even then.
*(sic)
@@None-zc5vg Yes even into the 50s here in Australia
It was entirely fitting that the new German head of state should surrender to the representative of the only allied nation that had been in the war from the beginning right to the bitter end.
Monty was also the commander that had delivered the first ever comprehensive defeat on the Axis forces at El Alamein. Yes indeed, entirely fitting that Montgomery should have had this singular honour of accepting Germany’s surrender.
@Iain Baker The Poles were the first involved. September 1, 1939. They fought throughout the war as an Allied Nation.
@@stuartkcalvin - ok, fair point. But I was being diplomatic when I deliberately left out the word 'undefeated' allied nation. I am not being unpleasant, simply truthful.
Naw!! Gen G.S Patton was 10 times better
@Uhtred of Bebbanburg - "he would order frontal charges against fixed points" !! So not even a good tactician. Thanks for your contribution.
@@rdelport1372 Patton who is that?
Love your videos!!! UA-cam needs to recommend them more!
Great upload again from one of my most favourite channels on YT!
I don't think I've ever seen this video. Incredible piece of history. Thank you for this.
Again…some great footage and covering!
That video brings it to life. His message to 21st Army after accepting the surrender is poignant indeed.
I can't begin to imagine how the Brits had to feel at that moment. What they endured under the Germans, and later their fair weather friends the Americans and Roosevelt. 75 years later, what America did to the UK before, during, and after the war can only be considered an abominable embarrassment.
@@davidh9844 There is no need to be silly. No one is anti - American. On the contrary. The British were then and are now, very grateful to America. I do not know why you raise the issue of the US. Eisenhower, as Supreme Allied Commander, gave Monty orders to accept an unconditional surrender of the German forces facing him and that is what he did. End of story. It was a poignant end to a horrible war.
@Bella Adamowicz And without the Royal Navy silencing the Wolf Packs the US would have been unable to land a force in France. Works both ways...
@@davidh9844 That is why I really have no time for the US govt.
@@WeMustResist Not silly actually very true. The US immediately post war stopped rations to Britain and sent them to Germany The US set out to make the UK broke and they did. The US were, are and forever will be perfidious allies .
I had never seen this footage. Epic.
Thanks.
I read a wonderful description of the surrender, which reported that the German delegation, dressed immaculately in long leather boots, standing stiffly, tall and rigid, stood to attention in front of a very small Anglo-Irishman. Wonderful imagery. Monty must have been brimming with excitement!
When it comes to surrendering Germans are the masters since they already done it twice. Cowards know how to surrender and are very good at it.
An excellent piece of work. Simple and effective with not a moment or a word wasted.
The best field cmdr in the West his amended plan for D Day and his leadership during the battle for Normandy was instrumental in its success. The British 21 Army Group held in its vice the vast bulk of German amour, the best German troops and ground them down. This gave the American the chance to build up and break out. This was Monty’s plan and it worked.
A man who actually know his history as opposed to Hollywood bollocks
@MyNameIsJeff 1234 LOL because of Omaha right? It's true Omaha was the bloodiest beach, the British provided the ships, the British tied down the armour, the British launched highly successful glider raids that disrupted communication, destroyed artillery batteries and captured bridge's, provided nearly half of all aircraft, broke the enigma code and was the base for which D-DAY had to be launched.
This is why the world hates Americans. You think patriotism is twisting history to whatever you want it to be because of American exceptionalism. You literally think you won WWII nearly singlehandedly it's hilarious.
@MyNameIsJeff 1234 it was russia that won the war in europe u muppet america sat on the side lines for 3 years doing nothing dday was a side show compared to the scope of the battles in the eastern front
@MyNameIsJeff 1234 we have burnt down your capital more than zero times. Lol
@MyNameIsJeff 1234 Dude it was a team effort the war was won with British brains, American Brawn and Russian Blood.
In other news, Patton has a stroke when he hears of this news :)
My three uncles fought from Normandy thru to V.E. Day and my eighteen year old father, RCN, was on shore leave in Ireland. The Greatest Generation.
so true sir
The previous one weren't too shabby either. Six of my great uncles were killed in The Great War...
" They gave their lives that others might have freedom and no man can do more than that...." says it all.
This episode must be a first for me, as it slipped under my radar! I just wish that my uncle who died in the battle of Caen had lived to see that signing. BZ LfE
Fascinating, and great to hear an actual audio recording of the surrender terms that took place.
I'm surprised at how moved I am by seeing this momentous event. I liked the way that "Monty" conducted himself, with no hint of gloating despite his enormous ego, and I can only imagine how the German officers must have felt - did they feel humiliated or relieved ?
I have read and seen interviews from interrogators that the senior German commanders showed no regrets except that their leader, Hitler, had failed in his enterprises
I suggest both. As the Japananese felt on board the Missouri. MacArthur was the same, matter of fact and immediate business only
Almost as if the "enormous ego" was just a great big load of bullshit made up by the press
@@MagpieOz I think his high opinion of himself is well enough documented that they didn't need to make it up. Anyway, it made him very self-confident which was instrumental in his success. Or did they make that up too ?
Still one of the best video's ever made about this subject. I could not stop thinking about all the horrific crimes of the Nazi's. Thank you so much for making this video.
I Don't believe Monty got the credit he deserved... Americans took all the glory.
"Monty" was an overrated POS but then again so were most the americans .Look around you for God's sake are you still so sure the right people won?
@@skyrizione8811 spotted the jew hating nazi ..what a knob
The British held the line against Germany until the USA got in and the Red Army crushed Germany in the East.
@@otrnam1 We more than held the line We beat the Germans at sea in the air and in Libya before the USA was even there./
Fantastic commentary by Boycie!
Watching Montgomery dip the pen into the inkwell before each signing dated this video the most for me.
It also shows FM Montgomery as a person who treated the vanquished with dignity. Helping the Germans with the pen and ink shows what it means to be a gentleman.
@@egverlander Yes, that is true. I was thinking more along the lines of the chronology of events and inventions. In May 1945 the world was just 2 months shy of it’s first atomic bomb yet still was about 10 years shy of adopting the ballpoint pen.
Ive watch a lot about WW2 but ive never seen that. Excellent work mate!
Fascinating program and very well done!
Excellent documentation; history in the making!
Nicely done again, help yourself to a double ration of rum.
Cool name. BUT did you have the blue Dinky car with Napoleon Solo and Mr. Kuryakin shooting out of the windows as it went along? If not, then you lose 3 Cool Points. 😂😂😂
2 tots
@@28pbtkh23 thanks. Yes I did and James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 too but sadly no more, they would be worth a fortune now.
I bet nobody there would have believed if you told them that British troops would still be garrisoned in Germany 76 years later. Germany has proven to be a good friend of Britain since then, which is more than can be said about the French, who we are still bickering with today. Some things never change.
My father who was in the Polish Air Force as a barely 19 year old trainee pilot on 1 September 1939 when their base was attacked at 6 in the morning managed to get to southern France after marching for a week through the Carpathian mountains and nearly sinking in a cargo ship. He said the French treated them like s**t put them in a filthy camp with Spanish civil war refugees. He got out and was picked up by the Royal Navy at St Jean de Luz. Did five years in the RAF Polish squadrons.
The French respond to British overlords since the end of Napoleonic wars, which is also true for West Germany after WW II and Germany as a whole after the reunification in 1990.
The French have never forgiven Britain's contribution to their Liberation,and never will!
The French are still coping that their militaries were reliant on others for both great wars
I rather stick with France after all Germany committed the worst atrocities ever known to humanity. Germans back then were evil to the core.
Excellent video as always 👍
You got to love the German fashion sense...thanks Hugo Boss, nice job.
That's very well produced and thanks from an ageing 'boomer' whose Dad fought across three oceans in the RN.
Wow. What powerful last words by Sir Montgomery. I am German and I respect Sir Montgomery though he beat us. I don't like Churchill but Sir Montgomery was a fine man and you can see quality of men even in the enemy. How he helped our Generals with the paper and personally gave everyone the pen, he must have known how hard it is for every General. Everyone saw fine men dying. And he knew that. Definitely a good hearted man where I know that even if we would have been enemies, he wouldn't have treated me bad and full of dignity. Respect.
Wow, wasn’t expecting to see film of this actually happening. I was holding my breath when Montgomery was speaking.
Fantastic final message to his troops by Montgomery.
Well nt so ! The idiot Montgomery was put in his place by Eisenhower just after. This surrender was not valid
for goodness sake study history and stop spouting garbage. Your statement re eisenhower and monty a pure invention
@@terrysmith9362 no. When Monty signed with the Germans their surrender in the North, Eisenhower in Reihms was furious ( again) because Marshall told him that Monty was not allowed to sign a separate surrender. Just read, ignorant.
@@antoinemozart243 Pillock.
He accepted the surrender of all German forces in front of him on behalf of the SAC.
What the fucking hell was he supposed to do. Allow the unnecessary loss of.life
@@antoinemozart243 Montgomery had every right to since it was HIS 21st Army Group who were the ones fighting the German soldiers in the areas mentioned in the surrender terms....
One-upmanship among the allied generals.
Montgomery accepts the German surrender.
The Americans get pissed off, and demand the Germans surrender a SECOND time.
Utterly pathetic. Same with the Russians. who had a seperate ''Victory day'' and massive Red Square parade, the biggest in history.
This is a lie. You are just mad that the "wrong" side won.
No. This was limited to North West Germany etc. May 8 was all German forces wherever. It was the Soviets who demanded a second signing in Berlin on 💕😰
Sorry. On 9 May.
Montgomery’s ego precluded the procedure that should have been followed. What about the Americans, Canadians, Russians and others that should have been included?
Great video. Love the content you’re making!!
Never heard of double British Summer Time before … interesting history
Allowing the Farmer's to extend, bringing the Harvest in, Due to a desperate need for more food.
I assume this would bring Britain to the equivalent of European Summer Time which would operationally make things less prone to error what with everyone on the same time.
Astonishing footage. Thanks for making the video mate.
Superb video. Thank you.
Monty buried just outside the town where I live,the local Wetherspoons pub has a huge picture of him
Awesome!
People often describe Montgomery as far too cautious, but they forgot that he had served in the first world war and seen the waste of human life that had occurred through poor planning and bad logistics. He simply tried to make sure that he had given every man under his command the best chance that he could to both win and where possible survive.
And those people are mainly Americans who seem to think that they won the war.
The tragedy of war is that it shows the best and worst of us
What an incredible an important filmed document of that occasion
Very good! According to another book Colonel James Ewart spoke perfect German & helped interpret Enigma information. From the video footage it seems he was doing most of the interpreting at the meetings.
My first viewing of this incredible footage. Thanks for posting.
Very good to see that. My father was in the 21st Army Group, a lowly L/Bdr in 13th Royal Horse Artillery, yet he spent many years of the 1940s in a foreign country fighting to quell the Nazi regime. We need to remember freedom is only won by fighting.
And sacrifice by the British civilians and our armed forces a debt we can never repay we owe them everything
great video again, my favourite yet
Welcome back, matey
This is the first time that I have ever seen a field marshal surrender to another field marshal.
I am saddened that the War had to be fought & so many good men, women & children, lost their lives. I am also saddened that despite this monumental sacrifice, far too few today appreciate what was done so that they may live life in peace. The cost was enormous & the gains appear being frittered away.
I agree. I guess you cannot blame the younger generation, they just don't know, and they all grew up in freedom, peace, and prosperity. So to them, it is normal. As for myself, I will for the rest of my life be thankful to the Allies. My dad is 83, and even now, in 2022, there is a huge US flag hanging in his living room.
@@jamesrobertson2712 Where are you from James?
@@BelloBudo007 Germany. Both my parents grew up in the rubble of completely annihilated cities, so I guess they were both just thankful to be alive. I really wonder how many people, when they go to the grocery store, think about the immense abundance they are presented with. Everybody takes it for granted, that's just the way it is. Then again, every year, there is a ceremony at the local war cemetery, which contains about 700 Commonwealth burials. A lot of people show up, especially younger people, so that's a positive.
@@jamesrobertson2712 Yes it is a positive. And sometimes that's all we can hope for.
@@BelloBudo007 I don't know which country you are from, but maybe it is comparable to the civil war in the US, or the war of independence. Too long ago for anyone to remember, or care. Seems to me that most younger people these days are, above all, in the latest smartphone model.
Amazing footage, well presented.
This signing of the Instruments Of Surrender by General Monty, brought a tear to my eye why? my grand-uncle an African fighting under the British 8th Army in El Alamein admired Monty and said "he was not intimidated by Rommel's tactics" Monty for that brief seconds before signing The Instruments Of Surrender must have thought about those who served under him in North Africa , who brought the first British Victory for Britain in 1942 in World War 2.There were alot of soldiers from The British Empire, Africans(Sudanese,Nigerians,New Zealanders,Aussies,South Africans,etc
Monty was a nonce, like Slim.
This trashes the American lies that Monty was sidelined after winning the Battle of the Bulge. Far from being sidelined, Monty led the dive into Germany and the first German surrender was to him. Three days before the Germans surrendered to Eisemhower.
I can imagine Monty asking the Germans for the name and address of their tailors. The Germans may have lost the war, but they won the fashion contest hands down.
Well thats a question of taste: I think german uniforms look a bit camp. Self-conscious about their appearance. Insecure, in other words. British battledress on the other hand, looks like a sack of tatties but was very functional and comfy. I like a lass that looks good in dungarees, and I've always instinctively trusted men in boiler suits far more than men in suits.
Hugo Boss designed the German uniforms.
Monty required soldiers to fight and not to worry about fashion.
Outstanding work.
This made me so very proud and I'm not even British. Making them salute under the Union Jack . How can you not love that.
Where is the actual surrender document kept? Museum or National Records Office??
I want my clocks to read me the time in "British Double Summer Time" XD
I had never seen this. Thanks for posting.
Brilliant ! God bless the commonwealth and all that sailed with her on that historic adventure. Absolute legends . All of them. ♥️👍👊❤️
Very emotional moment. Thank you to all soldiers. Thank you very much.
As awar buff I must say I’ve Never seen that footage 🤔very good ✅
Wow, this is incredible. The scene where the German officers sign the surrender document is surreal.
Imagine surrendering to Montgomery!! Must have been a nightmare.
I agree that Montgomery wasn't the best, but he was a part of the winning side, and you are on the losing side, you can't pick who you surrender too.
Dresden, hiroshima, some was killing for the sake of killing, after the war Churchill did not stand by Bomber Harris just used him while the war was on, Bomber Harris went to live in South Africa until he died ,the Bombing at the time was very controversial!!
Doesn't look like a nightmare. Looks civil and respectful, with absolutely zero shenanigans and gloating.
Absolutely amazing. Thank you.👍👍
Was said the Germans would only surrender first to British forces, they never saw US as worthy and no way to Russia.
Plus they probably would get treated better.
A more practical reason was that the British forces were located in flat areas of good roads and communications, plus they were relatively static and could be located easily.
Conversely, The Americans were in full assault in the south in Austria and Chzekoslovakia and were not in a position opposing German command structure that could make the connection for dialog to begin.
But yes, they felt a more close link in terms of knightly association with their closest European peers, the British. All those black iron crosses around the necks of German officers are the sign of having been knighted. Most of them didn't get those for shuffling paperwork.
The Germans surrendered to the Soviets in Stalingrad two years prior. Yes, it didn’t include the entire German army, but it was a major defeat for the Germans.
@@shanerowe5757 Same as Italian army in North Africa, but didn't stop the war.
@@shanerowe5757 Germans,100,000 of a 3 million man army.
@@shanerowe5757 Interesting take there. No question Stalingrad was pivotal, and it showed the Handwriting On The Wall.
Oh look a post with General Montgomery. One shot of whisky for everytime patton is mentioned and two for dismissing the sacrifices made by Britain and the commonwealth.
As an American, I have never dismissed Britain in ANY way. Except for perhaps thier feckless present social experiment in cultural death by a thousand cuts.
I'll have drunk myself to death within five minutes 😂.
I bet that was an amazing day for the allies, after 6 years of brutal combat they was ready to go home to there familys and live in freedom. And least forget the ones that died for it.
I watched this early clip at 0:29 many times, it's where a German police officer stands almost as if he is routinely directing traffic as the British tanks roll past him. It's rather like our own police on the Channel Islands who tried their best to "carry on" with the day to day while the Germans did their best to beat the Islanders into submission.
Monty had US troops under his command too.
Very scholarly presentation!