037 - Hitler Strikes in the West - The Invasion of the Benelux - WW2 - May 11 1940

[@WorldWarTwo]

The Phoney War is over. This is the week that many have been anxiously waiting for (how did they know something big was going to happen). We have some great episodes coming up, which are like this one only as great as they are because of the amazing effort that our team puts in creating them. As is very apparent in this episode, Eastory's maps take these videos to the next level. Every week we're stunned by his level of detail and the amazing value that is added by these maps. As the war enters a new phase, so do we. Next week will see the first of our roadtrip to France specials going live as well as the longest weekly episode we have written up until now. Cheers, Joram

[@Imjustasimpleman5310]

What's the name of that 3rd Benelux country again? ;)

[@indianajones4321]

@World War Two “3rd Benelux country” I got to say, I had my hopes up with the phone intro

[@archstanton6102]

@@Imjustasimpleman5310 Think it is Lichtenstein

[@davidgil6485]

@@archstanton6102 It's Luxembourg xdd

[@davornovosel2018]

A beautiful work guys. Given you idea. If you guys have a newspapers from back than and so we could see the war from people's prospective back in the day. :)

[@runevverhartvig6340]

It feels like I have been watching these Saturday episodes for an eternity, and the German invasion of France has only JUST begun. Man, it’s going to be five good future years!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Depends on who you ask, but yes.., this realtime thing really puts things in perspective..

[@runevverhartvig6340]

World War Two well, if you ask us then yes. If you ask the people of Europe, then probably no 😅

[@Alex-cj1uh]

@@WorldWarTwo I've been watching since the first episodes of the WW1 series and for me it really feels like its been an eternity... that's what like 5 years now lol loyalty is the keyword

[@keithgoh123]

Some of us have been here since WW1.

[@conversationtosaurusrex]

Five years? Ha the war will be over by Christmas

[@Budisa35]

Indy: On the 10th of May 1940... Me: OMG YES I WAS WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN FOR A WHOLE YEAR Indy: ... Britain invaded Iceland Me: *facepalm* Indy: What? What did you think I was going to say?

[@markarren7480]

I had no idea that even happened. You learn something new everytime you watch these episodes.

[@hetspook666]

You can fill a whole episode on that landing, only 1 shot was fire'd if i remember correctly by a pollicemen.

[@tylerhammond234]

@@markarren7480 I only knew about it because my Great-Grandpa served in Iceland when the States took it over.

[@JoePro84]

lol that was hilarious!!!

[@TheCimbrianBull]

I bet the invaders got an ahem... icy welcome! *ba dum tss!* 🥁 😂 🤣 😅 OK, I will see myself out now...

[@Patryk128pl]

_More and more neutral countries in Europe are getting invaded._ Switzerland: *Heavy Sweating*

[@archstanton6102]

Switzerland: Oh Hi Germany, look if we hide your gold can you be our friend?

[@maciejkamil]

Yugoslavia: looks at Hungary and Bulgaria.

[@jokuvaan5175]

Sweden: *Even heavier sweating*

[@thedeadcannotdie]

@@jokuvaan5175 Sweden: "Just take ur steel and fck off."

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

Not really. I think they're aliens.

[@camilogonzalez5576]

"Britain invades Iceland". I dropped my monocle into my martini.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

We can all imagine your shock!

[@KalevSuik]

Officially Iceland was not independent but united to Denmark via personal union. So I guess "de jure" Hitler was at that time the ruler of Iceland. It is not 100% correct to handle Iceland occupation in same line as Norway, Belgium etc although Iceland indeed declared it self neutral. Btw Iceland became fully independent at 1944 when it was still "occupied" - by US forces at the time.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

@@RobCamp-rmc_0 "Good riddance!"

[@garcalej]

"What did you chaps expect us to do? Sit around and wait for the German ambassador to hand you his declaration of war two days after he's made himself comfortable in your bloody house? Piss on that."

[@dgray3771]

@@KalevSuik That is a cute way of stating things. So Canada and Australia are run by Brittain? To name a few. It isn't that simple and when Iceland's leaders said no, it means no. They had no intent to let the Germans there either. It is a violation of international law no matter how you put it. But victors write history.

[@SovietDoge]

Now the real mapping work begins. Bring it on Eastory.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Wait until you see next weeks episode..

[@SovietDoge]

@@WorldWarTwo can't wait

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@@WorldWarTwo Mention the so called "third benelux country"

[@TheCimbrianBull]

@@luxembourgishempire2826 The country which shall not be named!

[@neilwilson5785]

Nice maps, I have to say.

[@mitanni0]

Neutrality. Works like a charm - for the attacker.

[@dennish.730]

Not always, see Greco-Italian War. Can't wait for October!!

[@akrybion]

Well, If you look at Swiss it works, but they have the advantage that their entire country can be made into a giant fortress.

[@TheEvertw]

It kept us (NL) out of the Great War. But sadly our defences were completely obsolete this time around 8-( Curse the beancounters!

[@Alte.Kameraden]

Neutrality works here. Holland and Belgium were relatively well treated while under occupation. Outside of spitting Belgium between Flanders and Wallonia something the Germans also did in WWI because it helped with Political stability being Dutch Belgiums and French Belgiums didn't like eachother very much.... very little territory was lost while under occupation at the time. At the same time, if Belgium for example joined the Allies prior to the Invasion she would of been turned into a wasteland, like what was seen in WWI. At least that is what the Allies planned to happen. 9:50 mentions it perfectly, and I'm very glad Indy mentioned this. Very few historians like to mention this when it comes to Belgium's neutrality. The allies were just as big of scumbags as the Germans at this point.

[@thedeadcannotdie]

@@TheEvertw NL was mostly spared in the Great War because of kaiser and the dutch queen's relations.

[@Aakkosti]

German forces fighting the French in Belgium? I’m getting Great War flashbacks. What’s next, Italians engaging in pointless Alpine warfare?

[@philippinecircularflag2023]

Alpini Time 🇮🇹

[@adamgordon-boyle1560]

Time for the 104th battle of the Isonzo river I see.

[@thedeadcannotdie]

Mussolini and Cadorna should have a competition about who is a worse commandet

[@TheLocalLt]

Aakkosti well technically they haven’t fought the French yet this week. They have only met the Belgians and Dutch thus far. No real engagements with the allies in Norway this week either. It’s easy to see how the French were baited into a False sense of security

[@brotlowskyrgseg1018]

I feel like we should at least appreciate the remarkable dedication with which the Italians attempted to save the reputation of the Marginot Line.

[@Mondo762]

Luxembourg will stand strong against the might of the German Army......for a whole day.

[@pnutz_2]

#welastedlongerthandenmark

[@philippinecircularflag2023]

Such Bravery! Such Courage!

[@TheSuomirambo]

I believe Luxembourg will hold like the Mannerheim line

[@ogulcankrmzaltn4531]

Better then Denmark

[@Daniel-kq4bx]

If you compare it with how France did its pretty impressive

[@TheMann_YT]

“Ah shit, here we go again.” - Leopold III when informed on the invasion of Belgium (Made my first video in five months for this one joke, kill me)

[@philippinecircularflag2023]

_Schlieffen Plan Flashbacks_

[@benjaminmaxwell9025]

The Mann oh it’s you

[@borislavstoqnov5132]

"Worst place in the world. French border buffer country. I ain't represented The Allies in 22 years, but the Germans won't give a s**t!"

[@TheCimbrianBull]

@@borislavstoqnov5132 King Leopold (in his best Rodney Dangerfield impression): "I don't get no respect!"

[@RapidAssaultEuro]

@@borislavstoqnov5132 kek

[@EstParum]

France: Declares war. Gets surprised after 37 weeks the germans finally attack when the weather got better.

[@firefox3249]

France: ⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣤⣶⣶ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣀⣀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠉⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠉⠁⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠿⠿⠿⠻⠿⠿⠟⠿⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⢰⣹⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣭⣷⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠈⠉⠀⠀⠤⠄⠀⠀⠀⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢾⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⡠⠤⢄⠀⠀⠀⠠⣿⣿⣷⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢄⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠁⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿

[@Warmaker01]

[Insert Shocked Pikachu Meme here]

[@Shelmerdine745]

Surprised where? It was the Brits not reacting properly in Belgium.

[@ralphraffles1394]

Elaniago ??

[@TheTommy9898]

@@georgedoolittle9015 cmon m8, everyone’s neutral in this war

[@indianajones4321]

Fall Gelb begins, This time for sure Luxembourg is mentioned... as “3rd Benelux country that falls in one day”

[@demrandom]

To be honest, it would've still been part of the Netherlands at that time if Juliana had been born male, since Luxemburg was a kingdom that required their leader to be male whereas the Netherlands did (and still does) not. (Fun fact- that before the current king both kings were also queens, and their husbands were queen-consorts in title.)

[@Jekubman]

@@demrandom The Netherlands and Luxembourg were in a personal union which is not the same thing as being one country.

[@archontiverius]

It's an in joke about how Indie forgot Luxembourg in something one time.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

@@archontiverius The country which shall not be named! 😀

[@FakeAssHandsomeMcGee_]

@@archontiverius I think it is in that episode where they talk about the radio adoption and usage in each country. "The country which shall not be named."

[@frankwitte1022]

My dad wrote in his diary on 10/5/1940 (he was 14) how he woke up around 3h30 am ("Dutch time" was 1h40m behind "German time" in those days!) from flak fire (in his home town of Utrecht) at German aircraft flying westwards. People gathered in the streets to watch it and were convinced this was a German attack on the UK until the radio reports started coming in of fighting in The Hague and Rotterdam. At 8h am the queen gave a radio-speech asking everyone to "do their duty" and so at 9h am he and his friends, on their bicycles went to school despite the continuing flak-fire and the occasional fighter-planes gunning for the flak-canons. After much deliberation their head-teacher announced at 10h30 am that "very much against his preferred choice" he had to cancel the lessons for today and call for an early start of the Pentecost holiday. My mum (who lived as an, also 14-year, old girl in a farmers' village 2 miles from the German-Dutch border) often told me how in the late evening of the 9th of May they had heard the roaring of engines from the direction of the German border and how that evening in her roadblocks were erected in her village. By 4h am the German troops swept through the town and the few Dutch soldiers stationed in the farms around the village withdrew towards the Ijssel river at Westervoort and Zutphen in the west that same early morning. The local Dutch jewish community in my mum's village had given shelter to a few dozen German jewish refugees since 1933. Many of these had fled across the border with the aid of German and Dutch farmer-families that had family members on both sides of the border. Often these farmers would then bring the possessions of the refugees across the border when they went on "family visit" whilst the refugees themselves went by night across the fields and through the woods. That May the 10th one of them captured their mood as the German troops marched into the village "we're done for".

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks a lot for sharing Martin, great to see that you have access to your dads diary. That's a great source..

[@frankwitte1022]

@@WorldWarTwo A few sources like that circulate in my family. I might quote from them as comments on future episodes if you don't mind :)

[@rabihrac]

Thanks for sharing your parents testimonies because they are sooo valuable

[@dgray3771]

@@frankwitte1022 Really interesting. My grandfather never spoke about the war though. I know my uncle was born in the war and my grandparents lived in Apeldoorn in 1940. Most people seemed to want to forget about the war. Not just the bad, which I can understand, but perhaps also that they could have done more. Or just differently. I suspect a great deal of shame and humiliation comes with it. I remember a few things of which 1 of a couple in Apeldoorn across the street of my grandparents. Of which he, the husband worked for the Germans. And only after the war when Jews came from his house people understood why he worked for the Germans. Since he needed the extra food stamps to feed the "onderduikers". But during the war everyone hated that family for their "suspected" collaboration.

[@frankwitte1022]

@@dgray3771 Yes, after the war there was a great deal of silence amongst the survivors. Later in the WW2 year I will also post some of my grandfather's diary notes here. He spoke openly about them with his wife, but the other women in the village were appalled when they hear d from her he did so. Their men wouldn't and many of my grandmother's friends felt that was "a man's duty not to burden their family and wives with their stories". Similarly many women who had worked in the arms industry were expected to hush and go back into their traditional roles. But with the sweeping cultural and societal changes in the 60's much of that changed to and many stories from men and women only surfaced after those years. No doubt many of those stories are still unheard and only known in the most intimate family circles.

[@cobbler9113]

In regards my comment last week, I may have been slightly off with my predictions... On a serious note, those maps are absolutely brilliant! Well done Eastory.

[@kingsofserbiangameplay1623]

Reasons why Belgians didn't allow allies access to their land: 1. They really didn't like it 2. Indy destroyed any communication effort by his constant phone calls

[@derrickstorm6976]

😂😂

[@Johankenzeler]

When Indy started to unleash the invasion, it gave me chills! This channel is one of the best on KZbin!

[@FakeAssHandsomeMcGee_]

Same here!!! It is somewhat like the start of the main course at dinner.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks! Stayed tuned for more...

[@EziooAuditore]

Honestly yup. It stressed me out seeing the Wehrmacht’s rapid movements on the map

[@hybridh3r0]

The maps and videos under it are freaking sweet.

[@FinnishComrade]

It is greatly appreciated, troop movement and positions during the war are somewhat hard to come by, and hard to visualize from a text. Truly fascinating

[@tkg__]

As a Pole I ma super jealous they didn’t do those maps in Polish episodes. These are truly awesome, great work.

[@jontsuba]

0:33 Last week 0:47 Norway campaign 1:11 Norway debate - change of British leadership 4:04 Russia and France - leadership changes 4:53 British invasion of Iceland 5:42 Western front - German invasion launched 7:30 Western front - Netherlands 7:58 Western front - Belgium and Eben Emael. Dyle line. Belgian objections to allied help 10:33-10:37 "3rd Benelux country" 10:52 Western front - comparison of allied and axis forces 11:38 Week ends. Allies land in Aruba and Curaçao

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

It would appear that Indy and I are not necessarily in agreement as to what is exemplified by a good tank.

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

@@indiananeidell9186 How about "well regarded"? I can live with that

[@podemosurss8316]

Well, not good but better than most German tanks in 1940...

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

​@@podemosurss8316 Mmm.. An argument can be made that the under 300 SOMUA S35s were indeed better than the Panzer Is, of which there were 500. But given the French tank fleet had almost as many WWI era FTs alone as the Germans had all tanks together, the French had banked on quantity over quality.

[@podemosurss8316]

The_Chieftain True, but he's refering mostly to the newer Somua S-35s and Char B1s, not the old FT-17s

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

Which, as said, could be argued to be better than Panzer 1, and maybe Panzer 2 at a push. The problem is that folks just look at Armor thickness and gun size, and stop there. That alone doesn’t make a good tank.

[@maxohrzen3106]

Who would win? The strongest and most sophisticated fort in Europe, thought to be impenetrable or a few glidey bois

[@kaczynskis5721]

Sometimes it is the human factor that counts. The German glider troops were élite soldiers, the Belgians were reservists, in many cases aged over 30, who were not delighted to be in Eben-Emael. A fort south of Eben-Emael, Tancrémont, rejected a surrender call and held out until the end of May 1940. The Germans simply bypassed it. I visited Tancrémont in the winter - it is Eben-Emael on a smaller scale. The bunkers protrude out of the ground like giant mushrooms.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

In a lighthearted sense it could be argued that Eben Emael got "r/wooosh" by the paratroopers!

[@ignacejespers8201]

As previously mentioned, Eben-Emael was manned by reservists and on the fateful night there were a lot of mistakes commited by the Belgians. Not to mention most of the fort had been disarmed as the Allies had put up their defensive line behind the fort and the guns would have been useful elsewhere than in a useless fort

[@Grondorn]

@@ignacejespers8201 Useless fort? For whom? The Belgians who planned to use it a centerpiece in their defensive strategy? And what part of the fort was actually disarmed?

[@markpowers80]

I recall reading that the Germans had access to the plans for the fort, because the Belgians hired a German contractor to design and build the fort!

[@1415J]

Belgium - Ahh shit here we go again.

[@the12th68]

Junaid the yser won’t Save us this time.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

"Duck and cover"

[@Th3Kingism]

Junaid Belgium and being invaded by Germans, name a more iconic duo!

[@gunman47]

Finally the best Tour de France of 1940 has begun! Can’t wait to see who will be at the finish line!

[@philippinecircularflag2023]

I'm betting on the 7th Panzer Division

[@gunman47]

Surely the Brits will win the race at Dunkirk eh? There’s no way those Germans can overtake them and win it, right?

[@Dark_Plum]

@@gunman47 I bet on on Germans. Only way they can loose race to Dunkirk is by someone telling them to stop. It would be ridiculous, right?

[@thomasulverski]

Where Rommel is, there is the front... of the peleton.

[@Asumokagos]

@@thomasulverski I can already hear the ghost division taking 200 miles at nightfall

[@ItRemindMeOfHome]

I feel like this is a good time to say Indy's old catch phase... This is modern war.

[@thegloriouspyrocheems2277]

And let's not forget: "And as always, thousands and thousands will die"

[@bghyst]

Seriously! Time to bring this back.

[@shrillbert]

@@thegloriouspyrocheems2277 To be fair, Sparty will make that clear at the end of the month when he discusses how life will now be terrible for all who live in the Low Countries and France. As serious as his videos are, and indeed should be, he might even mention Luxembourg by name.

[@Telenil]

I was watching these maps and thought "hang on, that's Eastory's style!" Great to see he is still busy out there haha!

[@t.w.a.i.n.]

I wonder if the naval battles two years from now are going to be mapped in detail.

[@VRichardsn]

@@t.w.a.i.n. _I wonder if the naval battles two years from now are going to be mapped in detail_ You want Montemayor for that. Check his Pearl Harbour work: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGfGq2ydqbKHm6s Or even better, his Midway video, in which he puts the viewer in the role of Nagumo. It can totally change your perception of the battle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJWbkKmFat-loNE

[@t.w.a.i.n.]

@@VRichardsn I'm aware of Montemayor, top stuff. But it's not that level of detail I'm asking for either, considering the 10 minute format that has to be respected, stuff like showing general fleet movements and relative positions of fleets to each other when engaging in combat suffices.

[@VRichardsn]

@@t.w.a.i.n. Fair enough. Cheers!

[@JustSomeCanuck]

Indy next year: "On June 22, 1941, a new provisional government is established in Lithuania in an attempt to end the Soviet occupation. What? What did you think I was going to say?"

[@thegloriouspyrocheems2277]

Spot on 😂😂😂😂😂

[@WorldWarTwo]

Good one, hope i can remember this

[@JustSomeCanuck]

I will be glad to provide a reminder sometime! That is, if I can remember it... To be honest, I just found it on Wikipedia to see if I could make a similar joke as Indy did in this episode. I'm sure there are many similar examples that you could use.

[@lhaviland8602]

On June 6th, 1944, Allied forces hold a victory parade in Rome.

[@norbertbaylon7733]

"On May 8, 1945, a ceasefire was declared, officially ending ... the Prague Uprising. What? What were you thinking?"

[@YiannissB.]

"I don't know how this is going to play out." - Indy Neidell

[@Dustz92]

Better that than saying some unrealistic thing like that by the end of next week the whole campaign will already be decided lol

[@Grondorn]

The attack on the Fort Eben-Emael is among the most ballsy and awesome operations ever executed in history. Hope there will be a video-game adaption.

[@E350tb]

Bah! Gamelin will hold them back! He has numerical superiority and the defensive advantage! ...what do you mean his HQ doesn't have a radio?

[@TheCimbrianBull]

Radio? It's just another one of those modern fads that is all the rage today but forgotten tomorrow when something more interesting comes along. They have carrier pigeons and orderlies to bring messages. 😁

[@shrillbert]

Just wait a few weeks until they have to head to Briare. "What do you mean the only telephone's in the bathroom?" If Indy doesn't use this in the opening somehow, I will be sorely disappointed.

[@naitnait00]

...Wha, what do radios have to do with anything?

[@PhillyPhanVinny]

Luxembourg = the 3rd neutral country

[@martijn9568]

I started laughing when they didn't even name Luxembourg

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@@martijn9568 😤😤😤😤 It's so frustrating when they dont mention it

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

You would think after it being such a big meme in the comments they would have included it.

[@archontiverius]

It's because it was such a meme it's funny to not say it at all.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

@@luxembourgishempire2826 The country which shall not be named!

[@AncientAccounts]

World wars episode 5: *_The Wehrmacht strikes back_*

[@jmh2491]

Episode 6: Return of the Red army

[@AncientAccounts]

@@jmh2491: Episode 7- The US Awakens

[@hunthunterov3725]

@@AncientAccounts Episode 8 - The Last German offensive

[@AncientAccounts]

​@Prussian Union Berlin: A cold war story

[@nacht6747]

@@AncientAccounts World Wars: The Korean Wars

[@Tr0llShaman]

Indy, you're the only person who can get me on the edge of my seat for something I already know the (general at least) outcomes to. You & Spartacus both have an incredible talent for this. Thank you so much for this amazing, educational content. It's so important that we remember the details of all this, as that's where the devil of it is.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you very much on behalf of both of them ;) We feel grateful that we get to do this. Thanks for the support!

[@HistoryHustle]

THE episodes we have all been waiting for. Awesome! It's fascinating that even a week by week coverage over WW II has so "oversimplify" some things. About the German invasion of the Netherlands, actually retreating to the Grebbe Line (which was a main line of defense on front of the New Holland Water Line) was according to plan. Everythings happening east of that line (for example the IJssel Line) was just done to delay the enemy. The paratroopers that were dropped indeed managed to paralyze the resistance near Dordrecht, although some 80 paratroopers got captured by the Dutch. In Rotterdam they were pinned down though. And around The Hague they suffered heavy losses at the airstrip of Ypenburg. Their plan was to capture the The Hague (and with that the queen, army high command and government). This action totally failed. But I guess we'll find out next week. This episode was with all its animated maps an amazing start of covering a new offensive. Keep on the good work!

[@TheLocalLt]

History Hustle you realize they only talk about what happened this week? If that stuff happened next week, they will talk about it next week. You never have the whole picture at the time, remember

[@HistoryHustle]

True. Yet, at the 11th the Yssel line had already fallen. At that day the first German units arrived at the Grebbeberg.

[@karstreitsma7316]

History Hustle I mentioned last week that the Luftwaffe lost about 350 aircraft, including over 200 transport planes in the attack on the Hague. As a Dutchman, I think I will not like the next episode. Something will be set on fire in that one.

[@HistoryHustle]

Tragically yes...

[@matchlockashigaru9755]

The French defenses will surely repulse the German Attack, The Ardennes is just impossible to cross with a tank, they can't possibly surround the allied army from there!

[@vincentwitt1810]

You’re right! There’s no way the german tank force could match the french tanks. Surely the british would also send their air force and naval forces to germany as well. We will be celebrating our victory in berlin on christmas day for sure

[@DiggingForFacts]

In all seriousness, there were giant traffic jams in the Ardennes. The fact that they even managed to cram that mass of armour through the ardennes was a miracle in and of itself

[@YAH2121]

It'll be over by Christmas!

[@Gliese380]

I sometimes go for walks around Eben-Emael. The remaining bunkers are pockmarked with bullet & shrapnel impacts and you can still see cupolas/gun emplacements that were destroyed by shaped-charges. Interesting place to visit, they also offer guided tours of the interior.

[@Acelif]

WE TAKE UP ARMS AND FIGHT FIGHT HARD RESIST AND DO WHATS RIGHT

[@menitobussolini659]

Finally I have been waiting for this since October last year.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

When is Italy gonna join the allies? I mean come on the German army will not win.

[@menitobussolini659]

@@luxembourgishempire2826 We are going to wait until we are sure that Shitler will lose,maybe in 1943 we will change sides

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Ok

[@vleckiehond4691]

A few notes on the defense and invasion of the Netherlands: Dutch defense was indeed mainly focused on holding fortress Holland with a few advanced lines to slow down the German advance while inundiations were put into effect which would take a few days. The line consisted of the Meuse river and a position called the Grebbelinie with behind the Grebbe a potential extra line, the new Dutch water line. The last to were to be protected with inundiations. Once the flooding was done there would be three main points of entry into fortress Holland, the new Afsluitdijk protected with fortresses at either end and potential naval support, The Grebbeberg, a steep hill without inundiations in front of it at the center of the Grebbelinie and the Moerdijk and Rotterdam bridges in the south. Once the invasion started most advanced positions were basically instantly overrun. German paratroops landed at three airfields surrounding the Hague with the intent of capturing the Dutch goverment, this failed and one of the airfields would be retaken a few days later, thus breaking the encirclement of the Hague. German troops also more importantly paradropped at the Moerdijk bridges, capturing them intact. Paratroops at Rotterdam captured the bridges over the Meuse there, although their northern bridgehead almost lost and remained incredebly small. The inundiations in front of the Grebbelinie were put into effect. Skipping ahead to the 13th, the battle of the Grebbeberg, which was won by German SS troops, the Dutch army retreating to the new Dutch waterline, which was hastely prepared, though the German attack on it would probably not come for the coming few days since it would take time to transport troops past the Grebbelinie, with the inundiations and what not. The German attacks on the Afsluitdijk were minor and quite easily halted; the northern Netherlands were simply not the focal point of the German advance. More importantly the Germans still held the bridges in the south. The German commander at Rotterdam, fearing for his northern bridgehead requested air support. Somewhere in the chain of command this requested tactical bombardment was turned into a large strategical bombardment of Rotterdam. German Panzer forces were also waiting to cross the Moerdijk bridges. The German bombardment of Rotterdam was devastating, wiping out allmost the whole city center. These were houses with wooden frames as many old city centers in the Netherlands were from before 1800, many even before 1700. Much older than Victorian London. So now you're given the chose as commander, do you surrender or fight forth, risking more of such bombardments? German forces now held both the Moerdijk an d Rotterdam bridges, so german forces would definitely cross over them in the coming days. Your goverment has already fled. The center part of your line, the Grebbelinie breached, though you might hold them for a while at your backup, the North is still secure. Do you wait for the Germans to cross the bridges and fight without air cover, and with outdated weapons against the Germans who will be crossing into fortress Holland?

[@HistoryHustle]

Very good points you mention here. I think we can all agree that fighting after the 13th had become futile. The Dutch were hoping on allied support which arrived a little too late. There has been much talking about why exactly Rotterdam was bombed, since the Dutch local commander (Scharroo) did respond in time to the insigned request of the Germans with a counter request to A) hand in a signed request and B) postpone the ultimatum. Yet, German bombing planes were on their way. Flares should have been fired to halt the bombing, yet these were never fired. Miscommunication? Who can tell...

[@kaczynskis5721]

@@HistoryHustle German special forces troops (Brandenburgers) seized the bridge over the Meuse at Gennep on the Dutch-German border on the night of May 9-10, 1940. They were disguised as Dutch soldiers or customs officials. There were several cases in the Netherlands and Belgium when German troops used captured Dutch or Belgian soldiers as human shields.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes. German troops disguised as Dutch police troops (Politietroepen). It was a kind of special division, something of a military police that functioned apart from the Royal Marechaussee. Some of these patrols were intercepted by the Dutch, others made it through. There goal was to dismantle the bombs underneath the Yssel bridges in which they failed by the way. There is indeed evidence that on the Grebbeberg (and I believe in Dordrecht as well) German used Dutch POW's as human shields.

[@WorldWarTwo]

They were fired. Half of the bombers were able to spot them before dropping their bombs.

[@jorikrouwenhorst7220]

My great uncle died on the 11th while setting up a machine gun post near Wilp.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

Rest in peace. May his memory not be forgotten!

[@jorikrouwenhorst7220]

thanks

[@ninaakari5181]

Rip! How he died? Did he got shot?

[@jorikrouwenhorst7220]

@@ninaakari5181 yes ambushed by Germans in a vehicle while setting up a machine gun with a sergeant.

[@ninaakari5181]

@@jorikrouwenhorst7220 :( well he died as hero

[@davidjarkeld2333]

You forgot to mention that Chamberlain's health was also a major factor in his resignation

[@kaczynskis5721]

SPOILER He dies before the year's end.

[@alexbennett7018]

Chamberlain does not fall ill until July 1940 his health was fine at this point in fact he was still active in the war cabinet and was still leader of the Conservative party until October.

[@davidjarkeld2333]

Announcing his illness and actually suffer are two different things

[@shrillbert]

@@davidjarkeld2333 True, he had likely had the cancer spreading in him for some months beforehand...and the surgeons kept the fact that he was dying a complete secret from him.

[@calebshoemaker]

Churchill kept him close by and when he was bedridden with excruciating pain, ordered all good news be sent to Chamberlain

[@jean-michelwalker8829]

“Britain invades Iceland. What’d you think I was going to say?” Not that! I discovered this channel ( as well as your others) a week ago and have realized how I’ve been taught history counts as a bare outline. I am grateful for all your labors, passion, creativity and humor!

[@SuperLusername]

Real world Britain reminds me of that old Hearts of Iron meme: "We have naval invaded Reykjavik, Iceland is ours! Success!" *Europe is burning...*

[@theguyeverybodylikes9667]

Went to eben emael some years back, an impressive defensive structure, and the damage done by the charges the germans used was clearly visible, the entire staircase leading up to one of the turrets was completely wrecked

[@TheAngelOfDeath01]

So it begins... 8 months worth of "phoney war" that the British and French have more or less wasted away in idleness now comes to an end; an end against an army far more tactical superior than themselves. God only knows where we will be in six months, but some 26 years earlier, after six months of active fighting on the western front, trenches were being dug all across the French and Belgium plains. But somehow, with all these mechanised vehicles, trenches doesn't seem all that feasible! As always, you guys; love from Sweden

[@WorldWarTwo]

Imagine how people at the time must have thought about this. At this point, it seemed ridiculous that France will ever be beaten, so World War 1 like scenarios must have been common...

[@TheAngelOfDeath01]

@@WorldWarTwo I know. The shock, the horror, the disillusion, the calamity, like an apocalypse sweeping across the land... And to just imagine, it will only get worse from here on out... ever more insane as the days and months go by until suddenly, just as you think it's over, it's not; it's actually only getting much worse.

[@SampoPaalanen]

@@tacticalidiots2340 With France the problem was that the goverment and military brass didn't get along at all, so all plans or opportunities to improve were wasted either by not implimenting them or doing them only partly and even then poorly, only exception being the Maginot Line which French relied way too heavily.

[@carlmanson6634]

This week is such a pivotal moment when so much is still to happen, so many unknowns for all sides. Great episode!

[@jorikrouwenhorst7220]

Indy: The third Benelux country is fully occupied by the 11th! Luxemburg: Am I a joke to you?

[@TheCimbrianBull]

Everybody else: yes!

[@jorikrouwenhorst7220]

Luxemburg runs away crying.

[@maketrax1]

I think Indy has even mentioned Liechtenstein more often than Luxembourg.

[@pajo103]

The Luxembourguese troops put up a heroic resistance All two of them

[@daanishalisayed7679]

The whole segment about the start of the invasion and the fortresses was presented in such a grand way! Its great to see this war too being followed by this great channel! Much admiration Indy and team 😁🙏

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you!

[@jrapcdaikari]

"Chamberlain wanted Halifax. Labour wanted Halifax. Sinclair wanted Halifax. The Lords wanted Halifax. The King wanted Halifax. And Halifax wanted Halifax!" - From the book: "How Churchill became Prime Minister"

[@andmos1001]

Instead they got Churchill

[@loubruno797]

Wonderful story telling. I like how you avoid traditional focus and take a world wide view. Few would mention events in the Atlantic or Caribbean.

[@turmunhkganba1705]

It finally heats up on the Western front. Thank you for all the great work of educating us on the non-oversimplified history and ramifications of the second world war. I would recommend you guys to my history teacher but not a lot of people are fully fluent in English at my school. My education on the Great War would have been reading three pages and two brief slideshows if it weren't for you guys. I wonder who's going to be the new Conrad von Hotzendorf EDIT: What am I thinking, of course, it's going to be Mussolini or some other Italian

[@michaelsessions9392]

Thanks!

[@yisexual6424]

Small fun fact: Some factories in the Netherlands were worried about a German invasion. One factory set up an anti air gun on the roof to protect the factory and trained its workers to use it. According to the story they managed to take down 3 planes before surrender.

[@Canofasahi]

That was Calvé in Delft, but the urban myth is that is was manned by factory workers. Calvé bought the guns, that's true but they where manned by volunteer crews of the Dutch army. The Dutch Ministry of Defence only started to buy new weapons in March 1940, wich was to late, Calvé (from origin a French company) spend a lot of money to buy anti aircraft gun that would be placed around their factory complex in the town Delft wich was also near the Ypenburg airfield. Ypenburg together with the airfields Ockenburg and Valkenburg had to be captured on the morning of the 10th of may. The bombardment of airfield Ypenburg at 4.45 to break the defences did not have planned effect, and the Falschirmjagers would figure that out the hard way in the following hours. I leave the rest for Indy next week.

[@norman3605]

I appreciate the fact that you make every effort to properly pronounce the names of the various actors in these events. It’s a refreshing change.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you. That's nice to hear. I know that I still fail at times- but the Great War had words in over 50 languages, so it isn't always easy.

[@guerreetpaix6611]

Veni,vidi,vichy.... Sorry for the spoil

[@kaczynskis5721]

That immortal moment when Louis Renault throws the Vichy water away. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHXLeIZqeq-Gbq8

[@TheCimbrianBull]

ROFL! 🤣 😂 😅 Good pun!

[@rabihrac]

Hilarious! (votre jeu de mot est super marrant)

[@charliegreer4507]

This is my favourite weekly episode by far !!!!

[@fatehyabali]

What a big event occurred on 10th of May 1940 Britain invaded Iceland!

[@shrillbert]

They should do this for all of them whenever possible: "On the 6th of June, 1944, Alexander continued his push towards Rome."

[@randallwhite91]

Thanks

[@davidbenedict5617]

Good thing Russia hasn't been invaded.

[@archstanton6102]

After the disastrous winter that Napoleon and his troops suffered, you would have to be mad to invade and try to take Moscow

[@zsoltmonostori7180]

@@archstanton6102 Napoleon took Moscow though

[@archstanton6102]

@@zsoltmonostori7180 And found it abandoned and burned. So left shortly after.

[@SPb1_irregular]

@@zsoltmonostori7180 Yes, but Moscow wasn't the capital in 1812 -- after 1918 it has been

[@robvoncken2565]

Mother Russia will feel the sting of war soon my friend..and the price they will pay will dwarf the suffering in the west ;-(

[@BenersantheBread]

These videos might genuinely be, without exaggeration, the best part of the week

[@victorbruant389]

Ach, es ist ja so schwer aus der Heimat zu geh'n, wenn die Hoffnung nicht wär auf ein Wiederwiedersehn. Lebe wohl, lebe wohl, lebe wohl, lebe wohl, lebe wohl, auf Wiedersehn!

[@robvoncken2565]

we tend to forget the german human side dont we ;-/

[@edh9999]

@@robvoncken2565 As a Belgian citizen, I am quite happy to forget the German side of spring 1940 :)

[@robvoncken2565]

@@edh9999 It has been 70+ years its about time we moved on :-)

[@edh9999]

@@robvoncken2565 Oh, don't worry about me. I was talking about the Wehrmacht in 1940 specifically. No reference to modern-day Germans intended. Sorry if I offended or misled.

[@robvoncken2565]

@@edh9999 not offended i am Dutch

[@paulanthonyjohns]

I have devoured almost every fact, date, key offensive and so on, and tracked the military and cultural impacts of hitlers rise in the beer gardens to his demise in his bunker. But to see you talk through these events as you do is so incredible. I love the approach, the tone and the appropriate injection of humor. Love this channel.

[@ScooterWeibels]

Again great maps and what looks like a definite catastrophe for the allies.

[@gianlucaborg195]

These voice clips you introduced have added a new layer to these documentaries. I beg you add as many as you can!

[@nacht6747]

I'm getting flashbacks to my 1940 days again...

[@hidof9598]

Do tell us stories

[@tigervv6437]

Absolutely GREAT show so far. Incredibly detailed and thought through and also partially focussing on the lesser known stories of WW2. Every saturday just waiting for the new episode. I know you have very limited time and there is of course so much going in in these few days of 1940, but I do hope you will mention the Netherlands some more next week, because your version of the airbourne attack is somewhat simplified. Yes the next week will cover most of it, but I will run ahead on things. The German airbourne attack suffered extremely heavy losses in soldiers and mainly in planes (an entire year of production was lost) and failed to take most of their objectives and was nearly defeated if it wasn't for the bombing of Rotterdam. The Germans paratroopers were extremely frightened by the Dutch. A great example is that they considered the planned counter attack from a Dutch bicycle unit on the airport of Waalhaven a much larger threat then a French armoured brigade coming from the south trying to retake the Moerdijk bridges, which were vital to the German approach into Fortress Holland. A German general (his name eludes me, but I think it was Georg von Küchler. Can't access my books because where in the middle of redoing the house) stated after the war that the air losses in The Netherlands crippled the German airbourne abilities for operation Sea Lion and that they never recovered from it. It also convinced Hitler not to use paratroopers against Britain. Stating that if these amounts of losses are suffered vs a small country the losses vs Britain would be of incredible scale. What Eben-Emael failed to do the Dutch fortress at Kornwerderzand did perfectly. Stopping the German attack completely. One of the few places in Western Europe where the Germans actually gave up the attack, because they thought it to be unwinnable. There is also this crazy idea Hitler had for the invasion of The Netherlands. Hitler in some way admired Queen Wilhelmina and felt he did not like going to war against someone who had always been putting so much effort in keeping the peace and it was not justifiable. Therefor he ordered Graf von Sponeck, Commander of the airbourne operations, to go to the Royal Palace in The Hague as soon as they had captured the city and present to Wilhelmina a large bouquet of flowers with asking her kindly to surrender. Point is: Von Sponeck failed to take The Hague so the plan never got to reality. It was this complete surprise of war that created an enormous sense of outrage amongst the Dutch, who fought extremely fearsome especially in the region where the German paratroopers landed. It has always been considered the "lost" victory. As these soldiers were mopping up the German paras in the hart of Holland they had no idea how things were going further to the east. In 5 days they had seen alot of victories and columns of German prisoners passing by. They were just moving to aid Rotterdam and were at the brink of capturing Von Sponeck and the last airbourne units when the bombing took place (Some say it was a deliberate act of vengeance to aid Von Sponeck who was Görings protegé. Recently has been discovered that the bombers who did not drop their bombs on Rotterdam because they saw the German signal that the city had surrendered, were ordered by Göring to turn back and drop their bombs anyway). For them the surrender that followed made no sense. Soldiers manning the Kornwerderzand fortress had the same experience. They had been mowing down hordes of attacking Germans for the last two days when they received a phone call ordering them to surrender. There are plenty of cases where the Dutch military police had to drag crying ad shouting soldiers away from their rifles, because they wanted to fight on.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

When your country doesn't even get a decent mention 😤😤😤

[@lhaviland8602]

You aren't very anonymous now.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@@lhaviland8602 well you think people will be able to find me?

[@paulragusa9713]

Greatest series I have ever seen on KZbin

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks!!

[@colton2680]

I think Indy is a double Agent. He knows a lot of secret plans for both.

[@podemosurss8316]

Germanic Bayonet No. He actually is a Swedish spy pretending to be an American spy pretending to be a German spy. His objective is to make sure that WW2 is won by Mexico to repay for the humilliations suffered during WW1. One key to his plan was the exiled bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky and his coup-attempting superpowers, unfortunately the plan was discovered by an angry Catalonian who killed Trotsky to prevent a massive wave of revolutionary coups around the Globe.

[@WorldWarTwo]

Why would a Swedish spy have a pro-Mexican agenda? It doesn't make any sense.

[@podemosurss8316]

@@WorldWarTwo That's what you want us to think. But, of course, this is all due to the secret Swedish-Mexican protocol in which Sweden agreed to give aid to Mexico as both were on the same side of neutrals. Plus, the Mexicans bribed the Swedish PM offering all the tequila he could drink.

[@colton2680]

World War Two AH HA! That is why they are in contact with Sabaton!

[@podemosurss8316]

Germanic Bayonet Of course. They are part of the plot. In exchange, Sweden gets limitless supplies of tourist tickets to the Mexican beaches.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

As many historians have noted, one of the MAIN reasons why the German's panzer tactics were so successful is that EVERY German tank was equipped with a radio. The command tanks were also able to contact the Luftwaffe to request support. Only one in four Allied tanks had a radio; the USSR had the same problem until the good old USA provided radios to them.

[@caeserromero3013]

The one thing I would say in counter to Van Overstraeten is that if your country IS invaded by another power, it's your patriotic and moral duty to do EVERYTHING in your power to resist. Many of these European nations who criticise their allies for 'Not doing enough' to protect them, seem to forget their own part in national defence. Rather than the British and French looking for Belgium to 'sacrifice themselves' (in defence of their OWN nation) Holland and Belgium seemed to be of the mind of France and Britain sacrificing themselves for Belgian and Dutch freedom. All of the nations who meekly surrendered to Germany whilst expecting France, Britain, British Commonwealth, Poland and later USA to give their lives to 'Liberate' them, should look at themselves first before pointing the finger at others. Belgium only existed as a country at the time due to determined and sustained efforts (and a LOT of sacrificed lives) of Britain. The British had 'sacrificed themselves' several times already for Belgians. When were Belgians going to start standing on their own two feet? It's easy to look tough cutting the hands off natives in the Congo, but they seem a lot less tough when the Germans arrive.

[@Szalami]

The step-up in visuals is astounding, thank you for this series! The next 5 years are going to be a blast!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks! Let's hope you stick with us throughout ;)

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

Damn it. I honestly had no idea about the allied attack on Iceland.

[@threaruscamuwundra7417]

Just a minor note on the fortress Eben-Emael. I've been there last year and they told their story in detail of course. However the fortress didn't surrender as you proclaim but was in fact taken. They were about to surrunder but due to an error after negotiations, they left what I thought was a bridge open, allowing the germans to take the fort. The taking rather than surrendering of the fort was a huge deal for the defenders as this was seen as much more humiliating, with repurcusions from the government as a result. The fort could be one of many destinations you could check out during a on tour trip. I'd recommend it.

[@robvoncken2565]

indeed do special go there

[@PhonciblePBonehimself]

so much content so little time - keep up the good work !

[@jankutac9753]

How long had Iceland been independent from Denmark now? A few weeks?

[@ThatOneGuyWithAFork]

PLEASE UPVOTE THIS: If anyone new to the show is wondering why the episode after this (Week 38) has been deleted, it is because KZbin removed it from the website. If you want to see the video, you can view it here. spee.ch/@WorldWarTwo:6/blitzkrieg-in-the-west-ww2-038-may-18 EDIT: The video is back up now.

[@username200203]

Thank you

[@WorldWarTwo]

It's back up though ;)

[@ShadowWasntHere8433]

The music you used in the battle overview scene was dope

[@mikiroony]

Gracias, Ángel!

[@alexv3357]

1914 Belgium: Neutrality is my best defense Germany: Guten tag 1940 Belgium: Nope, nothing bad has happened to neutral nations in Europe in the last few months, and certainly not elsewhere in the world in the last few years. Neutrality is going to work out for us better this time.

[@omarrp14]

Can we get a video on the French Foreign Legion in WW2. Like their demographics, where they were at certain points of time (i.e. D-Day, Dunkirk), etc.

[@podemosurss8316]

OmarRPG In 1942 there was a battalion formed almost exclusively by Spanish Republicans. They were the 1st battalion of the 13th half brigade, and fought on the African front against Rommel.

[@kingsofserbiangameplay1623]

Everybody: gets attacked Switzerland: everything is fine, I'm just fine

[@peteroneill5426]

Poor Belgium...

[@harrisonvc9175]

I am sharing this channel with my school district and my old history teacher :) thank you for making The Great War and this!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thank you

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

LUXEMBOURG! I feel sorry for Luxembourg 😭😭😭😭 Edit= I think I had a heart attack

[@TheCimbrianBull]

Don't cry! In all fairness Indy did mention "the third Benelux country". What more could you ask for?

[@alaksandutheexorkizein7634]

@@TheCimbrianBull that is as far as he'll go I'm sure hahaha

[@dankirk3913]

Another mind-blowing, insurmountable video of beyond comprehension standard. Every time this channel uploads I snort a bag of organic green tea and get ready to freaking learn

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

Mark my words: Conrad von Hotzendorf will play a KEY ROLE in future episodes! Only frontal assaults, with no quarter given!

[@podemosurss8316]

He's already dead. But Indy mentioned his substitute for WW2 on this episode: Kliment Voroshilov.

[@forrestcarlson4391]

I love this series and hope somehow it continues after WWII, maybe go over the cold war? or revolutions that happened across the world through different time periods! Wherever this channel decides to go in the future please continue the amazing work

[@WorldWarTwo]

First things first ;)

[@234jari234]

I would like to see Indy do a special about the fighting around the Grebbeberg in The Netherlands. Even though the Dutch forces stood no chance against the Germans they fought fought to the last bullet before surrendering. The Grebbeberg is a hill just east of Utrecht, the Dutch forces were holding the Grebbelinie (Grebbeline) at all costs before withdrawing unseen and with no casualties towards the more modern and stronger Waterlinie (Waterline). The Germans would have a much tougher time crossing the Waterlinee but The Netherlands capitulated after the Germans lay the complete historical city center of Rotterdam into ashes wounding and killing innocent civillians. What Indy doesn't mention is that those paratroopers landing within Fortress Holland were partially defeated and hunderds of elite Fallschirmjägers were transported to Great Britian as POW's. This had significant impact on the use of Fallschirmjägers in later campaings such as the Balkans Campaign in 1941 and the Battle of Crete. In hindsight The Netherlands would have capitulated anyway because of the German breakthrough in the Ardennes, the French divisions not reaching Breda in time and the Germans having landed and captured the Moerdijkbrug (Moerdijk Bridge) which compromised the Southern defenses of Fortress Holland.

[@HistoryHustle]

The Battle of the Grebbeberg is indeed fascinating. I work nearby and visit the place from time to time. It's a pretty area nowadays. The story that fascinates me the most is that of Major Jacometti who stormed the German positions with his klewang (sword).

[@sander7165]

And he doesn't even say anything about the afsluitdijk!

[@dritandrive]

Amazing job guys. i am watching every video of yours like a series every night 5-6 of them .TOP!!!!!

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks for the love!

[@AureliusLaurentius1099]

Wow 8 months ago, Middle School basically just started and I had a girlfriend, now I just graduated with mediocore grades and went to Prom date-less. Really shows how much time the Allies wasted and the Germans to carefully prepare during the Phony War

[@kaczynskis5721]

Well, you will insist on beheading your female consorts. No wonder it was just you and the punch bowl at the Prom.

[@WorldWarTwo]

kaczinsky S - with this sword we thee dub to knight of the realm, and bestow on thee the honors of the order of the guardians of historical wit and humor.

[@somalinetflix3533]

I,ve been waiting 37 weeks for this Week 😂😂 Jack bauer

[@somalinetflix3533]

Markale 😂

[@randomguy-tg7ok]

So the German Tanks are gonna punch into the weak point of the French line? Nah. The French reserves are enough to stop them - even if it has to be a -Stalingrad- Verdun 2.0.

[@ignacejespers8201]

Dafuq is that censored "Stalingrad"?

[@randomguy-tg7ok]

Stalingrad, right now, is just a city in Russia.

[@joehoe222]

May the 10th 1940: my grandmother had her birthday, she became 3 years old! She told me recently she remembered the planes flying over in The Netherlands. So special it was!

[@AarenJable]

Be vigilant, for one day the Wheraboos may try to infiltrate the comments.....

[@edh9999]

They tend to stay quiet until Stalingrad, so we have some time left.

[@kaczynskis5721]

@@edh9999 I have already noticed one or two who think Germany overrunning Western Europe was the best thing that could happen.

[@solaochbada]

i love this and i look forward to it every saturday! thank you!!

[@OgulcanKarakoyun]

Panzer Elite Born To Compete Never Retreat GHOST DIVISION!

[@adm0iii]

Where?

[@Lttlemoi]

We! We will Resist and Bite! Bite hard! 'Cause we are all in sight! We! We take up arms and fight! Fight hard! Resist and do what's right!

[@kostasloudaros536]

I really enjoy your channel ! Excellent work on an Herculean task !

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks very much, Kostas! The entire team works very hard week after week to make these series, and it means the world to us that our audience is as keyed-in and engaged in history as we are. Thanks for exploring with us and helping remember these times.

[@hetspook666]

Plz refer Holland as The Netherlands, we have 10 othere provinces in that same country.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indy did well! Paratroopers landed in Rotterdam (South Holland) so he's still doing well :)

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Well your government website says Holland so lol

[@hetspook666]

@@HistoryHustle you're correct, but in the great war series he is saying it wrong all the time, now he even has a dutchman in his team. SPOILER: After the fall of Holland the war continued in Zeeland, with French troops near Middelburg, i hope Middelburg will not be in Holland as well? en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland

[@HistoryHustle]

That's true, but that's because our government is located in Holland, still claiming the whole country is Holland. Yup, the tensions from the 16th century still remain ;)

[@HistoryHustle]

It's great a Dutchman is in the team now. He's even from the same city as me. Utrecht mijn stadsie! By the way, claiming Zeeland = Holland, that will definitely unleash the Zeelands wrath upon this channel...

[@farhanrahman7119]

13 valuable minutes during my fast,thanks guys!

[@WorldWarTwo]

You're welcome. Are you fasting for Ramadan? If so then Ramadan Mubarak!

[@farhanrahman7119]

Yes I am! My pleasure,❤️

[@Pirusiandres]

Next week Belgian trees’ counterattack. Germany is doomed!

[@AFT_05G]

Lol

[@rayd6537]

Brilliant video!! Great job Indy and company. 👍

[@WorldWarTwo]

Thanks!