America's Stalingrad: Battle of Aachen | Animated History

[@TheArmchairHistorian]

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[@flubber11usa7]

Love your work!

[@user-vp8qq3ev7m]

@@flubber11usa7 nice

[@stevemc01]

Hi Griffin and co. Just wanna say two things: 1. ABSOLUTELY GOD TIER WORK, and I hope you all have a good year on KZbin. 2. Discord link died

[@puffingaming1944]

Can you do the battle of Ortona!?

[@davidspencer8373]

Like video

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

I had a great uncle who fought in that battle. He ended up shooting a pregnant woman before she could shoot him as he was ordered to clear a basement where she was ordered to defend. The incident haunted him for life. My grandmother used to tell me how he would break down and sob every time her mother used to ask him to fetch something from the basement (post-war). They are all gone now. I miss them so much.

[@Gutbomber]

Omg!

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

@@Gutbomber war is hell

[@ernestogastelum9123]

@@nocturnalrecluse1216 damn your grandmother is a savage making your dad go down to the basement knowing that would trigger his ptsd

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

@@ernestogastelum9123 Not my dad. My eldest uncle. 😆 And That was my great grandmother who was born in the late 19th century who was his mother and my grandmother was his younger sister.

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

@@ernestogastelum9123 And she didn't force him into the basement. He just broke down crying every time he had to go in there because of PTSD. She didn't know at the time until he told her what happened. She was very supportive of him.

[@martynhladyk6747]

My Grandfather had fought in this battle. He was part of the 9th Infantry Division. He never talked about it and would jump up whenever he hears a car breaks down. I couldn't imagine what carnage he must of went through and survived this ordeal. He was captured by the Vichy-French in Morrocco and escaped during a sand dune in North Africa and was picked up by the British in 1942. In 1943, he participated in Sicily and Italy. Then in he was on 2nd wave on D-Day in Utah Beach, Normandy. And realising he also went through this battle in October 1944. In Memory of Staff Sergent Martin J. Lunde 1913-2000.

[@shanebarfield2925]

God Bless him

[@seanseawright1501]

God bless him

[@themasterchiefproductions]

I thank him for his service. God bless him.

[@abrahamgn3614]

No he didn't bro, stfu and stop lying for likes

[@davidguilbertrozenman5025]

Aachen was the capital of the Charlemagne Empire. The Holy Roman German Empire capital was Frankfurt probably but later its capital was Vienna, in Austria, when the Habsburg dinasty was always reelected.

[@jasondouglas6755]

You should make a video on the other American Stalingrad the battle of Manila. It was the only major urban battle of the Pacific war and it was very interesting seeing the fight happening in a very American looking city.

[@dr.woozie7500]

Manila pre-1945 was mostly Spanish architecture not American, given that they had been in control for over 300 years.

[@madzbenito878]

This is brutal battle. Japanese bayonetted babies, raped women of different nationalities, Sliced their breasts off, beheaded men etc. Such a barbaric batttle. All those desperation because Japanese knew they lost the Battle of Manila.

[@alexalaniz5176]

2nd this

[@ComradeCommissarYuri]

Wasn’t that the place where was it Japanese high command didn’t want as a battlefield.. But junior officers rebelled and fought there?

[@jasondouglas6755]

@@ComradeCommissarYuri correct

[@Mr_M_History]

You have no idea how much guys like us look up to the Armchair Historian, absolute king!

[@That-Belgian-Guy]

I do a lot, 1) for his vids 2) for his game

[@Hanndlecannotstartwiththischar]

Yeah

[@In_Our_Timeline]

Love you pal

[@tai-yomaruno3680]

Yep!

[@picklesargent2477]

He pro

[@Metalbirne]

I was born in aachen and I know the stories my now dead grandma told me about the siege of aachen. She told me that one time allied bombers flew over the city and didn't drop bombs but flyers. She said the message on the flyers read "Aachen im Loch, wir kriegen dich doch!" which translates (trying to keep to rhyme) to "Aachen in the hole, we will swallow you whole!". Very strange feeling I had while watching the video because I know every city and location named in it personally.

[@Metalbirne]

@Arceus Killer It's very strange to hear about locations I know since childhood in such a surreal brutal context of war. I walk past Rothe Erde every day of my life to get to work for example. All I have ever known is peace and to think that massive bloodshed happened exactly where I walk and that there are still people living today that lived through that and have seen it is just unreal.

[@Metalbirne]

@Arceus Killer Current events supply enough actual war footage for me I'm afraid.

[@danielnavarro537]

Another "Stalingrad" is the Canadian involvement in the Battle of Ortona. This was fought in December of 1943 and showed the Canadians how brutal the Italian Campaign would be.

[@silverletter4551]

Why did Canada go all that way to kill Italians? Did Italy bomb their country? What was their business there?

[@danielnavarro537]

@@silverletter4551 Well, the Canadians were part of the Allied force who invaded Italy in September 1943. Italy at the time was part of the Axis alliance. Then on September 8th, 1943, the Italians surrender but the Germans occupied the Italian peninsula and the Germans established series of defensive lines that ran through Italy. Go and search up the Italian Campaign.

[@itsblitz4437]

@@danielnavarro537 I think the Armchair Historian mentioned Canada 🇨🇦 during The Invasion of Italy video.

[@thediaz07]

@@danielnavarro537 yes. It was brutal.

[@Dinalynnz]

Is "a Stalingrad" just an urban battle for you?

[@noahconnor1540]

I’m always blown away at how well you construct your videos, people like you keep the love and interest of history alive. The history channel blows.

[@quincyantares6103]

Fun Fact : The Germans never considered Battle of Aachen "The Stalingrad In the West". That Distinction Belongs to the Battle of Falaise Gap during Normandy Campaign when when 80,000-100,000 German Troops Captured during Encirclement in The Falaise Gap prompting the surviving German troops and the Generals called the disaster "The Stalingrad in the West".

[@frentz7]

yea of course not .. nobody would ever call it that

[@MrGrim2u1987]

Fun fact he is talking about the Americans, not Germans, did you read the title ?

[@frentz7]

@@MrGrim2u1987 you think the Americans were calling it "The Stalingrad In the West" ?

[@frentz7]

@@MrGrim2u1987 I think it's a kind of clickbait. Not the worst clickbait, Armchair Historian always does a great job

[@kousand9917]

I don't think they called it the American stalingrad but you got to admit the similarities between the two.

[@supercraftemperor]

As someone who lives near Aachen and visits it often (I live in Heerlen, The Netherlands), it's sad to hear that a lot of the city has been shelled. Though the Dom still stands and is incredibly interesting with it's history of the city and Charlemagne. Oh and if you're nearby at christmas, don't forget to visit the christmas market. It's a load of fun!

[@adrianscorch]

My wife and I are looking for vacation spots. This might be it.

[@supercraftemperor]

@@adrianscorch It's definitly worth the visit. It's history and german culture combined.

[@Jonathan-js3vi]

I mean, I was wanting to sleep, but as an Öcher myself I kinda have to watch this video now ^^

[@michaelritzen8138]

Another Heerlenaar! It is cool to see someone making content about something major that happened near us, as this area of the Netherlands doesn't get that much love.

[@supercraftemperor]

@@michaelritzen8138 Yeah, personally it makes I think it makes it more interesting than it already it.

[@johnnybadboy3475]

4:49 Wow, you really nailed the Aachen skyline! You could've just thrown in a stock picture of a German city, but you drew Aachen! I love the detail!

[@gunsbeersmemes]

One of the best movie quotes, to describe German fanaticism, is from Saving Private Ryan. "They just...didn't want to give up those 88s"

[@sthrich635]

That is because by that time, the strength discrepancy between German and Allies forces were such that the biggest obstacles the Allies faced were often terrains, logistics or their own policies rather than the German soldiers himself. Tactically, well-built cities like Aachen were basically free fortress the German defenders desperately needed. The German high command, especially Hitler, no doubt realized this and exploit this whenever possible, knowing that narrow streets lined with shelled out blocks were the only chance a platoon of untrained Volkssturm with Panzerfaust and MG could hold out a M4 Sherman tank column for a whole day. Sure those German garrison would ended up being encircled like it did in Aachen, but when you are pitting horse-drawn/on foot German divisions against fully-motorized Allied forces moving several times faster, it was less of a question of would the Germans get encircled and more of how much bloodbath can the Allies takes in every encirclement.

[@gratefulguy4130]

Well, they were fighting for their existince as a people at that point. There had been a concerted effort since at least the 1860s to completely destroy them and their ability to ever organize again. They knew that the cost of them losing since the end of WWI would be at least the situation that exists today. That drove them to a great deal of highly desperate decisions.

[@300thNPC]

That scene was depressing because right before that he was talking about the amount of casualties his unit took. A bunch of his men were dead, all because they needed to stop some 88's. The price of tactical objectives comes at the cost of lives and limbs.

[@Luke-rm3td]

Hey Mr. Griffin, I spotted a small error around 10:58 where you said the elite '1st SS Panzer Division' however the clip states the '1st SS Panzer Corps' was deployed instead. Regardless thank you so much for this informative video! Appreciate your hard work to educate us about such interesting topics. Keep up the good work sir!

[@snicker576]

Jesus Christ, who cares or would even notice. Bizarre

[@glhmedic]

@@snicker576 it matters. Facts matter if you wanna be taken seriously.

[@LordSluggo]

@@snicker576 KZbin history channels have long ago surpassed THC or any other pop history media. They need to maintain this high standard.

[@snicker576]

@@glhmedic You're insinuating that this incedibly well-produced, in-depth video can't be taken seriously because of a one word difference that basically means the same thing?

[@skate1062]

@@snicker576 facts matter ;)

[@Bl4ckm0nk]

The scars of WW2 are still visibe in teh region here. Right next to the Aachen cathedral, a smaller church still has bullet holes in its pillars, both outside and inside the church. I am currently living in Aachen, near the cathedral, while my father was born in '39 and lived in Übach-Palenberg, so he had experienced the fights as a child. Also, I was super impressed by how good you pronounced the names of towns and cities. Most non-native german speakers really struggle with our pronounciation.

[@jockl2000]

I went to university in Aachen. On my way home i would regularly buy food for a homeless guy and chat with him. He told me one day, that he was the sole survivor of the execution of 8 boys of the Hitlerjugend by Waffen-SS. All not even in puberty at the time. The firing squad only wounded him and took off. Messed him up for life.

[@Jarod-vg9wq]

Why did they do it?

[@jockl2000]

@@Jarod-vg9wq They didn't want to fight, ran away and were caught.

[@AGwest1]

@Dalton Pruden How insensitive. You disgust me.

[@space4166]

@Dalton Pruden boo hoo

[@fransbezuidenhout485]

@Dalton Pruden The difference between thus and the exction of amircans who ran away at d Day was simple The Germans where children while the Americans were adults

[@TR-qs1qc]

Sad fate for such a long established city. Such as history, time ,and current events... Thanks for your work.

[@iche9373]

Blame their chancellor

[@randommapping2155]

Aachen is basically entirely rebuilt nowadays. Still sad!

[@misterplayer7250]

@@iche9373 Or the Allies to humiliate Germany after WW1, without this dumb bullshit, all this will never be happend

[@simpsbelongtothegulags3702]

@@iche9373 yeah its the chancellor who bombed the city

[@iche9373]

@@simpsbelongtothegulags3702 The Chancellor did the war

[@jasperdavis5517]

I did a student exchange in Aachen during highschool and it’s such a beautiful city it’s incredible how well many of the building held up. They’ve still got a bar from the 1500!

[@That-Belgian-Guy]

Man, I wish you uploaded more regurarly. But I know how long it takes to make. So keep up the good quality content, man!

[@andylopez6145]

Belgium

[@That-Belgian-Guy]

@@andylopez6145 ello mate

[@whitewolfcrowley6550]

Yes, I agree...

[@andylopez6145]

are you actually Belgian?

[@That-Belgian-Guy]

@@andylopez6145 yes

[@conserva-chan2735]

Please do a video on the Portuguese Colonial War. It is a very important and very underappreciated event that changed Africa forever.

[@thesalamanders8740]

How much did it change? I understand the influence fight between the USSR and the US, but to your knowledge how did this affect the larger continent of Africa besides the Portuguese ex-colonies

[@conserva-chan2735]

@@thesalamanders8740 it led to Rhodesia, collapsing, Namibian Independence and the end of South African Apartheid being inevitable, ehile it led to a civil war in Angola and Mozambique that would be one of the last major theatres of the cold war. It also was a major factor in the destabilization of the Congo. Basically, it shifted the balance of power in central and southern Africa immensely to where its ramifications are still felt.

[@DaleRojoDecaf]

You got your wish.

[@superyamky]

General Gerad: can we spare this city to the Americans? So there would be no civilian casualties Hitler: that's a big no no

[@vjbd2757]

Meanwhile on the Pacific front Japanese Soldier: "Sir, this Intramuros walled city looks really good. Should we let the Americans have it? Japanese Officer: "Nah. They'll have to bomb every nook and cranny to defeat us."

[@Wang_Ping]

its better to die fighting and take as many of the enemy with you than it is live on as a coward

[@superyamky]

@@Wang_Ping if WWIII breaks out I would do the same

[@misterplayer7250]

@@strangelyukrainian7314 Lol these "partisans" was mostley controlled by the Soviets, like those in Stalingrad but ok

[@space4166]

@@superyamky no you wont

[@jacobjones4766]

70% of the american men were replacements most of whome had only ever been given basic training. The american tankers were arriving to their new units without ever driving a car before let alone a tank. Their commanders or more trained units would have to teach them combat before missions

[@boyscouts83712]

And unforgently by the time of this battle for Aachen, the Allies were getting tired of the constant pushing after the bloody breakout from Normandy and the French Hedgerows. Also, all of the Allies' supplies replacements were stilling having to land in Normandy and then truck themselves to the front. The British attempt to take Antwerp backfired guess they secured the town, but the coastal areas to the northwest of it were still in German hands AND the port of Antwerp was absolutely trashed before the nazis hightailed it out of there so the whole situation was fucked up

[@ElBandito]

Battle of Hürtgen Forest was also a nightmare. It really Hürt the Allies.

[@NefariousKoel]

'When Trumpets Fade' is a great war movie, set in Hurtgen, which never got a lot of attention. Very grim. Made for HBO in the 90s, and still available for streaming there.

[@destroyerarmor]

@@NefariousKoel very sad movie

[@rafaelalexie2417]

I love you! :))))))

[@mrswishadank2329]

@@NefariousKoel that’s a good movie

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Eisenhowers broad front strategy was a complete failure. He should have gone with Montgomerys concentrated northern thrust instead.

[@randommapping2155]

I'm from Aachen (Stolberg), my great grandparents always used to tell me about bombs being dropped and that they had to hide in a little house with a basement in the woods.

[@VikingVic76]

My grandfather was a mechanic and a wrecker driver for the Big Red One. He had some interesting stories about the French Farmers going to the American camps and giving up Nazis hiding in their Barns.

[@flailingelbows7073]

Hope when more information comes out you’ll do a video on the Battle of Mariupol! Easily one of the bloodiest examples of modern urban combat of our time

[@Auricthunder]

@TheLapster lol, the Russian military is getting their asses kicked in Ukraine and Mariupol was no exception. It took them 2 months to secure it at high cost despite outnumbering the defenders. There’s nothing expert about it. The corruption, weakness, and unprofessionalism of the Russian military has been on full display.

[@FlaviusBelisarius-ck6uv]

@TheLapster Yes, they captured it expertly the same way Napoleon captured Moscow.

[@joemamaobama6863]

Kid named bakhmut

[@nicholasgallo3599]

Love how you made a historical reference from a picture of the GIs manning a browning 1919 machine gun in the streets of Aachen I’ve seen that photograph and like how you incorporated it into your video

[@flbphotography2239]

Love the video man. As always you and your production team are amazing. One of the few history channels on KZbin who's videos I always look forward to. Very well crafted and put together.

[@tng2057]

The late autumn 44 war theatres at Alsace Lorraine, at the waterway leading to Antwerp, and at Germany west were arguably the most under reported parts of WW2 as they were neither dramatic nor glamorous. Allied sacrifice at these battles were very high. Even Patton was humiliated. Thanks for the coverage of some of these battles.

[@sestrarsestror3417]

I can only agree, thank you for covering this part of the war. The battles in Elsaß-Lothringen indeed tend to be more obscure, as well as those in western germany. Even most germans there nowadays only know about the bombing raids, and that only because we still have to deal with ~2 aerial bombs per week, that didn't explode correctly and instead planted themselves into the ground.

[@thunderbird1921]

The Allies really got overconfident after the liberation of Paris, honestly. Many were partying with the locals and thinking the Germans would be demolished within months. Then, they met the buzzsaw (in Italy as well). The second half of 1944 was an absolute bloodbath all over western Europe.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Only Montgomerys Antwerp campaign suceeded out of those. The Hurtgen and Lorraine etc failed.

[@JohnDoe-wt9ek]

@@lyndoncmp5751 I'm surprised Monty even got to keep his job when Market Garden was the worst campaign and operation ever conceived in Military history, and indubitably failed due to terrible planning and an incredible failure of intelligence operatives for Market Garden...

[@pop000690]

​@lyndoncmp5751 I wouldn't say Lorraine failed. It just suffered from a Battle of the Bulge 2.0 known as Nordwind which eventually got dealt with by early 45 when Colmar got taken. Hurtgen on the other hand yes was a complete massacre, there's a reason it was known as "the American meat grinder".

[@peppapig9987]

I know a tiny bit about this battle, thanks for teaching me more! Your channel has inspired me to learn more history on my own!

[@robvoncken2565]

I live pretty close to Aachen, its still a beatifull place. I remember my dad said they would go up on hill near ubach over Worms at night and watch Aachen get plastered. They were very merry about it

[@crazywarriorscatfan9061]

Aachen is often forgotten. Thank you for bringing this horrific battle to light

[@Peter_Capszyk]

Which real-life isn't horrific?

[@jamesbednar8625]

Awesome video!! While in US Army during early 1980s, was stationed in West Germany, Had the opportunity to travel through Aachen once. Beautiful city and it was still being rebuilt 40 years later. Anyway, "Call of Duty" has a Play Station 2 called "Call of Duty 2: Big Red One" where the game was focusing solely on the US 1st Infantry Division from their exploits in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, Aachen, and onwards. When got to the Aachen campaign - WOW!!!! - that was brutal!! Had to escort that M12 howitser to the city center; had to do a lot of underground fighting, and plenty more - just what you were describing in this video.

[@calmdownbeavis7039]

God I miss that game. Haven't played it since I was a child

[@JohnDoe-wt9ek]

That wasn't CoD 2: Big Red One. That particular mission is from CoD: Finest Hour.

[@calmdownbeavis7039]

@@JohnDoe-wt9ek alright boys, we're taking Aachen today

[@natethenoble909]

America's Stalingrad: Aachen Manila 1945: Am I a joke to you?

[@charlie8344]

And also late 1944

[@agentg11]

In the European theater its still aachen

[@agentg11]

i agree but its not really talked about

[@charlesledankuz]

More Americans died and got wounded in Aachen than in Manila sooo

[@jiggyjungs]

For someone who was admittedly ignorant to history - your channel has transformed my perception and worldview. Thankyou.

[@najerrys5061]

My great grandfather was conscripted into the volkssturm. The things he saw terrified him for the rest of his life, he was only 14 in 1945. I remember once, my great grandmother told me a story of him during hurricane katrina. He had sat down at the table, and simply froze. He wouldnt move a muscle for a full 3 hours, he was just frozen. Later, i was told that his little group had gotten fired upon by artillery, near hannover, and the storm gave him a ptsd attack.

[@ninesalive]

"Both sides flinging grenades at each other until entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble" In military tactics, this is known as "CoD4/World at War on Veteran"

[@Struwex]

My grandma could see aachen burn when standing on her farm, she then visited in 1945 and everything was destroyed

[@godofallthingsandall]

Thanks!

[@SynomDroni]

I grew up in one of the original so called 3 window houses. A narrow plot only allowing 2 window wide build. It used to be a tavern and brewery. Most of the adjacent buildings were after war. 5 min. From the cathedral this gem survived. I loved the house and it's atmosphere. Aachen is a loving city.

[@ismaelfleurine2620]

THX AGAIN ARMCHAIR HISTORIAN AND TEAM MEMBERS

[@user-vp8qq3ev7m]

Im glad to see this battle be covered, you dont hear about it much these days

[@shutup2751]

kohima probably or dunkirk

[@TheJayIsOK]

I don’t want to downplay the horrors of this battle but I think Stalingrad was another level

[@LibertyTreeStudios]

It's still shocking to me how well the very early COD: Finest Hour captured the gritty and hard fight in Aachen in the game. Nothing but darkness, rubble, hidden AI, and every other urban combat nightmare possible. Neat to see the story of bringing in an SPG was inspired by an actual event that happened during the battle.

[@CodytheHun123]

I was thinking the same thing. It makes me forgive how stupid hard those levels were.

[@Conker117]

great game. Im surprised theres not a lot of people i know in irl that know about it

[@princeofpokemon2934]

Which COD game was that?

[@Voucher765]

@@princeofpokemon2934 COD Finest Hour and WW2

[@princeofpokemon2934]

@@Voucher765 thanks

[@kaboon3489]

I find the Stalingrad comparison really interesting, though, nothing can quite compare to it.

[@RandomFurry07]

combat wise yes, destruction and casualties, not at all

[@jacopoabbruscato9271]

A city that stood for a thousand years, utterly flattened by artillery. It breaks my heart. But, for a stroke of luck, the Cathedral remained unscathed

[@TheVideoNorm]

Could they have just ringed the city and waited them out? Other "fortresses" held by the Germans were isolated and bypassed (like Japanese-held islands) and that architecture and history would still be with us. War sucks.

[@cattysplat]

@@TheVideoNorm You can't do that in modern warfare that could radio German forces inside the city to do a breakout attack once the bulk of forces have moved elsewhere. Americans would have to commit large numbers of forces to essentially hold a defensive ring around an entire city and siege any attack. As well as hold the front line and have reduced forces to progresses further into the heart of Germany.

[@space4166]

What a stupid comment

[@ijusthatenormiesihavenooth1164]

Nothing lasts longer than murrican freedom baby 🇺🇸🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇮🇱❤

[@TheLeadSled]

Most only know of the big battles like the Battle of the Bulge, or Stalingrad or Midway, but there was so many other battles that were just as vicious and deadly. Some that come to mind are Monte Cassino, Battle of Anzio, the entire fiasco known as Operation Market Garden, Battle of Crete (which was the death of the Fallschirmjäger) Battle of Luzon, so many.

[@dryze8884]

I'm really not trying to diminish those who fought in any battle because it takes more courage than most will ever know, but calling the Battle of Aachen "America's Stalingrad" is pretty sensationalist and just a weird thing to say. America lost 2000 soldiers and had 7000 casualties in the Battle of Aachen. The Soviets had 480,000 dead and over 1.2 million casualties during the Battle of Stalingrad. To put that into perspective for whoever is reading this, the Soviets lost more soldiers in the Battle of Stalingrad than America did in the entirety of World War II. The Battle of Aachen would have been a small skirmish compared to the Battle of Stalingrad.

[@JohnDoe-wt9ek]

Its not the casualties, but the veracity of the fighting. The Germans, like the Russians, fought tooth and nail for the city, with complete disregard for their own, for their enemy, and for the civilians residing in it.

[@revolution1423]

The Soviets lost far more than 480,000. They are still finding graves of Soviet soldiers at Volgograd (Stalingrad) today.

[@thestarwarsmusiccomposer3491]

The soviets casualties were immense. 90% oF casualties in ww2 were soviets lives. As a combined casualties count of america canada and france is not enough to overtake them.

[@IronDragon-2143]

Please make a video of the Last Stand of the Swiss Guard during the Sack of Rome in 1527. I would love to see this battle in a future video. Thanks Griff

[@thefortemfortispandorian8333]

In the heart of the holy see

[@IronDragon-2143]

@@thefortemfortispandorian8333 In the home of Christianity

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

@@IronDragon-2143 the seat of power is in danger

[@carterjames3937]

I love this channel, the graphics and the info blend really well.

[@ninjalanternshark1508]

Quality presentation as usual and very well played transition before the promotion at 2:20

[@atomicnut1486]

Great video! For your tank videos, I think observing French Tanks vs German Tanks, (1940) would be unique and something that really needs more attention.

[@Vincent98987]

I agree

[@moospalladin5518]

I find it hard to compare battles to Stalingrad. Just because an area is totally destroyed during seesaw urban combat doesn't mean it should be comparable to Stalingrad in which over a million men lost their lives.

[@Cloudrunner5k]

But it's a "click-baity" title that gets attention

[@dimaignatiev6370]

agreed ...stalingrad was totally devastated and yet somehow they managed to find where to fight ...

[@rcgunner7086]

An interesting fact, in the book A Bridge Too Far a German veteran of Stalingrad said that the fighting in Arnhem was as bad, or even worse, than anything he saw in Stalingrad. It's just a common thing for a wicked urban action to be called X's Stalingrad.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@rcgunner7086 Yeah i heard that too, is there a quote for that

[@AGwest1]

@@Cloudrunner5k Not really, it's just trying to imply that the battle was brutal.

[@GUNZY_03]

Any chance you could do WWII from the perspective of Canada? They had some very hard fought battles where they were clearly outnumbered and groups like the Highlanders really put the fear of god into the Nazi’s. I’d love to see what you could dig up if you could find some time to dive into it. Keep up the awesome content!

[@pop000690]

Agreed and do the same with Australia and New Zealand both with Europe, North Africa and the Pacific Theatre.

[@er3689]

I life in Aachen and the “Quellenhofhotel” is today my barbershop.

[@Ari.Atland]

Just imagine hiding in the basement of a hotel, only to see a tractor with a large tube on it's back roll up to face you.

[@cattysplat]

A city made of solid stone, 80% of buildings destroyed, must have been an insane amount of bombardment.

[@chameleon9717]

Most underrated channel on KZbin

[@matthewnguyen5325]

Germans: We have the high ground!! American artillery: Yeah, it sure would be a shame if someone *bombarded it into even ground*

[@iamaloafofbread8926]

More like lower ground

[@austrianemperor6727]

@@iamaloafofbread8926 more like underground

[@taxidermypolarbear1724]

@@austrianemperor6727 6 feet to be precise*

[@theawesomeman9821]

Americans: You under estimate our power!

[@nothuman3083]

At that point the knew the war was over. If America can just bomb away at you rather then lay a trap you knew they had more ammo then Germany.

[@thetruckfreak7858]

American: It's over German, I have the high ground German: You underestimate my power American: Don't try it

[@wilbertting9211]

For a moment, I thought he would talk about the battle of Manila, Phillipines, but this is just as interesting. Nice work!

[@wetwillyis_1881]

Me too, that is what I consider our Stalingrad as well, but this video was great.

[@vjbd2757]

@@wetwillyis_1881 He already did one about Manila I believe.

[@duckboiii4441]

@@vjbd2757 where?

[@cascadianrangers728]

Grandpa was an airborne Ranger. He said Achen was the hardest fighting of the whole war. Said "It wasn't like Berlin, they really ment to fight"

[@roberth5767]

I've been to Schloss Rimburg several times. I imagined the combat in the area because the terrain is very rugged.

[@bragz81]

Great video! I have been to this area for a “Staff Ride.” It was really educating to be on the ground in Rimburg, the West Wall, Übach-Palenberg, and Aachen. My unit holds the heraldry of the 117th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division.

[@boyscouts83712]

7:04 Operation Market Garden screwed everyone over! Monty got preferable treatment and everything he wanted while the rest of the U.S Army, General Bradley, General Patton the French army were screwed because the supplies they were needing to keep pushing the Germans were rerouted to Monty. From there, everyone knows about the clusterfuck of a beginning to ending of Market Garden. Unforgently, by the time Market Garden, ended the Nazis were well reorganized and refortified along the west wall and any hope of ending the European theater by or before Christmas was destroyed. Which then lead to the Battle of Aachen, Battle of the Hurtgenon Forest, and the cold, desperate struggle in the Battle of the Buldge.

[@JohnDoe-wt9ek]

Its a shame Monty wasn't sacked by Eisenhower. Only because to do so would anger the petty Brits and their superstar "war hero". Which only really deepened the superstardom of many other American Generals rather than just fighting the damned war. Patton, Clark, Bradley? All prima donnas. While Captains and Lieutenants were spilling their guts alongside their enlisted charges on the front lines.

[@datowelie9066]

Wow. I am from Aachen and didn't know about this. About 11 of the inner city forts still stand and are used for cultural purposes. In the Woods around Aachen you can also still find a lot of the concrete tanktraps to this day.

[@statelyelms]

Loved the video! Never knew about this battle and certainly wouldn't have known why a seemingly minor town made such a stand if I hadn't watched this. If I had any suggestions they'd be: - put a map of the general Allied advance with Aachen labeled near the start of the video, so we have a general idea of the situation and location - might want to look into finding new walking animations for your characters.. it kinda looks like they all have kyphosis with their hutched backs

[@crilbusfumperdink3823]

Incredible as always my younger cousins love your videos, they really help instill a love of history in them

[@michaelsmyth3935]

My Uncle George, whose family moved to the 🇺🇸 during the late 1800s, fought there. Ended up having a nervous breakdown, said he saw the faces of the women and children he shot, every night before he could sleep. A gentle giant of a man, he seldom spoke of WWII. However, what is with the title? Hardly a Stalingrad. No where near a Stalingrad. Stalingrad was fought over for how long again? Death tolls? The content is great, deserves a better, perhaps more accurate title.

[@JohnDoe-wt9ek]

Its not the casualties, but the veracity of the fighting. The Germans, like the Russians, fought tooth and nail for the city, with complete disregard for their own, for their enemy, and for the civilians residing in it.

[@thearisen7301]

It's not a random title but a semi common nickname for the battle

[@space4166]

People will say he is a monster for shooting children. But don’t understand if they were there. If I was there I would do the same. If you hold a weapon your a enemy in a war zone. You stand for Germany you die for Germany.

[@shealton_3919]

Watched this channel for many years now never been better

[@redaug4212]

lol I like how half the comments are just tankies and wehraboos seething at the title. I'm glad Armchair Historian kept it as it is.

[@keshimars]

i know right, the thing i hate about these history videos are the trolls infesting the comment section

[@ScorpioRyoga]

Great video, but: Nooooo!!! 9:34 you made the mistake in naming my city wrong 😛It's Heerlen, not Heerlam! Keep up te good work!

[@mlembrant]

I wish there was a videogame designed like this: 11:01 , smooth and easy to grasp, yet challenging difficulty.. kinda like.. yes, that game that was banned in many countries, "Panzer General". A smooth, easy to learn, difficult to master, turn-based strategy game with elements of nature included, as well as troop morale, equipment maintenance, ammunition etc.. :( i'd be a happy man :)

[@pzg_kami6472]

I wish a remake of Panzer General II would have been made. And No ,Panzerkorps is not a replacement for PG2 !

[@easadventures1349]

So much history and architecture blown away, all over Europe.

[@spyke1219]

The communication between German authorities from Aachen ended with the following radio dialogue October 21, 1944: 246th Volksgrenadier Division to Wilck: "Long live the defenders of Aachen." Colonel Wilck to the 246th Volksgrenadier Division: “We sign off with greetings to our comrades and our relatives.” 246th Volksgrenadier Division to Colonel Wilck: “Thanks and appreciation for your commitment and attitude. The detachment greets its comrades.” (I tried to translate it into english, there might still be mistakes in there though. English isn't my native language)

[@awwee34]

pleasant surprise when armchair historian posts

[@r3b0rn_mike117]

You ought to do the Rhineland Campaign next ^^ animations and stories were spectacular as always!

[@A.RandomGuy]

9:58 "Throwing grenades at eachother until entire neighboorhoods were reduced to rubble" So Basically World at War?

[@In_Our_Timeline]

As always great video it is an interesting things to learn about this war I mean WW2 is just such an interesting topic and covering some of it battles is a great way to learn about Plus the animation, voice actor, are great

[@residentelect]

I can't help but make the comparison of this battle with the contemporary situation facing the Russian military in Ukraine, especially the city of Kyiv, which is both the geopolitical and cultural heart of many Slavic peoples. The armour and few supporting infantry have exceeded their supply lines due to underestimating their enemy, thus leaving a convoy of vehicles without fuel and spare parts as well as men without rations, appropriate uniform and ammunition. When they are pushing into urban strongholds they are meeting bitter resistance from not only professional servicemen, but also rag-tag groups of reservists, militias and civilians utilising any weapon at their disposal (including the great grandson of the Panzerfäust!) They are also using the same tactic of levelling the infrastructure with artillery and aerial bombardment when their efforts to push forward are thwarted by the defenders. Never was it more true that "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it..."

[@HistorySkills]

Always look forward to new videos from you!

[@bulldogsbob]

I think the battle of Manila is more like the american Stalingrad.

[@juicebox9465]

Rod Serling of twilight zone fame fought in the battle of Manila.

[@cjclark2002]

Absolute meat grinder

[@juicebox9465]

@@cjclark2002 Serling's regiment had a casualty rate of up to 50%

[@cyrosubod2317]

It was terrible for the civilians 100k dead in just a small city

[@loganirwin5022]

Or monte cassino

[@oculusnpc3614]

Awesome new video, thanks for the good work

[@BigBoiBleu]

America can never have a Stalingrad because they were never on homesoil, even if the battle went sort of the same way

[@bluedog843]

I’ve been waiting for you to cover this for so long. Let’s. Go.

[@kaigomez7237]

Nice video, you should do the Mexican Revolution next. Considering that most of your videos are European focused ones, it would definitely add more variety.

[@That-Belgian-Guy]

The thing is, they can't descide one day or another: we will make a mexican revolution video.

[@kaigomez7237]

@@That-Belgian-Guy You just got a new sub

[@That-Belgian-Guy]

thanks dude, I appreciate it!

[@raketny_hvost]

Well Chinese and Soviet operations without "meatwaves" and "tonns of zagradotryads" don't seem to be European -focused

[@kaigomez7237]

@@raketny_hvost I said mostly, and the soviet union is still European. It would be cool to see a history episode that takes place in central or south america, that aspect of history is rarely covered.

[@mrleaf7195]

Thank you. I've been waiting for someone to do this battle.

[@bdcollecter]

It feels weird to be here this early!

[@mrnotsosmartguy448]

ikr XD

[@F4Wildcat]

10:45 This is where we must mention the M12 Gun motor carriage. Only 100 were built and 75 were avaiable for combat. These handfull of 155mm gun carriages were instrumental in taking aachen.

[@CptFordo-bv8dc]

Eh, I would say Americans "Stalingrad" was the Battle of Manila.

[@kidgaminggaming5731]

We talking about the European theatre

[@vonb2792]

Wikipedia: the Battle of manila , the Japanese occupation + American firepower razed the City to the ground.. (Insert full pics of pre-ww2 manila, Manila looked like a European German City with big bridge with Spanish home and American monument style)

[@republicempire446]

Manila was more Shanghai than Stalingrad if it’s against Japanese

[@rayzas4885]

I disagree. Aachens was bloodier for America despite having an overwhelming numbers advantage

[@johnvaliegal6786]

Nope. Bakit sinisingit niyo Yung Manila dito?

[@Jonathan-js3vi]

@3:46 Ellendorf is supposed to be Eilendorf btw. Also Kahlscheid should be Kohlscheid. @6:03 it's Kornelimünster instead of Korrelimünster. All not big things, but I can't really ignore them ^^

[@MasonHalcrow13]

We fought to repel the invaders and we fought till our last drop of blood

[@Justjunniee]

Huh

[@dushi1903]

This battle in this historical city should be made into a movie showing the German defenders perspective.

[@soldier660]

18:56 i dont agree with this, this city was truly history for the germans, not only nazi but for way before that.

[@DerVincenzo]

1:57

[@Warszawski_Modernizm]

Somehow a subject of WWII urban warfare tactics seems a pretty relevant topic these days. PS. Great work, greetings from Warsaw, Poland

[@hammonia9095]

Amazing video! And truly a tragedy to see a city of such glory reduced to rubble, even though it was necessary Insane declaring Aachen a "fortress city" and, as you said, basically sacrificing tons of priceless history for pretty much nothing. And it didn't stop there: The Nazis had even killed the mayor of Aachen, Franz Oppenhoff, after this battle. He was seen as a traitor and got murdered by SS members during "Operation Werewolf". What cruel regime kills its own people this viciously even when it's over? And sacrifices cities like that? And that's even without thinking of what they did to other peoples. There were a group of teenagers from Aachen who stayed in the Aachen Cathedral and protected it from the rain of bombs as well as they could, endangering their own lives for this ancient monument of Charlemagne. They threw bombs out with their bare hands. Many priceless artifacts of the city were brought into other parts of Germany - where the Monuments Men eventually found them. On a little side note: You got a few town names wrong - Kohlscheid instead of Kallscheid, Eilendorf instead of Ellendorf (You got that right later on though), Kornelimuenster instead of Korrelimunster, and Heerlen instead of Heerlam. Still, amazing work!

[@qay999]

Also, Bardenberg instead of Sardenberg.

[@motorTranz]

Thank you for these superb documentaries!

[@Peter_Capszyk]

I would be glad to see you covering the battle of Manila 1944 aka: "Pacific Stalingrad" in similar way how you did with the battle of Achen in today's video. Great work👍

[@charlie8344]

The Philippines isn't in the Pacific though

[@charlie8344]

It's in South East Asia

[@sensei2479]

@@charlie8344 its in the pacific

[@TheRealFocalors]

@@charlie8344 its a pacific nation

[@winchesterchua3311]

1945 actually.

[@EmporerAaron]

Glad to see your still uploading.

[@Waldtyr1]

This region (South-east Limburg NL, Westphalia GE) never got any real coverage on the big channels allthough some real heavy and significant fighting went on here (Hurtgenwald, Aachen, Battle for the Ruhr triangle). Thanks so much for bringing some of this up in detail!

[@pizzabread5309]

10:13 shoutout to whoever animated that guy flying out the window

[@ModernNCRph]

Another great history vid. Hope you can also make a vid about the so-called Asian Stalingrad, which is the Battle of Manila of 1945. It only lasted for a month but the civilian casualties mounted to more than 100,000. Also, Manila became one of the most devastated capital city after the war, alongside Berlin and Warsaw.

[@christeankapp6549]

very accurate description and animation. Having studied in Aachen I even recognized places and monuments.