Battle of Mount Elbrus - Conquering Europe's Highest Mountain

How did Germany conquer Europe's highest peak, Mount Elbrus, in 1942?
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[@jackrosenthal7757]

This is, I guess, what you call absurdity of war. While a few hundred kilometers north the biggest battle of history (Stalingrad) took place, these soldiers were busy climbing up that mountain three times to take some pictures.

[@n1k1george]

Back around 1980 I had the privilege of working for a fine old Bavarian gentleman in Munich who was part of the detachment that scaled Elbrus during the war.

[@barryolaith]

Climbers tend to do their own thing. But defying Hitler, that's impressive. Glad the leader survived the war.

[@samc2450]

I do have to say, the footage they got of mount elbrus is amazing

[@Carlton-B]

Mountain Troops: We accidently forgot to bring a camera, guess we'll have to climb it again. Oops we brought a still camera, but need movies. Guess we'll have to climb it again.

[@skydiverclassc2031]

4:25 If the hotel had been staffed with a proper registration desk, the Germans would have been repelled. "I'm sorry, do you have a reservation. No? I'm very sorry, but we're full up until next week. Conference in town. I don't care what your supervisor told you, we have no rooms available. Thank you."

[@Treblaine]

3:58 "if I'm climbing into this thin mountain air, better not cut back on my unfiltered cigarettes"

[@1981menso]

"Cigarettes are bad for your lungs", German mountain troops "hold my cigarettes while I climb the highest mountain in Europe."

[@grodfromguate]

Mountain Troops: Can we cross Caucasus Hitler: To Capture ports? Mountain Troops: To capture ports Actually summits Elbrus three times like a boss

[@markbenjamin1703]

The footage from the battle is better quality than most fight vids on YT

[@jaybee9269]

Loved the footage of a guy climbing a mountain with a machine gun on his back. Images are so visceral.

[@reginaldmcnab3265]

Before Hitler invaded Russia he said speed was the single most important factor! He also said that he must take the oil field at Baku or loose the war, and there his men are climbing a mountain.

[@Legitpenguins99]

Imagine how pissed these men had to have been when told they needed to climb Europes tallest mountain not once, but twice more. Then again it sure as hell beats fighting on the eastern front

[@TeaAndBullets]

I would love to hear more stories about the Gebirgsjäger, they are some of the toughest and most skilled troops in the German Army, but they are so rarely covered in media

[@redram5150]

“Commanded by a former hairdresser, the troops surprised Germans on the mountain with their full-bodied and silky smooth hair. Their commanding officer attempted to rally his soldiers to no avail. Whenever the commander raised his rifle, Soviet troops blinded him with the sun reflecting off their gorgeous locks. After escorting their Nazi prisoners for incarceration, the platoon celebrated by shampooing one another’s hair. The smell of gunpowder mixed with the odor of peaches and cream”

[@victorbruant389]

Well, at least the Gebirgsjäger finally got something to do that fit their training

[@EdMcF1]

A desperate battle with the Soviets to the finish, a massive rant from Adolf, confusion and failed efforts, and a hairdresser, this could be a prequel to Downfall.

[@4EverEndeavour]

You’re hands down my favorite KZbinr. I hope you never stop making such amazing videos

[@volvo1354]

i no longer need a wallet per the treaty with my ex-wife

[@MothaLuva]

Sounds more like a „threaty“. Is she also supposed to dangle from some gallows or is this position reserved for my ex exclusively?

[@TheRealLifeRobert]

I'm starting to think Mark is some kind of ever present immortal actually in all of these situations

[@bman6065]

Hitler orders mountain climbers to take the oil fields in the caucuses. The climbers stumble on the largest Mt in Europe. "Oil can wait we gotta climb this thing!". As a rock climber myself I'm pleased to see that little has changed in regards to priorities and climbing

[@imathreat209]

I'll watch this again as if it was my first

[@TheRoguespark]

Great pronunciation of "Gebirgsjäger"! Greetings from a former Gebirgsjäger (5./233)

[@hutarhutar3200]

german high comand: get over the mountins ASAP german crack bois: time for some hiking & mountaineering

[@damyr]

Being in army myself, I just can imagine how they felt when they got the order to climb the summit for the 3rd time, because of propaganda video. Like it's some kind of joke. And in the meantime, there's a friggin' war to be fight.

[@thatguyoverthere9634]

German propaganda machine: "wanna see me climb that mountain?" "Wanna see me do it again?"

[@deepatlantic2222]

"Capture the port." Did you say *Climb the mountain?*

[@rever-mi6qz]

but... but I like my ugly leather bi-fold Mark!

[@davedavids57]

Plus if you live outside the US where do you put your coins?

[@mikeainsworth4504]

Mark. I loved this video. I am a British military mountain leader who has served in the Georgian Caucasus as a UN Military Observer. I would have loved to have been able to cross into Russia to climb Elbrus; but, never had the opportunity. There are some other interesting mountaineering related instances from WW2 that you could cover if you wanted a follow up. The battle for the Vallee Blanche below Mont Blanc between France and Italian mountain troops is one. But, perhaps, my favourite is the story of Italian POWs who escaped from their POW camp, climbed Mount Kenya, then broke back into the POW camp. There’s a good account in the book ‘No Picnic on Mount Kenya’ by Fenice Benuzzi. Away from WW2, the WW1 battles in the Dolomites are the stuff of legend!

[@vtbmwbiker]

"Those crazy mountaineers..." seems to be said about every country's mountain troops.

[@thunder2217cg]

I didnt even want a new wallet, but the voice has power

[@Lipariniotis]

Mr Felton I recently discovered your channel, and I must say that I find your videos very interesting. So many different topics... I am from Macedonia Greece and I was blown away when I saw the photo of Germans raising Swastika on mount Olympus. I live only one hour drive away from the mountain and as you understand I got very intrigued. I wonder if you could please find and share some more information about this topic. Greetings from Greece and congratulations for your amazing videos sir...

[@vadimnagano]

I've been in Priyut 11 and on the Elbrus summit. Even at the exact spots with German machine gun nests. The ex-hairdresser's name was Gurgen Grigoriants. His was a recon officer and his squad was hastily put together and sent to recapture Elbrus. No mountain warfare experience, no proper equipment. The hopes were put into surprise factor and cover of the mist (which happen there often). They've waited for the mist and advanced, but the mist cover was suddenly blown over by wind. After two waves of desperate attacks over 200 men were left on the glacier. Next time Soviet High Command had put together a squad of experienced mountain climbers, some of them used to train Germans who now sat at Priyut 11. Germans had to retreat after boiler hut was destroyed by Soviet aviation bomb. Recently, in 2010s, the remains of Grigoriants' platoon had started to show up in pieces as glacier melts. Every year now they are buried with honors.

[@lordnicholasbuzanthefearle2155]

Soviets be like.... "send in the hairdresser!"

[@dawitketema4150]

Dr Mark, congratulations for another great video. As a communications professional myself, I always emphasized on the essentials of symbolism, not substance (only few cared about things that mattered). The capture of Mount Elbrus remained a great inspiration for us the propagandists, not the military strategists I suppose. I never missed your lectures, please keep them coming.

[@Andreaszigzag]

Damn even the ad read sounds good when mark is giving it

[@rickcheyne]

I don't often find war stories that I've never heard about so I really appreciate everything that was done to make this video. Great job!

[@BamBamBigelow..]

Der Feuhrer: I want oil, not feats of mountaineering!..............The different joys men get from life...?! And where did those artillery shells land? I’m picturing a poor sap doing a cliffhanger and here comes a 37mm high explosive.

[@chrisca]

German mountain divisions: Its over, Red Army, we have the high ground

[@trajan0707]

Could you image how hard it was to get heavy equipment up there...

[@willykaranikolas2391]

The hotel at the top of the mountain looks like a building from Spongebob

[@bokke6]

Mark when are you going to start presenting your videos?😊 Give a thumbs up if you want to see Mark with his own series...At last a historian who can hold peoples attention for more than the opening credits!

[@SirDamned]

"we need someone who can withstand the harshest weather on this planet, and small talk" "get me a hairdresser"..

[@The_Morning_Brew]

Shelter 11 survived the war but was lost due to a fire in 1998. A fire accidentally caused by a tourist's stupidity to boil gasoline on a stove to which he/she thought was water.

[@Roscoe_B]

Reminds me of the opening scenes of the great movie ''Cross of Iron''.

[@yodaslovetoy]

One of the few channels I don't mind having adverts because it allows the great work that mark does to continue

[@MitchMaker]

And again a very good Mark Felton Video

[@Digger8Five]

Keep up the awesome videos Mark! Amazing info put into fantastically edited videos with incredible footage!

[@eltoq8407]

Greetings from Mt Elbrus's natives! And thanks for the rare content!

[@januszkowalski5345]

Very interesting as always but where did you take that information of a former hair dresser as being the Soviet commander from ? To the best of my knowledge there were two Soviet detachments involved in taking down the German flags and reoccupying the surroundings of Elbrus. Both were commanded by professional and highly experienced and decorated mountain climbers. The first was lieutenant Nicolai Afanasievich Gusak (1910-1978). He was a professional mountain climber, sportsman (with a diploma of "Sports champion of the Soviet Union") and mountaineering instructor and guide. Few people had known Elbrus better than him. Between 1934 and 1941 he climbed Elbrus 13 times , including 7 climbings in winter. This beside climbing in the meantime all possible peaks and landmarks like the glaciers of Upper Swanetia in the Caucasus or the highest peak of the Pamir Mountains 7495 m. Incidentally, he died of heart attack while guiding a tourist expedition around Elbrus along the paths of his own war time experiences. He volunteered in August 1941 , fought near Moscow and later was sent to the Caucasus. For the part he played in the defence of the passages and for removing the Nazi flags from Elbrus he was awarded a Red Star Medal. His two other medals won in the Caucasus included 'For Combat Merits" and "For the Defence of the Caucacus". The second Soviet commander was Captain Alexander Mikhilovich Gusev ( 1912- 1994). He was a geoscientist, oceanogrpher and meteorlogist in charge of a weather station under Elbrus. He was and a professional mountain climber and sportsman, too. His first winter climbing of Elbrus occurred in 1934 and then was repeated in 1936. From 1939 he was in charge of a weather station on Dikson island in the Arctic. As a Red Army captain he took part in the fighting in the Caucaus from September 1942 on. His war time experiences were described in his book "Elbrus ablaze". After the war he worked on various geoscientific and oceanographic projects including those in the Antarctica and on the North Pole.

[@spacewurm]

I wonder if former "hair dresser" was one of the 4 soviets to survive the failed attempt to recapture mountain summit?

[@knutdergroe9757]

No worries, He did not survive Stalin. The Boss does not like failure.....

[@tamilly7941]

No

[@hakapik683]

The wallet might not be for me but I must say that the presentation of the wallet was excellent. I usually have an issue with being "advertised too" but in your/this case it was great and I will gladly look forward to the next product or service you suggest. Oh.. and I cannot forget to add that the video was excellent as always. Concise, no-nonsense historical info set to fantastic images.

[@fearthehoneybadger]

Hitler considered Mt. Elbrus a waste, yet squandered thousands of troops and vast amounts of material occupying the Jersey Islands.

[@maciejniedzielski7496]

According to Albert Speer in his memories, A.H. wasn' t content of that - called it kind of " touristic privite initiative"...

[@TheRAFlemingsMr]

Mark, another excellent presentation. Your channel is superb and I hope KZbin doesn't mess it up.

[@deinekes9]

Everytime I hear that "Dun...Dun Dun Dun Dun", my day improves dramatically.

[@fanta4897]

That music from the footage seems like something which inspired music for german Stalingrad movie.

[@alanwood7373]

More on the mountain units, please

[@Greven866]

Trying to take Moscow was a big misstake. They should have headed straight for the caucaus and recruited some chechen mujaheddins

[@JC.Denton.]

Dang, that advertisement was surprising, but glad you finally choose to go in a monetary direction with your channel, otherwise it'd be potential lost.

[@JohnDoe-tx8lq]

That ad was a specific one-off sponsored clip. If it could, I think this channel would get normal ads to generate some revenue, but practically all videos that include War, Nazis, etc get demonitoried by KZbin even when there is no footage of violence.

[@studinthemaking]

I love how you give BOTH KG and pounds on everything! Nice job.

[@raedwald-red]

"Hitler ranted for hours" .... history doth repeat itself.

[@notmenotme614]

8:27 interestingly in the mountain warfare of WW1 in the Alps. Most Mountain Troops were killed in avalanches than by gun shot wounds. The opposing side would try to deliberately cause an avalanche by light artillery.

[@McRocket]

Fascinating stuff. Thank you very much for creating and posting this video.

[@GabeNsApostle]

Another astounding video, Mark! Your work continuously entertains and educates your audience, those who take your work with great pride and hold you in high esteem! Do you have plans to discuss the Laconia Incident? It was a very curious case that so few seem to know little about despite it having a tremendous impact in naval warfare in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. It would be nice to hear your perspective and even more facts and bits I have not found myself!

[@RON-nw9si]

Another amazing episode Mark. Really enjoyed this. Great idea for a movie.

[@stuartlawsonbeattie1411]

Well done again Mr Felton, superb work. It must have been arduous conditions fighting Winter and Russians at the same time, but this highlights another setback where the Germans might have been able to gain useful ground instead of propaganda rights on a mountain. Cheers

[@fishjohn014]

I'm really glad you got a sponsor!

[@vvvppp6021]

49 seconds of uploading time and auto-like at once, only to your channel I do this Mark!

[@ronaldomarques3586]

Another excellent historical video Dr. Felton - on the way to 500,00 subscribers!

[@notmenotme614]

0:48 I hope the best channel I had found on KZbin doesn’t become ruined by commercials

[@thecatwithatophat4069]

the Treaty of Versailles has banned me from owning a metal wallet

[@malcolmrodwell5458]

Great video once again. Thanks so much

[@TheStugbit]

Very nice, Mark! Many thanks for this. We need more videos about the Caucasus Campaign! Few people talks about the details of it and it seems to be one of the most interesting campaings in the war. Hope to see more content in future! Perhaps Kleist's last offensive across the Terek and the Soviet counter-attack. Or the battles around Novorossiysk.

[@russelder9743]

Mark------outstanding work as usual....thank you

[@1pcfred]

If I was Hitler I'd have been pissed too.

[@sirxavior1583]

I'm surprised the men didn't cover there asses by saying there climbing Mt. Elbrus to setup a radio interception station on the highest mountain in Europe. I bet Hitler would have been less furious if the men said that and if they told him by listening into the radio traffic we can find the less defended approaches to capture the ports. The fact that the Germans didn't take advantage of the mountains elevation baffles me.

[@jasontaylor5061]

Can you do a episode on the elite Italian mountain troops?

[@ookber5176]

Last time i was this early the treaty of Versailles wasnt a thing

[@Absaalookemensch]

Moses hadn't gotten the Commandments from God yet.

[@Mr_Fancypants]

Last time i was early comments weren't trying to desperatly get likes

[@dasboot5903]

Awesome piece of the history of mountain combat during WW the Second !!!! Thank you Mark !!!! I love it ))))))

[@haraldschevik5213]

Love your videos Mark!

[@dijondermaku]

More of those Mountain-Episodes!

[@lostinspace013]

"no opposition was encountered" .... no shit Sherlock :D You expected a Russian battalion at an altitude of 5,642 meters ?

[@1pierosangiorgio]

nice vidéo! I actually visite Mount Elbrus in 2018 and on it, there is a museum and some remains of equipment of the battles fought there!

[@ezrabrooks12]

GOOD VIDEO!!!! Poor Horses,packing all that gear,they look'd overloaded and I'm sure they were!!!!!

[@SoftyWalterGames]

These videos are so incredibly interesting

[@cheetobandito3235]

glad to see you're getting sponsors mark!

[@jackotober]

Guten morgen from the philippines

[@rogerscottcathey]

Yay Efren Reyes!

[@historystorieswithreggie2865]

Guten morgen comrad, from Mindanao

[@davidcoleman2463]

I loved climbing when I was younger . I felt so alive . I have climbed out in Alberta Canada . Climbed a live volcanoes in Guatemala. I then did some climbing in South America . To bad they did this in war time .

[@wweminehead5458]

Love your videos mark

[@jaydenlewis8996]

Image being made to climb a mountain three times for propaganda purposes

[@Dontwlookatthis]

Shelter 11 was burned in 1998 by a hiker. Great video, Mark!

[@maxwelljacobs2715]

Why was this removed earlier.

[@Lappmogel]

Probably demonetized because of all the swastikas.

[@ColinH1973]

Probably he forgot to put the advert in.

[@jmtproductions3650]

The Russians removed it but the German mountain troops went up a forth time to reupload it!

[@Quadrenaro]

Last time I was this early, this video hadn't been reuploaded

[@dbaider9467]

Nice to know about this, thanks.

[@PaRd_CrYpToHec]

Intro and outro music gets me everytime. I shimmy

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Thanks A Bunch....Interesting Stuff by all means...Once again Thanks Doc. !

[@robinderoos1166]

No oil for the krauts... Bet the gebirgsjäger were disappointed they didn't find any edelweiss on the top!

[@jimmadonna1436]

Thank you Mr Felton.

[@vovoghurejhor8784]

Though missed the details of that "fighting ground" part....boom again!!! 👍