What is a "Conscience Round"? Do they even make sense?

[@gustavobscura5846]

In a WW1 solider’s memoir he mentioned that the shooters (including him) were TOLD that only some of their rifles were loaded with live ammunition when actually all of them were. This would provide reasonable doubt before hand AND a likely-dead target afterwards but reportedly did not increase the popularity of the lying officer as you can imagine.

[@Treblaine]

I doubt an officer will ever be that popular commanding a firing squad executing people from your own side. Especially as firing squads are more for enforcing discipline. Apparently Herman Goering wanted to be executed by firing squad rather than "hanged like a common criminal". Also the hangman the Americans were using at the time was notoriously incompetent so it would be a slow death.

[@samurguy9906]

@@Treblaine potential history has a pretty hilarious video about that hangman. Apparently he bumbled and lied his way into the position and no one called him out on it, probably because no one wanted to take the job or be responsible for providing a replacement.

[@georgethompson1460]

@Juan Sanchez Clever that way the sheer self importance of the self given medals would turn the bullet away in disgust...

[@reedy_9619]

Only works if you dont do it often i d imagine

[@bobbybalogne2565]

You can tell the difference between shooting a live round and a blank,, there is almost no recoil when firing a weapon not loaded with a blank round.

[@RyanRyzzo]

"We aim to please!" - Pte. Robinson, firing squad member tasked to execute Capt. Edmund Blackadder.

[@rctommy3200]

READYAIMFIRE

[@RyanRyzzo]

@@rctommy3200 If I ever have to be executed I want that corporal as the one who gives the order to shoot. Can't stand waiting.

[@Marinealver]

The firing squad is like the tax man.

[@olbradley]

50,000 people die every week no one's gonna miss a pigeon...

[@TheConfederate1863]

Hé killed my pigeon? 😡

[@klappspatenkamikaze]

Trivia: Roman Legionaries did use Conscience Clubs when decimating their own unit.

[@auscam6666]

but did they only hit once every ten hits though?

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

Conscience Guillotine didn´t quite take in French Revolution.

[@mick2d2]

Rubber?

[@hatuletoh]

@@Taistelukalkkuna That was exactly the smart ass joke I was going to make. Then I thought maybe "conscience noose?", but they actually kind of devised a version of that too, with "the drop". Skunked twice on smart ass joke, damn.

[@AftermathRV]

nono, thats LARPing.

[@pinnedthrottle7690]

In John Billings’s book “Hardtack and Coffee” about his experience in the American Civil War, there was an execution of a man who deserted and was caught while acting as a spy in a neighboring regiment. He mentions that one, two, or three muskets would be loaded blank (out of 10 or 12 muskets iirc) but for this man’s turncoating, his whole company volunteered for the firing squad. They ended up having 15 men set up for the firing squad, and their sgt allowed them to load their own muskets. Upon study of the body, they found 15 holes in the mans body.

[@babyinuyasha]

They didn't use muskets, they used rifles.

[@WG55]

For a turncoat, I imagine that not all wounds were in the chest!

[@pinnedthrottle7690]

@@babyinuyasha Rifled muskets technically. In the book he calls them muskets

[@noahgibsonspeninsularwarsa1134]

Probably be the same as the British regiments.

[@plymouth5714]

@ŇøHă Ģ. The British instructional manuals even up to the First World War still described rifle training as 'Musketry' long after muskets were replaced with rifled weapons.

[@rastas3742]

Every man would have a live round, and every man could tell his conscience that he had not killed the condemned. For if he had not fired the man would still have died to the fire of the others. When 12 men shoot, who fired the fatal round? Each man can say "Not I".

[@rzu1474]

No? Shared murder is still murder...

[@thomasbarrett5658]

@@rzu1474 yes but you don’t definitively know which bullet killed him

[@PoisonBannana]

@@thomasbarrett5658 ah yes, nothing makes an insecure human more insecure than by withholding vital information to the psyche, following an ultimatum to follow orders. Yes.

[@smolkafilip]

Unless of course you don't monumentaly suck at shooting. Then you would know exactly where your round went given that you are shooting a rifle at maybe 10-20 yards.

[@logandial9995]

@@smolkafilip I mean its usually not clear where exactly you shot. I guess at the end of the kill how many holes were in the body were withheld

[@mexicoball2529]

plot twist: everyone had a blank round and the desertors were paid actors

[@EPWillard]

Our soldiers are just really good at handling recoil when they perform executions don't worry about it.

[@brokeandtired]

@@EPWillard blanks have near zero recoil due to no bullet....They would KNOW they had shot a live round.

[@audiebradley2995]

@@brokeandtired I believe that it’s a joke on live bullets...

[@MrZauberelefant]

Ooohh, funny but tasteless

[@podemosurss8316]

In the Spanish civil war there were many mass executions, and this is an anecdote about one of them (which went wrong): In El Viso de los Pedroches, Cordoba, a young socialist conscript was fired upon by a firing squad. His name was Miguel Gila, and he survived the firing as the members of the squad were all drunk and missed all the rounds, yet he feigned death and later escaped. He survived the war and became one of the best comedians Spain has ever had until his death in 2001, making a lot of sketches with his most famous being a parody of war in which he plays a soldier calling the enemy by telephone to talk about both sides' plans of attack. In his memoires, he gives a description on what happened: "They shot us at dusk, they shot wrong. The firing squad was composed by a group of moors with their stomaches filled in wine, their mouths filled in laughters, their hands picking the neck of stolen chicken with the aforementioned "Open Sesamy" of the victorious side. Cold and rain pierced our bones. And there, in a small embanckment and without the formalities of an execution by firing, without that voice saying "Aim! Fire!", they pulled their triggers and we fell one on another. Fourteen grotesque jumps on that cold dusk in the middle of december. Chickens had little time to breathe, the time the soldiers of the firing squad used to pull the triggers. And, over the wet ground soaked by rain, our bodies laid, tired of dealing with the day to day." He could have made a great use of that box.

[@Marinealver]

First Time?

[@podemosurss8316]

@@Marinealver If you speak Spanish, this is the sketch I mentioned: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH6XYoCogLqbgpY Unfortunately I didn't find a subbed version, it's a really funny conversation between two soldiers who are enemy to each other, yet they share each side's warplans. It would be like: "Are you going to attack tomorrow? [...] Ah, on Sunday. At which time? [...] That's too soon, we are all sleeping at that time. Can it be in the evening, after the football match? [...] And, how many will be attacking? [...] That's a lot. I don't know wether we'll have enough rounds for everyone. Anyways, we'll fire and then you share the rounds. [...] Ah, and yesterday was here your spy, Agustín, a small man dressed as a bitch. He stole the map of our supply stash, we want the map back. [...] Okay, let him make a copy and then give the map back! [...] Yes, because we cannot find the sty... the stash! [...] Okay. And, could you stop the war for about an hour? [...] 'Cause our gun barrel is barred. [...] The captain, when inspecting the equipment, stuck his head inside and cannot get out.He's alive, we hear him saying: 'Get me outta here!' We tried using soap, but it just cleans his hair without getting his head out. [...] Yes, maybe firing the gun will unbolt it! We didn't realise. [...] Okay. Until sunday. Have a nice kill!"

[@mlm_academyofficial2041]

It's sad that he had to wait until 2001 before he became a good socialist.

[@podemosurss8316]

@@mlm_academyofficial2041 He was one of the best Spanish comedians ever, so you better shut up.

[@mlm_academyofficial2041]

@@podemosurss8316 Maybe a according to a random commie on youtube.

[@ROTTERDXM]

Considering the fluidity of memory, I was also thinking that later, after the execution, the soldiers involved in the shooting would still be able to believe that "no, it must have been a blank". The more you think back on something, the more the memory will change. After 10 years, or 20, it might be possible to believe it wasn't you. Even though at the time it would be easy to tell.

[@gabrielegenota1480]

Oh! I certainly have some similar "memory changing" events so-- That soudns like a really nice theory

[@skin1313]

Nope, you definitely know what you have fired.

[@bencheevers6693]

You are absolutely right about the nature of memory and especially if you are motivated by guilt, not that this guilt is rational when ordered to participate in a firing squad while under military hierarchy, you don't get to refuse and if you do you might end up also on the wall for gross insubordination depending on the nation.

[@Frille512]

Yep. If a person is desperate enough to be innocent, they'll start believing that they had a blank. The mind does this to save itself from trauma. Quite fascinating

[@harrisonmcarthur7816]

"Ah, firing squads. It's just everyone's favorite method of execution, isn't it?" Well personally I prefer and good old fashioned Beheading but that's just me.

[@BrandonF]

There's always a place for the traditional stuff to be sure.

[@harrisonmcarthur7816]

@@BrandonF Oh indeed. Great Video by the way. I was wondering though, Have you completed your series on the Patriot or have you forsaken it to save your sanity?

[@charles7866-o1l]

I'm a crucifixion man myself, but firing squad is a close second favourite! Guillotine is good too.

[@Tiger89Lilly]

I'm more of a hanging woman myself but I can see the appeal of the firing squad

[@snowangelnc]

Traditional, yes, but throwing in the unusual every now and then does keep things interesting. You know, drowing in a cask of wine, pit of vipers, walling up inside a pyramid, that kind of thing.

[@deniskozlowski9370]

During the early 20th century one the western States in the US had the firing squad as their means of execution. One of the condemned prisoners was an immigrant who had murdered a lawyer he believed had defrauded him. This prisoner became quite popular with the prison staff. So popular that the guards refused to participate in the firing squad. The warden contracted a local mechanic to construct a firing squad machine. This robot murder machine was equipped with several Winchester 30-30 caliber rifles that would simultaneously fire at the prisoners heart via s mechanical timing device. On the date of the execution the device worked perfectly. But strangely enough, one the rifles was still loaded with a blank cartridge because that was state law at the time.

[@JoinMe27]

Does anyone have a source for this story? Sounds pretty cool

[@deniskozlowski9370]

@@JoinMe27 I believe it used to be on Bucks website.

[@gringostarr69]

@@deniskozlowski9370 I want the source

[@deniskozlowski9370]

@@gringostarr69 The History Channel, Wild West Tech

[@brucenorman8904]

The State was Utah, firing squad was allowed due to Mormon doctrine.

[@michaelbevan3285]

My late grandfather took part in firing squads and said that the procedure was that the rifles were loaded by an NCO, to ensure that no-one messed with the ammunition; the rifles were handed to the squad at random, so men did not always use their own issued rifle, service on the squad was voluntary and men could refuse without punishment but the entire battalion was warned in advance that if they refused as a unit, it was mutiny so there were always volunteers. They only saw the condemned man when they were marched out to the firing point. As soon as they fired, they were immediately marched off, disarmed and taken into a seperate room and given a drink. Some men, even combat veterans, only ever shot once in a squad and refused to shoot again. If the coup de grace was required,an Officer did that. That was rare but it did happen. They were exhorted to shoot straight,to make sure that the condemned got an instant death but it sometimes happened that shaky hands and nerves meant that shots went wide or struck the limbs instead of the centre of mass.

[@arforafro5523]

Alternate universe: everyone gets tracer rounds so people will know if you're not shooting to kill.

[@llewelynshingler2173]

@@Entropic_Meat_Machine Shoot until the troops stop moaning?

[@cascadianrangers728]

Tracers might not ignite in time, they take up to 50 yards sometimes to start burning

[@feraltrafficcone4483]

“How compelling, now please turn around and face the wall”

[@nehukybis]

It was apparently common practice in WW1. There's an account in the book "Britain's Army in the Twentieth Century" by Field Marshal Lord Michael Carver of a soldier who participated in a firing squad and he said he was aware the moment he fired that he had the blank round. It is possible, though, to load the rifle with a disintegrating bullet (e.g. wax) to make the recoil difference less obvious. As I understand it, firing squads are one of the most humane methods of execution, so long as the shooters don't flinch. Although I think there's something to be said for the Russian method of using a low velocity pistol round to the base of the skull.

[@robertharris6092]

Why low velocity?

[@cynicalfox190]

@@robertharris6092 low velocity rounds are in general much heavier rounds and at point blank range will do more damage, thus a heavy round from a pistol to the base of the skull is pretty much as humane as a rifle round to the heart

[@stevenbobbybills]

@@robertharris6092 a round will penetrate further if it is faster. A slower round is more likely to impart most of its energy on a target than a high velocity round.

[@nehukybis]

@@stevenbobbybills That. Also, the executions were usually performed in the prisoner's cell, and it's probably just safer for the executioner and less messy. The standard Tokarev 7.62 X 25 was a relatively powerful round for a handgun and over-penetration was an issue in general when it was used as a police weapon. For whatever reason, they manufactured ammo specifically designed for executions. If the muzzle of the pistol is just a few inches from base of the skull you don't need a combat round.

[@stevenbobbybills]

@@nehukybis Yes, the military load for the 7.62 Tokarev round was quite high velocity, so any issues of overpenetration causing damage to things that they did not want to damage would be problematic.

[@snowangelnc]

6:55: A rotten thing to do would have been to mess with the test by having all three of the rounds be live. Round One: *fires* Something tells me that was the live round. Round Two: *prepares to fire, 100% convinced that he has a blank round*.....

[@bertellijustin6376]

This is the opposite of how we used to catch “anticipators” in the Corps. Load one dummy round into their mag at random. Wait till they hit it....watch them flinch all over the place anticipating the recoil.

[@gaiamission7200]

Im just wondering why they used three rifles instead of just loading three shots into the magazine

[@abusivewafflegaming4450]

@@gaiamission7200 He could've had a chance to see the round while working the bolt

[@Alte.Kameraden]

There is a wonderful video showing a shotgun shell going off next to a balloon that kind of expresses this well. It's a live round, but without all the ingredients needed it doesn't even pop the balloon without a chamber for the explosive force to direct the shot forward at velocity, without the pressure it also provides the balloon is unharmed despite being hit by many pieces of lead shot from the shell, it had no force. The same concept works when there is no projectile being forced through the chamber, without the lead projectile providing resistance to the expending gas you loose all that energy, which means no recoil. You remove one basic element from the equation that makes a firearm work the way it does, it doesn't work, even with an explosion, expansion of gas, etc, it does not work. Anyone who fires a rifle would notice when one of these elements failed, because it wouldn't feel right. If the round had no powder it would not go off. If it had no projectile it would have no recoil. If it had no barrel it would be a glorified firecracker, with even the bullet likely causing no harm to anything as it wouldn't have the pressure to be thrown at a dangerous velocity. Oh BTW, I'm not saying you should play with a live cartridge in your backyard, as even a brass case can still provide enough pressure to make it dangerous, just no were remotely near as much as if it was fired from the weapon it was designed to be fired from.... The shotgun shell video, well shotgun shells are normally paper or plastic and almost require the shotgun to be dangerous.

[@Talashaoriginal]

Sorry but this is not scientifically correct, it is really the mass of the bullet wich provides the recoil as in Newtons third law. Without the bullet, you only have the mass of the burning propellant wich get exelerated away from you.

[@Talashaoriginal]

@Gary Daniel The energy of the mass wich is thrown out of the Puzzle determines the recoil if there is just a powdercharge, the recoil will Match the mass and the speed of the expanding Gases sich th Explosion of the propellant creates and wich Are Driven out of the muzzle, with a Bullet you will also have the energy of the bullet added to the recoil.

[@Talashaoriginal]

@Gary Daniel then sorry for my smartassery.

[@carloharryman]

Saw a friend shoot a shotgun round, it was sitting on a stump. Round detonated and my other buddy caught a piece of shot on the hand. Barely broke the skin but an unchambered round will surely pop a balloon if it'll break human skin. Now maybe it was a ricochet, but I tend to think not. And sixteen year olds are stupid.

[@MegaSnegovichok]

Interesting, I have never heard about it. I know about some firing squad soldiers consciously trying to miss, that’s why Soviet commissars would often count the bullet holes on the body and punish the squad sometimes. Conversely, Soviet military regulations didn’t allow to “re-shoot” the one who miraculously survived the volley (not that it never happened either)

[@davidweihe6052]

Wouldn't the Commissar have a pistol for a coup d'grace, if needed, which it obviously would be if everybody missed? He might have to reload a few times before they are all dead, of course.

[@MegaSnegovichok]

Not with the firing squads, as far as I know. A wounded victim would not be “re-shot” again. But NKVD didn’t use firing squads: they would shoot people with the pistol to the back of the head (Chinese way). No waste of ammo and no need to “finish them off”. That was also the way criminals were executed in the Soviet Union.

[@babyinuyasha]

Someone's got his poppy on early!

[@fuferito]

Noticed that too.

[@BrandonF]

Not quite- the Poppy Appeal began a few days ago!

[@babyinuyasha]

@@BrandonF I wear mine throughout the year lol

[@thrand6760]

never too early, never forget

[@hi-uw2lb]

@@BrandonF Usually doesn't the wearing of the poppy start in November? Or is it different out side of Canada...

[@milsimmaniac711]

video on napoleonic war crimes?

[@BrandonF]

One of these days for sure!

[@joeblow9657]

yes

[@oz_jones]

@@BrandonF nice

[@scarling9367]

There's a couple good ones on KZbin >:)

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Well this is a perfect example of how people deal with the horrors of war

[@thedreysepodcasttv4852]

The last time I was this early Zimbabwe was still called Rhodesia

[@ArcanisUrriah]

It still is by some people.......

[@thedreysepodcasttv4852]

@@ArcanisUrriah very true Rhodesians never die as they say.

[@thewingedhussars6313]

@@thedreysepodcasttv4852 , and WE DON’T !

[@Impreza-bj5jh]

Cringe

[@floo1465]

yeah, fuck zimbabwe, reinstate rhodesian rule!

[@PoleTooke]

That "Wait! I have here a real live round, here you go! ✨" AFTER the fact in a blind test absolutely kills me. 😂😂😂

[@historypunkwargames4760]

Fearless leader is very funny he always manages to sneak his way into a video

[@joeblow9657]

1:45 I mean if I was sentenced to death I'd prefer firing squad. Yes, it's my favorite don't judge.

[@WG55]

It's certainly better than the gas chamber. 😖

[@Retard634]

Id prefer getting riddled with several high caliber bullets over the electric chair gas chamber and especially the fucking lethal injection considering all the horror stories ive heard about that (not finding veins the anesthetic not fucking working etc) kinda hard to fuck up getting hit by 8 308 or 30 06 bullets in the chest granted I wont die instantly but ill die quickly (considering they are supposed to aim for my heart) and hopefully before it starts to hurt granted id prefer the soviet style where some guy walks up to me and puts a large pistol to the side of my head

[@joeblow9657]

@@WG55 Yes, also bullets aren't against the Geneva Convention for the most part. Gas very much is

[@joeblow9657]

@@Retard634 Why not get lined up an shot with 8 .303 rounds and then have an officer whit a high caliber pistol walk over and finish the job. All done in 30 seconds

[@Retard634]

@@joeblow9657 because I'm not a brit and in the states we dont have that officer with the high caliber pistol finishing the job

[@omega5279]

You are overlooking the rifle in this analysis. In my own military training I remember we had to use adapters on our rifles to allow them to cycle properly with blanks. Consequentially, these also increased the recoil. These worked by essentially plugging the barrel, allowing only a fraction of the gas to escape. It's at least plausible that the person receiving the "conscience round" is also receiving it in a rifle with a modified barrel, which could be indistinguishable from the outside. This would be especially difficult to identify if the execution were carried out as a manual of arms drill offering the squad little to no opportunity to inspect their weapons carefully. I've never heard of anything like this actually happening but it's a way it could work.

[@rayyanma1608]

Don't have to worry about blank rounds if you're a Soviet officer.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

German firing squads did not bother with a conscience round. You were supposed to shoot the guy to death so you did.

[@NotStephenColbert]

To be fair, as far as blank rounds feeling weaker, that really depends on the powder charge in the blank. Most blanks are loaded very lightly compared to live rounds. Aside from that, most blank powder is specialized and burns a lot faster than normal powder; if you loaded blank powder into a live cartridge, you run the risk of actually blowing up your gun because of how fast it burns. So while you would probably never reach the same kind of recoil impulse from a blank due to Newtons law and whatnot, you could probably still craft a blank that is heavier in recoil and closer to a live round. Just as you can make live ammo that is as light as a blank, which I tested out when making 30-06 hand loads. I messed around with the load data, and made the maximum charges and the minimum charges for acceptable loads. The result of the minimum 30-06 loads was a slower and quieter bullet that had about the same recoil impulse as shooting one of my 22lr rifles, which is next to nothing; the recoil was also almost comparable to what I experienced shooting 30-06 blanks out of the same rifle.

[@JagerLange]

"Firing Squads: I'm not saying our sponsor's product *can't* help you in this situation, but at that point what do you have to lose...?"

[@steamengineshooray]

That chap at 6:21, I'm quite interested in his uniform and loadout, that's a perfect representation of far east and middle east service from 1917 to 1939~

[@BrandonF]

kzbin.info/door/XOVWIPeLrc1Xeb1crgQP4g to learn more!

[@steamengineshooray]

@@BrandonF Many thanks for this! The kit stood out to me as I'm from HK and regiments wore this when posted over to the Far East. There's a picture of some men of the Middlesex Regiment in 1938 wearing the exact same stuff~

[@TheFarOffStation]

@@steamengineshooray glad to see you've found the channel!

[@338lapuamagnum5]

[talking about firing squads] "I only ever put it into practice you know once or twice in my life."

[@drakonchik1361]

My personal thought was about an instance where someone was to be shoot at firing squad but all of the rounds were blank, which resulted into the deserter or someone who failed his duty or messed up to be extremely scared and next time making sure that it doesn't happen ever again.

[@benardman2665]

I always thought it was everyone but one solider used a blank? (EQ) 5 live rounds, 1 blank. So if any individual becomes emotionally distressed afterwards, a solider can convince himself over time he was one with the blank

[@enigmabodylanguage]

Interesting. However, if you had never shot a blank round, how would you tell the difference? Just a thought. Great video as usual!

[@sirrliv]

You briefly touched on the point towards the end, but it was my understanding that most firing squads would have only one conscience round and two or more live rounds to make doubly sure of a killing shot.

[@johnpatterson9829]

The intent was justice seen to be applied by your fellow soldiers, often using a selection of men from several regiments, witnessed enmasse. There was no inducement to miss, as the condemned was, in any event, dispatched by the man in charge. If there was any psychological inducement it was probably an early rum ration.

[@auscam6666]

When the SGT loads the rounds into the chamber for the soldier he places a wooden blank into one, this blank has a lot more cordite inside than a regular blank would, and because it has a wooden pill it gets fired like a live round & gives recoil because of the larger amount of cordite. When you're in a squad of 10 and all fire at once it is less likely that the individual with the blank would know about it. Or in the 1950's a rifle grenade blank would have been used, although they had a crimped end they had a large qty of cordite to fire the mills boms from the discharger cup.

[@EPWillard]

In the first chapter of from "notes from a war correspondent" by richard harding davis where they describe the execution of a revolutionary by firing squad. He describes that they were just about to fire and the rifles had made a small clicking noise and then they realized their firing line had been hastily set up and the officer had to reposition the man about to be shot and he specifically mentions how terrible it must have felt to hear the click that indicates you're about to die and then feeling a hand touch you. I think it illustrates the feeling of dread anticipation you mentioned.

[@slightlyistorical1776]

Have you ever watched that God-awful show “Deadliest Warrior” and that one episode where George Washington fights Napoleon Bonaparte? Trust me, you’ll regret watching it

[@dmwanderer9454]

Deadliest Warrior was the best show on MTV since Manswers, hold your tongue

[@tobinfromfireemblem9742]

Or that time they had a knight in mail armor wearing a burgonet with a dang metal shield. A burgonet, generally made in worn in the Renaissance, with mail armor, generally worn _way_ before the Renaissance. And a metal shield, a FULLY METAL KITE SHIELD. WHAT?

[@TheDefend3r]

I liked the fight of a ninja versus a spartan....that was sssoooo informative...

[@tobinfromfireemblem9742]

@@TheDefend3r especially the part where the ninja engaged in full on combat. I mean, ninjas (or more accurately, shinobi) were mainly spys, but who cares about accuracy right? Ninja Gaiden, ninjato cutting sword, 10 million dead!

[@TheDefend3r]

@@tobinfromfireemblem9742 thank you, seeing a " ninja" armed with katana and wearing all black, engaging in the action packed combat of cinema has always rubbed me a certain wrong way. Especially after learning what the shinobi were truly used for and how they were employed. Deadliest warrior seemed to just gather fan boys of each type of warrior and let them fan boy it up.

[@AtomicPeacenik]

This topic always puzzled me. Neat to see it brought to light.

[@KingdomOfApple]

I adore your content, Brandon. You are so very genuine. I get heavy Lindybeige vibes, which, as I'm sure you're aware, is far from a criticism.; you're just simply someone who loves to talk about, what they're talking about. So much passion...

[@CoderShare]

Fun fact. My home state of South Carolina just legalized execution by firing squad. Maybe...not so fun a fact.

[@thepuffin4050]

Sup fellow regulars. We wearing purple today

[@huntclanhunt9697]

If I was part of the Firing Squad, I think I'd rather know I did it and face my conscience than go on wondering my whole life if it was me.

[@Dean444ful]

Idk if you missed it but a big portion of the video is dedicated to him pointing out that you can tell the difference between a blank and a live round by the recoil i.e. you’d know if you killed someone or not. It was used so people would think beforehand that they might have a blank and be more willing to go for a kill shot

[@huntclanhunt9697]

@@Dean444ful I know. I'm just giving my opinion on why the initial myth he busted was a rather silly notion to me.

[@Dean444ful]

@@huntclanhunt9697 ah gotcha

[@Flipbot69]

I've heard that some places use wax slugs that are the same weight as the bullet

[@robguerra4058]

I love seeing Brandon shoulder a gun. He always does it so intensely like he's ready

[@DrumsTheWord]

Superb thoughts!

[@BennettParsons1]

*Thinking “I probably have a blank” so you aim at the guys thigh.* “Guess the guy who had the bullet was aiming his gun at the same spot because the guy is on the ground screaming! Wait, what if I did have the bullet?! I was going to be the one killing him?!”

[@thecodex0994]

The two dislikes are from the people that are the condemned to be shot

[@jacobiehartie4602]

Meanwhile Danny devito loading his guns with live rounds: “So anyway I started blasting!”

[@SHAd0Eheart]

I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only kid preoccupied with these sorts of questions.

[@coltonregal1797]

To emphasize your point about how stubbornly men cling to their lives. One of Poncho Villa's men survived being shot by a ten man firing squad AND a coup de grace headshot from the officer in charge. The song "El Fusilado" was written about the story.

[@simonyip5978]

After firing at the condemned man, the firing squad would always know that they had fired a live or a blank round, it just allowed the troops to find it in themselves to actually fire. Useful before firing, useless after firing.

[@TalabAlSahra]

The idea of a “conscious round” I always heard was that it was one of the rounds out of a firing squad was the blank. All the other rifles were loaded which ensured the death, but one was blank. Not all but one were blank.

[@abdullahchhab2325]

I love your videos. Greetings from a Syrian in Azerbaijan!

[@Tevildo]

Brandon, if I might make a slight factual correction - it's not "Short Magazine Lee-Enfield", it's "[Rifle], Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield". "Short" (and "Magazine" and "Lee-Enfield") are all adjectives applicable to the rifle - the magazine isn't short, the rifle is.

[@philipdesroches9395]

Huh, I have occasionally wondered what the difference was between a short (10 round) vs a long ( ? rounds) magazine, but this clears it up, thx.

[@logancedillo4962]

WHO DISLIKED THIS? very shameful

[@dandamanatee9023]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ_OkKV4g56diKs

[@tathemrelag3123]

A SHAMEFUR DISPRAY! ... I'm sorry. Japan was mentioned in this video, I just had to.

[@Marinealver]

If you will not serve in combat, Then you will serve on the firing line!

[@BamBamBigelow..]

This is one of your finest videos yet, questions answered with live demonstration, bravo 👏

[@Demospammer9987]

I think that second round in the enfield test was live and not blank, I noticed a bit more recoil when compared to #1 and #3

[@jamieslingsby9907]

It felt the same to me, the 2nd round looked a lot more likely to be the live round then any of the others but then as we saw, all three were blanks.

[@Smudger40k]

Could it work with muzzle loaders and having a bigger charge in the blank muskets so it is closer to firing a musket with shot in it?

[@mrblues2008]

The blank round (according to the sources that told me) was used primarily in WWI, as alot of the condemned were being shot for cowardice. During this time (especially with the English army) PTSD or shell shock was not an identified issue and many of those being executed for cowardice in fact suffered from mental conditions. The firing squad was usually chosen from the ranks of the condemned man's regiment, so the squad most likely knew him and more often than not disagreed with the charge. In most cases the men carrying out the execution may have been forced to carry out the duty as a warning to others who may have thoughts of deserting their post. So blanks were put in a couple of the rifles and the men were told that some had blanks but were not told who so they could carry out the duty.

[@gobbe8187]

I dont get it, didn't the fact that you were handed the live round at the test in 8:36 completely contradict that which you said before and after?

[@Tevildo]

Not really. It's admittedly not a very good design for a proper scientific experiment, but it proves that Brandon, at least, can tell a live round from a blank even when he "knows" that the round is live. He assumed that, because #1 and #2 were blank, #3 would be live, and prepared accordingly: however, #3 was also blank, and Brandon correctly identified it despite his presupposition.

[@RedfootAllAmericanAnthro]

Being a civil war reenactor and being lucky enough to witness then do a firing squad stunt whatever you wish to call it, the officer in charge claimed that at the very least one musket/rifle (as we had some rev war muskets in that group at the time) would not be loaded with ball the rest would be loaded with ball. Seeing as i have yet to fire my rifle with musket ball is there a visual diffrence between with ball and not? The reason i ask is due to for me being a weakling any amount of powder that will result in actually firing causes recoil to an extent that it looks like i may have fired a round.

[@grishamayatsky5163]

If you did it today, you would need to give the guys a bolt action rifle that they ideally have little to no experience firing. A troop used to 5.56 firing a 30-06 for the first time ever is more likely to not know the expected recoil.

[@samuel_harvey04]

Keep up the good work Brandon!!!👍🏼

[@lovablesnowman]

Does anyone know if the Brits in ww1 let men avoid being in a firing squad? Like could you just request not to do it and they'll get someone else?

[@silvesby]

Interesting question

[@TheMrcoolgaming]

Doubtful, I don't think you could find people willing to kill their fellow countryman and soldier easily.

[@marcusborderlands6177]

I've seen a few anecdotes where people refused to participate, and we're not punished in any way.

[@k0vert]

Excellent production, sir. Keep up the awesome work!

[@mrkeego1769]

I feel very threatened that my name on the list of Patrons came when you held up a bullet to the camera

[@d.o.p.echart9483]

I hope that was sarcasm.

[@mrkeego1769]

@@d.o.p.echart9483 very clearly a joke, yes

[@Silver-ef7jm]

Imagine how much it would suck to have a squid during the blind test

[@Ras_al_Gore]

Interesting study, i’m very into guns and know the difference between a blank and a live round, and knew about the “conscience round” as well, but I never put two and two together that it wouldn’t really work that way.

[@davehopkin9502]

Anyone who has ever fired a bolt action rifle will KNOW whether a live or blank round from the recoil......

[@polskabalaclava]

Can confirm

[@quintonb9870]

You're not misremembering, I grew up thinking the same thing, which is exactly why I clicked on this video. I probably learned it from the "History" channel as well. On another note: I always wondered about how someone wouldn't feel the difference between a blank and live round. Eventually I found out adrenaline will make recoil/muzzle rise/etc all but disappear for the shooter. You have no real perception of recoil when your adrenaline is pumping hard; as it is when you're shooting at another human being.

[@cropathfinder]

really good breakdown, i actually heard the same explanation before of it being 4 before the fact to make it easier to pull the trigger but yea also was told that there never was just "1 live round" and it was more like 50% mix of live and blank

[@DarthSidian]

First aid kits and learning about conscience rounds? Hell yeah

[@Slippindisc]

8:55 I think you touched on something accidentally here. I've thought about this a lot, having a lot of experience firing both blanks and live ammo... I've come to the conclusion myself that the blank rounds in a firing squad arent necessarily supposed to fool the shooter, but to create doubt in their mind. A year, 2 years, 5 years later, "can I be sure there there was recoil? Maybe there wasn't... maybe the adrenaline was pumping so hard I thought there was... the guy to my right didnt seem to have recoil. I bet I had the blank". It's just there to create reasonable doubt.

[@BongoBaggins]

I can imagine Lindybeige tolerating your presence in a small English tavern for a very interesting and lively evening

[@marcusborderlands6177]

If only Lindy did a little bit of research before making certain videos. His "spandau vs bren" video haunts me to this day...

[@darkhope97]

There could be a point on the fact that they could be used because the in squad morale (in case it's like a front line squad ) when you are shooting a comrade who deserted (but he was still your friend) the blank rounds could be for group because when you are shooting you are not looking at the men on your sides

[@elsoldadomarquez]

Is it possible to mix different weight of bullet and charges of powder between blanks and live round in a firing squad? Or it's to much hassle to be worth.🤔

[@wilsonhuber]

A blank has no 'bullet' and a lot less powder than a live round.

[@thebadgerman1211]

Thank you very interesting. I have been to the national arboretum in the UK. It's in the county where I live I have seen with shot at dawn memorial and I will always remember the firing squad episode of our world war both of them were thought-provoking and moved me to cry. Thank you for this amazing and informative video I love your work.

[@EzekielDeLaCroix]

>Highest Quality >Military Grade pick one.

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

I started out assuming everyone gun was loaded. Then when I heard of this I actually kind of believed it since it seemed to make sense at first to help the executioners sanity? But after awhile it felt strange. Considering all that goes on in war, firing squad is probably the least guilty thing you've done. But if it is one less trauma, the better right? But who is to say that the opposite wouldn't happen? What if every soldier think their gun was the loaded one and not the unloaded one? I couldn't tell which were to happen as I'm not a psychologist, but it doesn't seem impossible. Then it also occurred to me at some point... There's almost no recoil when firing blanks vs with live ammunition. This makes it quite obvious which gun was loaded defeating the entire purpose of a "conscience round."

[@hektik2074]

Blanks not only sound different but have a lot less recoil. That information, coupled with the fact that they’d most likely use actually trained people for that, they’d know if theyre firing a blank.

[@henrswalt4908]

My understanding is (having studied the death penalty procedures in school) is that the firing squad is supposed to hold the function of the ‘conscience round’ the idea being that the execution is carried out at close enough range for only one good shot to do the job, so by adding more executioners no one knows who’s shot killed, so if there are four executioners one will kill the other three will shoot a dead body. Furthermore in the US where death by marksman is carried out they go a step further and obscure the site of the executioners. I think in Nevada they essentially shoot through a letterbox in the wall

[@Marinealver]

So many pop references, from Black Adder to Monty Python, but my favorite the Dawn of War (1) Commissar. "If you will not serve in combat, then you will serve on the firing line!"

[@degsie6]

My Father took part in a (British) firing squad during WWII and from what I recall of him recounting the event he was indeed told that one of the rifles contained a blank round. He said that the rifles were placed on the ground laid out on blankets ready for the firing party to march in and take up position and then do the deed. It makes sense that the presence of the blank could only be of any use pre firing so that at every participant could hope to have it or at least claim to have had it after the fact. I understand that firing squad executions were a much rarer occurrence than in WWI and as I recall this was an execution for murder not cowardice.

[@JPOC226]

Would the armourer have special execution blanks? Maybe really hot blanks loaded with a special powder that recoil a lot more? Or the live round used for the execution was down loaded to pistol velocities to reduce the recoil. Since the range was only a few yards and the round didn't need to travel hundreds of yards. Most service rifles were large and heavy, so a pistol spec live round, coupled with hot blanks, might make the difference in felt recoil much less?

[@felixbeutin8105]

I never heard of such a thing existing

[@Yamezzzz]

Why is an American wearing a poppy? I never realised how weird it was until I saw it.

[@Kaadilac]

Damm this lighting making it look like a halloween episode

[@kylelantan9220]

I know I'm most likely super late, but given the poster to the right of your head, are you a fan perhaps of the Novels of Temeraire?

[@comradekrull6165]

@Brandon f. hey man just have a couple of questions about reenacting Soviet forces I'm not sure what to use for a tent/dont know what tents they used back then thanks

[@Kaadilac]

If you havent joined a reenactment group yet, you shouldn't worry about what type of tent you should use

[@comradekrull6165]

@@Kaadilac ok thanks

[@bornagaingeek7279]

Part of it is the seed of doubt. Experienced soldiers will know the difference, but in the moment people mis-remember things and they won't talk to their mates. Also, firing squads for a condemed soldier is usually made up of troops from their own unit. So if the soldier is concentrating on aiming true and listening for the command, they may not be concentrating enough to fully trust their own memory of the recoil. Also, part of it is accountability. The soldiers are as far as they know carrying out lawful sentanse. But if their is a later equitle then who can really say which if those six men actually killed the innocent man. As you say, blank round adds professionalism to the deed. Otherwise the soldiers have little to no confidence that this is a lawful act, that they are to be part of. All that said, it was not unheard of for soldiers to refuse to take part. I have a vague memory of a ww1 British soldier saying so in interview, that it was the one duty they could refuse, so he did. He received no judgment or consequence. In the end of course, there is an RMP officer, who's duty is to perform coup de grace as necessary.

[@connorcroell7268]

My boy Brandon is back again

[@henrywarnell7694]

A difficult topic but very well explained. 👍🏻

[@rwbaumg]

nice video, one small correction, though. it's nothing to do with air escaping. It's all about mass. shooting a live round means accelerating mass away from you, so equal force is imparted towards the shooter.

[@omarrp14]

When I was a kid I was told that either only one person fired a blank or it was random with at least 2-3 live rounds

[@flyboymike111357]

Wax bullets can be used to make a more convincing conscience round. I've even heard tale of wad-cutters being called blanks and used as conscience rounds. In modern times, rubber, plastic, or even paint bullets can be used to make a person doubt whether or not the had a live round.

[@ride0RgetR0DE0n]

I’m in the military and have shot lots of blanks and live round. You can tell the difference a blank sounds and feels different so you’d know if you shot a live or blank

[@kanalkucker14]

Nice video, I learned something today, Brandon!

[@airsoftarmy77]

I hope I’m not too late, but seriously guys medical supplies is the Best thing to Buy rn. Even if you don’t know how to use it, someone near you might be able to.

[@spgoo1]

@7:15 as an sMle, why not load blanks and cartridges into the one rifle? The M stands for magazine, after all.

[@captainkanji1]

The usual blanks we used in training had a very different recoil than real rounds.

[@Vampire123411]

This reminded me of an Tales from the crypt episode titled "Yellow".