Operation Barbarossa: The Day By Day Account of German Invasion of the Soviet Union | Part Tw

On 22 June 1941, Hitler's Germany launched ‘Operation Barbarossa’, the attack of the Soviet Union, the largest invasion in military history. In June 2019, twelve dusty notebooks and a wealth of loose paperwork were discovered in Germany; the diaries of Oberleutnant Wilhelm Sander, a young officer in the 11th Panzer-Regiment who took part in the enormous campaign. On every single day Sander, in a brutally honest manner, elaborately recorded his experiences, impressions and the events he witnessed.
Now transcribed and translated for the first time, they offer a brutally honest, intimate and fascinating view into the murderous and unforgiving nature of war on the Eastern Front from the summer of 1941 to the eventual German retreat in the terrible winter of 1941/1942, while offering a unique glimpse into the world of thought of a highly politicised officer of the German Wehrmacht and member of the NSDAP.
Re-join Leutnant Friedrich Sander, a Panzer officer in the German Wehrmacht as he continues his journey into the heart of the Soviet Union as part of Operation Barbarossa.
In Part Two, we pick up with Sander as the Russian weather starts to turns, the German advance begins to stutter and the Soviets prepare for their enormous counter attack.
The brutal reality of the Eastern Front during World War II is exposed through his lost German diaries. The speaker recounts firsthand experiences of the difficulties faced in the harsh conditions of the war. The Russian army was tough and the Germans struggled to advance and capture Moscow. The speaker also describes the violence and brutality directed towards civilian populations in areas where the Germans retreated, which even shook the dedicated National Socialist soldiers. The war was a traumatic experience, reflected upon by the speaker who has become a pacifist as a result.
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Mary Beard and more. Watch, listen and read history wherever you are, whenever you want it. Available on all devices: Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, Xfinity, and iOs & Android.
Sign up to History Hit now and get 14 days free: access.historyhit.com/checkout
We're offering a special discount to History Hit for our subscribers, get 50% off your first 3 months with code KZbin: www.access.historyhit.com/
#historyhit #worldwartwo #barbarossa

[@HistoryHit]

The wait is over... PART TWO of Barbarossa: The Lost Diaries is finally here. Let us know what you think in the comments 👇

[@saltycreole2673]

I must say, your videos have given the Battlefield series a good run for the money. The personal accounts add realism and poignancy to long ago events that still resonate today. Great job.

[@TheVeryLastHippy]

I assumed this was a paid service. As someone who can only watch history videos for free on KZbin this is an unprecedented treat of knowledge.

[@Joseph-fw6xx]

Excellent video thank u

[@ronalddesiderio7625]

@@saltycreole2673 👌🏾🫴🤜🏽🤛🏾🤛🏾🤛🏾🤛🏾✌🏾🤌🏽🤏👆🏾🤏🫰✒️🔎🦴🥞🥨🥨🧇🍖🍗🦴

[@arrjay3814]

Excellent. Just as good as the last one. Will there be a Part Three?

[@petermallm149]

Thanks for publishing these diaries. As a 1961 born German we struggled to get to the memories & thoughts of those who took part in that disaster. They wouldn't talk about their experiences were traumatized and disillusioned many of them realizing that they were lead by a devil into hell and lost their youth to an illusion. May grandfather Wilhelm was severely wounded 1941 close to Leningrad and suffered for lifetime of his stiff arm and leg. He was extremely disciplined and found his way back to a civilized life, was a very good grandfather to me, but he drank a lot to numb his cruel experiences. I owe him a lot cause when I was a little boy he taught me how important discipline is in life, and when I went to do military service in the German armed forces, he showed pride. He didn't live to see my solemn vows, as he died shortly before of cirrhosis of the liver The war had caused its last casualty in our family in 1981. Many other former Landsers weren't able to find their way back into a civil life and we still found them walking or sitting around, severely crippled, in the pedestrian zones of our cities begging for money, still wearing their old uniforms cause that was all they possessed ! In its attempt to forget the terrible war, the German society had learned to ignore these human fates simply in pure brutally. In this respect, these cruelties, the social inconsiderateness continued until about 1975. Those who were responsible for initiating WW2 & its outcome never were made responsible. Have we learned anything out of this? Well, just take a look at Ukraine....Looks like leanings out of history do get forgotten after a bit more than half a century. Writing these words has made me cry - looks like my soul is touched by all those victims of war........

[@marksheraton5953]

The Pure brutality of the human race is terrifying. At least Our Great Countries are now Allies.

[@hurradurra4337]

War is unimaginable hell that only those who've never seen it would willingly want. *But* to be afraid of war to the degree of giving up your sovereignty out of fear or promises of peace.. is far worse yet. Dignity and honor is a need for a wholesome man, but staying alive in disgrace and fear just for the sake of living.. is the death of one's spirit.

[@andrewbarry6702]

White genocide

[@Rasarel]

Men who don't have freedom and take orders from other men are not real men in my generations view. Born 1986. Western citizen.

[@hurradurra4337]

@@newcultking2614 My reply shall be rather humble in size, in regards to your own. But I appreciate your thoughts on the matter of spirit. Let me in thanks gift you some fruits of peoples labor in the knowledge of history. The Führer greatly admired the English people and wanted to be allied to the British Empire, because both are a nation of great people with long traditions and culture. Eleven peace offers where sent by the Führer, even with great conditions for both nations, but Churchill did not seek peace and those behind him had already declared war on Germany. The Brits where the first to bomb Germany for 3 months, before Germany finally responded in kind. The six million story never happened and those who claime/d it are the instigators of most wars. History after WW2 has been doctored so thoroughly that we can treat the official account of it as fictional. Germany was made the enemy and destroyed, because it went against the international banking cartel which belongs to the Jude. The Führer to me is a great man who loved his people and nation, as such the heroes of WW2 are the German people and all the people who dared to stand against the rootless. As we know this great battle was lost, but the war.. endures. Truth does not fear investigation, only lies and deceit.

[@odapunkt]

This was told in such an authentic way, the videos, imagery, sound of snow storm in the background, the narrator - all perfect, thank you so much for giving us a journey back in time, I hope we never forget our history

[@MegaRiffraff]

Here in the U.S our political left is doing their best to eradicate our history that they don’t like , they spent nearly 2 years rioting and burning down buildings, tearing down statues of people they don’t like, from Christopher Columbus to the civil war and beyond, So I guess we’ll just have to repeat the same mistakes again .

[@leandrox1]

note how this German soldier thought that they were bringing "civilization and culture" to "savage" Russia...no different to from today Yankees that in name of "democracy and freedom" bring war,desspear and tragedy to millions of people...Iraq,Afghanistan,Ukraine,Libya,etc...the names change...the atrocities are the same...

[@zorankostur]

This is not history...this is present,only now,america and nato,receiving commands from deep state (jezuits,jews),continue the ww2 in ukraine,the last nazi state....and people hates Russians...what irony...🤯🤔🤫

[@tason_tran2008]

It is interesting to see how excited he was in the early part of the war when the Germans were winning, but had a change of heart when the Germans are losing and his friends are dying. There is no glory in war, only misery. He didn't see that perspective until it was around him.

[@txkoutdoorfam6911]

Eventually ONLY MISERY. I am very interested in wars fought, but mainly to understand, so I can form my own personal opinions, as everyone should. History is bound to repeat its failures if we do not learn from past failures.

[@Bahamut3525]

Most were absolutely realistic about the war and how it was going to be hell. But you try to put a brave face and motivate yourself in a way.

[@allymac68]

from that perspective, i dont think anyone does hold any other persepctive of "its an adventure" until the body parts start landing around them. Those that initiate wars - should fight them.

[@scottyfox6376]

War is a human condition tbh. All wars are horrific whether with sticks & stones, copper & bronze or iron & steel. Today Buttercups cry & moan about their feels & hate the white ppl in weird America but remember this as truth, we are many & if fake hatred is pushed far enough, then things won't be argued thru keyboards. Stop the hatred or face reality of resistance.

[@johanloudzan1850]

non

[@ericscottstevens]

A relative of mine Karl Reule came home from leave from the Russian Front in 1943. He was in a Jager regiment and had many close calls and witnessed a lot of death. Thus he and knew his days were numbered as it was just the brutality of the front was going to claim him too. It was just a matter of time. While Karl was in line to inherit the family farm, Karl immediately changed his Last Will and Testament during his leave time and had his younger brother made the new executor and rightful heir to the farm. Karl returned to Russia and died a few weeks later. Karl knew what was going to happen.

[@leandrox1]

note how this German soldier thought that they were bringing "civilization and culture" to "savage" Russia...no different to from today Yankees that in name of "democracy and freedom" bring war,desspear and tragedy to millions of people...Iraq,Afghanistan,Ukraine,Libya,etc...the names change...the atrocities are the same...

[@butragenjo007]

Karl was very insightful. It would never crossed my mind that my life was in danger if I was in his shoes. Only 500k soviets and 100k Germans KIA per month wouldn't concern me at all

[@vicdor1031]

​@@butragenjo007Soviets - should be written. You b@stard westerner

[@clt5991]

Karl’s insight would have included noticing the major breakdowns in command, disarray of units, inadequate weapons and supplies. Also the massive waste of life, in general, coupled with the mad scramble of a defeated and exhausted army in enemy territory. He experienced head on what was yet to continue down to ravage Germany without mercy. Sometimes not surviving such things as 43 on the Eastern front is a kindness for him.

[@Rosco-P.Coldchain]

Yes I would never be so brainwashed as to fight for my country unless of course some aggressor invaded but only then

[@0601989m]

This makes history truly come alive. The research, translation, editing, voice acting, footage etc are outstanding quality and drive home a story filled with timeless lessons for humanity.

[@leandrox1]

note how this German soldier thought that they were bringing "civilization and culture" to "savage" Russia...no different to from today Yankees that in name of "democracy and freedom" bring war,desspear and tragedy to millions of people...Iraq,Afghanistan,Ukraine,Libya,etc...the names change...the atrocities are the same...

[@t.bergert3533]

Especially voice acting is so good, that I feel a real hate to Zander...

[@fosterfuchs]

I'm a German immigrant to the US (long after WWII). My maternal grandfather had read Mein Kampf before 1933 and knew what Hitler was up to from the beginning. As a practicing Christian, he refused to become a member of the Nazi Party. This meant he faced repercussions in his professional life. He was eventually drafted into the German Army and sent to the eastern front. He was killed in early 1942 near Oryol, Russia. My mom was less than 4 years old then. My grandmother was very pregnant with my uncle, and people close to her tried to keep the news from her. She could sense that something was up, and asked them to just tell her.

[@toffanful]

Sorry that your grandfather died so bravely for so bad a cause. Peace to you and yours.... from Canada.

[@jamesmontroy3902]

I am so sorry for your family's loss . God bless.

[@susandalton7889]

I'm sorry for your loss, also. I'm the child of World War Two U.S. Army veterans. One side of my family did lose people due to Hitler's insane policies; but when people are highly indoctrinated and under a totalitarian system, they do horrible things. War is a waste; period. But humans never seem to learn. I'm a veteran, also.

[@susandalton7889]

@Derrick Bridges lidiot.

[@WinstonVanCoon]

​@Derrick BridgesHeey, Orel...Can it! Rhetorically shouting, Orel, makes no fucking sense -- but I saw what you did. Susan summed-up your character using one word, Idiot. At first I thought you were being an edgy pronunciation debate lord. Now way, though, that's giving you too much credit. So get along, SKEET, you coomer.

[@hvitekristesdod]

Absolutely mind blowing. This man’s transformation from brainwashed fascism into disillusionment and enlightenment is extremely eye opening and poignant. Thank you for this series!!

[@NuisanceMan]

He hardly achieved enlightenment.

[@hvitekristesdod]

@@NuisanceMan His speech near the end about heroes death’s shows at least some enlightenment

[@destubae3271]

Nazism isn't the same as fascism, but agreed otherwise

[@DerSchleier]

@hvitekristeadod

[@srsaito9262]

​@@destubae3271 nazism is a branch of facism, facism is just the believe that the group is more important than the individual, nazism is a branch of that, with nationalistic beliefs, racial beliefs and that they are all fithing against a common enemy.

[@dgkstl1421]

This is a great documentary. Far better than any Hollywood movie.

[@hardanheavy]

It is very clear from his dehumanizing way of speaking about Ukrainians, Russians, Slavs, Siberians, etc. that as long as the Nazis and their loyal puppets in the Wehrmacht could do their deeds without much resistance, they were all heroes in their own eyes, willing to do anything. It took their defeat for them to realize all of a sudden how much they liked peace. I find it very hard to sympathize with their suffering.

[@seanohare5488]

Me too

[@Memevze]

Well it all got started because Germany was stabbed in the back. I think they should have stopped when they took back their borders, maybe even at Paris, ok. But after that...

[@thedgchannel4249]

The diarist is also a victim, you can sense his humanity draining away as he is brutalised by experiences we can only imagine.

[@leonaessens4399]

Totally riveting. This was clearly an extremely intelligent and insightful man. At the start, he is just another Hitler fan who wholeheartedly buys into the Nazi rhetoric. In the end, this: "A hero's death, that is a fraud. A hero's life, THAT's what it should be..." I am fascinated by his ability to express himself and even recognise the changes WITHIN himself, the painful lessons he has learned and the contradictions he has to deal with. It's not just that his experiences have changed him. It's that he himself knows it and tries to make sense of it.

[@nomadpi1]

Read the book, "A Stranger To Myself."

[@orobleh77]

The morale of this documentary is that : Don't be an aggressor, don't start a war with a country that is bigger than you geographically and manpower, and finally don't dehumanize or underestimate your enemy.

[@VICTORERIKA]

Russia probably would have swept right though Europe if it wasn’t for Germany.

[@piotrweydmann3345]

@@VICTORERIKA Neah,they would have drank themselves to death during October Fest.

[@bunjijumper5345]

The Russians dehumanized the Poles and the Ukrainians.

[@Bahamut3525]

The literal history of world are conquests . America itself is a land of violence and invasions and war.

[@RagnaroK81X]

Nazis killed and burned milions of innocent souls coz they want to be a Gods and decide which race will survive which not .Playing the God in this world will lead to suffer those whoo think that they having rights to do so.Slavic population newer was destructible on level Nazis was.

[@galenavlasova7580]

The cold and frost were even worse for soviet Asian soldiers as their countries are hot. I was born and raised in Turkmenistan and never seen snow or proper rain there. Despite this they fought heroically. My father had medals for For Courage, Stalingrad, Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin, Prague. Thanks for this knowledgeable video.

[@marimbadearco]

your family fought to defend their homeland, not invade another one: true heroes

[@BasementEngineer]

@@marimbadearco Rubbish.

[@jdmcarandmotorcycle]

My grandfather was in cavalry died under Kharkov’s city on 1942 February he was from Bashkortostan Akcharlak village name Ayup 😊

[@nickhaynie5980]

It is truly a devastating account of that meaningless war. All the waste and suffering is heartbreaking, especially when one considers how the war ultimately destroyed an entire generation of youths and their vigor. Imagine how much better the world could be if the unknown millions of young men's lives on both sides hadn't been wasted. Tragic.

[@liamneilson5831]

You think it was avoidable ? Surely Russia wasn’t stopping with half of Poland

[@nickhaynie5980]

@liamneilson5831 Who knows? Maybe Stalin would have set goals for the Far East, Asia was wide open in those days. I think if he attacked West, he wouldn't have gotten very far. Remember, he virtually decapitated his entire high command, rendering his armies offensive capabilities almost useless. The soviets had the numerical advantage in the defense, which brought them time to learn on the job. Either way, it would have been a waste of potential in terms of manpower and talent, good lives squandered for no good reason.

[@Ozgur72]

Meaningless? Ww2 was surely not a meaningless war.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

@@Ozgur72 I believe he meant the reasons for the start of the war in Europe, not just from the perspective of the US after we had no other recourse than to be in a two front war.

[@jasonwiley798]

​@@liamneilson5831 remind me again who has invaded whom on June 22?

[@skychief399]

👍🏻👍🏻: My highest rating!!! I have watched literally dozens of videos, documentaries, and movies about WWII in Europe. Additionally, I’ve read dozens of books on WWII. Even though this two-part series covers only Operation Barbarossa, in my opinion, this work is the best ever. Thanks for such amazing and emotional content!!!

[@wagecuckwojak2394]

500k red army men a month, i cant even imagine the bodys on the battlefield. this heartbreaking story of the diarie of a German man touched me insanely... cant imagine how it must have been without actually being there by his side. There are no winners in war. rest in peace.

[@sostareci]

There is a clear winner. All the brave Soviet people who sacrifice their life so we can live peacefully without those scum bags...and German Nazis are burning in hell!

[@ChessmindedThinker]

Well there are winners in war. Wars are fought over resources, and the winners take those resources. Its like saying 2 packs of wolves who fight over new territory that has plenty of food both lose. No they dont, the winners get to eat and evolve, the losers die out. Indeed, if we didnt have wars, the human race would not exist.

[@DUSTKILLL]

It's a shame too because we chose to suffer communism for the next whole century and countless genocides no one cares about. Main message is governments are a mistake and only lead too misery

[@mayakovske]

Winners are those who defending their motherland, not conquering and annihilating

[@sunrisings292]

Wrong. The Winners were those who fought back a barbaric invasion, saved their families from utter extermination, slavery,, and WON and ENDED the whole War. That's not an easy thing to do. People who say "there are no winners in war" are on the side of the frustrated aggressors and invaders, who started the whole mayhem and LOST., horribly. Their failed cause was defeated for good, and can't get over it. .

[@SasquachPL]

This is one of the more intersting WWII documentaries I've ever seen. It's really enlightening to hear the first hand perspective of a Wermacht soldier on such a historic campaign. It's really crazy how these absolutely normal, decent men were so swiftly yet sturdily indoctrinated with these crazy and atrocious views on the world and their place in it. The great majority of them thought they were doing great deeds for everyone affected; they weren't crazed serial killers at all... just normal, decent people who had been so cynically taken advantage of by the real evil killers who had somehow snaked their way into a position of unquestioned power.

[@SasquachPL]

@@xunqianbaidu6917 A great majority of people would be absolutely average before they got indoctrinated into nazism. How do you think it happened, a whole nation suddenly flipped into being fascists because of what, their genes or smth? They were all predisposed bc of where they were born? ;) That line of thinking is how fascism creeps into YOUR mind...

[@SasquachPL]

@@xunqianbaidu6917 The people in power are the bad guys, not the naive 20 year olds. //I'm also not saying ALL Germans were normal. The SS for example were murderous fanatics. People like guards at Treblinka had to have been evil. But the boys in the Wermacht wouldn't have even known about the camps, they were secret for a reason; people would start turning on them if they knew.

[@datboib3432]

They happily partook. Theres accountability within that.

[@SasquachPL]

@@datboib3432 Yeah, of course. But you had to be a very extraordinary person to resist that regime, and most of those got killed (some managed to flee abroad of course, but that wasn't easy either). And all of us think we'd be those extraordinary people, thinking for ourselves and having the courage to resist. But that's the benefit of hindsight. Most of us, if born into that situation, would end up in the Wehrmacht.

[@nuckinfuts920]

@@SasquachPL You are absolutely right. People assume it couldn't have been them but they are very wrong. It would be difficult to find enough complete psychos for an entire army, they didn't even have enough normal decent germans to take advantage of they also forced non-german people to fight as well to fill gaps with grunts. Some happily partook, most had a certain degree of fear involved in their choices. Everyone is very tough until death is inevitable.

[@djartl]

This is amazing. I wish there were more documentaries following one’s journey like this. Fantastic!

[@Kiltoonie]

Thanks to all those who made this gripping reconstruction. My uncle Ditmar fought on the Eastern Front: luckily he was wounded and survived. This gives me some insight into what really happened. It is especially fascinating to see the gradual conversion of the diarist from gung-ho Nazi to flaky pacifist, as the War turned into a ghastly genocidal quagmire.

[@mth469]

The conversion coincided more so with the Soviet counter-attacks which hinted at who was going to win the war. Its only when the tables turned that the state of mind changed along with it.

[@user-cn6jt6vv4e]

He was okay with the killing when he was winning.

[@LPVit]

he wasn't stupid, he knew where we was going but the propaganda worked so well that even opposite ideas coexisted in his mind, like being good to slav civilians and trading with them instead of taking the supplies by force, and then noticing how bad their living conditions were and tying it to racial agenda nazis had which was erasing slavs because they are inferior to make space for germans to live. if they are inferior why would you even take interest in them, look at how they live, notice some pretty girl or whatever if your rulers' idea of conquering them (which you said you agree with) was all about wiping them all to make space for the "higher race"? eh.. I say we're all being lied to, too many times during our lives but some lies when believed and taken action according to, just leave a gap instead of a soul, so horrible and unnatural. towards the end I see a suffering miserable man, full of regrets and who remembers his normal life, little things his mother told him and knows all of that is lost forever for him. I feel sorry for him but even more sorry about people who never had trust in nazi ideas but were still forced to fight and die in that war.

[@mhern57]

​​​​​​​​​​​​@@mth469 I agree he had no problem murdering when things we're going well, but eventually whether they were winning or losing, due to the length of the campaign and the ongoing atrocities he and the others were committing with no end in sight, he could see THEY we're causing so much misery and anguish on both sides. The length of his war affected his conscience to the core to the point he was questioning not only the things they were doing but also the beliefs that were causing him to do them.

[@jakescott6426]

Part 1 and Part 2 of this were both excellent, a must watch for anybody interested in the Eastern front, especially as this is a perspective that isn't given much time in more mainstream historiography but wholly important to understanding the war as a whole. The second world war was won and lost on this front, though not to discount the sacrifices made by the people of all allied nations on all fronts.

[@HistoryHit]

Much appreciated Jake!

[@Rokonroller]

Incredible strength, determination & discipline. I worked with German soldier in the 80’s, he had obviously lived through hell. My respect

[@lemonlover6666]

I've been looking forward to part two so much. I just sat down to my tea and was looking for something to watch and this notification came through at that moment. Perfect!! Thanks History hit!!!

[@Nark212]

Wow! Been waiting for this and if it’s as good as part one we’re in for compulsive viewing… way to go, guys 👏

[@petrairene]

My grandfather was forced to fight for Hitler, he was in Montecassino. He always refused to spreak about what he he experienced, he just said that his time as POW with the Americans was good and he had fond memories for it.

[@voraciousreader3341]

In nearly every instance, you can tell the difference between governments by comparing photos of POWs immediately after they’ve been released. Great Britain and the US took very good care of their POWs, with very isolated incidents of brutality, which in GB was very difficult due to food shortages for the populace. The Japanese and Soviets were especially brutal, but the Germans weren’t far behind….all of them were fascist military dictatorships (Tojo, Stalin, Hitler). People need to remember that fascists always call themselves something else; for example, the USSR was no more Communist than Nazi Germany was Socialist….their dictators, including Togo, were both psychopaths, which can be seen from the results. This war was nothing but epic brutality and epic waste.

[@chullychullster3077]

My grandfather was at Monte Cassino too, in the Cheshire regiment, on the other side though. He too never said anything other than he was there, that he fought alongside and had great respect for his Polish brothers in arms. RiP Charly Graves.

[@petrairene]

@@chullychullster3077 Your grandfather and mine may have met under the worst kind of circumstance. RIP Albert Albegger

[@chullychullster3077]

@@petrairene The worst indeed, lets hope not, and instead think of them telling old stories to each other on some Italian mountainside somewhere.....

[@thephoenixcycle8854]

Would have been hell under the bombardment by the United States

[@ellin67]

The Germans viewed the captured Russians with a mix of sympathy, apprehension, and cultural snobbism. Their apparent 'laziness and lack of organization (15:30)', for example, could be explained by the fact that the Russians were practically being starved to death. When you are starving, and freezing to death, it takes much less energy and effort to break down the fences in your own village for firewood, than cut down trees in the surrounding forest (15:41). And why would you be motivated as a Soviet prisoner to do any work for the people who are putting you through such shite treatment, and also happen to be the conquerors of your land (15:46)? I find it the least ironic that so many Germans perished so far from home in a land that they never came to understand.

[@maxh3480]

To be fair: It just wasnt the German mindset of the time. It wasnt snobbism.

[@ellin67]

@@maxh3480 No, it wasn't snobbism. It was cultural superiority complex.

[@maxh3480]

@@ellin67 yes. Thats what I said. And rightly so. Imagine 80 Million people almost outdoing billions on every level 😀

[@VICTORERIKA]

@@maxh3480Russians were living how people did in the medieval times.

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

@@VICTORERIKA Yeah the remnants of the millions of streltsy and their culture was still around. Thats why the women worked and the men didnt

[@dervpool]

As a German this is really really fascinating. Ive tried to find stuff like this about my grand grandfather but i didnt find much more than a few pictures. He was wounded during this campaign and survived the war with life lasting injuries. The thing this series does unlike many others can not be unnamed. I find it extremely important to make it very clear now: This series shows very VERY clearly how the myth of a "clean" Wehrmacht is total junk and a straight up lie. It was very clear what happened. It was obvious from the start to most of them and even tho there were examples of people in their rows who weren't full on Nazis they all knew what they fought for and willingly comitted these unspeakable acts. And the way this series goes into detail between the lines of his writing makes this crystal clear. Even in the face of these unspeakable acts they did not understand and its fair to say willingly so did not want to understand what they did. This narrative of "oh actually they didnt stand behind the greater motive of the NSDAP" is pushed way too much especially by english speaking circles that often fail to properly translate the context of german written texts. And i am very much thankful of this very honest and grim, uncut depiction of history.

[@srsaito9262]

Some of these know the context, but for the sake of their ideology they spread this kinds of lies, because of this that I send my apreciation to Germany for them republish "Mein kampf" this year, with historians commentary to teach young people about how they thought, and to learn to not fall for this again.

[@liamneilson5831]

Only in the east funnily enough but yes the Germans faced dogs of opponents and people who did not sign the Geneva convention so they adapted and retaliated or they would have been easy victims

[@srsaito9262]

@@liamneilson5831 justifying one side atrocities just because the other did it too is one of the most lamest arguments I ever seen

[@liamneilson5831]

@@srsaito9262 ok well when you find a clean war you let me know mate, I’m sure the allies weren’t firebombing major German cities with no war infrastructure in them or doing gun runs on civilians walking to school but I guess that’s the prize for winning the war, only one side has to face consequences

[@srsaito9262]

@@liamneilson5831 of course the allies and the red army were dirty, justice in war is almost non existent, and of course the countless rapes that the USSR comminted in germany are not justified because the atrocities the germans commited, what we have to do is not justify any side, and understand the crimes both commited, and codemn both.

[@boanstvanov1057]

I'm fascinated with WWII history but o haven't read much about the German's experience of the war. This is so great to see their side of the struggle.

[@Usrname.24]

Yes, also the ruzzian recounting of the war is filled with lies. Nothing new for ruzzians

[@bunjijumper5345]

You should read up on people like my grandmother who lived in Ternopil during the war. When the Poles came they had to have the Polish books out, when the Germans came they had to hide the other books and put the German books on the table, and the same for when the Russians came. Some cities changed hands multiple times. These civilians got it from all sides, imagine how their lives were.

[@nuckinfuts920]

Very appreciative of these videos. Never seen anything like this outside of translated books and it's very important people understand history from all the perspectives they can. This is great work.

[@leandrox1]

note how this German soldier thought that they were bringing "civilization and culture" to "savage" Russia...no different to from today Yankees that in name of "democracy and freedom" bring war,desspear and tragedy to millions of people...Iraq,Afghanistan,Ukraine,Libya,etc...the names change...the atrocities are the same...

[@txkoutdoorfam6911]

I completely agree!

[@txkoutdoorfam6911]

It’s very difficult to perspective’s from anyone but your own nation, because sometimes when their perspectives are explained or expressed, they are adjusted according to the views or the one doing the “explaining”.

[@metivs]

History teachers should encourage young students to see this. This way history will be understood in context. What a mindblowing documentary bringing the most valuable - memoirs of the witnesses.

[@voraciousreader3341]

This soldier wasn’t a witness….he was a participant who admitted committing atrocities. And if history teacher had to teach everything people point out in KZbin comments sections, students would be going to school for 30 years. I always thought documentaries about war, etc., were made to spark people’s curiosity so that they’d try to find out more from reading books. Which is why it’s so disheartening to find that for many people, _this_ is their education. Sad.

[@daveditchdigger2111]

I believe it adds depth to the broader history that most of us know. This diary of one man's experience on the Eastern Front gives us a clear personal perspective.

[@kippwebb2331]

There was a German prisoner of war camp located in Nebraska. The prisoners helped in the fields with the local farmers. After the war they were released and most stayed in Nebraska and become an integral part of the community. I lost three Uncles in Europe during WWII and I was born in 1952 but I don't remember anyone speaking ill of these new US citizens.

[@petermallm149]

They have had it with Germany, it happened in Russia too with German POWs, but nobody today talks about these Gemans's who felt betrayed by the 'Fatherland' (Vaterland ) which never existed for them !

[@corvus2512]

It may have worked out for them but that’s bad luck for their children, Germany is now one of the best countries to live in and Nebraska is well…. Nebraska

[@petermallm149]

@@corvus2512 Have You been to Germany recently ? If You want to experience how living in the DDR (formeer East Germany) felt, come over and have a try. We are back on the road to hell and very few do oppose as in the past. German's are unable to detect when things get out of hand and, that might surprise You - we lost control since reunification. There is no more independent Justice System in Germany and our Police Force was sold (outsourced) to Academi (Constellis USA), former Blankwater Group in 2017. Questions ? The German state has basically ceased to exist if we were to follow our Constitution, however nobody cares. I've done my Military Service back in 1981 and at that time I took an oath on this country and swore that I would defend the Right and the Freedom (,,Recht & Freiheit'') of the German people, like all those 200,000 currently active soldiers of the Bundeswehr too, but apparently they don't remember it anymore........

[@kippwebb2331]

@@corvus2512 Good point but probably inaccurate. I don't live in Nebraska anymore, another rural state Montana but I visit relatives. I was in Germany a few months ago and spent some time. I'd pick Nebraska over Germany any day of the week right now.

[@corvus2512]

@@petermallm149 ​ I’m 32 and I went to Germany when I was 18, so around 14 years ago and I also went in 2018 to Germany and France. I don’t know what specific issues you are bringing up, perhaps you are referring to the current state of the German military? Which is a fair criticism as I have read things showing more investment is needed. However my point was really about civilian issues, I’d much rather live in a country without a mass/school shooting every other day, a humane healthcare system that doesn’t allow people to die from easily treatable diseases simply because they are poor/ sends a family into bankruptcy because a member was diagnosed with cancer etc, a more robust and efficient social safety net for those who actually need it and not for those who don’t, a nation that pays its workers a fair wage and a quality and affordable higher education system. None of these are opinions, America routinely ranks amongst the lowest of the developed western nations in quality of life and Germany routinely ranks at the top just behind the Scandinavian countries. People have all sorts of reasons to love their country and prefer one place to another and I of course have no issues with that, for myself though the choice is an easy one to make and honestly if money was no issue I would have moved to Germany years ago, just clarifying my comments.

[@janefrost1856]

This documentary was such high quality, to hear the voice of an " ordinary " soldier really brought it to life. How both these armies must of suffered, it must of been awful. This is what war is really like and as he said there's nothing glorious in dying, it's the old lie.

[@leandrox1]

note how this German soldier thought that they were bringing "civilization and culture" to "savage" Russia...no different to from today Yankees that in name of "democracy and freedom" bring war,desspear and tragedy to millions of people...Iraq,Afghanistan,Ukraine,Libya,etc...the names change...the atrocities are the same...

[@212th]

Thanks for uploading the second part. Absolutely brilliant

[@NT-qj1sy]

Thank you for part 2!

[@blueclover9918]

Ive seen alot of videos addressing this conflict and others of WWII, and this was outstanding.

[@chris45rpm]

Exceptionally well produced. No talking head interviews, perfectly chosen voiceover and actor playing Sander reading diary. Great sound design and footage. Well done and thank you.

[@DizzieDuck]

Nice clips as always, kudos for clarity, inmersion and impartiality from a western perspective presenting the diaries of a fighter regardless affliliation or side, although the same could be said of any other videos from your channel, keep it up!!!

[@asullivan4047]

Not only the Russian/German soldiers perished in the bitterly devastating winter environment. 1000's of transportation horses also perished due to bitter cold/lack of food. Putting both armies at a disadvantage concerning transportation of supplies.

[@lloydchristmas1086]

Millions of horses died on the German side alone.

[@juliaforsyth8332]

There was a programme some years back that interviewed a German Veterinarian, and he was crying when describing how bad it was for the horses.

[@Jeff-sp7bg]

Disgusting crying over livestock. Give me a break

[@johnnyocal7454]

excellent documentary. very good to see it from the german point of view the suffering that they endured as well

[@abdellahiehreimo3402]

I hope we see more of these kinds of documentary based memoirs they're simply awesomly amazingly alive

[@crystaldonison]

Thankyou for part 2.

[@gerhardbekker7798]

Absolutely gripping account, thank you for those involved in this

[@chrisrogers5614]

Great footage thanks for giving us this part if history.

[@wmelliott3802]

I'm 11 minutes in and this is my bedtime listening. Thank you so much for this Sir.

[@DigitalPerspectivesUK]

Brilliant content been really looking forward to this the second part of the diary 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@williamrobinson7435]

Prescient, in that we see that wars or "operations" often go on for far longer than anticipated. Well made and presented. Nice one team. Impressive. 🌟👍

[@anttitheinternetguy3213]

This is absolutely top notch, highest quality

[@thegift20luis]

A true war story done tasteful! Thanks for sharing!

[@otgomario]

Let's goooo I've been waiting for this

[@ossi4766]

Wow History hits you did it again 👌 love your channel🙏 and fantastic video.

[@gordy3714]

I hope this series continues, it's brilliant.

[@simonshiels1]

Big thanks for an excellent presentation

[@marvinc9994]

Excellent, excellent, excellent! Obviously, someone's heard our pleas for Part Two ;-)

[@leodoro8877]

That was an extraordinary presentation, beautifully written diaries brought to life with the use of excellent reading and archival images. A very sincere thanks !

[@memirandawong]

Fascinating! Narratives like this one put you in the heart and soul of this soldier. One cannot escape the humanitarian nature of war.

[@merc340sr]

The handwriting in the letters is amazing! Perfectly straight, orderly, constant pattern,...almost looks like a font...

[@justinpetersen8158]

Brilliant documentary thank you. Although South African I attended a German school. There was a memorial at the school dedicated to those students who had lost their lives in the war. So many and so young😢

[@clintstewart7689]

Amazing to hear from an individual’s perspective. Great job

[@rickh9127]

This is one of the best inside looks at Barbarossa you can find on KZbin.

[@paulsec8852]

It is a remarkable video, certainly one of the most interesting I have ever watched on that military operation. The pictures, that I have never seen before, vividly illustrate the exerpts from the diary. The story itself reflects the changing mood of the invaders as the temperatures fell, the hardships accumulated and the crimes committed toward the civilians multiplied. They went from dreams of glory to a desperate struggle for survival. I reflected on the fate of all those villagers and their children whose homes were set on fire and who found themselves with nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep by temperatures reaching minus 25. I must say I don't feel any pity for the German war criminals.

[@billd2635]

Alot of very good footage here. Much I hadnt seen before. Thankyou.

[@benitoharrycollmann132]

There is not a single human experience that is not worth preserving for posterity. We may call them monsters, but they are not. They are men. And that is the most frightening part about them. Thank you for doing your part in reminding us of this often forgotten aspect of history.

[@andrewhorsburgh2549]

Its a pity they blurr the dead. The only way is to show everything so viewers can see how terrible and wasteful war is.

[@thomasjackofhearts]

well done to everyone involved in this production. Profound

[@percanatord3461]

Excellent documentary you guys have the best WW1 and WW2 documentaries the best history content in general !!! 🙌🙌 Keep up the amazing work history hit!!! 👏👏👏💪 💯

[@000DAAN000]

Incredible. Well made. thank you!

[@3vpme2]

I think I recall the first part of this, if that’s the case I’ve been waiting for this one!

[@vanpaul147]

Hitlers speech should have said "We have lost 500 000, 1500 tanks, we are stuck in the mud, we are out of fuel and fighting a brave, stubborn and strong enemy"

[@kaypakaipa8559]

motivational speeches are amazing, they can rally everyone up and fight, but when that brutal russian winter came, boy or boy, I am an African living in Canada, my first winter here was -35degrees, I cant imagine walking 200km in that cold, sleeping in the forest, how is that even possible. At the same time Hitler then tells me to hang on and believe in the vision🥺, its offensive & ridiculous. What a waste of life, nothing was achieved. They never conquered Leningrad, and never saw Moscow.

[@Bahamut3525]

Yeah what a great popular leader you’d make 😂

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

@@Bahamut3525 Yes you love Adolf we got it go dig him out and marry him

[@barnsnoble3105]

best production to come out about WW2 in a long time.

[@altoncrane9714]

Fabulous stuff. Well done, thank you.

[@MrNaKillshots]

Excellent presentation - and a decent narration.

[@waltertaljaard1488]

This boy learned a harsh lesson. And came out of this ordeal as a man. Glad to read he survived the war.

[@theclash1984]

This channel is a True masterpiece

[@Jesusandbible]

You have really stumbled onto something here. We want to see more like this diary perspective, from every angle of war, including a civilian one. Great job!

[@diegoluna6957]

One of my favorite documentaries. I watched it months ago

[@user-bf1yq6oj8z]

Thanks. Rare are western documentaries displaying the terrible reality of German army’s behaviour in Russia. More often one finds “extenuating circumstances” and pity to defeated Germans, military and civilian.

[@user-qp8js5ps5c]

You can have plenty of this in comments.

[@bunjijumper5345]

Ever consider the Russian army and its treatment of the Poles and Ukrainians? Imagine how these cities suffered when in many cases their cities swapped hands multiple times. My grandmother came from Ternopil.

[@markcurrie9072]

A simply stunning follow up to part 1. Thank you

[@HistoryHit]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@54mgtf22]

Love your work 👍

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting and informative. Excellent photography job making it easier for viewers to better understand what the orator was describing. Historians did a very good job presenting actual facts from fiction. Orator presented the documentary very well. Class A research project. Had Moscow been invaded & conquered. The Russians would not have been able to reorganize.

[@davidknichal6629]

You wish bro. 90% of all weapon factories were already transported that time and history teaches us that conquering Moscow can't secure you the final victory at all. Hitler did not follow the history lessons that have been given to Napoleon and history taught him a painful lesson as well

[@nathanielhipple8889]

Outstanding video! Not to divert due attention to the main focus of the video, but at 16:48, that cow was having none of it when that pig was fixing to bite its tail off. Which is something that farm pigs would due to each other (reason unknown), which is why farmers would remove the pigs' tail at an early age to prevent that issue from happening.

[@John-mf6ky]

This is definitely one of the best WW2 documentaries I've seen! What a fascinating insight from someone who was actually on the Eastern front.

[@user-km9jt7hg8w]

After watching parts 1 and 2, I am overwhelmed at the quality of this production. I will be sharing them shortly.

[@stevethomas7273]

Awesome documentary,In 60 below zero,I can't believe requests for warm clothing food were ignored by the brass.He's unit should have been withdrawn for refit with new tanks. Vs freezing to death with no food.

[@liamneilson5831]

I’ve heard they were actually meant to send winter clothes but communist sympathisers in Germany sabotaged any effort to do so

[@7171jay]

It was pure denial of the situation by Hitler. Rather than listening to his generals he had them removed. This fortunately is a common weak point of crazy authoritarian monomaniacs. It's a rather similar situation playing out currently in the Russia-Ukraine war where Putin initially underestimated Ukraine as well as overestimating the strength of his own army and as it went poorly from the start and drags on far longer than planned he ignores all that and just keeps replacing his generals. One more big defeat and he just like Hitler will probably try his hand at running the whole thing himself until it all comes crashing down on him.

[@Bahamut3525]

They got winter clothing, it just arrived late. They hadn’t planned for winter campaign so it had to be ordered first.

[@alextownsend8624]

Absolutely fascinating! Not enough coverage of the eastern front!

[@ArisandBeth]

I LOVE YOUR DOCUMENTARIES!❤❤❤❤❤

[@vincentkosik403]

Listened to the end and his statement of awakening.. Thank you

[@JamiHuff]

This fascinating account of a front line soldiers experience at the pointy end of the German invaders speartip really highlights just how little operational knowledge Hitler possessed. He should have read his history books more thoroughly. Napoleon was a colossus in strategy and planning and even he was defeated by the sheer size of Russia and it's devastating winter conditions.

[@donaldshotts4429]

You have to remember Russia performed so badly against Finland in 1940 that most, including the Western leaders, thought Germany would roll right thru them

[@loftsatsympaticodotc]

Yup, I remember my Dad taking me to see the movie War and Peace, with the gorgeous Anita Ekberg and Napoleans disastrous retreat from similar march on Moscow.

[@corvus2512]

I must say I liked the part where he, a German soldier in WW2, begins to feel empathy and comradeship toward the French soldiers in Napoleons army, the propaganda was certainly wearing off of him by then.

[@federalists793]

hitler is a prime example of how dangerous arrogance can be. so arrogant he saw himself smarter than mapoleon.

[@federalists793]

hitler is a prime example of how dangerous arrogance can be. so arrogant he saw himself smarter than mapoleon.

[@RizztrainingOrder]

Wild to know how pampered some of us modern folks are, judging the use of ancient forms of transportation as ridiculous all while enjoying modern comforts only reiterates how easy it is to lose all these comforts. Digesting stories of our ancestors sure does make one reflect

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Today’s youth is spoiled and arrogant in their lack of hindsight. They make fun of anything they see as archaic; for instance, something simple that doesn’t apply to this war would be a rotary dial telephone. I grew up with those, and we had a four digit phone number. Imagine if these today’s people were transported back in time. Not to those old phones, but to the eastern front, with the weather, the lack of food, the terrible conditions, the sounds, the smells - even I cannot imagine the smells nor do I want to. This war, like all the others, was terrible beyond imagination. A world war will come again, and for those who are in it, those who lie in its path, I feel for what they too will experience. It will be beyond brutal.

[@RizztrainingOrder]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 I must agree, I often wonder what the difference is that marks those that appreciate how lucky they are for what they have compare to those that feel entitled to everything never giving thought to those whose shoulders upon which they stand. Age? Gender? Ethnicity?

[@blindmelonstubbly]

@@mynamedoesntmatter86522nd civil war for america is on the way then nukes from russia. Good times planned for all

[@leandrox1]

note how this German soldier thought that they were bringing "civilization and culture" to "savage" Russia...no different to from today Yankees that in name of "democracy and freedom" bring war,desspear and tragedy to millions of people...Iraq,Afghanistan,Ukraine,Libya,etc...the names change...the atrocities are the same...

[@headstrong4203]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 Im pretty sure those lines have been used to describe the youth of every generation... hell even crato of ancient rome complained about the youth in his time lol seems like a common tradition for older people to complain about the youth

[@ritamedina-molina8550]

Thank you for this.incredible

[@daveryan6426]

This two part doc. is second to none.

[@jamesbetker6862]

I worked with this old boy who was a Sudeten German. When Germany annexed the Sudetenland, he volunteered for the Waffen-SS. His father protested to his Commanding officer that he was being treated too harshly in boot camp. He was arrested as a dissenter and sent to the cams in Germany. The last I heard old Kraus had still not found a trace of his father. Many people disappeared in those camps. Kraus was fighting on the eastern front and was captured by the Russians. He was riding on a prison wagon with a female guard. She fell asleep and dropped her rifle. He jumped off the wagon and retrieved her rifle and awakened her. She gave him a big kiss and told him if she had lost her rifle they would have killed her. Kraus was one of the few to be repatriated. most of them died in captivity as late as 1952.

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

People complaining about german workcamps but 8/10 germans died in russian gulags

[@HerrAndreasSkog]

From brainwashed hatred and contempt to self pity to some sort of rudimentary insight... But not until it is too late.

[@TheHypnogog]

So very human.

[@HerrAndreasSkog]

@@TheHypnogog So very nazi.

[@Hunter_Nebid]

The modern left!

[@craigcataline5750]

sounds like you're the one who's brainwashed

[@alphabarre9096]

​​​@@Hunter_Nebidpolitics and more damn politics bring it everywhere you go with it, these filthy corrupt politicians can't thank you enough for being a sheep 🐑 lmao when something happens to you they will show up to your place to help your struggling family 🙄🤡🙄

[@cld5725]

Great video, thanks

[@Lucas.WRIGHT889]

When I see documentaries like this,it makes my life look like complete walk in the park.

[@michaeljaneway9459]

Thank you so much for sharing this man's story with us, what a view into the true war going on behind propaganda glorification of normal men fighting for a leaders objective.

[@lorimeyers3839]

How was it possible that German intelligence could be as catastrophically terrible at calculating Russian military capabilities throughout the entire war? I know by the Battle of Kursk in 1943, German intelligence completely missed two or three entire Russian armies within or around the Kursk salient, according to Manstein. It’s just incredible how terrible their intelligence calculations were.

[@BazColne]

Had they known, their lack of reserves and resources wouldn't have allowed them to improved their situation so much.

[@Usrname.24]

Like ruzzian lack of intelligence now

[@lorimeyers3839]

@@Usrname.24 you mean like how the entire war drastically overestimated Russia? What an utter embarrassment this war has been for Putin. He’ll be gone soon

[@RazvyTheGreat]

While the ivasion started, no matter if they knew the real strength of the Russians or not, I think they just did not want to upset Hitler!

[@bunjijumper5345]

Biden didnt even know that the Taliban paid off the Afghan army. The fall of Kabul wasn't even predicted by our modern experts.

[@teddymonadnock9724]

I’ve been watching WWII documentaries for almost a year now. This video gave me the best insight into what the Nazis were thinking so far. Thank you.

[@HistoryHit]

That's so great to hear, thank you for watching! We've got more on the way!

[@techboy3655]

One of the best stories so far thanks 🙏!

[@jimmycricket7385]

And the moral of this true story is this....never underestimate the resolve of the Russian people and their armed forces.

[@thephoenixcycle8854]

Truly terrifying.

[@donnahayes1910]

Brilliant series! I’m obsessed with WW2 documentaries. This is such a fresh look at the war from the opposition viewpoint. Thank you.

[@AmericasChoice]

I suggest you read books, too. Most WWII documentaries are poorly written and have a definite political agenda. I suggest "Hitlers War" and "Churchill's War" both by the best WWII historian of the 20th Century, David Irving.

[@michaelmcmillan7458]

Fantastic watch. Really brings the whole thing to life. Excellent. 👌