Destroying the Swastika - An Iconic WW2 Moment

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One of the most famous pieces of film from WW2 shows the blowing up of an enormous swastika atop the Zeppelinfeld Stadium in Nuremberg by US forces on 25 April 1945. What's the story behind the film?
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: Ralf Roletschek; Stefan Wagner; DALIBRI; US National Archives

[@thejimshow7170]

The Engineers that blew it up was the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion. I learned this while attending one of their reunions a few years ago. I happened to be showing a few of my pics from my recent trip which included following their route during the Battle of the Bulge. One of them saw my pic of me at the Zepplinplatz and commented, " You know, there used to be a big swastika on top of that building until we blew it up." I questioned him asking, "You mean the 51st blew it up?" He said, "Yep! I was standing on the back side of the building blocking a road when we set it off." Unfortunately that turned out to be their last reunion and the last of them have passed on.

[@ThePewdieslender]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing!

[@cdd4248]

What a great idea for a trip- to follow the trail of The Battle of the Bulge.

[@natejones902]

Hey Jim how's it going? I didn't know the old 51st was the ones that blew it up!

[@stevemc01]

You carry with yourself a piece of a nearly lost history.

[@seanmarkham6965]

They loaded that thing to h3ll, god bless em!

[@FlyasaDiamond]

If you ever get the chance to go to Nurnberg, go. Several of these places still exists, in a dodgy condition and its a fascinating place

[@armyvet8279]

I was stationed there in 1988-1989. Beautiful city!

[@thegunslinger1363]

I'll have to vist Germany in the future. Especially Munich.

[@91Redmist]

They race cars there in front of fans sitting in those grandstands where the Nazi bigwigs congregated.

[@iceman4311]

@@91Redmist it's crazy stand in the spot where he spoke

[@gbriezla]

I actually live in Nurnberg, planning to visit those places

[@burningchrome70]

"Hey Capt, how much explosive do you want us to use?" Captain takes long drag on cigarette, exhales "All of it."

[@obelic71]

When in doubt TNT (J.Hyneman Senior 1945) 😁

[@glennheth3472]

I recall reading (I don't remember where, sorry) that the engineers estimated they'd need something like 60 pounds of explosives to completely destroy the Swastika. They were told to double it. Then add some more for good measure.

[@dsmith2568]

Having been in the Army I’d guess it was more like the guy asking would have just done it then be like “idk sir I did stuff”

[@LuigianoMariano]

This is how you rub salt on the wound: Go styling in the enemy's ceremonial capital and then blow up their most precious symbol afterwards.

[@harryeisermann2784]

sad to destroy history

[@lukav3509]

@@harryeisermann2784 agreed

[@D88111]

And now America is having it’s monuments destroyed from within by leftists and the other group of animals 😂 who won the war again ?

[@harryeisermann2784]

@@D88111 not US, , without Ussr that WW2 was a lost war

[@Frogkhan915]

Monuments of slave owning traitors who fought under a secessionist flag? :/ isn’t tearing those down as pro-America as blowing up swastikas?

[@Activated_Complex]

“Herr Nesbittmann has learned the first lesson of not being seen. Not to stand up. However, he has chosen a very obvious piece of cover.”

[@pauld6967]

....and now, the Larch.

[@AtheistOrphan]

“Herr Nesbittmann, will you stand up please?”

[@srbrant5391]

You win the Internet.

[@Intercaust]

I love a Monty Python reference in the morning...

[@srbrant5391]

“Shut your cakehole, you Nazi!”

[@BHuang92]

I've been to the stadium where the famous swastika was blown up. The area has been going through a somewhat controversial restoration in preserving the stadium although not completely.

[@user-dl6nt9zv2v]

HAKENKREUZ

[@Leon_der_Luftige]

It's not restoration, but preservation. Learn the difference.

[@Leon_der_Luftige]

Germany would have the money but why would you? It's very expensive. Nürnberg itself certainly does not have the money. This being said, stop subscribing to Reitschuster, you far right conspiracist. -_-

[@theprofiler8531]

@@Leon_der_Luftige you don’t have to be an ass when correcting someone.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

@Fabian Kirchgessner Or demo churches, to make room for Mosques and non-white, non Christaian refugees.

[@JamesCalbraith]

I spent a few nights on the nearby campsite, wandering the area. The scale of these things is insane. The moment you realize the main road is the infamous torch parade ground is mind-blowing.

[@scottburns2600]

Amazing how those engineers blew that thing up without taking the entire roof off

[@NoonyJW]

@Manjeet singh still calling it a swastika just because your crappy attitude 😂

[@ohisux9389]

Not really

[@ohisux9389]

@Manjeet singh Hitler was an incarnation of Vishnu. Not even joking

[@smiller3995]

Are you guys High or something

[@AA-ke5cu]

Its called a shaped charge; not every explosion is a fire cracker. You can always tell who the uneducated and clueless are.

[@schmolty1]

Great video...as always. Just a comment on a term used in the video. The "Reichsparteitag" mentioned in the video does not mean "Reich Party Day", but rather the "Reich Party Congress". The word Tag in German does mean day, but it can also mean to get together or congress (verb). A Tagung is a conference or congress and this is the meaning used here. To "tag", means to meet or get together. Just thought this might interest some.

[@SeverityOne]

Good to know. I've always wondered about the etymology of words like Reichstag, Landtag and Bundestag.

[@Bangkok-ik1fp]

Like tag-a-long?

[@garypulliam3740]

Reference: 2:30

[@derin111]

Like today’s Bundestag

[@thEannoyingE]

Didn’t know that, always thought it was day.

[@goler6477]

This guy makes history so interesting and easy to follow. I wish he could have his own history channel show

[@opiecunningham1570]

There is a History Channel?

[@AimForMyHead81]

Why does he need a show when he has a youtube channel?

[@letsburn00]

Sadly, this gets 1/10th the viewers as people bringing fake old crap into dodgy pawn stores. Companies do their thing. At least we have this, timeghost and Historymatters.

[@coimbralaw]

Huh? Why? He already has his own channel here.

[@FourOf92000]

The History Channel doesn't deserve him.

[@thegarz1963]

I possess a Nazi flag that was on a lamppost in or near the Zeppelin field. A friend who was a US Army soldier brought it back and his wife gave it to me after he passed away in 2008. I plan to get permission to return it to the Dokumentzentrum museum in Nuremberg when the pandemic is over . I will do it in my late friends’ memory: Sgt. Bill Burdine who was wounded there in 1945.

[@BigLisaFan]

While your intent is honourable, I wonder what they will do with it? I think displaying it would be against the law in Germany, but you have a very historic item. Have you written down its story for provenance and history?

[@rishisagar5026]

Hey buddy I'm a massive history buff any chance I could put in a cheeky bid ?

[@hansdietrich83]

@@BigLisaFan Displaying for historical preservation, art and history is allowd. You just can't use the symbol in suport of the idiology or just for fun. There is an ongpinh discussion why movies can show it amd be called art, while games lile wolfenstein, that clearly predict the nazis as the enemy dont fall into the same category.

[@BigLisaFan]

@@hansdietrich83 Thank you for that.

[@georgschmidt5281]

@@hansdietrich83 True I Have seen the Nazi flags in museums and Nazi insignia on aircraft and other military equipment in both German and the USA.

[@drquack4213]

Finally a high quality history channel that provides actual footage, narration, and discussion in the comment section

[@guilty_mulburry5903]

I remember this scene used to be in the ending of nearly every Call of Duty

[@votanameas6173]

I first saw this in Call of Duty 2.

[@sadsnoop620]

Until world at war that was

[@blackhatfreak]

Medal of Honor wants a word.

[@0HOON0]

They really fed us the narrative from every possible angle.

[@efeerkac8059]

CoD 5 World at War vibes...

[@Life_Is_Torture0000]

Fascinating video. I knew about the blowing up of a large swastika, but I had always assumed it was the Soviets who did it. Great video, Mark! You could easily give lessons to the History Channel on how real documentaries should be made.

[@PantherBlitz]

I too always pictured the Red Army blowing it up, despite the fact that I know where Nuremburg is and who captured it. I guess that my mind superimposed the images of the Zeppelinfeld and Reichstag together.

[@TM-jd2sv]

I was about to make the same comment. There’s alway something new to learn about WW2.

[@garypulliam3740]

@@PantherBlitz Same here.

[@MrYc97]

@Manjeet singh nobody cares

[@Markle2k]

@Manjeet singh It predates Hinduism. The Nazis stole from all of humanity. And yes, it is called Swastika, no matter how many threads you spam your defense in.

[@yindyamarra]

The scene of the 3 men walking down thousands of soldiers is just a scary thing to see, so much power

[@jimshoe402]

POWER it's called .....

[@jessepolka]

I was stationed at Soldiers' Field an AAF for patrolling the Czechoslovakia border fall 1967 through 1968. Our runway was just around the corner from the left side of the stadium. On our days off we would often go over there and 'poke around' at the site. It was huge to me especially when standing in the speaker's box. To look out from the stadium it seemed a 1/2 mile to the next structure. The stadium and our airfield runway was made of marble . We had the only 'marble runway' in the world as noted in the pilot's NOTAM. Our operations center was not so glamorous, It was a couple of steel Quonset huts and an old frame structure. We had second hand Huey's and some fixed wing a/c. The rumor of the swastika for us that Patton had it blown up by a Sherman Tank. Of course that was wrong but it was an exciting rumor. We were quartered at Merrill Barracks in Nuremberg about 2 miles away. Often we walked back through the Dutzendyke park and ate sausages 'mit brochen' on our way to the barracks. I had good duty in Germany and the people were friendly too. That was long ago. Thanks Mark for the great video.

[@littlejohnny9439]

you were lucky to be there instead of humping thru the jungle looking for Charlie! Early 68 is when the Tet offensive was raging

[@jackjohnsen8506]

You were My replacement, as I was there from May23, 1966 to July 28th 1967. I was stationed At William O Darby Kasserrn

[@donhaywood6542]

@@jackjohnsen8506 Jack, did you work out of Soldiers Field?

[@jackjohnsen8506]

@@donhaywood6542 NO, I worked in a US Army Dental Lab, in the little town of Furth, not far away. The 564th Medical detachment, a branch of the 20th Station Hospital. We had about 25 enlisted men and two officers, who were both Dentists. we had about 20 German and french civilians. No Guard, no KP, , no working on weekends,...it was like Having a civilian job Drive to work, get into your covering, over your Whites, turn on your equipment, get your cup of Coffee, and listen to to AFN Radio, or Radio Luxenberg, for rock and roll. My only work was making dentures and partials, and cleaning one toilet, for five days, once every two months. We carried our pass with us, ate in the Hospital patient dining room, and everyone had their own car. I lived in a huge room with three other guys, and we all had wall lockers to give us 100% privacy. One friend even had a completely stocked bar in his room, as He was a Bartender in the officers club. Lots of fun for 14 months and three days, with a 37 day leave at Christmas....war is hell! LOL

[@johnmv1140]

I Aprecciate how the explosion is synched up with the intro theme

[@Sarnarath]

Watch the intro at 1.75x speed

[@Socialistdemon]

@@Sarnarath thx

[@muuuuuud]

To be fair, nazi swastikas being destroyed go well with everything. ;)

[@swigsty6583]

@@muuuuuud but Buddhist swastikas being blown up are not fine

[@georgschmidt5281]

It was dumb to destroy it would be worth millions today

[@davemicrowave1311]

0:14 today the "Rock im Park" Music festival takes place at this location, the "Zeppelinfeld". I was several time there, still impressing.

[@micsunday14]

Ive

[@glenchapman3899]

As much as the Nazis personified evil, they knew how to build impressive buildings

[@Octopetala]

@Manjeet singh shut up

[@VOTEREPUBLICANS594]

This should be taught in our schools. So we never forget the reasons why and the cost of life. Thank you Mark for time and effort. History forgotten is history to be repeated!

[@SierraWesternDrake010]

My Great Grandfather Richard Gwyn was one of the men who demolished the swastika at Nurenburg. He was in the Army Core of Engineers. He brought back a baseball sized hunk of mangled metal (I think it was brass) that ws once part of the swastika, although after the demolition it was unrecognizeable.

[@mrbig4532]

Was the army core of engineers a big unit ? I can’t find anything about them on the whole internet.I mean I find endless websites about the army corp of engineers but nothing about the unit in your comment. Maybe they were classified and just went around blowing stuff up in Germany. Even the most secret military units are exposed on the internet so it must of been like a top top top secret military unit for it to be this hidden for so many years.

[@rishav_killerx6011]

The Intro music is Already learnt in my mind... it's soo cool

[@svart_kors]

Same here, everything Mark does is pure gold.

[@baronvonbeedy7987]

Its like the BBC World at War intro song.....etched.

[@supaloc]

Same here

[@yourstruly4817]

Dum dumidumi dum dumidumi dum dum dum

[@iceman4311]

What is the song

[@Weirdude777]

Yet again proving why you're one of the best history channels out there. Keep up the work, Dr. Felton!

[@williamyoung9401]

How was the American flag over the Nuremburg symbol missed in history class growing up? University, too! (8:22) I went to Nuremburg when I was a kid. You can still see the faint outline of paint embedded in the front-center wall where you can faintly see a large swastika, red, black and white, like it's part of the concrete itself. And to have stood where Hitler gave speeches...it was so creepy.

[@katemaloney4296]

Mark Felton: German resistance was heavy, fanatical, but not coherent. Me: Well, that pretty much sums up Hitler's reign in a nutshell.

[@mohammedcohen]

...Nurnberg is a beautiful city...it was completely rebuilt post war...I was stationed in Illesheim from 8 Nov '71 - 18 Jul '74 and visited that town just about every weekend...you could tell where the walls had been repaired because the recent work didn't have the grime of centuries - there were no visible ruins by the time I was there.

[@gonkmaster717]

The intro music has become iconic.

[@monspiette6886]

Felton drip

[@lonewolf._.-]

True

[@Lerppunen]

Perfect for war documentaries.

[@pagansbasin6657]

Funnily enough, it’s just one of the stock songs from imovie (the default editor on apple products)

[@negergreger666]

I love the fact that there are 800+ comments just TWO hours after a new release by Mark Felton. Says something about the quality of the man’s content and the devotion of his followers!

[@gangisspawn1]

Mark really does make A+ quality content, consistently.

[@water-qj1my]

These comments can get quite disgusting though

[@theyracemesohardchair]

It’s 800 fake accounts just to boost the algorithm…

[@FrankenHerzEuropas]

Hi Mark! I work as a historian at the Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds (which is being remodelled at the moment and so my workplace has shifted a bit). We don't say "Reich Party Day" even though that would be a literal translation. The swastika was gold-plated and many guests and collegues ask me wether the Americans scratched that gold off. Problem is: We can't say for sure. They probably did... At least no records were kept about that. Your videos are excellent, by the way! Keep up the good work.

[@dmeinhertzhagen8764]

If I had been a Sherman tank crew commander within main gun range of that giant symbol, there’s no way I could have resisted shooting it in pieces.

[@HistoryHustle]

Didn't know you haven't yet made a video about this topic. It's a typical niche Felton topic that grabs your attention.

[@HistoryHustle]

@Fabian Kirchgessner Of course, great content here!

[@Glaciate1]

Hey mark after 37 days we finished that call of war game you set up and my coalition was victorious :)

[@user-hc8zm4xf8y]

While stationed in Germany, U.S. Air Force, in 1980; I went to a large outdoor concert in Nuremberg. I was a WWII history buff and was amazed to see that the concert was at the Zeppelin Feld arena! I hadn't known it was still (partially) intact. I stood on the grand podium while AC/DC played. It had been the "Highway To Hell" indeed. Love Mark Felton's videos - clear, concise and sympathetic to the tragic losses suffered by all.

[@jackeroo27]

I was stationed with the 11th ACR in '72-'76 in Bad Kissingen. We made many off duty trips to Nuremberg to see the remaining history of the war in that area. I stood on the speakers platform at the Zeppelinfeld where you could imagine the thousands of German troops who had stood the field to hear their leader's speeches...yet you could still see the fading 3rd Army insignia painted on the walls of the now vacant field. I appreciated the history of the war then, but now with age, the plethora of war footage now available on line, and with the detailed explanations of Mark's presentations, it has so much more meaning not just about the war itself, but more importantly how it came to be! Thank you Mark!

[@donhaywood6542]

I was there in '67-'68. I also remember the third army blue circles at the sports platz. I often wonder why the third army left it's mark when the 7th army took the city and later became the occupying force. I was in the 7th army at that time.

[@paladin3806]

The destruction of that beautiful medieval city is so sad

[@__seeker__]

Agreed. Such a shame that it was necessary.

[@wadehampton1737]

@@__seeker__ It wasn't necessary. It was an act of vengeance. It would have fallen soon without assault. They did it, just like at Dresden.....because they could and they wanted to.

[@redaug4212]

@@wadehampton1737 If it would have fallen without assault, then why did the Germans defend the city after it was bombed and rendered useless?

[@redaug4212]

I'm glad they rebuilt the city in its original image, instead of covering it with glass and concrete monoliths like many other post-war cities.

[@__seeker__]

@@wadehampton1737 People like you always say stupid things like that about war. “Oh this and that was over the top, it was ending anyway...” Yeah well guess what. There’s a huge difference between something that’s “ending” vs. something that’s been ENDED. I’m curious how you would feel if you’re loved ones were dying trying to end a war someone else started. Should it drag on for another 6 months? Or should it be dealt with permanently right NOW?

[@martinonderdonck7260]

I started my career as an junior export sales rep with a UK toy manufacturer up north in 1993. My tutor was an elderly gentleman Mr Wright. Every year we would attend the Nuremberg Toy Fair and he would be visiting the finest restaurants in town with his guide. Once looking for a particular place, he asked directions and a Nuremberg man said: I see you are not familiar with the town. He had to bite his tongue. I later learned he was a tailgunner in a Lancaster bomber who had bombed Nuremberg. He never spoke of it. I asked him if it was true and what he flew. He just said ‘Lancaster’. Mr Wright loved Nuremberg. God bless him.

[@Ado555555]

That generation is/was just full of amazing stories

[@stevenkaplan9945]

I love watching that damn thing blow up

[@michaelporzio7384]

During the Cold War, the Headquarters of the US Second Armored Cavalry Regiment was located at Merrell Barracks near Zeppelin Field. Merrill Barracks was a former SS barracks. We used to run to Zeppelin field and do PT there back in the mid 1980s. During that time, the bullet and cannon impacts in the walls were still visible from the fighting in 1945. There were rumors that there were underground tunnels that led from Merrell to Zeppelin Field. Joseph Merrell, from Staten Island, NY, for whom the barracks were renamed, was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for actions taken on April 18, 1945. The Germans were fighting right up until the end. Thanks Dr. Felton!

[@donhaywood6542]

Michael, the bullet holes at Merrell Barracks were amazing! I was in the Aviation Company 2ndAC back in '67-'68. We were billeted on the first floor to the right of the main entrance. I also recall the rumors about the flooded lower levels and I did see a couple of barred passage stairways going down into those places. Curiosity made me want to get 'down there' and look around but the other rumor was that it was all booby trapped! Did you have anything to do with Feucht Army Airfield? I was a controller there.

[@Wally-H]

I visited the site one February about 15 years or so ago. At that time you could still freely walk around on the grandstand, including Hitler's speech platform. It is a fascinating place. It was very cold and snow was on the ground - there was literally nobody else around. Nowadays I believe it's all fenced off and you can't go on the stand anymore. The field itself is now used as a training facility by Nuremberg FC, who have their stadium a short distance away in the park. One thing you didn't mention is the fact there was a museum inside the building at one time - it was still there when I visited, but closed on the day of my visit. Bit of an aside - I went out to dinner with a former mayor of the city and his wife (I was on a business trip). Once he'd had a couple of drinks, the gentleman produced a black and white photograph of himself in his Wehrmacht uniform and proceeded to tell me that Hitler had some 'good ideas.' The conversation seemed to be taking a sinister turn at that point, so I ate up my strudel and left!

[@AtheistOrphan]

Cool story.

[@nigelbradshaw8266]

Yes you can still go on the steps and stand where Hitler once stood.

[@oghaki5097]

You left at the best part?

[@josephclark4999]

@@nigelbradshaw8266 That place is amazing. Would love to go there. Thanks for the stories,

[@Wally-H]

@@oghaki5097 Well what was I supposed to say in answer to that statement? Fortunately we were out with several other people so I was able to find an excuse to engage someone else before we left. He knew I was a journalist, and we'd been chatting about nationalism (a subject I studied a lot at university). At one point he said "if you ever stop working for your publisher, you contact me and I can get you work." I think he'd somehow got the wrong impression about my political views from our conversation. Naturally that made me feel uncomfortable. He was actually there because he and his wife ran a B&B in the city and some of our advertising clients were staying with them. I didn't want to get into anything conversationally that might cause all sorts of issues later.

[@swift9417]

Its sad to see that the war destroyed so many historical cities all over europe. Today Nürnberg is only a shadow of its former beauty.

[@rajkobjelica4905]

Tough.

[@AleCharlie]

Chat shit get hit

[@carlosrivas1629]

the swastika has nothing to do with Germany anyways, it was the easiest symbol ever to dispose of and the Buddhist can kept it and there are just enough idiots who will think a 1000 Buddhist temple is a nazi thing.

[@MrKakibuy]

@@carlosrivas1629 yes well but when people today in the west use the swastika, 99% of the times its NOT about indian buddhism.

[@riograndedosulball248]

And what the war didn't destroy, the governments after did... Can you imagine if all the big cities in Europe looked as beautiful as Vienna?...

[@sandysutherland2182]

As we would say in Australia; “Blew it to the shithouse!”

[@schizoidboy]

I'm sure some Americans might say "Boom baby!"

[@D88111]

Of as Americans say today, take the knee 😂

[@lovethesmellofracefuelinth7374]

Dad was with the 3rd infantry division and was there when they blew the giant swastika on top of Nuremberg stadium, as well as the raid on Eagle's nest and was the same division as Audie Murphy

[@snail415]

In 2018, I was fortunate to have stayed in Nuremberg for business and tour a lot of the places in this video. Such a dichotomy of a time. Christmasmarket festivities were underway, and my initial impressions weren’t looking backward in time. I went to the Nazi documentation museum as well, and traveled down to the Dachau museum later that week. Life-changing to say the very least. I wish every teenager could be afforded tours of both places; they would all grow up to be better people from it.

[@thegunslinger1363]

I would love to travel around Germany in the future. Because I'm a big history buff. Nuremberg being one of those places.

[@sandy_dandy_cotton_candy1221]

As a teenager I wish I could too

[@outrider425]

you grew into a better person because you looked at some old buildings? 😂

[@jimshoe402]

Waded ashore on Normandy Beach 2010 .IF u Look at what went on u would be a better yank,,

[@snail415]

@@outrider425If you are ever open-minded and fortunate enough to see history far from your homeland, you will, too.

[@richierich_]

In my city you still can see some of those eagles but of course without the swastika.

[@richierich_]

@@silentone6411 I agree in Hamburg are also many of those buildings that were built right after the war. They are depressing.

[@richierich_]

@JC Yep yes indeed

[@janknoblich4129]

I mean the eagle is still the national animal of germany

[@eselvonberlin]

@JC Yep evil nazi? ahaha, so what about good boys Soviet gulags, good boys yankee around the world since now, good boys globalists, good boys bankers...all angelic people 😇

[@stephencarroll9935]

@JC Yep it's actually quite shocking if you do some research on the whole thing

[@technologic21]

Dr. Felton does it again. Bravo sir, and thank you for history teachings.

[@nigelbradshaw8266]

You can still stand where Hitler once stood, look out across the zeppelin field and imagine what it must have been like all those years ago. An amazing experience.

[@Razendle]

@Manjeet singh are you high on something?

[@jmchez]

I watched a documentary by Stephen Fry, where he went to Nuremberg. He visited the site but stood below and to the side. He said that as a jew and a homosexual he could not stand on that spot. He just filmed tourists who had less emotional baggage than him looking giddy to stand there.

[@michaelstein8366]

@@jmchez I'm a Jew and I stood at the spot where Hitler addressed the masses (about 10 years ago). I was very proud to be there. At that moment. all the Nazis were turning in their graves.

[@Dan_C604]

@@michaelstein8366 promise me you ended your visit spitting on the floor. Nice touch to the disgusting nazi ideology.

[@MrTuftynut]

Another great WW2 video in the endless line of Mark Felton WW2 video stories. I just love this stuff and usually learn something completely new!

[@josephjose9100]

Truly an iconic image, and to add to it, the amazing storytelling by Dr. Felton

[@jq4t49f3]

Very true! A great pity though that KZbin should oblige him to resort to the indignity of sponsorship to earn a decent reward for his efforts. I skipped it in embarrassment :-(

[@josephjose9100]

@@jq4t49f3 true dude

[@DaveSCameron]

Not to mention you and your kin adding this slew of sycophantic statements, all goes together like a great stew!

[@jq4t49f3]

@@DaveSCameron Huh?

[@DaveSCameron]

@@jq4t49f3 Merely adding another factor to the lads list of Feltons Finesses..

[@Servoengr]

Thank you for the video. My father was in the 7th Army, 3 ID and was sitting out in front on the other side of the road with his squad when they blew that thing up. He brought back a small piece of it home with him. Said; "it was our boys (3 ID) what blow'd it up.".

[@jackzimmer6553]

Another great Mark Felton production! Always good to see a new one pop up in my feed…

[@stevenhale2935]

I think my afternoon coffee break might just have had an extension. Very powerful footage and an interesting story, thanks!

[@williammerkel1410]

I like the distinction made between the German and English pronunciation of Nuremburg, as many words do not translate well due to differences in how or which sounds are made either in the language or by the speaker.

[@AtheistOrphan]

True. Vienna/Wein is but another of dozens.

[@cooldudicus7668]

This makes me want to learn German. It just sounds cool. As an American kid in the 80s, I listened to some cool pop songs with German in them. Now I want to learn German so I can read primary source WW1 books in German.

[@raritania7581]

@Manjeet singh Wrong comment

[@josephstevens9888]

What timely work break on a muggy afternoon - the latest release from Mark Felton production! Good work Mark - you are a veritable bloodhound of military history sniffing out fascinating obscure stories from WW2.

[@josephstevens9888]

@Manjeet singh I wasn't debating the meaning and/or origins of the swastika. I was commenting on Mark Felton's work. Are you sure you have the right person?

[@Berserkwun1]

And I thought that after a half lifetime of absorbing every bit of film footage and videos of WWII events I had seen it all. I have, of course, seen the production footage of the swastika being blow up, but I have never seen the background footage and US Army awards ceremony that preceded the destruction of the swastika. Dr. Felton surpasses expectations yet again.

[@cangoxunchained]

i can only imagine historians in the future analyzing Marcs Videos and declaring the intros as nostalgia.

[@joklbauer7974]

Mit dem mois profilbild

[@listigerfuchs9806]

@@joklbauer7974 hehe

[@blackhatfreak]

*Mark

[@uranium7640]

I didnt know it had a story before, thank you for sharing it!

[@morenofranco9235]

Thanks, Mark. Everything I never needed to know - but am being forced to find out. Another GREAT presentation. Yours is one of my 3 favorite history channels on KZbin.

[@Mark-yy2py]

Reason 245 as to why you are the best historian out there, Dr. Felton.

[@Ian-nl9yd]

"b-but it's part of our history!"

[@deez1321]

funny thing if it was a hammer and sickle or a a picture of stalin, the very same people who "preach history" would would be supporting its destruction. the irony

[@davemarine01]

Ive stood on that podium, pretty trippy experience for any history buff. The whole thing is made of brick, but Herr Speer had it rendered in plaster with lines drawn into it to make it look like it was all made from granite and marble

[@Wally-H]

Me too. Eerie place in the middle of a cold February day, when you're there on your own.

[@AA-ke5cu]

Deja Vu.

[@jeremydittmer9175]

Glad I found this channel. You're awesome!

[@MikeOBrien1945]

I lived there for several years back in the early 70’s. A very fascinating place and a beautifully restored old city…and certainly a place of strong emotions.

[@MrXdmp]

Thank you Dr. Felton!

[@awquinlaful]

This intro music randomly pops into my head all the time.

[@matt8104]

It's my ringtone!

[@Spongebrain97]

I think the best intro was over that vidoe of that alligator stolen by the Russians from a German zoo. It opens with the alligator roaming around slowly in its enclosure with that music in the background 🤣

[@1JamesMayToGoPlease]

Thank you for the comforting video, Dr. Felton! :)

[@DFWFreestyle]

I just keep watching older videos that I have already seen until a new video comes out. Thank you sir

[@The3Lego3Freak]

Just as I'm eating my lunch 💪 love the content Mark

[@RollerCoasterLineProductions]

Me too LOL!

[@ishaanssquare4871]

Best History Teacher, I Wish He Would Have Been Mine School History Teacher!!

[@arpanghosh884]

You might need an English teacher as well..

[@RIPStudioOfficial]

you do realize that he makes learning this stuff really easy because he would use pictures and videos? the pictures and videos will also be able to simplify the telling. he also wouldnt be able to use the projector for videos and pictures because he doesnt upload daily, if he doesnt upload daily that means that the videos take awhile to make (at most 2 - 3 days) and theres a good chance that history lessons would be taught every day. whatsmore is that the topics you will be learning would most likely be completely restricted towards the textbooks, which means the topics you will be learning are most likely about colonization, what your country achieved, or basically local/national history, WW2 will probably be rarely taught. so in the end there will be very little difference if mark was your history teacher

[@wibbletthewobblet9558]

Mein too...

[@anthonyreed480]

Mein*

[@benclarke8699]

Only if he started the class by marching in while playing his opening theme tune on a trumpet!

[@stevenhershman2660]

This video was so interesting that I forgot about any troubles going on in my life. Very Educational and enjoyable. Best channel on You Tube.

[@sevenriversb3704]

soldiers: sir how do we take that down? US commander: BLOW IT UP OBVIOUSLY

[@twt000]

Engineer........Yes Sir...he he.

[@jonathanvelasquez5490]

As usual I learned something new today. Thank you

[@Gunny-nq1pb]

Outstanding content, thanks for your attention to accuracy.

[@kevinaguilar7541]

@Manjeet singh shut up kid

[@GarioTheRock]

This was exceptionally fascinating. But then again, all of your videos are! I hum your themes from throughout the years, I thank you for all you have provided this world. And might I just say, I do hope you find time for some leisure this summer :) Of all people I know, you are amongst the council of those who most deserve to have his feet up for at least a week ;)

[@jeffwoodland6508]

Blowing up that massive marble swastika at Nuremberg stadium is my favorite image from WWII. Bravo Mark Felton for adding history to this moment.

[@kgblagden]

It's actually shot very well too, with little pieces raining down on the foreground. Very dynamic and well composed. Whoever chose the shot knew their shit or was just really lucky because they could've easily just shot it dead on with the swastika in center screen and we wouldn't see the debris bouncing around on the ground or the clear separation between the upper and lower screen with the building itself.

[@chamonix4658]

Yep, for that reason I always thought it was a model from a movie or something.

[@anaconda_mma]

It's very simple; I see a new Mark Felton Video. I watch and like.

[@bethhentges]

I like, then watch.

[@karlepaul6632]

Honestly, I always wondered about this actual moment, and this is the first time I saw anything in regards SPECIFICALLY to it. Good job Mark!!! 👍👍

[@snoop8664]

I’ve been watching your videos for over a year and you’ve literally never disappointed me! You always tell the stories in your own non bias ways which I appreciate a lot, I wish you were my teacher in high school😂

[@gleisbauer25]

I‘m so happy the ancient part of my hometown was somehow spared from bombing. There was an attempt late in the war, but somehow the bombers didn’t hit the city, instead they dropped on Farmland.

[@amrush4461]

Welche Stadt?

[@gleisbauer25]

@@amrush4461 Stade

[@bbe3034]

My father-in-law is 95 and fought the Nazis at the Battle of the Bulge. He was 19. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@vedranlastric3632]

He fought the wrong enemy

[@hunter35474]

Please thank him on behalf of the world.

[@kylehankins5988]

​@@vedranlastric3632 they were the right enemy, they were taking over Europe and commiting a mass genocide (not to say the soviet leaders weren't savages tho)

[@batch1638]

Ask him to recollect his experience. Near lifes' end, he may be inclined to talk about it. My uncle was first-wave Utah Beach and told me some on his deathbed. He never spoke of it prior to that

[@hunterahall3681]

As always fantastic video Mr. Felton.

[@3v068]

Mark, Thank you so much for giving me a new fire under my butt for learning about WWII history. Your channel has been immensely helpful.

[@MelchizedekKohen]

FYI your probably watching the best channel on KZbin.

[@falloutcosplay8802]

I got told by my history teacher I would never amount to anything now I workout at a museum in my home town appreciate every video that you put out why can't more teachers be like you

[@jimblack5153]

One of your more interesting entries Mark. Well Done!

[@ITIsFunnyDamnIT]

Thank You for the story behind this. I learn so much from your channel.

[@whitechapel8959]

My great great grandfather and great great grandmother were happy beyond measure when this video was showed. People always seem to forget, the Nazies invaded Germany before any other country.

[@dreamscape9295]

The History Channel: is content with itself Mark Felton: "Allow me to introduce myself."

[@marcpell133]

Tremendous work as per usual Dr. Felton.

[@AngeloPerfili]

Thank you so much Mr. Felton! I have seen the spectacle of the swastika being blown up a dozen times in my life but never knew the whole story. Once again, you knock it out of the ballpark for me....

[@johnsouto5221]

I can watch this all day long, it never gets tiring.

[@Grandizer8989]

Gen Patton sent the smaller metal swastika from the alter home after the war, where it sat outside at his wife’s house in Hamilton, Ma for years. Her daughter in law got sick of people asking her why she has a giant swastika in her yard, so she gave it to collector Ken Rendell, who is the Michael Jordan of WW2 artifact collectors. It was in his museum for about 20 years until he sold it to Estée Lauder’s grandson, whose plans to open a museum in WDC has been derailed. It is now in a warehouse, presumably next to The Arc of the Covenant

[@vk2ig]

I bet the Ark has a good rumble every now and then when it detects the nearby swastika.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Cool story. And I bet it’s being examined by top men. Top..............men.

[@rosycandyhaven]

Where it is being guarded by “Top Men”

[@briannat1086]

Another amazing report. Big salute to General Patch. Loved the troop review, final demolition.

[@williammiller8317]

Another great installment Mark, thanks!

[@monsieurcommissaire1628]

This image never gets old to me. It's symbolism, that of the hard-fought triumph over tyranny, will always be relevant to those who love liberty.

[@lordnandor3274]

STFU.

[@CLARKE176]

Not really since large parts of Europe came under Stalins rule.

[@melvinbullock3392]

I was stationed there in 1983-85 .... love that city

[@Leon_der_Luftige]

A bit ugly though.

[@ichrisho]

Excellent presentation every time Mark.

[@BrettL250]

Thank you so much Mark. Wonderful channel. Better then the History Channel in the 1990’s.

[@denvan3143]

I remember seeing this footage on TV as a child. I didn’t know what was about to happen as I watched that swastika that seemed to leer like a malevolent specter - and then there was the explosion, a cloud and falling debris. That said it all. The seemingly invincible might of the third Reich was was destroyed in an instant.

[@tomtom21194]

Mark can you talk about operation Ariel? Forgotten extraction of British and French troops left behind at dunkirk? From all sorts of ports in France, my gradad drove all along the coast in an ambulance trying to find a boat, dodging the Germans until finally getting boarded into a coal boat at Brest and getting back to England.

[@tomtom21194]

@Manjeet singh I think you replied to the wrong person... might want to be more civil than calling someone a moron.

[@sudhindrabukkebag7502]

Thank you for compilation and presentation.

[@mkbarber65]

Having travelled through Germany for work over the last decade, it was a very powerful feeling to stand on that field and look at the building several years ago when I was in Nierenberg. Thank you for this piece Mr. Felton it filled in a lot of blanks.

[@CipiRipi-in7df]

Been there last year. And stood in the very place Hitler used to stay and deliver his speeches. It was a spooky feeling, like history flowing through your veins. P.S. My brother took me a picture from the same angle as one of Hitler's official photos on Zeppelinplatz. Both had an eerie resemblance. 😆