Erasing Hitler - How The Allies Cleansed Germany of Nazism

[@Ghost_of_Michael_Collins]

Dr. Felton, here in Ireland yesterday I heard a particular intro music blaring from the history class down the hall. Your videos are so informative that they are being used in classrooms! Keep up the good work!

[@jakethetool698]

Mark Felton has helped me stir an interest in history, from my teenaged son. I read some criticism, in the comment section of a recent video, but in my eyes, this channel is significant in both the preservation and awareness of our past.

[@captus2975]

Well Mick how's the afterlife after the irregulars got ya

[@CatnamedMittens]

@@jakethetool698 which video?

[@leahmpalzer]

I watch your videos with my mom.. I'm 36 and she's 74 and we really enjoy them. Thanks

[@Vingul]

Based username. I just uploaded some Chieftains tunes, best ever Irish group imo. Please pardon the shilling and check it out if that's your sort of thing.

[@shoup2882]

I was in the US Army, stationed in West Berlin as part of the Berlin Brigade from 1983 until 1987. One of the barracks used by our Combat Support Battalion had been a German barracks during the war and still had the rifle racks inbedded in the walls of the hallways. Over all the doorways were concrete German Eagles clutching swastikas, you could still see where the swastikas had been chiseled out of the eagles claws.

[@ianmuir6784]

That’s not uncommon the British Army used lots of German army barracks I was in a ss barracks in Munster

[@gwinster]

Same in the British sector, all of our lockers in the workshops had swastikas stamped on the back.

[@Mishima505]

The old Campbell Barracks in Heidelberg has two eagles on the front gate, here too you can see where the swastika has been removed from their claws.

[@ivanmonahhov2314]

Pretend de-nazification in the west. At same time people who put Hitler in power were pardoned, like Krupp and other industrialists. Companies like Rhinemetal would soon return to their trade. And myth of clean Whermacht was forged.

[@JoelJurvakainen]

@@ivanmonahhov2314 I suppose the clean Wehrmacht myth was a bit necessary in order to build a new army for Germany, the Bundeswehr. Or at least, the allies saw it that way.

[@shanemoore8055]

I came to Germany in early 1972 and stayed until early 1978. I only ever found one swastika during that whole time. It was on a belt buckle at a drum school. The front of the belt buckle was crudely covered up with molten lead, but you could clearly see the eagle and swastika reverse stamped on the back. I quickly discovered that the topic of WW2 was strictly taboo. A lot of people over 40 seemed miserable and bitter to me. That was my humble observation and experience.

[@Halbi1987]

I think you will find more Israeli Jews who like Hitler than people in Germany. Germany has really enught of this guy from Autstria.

[@flixri726]

@@Halbi1987 This statement is at least problematic. There are still people here in germany who aren't against Hitler, his Ideas or Nazism in general. But, the general public really doesnt want anybody like that.

[@deltanovember1672]

No wonder. They were smashed twice in a little over thirty years.

[@johnholliday5874]

In casual conversation I happened to quote the first words of the Nazi-era national anthem in front of my buddy's German girlfriend and she had a fit.

[@TrueBrit1]

My brother-in-law used to live and work very near the site of one of the dam busters' raids. They have a small museum/memorial located there paying tribute to all those that died in the raids. Inside there was a small cinema that played documentaries on a loop of the attacks and resulting devastation on the area and the people. My sister and her husband (both English with basic understanding of German) went in to see it and watched the films. They said they felt incredibly self conscious after the glares they received when they spoke in English. Apparently the locals in that particular area have a huge hatred of us Brits for the death and destruction caused by the raids. They probably have a point, but so do countless millions around the world that have a similar hatred for the Germans for many reasons.

[@stevenleslie8557]

I remember as a kid in the 70s my dad and I couldn't get enough of WW2 documentaries. They were all black and white and the narrator was usually a British guy. When I first saw a Dr Felton video on KZbin I thought for sure it was from my past. Well done, sir. You cover more material than I've ever seen in my life on WW2.

[@tomloft2000]

I think you're referring to The World at War, which was usually narrated by Laurence Olivier.

[@stevenleslie8557]

@@tomloft2000 that was one of them!

[@KeyboardBuster]

Stephan, yeah the Brits DO like to gloat and windbag about taking down Nazi Germany and pecking them to death in documentaries. They only talk trash because they "won". And by nature, the Brits DO love the sound of their own snooty stuffy melodramatic voices.

[@bobjohnson1710]

As late as the mid 1970's here in South Louisiana, steel oxygen bottles from the local welding supply of a German owned company were stamped into the metal with an emblem that looked like a square with a plus (+) sign in the middle or a four pane window. I asked the welding supply truck driver what the emblem meant and he said the oxygen bottles had been manufactured in Germany before the war and that the emblems were originally swastikas. After the war, the swastikas were defaced by taking a square metal stamp and positioning over the swastika to make it look like a window. Every once in a while, I found an oxygen bottle with the swastika still intact that hadn't been defaced yet.

[@raypurchase801]

Probably worth good money to a collector.

[@jonhelmer8591]

@@raypurchase801 Everyone thought that, but you were the one who had to say it!

[@raypurchase801]

@@jonhelmer8591 That's my good deed for today.

[@dunz6711]

I’ll take one buddy 👍🏻 no but really I will

[@ussliberty4631]

To find who rules over you.....

[@lablackzed]

It would be interesting if he did a section on German embassies at the end of the war and what happened to them and which one was the last to lower the swastika plus what happened to their diplomatic staff .

[@grizwoldphantasia5005]

That WOULD be fascinating.

[@Exodon2020]

Short story. The declaration of unconditional surrender signed by Germany included a section stating Germany would hand over all state business - domestic as well as foreign - to the Allies. German Embassies situated in countries that were at war with Germany were already dissolved, their staff taken into custody. This process was now repeated in neutral countries as well. Embassy staff was then released and deported back to Germany throughout the following years. After Germany regained the ability to represent itself internationally, most of the old Embassies were actually returned to either of the two German states - often times with an almost unchanged core staff moving back in.

[@Ekatjam]

They auctioned off all of the belongings in the embassy in London, I believe after the war .

[@sk8parkmike]

@@Exodon2020 Europa: the last battle

[@dragospahontu]

What happened with the embassy in Moscow?

[@missnevenka]

I don’t think the Hitler Youth crowd could ever be de-nazified. My mom was friends with a German immigrant in Chicago who was former Hitler youth. For the rest of his life he always expressed his undying love for Hitler. In fact, he knew a sizable group of other likeminded German immigrants in the city who’d gather annually at a German owned restaurant to celebrate their Fuhrur’s birthday. As far as I’m aware, this went on at least through the early 1990s.

[@therealspeedwagon1451]

I unfortunately share a birthday with Hitler

[@billpetersen298]

@@therealspeedwagon1451 Only one, birthday?

[@stephanpayne1841]

Long Beach, CA. Immigrant Nazis were still celebrating ShikleGrubers bday in the late 1980s. It was called Carls Little Bavaria off of 4th St. Near the Jewish ghetto of Belmont Shore (Oh the irony). Disgusting place had a nice shuffleboard table but they made the mistake of referring to a Black friend of ours with a German slur he replied in perfect German that they could all screw Grubers mother. We continued to take their money at the shuffleboard table for a few years. We didn't accept Deutschmarks.

[@snakes3425]

As hard as it is to say, growing up and knowing nothing else other than Hitler's tyranny and enduring Nazi brainwashing from such a young age it was impossible to fully de-nazify the generation who came of age in the 20s, 30s, and 40s.

[@fenrislegacy]

@@therealspeedwagon1451 Don't be sad :-( You also share your birthday with French Emperor Napoléon III, Italian painter Botticelli, George Takei & Andy Serkis :-)

[@leebrucke8248]

Here is a short story of my German relatives who were farmers in Kaunas, Lithuania. Two great uncles who were in there 60s were drafted in volksshturm with their hunting rifles and despite the dire situation on the front they still felt to do their duty as per my Grandmother. After Red army reoccupied the area one surviving great uncle was arrested and probably shot. Their farm was confiscated.

[@DonDon45-i5h]

good

[@gregoryz6545]

@@DonDon45-i5h swine

[@DonDon45-i5h]

@@gregoryz6545 mad bro?

[@exrk1647]

@@gregoryz6545 Batlofascist malding

[@OscarOSullivan]

Lee Brucke did they do it to protect their family

[@raedwulf61]

10 years ago, I was teaching at a university in Germany. One of my students knew an old lady who had a portrait of Hitler in her home. Also, I knew someone who had a wardrobe from the late 1930s. Inside was the maker's label complete with a swastika. Lots of things escaped the purge, I am sure.

[@BichaelStevens]

@@janee7995 Good old days???

[@Cyberspine]

@@BichaelStevens I guess being on the losing end of the most devastating war in human history is their idea of the Good old days. I can't imagine what their idea of a bad time is, though.

[@janee7995]

@@Cyberspine bad times is, what we live through now and back in 2008. Just because the good old days didn't have the right ending.

[@istoppedcaring6209]

oh they did, but these are tiny things, in truth removing symbols can work a bit but in the end well race blaming movements didn't start or end with the nazis

[@johnorsomeone4609]

@@Cyberspine hang on now- I wouldn’t rush to take obvious troll bait so quickly. I’d bet you a small fortune that “Ja Nee” is not German and after 70 years since the end of the war, someone spewing that variety of anti-Semitism is far more likely to be American. I’m American and I have no doubt about what I just said.

[@Paolur]

Here in Norway my family owns an old hunting cabin in the mountains. During the occupation the germans would go around the mountains inspecting cabins for resistance activity and then carve swastikas in all the cabins they'd been. In ours its carved into the side of the bunk bed. Also my grandpa has an old mauser rifle the germans left behind that has a swastika incised and he still uses it for hunting with no issues, I guess you can't beat german engineering.

[@sudnoss]

That's cool

[@_OG420]

@@tommykirk3403 Don’t ever disrespect German Engineering again or u know what will happen

[@kalexandersen8950]

Thats very cool. Where in norway is this Cabin?

[@BennyNegroFromQueens]

Yea the Germans made a treaty with fallen angels for technology. That's why the the tech is so good.

[@JackofCubes]

That sounds sick (except the swastika part)

[@bonham1981]

For a long time there were Nazi items scattered through my family. Among other things, a copy of "Mein Kampf", a Hitler bust, and a Nazi party pin. The latter two were eventually handed over to a museum, when my grandparents passed away. The book sits on my parents bookshelf in the attic, as a reminder. Burning books or destroying them by any other means still has, and should always have, a very negative feel to it.

[@Sernival]

I recommend trying to get of a translation because if it's an original then having an unaltered version would provide some historical Clarity. It's impossible now even with the alleged accurate version

[@stnz908]

My German ancestors came to Canada in the 19th century, but I'm sure my cousins in Germany probably have some stuff from the Nazi era.

[@stnz908]

@🐻 Polaris Pleiades 🌟 If you don't care about historical "feelings", then you don't care about history repeating itself. Burning any book is an intellectual atrocity, in my opinion.

[@stnz908]

@🐻 Polaris Pleiades 🌟 oh, shut your fluffering gob...

[@ryanparker4996]

The allies burnt more books than the Nazis did

[@amys2650]

Love these documentaries and your channel. My grandfather was a paratrooper in the 82nd airborne division in WWII. 1943-1956. He was injured twice but never gave up. He brought home a German pistol, which he would never talk about.

[@E_Clampus_Vitus]

Your grandfather stole property that wasn’t his. ✅

[@AG77420]

@@E_Clampus_Vitusit was probably a nazi’s, it doesn’t matter

[@brndnwilks]

I was stationed in Schweinfurt during the last decade. I passed under some of that iconography everyday. Felt odd sleeping in former Nazi barracks. Thanks for another stellar video, Dr. Felton!

[@fluffyusa]

Were you stationed on main post Ledward? I was stationed on Conn from the end of 95'-Jan 97'. My first 2.5 years, I was stationed at Darby Kaserne in Fürth/Nuremberg before moving up to Schweinfurt.

[@brndnwilks]

@@fluffyusa Yeah, I was on Ledward. I was the last medic assigned to the post health clinic as the base was being decommissioned. It was a ghost town the last few months. Conn was shut down except for a store and some offices prior to that. Great base but now I think it's used for refuge halfway housing.

[@LuisRamirez-ex6yy]

You would be honored there.

[@user-pg9te8ug1j]

What made you fell odd to sleep there ? It was some buildings where +70y ago German soldiers were stationed, that's it - fear of ghosts ?

[@dalepeto9620]

Anybody know what Schweinfurt means??.......... pig crossing

[@stephenbridges2791]

My father was in a similar situation in Japan, at the end of the war. He said he had been told that the general thinking was that the occupation was going to be a long haul. He had been told that it would be about a generation (20 years or so) before the thinking of the people would even begin to change. I am sure the thinking in Europe was along similar lines. However, in Japan there wasn't really a Russian presence that had to be dealt with at the same time. So, perhaps his job was a little easier. Most that were alive back then are in their 90's and their influence isn't what it once was.

[@WillyEckaslike]

both the Japanese and the Germans had to be indoctrinated to believe that their people of the wartime era were evil.....u can see it today in the gutless weak soy boys calling themselves men...the allies did a good job and your countries are now to be absorbed into the coming new ... wuld order

[@SH_Hof]

@@WillyEckaslike It's unbelievable how brainwashed the average German is. The people here barely have an ounce of free will left. I'm pretty sure that the only country that has it worse is China. This comparison says a lot about the utterly broken spirit of german people.

[@highpath4776]

@@SH_Hof Confused by that comment, have a free thinking German in my Family (she married a British Diplomat), and worked with one who was a Student in the UK in the 1980s as a translater, have lots of contact with German Engineers and (mostly Calvanistic thinking) church members in Spain, have worked in both an international company with Germans that are educated to a PhD level , and with other clerical ones, and with three art creatives and art historians from various parts of Germany. In so far as they exclude the interwar period from their thinking far more than I do (dont mention the war ! ), because they look forward, not back.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

My father was on occupation duty after the war as well, and he told me they had no problems with the Japanese people and got along with them very well. Many of the guys on occupation duty actually felt sorry for the Japanese civilians who being lied to by the militarist government really had no idea what was going on until the B-29's showed up. Sometimes I think the occupying troops did a better job than they thought they did. Ever see that Japanese cooking show "Iron Chef?" They did a Chistmas show, complete with scenes of downtown Tokyo lit up for Christmas time! Unbelieveable!

[@mintheman7]

The difference is Germany owned up to its Nazi past fully but Japan never did. In fact, most younger Japanese are not taught much about WWII in schools and some Japanese text books even paint US as the aggressor. Yasukuni shrine for the Japanese war dead, where known Japanese war criminals are honored is still being visited by the prime minister every year. I can’t imagine the existence of the EU if the German chancellor still visits a temple where Hitler is being honored.

[@josephstevens9888]

I wonder how many former Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, and Kreigsmarine personnel hid away their uniforms for posterity sake?

[@silvadossantos6803]

In Brasil we got a joke: "was your father a electrician? Because I think I've find his work uniform..." Related to Nazi escapees that went here.

[@motleyhoople3657]

My guess is that it was likely very few of them. The vast majority of them probably just wanted to put the war behind them and move on with their lives.

[@planderlinde1969]

If you look at video footage from after the surrender of Berlin it was quite common for Whermact soldiers that either surrendered or coming out of hiding to don their old uniforms. The SS on the other hand tried to ditch their uniforms asap.

[@thunderbird1921]

Only a handful, at least after 1955. When they brought back the German Army (the modern Bundeswehr) and the Luftwaffe, many that were not war criminals or Nazi Party members were brought back to be officers, or simply to build up the forces. Dr. Felton has done a couple of videos on this actually. The SS folks, well...that's another story.

[@shaider1982]

@@silvadossantos6803 that joke has spread on the internet

[@277mitchell]

My grandfather was in Germany until nearly the end of 1945. He said it was kinda funny that as the war ended, NOBODY was a Nazi. He told me my dad and brother when we got older a little, but he saw things that nobody should ever see, and hopefully nobody will ever see again! He also said there is no way that the average German didn't know about the death camps. Even if you couldn't see them, you could smell them for miles around. He said he would never forget that smell. Thanks for the content

[@winstonwolf5706]

"It was real in my mind."

[@dwight3555]

@@winstonwolf5706 Yeah, I call bullshit on OP's story.

[@Wyliecoy0te]

I am curious which death camp your grandfather was talking about? You said your grandfather was in Germany but the death camps were in Poland.

[@277mitchell]

@Wyliecoy0te I'm sorry to tell you there were some camps in Germany and all American service men over there were ordered to go se them.

[@brkmrt2]

@@dwight3555well there is some truth to the fact that the average German definitely knew about all the camps, atrocities committed by the NS Regime

[@joeavent5554]

I was a Military Policeman that occasionally patrolled out of Armstrong Brks adjacent to Buedingen, FRG. As a new patrol sergeant, I rode with a SPC showing me the US officer's club inside the town. He pointed to the white painted grill work around the front windows. Swastikas adorned the iron on all four sides. It was too much money to replace the grills so they stayed in place. This was Autumn of 89.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Nazri Germany Hello Tushy

[@PyroGothNerd]

Couldn't they have soldered something to the swastikas to cover them up?

[@PantherBlitz]

I would like to see a good comparison between the de-nazification of Germany and the anti-Baath policies of post-Saddam Iraq. The Coalition really seemed to take the wrong lessons from postwar Germany.

[@Mike7O7O]

The Coalition didn't. The British and others tried to persuade the Americans that Iraq wouldn't simply become America's fifty-first state. The British in particular offered detailed plans on how to transition Iraq post conflict. But, the Neo-Cons thought they knew it all. Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld and others. They were to blame and I don't know that any one of them ever had the humility to apologise to the families of the fallen, in particular. They are a completely worthless bunch of hubristic BS artists.

[@jerseycitysteve]

You've made the understatement of the year! Well done!

[@kaijudude_]

Post war Iraq and Germany are two different worlds. After Saddam and the Ba'ath were ousted Iraq fell into a sectarian war. The US shouldn't of disbanded the Iraqi army as it caused mass unemployment for the Sunni population many would join insurgent groups. Also the way the Sunni population was treated by the new Shia government caused the rise of Isis and such.

[@corporalpunishment1133]

Agreed👍

[@JackoBanon1]

Comparing a very homogenic population like Germany after WWII with a multinational state with many different religions like Iraq is wrong. These are 2 totally different types of people and Iraq was actually more stable under Saddam Hussein than ever after. He knew that only a very hard ruling style could contain all the suppressed conflicts in a society like that.

[@Mackeson3]

My family (Here in England) had German P.O.W.s working for them on the farm. As a boy I asked my dad what it was like to work with "The Nazis" and he just smiled and said "Nazis? what Nazis, believe me they gave us the impression that they were glad to be out of it!" Another farming story. The allies reached the Claas combine factory and one of the first things they did was 'steal' one of their trailed Combine Harvesters and ship it back to The UK . This of course broke the hearts of the factory owners that were convinced that those 'Nasty Englanders' were going to take it to pieces then copy it and build them here. What they actually did was take it on some British farms for evaluation and when they saw what a damn good combine it was compared with anything we were turning out at the time they went back to Germany and helped to get the factory back into production again. Unsurprisingly quite a few of them got exported to The UK . Even now the most popular combine sold here is The Claas.

[@lakeembryant4290]

are they also pleased to surrender their country and women to "migrants"

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Similar story after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Several years ago, some German friends told me that many senior municipal authority officials in the new unified Germany had previously held similarly senior positions of authority in the old East German agencies (municipal, police and surveillance/secret police). After the fall of the Wall, there was an embargo against any reprisals against any officials of the old East German regime but this meant that many deep resentments had to remain buried and this has been an unspoken scar on the modern German psyche which can only heal with the gradual demise of all those Germans affected by or involved with the old regime.

[@noraswe]

Most of germany adminstarion on the west were former nazis , something like 70 % of the judiciary in the 70’s were former party members. Thats why so few war criminals were sentenced

[@ZER0ZER0SE7EN]

It would be interesting to see this same process used in Japan after the War. My dad was part of the American Army of occupation. He talked to an old Japanese man in a small northern town in September 1945. This man told my dad that his government had lied to him about how bad the Americans were.

[@grizwoldphantasia5005]

There was nothing equivalent to the Nazi party in Japan; closest similarity is Communist parties, and they stressed class hatred instead of racial purity, even if the leaders were anti-semites. Japan instead was militaristic, and that was pretty well stamped out after the surrender. Every country lied about the enemy. Look at US (and probably British) propaganda showing Japanese as buck-toothed myopic rats.

[@alfnoakes392]

Dr Felton has a few interesting videos on Japan during this period. The changes imposed by the Allies in Japan had to be more fundamental in many ways, as Japan's issues were in many ways based on its Imperial/feudal character rather than the result of mistakes made by the Allies post WW1 as in Germany. Recognising the rights of women, and the concept of de-deifying the Emperor were major changes.

[@wolfmauler]

Did they really believe their Emperor was divine?

[@Ciborium]

There was no de-Imperialism (anti-Emperor Hirohito) in Japan. Prosecution of war criminals was half-hearted at best. Very few war criminals were brought to justice. Hirohito escaped any prosecution. At most, the Americans confiscated and destroyed all swords. This, again, is another crime against humanity and a crime against antiquity. The American criminals made no difference between wartime swords and bayonets and centuries-old antique Samarai swords. The latter belong in museums as artifacts of Japan's pre-modern history.

[@speedzero7478]

Read "Embracing Defeat" an excellent source on this very subject. Fascinating book

[@archer-0251]

Thank you for keeping this much needed history facts alive. This channel has become one of the most reliable sources of information regarding WW2.

[@deeznutz8320]

From the eyes of the victor

[@Philtopy]

The village I grew up in (central Germany) had some symbols on the pillars of some farmsteads. They were engraved, but very broken. Only when I was 16 I realised those were Swasticas destroyed by the allies. I can also remember some metal objects I found in the woods. they were so rusted you couldnt identify what they were, but Im sure they were rank insignia some soldiers threw away to hide their ranks before beeing captured. These woods were heavily bombarded back in the day and the area is spread with craters. We also found a human bone once. gave us a scare. it was a real news hustle. We never found out whos bone it was though. I can also remember a tale that the big metal Swastika at the Maschsee in Hannover never was removed, but simply toppled over. It still lies at the bottom of the lake.

[@raphaelklaussen1951]

On my first trip to the Far East, I remember my surprise at seeing swastikas in the countryside. They were tomb markers commonly used in Buddhist burials.

[@alvinoflys7504]

@@raphaelklaussen1951 Hitler co-opted the symbol from a symbol of good luck to the symbol for the Aryan race. Asian Sauwastikas are left-facing or counter-clockwise whereas the Nazi Swastika is right-facing or clockwise. In Hindu the left facing one is a symbol for the Sun whereas the right-facing symbol is a symbol of night. The symbol in either incarnation is itself many thousands of years old and indeed far older than National Socialism. Like 10,000 BCE old.

[@raphaelklaussen1951]

@@alvinoflys7504 Now they have to come up with an updated version for the upcoming Trump tyranny, starting in 2024.

[@AdmiralBonetoPick]

Here in London, lots of people now have red swastikas painted on their front doors... in the Hindu neighbourhoods.

[@daleburrell6273]

@@raphaelklaussen1951 ...YOU LOUSY CREEPS JUST CAN'T LEAVE BAD ENOUGH ALONE-(!)

[@Ocinneade345]

They weren't cleansed, they were given positions

[@lacasadelvideojuego3880]

Ir was the only option, like they said they couldn’t have a disease neighbor! That’s what cause WWII in first place after WWI

[@mitchmatthews6713]

Thank you, Mark. It goes to show that the fight did not end with the last bullet fired.

[@sk.n.9302]

This was highly interesting, my father was a 17 yr. old german soldier in 1945 & he told us about going thru the demobilization process. He also would talk about the nazi insignia being quickly removed.

[@marcospark2803]

And what about his ideology after he had already been brainwashed by the nazis?

[@daniyil4843]

That's fascinating! What are some interesting stories he told you?

[@rrymo4079]

He was a Nazi then

[@paigekyllonen6613]

If you have more stories we would be delighted to read.

[@Meanscreen82]

Idk why but I found this difficult to watch for some reason

[@agilaeric1987]

9:10 Reminds me of a quote from West German Chancellor Adenauer: "One does not throw out dirty water as long as one doesn't have any clean water.", referring to Hans Globke, one of his officials who was a prominent lawmaker in Nazi times.

[@jamesb.9155]

Chancellor Adenauer fortunately was the right man for the job at the time, in those days who was not a Nazi. He even went to Moscow to secure the release of as many German POWs as he could after Stalin's death though he naturally hated the Soviets communist regime. His biography here is worth a look.

[@Ganiscol]

@@semsemeini7905 You clearly do not understand the meaning of the quote above. This practical thinking was also repeatedly mentioned in the clip you just watched and by and large allied, especially US, policy to get Germany back on its feet. To be clear, Adenauer was completely free of being under the suspicion of having any sympathy for the NS regime - its why the allies supported his bid for becoming the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was hardly a hypocrite, he was pragmatic.

[@Rationalific]

But they do throw away heavy water, it seems. Germany is disabling its nuclear power plants even though it is still reliant on fossil fuels.

[@None-zc5vg]

@@Ganiscol Maybe Adenauer was not just squeaky-clean politically but also a "sleeper" for the Nazi regime. In the early '50s he campaigned for the release of jailed war-criminal Martin Sandberger, a well-connected (in German society) former S.S. mass-murderer who'd already been sentenced to death (he lived to age 98). A million or so other German war-criminals were also let-off or freed by 1958. Something similar happened in Japan.

[@None-zc5vg]

...or Hermann Abs, a Nazi banker who escaped trial in the West but who was wanted by the Russians.

[@LKnight32]

You could’ve gone into way more depth on this, maybe even made a series and explored things like the big companies that profited from Nazism during the war that stayed in a great position afterwards like IBM for example or all the companies that remained after IG Farben was split up and how most of the people running that company ended up running the 6 smaller companies anyway! Great video but I find this part super interesting, like I understand needing to let a few nazis that had the skills still work but did the Allies go far enough when trying to fix things after the war or did they turn a blind eye due to ties to American business like IBM or Ford?

[@RoyVilliany]

You do it I’ll watch

[@ArchLars]

There is an entire book released on it finally this year titled "Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany's Wealthiest Dynasties", it's very good. It has been an open secret for a while now, Gareth Jones (the Welsh Journalist) who traveled to Germany in the early 30s and produced some excellent and highly underrated objective journalistic work on this early period of the Nazis also wrote briefly about this. He was the first to note and I believe confirm that the German industrialists supported AH to offset the communists. AH was in a lot of debt, so he also took on their support to pay it off. That support came with a demand to crush the Strasserite faction in his party, which he promptly did.

[@LKnight32]

@@ArchLars that’s some good news if true, I’ll be looking forward to this book being released thanks for letting me know!

[@None-zc5vg]

Read about John McCloy and co.: the fascist-friendly U.S. elite saw to it that their German (and even Jap) counterparts got off lightly. All the liitle people's sacrifices of lives and opportunities were betrayed.

[@gregorywhite9095]

The Arms of Krupp is a great book about this issue.

[@davidsummer8631]

I was watching a interview with the German band Amon Düül II and one of the members was saying that their teachers at school while not promoting National Socialism where still obliviously supporters of National Socialism but as Mark said Germany needed teachers

[@beandipcartography]

"Yeti" is a fantastic record.

[@davidsummer8631]

@@beandipcartography One of the great "Krautrock" albums up there with Neu 2

[@johnvonundzu2170]

One day in the 1990s I was looking at a Biedermeier bookcase probably imported to the US after reunification. On the inside of the glazed door frame was a burned mark "Pol Pras Dessau" (Police HQ Dessau) above an eagle on a wreathed swastika. Surprised at its survival, I mentioned it to the seller who said she hadn't even noticed it.

[@davidgrant8832]

Mark Felton is an absolute gem! His videos are both fascinating and mesmerizing. Thank you so much Dr. Felton!

[@ThePapawhisky]

This history casts a shadow on our times. In the US we are seeing a resurgence of the horrible ideas of the nazi’s. The arrogance and hatred are back.

[@opoxious1592]

This is exactly the reason why German WW2 militaria is so rare, populair and very collectable. I have collected WW2 German millitaria myself. And it's worth quite a lot money.

[@RTS___]

Was hast du so?

[@NandiCollector]

Very true.

[@willek1335]

All I have is an EK 2 iron cross from ww1, but I'd assume they're much more common than ww2 objects of the same rank.

[@opoxious1592]

@@RTS___ Abzeigen, Helme, Dolche, aber keine Schusswaffen

[@jamie7026]

@@opoxious1592 most soldiers on the winning side, took souvenirs from the losing side, spoils of war the winning side says and looting if on the losing side. That's history for you

[@AristocrateOlly]

Wow it had been years I havent seen your videos, still amazingly captivating! I think you had 40k subs when I found your channel

[@randyattwood]

In the fall of 1968 I traveled to Munich from Perugia, Italy, where I had been studying the Italian language at a school for foreigners that had been started by Mussolini. I was joined there by the Japanese young lady I had been dating and when she arrived at the Munich train station she was approached by a man who asked if she was Japanese. When she said yes, he told her: "Next time we do it without the Italians."

[@artytomparis]

@J You should pay more attention to the impact which that tiny nation had on the world and still does. There's a reason the atomic bomb was used there rather than anywhere else.

[@greghall4836]

@J Well, Japan were victors in the 1st World War. Together with the Italians. :-)

[@TheWolfsnack]

@@artytomparis ....very few white people?

[@dayros2023]

Ah the germans, losing 2 world wars but still asking for a third round of punishment.

[@Nickauboutte]

Apparently, Napoleon used to say about the Italians: "Dress 'em up in blue, dress 'em up in yellow, they always run off." :)

[@nimp1827]

And the Allies wondered why the Germans fought to the end? Obscene.

[@ARIXANDRE]

Just when I thought I knew everything about WW II, Mr. Felton drops amazing new angles and information. Thank you, sir!

[@deltanovember1672]

Doctor Felton. 😉

[@myblueandme]

Learn to read books and dont always listen to KZbinrs. you may read this book. A History of Europe Since 1945 by Tony Judt

[@Hy-jg8ow]

You can locate Mr. Felton by following and picking up all the dropped angles.

[@lisapet160]

He presents a lot of disinformation and data doctoring too. Especially when this activity fuels anti-Russian agenda.

[@raypurchase801]

Dr. Felton reads your comment and says, "Hold my beer".

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Many services and utilities that were run by the private sector here in the US were government-run in Germany, and had been for decades, so it goes without saying that when the Nazis became the government they were the ones on charge of railroads, electric power, gas supply, telephones, telegraph, radio broadcasting, public transportation, and so on. You didn't have to join the Nazi party to keep your job with any of the above, but if you wanted to "move up the ladder" being a party member didn't hurt, and almost certainly helped. So many joined the party strictly due to self interest, not because they had any real love for the party itself.

[@quillmaurer6563]

The sense I got from the video is the Allies were aware of this, and seemed okay with people who sincerely renounced the party, especially if they weren't in political or military roles. There were some that didn't renounce it though, or who's sincerity was questionable - those are the ones the Allies had to debate what to do with, where de-Nazification and maintaining functional infrastructure were at odds.

[@mp-st6cc]

Kinda like China with them all being members of the communist party to get anywhere

[@allangibson2408]

You had to be a member of the Nazi party after 1936 for certain government positions. The questionable ones were the ones with gold party badges that showed they were members before October 1933.

[@martinleifnymark7432]

@@mp-st6cc or like in Britain today. When you go for government jobs. You say write or think out loud, anything right wing. You will not get the job. Even saying something on social media. Can get you arrested. Even company's go through their workers socia media accounts. They don't like what you write or say, you can be fired. I think we need de nazification here too

[@johnholliday5874]

@@martinleifnymark7432 or union membership in many fields in the U.S.

[@cameronmazziotta3771]

Destroying everything isn’t going to make it go away

[@nathanjones6638]

No, but breaking Nazis and taking their stuff is supposed to be a pass time for Americans, at least.

[@stormcloaks1042]

It is an ideology. One simply can't kill an ideology. You can only weaken it. Isıs is gone but what about its ideology?

[@pandemoniumedge6342]

Excellent episode! I studied World War 2 history in great detail as a student. But somehow it never occurred to me to ask how such a huge movement and philosophy such as Nazism could possibly be removed from a nation's psyche overnight. We dont ask enough questions today. You have given excellent overview. I wonder if it were to happen again today, how would it be done any differently

[@josephdovi1565]

Nazis went to CIA

[@rogerjohnson8707]

If Nazism was "removed from a nation's psyche" where did the neo-Nazis in Germany come form? The symbols were removed however killing an idea is near impossible.

[@jonnyd9351]

⁠​⁠@@rogerjohnson8707It was removed from German society and the nations psyche, just because some people happened to still support Nazism doesn’t change that fact.

[@E_Clampus_Vitus]

The communists are the real enemies. Always have been.

[@Vaultiii]

I live in the Ruhr-Valley and in one of the city's here I can point out at least two German Eagles, both of them coincidentally on post offices, or what once were post offices build by the Nazis. (at least that's what I think as both buildings are in this typical arcitecture the Nazis used) One of them is directly on the building on the left side across the central station of Essen.

[@rwps3677]

There are several in Dortmund too, saw the one at the Finance Office a few times when i worked a few weeks in Dortmund.

[@jamie7026]

There is also one in Berlin too

[@twm0904]

Wasn’t The German Eagle a symbol that dates back before the days of Nazi Germany though?

[@andyrob3259]

@@twm0904 yes but it was stylised a certain way from the imperial and the current federal eagle.

[@twm0904]

@@andyrob3259 ah ok

[@pellefishermans]

I think it’s amazing how much high quality content you put out these days!! Really awesome. Thanks for all the interesting information Mark!

[@DaveSCameron]

Stop with the sycophantic comments, it's embarrassing *

[@pellefishermans]

@@DaveSCameron 😢

[@archstanton6102]

@@DaveSCameron Sop with the trolling.

[@Aristocrat1cs]

@@DaveSCameron you believe Hitler didnt kill himself in the bunker. Its embarrassing

[@terminal-velocity111]

This is a very factual account of the post war rebuild of Germany. Although hard to hear, some difficult decisions had to be made.

[@yousarrname3051]

Ideals are luxury, necessity is primal

[@Vingul]

@@yousarrname3051 Surely the eradication of an ideology is ideological -- not "primal necessity".

[@yousarrname3051]

@@Vingul ideals and ideology are very different things

[@Vingul]

@@yousarrname3051 Not at all. An ideology is a collection of ideals. Primal necessity is water, food and warmth.

[@jamesu1857]

Like trials for Germans with No representations

[@marshmallowmallow652]

I am German and Germany never even got close to being cleansed from Nazis, we had Nazi Generals in the Army, Nazis in our politics and Nazis in our special units... we were never cleansed of Nazis. PS: This isn´t a critique to the Video

[@lorenzkraus6888]

Cleanse yourself of GENOCIDAL BRITISH GEOPOLITICS.

[@heyho203]

Denazification never ended. Not even 10 years ago, a place named after Hindenburg was renamed in my hometown. That was, because he made Hitler chancellor. And now there are still discussions about certain street names. A group tried to rename the Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel-Kaserne. That would have alienated the British allies, who hold him to this day in high regards.

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

There's this Progressive Ideology that if we erase the parts of history "they're" uncomfortable with, that everything will be just right for their Utopia (and Myopic) views. As if erasing the nasty parts of history means it never happened. The reality is that if we ignore the history, we're more likely to repeat it.

[@stevensole1909]

Sick people who erase history.

[@TonySlug]

In the mid 80's, my Dutch punk rock band would tour Germany extensively, and before our gigs, we'd go have dinner in random local restaurants ("gaststubes") closest to the venue and it happened occasionally we'd hear men singing "wir sind die schwarzen soldaten" an other military songs in German language which is understandable to Dutch speakers. We spoke German alright, enough to communicate, and after having a gander out of curiosity, sure enough there's a bunch of grandpas. Like a dozen of them. One has an eye missing, the other has only half an arm, the next only had one leg. Stuff like that. We're like Okay, so we figure you gentlemen are veterans...In the Waffen-SS, fought in the East... ? And sure enough, that was the case. These grandpas weren't none the least ashamed of it either. One guy even told me "The only thing I'm ashamed of is that we lost the war.".

[@BasementEngineer]

You ungrateful slug! Thank the German soldiers who battled so valiantly to stop the communist Soviet invasion of Europe. Read "Germany's War" by John Wear.

[@doc818]

They were good soldiers.

[@deeznutz8320]

As a Dutch Guy i remember that song being sung in Dutch Wij zijn de zwarte soldaten

[@stevensole1909]

Good for them they have no reason to be ashamed just because they were over powered.

[@Dionaea_floridensis]

Denaziification is one of the most fascinating periods of German history, I'd love more content about it since it's rarely taught in schools or discussed in the media Stateside

[@jamescarter7882]

Operation "paperclip"

[@DaveSCameron]

Because it failed.

[@donatelloluigi7381]

Read H’s book

[@shakie6074]

the GOP is banning books about nazis and their crimes against humanity, so I wouldn’t hold your breathe about denazification being introduced into any curriculum anytime soon. (Then again, the USA still allows for the confederate flag to be flown in stark contrast to Germany and the nazi imagery, and hundreds of confederate war memorials still stand, so it’s very clear the United States hasn’t given much of a shit about deradicalizing it’s own population)

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@jamescarter7882 The importation of scientists for the military & scientific institutions in the US has nothing to do with denazification in Germany.

[@mattskustomkreations]

My grandfather was a USAAF quartermaster put in charge of a neighborhood in postwar Bremen. Civilians would come to him to requisition fuel and supplies, etc. He could not find a Nazi anywhere… “ Me?…Nazi? No, I never even heard of ‘em.” He could find not one.

[@disneyr]

I was a U.S. Army officer stationed in Baumholder, Germany. In the officers club (was a Nazi officers club before captured) there is a large men's restroom with probably 25 urinals from floor to about chest high. At the top of each urinal embedded into the porcelain each has a metal swastika about the size of a 50 cent piece. Would have to destroy the porcelain to get them ou. I wonder if they are still there?

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Could you piss that high?

[@RoseSharon7777]

Maybe they were sending message leaving them on the urinals?

[@ppineault]

wow...amazing....

[@Sporkmaker5150]

Not related directly to the subject at hand, but this comment made me think of a funny row of urinals I saw once where each one had a little bee in the porcelain at just the right spot to direct the stream into the drain. Seems that subconsciously guys will tend to aim for the bee and it would reduce splashing onto the rims and the floor.

[@pissoff234]

Some of the old coal fired and steam generated power plants in america still have steam fittings and valves with a swastika embossed on them which wa a foundry mark for good luck before the Nazi's came into power.

[@seosamhv]

Exactly what I needed on a hungover Saturday morning. Cheers Mark. Have a nice weekend.

[@MikeTheD]

A dose of Felton cures any ailment. It's currently being studied by scientists

[@seosamhv]

@Leo the Anglo-Filipino hello from Canada!

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

Cheers from Michigan! I’m 2 hours away from Windsor

[@cgwilding]

The photo at 3:47 and the man who is on the front row, far right is one of my family friends father Michael Paul who was Romanian who fought at Starlingrad and ended up joining the SS only because he wanted better medical care and finally surrendering in Italy 1945 before being sent by ship to the UK. That photo is taken at Barton Road POW Camp in Ely Cambridgeshire and is of the Camp Band. I had the pleasure of reading his whole life story which he had typed out in 1969

[@highpath4776]

What was the criteria for joining the SS rather than the German Army ?

[@cgwilding]

@@highpath4776 I’m not 100% sure, because he was a part of the Romanian-German army in Stalingrad and he had confirmed kills which he got a medal for, maybe that helped to get into the SS

[@BasementEngineer]

@@highpath4776 The Waffen SS were all volunteers, meeting certain physical requirements.

[@malbasedvalentine3210]

Desperate men will join anything. You only need to keep pushing, to create people like us. If such a man joined for good healthcare, he would have gotten it. But of course, their ideologies destruction was done in by the capitalists the painter warned us about….. In time, the new age will grow too confident, and new power will take it over, but with those of NS at the helm.

[@XSpamDragonX]

@@highpath4776 Height, Hair and Eye Colour (More So earlier in the war), and you had to prove you weren't Jewish by providing your ancestry.

[@LavishPatchKid]

Imagine having a dude who did everything to save you from the people who ruined your country, experiencing for a decade the best times you've ever known - just to lose, and have them come back and be able to run your lives again. There is nothing sadder than the story of Deutschland; specifically Prussia.

[@LavishPatchKid]

@Bhai Sahab You want me to talk gibberish, eat ice cream, sniff kids and crap myself? I'll pass.

[@Apartment10LDN]

The allies had to be pragmatic to keep things moving. It was completely opposite when the Americans rolled into Iraq and removed the Bathh party members on every level. That was one of the big drivers of the insurgency there.

[@Exodon2020]

It gave some high-profile people a good reason to rise up against US occupation, but that's far from the only one. After WW2, Germany had been at war for almost 6 years, 6 Million Germans died, every major city was destroyed, so were industrial facilities, infrastructure and pretty much anything required for a modern country to function. The Germans were left entirely devoid of any fighting spirit, to the point of village communities actively opposing those who wished to continue fighting. This weariness was one of the main reasons the Werwolf insurgency never took hold and was reduced to a bunch of Nazi fanatics before it could even fully take off.

[@johndane9754]

Not to mention leaving the Iraqi army out to dry.

[@scottroder5516]

The US under Paul Bremer really screwed up in Iraq.

[@davidlynch9049]

Not the same circumstances. Patton was obsessed with the Communists, and wanted the German government and military to stay in place to fight them. He was advocating an invasion of Russia. Yes, he was bonkers at the end. There is evidence he wanted to even pardon the worst of the Nazis.

[@Apartment10LDN]

@@davidlynch9049 I get what your saying but Patton wasn’t representative of all of them. In the Iraq situation you had Iran on the border. Then the void created led to the creation of ISIS and all the problems that brought. There was a real lack of foresight and common sense regarding Iraq. You remove the existing structure then there is always a void. For example Gehlen’s intelligence network in Germany. Essentially unchanged and questionable looking back but also kind of essential looking back.

[@thomdilling5855]

Notification gang rise up! Thank you for the fantastic upload as always Dr. Felton!

[@SwineBuster]

It only takes you 10:33 mins to completely understand about Denazification in Germany. Awesome wrap up! You are deserved to get "Sir" from the Queen!

[@karlosthejackel69]

@James Furey Zelenski is not the good guy in this situation. Both sides are using Ukrainian men to further their own agenda. Zelenski is serving America. This is not a secret

[@itsaboutwhatsfair1532]

Sad they blew the historic places...imagine walking in the bunker..where ww2 ended..chills.🥲

[@l337pwnage]

Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.

[@singed8853]

@@l337pwnagewhoa that’s super deep bro.

[@l337pwnage]

@@singed8853 not really, but it is well known and simple enough for most people to understand.

[@jbweld6193]

"Stripped of all rank, privileges and titles, the emperor has other plans for you.." -Caesar II (game over script)

[@DaveSCameron]

Set free and lived their lives

[@jbweld6193]

@@DaveSCameron not the important ones lol

[@mlovmo]

Calling the Denazification effort "largely a success" is a bit of a stretch. In just their Occupation Zone, the Americans tried to determine every single German's "guilt" (ie, connection to the Nazi Party) by having people fill out a "Fragebogen" (Questionnaire) in which many Germans had to lie to maintain employment or to keep their ration card, simply because ANY connection to the NSDAP was seen as a "crime," at least in the beginning years of the Occupation. In Germany under "the guy with the mustache," everyone necessarily had to have some sort of connection to the Nazi Party. Many Germans who had NOT committed actual crimes (like brutalizing and killing civilians) were rounded up in the Denazification effort and placed in concentration camps. In these sweeps, many real criminal Nazis were indeed also rounded up. However, as the Allies came to realize the nature of how that totalitarian regime involved everybody in the country and left nobody untouched (in addition to the fact that they couldn't run their Occupation Zone without those Germans who actually knew how to run things!), they started amnestying many detainees in ever larger numbers, and with increasing speed just to get it all over with. This allowed some REAL CRIMINALS (war criminals) who were able to keep their heads down long enough to escape justice. Some stayed in Germany and died old men, living very good lives. Some fled overseas. In any case, many MORE largely-innocent Germans were held as detainees of the Allies for months or years for being guilty of NOTHING, other than the outrage of having been born and lived in Germany at the wrong time(!). I suggest people read former Nurnberg judge Telford Taylor's eye-opening articles that he wrote about this absolute mess of an effort for U.S. magazines in the late 1940s/early 1950s. Also take a look at some Germans who wrote about the Denazification effort, such as Marion Dönhoff, an anti-Nazi resistor and German aristocrat who was highly critical of the Allied Denazification effort. She argued that the Allies should have restored Germany's pre-Nazi laws and just turned over the job of finding the real criminals over to Germans, who knew who the bad guys were and where they were hiding. She argued that Germans could have more effectively prosecuted the criminals under perfectly functioning (pre-Nazi) German criminal codes.

[@markmcelroy1872]

Considering 48% of Germans considered Hitler a hero 10 years later, I'm not sure letting them handle the prosecutions would have been a good idea.

[@mlovmo]

@@markmcelroy1872 I believe Dönhoff was referring to those Germans, such as herself, who opposed Hitler. Such creatures did exist.

[@LordVader1094]

@@markmcelroy1872 Where do you get those stats from?

[@markmcelroy1872]

@@LordVader1094 It was in the video.

[@davidlinehat4657]

how would they have known which Germans to trust?

[@philjones9339]

My Dad was twenty years old when the war ended for him in Frankfurt. He was a sergeant in the US army. He “liberated”three shotguns(JP Sauer) and shipped them home to Michigan. I still have two of them.

[@LoudaroundLincoln]

You know you can just say he took them. It's war, there's nothing wrong in any of it. Looting, killing, taking women. If your on the winning side of course. Its man let loose.

[@freedom4639]

Liberate 🤔

[@ramstacp]

Very cool!

[@CommanderLongJohn]

Funny how they didn't 'De-Imperialize' Japan . . . Even despite the fact the Japanese was almost assuredly responsible for FAR more death and misery than the Germans, and the Japanese were literally hell bent on dominating 1/3rd of the entire world if not more whereas Germany didn't even want war with the Western Allies ffs . . .

[@thegunslinger1363]

You should do this type of video on Imperial Japan.

[@DaveSCameron]

You should get reading John Dowers and Edward Russells books 📚

[@MrKakibuy]

Nothing happend in Japan, end of story. Even the perpetrators of the Nanking massacres were not punished.

[@Faras-km5xz]

agreed

[@sticksbass]

@@MrKakibuy well they were nuked.

[@Sporkmaker5150]

@@MrKakibuy I was reading an extremely detailed account of Nanking which described how the original commanding general who had tried to reign in the behavior of the troops was recalled and replaced for just that reason, being replaced with officers who would turn a blind eye to it. After the war he ended up taking the fall for the crimes he tried to stop and was executed by the allies. Those above him who were truly guilty and covering their own asses even claimed that he had been removed from Nanking because he was allowing the troops to commit atrocities when in fact he was removed for holding them back and protecting civilians.

[@jjeherrera]

This is always an interesting issue. I've met people who were, until a few years ago, suspicious of old Germans, thinking they had some Nazi stain on them.

[@JG-ib7xk]

People who were adults or young adults during the time of the Nazi Party DID have a stain on them, because they either supported the Nazi Party or they didn't do anything to stop the rise of the Nazi Party, which is just as bad as supporting them, because both actions led to the war and death of millions of people.

[@BasementEngineer]

@Andrew That explains why German cars and submarines are so popular in Israel! ADL loves ya, Andrew.

[@septimiusseverus343]

@Andrew Except those born after 1945. Brilliant logic Andrew, thank goodness your kind aren't determining diplomatic relations nowadays.

[@lornestein7248]

I was working in a law office reception once, where I overheard an elderly German man & woman asking for a consultation with 1 of the lawyers of the firm (then whispered.. as long as he's not a Jew) ..That stain will be there forever... till they're all long gone..

[@thunderbird1921]

One Norwegian online recently talked about how his father owned a rural retreat, and one day decades after the war a young German couple came to look for a vacancy. He said that he had mixed feelings, but when he went and told his father about who the potential guests were, the older man growled "turn them away". He absolutely HATED Germans until the day he died, even ones that were not former Nazis. Germany only in recent decades has started to be more favorably viewed by many Europeans.

[@alexgrootveld8712]

I was stationed in Berlin 1990-1992 at Wavell barracks in Spandau where the guardroom showed the remains of a large eagle and swastika chisselled away. One day at the gates an elderly German gentleman asked to be allowed into the camp, as he'd been in the 57th Infantry regiment stationed there before and during the war, having served in Poland, France and the Eastern front as a 37mm PAK gunner, wounded 3 times. On leaving, he thanked me and apologised for what they had done in the war.

[@simonjames2873]

I served there for a while, not long after you. If I recall it was a rectangular column by the door to the guardroom. Not just the swastika, but the entire eagle had been defaced. I revisited Berlin in 2019, prior to Covid. I was a little sad to see the place appeared to be moth balled.

[@alexgrootveld8712]

@@simonjames2873 yes, on Google an original photo can be found. And the round column with carvings, quality designed brks.

[@winnywin]

Hi neighbour. I was posted in Brooke Bks, West Berlin 1987-9. You just missed out on the battle of Berlin, in 1988. This was an all out war between the KOSB (Brooke) and Kings Regiment (Wavell) in a drunken skirmish in the joint NAAFI area. It even made headlines in The Sun newspaper. A couple of days later, when very, very drunk - me (a corporal) and my mate (a jock/private) decided to raid the King's Officers Mess. It was about 0200hrs and we walked right in. Nobody challenged us. We preceded to walk along a corridor, removing all the art work of 17th and 18th Century Manchester and Liverpool Regimental history. I woke up the next day with a pile of pictures in my room and no idea how they got there. However, my memory was sharpened when Part One Orders of that day mentioned stolen artwork. I did think of just getting rid of the evidence - but, my conscience got the better of me. I placed all the pictures in a black bin liner and dropped it off at the stairs of the King's Officers Mess at 0300hrs a couple of days later. I didn't ever get a 'thank you'. I loved my time in Berlin.

[@alexgrootveld8712]

@@winnywin lol, I remember filmfootage of people throwing chairs through the Naafi windows. Great posting indeed!

[@misscattie7225]

Excellent content and presentation, as usual!

[@scottvincent3062]

My dad landed in europe just as the germans surrendered and he stayed on as part of the occupation army. He brought back a nazi hair clippers, it had a gold embossed eagle with a swastika in its claws on it, was also stamped on the box and instruction booklet. My dad got it from a barber in this village in germany when they made him a guard at this castle that the nazis turned into a prison and the allies were using it to house the worst of the worst allied criminals, the murderers, rapists and kiddie diddlers. He used it on my brother and me, I hated it cause the blades would get real hot and it always nipped my ears or scalp and drew blood.

[@Diabetic_Chicken69]

Lol, the nazi clippers are still hungry for blood

[@Jarod-vg9wq]

Thank you for sharing that story.

[@fakenews7266]

Those hair clippers had ways of making you talk 🙄

[@bunnicula38]

Who cares about your last sentence

[@j3gm0194]

@@bunnicula38 Why so ignorant?

[@seabee12333]

In Felton's video on the death of Patton, he discusses Patton's attitude about "defeating the wrong enemy" and how he wanted to destroy the Soviets. Patton was involved in a car accident, was injured but recovering when he suddenly died

[@sheilagravely5621]

Um, that is because he was murdered.

[@neilpemberton5523]

@@sheilagravely5621 Evidence?

[@toddsmitts]

Patton's views on race can be charitably described as complicated. He had family history in the Confederate south (his grandfather had been a colonel in the civil war). He expressed racist views towards African Americans and antisemitic views towards Jewish people many times, although he did integrate rifle companies under his command. Given his belligerent attitudes towards the USSR and his unhappiness at not having a war to fight in the 20s and 30s, I've sometimes thought that Patton's abrupt death, so soon after WWII might actually be a mercy. I could imagine a scenario a couple of years down the line where Patton's public calls to wage war on the USSR might've forced Truman (who disliked Patton as much as MacArthur) to sack him, just as he did to MacArthur for the same thing.

[@neilpemberton5523]

@@toddsmitts Thanks for your post. People who lionise Patton for saying 'we fought the wrong enemy' are tacitly giving a pass to his sympathy for Germany, with all its Nazi atrocities. If Patton wanted to say things like that he should have resigned his commission and joined a political party. The man was unbalanced in my opinion. I believe Patton was not assassinated. If he made too much trouble they would have court-martialed him over that fiasco when he authorised an advance to return his son-in-law

[@vhufeosqap]

Patton couldn’t control his ego or himself (when he struck soldiers who had fought and were injured or battle fatigued.) Also, what did Patron know of what the Nazis had done in Eastern Europe? Did he just meet a few on the western front and think “say, these Germans seem like nice fellas! I like them more than the Soviets- and like their style of government more than the communists” Which would mean his opinion is made on incomplete, personal prejudice information. The way the Germans behaved in the east vs the west were completely different. He, and most people at the time, couldn’t have really know what happened in the east fully.

[@williamharris9525]

Outstanding job Professor Felton!! As usual, another valuable history lesson! I served two tours in Germany and at both duty stations, there were still signs and reminders of the nazi regime. Both duty stations were former Wehrmacht barracks.

[@otten5666]

You watched a 10 minute video in 30 seconds?

[@williamharris9525]

@@otten5666 Still watching, I do enjoy the productions and military history lessons Professor Felton provides.

[@slimpickins4268]

Wehrmacht was regular army and not necessarily Nazi.

[@ColinH1973]

Me also, Bill.

[@dnaseb9214]

They were really scared of that man. Like how they tried to cleanse the Roman Empire of Christ. Worked about as well in both cases. Same people behind both too.

[@dnaseb9214]

@Bhai Sahab You forgot yours it seems.

[@A_Simple_Neurose]

Didn't know GI Joe tried to cleanse Rome of Christ. In fact I'm not sure GI Joe was around to even speak English back then, but God truely works in mysterious ways, it seems.

[@americanmilitiaman88]

My grandma had a small wood stove that was made in the US inside there was a cast iron swastika. When i was young i only knew of the swastika being used by the nazis later finding out it is a ancient symbol. Im guessing the stove must of been early 1900s.

[@donbalduf572]

My grandparents’ house, built in 1899, had a kitchen floor with a pattern of little swastikas. My grandfather said the floor was laid in the late teens and had nothing to do with National Socialism. My brother removed the floor when he remodeled the kitchen in the early 1980s.

[@moonstryder1740]

'Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it'

[@ronaldjohnson1474]

George Satanyana!

[@ZacSaleski]

I spent a good year or so in germany, every now and then in some smaller towns you can still see some symbolism from the old gov't. Its not common but some of the older buildings will have carvings or small imagery

[@klivityloja3067]

EUROPA, THE LAST BATTLE. 10 part WW2 history, from the German perspective. A MUST!!!!

[@briandietrich1373]

Thank you Mark for all the hard work you put in the research for the videos.

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

Hi Dr. Felton. Great job as usual. I've been wondering if you will be doing more war stories on the British Empire? I really enjoyed your stories about Tibet, Crimea, and the Opium wars. Just asking. Thanks - T.R.

[@livingtribunal4110]

"The Feltonator! Can't be reasoned with... or bargained with and it absolutely will...not...stop...until we know everything in incredible detail.... about WWII"

[@Texeq]

Several years ago a local attorney and judge passed away who had been a member of the US Army JAG in post war Germany tasked with assessment and de-nazification of the German judiciary. As noted in this video, over 90% of judges had been members of the nazi party. After extensive reviews of their legal decisions, personal interviews, and background investigations, it was concluded that most of the judiciary became members of the party not for idealogical reasons but to maintain the ability for normal professional advancement in their work. Those who did not become members of the party were relegated to miniscule career dead-end jobs such as minor traffic ticket resolution, organization and filing of routine court and legal paperwork, etc. The fellow I mention happened to be Jewish and in interviews noted it was not hard to get people to join a political party when not doing so had signifcant ramifications. Its how totalitarion regimes get everyone in society to fall in line.

[@martinhogg5337]

Thought provoking and very interesting. Fascinating to see the old films on denazification! Don’t know how Dr. Felton comes up with this stuff but it’s great!

[@fiuttello]

Would like to see short doc on how Allies let former Nazi officials built new German state after the war.

[@gbadesakin]

“Note this meek little man…” 😂 this is straight out of a Harry Enfield sketch. Apologies for making light of a serious topic, I am an admirer of Dr Felton’s work.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Now this is something I find truly fascinating.

[@DaveSCameron]

As opposed to what?

[@MrKakibuy]

fascistnating

[@bobbyokeefe4285]

3:49 the worst look to have in Germany in 1945 lol...

[@mememan2344]

LMAO

[@TheBlackzman]

3:50 is, but yeah

[@ssg9offical]

Looks like H man’s stunt double 🤣🤣💀

[@thEannoyingE]

It’s such a fascinating topic, especially considering how much symbolism covered throughout Germany. It’s also interesting to note that even in the post war years, even today, some swastikas remain, in the Wehwelsburg castle, as well as the ceiling of some of the state buildings. Oddly enough, German POWs in camps for such, were marked with swastikas on the back of their uniforms while held captive. Some eagles were sent away by the Allie’s for war souvenirs, some larger ones still existing in US collections and Europe today, much of it captured by the Soviets. There is a church in rural Germany, still adorned with Nazi symbols, including a large bell with Hitler’s name, untouched by the Allie’s. Some bunkers also still include wartime murals and slogans.

[@dkin7685]

Bruh they are no swastikas they are hooked cross. Stop associating a hindu symbol with nazis to prevent the fact hitler was killing all heathens. We Indians of tired of this bs.

[@noblemann4898]

“[Hitler] is only the ghost of our own past rising against us. He stands for the extenuation and perpetuation of our own methods…”[1] George Orwell

[@The_Butler_Did_It]

"Four legs good, two legs bad" George Orwell....You don't have to accept every quote by a famous author as a definitive truth.

[@noblemann4898]

@@The_Butler_Did_It Ok... Before the Nuremburg racial laws and stripping German Jews of their citizenship. Whites only policy of Australia denied the aborigines citizenship in their own ancestrial land. Like wise, Canada against the indigenious tribes of Northern America

[@rogerking7258]

Interesting - "De-Nazification" was obviously a great success, but I admit to struggling to see it as any different to what we might class as "political re-education" or "brainwashing" were it to occur in a society of which we did not approve. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad De-Nazification happened, but from the point of view of a truly disinterested observer there might be no obvious difference. Of course, from our point of view, we see it as justified by the need to rid the population of a troublesome (to put it mildly) ideology, but other regimes presumably would take exactly that view of their own actions. Perhaps the only real difference is the nature of the regime that operates such a policy.

[@jonlauer6754]

I know people who helped undo brainwashing from cults, and this reminds me of it. In the cult, they were living in communities where they were saturated with their teachings. To save them, their families would pretty much kidnap them and then make them undergo a process of undoing the brainwashing. It does seem counter to the "we don't force things down your throat like they do" idea.

[@pvtparts6879]

@@Cinnamonbuns13 You summed it up well in a short amount of words.

[@livingtribunal4110]

@@Cinnamonbuns13 Very valid and logical point

[@dreamingflurry2729]

It kind of is! Hell, look at how timid German politicians are on the world stage! The only punitive actions against other countries that hurt Germany or our allies are sanctions! Military action isn't even considered because we are of course all guilty for causing WW2 (which is of course not true, because those in power back then are all dead!) Don't get me wrong: I am not arguing that we forget this period, but reducing Germany to those brief few years is just wrong! Hell, Germany was only truly freed about 30 years ago (and over 40 years after the war had ended!)!

[@michellebadham9353]

I feel nazism ideology just went underground. Look at what's happening in the world now.

[@chiron14pl]

very interesting. I'd like to hear a comparison of Germany post-war ideological cleansing with what happened in Italy and Japan. I've heard that Japan had a very different path, they turned to pacifism, but I've never heard about how Italy dealt with its fascist past.

[@celticfox]

You never cease to amaze with both the quality of the content and awesome stories that come with them. Cheers!

[@DaveSCameron]

Ever thought about picking up a book for some truly mind blowing information? 🙏

[@MrKakibuy]

@@DaveSCameron considering your spam everywhere, I have a feeling that you are going to suggest David Irving or something

[@benjaminfrazier5419]

Another well-researched, informative and refreshing product, Dr. Felton!! Love your work!! Keep ‘em coming! 👍🏾❤️

[@657449]

I was in West Germany with the Army in 1970-71 in a tank unit. We loaded up the tanks on flat bed rail cars and went to Wildflicken. There was just a train station set up to load and unload tanks. No town. We drive up a mountain and through some clouds and we finally got to the base. We parked the tanks and put our gear in the billets. There were ringed posts all over so it was an old Calvary post. I had time to kill before chow so I took a walk. I wondered why all the streets were marked Eingang Strasse and then it dawned on me that they were one way street signs. My main base was at Bad Hersfeld. I do remember some buildings with symbols removed. The town had a WW1 cemetery with a guard at attention. The Army sucked but I could have been happy living there if I had met the perfect Fraulein.

[@arnodobler1096]

"The Army sucked but I could have been happy living there if I had met the perfect Fraulein." 😍😂

[@johnschuh8616]

Many, many German women married American solders. It was my impression that , generally, Germans and Americans have more in common than English and Americans do.

[@jesseray9944]

mark makes the best videos

[@Thebibs]

If only Paul Bremmer, and the Bush administration had simply looked at past history: after witnessesing their disastrous handling of Iraq after the Iraqis capitulated. They could have employed former grunts and engineers; except they created an insurgency in one swoop by sacking (de Bathifying) all the ex soldiers and rank and file. Look how good that turned out. Once again: A fantastic video Mark. Thank you

[@dragon888193ftw]

iraqis never capitulated, a conventional war was simply not possible. even if the americans did incorporate baáthists in the new regime, hardcore baathists would treat those as traitors. not to mention the one million islamist-nationalist groups that were going to fight the americans anyways for being occupiers.

[@petebondurant58]

@@dragon888193ftw It's so easy to know what to do...twenty years later, eh?

[@JohnSmith-oe6et]

@@petebondurant58 Lots of people pointed it out at the time. The fact that it is a bad idea to leave people with military training disgruntled and with nothing to do should not be rocket science. There would have been an insurgency whatever Bremer did, but there was no point throwing gasoline on the fire.

[@umeng2002]

America didn't use enough troops during the invasion to pull off a de-Baathification... They didn't even have enough troops to stop the insurgency from forming.

[@MarcillaSmith]

@@JohnSmith-oe6et Not to mention Mr. Hussein, himself. In Japan, we knew to leave the Emperor on his throne... with us crouching behind it, dagger in hand. And I'm not saying it's right, only that it works. Almost as if there was some sort of desire for a protracted conflict, but who would that benefit except for neo-cons and defense contractors. Weird...

[@richierugs6544]

Mark, on a small piece of paper my Father got Eisenhower's signature, it says 'given to me by Ike somewhere at an airfield in France 44'...and i feel compelled to give it to you in appreciation of this wonderful History you present. I may have to get an OK from my older brother, but he might capitulate. It's small and almost crappy but I feel you should have it

[@DeviousShrimp]

If mark doesn’t take it, I will gladly take good care of it :)

[@brycefelperin]

Me and my family were housed out in a small German town when I was with the Army in 1994. I once went to visit my landlord who had a 500 year old farmhouse. On the third floor a portrait of Adolf Hitler was placed on a prominent wall, it probably had been there for 60 years. I didn't say anything, my landlord otherwise was a nice guy and it wasn't my job to enforce German Laws on this kind of thing.

[@WillyEckaslike]

perhaps your landlord knew the real truth instead of the post war indoctrinated up bringing you had ....fill kids heads full of l eyes and guilt and u have them for life

[@Ekatjam]

There was a movie called "The Freshman" with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick, where inside the Italian social club hangs a picture of Mussolini. When pointed out, Brando shrugs it off, "for old times sake"

[@CelicaDan]

@@WillyEckaslike or maybe he was just a brainwashed Nazi who knew nothing of the crimes the regime committed. Just a thought probably, either way you're disgusting for suggesting otherwise.

[@rockycomet4587]

@@CelicaDan 🤡

[@SD_Alias]

"nice" guys like your landlord made the horror of 33-45 possible...

[@Willysmb44]

At 3:50, I'd always wondered why the insignia was gone from German uniforms in these cases immediately after the war (whereas not for Japanese POWs). Interesting that you had the same observations I'd wondered about for years, in that even awards and WW1 awards had bene removed...

[@Sam_Sam2]

Where does your pfp come from

[@JC-11111]

I have a German officers coat/jacket/whatever it is called from WW2 in my closet. It was handed down from my grandfather or great grandfather, I forget which. In one of the hand pockets on the front, there is a secret hole in the pocket going through to the inside lining, where their knife holder was located. So they could reach into their pocket and pull their knives without giving away that they were going for their blade. I always thought it was a very slick secret opening. You'd be much less noticeable with a hand in your pocket versus one hand going inside the inner breast pocket. Most would assume one was going for a weapon while reaching into the coat that way.

[@silvadossantos6803]

I've got a swiss army jacket, and it got a few secret pockets like this.

[@JC-11111]

@cas curse I've never seen anything like that before. This one is specifically just for knife access. I remember when I was in grade school, around 7th grade(year 8), I had to read a biography of Hitler and then dress up as that person while giving a presentation to the class. My parents wanted me to take it to class and wear it during the presentation. This was around 1994. Long before it was as acceptable as it is now to have/own this sort of stuff. It's not as taboo as it once was. I skipped class that day. Said I was sick and stayed home because I absolutely dreaded speaking in front of the class. Every time I did, my face would get very red and then my ears, too. Well, I have big ears so at that point the other kids couldn't stop talking about how red I was turning, which only made it worse. I hate public speaking to this day.

[@racerj2.03]

I was a private in the Army. Stationed in Germany in the 1970's. We liked to drive around the area where I was stationed and visit the different bars in the area. One day were drinking peacefully when the owner came over to us and told us to leave. We being young privates we weren't happy with being told to leave. Well we all got up and left without any fuss when we heard the reason he wanted us to leave. He told us that in a few minutes there was going to be a large meeting of "ex" SS OFFICERS arriving. So yes the we did a real good job of eliminating fascism from Germany. Just Saying.

[@josephbingham1255]

The SS were not German Army Soldiers. They were the military of a political party. As such they were declared an illegal organization not entitled to national veterans disability benefits. Postwar they had to form a self help organization to support their disabled. So in a sense mistreating their disabled drove them back together.

[@whereswaldo5740]

Their disability was in Switzerland.

[@scotland638]

@@josephbingham1255 Or they were unrepentant Nazis.

[@JordonBeal]

Uh uh. I’m sure that definitely, totally happened.

[@Celisar1]

I don’t believe that story.

[@bobdylan7120]

We recently went skiing in Neiderau (Austria) and decided to spend an afternoon in the nearby town. The pavement had engraved slabs let into it in various places, each commemorating a famous person, (Einstein, Pasteur, Mozart, etc.). The first slab, as you exit the bus station, walking towards the main shopping plaza, commemorates Adolf Hitler. Bought, paid for, installed and maintained by the local authorities.

[@fiendish9474]

I'm surprised there's a place in Austria that claims him. To my knowledge they've went to great lengths to disassociate themselves from Hitler

[@skdKitsune]

Nice easter egg

[@managMent_]

I think it was a gigantic mistake and mostly an act of revenge of denazifying everything. This makes it seem like this time never happened. Imagine how impactful historically it would be to see a giant swastika on a building as a grim reminder of our past. As a German, we learn a lot about Nazi atrocities, but only seeing footage makes it seem like a movie, like something so distant in the past that has no connection the place we're standing in. The first time I saw a Nazi time coin with a swastika on it that wasn't locked behind glass in a museum but was just laying around at someones house, I got a little sting in my heart. This was a coin, that people used to pay for goods in that time, and when it was a completely normal symbol. This realization that this was actually real hit way harder than any of the things we just learned in school Statues, insignias, decoration, historical buildings are not preserved to honor the people that build them, but to remember their existence, be it good or bad. Preserving a statue of Hitler doesn't mean respecting him, but respecting the fact that he existed, and that he will forever be part of our history, and that we have to remember him.

[@cosmicreaverkassadin827]

Maybe they fear that people will actually remember. Most of the stuff people learn in school about NationalSocialism is stuff like 6 million, them attacking people, massacres that are already proven to be done by the communists and not the germans but are still used to make germans look bad etc. while there was an entire ideology to the thing. They dont want to you to know what Nationalsocialism is, they want you to hate it and every single neutral or even positive aspect increases the chance of people not hating it. And this could and most likely would have an insane impact on the future because for most people the NatSocs are just devils and not even real humans while knowing and understanding them would make you fear them less and like them more which could cause an entire 180 on germany and even all of Europe to become at least more similar to Nazi Germany.

[@williamromine5715]

The allies:"Germany will never again have an army". Ten years later:"Damn, we need a German army--Now, and we know where we can get one, because we investigated every one of the old one"!

[@drsnova7313]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. "Germany will never again have an army....oh, wait, right, there's still those soviet guys."

[@barath4545]

Well, to everyones credit, especially the Germans - They will go to LENGTHS to not be aggresive in their military, ie PURELY defensive or protective. I think it has fucked up a lot of military aid over the years, such as Germans NOT going to any conflicts outside Germany and so on. This is why them supporting Ukraine with arms, was so over the top politically in Germany. And they still make some KICKASS tanks for the rest of us in Europe (Leopard 2)

[@KPC-123]

This reminds me of a documentary I watched about some of the average Germans who lived in Berlin at the time of Hitler's rise. A woman spoke of how most of them looked at the 'Nazi requirements' when she said "We were Berliners first, Germans second, and then Nazis only if we had to be."

[@M2M-matt]

I lived in West berlin as a child in the British sector from 1975 - 1978 as my father was in the British army. I went to the Olympic Stadium many times that used to have the big Swastika and Eagle on top of the arch that was blown up. I can't remember what replaced it, if anything. My father took a stint in guarding Rudolph Hess at Spandau Prison. My father never spoke to him himself but his colleagues said he was a trouble maker. He would ask the guards for cigarettes and other items and if they gave him something he would complain to the commanders and get the soldiers in trouble.

[@anselmtheweird0]

1:28 is the old audio commentary given by William Hartnell? Sounds an awful lot like him.