Fall of Attu - Pacific War #79 DOCUMENTARY

[@KingsandGenerals]

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[@pascalyung1406]

Someone please help me! Does anyone know the name of the background music at 26:10 of K&G's Alexander Balkan Campaign video? Link here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ_HiJ-Pn56th68

[@ydnsr1137]

Love all things you & the team do! Can tell your a fellow Canadian buddy!!

[@zhcultivator]

Good video, please consider making videos on Seyfo (the Assyrian genocide), Katyn massacre, Volhynian massacre, Circassian genocide, Dzungar genocide and the 1941 Bucharest pogrom.

[@hercules7161]

It's more than 8 days ,i am waiting desperately for the next episode ,i know it's hard to maintain consistency but still it's my request to upload it in time ,i am a history student after all

[@bruceyung70]

I was stationed at Adak Naval air station base on the Aleutian island before the base closure back in 1994-95. Fortunately, I was a patrol officer so I got to see more areas around the island than most sailors and marines stationed there. I remember rusted-out artillery pieces pointed toward the west in directions with dotted quonset huts dotted along the island's mountainous sides where many American troops were probably used to spend time cleaning rifles and keeping fires going for the heat with battle ready to confront Japanese invading via Aleutian island chains that did happen but only by zero fighters which were shot down. I have so many memories of that place and even have a KZbin video I recorded with my camera! I will pray for many American troops who were sent to Adak to die of cold along with horses and there is a cemetery of the dead. Not many know about it but it's a very significant area of America even right up to recent years with the cold war. I remember many submarines docking, coast guard ships, dome antennas, and rocket munition warheads depot. The place is closed down but you should be able to visit. Lastly, it is the coldest, windy, and most unforgiving winter you will ever see in your life.

[@tyroneusMaximusAfricanus]

Thanks it good to see what the islands look like, beautiful but rough lol. While you were patrolling we were probably eating cake, my sisters born on the 11th of sept.

[@HipiO7]

I knew that, before Saipan, Attu had the largest banzai charge in the Pacific War. I had no idea it was so effective and carved such a huge gap in the American lines and almost reaching safety. Awesome job showing it all

[@treverblanco]

This series is why I had to be a patron 👌

[@Physiker17]

Same!

[@docbailey3265]

Me too.

[@docbailey3265]

The history I had learned was dismissive of this campaign, saying the Japanese gave up without a fight. To the contrary, this sounds like hell on earth, and I salute the men who had to do this.

[@Hinata0928]

Japanese culture doesn't include surrender without a fight. It was in Bushido Code that death is more honourable than surrender. And that damned rule was implanted upon these soldiers, by their politicians, their elders, their commanders, up to the Emperor himself.

[@wnchstrman]

​@@Hinata0928 Fanaticism may be great on the offensive, but when on defense it leads to inconceivable slaughter when surrender is never considered as an option.

[@TheBestDog]

Is it possible you are confusing the battle of Attu with the battle of Kiska? The imperial Japanese sailed past the US blockade and successfully evacuated Kiska island without a fight.

[@rippervtol9516]

If you want the full story read The Thousand-Mile War by Brian Garfield The Japanese fought like hell for Attu then left Kiska without a fight. The reason it has been swept under the rug of history is the U.S. spent months bombing and shelling Kiska spent tons of resources preparing for a fight worse than Attu... then nothing, they landed and the island was empty just rude notes in English on bunker walls, very embarrassing

[@redaug4212]

Most histories about the ground fighting in the Pacific theater tend to focus on the Marines, while Army involvement is usually regarded as unimportant and thereby glossed over. Only recently have Army operations in the Pacific been getting much more attention because, as it turns out, it's hard to ignore 1.5 million men serving across the northern, western, and southern Pacific for three and a half years.

[@jordansorenson698]

Fred Barnett sounds like the real-life version of some call of duty character. "9 machine gun emplacements pinning down 2 companies? Hold my beer"

[@Maverick0451]

In the myriad other documentaries I've watched and even many of the books I've read on WWII, there are always gaps, and in the Pacific, the Aleutians are usually one of those gaps. Thank you as always for your brilliant content!!

[@rippervtol9516]

If you want the full story read The Thousand-Mile War by Brian Garfield The Japanese fought like hell for Attu then left Kiska without a fight. The reason it has been swept under the rug of history is the U.S. spent months bombing and shelling Kiska spent tons of resources preparing for a fight worse than Attu... then nothing, they landed and the island was empty just rude notes in English on bunker walls, very embarrassing

[@JackRabbitSlim]

My wife knows a lot about the battle of the Aleutians, she could answer many of your questions. I tell you what, alaska... ...get it? ...anyone? ...no?

[@davidhughes8357]

Your documentaries help immensely. With an uncle three friends and co workers that saw combat in the Pacific theater and my father in north Africa Sicily and Italy I have many first hand accounts. Sadly they are all gone. But you my friends are still here. Thank you so much Kings and Generals.

[@jeffmcdonald4225]

The best parts of your series, in my opinion, are the ones that bring attention to lesser known episodes of the war. Thank you for making a more fully fleshed out documentary.

[@NeilABliss]

This was one of the most fascinating videos yet. Something you just didn't learn in school. Horrid conditions and crazy levels of sacrifice for a tiny northern island. Amazing effort by all involved.

[@kaybevang536]

There was a soldier who’s actually from Austria named Jack (Hans) Werner who moved to the US hoping to fight the Germans but instead took part in the pacific and Attu was his baptism of fire - it’s from ww2 in HD

[@theawesomeman9821]

Didn't expect the Battle of Attu to have so much content for multiple videos here on the channel.

[@jamesforreal]

I don't like how history overlooks such a great and terrible battle. These men who fought on both sides deserve way more than a footnote. Thanks Kings and Generals for making a great video telling this story!

[@foggygray]

I was stationed on Attu Island in the early 2000s at the Coast Guard LORAN station and there was still so much on the island from the battle and from its time as a Navy Base after the war. A few of us tried to get out to Chichagof Harbor to see the remnants of the Japanese base there but our vehicles broke down around Lake Cories. Rumor had it there was still a downed Japanese plane there.

[@Hitomi-c3k]

I'l love to hear more about your time stationed on the island. I'm going there this summer as part of a survey team organized by the Japanese government. My great uncle was died in the battle of Attu.

[@ronjohnson6916]

Excellent stuff. Attu is normally given a paragraph at best and there was so much of interest. I'd never heard about the near success of that last charge.

[@jessealexander9074]

This channel covers the Pacific War like no other

[@josephgibbons1195]

this series made me a youtube member and I don't regret it at all! Thank you so much for the content.

[@TheOracleofClocks]

Its astonishing to hear that they erected a memorial for the Japanese colonel, in particular after they massacred wounded personnel

[@markbrooks8623]

Agreed. His corpse should have been gibbetted for war crimes.

[@petersimpson7437]

Wow! What in intense fight. The most intense I’ve seen in this series and the most determination I’ve seen in a fight on this channel since the Siege of Jerusalem video.

[@davidharris3728]

The Aleutian theater is often overlooked and forgotten. Your detailed look at this portion of the war is greatly appreciated. Well done, and well made!

[@davidmccann9811]

This battle deserves to be better known. The men of both sides fighting like heroes in terrible conditions.

[@danielconde13]

I was in awe at that counter attack...

[@crimsonking70]

the infobox tagline at 4:43 says "Japanese Atrocities in Andaman Islands". That's obviously for another video!

[@spyderlogan4992]

The lack of winter uniforms and other cold weather gear for the Americans was a disgrace. But no one was punished in the chain of command.

[@westernchaunvinistguido]

Neither was Napoleon’s or Hitler’s chains of commands for the uniforms they provided their troops. Look at those pictures of German troops in Stalingrad with black and blue skin frozen onto their faces or illustrations of wounded French soldiers left to freeze to death in the snow or get eaten by wolves. It just goes to show you that logistics is extremely important if not more important than any strategic planning that a chain of command could implement in a campaign.

[@Korporaal1]

Being the Devil's advocate here: The 7th Division was supposed to go to the mediterranean. But two things happened: North Africa went far better than planned; and the Japanese started to take islands in the Aleutians... So the division that was leftover from North Africa, and also conveniently located on the US West coast was the logical choice to do something about that. But it needed to be done... ... Now. There simply wasn't time for cold weather training (which is time intensive) or to re-equip the formation (both time- and stores intensive). The video mentions all this shortly but there is a whole world of 'Least Bad' solutions behind this story. No-one needs to be punished, sometimes it just is what it is and you have go off with what you're carrying.

[@westernchaunvinistguido]

@@Korporaal1 It is harsh for a commander when their men suffer, and it’s a shame when they die but as a commander in the field you should be able to appreciate what your men are going through because you are there planning the attack and having it go forward as you had planned. The unfortunate fact of many logistical miscalculations and time constraints involved in supplying troops in bloody campaigns like those in Russia in 1812 and WW2 as well as the Aleutians Campaign is that your men and your plans will suffer very greatly even if it was all you were able to work with. Most notably Hitler blamed the fighting skill of his men and the abilities of his commanders in Stalingrad for their defeat even though it was all a hopeless effort when the tide really turned againist the Germans anyways, Napoleon was well aware of the risk he put the Grand Armeè in in Russia, certain commanding officers in the Aleutian’s complained that their troops progress was too slow even though they put them into combat severely underprepared and under supplied, and this line of thinking can all be traced back into hard fought campaigns in all areas of the globe where conditions for fighting men were incredibly difficult largely because of some grave logistical error that was just seen as a minor overlook by military commanders. It is important for military commanders to understand the importance of logistics as well as preparedness for their troops, they don’t need to be punished, however they should be held responsible, judged by their merits and the mistakes that they made. The blame cannot be put on the troops so long as they hold their own and keep slogging on and even if things go terribly south because of supply problems or a loss of strategic cohesion, the troops shouldn’t be blamed for the circumstances their commanders created.

[@spyderlogan4992]

@@Korporaal1 The same thing happened in Europe during the Winter of '44/'45...solders froze to death due to lack of winter overcoats. But I do get your point however, it's just a damn shame no one had the 'genius' to realize the Empire of Japan was going to fight to the death in the Aleutians, like everywhere else. You have to fight with what you have at the time.

[@bryanjames7528]

I think in last video it was said that the uniforms for the army sent to Alaska were made in San Francisco thus the coats were lighter quality made for rainy weather instead of winter wear. It was an honest mistake. There's always gonna be some miscommunication in any sort of logistics.

[@paintingpanzers]

I knew absolutely nothing about this battle but boy has this series changed that. Superb work 👏 Quoting parts of that journal was an amazing touch too!

[@curtshelman5757]

My father earned a Bronze Star on Attu…he was in the reserves on a 30 caliber machine gun placement.

[@LoganFallon-r4d]

You guys deserve an award for this

[@Preußen31]

It's like watching a movie. Someone should make a movie about this. A sad and brilliant last stand.

[@cornishdiaspora918]

Brilliant as always. Please keep mentioning distances if you can. It helps the mental picture.

[@andrewsema359]

Thanks K&G again for showing how brutal the Pacific War was. The sacrifices and fanatical attacks from both US and Japanese troops.Also the extreme cold and lack of food. Unimaginable today in the modern army.

[@LoneWanderer727]

Wow, i finally caught up on the series today. Such amazing coverage of the Pacific War. The Allies have made so much progress since the onset of the war - they really have Japan on the backfoot. At this rate, I'm sure they'll be home by Christmas!

[@nathang5630]

This is the best series! Thank you.

[@jamiegagnon6390]

Please put a ground scale on your maps. It is difficult to assess what is happening without knowing distances.

[@br549fried4]

Excellent in depth video of the Attu battles.

[@josueroberto7356]

I’m sitting in the toilet with my hands in my head in awe watching Yamasaki take his last exhausted and wounded men in an impossible charge and actually almost succeed in prolonging the battle even further

[@mercator79]

Eareckson was a total badass

[@josephcole8875]

very good coverage, what an intense battle!

[@minoru-kk]

Great documentary as usual! Allies have always been gentlemen in this series in contrast only IJA/N are fanatical but next week they'll get also their sense back for a little while. Welcome to Kiska

[@jordonez42]

4:45 Japanese Atrocities in Andaman Islands?

[@paulsillanpaa8268]

There's some dark irony in Buckner awarding Col Erickson a Purple Heart, then kicking him in the ass for being in the front lines in the first place. Buckner himself would be killed in action while inspecting forward positions at Okinawa.

[@phucvinh2883]

My father used to say: We can lose our vessels, but skillful mens cannot be lost

[@souldark4276]

Great video: Around 5:40 though it s written "4 companies A,BD&D" instead of A,B,C &D.

[@tyroneusMaximusAfricanus]

This series has being absolutely brilliant, thanks K&G, i find the pacific theatre far more strategically interesting than the European theatre, maybe it’s the constant combination of land sea and air power, the Island hopping, and jungle terrain that gives limited tactical avenues. If anyone knows of a game that covers this, like a Company of Hero’s on a far grander scale, a single player Foxhole with naval and aircraft sort of thing, let me know if you know

[@stevelebreton3489]

Thanks for the video

[@UnNuclear]

How do you not get a Medal of Honor for taking out 9 machine gun nest by yourself? That's some Call of Duty nonsense right there.

[@luigidisanpietro3720]

Man, no wonder why the new troops were so jittery when they landed on Kiska....

[@-RONNIE]

Thank you for another good video 👍🏻

[@jonathanchua6726]

Love your videos and the detail, especially at the tactical level that is often overlooked in campaign histories! Might i suggest decongesting the info blurb pop outs during the videos and reducing the words packed in? They can be difficult to follow and the video needs to be paused every time this happens to read, which disrupts the flow. Great information, but from the perspective of end-user experience, this could be improved. Not a criticism in any way of your great production content and value!

[@richardstone5552]

Thanks for the great work

[@jrrrrr5662]

14:20, in the interests of yet better products, I think you're looking for the word 'tenacity'

[@PripyatTourist]

Love the work, y'all!!!

[@robertwomack3419]

My uncle, the man I'm named after died in this battle! 21 years old.

[@psikogeek]

I guess we'll have to make Alaska a state now.

[@paradisegammers.2999]

Keep supporting K&G

[@witpae]

Intense epsiode. Thanks once again.

[@nathanielbarsczewski4362]

Will you be doing a series on the entire European fronts too? Would love to see a drawn out docuseries on that like you’ve done here!

[@recoil53]

There is the World War Two channel that covers everything week by week. I believe they got to where Anzio fell.

[@wmetz1869]

@@recoil53 Yea... Sorry. Not the same.

[@johnvanzo9543]

Love this series

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Dang I'd love to know all of the sources you use to get this indepth into a very little known or remembered campaign. Very well done.

[@pjl5609]

Eareckson literally getting his ass kicked lmao 🤣

[@Tommykey07]

I can't believe they haven't done a movie about the Aleutians campaign

[@akacadian3714]

The author of "The Thousand Mile War" the most popular work about the Aleutian Campaign,Brian Garfield, was a movie script writer. He wrote the screen play for the the Death Wish series. I suspect that was his original intention. There is old movie about a naval officer on a cruiser in the Aleutians title "Deep Six" starring Alan Ladd.

[@toastnjam7384]

I doubt if it will be covered on this channel since the Japanese abandoned it but the following invasion of Kiska was I believe the only time Canandian ground forces participated (beside the Battle of Hong Kong) in the Pacific Theater. One of the units was the 1st Special Service Force (the Devil's Brigade).

[@akacadian3714]

The Canadians deployed the 13th Brigade of the 6th Division for Kiska. The 13 BDE was a militia brigade composed of conscripts and it was as much a domestic move on Prime Minister Mackenzie King's part as the international support of an ally to use the conscripts. The even added a the Regiment du Hull from Quebec as part of the formation. The conscripts in the Canada Army were known as Zombies in Canada and very unpopular at least in some parts of English Canada. Several Canadians were killed in an explosion of a possible booby trap after the landing. There are four of them from Hull Regiment buried at Fort Richardson, Anchorage, in the allied plot.

[@kylelee9474]

[@ronb.8920]

Read a lot about WWll but this theater was hardly covered in many history books.

[@pendremacherald6758]

My great grandfather fought in this battle for the Americans. What he saw was horrid enough for him to basically be honorably discharged, and he never saw combat again.

[@Martijn_Steinpatz]

A sign for things to come...

[@brocksargeant1134]

Honestly I didn't know the details of this battle before watching. Once the Japanese were surrounded in the harbor I thought they would all commit seppuku and the battle would be over. Did not expect that final charge...I'm sure the American soldiers didn't either.

[@ray73106]

What did the 48th field artillery do on attu my dad was in the 48th battery B can you do a documentary on the 48th field artillery on attu

[@michaelmcteer9472]

As far as the unit, have you tried contacting one of the US Army/Military history organizations to request a unit history? U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center 950 Soldiers Drive, Carlisle, PA

[@ENiceGeo]

There were people, native Aleuts, who lived on Attu prior to the Japanese invasion. When US forces retook the island none where to be found. When was it known that the islanders were no longer inhabiting the island? Before the US retook Attu or afterwards?

[@luciobricks6799]

Que gran video y mas por cubrir una batalla poco reconocida en medios.

[@Coco3Pirata]

Is this were the famous japanese military song called "attu island blood warriors"

[@BatmanSeRiedeTi]

They charged into Valhalla.

[@steviov3376]

There’s a very cool museum on the Aleutian Island campaign with real captured Japanese equipment and weapons, it’s attached to the Alaska Aviation museum, right by Ted Stevens international airport in Anchorage, Alaska. Highly recommend visiting if you ever make a trip there.

[@khatian6350]

4:44 Andaman Islands?

[@Develpup]

I was always under the false impression that there were no battles against US Forces and IJA in Alaska. Even saw a video explaining the only battle was a friendly fire incident by USA and Canadian forces. This battle should have not been overlooked. Both the Japanese and Americans fought a hard fight in harsh conditions. I wonder why this is so widely disregarded

[@bruceyung70]

Yep. Very bloody combat in tundra with no trees but jagged rocks and snow.

[@joeywheelerii9136]

Well in the allies finally won the North Africa campaign may 13th. Also about half a million coal miners went on strike in the U.S during this time. Also this was "Black May" for German Uboats, losing 43 subs sunk and 37 damaged. 1/3 of all the uboats in the Atlantic at the time. Also the American public would first learn of the death of Admiral Yamamoto in May 1943 as well.

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nice video

[@janis_w.2980]

A scale on one corner of the map would be really useful to better understand the dimensions of all those battles.

[@s38paul]

4:54 Shouting insults is an atrocity?

[@nanderwinthant1655]

I wish i had enough side income to be a patreon but i still love the free videos too❤❤.

[@stevencrouch6036]

I have always believed that if your enemy is praising you for your defence then you're doing it right. I wonder if the make shift shrine/monument they made is still there.

[@thehistorybox1163]

Cheers

[@greenkoopa]

With hindsight, knowing they would never surrender, Yamasaki did the only thing he had the ability to do. It was either do nothing and starve or do something and die

[@dclark142002]

Indeed.

[@markusskram4181]

Love The vid

[@pedrozepeda6930]

Love it

[@njwilksy]

Nice

[@Huben57]

Where is the battle of shipai fortress this week?

[@MachinimaGothic]

Tenno Heika Banzai!!!

[@dirtydannyfadm]

REQUEST : Please make a video about the French campaign, battle of france and fall of france, WW2

[@beachboy0505]

Excellent video 📹 Almost made it

[@solo3163]

Where is the navy that should be firing on the bay

[@martian7754]

Can you make a make of battle of montgisard?

[@davethompson3326]

When your enemy is in strong, but not strategically important defences, isolated, cold and starving. I get confused why anyone would spend lives winning harder.

[@AhmedAshraf-ue6yz]

bro when is the two last episodes of the First Crusade series is released I've been waiting for months I mean no pressure tho😁

[@davidhughes8357]

Will always be in your debt.

[@Xix1326]

Wow. A little infantry Battle of the Bulge type attempt by the Japanese.

[@aliosmanbozdemir9667]

Rica etsem Göktürk savaşlarını çeker misin teşekkür ederim.

[@toscanini1957]

Se numbrakom! Once again, it is the liberation of Attu, not the fall of Attu!

[@akacadian3714]

Unfortunately the Attuans never returned to the island after the war. The Federal Government US Fish and Wildlife Service and BIA thought there were too few people left from Attu to justify rebuilding. Most of the Attuans that returned to Alaska settled on Atka the nearest village about 300 miles away. Because the population of the village was gone and never returned I think it may be hard to call it a liberation.

[@johnbennett757]

Why was this necessary? Why did the just try to isolate and cut off these islands.

[@elivinture6672]

Because of political pressure and ego. The Pacific war was one of the worst conducted war by the US.

[@garrettjohnson224]

What happened to putting out these videos every Tuesday? Should I simply stop looking for these?

[@adarkstarz]

they seem to at least arrive by Saturday...

[@jackland3387]

❤

[@xcvbxcvb2179]

Almost impossible to read the infoboxes 😢 Plz make the layout much more user friendly, plz.