Flossenbürg & the Execution Site of Dietrich Bonhoeffer | History Traveler Episode 397

[@andrewtolley3706]

My father served in the British army and was present at the liberation of Buchenwald. He never discussed what he saw until the near the end of his life, but your film brought home to me why he couldn't speak about it. I knew this would be a tough watch, but I'm glad I did. Whatever your views on religion, Bonhoeffer was true hero. Thank you for a remarkable video.

[@salata95]

My grandfather was a political war prisoner in Flossenburg. I never met him but my dad said he went through a lot. I am grateful to see this and what life was like.

[@josephroth382]

Thanks enjoyed it immensely

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

This is one of my favorite videos you've ever done. Thank you for bringing us to Flossenburg with you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that more than you know.

[@mrDCunningham]

Outstanding work JD. God Bless 👍🏼😎

[@stephanieregosin7303]

Thank you for doing these videos. My mom was a Holocaust survivor from Austria. Our children should be taught about this.

[@thetarheelreenactor8239]

My Great-Grandfather was in the 90th Infantry Division and was stationed at Flossenburg shortly after the Germans surrendered. He guarded German Prisoners, and as he wrote "SS and War Criminals". I recently got a photo albumn of his with pictures of himself at the camp as well as the barracks. Thanks for posting!

[@Ronaldl2350]

Bonhoeffer is one of my heroes of Christianity. Cost of discipleship is a great book! Thank you for sharing JD.

[@andrewstevenson118]

For me, I'd say CS Lewis. 🙂 When CS Lewis examined the Gospel narratives, having already become an expert in mythology (chair in Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Magdalene College, Cambridge) he was surprised that his literary judgment told him that they were more than myths. He said, “I was by now too experienced in literary criticism to regard the Gospels as myths. They had not the mythical taste. And yet the very matter they set down in their artless, historical fashion ... was precisely the matter of the great myths. If ever a myth had become fact, had been incarnated, it would be just like this. ... Here and here only in all time the myth must have come fact: the Word, flesh; God, man.”

[@ecalose6785]

Just found your site. I’m enthralled and watching Hitler video home movies. Thank you so much. I subscribed and left some comments. I love history and love you for doing this!

[@hollyperry3570]

This is a beautiful tribute to Bonhoeffer. Well done, JD. Thank you for taking us on this journey. Bonhoeffer has always been a hero of mine.

[@davido4872]

Thank you. My father was a prisoner at Flossenberg, where he worked as a shoemaker. He narrowly survived a death march at the war's end.

[@marcelmallory2761]

JD, as a history buff your presentation and historical accuracy is always so wonderful. The horrors that were perpetuated at these places you take us are beyond belief but you always manage to teach with compassion and empathy. You should be in a classroom somewhere. Thank you for all you do.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. Thank you.

[@raynonabohrer5624]

Thank you for teaching this. Decreek was a great man. Sorry I not a good speller.

[@karentrimmer]

I love Bonhoeffer. As a child, our pastor gave a sermon on Bonhoeffer's response to an atheist: At the end of our lives "if you are right, I have lost nothing and I've still lead a good life. If I am right, you have lost everything." Brought up in the church, I never questioned my beliefs until college. This Bonhoeffer quote got me through my doubts.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

He was something else, for sure.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

As someone whose a non believer Ive found that people can be as equally, and in alot of cases more so, decent human beings than so called believers in what ever religion. Moral high ground because of one's belief is not good.

[@Tennessee968]

Morals are given to us by God. Even a non believer can have goodness in his or her heart from birth. Some just deny where it came from. Evil is when we turn from it. ​@@Roller_Ghoster

[@Chiller11]

One of the biggest challenges of many religions that claim exclusivity of salvation is the thought that truly good, generous people will face an unspeakable and eternal fate.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

​@@Tennessee968you'll say your religion is the true religion over the others and on it goes. In WW1 everyone claimed he was on their side. What Im saying is because you believe something doesn't make you a better or morally superior person to me. You may not like that but its the truth.

[@1psychofan]

Bonhoeffer has been a big hero of mine! What a man of faith! An inspiration to generations yet to come! THANK YOU JD for bringing us there! ❤

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you.

[@bigmountain7561]

My fiancé’s father and her uncle were in Flossenburg. They escaped Kiev and were trying to get out to America when they were detained. They were not Jewish they were Orthodox Christian. Her uncle was actually born there. She asked both of them a couple of times what it was like and they never answered. They are both gone now and hopefully their pain is gone too. Thank You 🙏

[@Hobbitma]

Very moving and heartbreaking. You have such a wonderful talent to bring these stories to life. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. My pleasure!

[@redhed9776]

I visited Flossenberg camp during ReForGer 75. That was an eye-opening experience as how Americans were treated differently there and buried in marked graves. Excellent video and thanks for the memories.

[@ponderingthepast]

Man. I’m speechless. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the work you put into this channel. One of your best videos to date.

[@reginaclark1816]

Thank you for taking us to this place! We will never get to go ourselves but you "take us there" so we can experience this through you. You are the very best! Thank you very much.

[@henryibekwe1073]

"Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life" ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

[@sisterpamop]

Amen.

[@andrewstevenson118]

And amen

[@raynonabohrer5624]

Amen

[@nautifella]

Amen.✝

[@mcvickerf]

I've been asking years for you to visit flossenburg, finally! My ex wife Grandma grew up in flossenburg during wwII , she told me many stories. The one I'll never forget, is the one where she told me about. In the summer time sometimes it looked like it was snowing from all the ash falling from the ovens 😢, and those mounds are unreal !!

[@sophiegeorge2816]

My maternal grandfather finished his war at Auschwitz. He was MI6 and he spoke 7 languages so was helping out in Europe, he was Jewish and someone snitched on him in 44 so was arrested and ended up in Auschwitz He survived but mum said he wasn’t there afterwards, he died in 63 aged 49 of cancer

[@stephencorson7572]

Simply moving JD. Beautifully done.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate it!

[@johnstup4479]

This episode was quite moving JD. Thank you for taking the time to tell the story of what went on at Flossenburg and that of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

[@renee1961]

Hello, JD. Nice to meet you! This is an Excellent Documentary!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@renee1961 👍🏻

[@10mmnuck60]

There are men and then there are good strong men that stick to their convictions no matter the consequences. A very moving episode. Thank you.

[@vawterb]

Thank you for this video. Thank you for the coverage of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you for watching.

[@dutchfrisianmuddigger.6806]

I watch and listen to all your fantastic documentaries, thanks for the effort and time you put into this. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Much appreciated.

[@sheryl7491]

Very moving. Thank you JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that it connected with you. Thanks.

[@JiKima242]

Just a beautiful tribute to all those who suffered and died there and to Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

[@marjbiehler7628]

Thank you for telling this story.

[@Dkingery]

It’s hard to watch these death camps. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you J.D to give us the tour at the Flossenberg camp.

[@chadkeller2144]

How ironic that you did this video now! My wife and I just saw the Bonhoffer movie - so moving that I have decided to do some more research about him and read some of his works. Thanks for all you do to bring these stories to the masses!

[@arthurharms5502]

My wife designed the plaque for Bonhoeffer for the United States Heritage Foundation for Ambassador Paul Packer.

[@WeymouthRockProductions]

I think after so many episodes you are finally hitting your stride with this one especially, man - that being something truly meaningful to you, and that resonant meaningfulness so successfully conveyed to others - so much more than a history tour

[@56dh]

Well said!

[@CRUSH71]

I love WW2 history, and I love your channel! Thank you so much for the hard work. Excellent job.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

[@randystolz]

Ty, JD. I've been thinking about Niemoller and Bonhoffer a lot lately, so this is very timely for me. Merry Christmas

[@dave3156]

Very timely JD. A deacon just gave me a book by Bonhoeffer. Thanks and safe travels.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Hope that you enjoy it!

[@TB-ModelRR]

Visited that site in the late 90's. Our platoon Sargeant took us. What a powerfully overwhelming feeling of loss, heartbreak, and suffering. At the time, I had no idea who Bonhoeffer was.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Quite the place.

[@RichardKroboth]

Thank you JD for your continued history lessons. I never heard of this camp before. I hope someday you’ll get to visit various areas in the Pacific and tell those stories.

[@haraldputensen7955]

Danke!

[@jay-jayigotya7551]

Really enjoyed this one JD, I didn’t know anything about Bonhoeffer or Flossenberg before this but I’m defiantly wanting to know more now 😊 Cheers JD keep doing your thing!

[@Mark-pd8mu]

JD I thank you for this video. As always moving and educational.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Much appreciated

[@kym-marieprice2361]

I currently live about 15 minutes from Flossenburg. This is one make sure all my visitor visit. The VFW on the local American Base here conducts a memorial service here every memorial day

[@tonymcdonnly6492]

Excellent video presentation from the Host. Thank you for educating us all about Flossenburg. May God continue to bless you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that, thank you.

[@EstherKersten-nm7xb]

Very impressive. Thank you for sharing.

[@stephensmith3763]

Thanks!

[@kdcowboy9478]

Thanks for creating a tremendous video.

[@drband8181]

Best video yet! Thanks for what you do. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

[@Tennessee968]

Loved learning this story. Came home from work and watched it. I've learned a lot through your endeavors that I probably would have never known. Thank you Sir. Safe travels.

[@1RiderPale]

I saw the Bonhoeffer movie a couple of Sunday’s ago, this fills in the rest of the story. Thank you!

[@RobinBurke-tb9pd]

Incredibly touching. Thank you.

[@1psychofan]

Gathered with friends here in my living room to watch this again! Moved to speechless! Just wow!!!

[@robertlegare3715]

I was there in the mid 90's when I was in the service, when you speak of a moving experience, I have never had such a moving experience as when I was there walking around. Certainly sacred ground! Thank you for this video, brought back memories.

[@kevinhensley4643]

Thank you for sharing

[@shawncaraway9880]

Superb video. Thank you.

[@bethann0808]

We can only hope that if and when the time comes that we can respond to the situation like Bonhoeffer. His faith and love for his country is boundless. Thank you so much for your video on him and the place where he died. ♥♥

[@stephaniedavis8059]

J.D. this video is one of your best. THANK YOU. I learned about Bonhoeffer years back and got the biography of him. A few years ago, i was able to visit Westminster Abbey and see him as a martyr over the Great West Door. His story is one of many that deserves to be told. Thank you.

[@incog99skd11]

My Father had an Uncle and his son executed on the same day at Flossenburg. The were Lithuanian partisans fighting against the Nazis. We have the photocopy of the entries in the ledger for that day.

[@FlintonRayThacker]

I love watching your channel. I've seen every episode. You have touched my heart. I hope one day soon I can get to the museum. Thanks again for everything.

[@scottwright6074]

Fantastic video JD. Knowing that people stood up for what they believed in against overwhelming odds possibly knowing the outcome is awe inspiring.

[@user-steve]

Thanks for showing us this vid

[@andrewwebb-trezzi2422]

You should cover the story of Major Gustave Daniel Alfred Biéler DSO MBE. A Canadian S.O.E. agent and the only person afforded a guard of honour by the Germans at his execution. Tortured for nine months continuously, he never gave up a single name or useful piece of information. He too was executed at Flossenbürg.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I'll have to look into that. Thanks.

[@aroundthegroundlandscaping7107]

I can’t thank you enough for your work on keeping history alive and educating people of the world. My heart is warmed when I can learn from a great messengers like yourself. so with my humble admiration, I say god bless you and keep creating great content

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching. Feel free to share it out with a few others.

[@samthemacman]

You sir, have made a great video here. I love watching all your videos. This one is especially good and very moving. Bonhoeffer is one of the World War II characters and personalities that I have come to treasure and embrace. As a kid I grew up not far from Natzweiler Strutof camp in north eastern France, not far from the Vosges region. I lived in St.Die in the Vosges mountains. As a boy I frequented that camp which had held so many of the French Resistance and had conducted experiments for the SS. It is all fascinating history but as with all history, history is the telling of the human story and its interaction with other human beings. No one should forget what transpired in these camps. We need to remember and retell the stories as history, to combat the deniers. Thank you for this video and your respectful treatment of the legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

[@thomasdragosr.841]

JD, this is your best documentary yet. Thank you!

[@juliegrey5280]

Grat video on the camp and Bonhoffer!

[@timvanacker5129]

Again you got me looking at this episode with goosebumps and cold shivers I told my gf about you, this is the first episode she watched together with me. She now became a fan too

[@dalewyatt1321]

Well spoken, JD. Great story telling again

[@blockaroni]

You work is excellent. Thank you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@blockaroni 🙏🏼

[@detourmore470]

This was all new for me…thanks for this incredible channel.

[@marvwatkins7029]

A docudrama on Bonhoffer is needed.

[@Liquidskys88]

And why the hat comment?

[@jeffwest6479]

I never get tired ofyour shows. Thank you.

[@cschauer]

I tried watching your WT channel. Good footage and content… but the narration and insight you provide brings a better connection to what you are showing. It feels like it sucks you into the history better than just watching images. Awesome content in this episode.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. Hopefully, there’s a place for both. If you turn in the closed captioning for the videos on the other channel, it gives context about where we are walking. It’s also a good one to put on the tv as you’re falling asleep at night. 😅

[@stephensmith3763]

Love it Sir! I appreciate what you do! Especially when displaying the courage and faithfulness of Bonhoeffer!

[@matthewardison2541]

Thank you for this video, JD, and remembering Bonhoeffer’s sacrifice.

[@parker1ray]

Brother, I absolutely love your channel, and am secretly jealous! I have always had a wandering spirit, and have traveled a few times, but a loving wife and two boys kept me grounded in one place! Now I am old and often say that maybe in heaven I will get to travel the world! Keep the videos coming that allows many to experience the world through your lense

[@sethv9039]

I first learned about Dietrich Bonnhoeffer's story from focus on the family's radio theater. It was very well done. The cassette tapes were called Bonhoeffer: The cost of Freedom. Amazing man in difficult times. Thanks for showing the Flossenburg grounds.

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

One of my favorite Bonhoeffer quotes - "Your life as a Christian should make non believers question their disbelief in God."

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Also one of mine. Incredible man.

[@stephensdygert7600]

Your message of the gospel of the grace of God, by faith alone in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ turns unbelievers into believers. Watching somebody's life will never lead a unbeliever to Christ. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

[@lizcurtis9778]

Thank you for this and your research

[@markieman64]

Amazing! What a great video. Thank you for sharing, buddy!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching!

[@blondkatze3547]

Thank you for the great historical work about the Flossenbürg concentration camp.In November 2024 on the Remembrance Day in Germany , he was commemorated in his honor as well as all other victims in our Protestant church. We also had sing the song of good powers in a wonderfully safe manner( von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen), which he had written while imprisoned in the concentration camp. For him charity for his fellow human beings was the most important thing.🙏💜

[@dolinaj1]

Bonhoeffer came from a middle-class family. He lived relatively cocooned from the Third Reich for some time. He traveled to Scandinavia and the US, loved jazz, and was engaged to wed. But his conscience would not let him be indifferent to the suffering around him. In his last weeks, he was with like-minded people, who sang and comforted one another. He was brutally strung up to be hung to death, but the Nazis would lower him when he became unconscious, and raised him to hang again when he recovered consciousness. They tortured him in this way for a long time, and finally hung him to death. I am an atheist, but have great respect and gratitude to him for his courage and humanitarianism, and what it took for him to act on his courage and conscience. He gave comfort and solace to those in the same circumstances as he and they went to their deaths. I am French-American. None of my family who did not flee the Nazis while the US was still accepting refugees survived the Nazis. Never forget.

[@anubis.r6782]

Wish I knew you were going to be there I’m in the US Army stationed in Grafenwöhr and have been watching you for years and would have loved to meet you

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh dang! That would have been cool. Can't wait to get back over there.

[@anubis.r6782]

@@TheHistoryUndergroundnext time you come back over you should do a video on Grafenwöhr I would love to hear about the history of this town especially with the amazing museum they have here

[@bethtodd9921]

Thank so much for honoring him with this video.

[@NDB469]

Very interesting video! Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@stus1171]

I made a point of visiting of Flossenburg this summer on our visit to Germany after I had read Eric Metaxas’ book about Bonhoeffer. It was an incredibly powerful place to visit.

[@terrclymac]

Thank you for creating this vlog.

[@sisterpamop]

Bonhoeffer lived his faith and wrote about it to encourage us to have faith and courage when we face similar trials. May it be so.

[@jend510]

Thank you so much for your insight. Great video.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My pleasure!

[@katiemyers4174]

Thank you for taking us to Flossenburg. I've heard of Bonhoeffer but not of this camp.

[@ReneMaxwell-w7n]

Thank you for your sensitivity in presenting the great losses and sacrifice represented at this memorial, especially of Wilhelm Bonhoeffer, a great Christian martyr

[@BatchelderPatrick]

When I toured this camp in 1971 it had yet to have much of a museum. What was there was an exhibit of thousands of shoes of the dead. It was summertime with the grounds geen, manicured lawns and beds of flowers. Germans were taking their leisure as it were a stroll in a park. The ovens were available to peer into them. It was known that a black pall hung over the town and yet the residents vociferously denied knowing the camp was there. When I left I nearly vomited on the way to my car. I never went to another camp.

[@mommamooney]

I’ve long been a fan of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. As well as being a man of deep deep character, he was a great thinker and philosopher. I pray that man such as him would stand up to atrocities today and in the future

[@kelrogers8480]

Thank you so much for honoring Bonhoeffer, and so many others who suffered and died for their convictions and faith. "Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15.13.

[@alicegamble6145]

I have never heard of this place before. I recognize the name of Bonhoffer but was unaware of his story. Thank you for educating us about this man of faith. Merry Christmas.

[@str8alphamale]

I see the residential homes in the background. Can you imagine waking up looking out the window just to think how many people died there. Famous and non famous.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I've actually seen a few places like this. At Plazow, there are apartment complexes on the actual concentration camp ground. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6SZm4eKopupqq8si=b6xe4aHUYI485z8-

[@mr.pickles810]

Thanks for showing this ive wanted to always visit this camp because of my grandfather. He never spoke a thing about thw war even help taking the bridge at remagen.

[@mikemercer5808]

A very moving video, thanks JD.

[@justinweaver8107]

Hope you are keeping warm sir😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Doing my best. :)

[@swtexan6502]

Apparently, JD had the audacity to wear a ball cap vs a wool sock hat....😉

[@HughSteckel]

Outstanding video. Thank you!

[@edwardberthelette2700]

I'm so thankful for your dedication to make history important. ❤ your work....I may never get my feet there,...but you get me on there! God bless youu and yours.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate it!

[@geraldblackburn4883]

Great Show, learned a lot.